Petition Information Management Service (PIMS)

Background

Nonimmigrant visa (NIV) eligibility for H, L, O, P & Q categories is based on the employer's approved Form I-129; Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker and the subsequent Form I-797; Notice of Action - Approval issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Government Process

USCIS Service Centers will forward approved NIV petitions to the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) for entry into the Consolidated Consular Database (CCD). Consular posts are now able to access the details of an approved petition through the electronic Petition Information Management Services report called " PIMS".

Petition Verification

The PIMS report is now the sole source for a consul to review information on a petition before issuing the visa. Consular posts that cannot immediately locate the PIMS record cannot grant the visa until such time the record is entered into PIMS or verified via email from the KCC to the consular post.

Possible Delays

The KCC will attempt to complete processing of consular inquiries from posts within one working day. However, many cases may require more time. Third country nationals who are required to obtain a visa to entry the country in which the US consular post is located should obtain a visa that will allow them to remain in that country for several days in case of a delay.

Visa Appointment

Copies of the I-129 petition and I-797 Approval Notice are adequent documentation for visa application and appointment, but the consulate will be unable to grant the visa until the approved NIV petition is verified through PIMS or by means of KCC notification.

Advanced Verification

There is NO application process associated with PIMS. This is an internal government process only. Currently, there are no resources available to an employer or applicant that would give them the ability to check a petition’s status in PIMS.

Disclaimer