How to Apply

Any applicant for an immigrant visa must be the beneficiary of an approved petition.

Applicants who reside in Portugal who believe they are entitled to immigrant status based on a relationship to a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident should request their relatives to a file Form I-130 with the nearest United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) office in the United States. If the petitioner also resides in Portugal, or any other country where 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 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 at www.uscis.gov or contact USCIS by phone at 1-800-375-5283.

Applicants for employment based immigrant visas, who believe they are entitled to immigrant status based on proposed employment in the United States, must have an approved Form I-140 from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). Prior to receiving such approval, applicants must obtain Department of Labor certification that there are no qualified workers available in the United States to perform the proposed type of employment.