What to do when the consulate is unavailable

[notdutch 0]

Hello everyone! I am a US citizen living in the Netherlands. I have a job offer in the US which starts in a few weeks. I sent the Amsterdam consulate (the only one in the Netherlands) an email asking if I could file I-130 for my wife there. That was a week ago and I haven't gotten a reply. The consulate's phone number doesn't work. I have called the embassy and they said that the consulate is closed due to covid-19 and the employees are working from home. Since I assume that means I will not be able to file the I-130 in the Netherlands, I have sent emails to the consulates in Brussels and Frankfurt explaining the situation and asking if I could file it there.

 

When nobody is allowed to go to the consulate in person, can you have an appointment with a consular officer by video call to file the I-130?

 

Is getting a consulate in a country you don't live in to process an I-130 at all possible? Is there anything else I should try?

[payxibka 10,045]

11 minutes ago, notdutch said:

Hello everyone! I am a US citizen living in the Netherlands. I have a job offer in the US which starts in a few weeks. I sent the Amsterdam consulate (the only one in the Netherlands) an email asking if I could file I-130 for my wife there. That was a week ago and I haven't gotten a reply. The consulate's phone number doesn't work. I have called the embassy and they said that the consulate is closed due to covid-19 and the employees are working from home. Since I assume that means I will not be able to file the I-130 in the Netherlands, I have sent emails to the consulates in Brussels and Frankfurt explaining the situation and asking if I could file it there.

 

When nobody is allowed to go to the consulate in person, can you have an appointment with a consular officer by video call to file the I-130?

 

Is getting a consulate in a country you don't live in to process an I-130 at all possible? Is there anything else I should try?

You can only file at the consulate with jurisdiction over your residency 

[JeanneAdil 6,405]

https://nl.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/petitioning-outside-us/

 

Since the Netherlands does not have a USCIS field office, petitioners must file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, by mail to the USCIS Chicago Lockbox at one of the addresses below.

 

file your I 130 and USC returns to US to establish residency here

case will go thru normal spouse processing in a US office 

[JacobP 185]

40 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

https://nl.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/petitioning-outside-us/

 

Since the Netherlands does not have a USCIS field office, petitioners must file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, by mail to the USCIS Chicago Lockbox at one of the addresses below.

 

file your I 130 and USC returns to US to establish residency here

case will go thru normal spouse processing in a US office 

DCF does not require a USCIS Field Office if you qualify. It even says on that page "Beginning August 15, 2011, petitioners, who do not reside in a country with a USCIS field office, but who believe that their situation merits an exception, may request an exception to allow the Consular Section at the Embassy or Consulate to accept the filing.  Each request for an exception will be evaluated individually."

 

The consulate doesn't look 100% closed, a few people have had expedited interviews the past few months.

[payxibka 10,045]

59 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

https://nl.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/petitioning-outside-us/

 

Since the Netherlands does not have a USCIS field office, petitioners must file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, by mail to the USCIS Chicago Lockbox at one of the addresses below.

 

file your I 130 and USC returns to US to establish residency here

case will go thru normal spouse processing in a US office 

DCF is available at any consulate with extenuating circumstances.   

[Just Paul 4,595]

7 hours ago, notdutch said:

The consulate's phone number doesn't work

Have you tried the consulate US number as well?

[Just Paul 4,595]

7 hours ago, notdutch said:

Is getting a consulate in a country you don't live in to process an I-130 at all possible?

No.

 

Do you have an exceptional circumstance? 

[Nitas_man 3,100]

7 hours ago, Paul & Mary said:

No.

 

Do you have an exceptional circumstance? 

Generally an upcoming job change for the USC is considered exceptional.