Visas
The Consular Section of the United States Embassy in Bamako, Mali is committed to providing clients visa services respectfully, efficiently, and in accordance with U.S. law.
Non Immigrant Visas
The Consular Section at the U.S. Embassy Bamako provides nonimmigrant visa services to individuals applying in Mali.
For detailed information, please click on the Nonimmigrant Visa link on the left side of the page.
Immigrant Visas
Please be advised that the U.S. Embassy Bamako does not currently process immigrant visas for Mali. Immigrant visas for residents and nationals of Mali are processed by the U.S. Embassy in Dakar, Senegal.
Please note that effective August 15, 2011, petitioners residing overseas are no longer be able to routinely file Forms I-130, Petitions for Alien Relative, with U.S. Embassies and Consulates except in locations where U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has a public counter presence within the Embassy or Consulate. Petitioners residing overseas in countries where USCIS does not have a public counter presence are required, to file their Forms I-130 by mail with the USCIS Chicago lockbox. U.S. Embassies and Consulates that do not have a USCIS presence will only be able to accept and process Forms I-130 in exceptional circumstances, as outlined below. Forms I-130 that were properly filed at an Embassy or Consulate overseas where USCIS did not have a presence before August 15, 2011, are affected by this change.
Filing Instructions beginning August 15, 2011:
Beginning August 15, 2011, petitioners residing overseas who wish to file a Form I-130, Petition for alien relative, may do so as follows:
- If the petitioner resides in a country in which USCIS has a public counter presence, the Form I-130 may be filed directly with the USCIS field office (see instructions below) or through the USCIS Chicago Lockbox at one of the below addresses.
- If the petitioner resides in a country where USCIS does not have a public counter presence, the 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 athttp://www.uscis.gov/ or contact USCIS by phone at 1-800-375-5283.
Filing at USCIS Overseas field offices:
Petitioners residing in a country where USCIS has a field office, with a public counter, may choose to file the Form I-130 either through the Chicago lockbox or at the USCIS field office. Petitioners should contact the USCIS field office with any questions regarding the filing of petitions. For more information on where USCIS has overseas field offices and contact information, please Visit: http://www.uscis.gov/international.
Exceptional Filing at U.S. Embassies or Consulates
without a USCIS Field Office:
Petitioners, who do not reside in a country with a USCIS field office, but who believe that their situation merits an exception, may request an exception to allow the Consular Section at the Embassy or Consulate to accept the filing. Each request for an exception will be evaluated individually.
A petitioner seeking to file a Form I-130 at an Embassy or Consulate where USCIS does not have a presence 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 Embassy or Consulate. The determination of whether the case presents exceptional circumstances that warrant an exception to the general filing process will be made by USCIS. USCIS will be publishing guidance on the circumstances that may qualify as exceptional on their website at:
http://www.uscis.gov/ilink/docView/AFM/HTML/AFM/0-0-0-1/0-0-0-3481/0-0-0-6254.html
Please contact the Consular Section at consularbamako@state.gov or (+223) 20-70-23-05 for further information.
Refugee and Asylee Processing
Refugee and Asylee cases are initiated in the United States by the primary petitioner.
The Consular Section at the U.S. Embassy Bamako processes refugee and asylee petition, once the Department of Homeland Security has approved the petition.
For detailed information, please click on the Refugee & Asylee Processing link on the left side of the page.
