Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens

Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens include:

• the spouse and minor (under 21 years old) unmarried children of a U.S. citizen
• the parents of a U.S. citizen who is over the age of 21.

There is no limit on the number of visas that may be issued each year to this category of immigrants.

Effective August 15, 2011, petitioners residing overseas
will no longer be able to routinely file Forms I-130,
Petitions for Alien Relative, with U.S. Embassies and
Consulates.  Petitioners residing in Belgium will be required to file their Forms I-130 by mail with the USCIS Chicago lockbox: 

Filing Instructions beginning August 15, 2011:

Form I-130 must be filed with the USCIS Chicago Lockbox at one of
the addresses below, unless the petitioner requests and
is granted an exception based on one of the criteria
described below:

USCIS Chicago Lockbox addresses for regular mail
deliveries:

USCIS
P.O. Box 804625
Chicago, IL 60680-4107

USCIS Chicago Lockbox address for express mail and
courier deliveries:

USCIS
Attn: I-130
131 South Dearborn-3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517

For additional information about how to file a Form I-
130 with the USCIS Chicago lockbox, please see the USCIS
website at http://www.uscis.gov/ or contact USCIS by phone at 1-
800-375-5283.

Exceptional Filing at the U.S. Consular Section in Belgium: 
Beginning August 15, 2011, petitioners residing in Belgium,who
believe that their situation merits an exception, may
request an exception to allow the Consular Section in Brussels
to accept the filing.  Each request for an exception will be evaluated individually. A petitioner seeking to file a Form I-130 in Brussels should contact the Consular Section to request consideration of the request for exception and explain the circumstances in detail.  The Consular Section will then relay the request for an exception to the USCIS field office with
jurisdiction over the Consulate.  The determination of whether the case presents exceptional circumstances that warrant an exception to the general filing process will be made by USCIS.  For guidance on what an exceptional circumstance may be, please check the USCIS website.

Please contact the Consular Section at Brusselsvisainquiry@state.gov for further information.