U.S. citizens, who do not reside in a country with a USCIS international office, but who believe that their situation merits an exception, may request that the Consular Section at the U.S. Embassy in Riga accepts the filing. If you seek to file an I-130 petition with the embassy in Riga, you should contact the Consular Section beforehand and explain your circumstances in detail (written request and documentary evidence may be required). The determination of whether the case presents exceptional circumstances that warrant an exception to the general filing process will be made by the consular officer.
Guidance on the circumstances that may qualify as exceptional is available on the USCIS website at: http://www.uscis.gov/. Please contact the Consular Section for further information.
Required documents if filing with the embassy is allowed:
- Petition for Alien Relative, Form I-130 for each eligible relative (refer to Instructions for I-130 for more details)
- Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary, Form I-130A, if you are filing for your spouse
- Evidence of the petitioner’s status in the U.S. – such as a valid U.S. passport. Naturalized U.S. citizens should bring their naturalization certificates. Please prepare also photocopies of these documents.
- Birth certificates and notarized copies of them, as well as notarized translations of all documents that are not in English.
- Current marriage certificate (if marriage is the basis of the qualifying relationship, i.e. spouse or stepchild relationship) and notarized copies of them, as well as notarized translations of all documents that are not in English.
- Divorce decrees or death certificates showing the termination of all prior marriages of the petitioner and/or beneficiary (if marriage is the basis of the qualifying relationship, i.e. spouse or stepchild relationship). Additionally, please prepare notarized copies of the documents and notarized translations of all documents that are not in English.
- If the petitioner’s or beneficiary’s name is different from that shown on his/her birth certificate, all past marriage certificates or other name change court decrees. Additionally, please prepare notarized copies of the documents and notarized translations of all documents that are not in English.
- If an I-130 petition is filed on behalf of an adopted child, the original court order of adoption approval must be presented, as well as proof that the child has been in the legal custody of and resided with the parent(s) for at least two years. Additionally, please prepare notarized copies of the documents and notarized translations of all documents that are not in English.
- The I-130 petition filing fee is $535 , or the equivalent in euros (according to the official Embassy exchange rate), to be paid in cash or by credit card at the Embassy.
Process of filling the petition
Petitions may be filed by appointment only. Please contact us by phone or e-mail for scheduling your appointment. The petitioner and the beneficiary both must appear for an interview. Beneficiary’s spouse and/or children listed in Question 17 on the petition I-130, if any, do not need to be present at this stage.
Please collect the forms and documents identified above and submit them to the Consular Section. A consular officer will review the documents, and then interview the petitioner and the beneficiary to establish if the petition is clearly approvable. After the interview, additional checks and petition adjudication may take several days. In case of favorable decision, U.S. Embassy, Riga approves the petition and provides guidance to the petitioner and the beneficiary about the remaining steps in the immigrant visa process. For more information please see guidance for visa applicants with approved petitions.(PDF-193 KB)
