Immigrant Visas

The Embassy will accepts I-130 petitions for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens on by appointment only. U.S. citizens may request an appointment to petition for an immediate relative by email or fax anytime, or by phone Sundays and Wednesdays 2-4 p.m. only. Please include the petitioner’s name, the beneficiary’s name, their relationship and a telephone number in your request. The Embassy cannot accept petitions from Legal Permanent Residents or U.S. citizens who are not resident in Yemen. Such petitioners should file petitions for their relatives at their local Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services office in the U.S.

Priority dates

U.S. law limits the number of visas that can be issued each year for all immigrant visa categories except immediate relative cases. If visas in your immigrant visa category are limited, you must wait until a visa becomes available before the consulate will process your case and issue you a visa. The time you must wait depends upon your priority date (e.g. the date the petition was filed) and your visa category. When your priority date becomes “current,” it means that a limited number of visas are available in your category. To find out whether visas are available in your category, go to the Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Bulletin Page or phone 001-202-663-1225.

Processing current and immediate relative cases

If the Immigration Service sent you a Notice of Approval in an immediate relative case, or if your petition is for a numerically limited category with a current priority date, the consulate can process your case.

If your case is current or is an immediate relative case, your alien relative beneficiary can activate his case by requesting an interview appointment by mail. The request should include a copy of the "Notice of Approval of Petition" provided by the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and should be mailed or faxed to the attention of the Immigrant Visa Unit.