Consular I-130 Filing in Exceptional Circumstances: 2025 Guide for U.S. Citizens Abroad

If you are a U.S. citizen living or traveling outside the United States and need to bring your spouse, child, or parent to the U.S., you may be able to file Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) directly at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

 As of August 1, 2025, the USCIS Policy Manual allows the Department of State (DOS) to accept and approve only “clearly approvable” petitions filed abroad in exceptional circumstances or under certain blanket authorizations.

When Can You File an I-130 Abroad?

Exceptional circumstances may include:

• Military emergencies – sudden deployment or transfer of a U.S. service member.
• Medical emergencies – urgent travel for medical care.
• Safety threats – fleeing civil unrest, war, or disaster.
• Child close to aging out of eligibility.
• Recent naturalization – petitioner’s status change requires a new petition.
• Adoption cases – urgent departure with an adopted child.
• Short-notice job relocation for the U.S. citizen petitioner abroad.

Blanket Authorizations (No Extra Proof Needed)

Certain groups can file without proving exceptional circumstances:

• U.S. service members stationed at U.S. military bases abroad on official orders.
• U.S. government employees assigned to missions abroad.
• Individuals directly affected by large-scale disruptive events (e.g., war, natural disaster).

How the Consular I-130 Process Works

Procedures vary by consulate:

• Some require email pre-approval with evidence before scheduling an appointment.
• Others use online request forms followed by in-person filing.
• The petitioner must appear in person at the consulate.
• The petition must be clearly approvable, with strong proof of the relationship and U.S. citizenship.

Important Notes for 2025

• Local filing is discretionary — qualifying does not guarantee approval.
• If your request is refused, you can still file with USCIS in the U.S. and request expedited processing.
• The National Visa Center (NVC) is not involved in consular-filed I-130 cases — the embassy processes them directly.

Need help with an I-130 exceptional circumstances case?

At Sverdloff Law Group, we help U.S. citizens worldwide navigate urgent family immigration matters. Our team will assess your eligibility, prepare a strong, clearly approvable petition, and coordinate with the U.S. consulate to expedite your case.

Schedule a consultation today and get trusted legal guidance from a family immigration lawyer with proven results.