If you are a U.S. citizen who is physically present overseas in Italy with your Afghan, Ethiopian, or Ukrainian immediate family members and have not yet filed an immigrant visa petition with USCIS, you may request to locally file a Form I-130 petition at the U.S. Consulate General in Naples, Italy. This applies only to U.S. citizens affected by the large-scale disruptive events in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, and Ukraine. Such citizens must be physically present in Italy. They can request to locally file on behalf of their spouses, unmarried children under the age of 21, and parents who fled Afghanistan after August 2, 2021; Ethiopia after November 1, 2020; or Ukraine after February 1, 2022.
If you believe you may qualify to locally file a Form I-130 petition, contact the Immigrant Visa unit at IVNaples@state.gov.
If you have already filed a Form I-130 petition with USCIS for your immediate relative and it has not yet been approved, you may inquire with USCIS regarding expedition: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-guidance/how-to-make-an-expedite-request.
Further information about the immigrant visa process is available at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate.html
For more information for nationals of Ukraine, please see https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/information-for-nationals-of-Ukraine.html
Additional information for visa applicants from Ukraine is also available at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/announcement-of-processing-posts-for-visa-applicants-from-Ukraine.html.
The U.S. Consulate General in Naples is the sole immigrant, fiancé(e), and diversity visa-issuing post in Italy. We are also responsible for processing immigrant, fiancé(e), and diversity visa applications for residents of Italy, San Marino, the Vatican, and Malta. These services are provided by appointment only, and only after applicants are documentarily ready for processing. Please note that the immigrant visa process involves two steps: filing a petition with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service office and, after that petition is approved, visa interview at the U.S. Consulate General in Naples.
Application Information
General Information
Your primary sources of immigration information are:
- The Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenshipand Immigration Services (USCIS) web site provides information on the legal requirements for immigration and on how to petition a relative to receive an immigrant visa.
- The Department of State Immigrant Visa Web page Immigrant Visa Information For You provides general information about immigrant, fiancé(e), and diversity visas.
- For information about the Diversity Visas program, follow this link to Diversity Visas.
Where to begin the process of filing a relative’s or worker’s Immigrant visa?
How to file a Form I-130 petition:
U.S. citizens residing in Italy must file the Form I-130, Petition forAlien Relative, by mail with the USCIS Dallas Lockbox facility. Please visit USCIS website for details.
Exceptions for certain U.S. government employees and U.S. military service members stationed in Italy:
Consular officers at the U.S. Consulate General Naples may accept filing of the Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative filed by qualified U.S. military service members stationed permanently at a military base in Italy and by U.S. government employee assigned overseas for any immediate relative case.
“Exceptional Situations”:
U.S. Consulate General Naples may accept filing of the Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, from petitioners who believe they have exceptional situations that would merit an exception from filing by mail to the USCIS Dallas Lockbox.
USCIS published guidance (PDF 60KB) on circumstances that may qualify as exceptional.
If you believe that your situation merits an exception, please email the Immigrant Visa Unit at IVNaples@state.gov to request an exception and explain your circumstances in detail. If your request to file an I-130 petition with U.S. Consulate General Naples is not authorized by USCIS, then you must file the petition with the USCIS Dallas Lockbox.
If you believe that your situation qualifies, please email the Immigrant Visa Unit at IVNaples@state.gov to request an exception and explain your circumstances in detail. Please note that exceptional filing of a petition locally must be done in person by the petitioner only after their name has been added to the access list. Mail-in filings will be rejected.
Form I-360 petitions filed by a widow or widower of U.S. citizen:
U.S. Consulate General Naples may accept filing of the I-360 petitions filed by a widow or widower.
If you believe that your situation qualifies, please email the Immigrant Visa Unit at IVNaples@state.gov to request an exception and explain your circumstances in detail. Please note that exceptional filing of a petition locally must be done in person by the petitioner only after their name has been added to the access list. Mail-in filings will be rejected.
Immigrant and Fiancé(e) Visa Petitions for Residents of Malta
U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and employers based in the United States who wish to file immigrant or fiancé(e) visa petitions for residents of Malta should contact their nearest U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in the United States.
The U.S. Embassy Malta Consular Section does not process Immigrant Visas. U.S. citizens resident in Malta who wish to file immigrant visa petitions for residents of Malta should submitted their petition to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Dallas lock-box. Immigrant visa interviews for residents of Malta are conducted by appointment at the U.S. Consulate General Naples – Immigrant Visa Unit.
The U.S. Embassy Malta’s Visa Section inquiry line is +356 2561 4198. This service is available Monday and Wednesday between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., except on U.S. and Maltese holidays.
