[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 22, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 22CFR42.73]

[Page 240-241]
 
                       TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS
 
                     CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF STATE
 
PART 42--VISAS: DOCUMENTATION OF IMMIGRANTS UNDER THE IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT, AS AMENDED--Table of Contents
 
                 Subpart H--Issuance of Immigrant Visas
 
Sec. 42.73  Procedure in issuing visas.

    (a) Insertion of data. In issuing an immigrant visa, the issuing 
office shall insert the pertinent information in the designated blank 
spaces provided on Form OF-155A, Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration, 
in accordance with the instructions contained in this section.
    (1) A symbol as specified in Sec. 42.11 shall be used to indicate 
the classification of the immigrant.
    (2) An immigrant visa issued to an alien subject to numerical 
limitations shall bear a number allocated by the Department. The foreign 
state or dependent area limitation to which the alien is chargeable 
shall be entered in the space provided.
    (3) No entry need be made in the space provided for foreign state or 
other applicable area limitation on visas issued to aliens in the 
classifications set forth in Sec. 42.12(a)(1)-(7), but such visas may be 
numbered if a post voluntarily uses a consecutive post numbering system.
    (4) The date of issuance and the date of expiration of the visa 
shall be inserted in the proper places on the visa and show the day, 
month, and year in that order, with the name of the month spelled out, 
as in ``24 December 1986.''
    (5) In the event the passport requirement has been waived under 
Sec. 42.2, a notation shall be inserted in the space provided for the 
passport number, setting forth the authority (section and paragraph) 
under which the passport was waived.
    (6) A signed photograph shall be attached in the space provided on 
Form OF-155A by the use of a legend machine, unless specific 
authorization has been granted by the Department to use the impression 
seal.
    (b) Documents comprising an immigrant visa. An immigrant visa 
consists of Form OF-155A and Form OF-230, Application for Immigrant Visa 
and Alien Registration, properly executed, and a copy of each document 
required pursuant to Sec. 42.63.
    (c) Arrangement of visa documentation. Form OF-155A shall be placed 
immediately above Form OF-230 and the supporting documents attached 
thereto. Any document required to be attached to the visa, if furnished 
to the consular officer by the alien's sponsor or other person with a 
request that the contents not be divulged to the visa applicant, shall 
be placed in an envelope and sealed with the impression seal of the 
consular office before being attached to the visa. If an immigrant

[[Page 241]]

visa is issued to an alien in possession of a United States reentry 
permit, valid or expired, the consular officer shall attach the permit 
to the immigrant visa for disposition by INS at the port of entry. 
(Documents having no bearing on the alien's qualifications or eligiblity 
to receive a visa may be returned to the alien or to the person who 
furnished them.)
    (d) Signature, seal, and issuance of visa. The consular officer 
shall sign the visa (Form OF-155A) and impress the seal of the office on 
it so as to partially cover the photograph and the signature. The 
immigrant visa shall then be issued by delivery to the immigrant or the 
immigrant's authorized agent or representative.

[52 FR 42613, Nov. 5, 1987, as amended at 56 FR 49682, Oct. 1, 1991]