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Two distinct functions
The Department of State, through its Bureau of Consular Affairs, decides visa applications at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. It also administers the National Visa Center, which handles immigrant visa processing between USCIS approval and the consular interview.
Separately, the Department publishes the Visa Bulletin each month. That document controls when applicants in numerically limited categories may take the next step.
What consular officers decide
A consular officer determines whether an applicant qualifies for the visa classification sought and whether any ground of inadmissibility applies. An approved USCIS petition establishes a relationship or a job offer; it does not obligate a consular officer to issue a visa.
Consular decisions are made under the applicable statute and regulations, and the officer will cite the provision relied upon when refusing an application.
Where post-specific rules live
Individual embassies and consulates publish their own instructions on appointment scheduling, document delivery, and local requirements. Those post pages control the mechanics of your interview, and they differ meaningfully from country to country.