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Immigration to the U.S.
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The 2010 Diversity Visa Lottery season is now open. Applications will be accepted from October 2, 2008 until midday on December 1, 2008. Estonian citizens are eligible to apply as are Russian citizens. This is a change from previous years when Russian citizens were not eligible to apply. For additional information about the program and for specific instructions on how to apply, please visit the following website: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1318.html

Immigration to the U.S.

To receive an immigrant visa, applicants must qualify in one of several categories. Detailed information about immigrant visa categories, including visas for spouses/children of U.S. citizens, is available at the State Department's website and the website of the Bureau of Immigration and Citizenship Services.

Embassy Tallinn accepts I-130 petitions for immediate relatives from American citizens resident in Estonia; and from non-resident Americans, if their cases involve true emergencies (life and death or health and safety), or are of national interest.

  • How to file an I-130 petition in Tallinn for your spouse

    American citizen are considered resident in Estonia if they can show they have permission to reside in Estonia 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.

    Examples of family emergency include minor children who would be unexpectedly left without a caretaker. Examples of national interest include facilitating the travel of United States military and other USG direct hire employees assigned overseas who are pending transfer on orders and need to petition for immigrant classification of their spouse and minor children at posts overseas.

    All lawful permanent residents, and American Citizens resident in the United States or with a permanent address in the United States, must file I-130 petitions at the USCIS Service Center having jurisdiction over their place of residence (as indicated on the website: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-130.pdf). Fiancée I-129F petitions must also be filed with USCIS in the United States.

    Processing of U.S. immigrant and fiancée visas for Estonia residents at U.S. Embassy Helsinki is being phased out, with all such processing soon to take place instead in Tallinn. Applicants with cases already pending in Helsinki, however, should expect further processing there, unless notified in writing of a change. Applicants with cases filed with USCIS in the United States should follow the written instructions they receive regarding where to apply for the visa.