Immigrant Visas

How to file an immigrant visa petition for a parent, in Amsterdam

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has delegated authority to Consular officers to approve petitions for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens who have their principal residence in the Netherlands and have maintained that residence for at least six months or more. 

The Consular officer will initially accept the petition but cannnot approve until the petitioner has been screened by the DHS, a law enforcement agency, as required by the provisions of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act ("Adam Walsh Act"), Pub. L. No 109-248, amended section of the Immigration and Nationality Act.  This may take about a week.  When upon completion of the screening the petition can be approved detailed application instructions will be mailed to the visa applicant.  A typical application for an immigrant visa for a parent should not have to exceed 10 weeks from approval.

To file an I-130 immediate relative petition with the Consulate General in Amsterdam for your parent(s), you have to be at least 21 years of age, and you will have to prepare and bring the following:

• Form I-130 immediate relative petition: one for each parent wishing to immigrate to the U.S.  Please fill out the forms as completely as you can.  The Consulate will assist you where necessary, when you come in to file;
• Original and copy of your birth certificate*
• Original and copy of Dutch residence permit(s). If dual national bring both U.S. and Dutch passports. If military bring originals and copies of your military ID card and orders stationing you in the Netherlands;
• Originals and copies of your passport and your parent's passport(s). If military and you do not have a U.S. passport, please bring the original and a copy of your U.S. birth certificate;
• Translations: Original and copy of sworn translations into English of all documents not originally in Dutch or English;
• The appropriate filing fee;
• The U.S. citizen must come in and file in person during the immigration service opening hours. An appointment is not necessary.;
• Your parent(s) is/are most welcome to accompany you but it is not a strict requirement, as long as you bring all original documents.** 

(All copies can be plain, ledgible photocopies. Apostilles are not required for immigration purposes.)

*If married in The Netherlands, only the Dutch civil marriage certificate is acceptable for U.S. immigration purposes.  An international version of the marriage certificate can be obtained from the city hall where the marriage was performed.  It must come from the 'Dienst van de burgerlijke stand', the Civil Registry Office, and most often has a letter B in the right hand top corner.  Dutch divorce certificates come from the same office, as the same document B, but with in the remarks box the annotation 'Divorced' with the date the divorce was registered.  If the prior marriage was not performed in the Netherlands the Dutch divorce document is available in Dutch only.  You do not have to translate it.

**If the beneficiary is not Dutch the Consulate may ask for proof he/she has permission to reside in the Netherlands long enough to process the immigrant visa application.  A Dutch residence permit is preferred but you may demonstrate this in other ways.