Marriage in Russia & Immigrant Visas
Immigrant Visa Petitions filed in St. Petrsburg
Please note that only American citizens residing (for at least six months) in St. Petersburg Consular district may submit I-130 petitions at our office. Non-residents should file at the Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the U.S.
Required documents
Although the U.S. Consulate General in St. Petersburg does not issue immigrant visas (immigrant visa processing is done at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow), we do accept immigrant visa petitions (Petition for Alien Relative, or I-130) on an exceptional basis if certain conditions are met, particularly the residency requirement. This petition is filed by you (the “petitioner”) on behalf of your alien relative (the “beneficiary”), and is the very beginning of the process. We typically may only accept petitions for the spouse, minor children and parents of an American Citizen. Petitions for other immigration categories must be filed with USCIS in the United States.
Please read the instructions carefully and then complete the I-130 and the two Biographic Information forms (G-325A). You may contact the Consulate General for information about obtaining these forms. Once you have completed the forms and collected the appropriate documents (see list below) you may schedule an appointment with the American Citizen Services at http://stpetersburg.usconsulate.gov/visit.html. Please choose “Notarial & Other Services” when making your appointment.
You will need to submit the I-130, G-325A, and the following original documents with a photocopy. Include translations for any of the following documents that are not in English (Neither photocopies nor translations need to be notarized):
• Biographic Information Forms (G-325A), one for U.S. citizen, one for each beneficiary
• Two photographs each for U.S. citizen and beneficiaries. Earrings may not be worn in photographs (See separate Instructions)
• U.S. citizen's passport with photocopy of data page
• Divorce decrees or other documents stating that previous marriages were legally terminated (if applicable) with photocopy
• International and domestic passport of beneficiary with photocopy of data page
• Birth certificate of beneficiary with photocopy
• Marriage certificate (if applicable) with photocopy
• $355 fee
If you are filing a petition for your spouse's dependent children please request additional forms.
When you submit your petition at the Consulate, the consular officer will return to you the originals of the above documents. Photocopies and translations remain a part of the file. Our office will mail the petition to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. If the U.S. Embassy in Moscow does not contact the beneficiary in approximately 8 weeks, the beneficiary may contact the Embassy via e-mail at consulmo@state.gov to find out the status of the case and schedule a date for the visa interview at the Embassy. An immigrant visa is valid for six months after the date of issue.
Note: If you have further questions about the immigrant visa process or need to schedule an interview, please contact the Immigrant Visa Section of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow via e-mail at consulmo@state.gov. The address of the Embassy is: 121099 Moscow, Bolshoy Deviatinsky Pereulok No. 8, Immigrant Visa Section. Website: http://moscow.usembassy.gov.
Updated April 2009