Immigrant Visas
Spouses and unmarried children of U.S. citizens residing in Latvia for more than 6 months
The U.S. Embassy in Riga accepts immigrant petitions from American citizens filing on behalf of their spouse and unmarried children under 21 (including step-children if the parent-stepchild relationship was established before the child’s 18th birthday), if the petitioner and all beneficiaries reside in Latvia. In order to file the petition with the U.S.Embassy in Riga, petitioners are required to show that they have maintained continuous residency in Latvia for at least the last six months.
Required documents:
• Petition for Alien Relative Form I-130 for each beneficiary
• Biographic Information Forms G-325A for the petitioner with one photo attached. Please click for photo requirements.
• Biographic Information Forms G-325A for each beneficiary with one photo attached. Please click for photo requirements.
• Evidence of the petitioner's U.S. citizenship - such as a valid U.S. passport. Naturalized American citizens should bring their naturalization certificates.
• Evidence showing that the petitioner has resided in Latvia for the last six months, such as:
- Latvian residence/work permit
- Latvian passport if the petitioner is a dual national
- Employment or educational institution statements
- A copy of the orders if the petitioner is a member of the U.S. military stationed in the consular district
• Beneficiary's complete birth certificate
• Current complete marriage certificate
• Divorce decrees or death certificates showing the termination of all prior marriages of the petitioner and beneficiary (if marriage is the basis of the qualifying relationship, i.e. spouse or stepchild relationship)
• If the petitioner's or beneficiary's name is different from that on his/her birth certificate, all past marriage certificates or other name change court decrees
• If an I-130 petition is filed on behalf of an adopted child, the original court order on adoption approval has to 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
• Notarized translations of all documents that are not in English.
The I-130 petition filing fee is $355.00, or the equivalent in Latvian lats according to the Embassy exchange rate to be paid in cash or by credit card at the Embassy.
Process of filling the petition
Please put the above forms and documents together and submit them to the Consular Section's staff. A Consular Officer will then review the documents and interview the petitioner and beneficiary to establish if the petition is clearly approvable.
If the consular officer considers the petition clearly approvable, the petition and copies of the supporting documents will be returned to the petitioner in a sealed envelope for forwarding to the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, Poland. The original documents will be returned to the petitioner.
The U.S. Embassy in Warsaw conducts the required H.R.4472 Adam Walsh Act clearance on the petitioner. If the petitioner is cleared, the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw approves the petition and informs the petitioner about the immigrant visa application process.
If you do not meet the residence requirement, but believe that exigent humanitarian or emergency circumstances exist for I-130 petition filing purposes, please contact the Consular Section of the U.S.Embassy in Riga at +371 6703 6200 for further guidance.