IMMIGRANT VISAS
Family-Based Immigrant Visas
As of January 22, 2007, consular offices abroad were instructed to cease accepting certain immigrant visa petitions because consular officers lacked the means to perform the required criminal background checks on American citizen petitioners, as required by the Adam Walsh Act.
Subsequently, the Department of State and USCIS worked to develop a mechanism whereby USCIS will perform these required "Adam Walsh Act" checks for any petitions accepted abroad by consular officers.
Effective immediately, consular posts abroad will accept petitions for immediate relative immigrant classification from American citizens who are resident in their consular districts, including members of the armed forces, as well as true emergency cases, such as life and death or health and safety, and others determined to be in the national interest.
To demonstrate residency in this consular district, the American Citizen petitioners must be able to show that they have permission to reside in Bulgaria and that they have been doing so continuously for at least six months before filing the petition. Individuals who are in Bulgaria on a temporary status, such as student or tourist, would not be considered to meet the residency standard.
All legal permanent residents, and American Citizens resident in the United States or with a permanent address in the United States, will file I-130 petitions at the USCIS Service Center having jurisdiction over their place of residence as indicated on the USCIS website.