Request Form to file an I-130 at the U.S. Embassy due to exceptional circumstances

While most immigrant visa petitions are filed in the United States, there are limited provisions for filing certain types of petition forms outside the United States. Please review the USCIS website for detailed guidance when an I-130 Petition for an Alien Relative can be accepted and adjudicated at the U.S. Embassy Bangkok.

If you believe you qualify for an exceptional situation that merits an exception from filing an I-130 petition in the United States, please submit the request form below.  The petitioner must be residing in Thailand, not living in the United States, and available to come to the U.S. Embassy to interview and deliver the I-130 petition in person. The beneficiary for whom a petition is filed must be able to remain in Thailand for the duration of time it takes to process the visa application.

Examples of exceptional circumstances include:

  • Military emergencies – A U.S. service member, who is abroad but who does not fall under the military blanket authorization for U.S. service members stationed abroad on military bases, becomes aware of a new deployment or transfer with little notice. This exception generally applies in cases where the U.S. service member is provided with exceptionally less notice than normally expected.
  • Medical emergencies – A petitioner or beneficiary is facing an urgent medical emergency that requires immediate travel.
  • Threats to personal safety – A petitioner or beneficiary is facing an imminent threat to personal safety. For example, a petitioner and beneficiary may have been forced to flee their country of residence due to civil strife or natural disaster and are in precarious circumstances in a different country outside of the United States.
  • Close to aging out – A beneficiary is within a few months of aging out of eligibility.
  • Petitioner has recently naturalized – A petitioner and family member(s) have traveled for the immigrant visa interview, but the petitioner has naturalized and the family member(s) requires a new petition based on the petitioner’s citizenship.
  • Adoption of a child – A petitioner has adopted a child abroad and has an imminent need to depart the country. This type of case should only be considered if the petitioner has a full and final adoption decree on behalf of the child and the adoptive parent(s) has had legal custody of and jointly resided with the child for at least 2 years.
  • Short notice of position relocation – A U.S. citizen petitioner, living and working abroad, has received a job offer in or reassignment to the United States with little notice for the required start date.

If your request is denied, please follow the instructions on the USCIS website to file your immigrant visa petition.

  • Max. file size: 5 MB.
  • Max. file size: 5 MB.
  • Applicants/Beneficiaries