Embassy of the United States

categories of immigrant visas

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.

How to File a Petition for an Immediate Relative

Please note that only U.S. citizens, residing in Belgium or Luxemburg for at least the preceding 6 months, may file an I-130 immigrant visa petition for their immediate relative relative (spouse, child or parent) at the U.S. Embassy in Brussels.

U.S. citizens, residing in Belgium or Luxemburg for at least the preceding 6 months, who wish to apply for an immigrant visa for an immediate relative (spouse, child or parent) may file an I-130 immigrant visa petition at the Immigrant Visa Section of the U.S. Embassy in Brussels. Both the petitioner (the U.S. citizen) and the beneficiary (the immediate relative) need to come in person to the Embassy on Monday, Tuesday or Thursday between 2:00 and 3:00 P.M. No appointment is necessary.

You need to submit the following documents:

• For the petitioner, your valid U.S. passport or naturalization certificate or birth certificate (original or certified copy) + proof that you are legally residing in Belgium or Luxemburg for at least the preceeding 6 months, e.g., identity or residence card
• for the beneficiary, the valid passport
• Documents proving your relationship (original or certified copy):
  • if you are filing for a spouse, the marriage certificate
  • if you are filing for a child, the child's birth certificate
  • if you are filing for a parent, your birth certificate and proof of U.S. nationality if you were not born in the United States
  • A divorce decree or death certificate to prove termination of any previous marriage on your or your spouse's side
• One color photograph for the petitioner and the beneficiary
• An application fee of $ 355.00 per application payable in USD or euros in cash or with credit card (Visa, American Express, Master Card, Discover)

Please also fill out and bring the following forms:

Once the I-130 petition has been approved by the consular officer, you will receive a package of instructions on how to proceed the application process, i.e., what records to collect, etc.

All supporting documents which are not in English or not in one of the three official languages of Belgium (Dutch, French or German) need to be accompanied by a sworn translation in English.