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Immigrant Visas

General Information and Visa Types

In general, in order to be eligible to apply for an immigrant visa, a foreign citizen must be sponsored by a U.S. citizen relative(s) or by a prospective employer. Unlike most other immigrant categories, Immediate Relatives are not subject to numerical limits under immigration law. Major immigrant categories are:

  • Immediate Relatives
  • Special Immigrants
  • Family-sponsored
  • Employer-sponsored
  • Diversity Lottery Winners

For more information on who can file for an Immigrant Visa, types of immigrant visas and annual quota, please visit http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/immigrants_1340.html.

All immigrant visas processing for residents of Belarus is done at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, Poland. For further information, contact Embassy Warsaw.

Filing an Immigrant Visa Petition for an Immediate Family Member

A petition for an alien relative (spouse, parent or minor child), Form I-130, may be filed only your local office of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the Department of Homeland Security. Please follow the instructions to file the I-130 at the appropriate domestic office of USCIS.  Petitioners who do not have a residence in the U.S. should contact the embassy at ConsularMinsk@state.gov for guidance.

Once your I-130 petition has been approved, it will be forwarded to the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw for action. Your spouse (parent, minor child) will receive "Packet 3" from the Embassy in Warsaw. This packet will ask your family member to collect various documents for submission to Warsaw. Once your family members are documentarily qualified for their immigrant visa(s), they will be invited to Warsaw for visa interview.

Fiancé (e) or Immigrant Visa

An American citizen may file a petition for a fiance(e) or immigrant visa for a Belarusian fiancé(e) or spouse. Legal permanent residents may not file a fiance(e), but may petition for their spouses to immigrate to the U.S. Immigrant visas for spouses of legal permanent residents are subject to a quota. Visas for spouses of U.S. citizens are not subject to a quota. All fiancé(e) and immigrant visas for Belarusian citizens are processed at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, Poland. If you require additional information, please contact the Immigrant Visa Unit, U.S. Embassy in Warsaw by fax +48-22-504-2088 or by email: publicwrw@state.gov (for Immigrant Visas) or fiancewrw@state.gov (for Fiance Visas).

Filing a Petition for a Fiancé (e) Visa

A petition for a fiancé (e) visa, Form I-129F, may only be filed in the United States. This petition may be filed at any office of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Once your fiancé (e) visa petition has been approved, it will be forwarded to the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw for processing. Your fiancé (e) will be invited to Warsaw for a medical examination and for a visa interview. Please contact your local DHS office in the U.S. to initiate processing of fiancé (e) petition and visa.

Once Your Immigrant Visa or Fiancé Visa Petition is Approved

 

Medical Exam

Applicants may obtain the required medical exam either here in Belarus or in Poland. All visa applicants must bring one color photograph (in addition to photograph(s) required for their visa application) and their passport to the physical exam. Children under 14 should be accompanied by at least one parent or a guardian. The only medical provider approved for performing this exam in Belarus is:

IOM International Organization for Migration
Operations Unit
3, Gorny Pereulok
Minsk 220005
Republic of Belarus
Tel.: +375 17 288 25 41
         +375 17 288 25 42   
         +375 17 288 2744
Fax:  +375 17 288 27 44
E-mail: IOMMinskOperationsUnit@iom.int

There is a fee for this exam, which is paid directly to IOM. If you need additional testing or vaccinations, you will be charged a separate fee for each. The Embassy in Warsaw, Poland can provide you with a listing of approved medical providers in Poland if you choose to have the exam performed there.

Police Certificates

Police certificates are available in Belarus. You can obtain one at a police office at the place of your registration. Those registered in Minsk can apply to the Information and Analysis Center for the city of Minsk, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Dobromyslenski Per. 3, Minsk Belarus. The operating hours are Wednesday 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. For more information, please call +375 17 2294666.