Immigrant Visas
The three principal ways to immigrate to the United States are through:
- A family relationship
- Employment, or
- The immigrant diversity program, lottery once a year.
In all cases, the immigration process requires a petition (application) to be filed on the inmigrant’s behalf. Forms and the accompanying fees for filing a petition may be found at: www.uscis.gov
Immigrant Visas New Policy
Effective August 15, 2011, petitioners residing overseas are no longer 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. USCIS does not have such presence at Embassy San Jose. Petitioners residing in Costa Rica must therefore file their Forms I-130 by mail with the USCIS Chicago lockbox. U.S. Embassy San Jose 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 Embassy San Jose before August 15, 2011, will not be affected by this change.
Filing Instructions:
As of 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 Costa Rica or any other 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 or contact USCIS by phone at 1-800-375-5283.
Exceptional Filing at U.S. Embassies or Consulates without a USCIS Field Office:
Beginning August 15, 2011, petitioners residing in Costa Rica, but who believe that their situation merits an exception, may request an exception to allow the Consular Section at the Embassy 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 .
Please contact the Consular Section at U.S. Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica for more information: Monday through Friday, except Wednesday, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., to the following telephone numbers: 2519-2274, 2519-2458 or through the email address: sanjoseIV@state.gov.