DS-261 Online Choice of Address and Agent
Tells the National Visa Center who should receive correspondence about an immigrant visa case - the applicant, the petitioner, or an attorney or other agent. It is the first thing filed once the NVC opens a case, and nothing else moves until it is done.
- Fee
- $0
- Fee waiver
- Not available
- Who files
- The immigrant visa applicant, or the petitioner on their behalf.
- Where to file
- Online at ceac.state.gov.
Usually filed with
Part of these processes
What changed in 2025 and 2026
- Cases where an attorney files a G-28 with the NVC do not always need a separate DS-261, but filing it removes any doubt about where notices go.
Official page. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/forms/online-immigrant-visa-forms.html. Download the form there, never from a third-party site; check the edition date and fee before filing.