In the event that a foreigner wishes to immigrate to the United States, there are many options available to make that dream a reality. The procedure to become an American citizen is three-fold, and requires an initial filing or petition, an inquiry as to the availability of applicable visas, and an arbitration of the visa. The final process is conducted through the consulate offices located in the home country, typically also involving interaction with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services during the latter stages. There are numerous types of permanent residence visas that may be obtained by foreigners, including the IR, F3, and EB2 visas. The IR permanent residence visa is applicable for immediate relatives of United States citizens who are living abroad, and is not restricted by an annual quota.