Immigrant Visas

Immigrant Visa Petitions:

U.S. Embassy Bamako now accepts I-130 petitions for immediate relative immigrant classification from American citizens who are resident in Mali.

In January, 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 as required by the Adam Walsh Act. The Department of State and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) have developed a mechanism by which consular posts abroad may once again accept petitions for immediate relative immigrant classification from American citizens who are resident in their consular districts. For additional information, please click here.

To demonstrate residency, American Citizen petitioners must be able to show that they have permission to reside in Mali and that they have been doing so continuously for at least six months before filing the petition.  Individuals who are in the country on a temporary status, such as student or tourist, would not be considered to meet the residency standard.

Immigrant visa petitions for immediate relative classification are accepted during American Citizen Services hours on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is a charge of $355.00 to file an I-130 petition. Instructions and the I-130 form may be picked up at the embassy during American Citizen Services hours or are available online on the UCIS Web site at http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-130.pdf .