immigrant Visas

Filing Instructions

U.S. Embassy Lisbon will accept petitions for immediate relative immigrant classification from American citizens who are resident in Portugal.

To demonstrate residency in Portugal, American Citizen petitioners must be able to show that they have permission to reside in Portugal and that they have been doing so continuously for at least six months before filing the petition. Individuals who are in the country on a temporary status, such as student or tourist, do not meet the residency standard.

All lawful permanent residents, and American Citizens resident in the United States or with a permanent address in the United States, must file I-130 petitions at the USCIS Service Center having jurisdiction over their place of residence (as indicated on the USCIS website: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-130.pdf).