When Can the State Department Terminate an Approved Petition?

Written By: Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC)

Source: Ready To Stay
Updated : 11/11/2025 Written : 11/11/2025

In the Nutshell

Section 203(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) allows the Department of State (DOS) to terminate an approved immigrant visa petition (technically, the visa “registration”) after the immigrant visa applicant fails to do the following and one year goes by: (1) respond to notices or pay the immigrant visa fee to the National Visa Center (NVC); (2) appear at the consular interview; or (3) provide requested documentary evidence after a consular refusal under INA § 221(g). This article will review the process of termination and the actions the applicant should take to avoid it.

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