Warden Messages
The U.S. Embassy in Doha Resumes Acceptance of Immigrant Visa Petitions for Immediate Relatives of Resident U.S. Citizens
Embassy of the United States of America
Doha, Qatar
March 22, 2007
The U.S. Embassy in Doha has resumed accepting Immigrant Visa petitions for the immediate relatives of U.S. citizens residing in Qatar. 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. Effective immediately, consular posts abroad will accept petitions for immediate relative immigrant classification from U.S. citizens who are resident in their consular districts. U.S. citizens may only file petitions for a spouse, child, or parent.
To demonstrate residency in Doha, U.S. Citizen petitioners must provide a valid Qatar residence permit which they have held for at least six months before filing the petition. Individuals who are in the country on a temporary status, such as students, tourists, or short-term contract workers, would not be considered to meet the residency standard. However, the Consular Section will accept petitions from members of the U.S. armed forces posted to Qatar, as well as true emergency cases, such as life and death or health and safety.
All lawful permanent residents, and American Citizens resident in 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 USCIS website:
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-130.pdf).
Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the U.S. Embassy in Doha’s website, http://qatar.usembassy.gov/, and the U.S. Department of State's travel website at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Middle East and North Africa Public Announcement, and other Travel Warnings and Public Announcements can be found. The U.S. Embassy also encourages U.S. citizens to review to “A Safe Trip Abroad,” found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html, which includes valuable security information for those both living and traveling abroad. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.
Citizens living and residing in Qatar are advised to register their presence in the country through the U.S. Department of State’s automated online registration system, https://travelregistration.state.gov/. U.S. citizens may also contact the Consular Section at the U.S. Embassy via email at ACSconsularDoha@state.gov or by calling 488-4101, extension 6500. Further updates will be forthcoming when new information is available. This complete message is available on the Embassy’s website at http://qatar.usembassy.gov/.