22 CFR 42.42 : Foreign Relations (§ 1.1 To Parts 1702-1799) — (§ 1.1 To Parts 240-299) — Department Of State (§ 1.1 To Parts 197-199) — Visas (§ 40.1 To Part 47) — Visas: Documentation Of Immigrants Under The Immigration And Nationality Act, As Amended (§ 42.1 To § 42.83) — Petitions (§ 42.41 To § 42.43) — Petitions for immediate relative or preference status.

Petition for immediate relative or preference status. The consular officer may not issue a visa to an alien as an immediate relative entitled to status under 201(b), a family-sponsored immigrant entitled to preference status under 203(a)(1)-(4), or an employment-based preference immigrant entitled to status under INA 203(b)(1)-(5), unless the officer has received a petition filed and approved in accordance with INA 204 or official notification of such filing and approval.