If you are a U.S. citizen bringing your spouse, and your immigrant visa petition is approved, an immigrant visa number will be immediately available to your spouse. If you are a lawful permanent resident bringing your spouse, and your petition is approved, your spouse must wait for an immigrant visa number to become available according to the preference system. Because the number of immigrant visa numbers that are available each year is limited, they may not get an immigrant visa number immediately after the immigrant visa petition is approved.