Department of State Releases U.S. Visa Guidance for U.S. Citizen Petitioners Filing for Lebanese Family Members

Recently, the Department of State released guidance to assist U.S. Citizens petitioning for family members in Lebanon.

Here are the highlights:

To facilitate family reunification, full immigrant visa processing has resumed for Lebanese family members of U.S. citizens, at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.
Routine nonimmigrant visa processing is not yet available. Individuals may apply for a nonimmigrant visa at any U.S. embassy or consulate.

Immigrant Visa Information

The National Visa Center (NVC) will directly email petitioners, beneficiaries, and representatives of spouses, children under 21, and parents of U.S. citizens with approved I-130 petitions to provide an immigrant visa interview appointment date and instructions. Applicants must check their email for updates.

Immigrant visa cases will continue to be processed according to the final action date published in the Visa Bulletin. In November/December, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut will schedule visa interviews for currently eligible family preference immigrant visa cases and nonimmigrant Fiancé (K-1) visa cases.

Case Transfers from Beirut to Other Embassies/Consulates

Individuals wishing to transfer their immigrant visa case from the U.S. Embassy in Beirut to another U.S. embassy or consulate may contact NVC via the Public Inquiry Form and in the “Enter Your Inquiry Below” box, include:

- The U.S. embassy or consulate where they would like their case transferred; and

- Likely dates of travel and preferred date for a new appointment.

Applicants must arrange their own travel to an alternate embassy or consulate for their visa appointment, including complying with any visa requirements for entering that country to attend their visa appointment.

Immigrant Visa Inquiries for Lebanese Family Members of U.S. Citizens

For any other inquiries regarding immigrant visas for Lebanese family members of U.S. citizens, you must contact Embassy Beirut’s Visa Navigator at lb.usembassy.gov/visa-navigator/ or email BeirutIV@state.gov.

Guidance for U.S. Citizen Petitioners Seeking to File an Immigrant Visa Petition

Petitioners inside the United States

U.S. Citizen petitioners in the United States must file the I-130 Petition for Alien Relative with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) online or by mail. Online filings are faster and highly recommended. Petitioners may also request expedited processing if they satisfy any of the expedite criteria.

Petitioners Outside the United States

U.S. citizen petitioners residing abroad may qualify to file a petition in-person at a U.S. embassy or consulate for their spouse, unmarried child under age 21, and parents. You must contact the embassy or consulate where you would like to file a petition to request this service.

Nonimmigrant Visa Information

Routine nonimmigrant visa processing are not available in Beirut
Individuals can apply for a nonimmigrant visa at any U.S. embassy or consulate.
Application instructions vary by embassy. Follow the instructions on the website of the embassy or consulate where you would like to apply: List of U.S. Embassies and Consulates.
If you have a nonimmigrant visa application pending in Beirut, it cannot be transferred. You must reapply at another location.

To learn more, please click here.

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