How to file an immigrant visa petition for your spouse 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 it 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.  From then on a typical application for a spousal immigrant visa can be completed in about ten weeks time.

To file an I-130 immediate relative petition with the Consulate General in Amsterdam for your spouse as beneficiary, you will have to prepare and bring the following (click on the links for forms and further guidance):

• Form I-130 immediate relative petition. The instructions on this page prevail over the instructions attached to the form, which are for filing with the USCIS.;
• Form G-325A for petitioner: one page filled out and signed by the U.S. citizen
• Form G-325A for beneficiary: one page filled out and signed by the intending immigrant. Form G-325A prints in four pages.  Any one completed page for petitioner and beneficiary is sufficient. You do NOT have to sign in front of a consular officer.;
  Please fill out all forms as completely as you can.  The Consulate will assist you where necessary, when you come in to file.;
• Photographs, 2" x 2" format: one of the U.S. citizen petitioner and one of the intending immigrant.  Please attach the pictures to the bottom of your G-325A forms.
• Original and photocopy of your marriage certificate*
• Original and photocopy of all divorce certificates*/decrees, if applicable;
• Original and photocopy of death certificate(s), if applicable;
• Original and photocopy of Dutch residence permit(s). If dual national bring both your U.S. and Dutch passport. If military bring originals and copies of your military ID card and orders stationing you in the Netherlands;
• Originals and copies of both your passport(s) and your spouse's passport. Copies can be of the datapage only.  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 in Dutch or English;
• The appropriate filing fee;
• You, the U.S. citizen, must come in and file in person during the immigration service opening hours. An appointment is not necessary.;
• Your spouse is 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 is acceptable for U.S. immigration purposes.  An international version of the Dutch 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 your spouse 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.