Direct Consular Filing Through Frankfurt: What You Need to Know

Direct Consular Filing Through Frankfurt: What You Need to Know

The U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt has become one of the busiest Direct Consular Filing (DCF) and U.S. immigration visa hubs in Europe due to the closure of a number of USCIS international field offices throughout Europe. The Frankfurt consulate as a result has absorbed responsibility for immigration visa applicants across central Europe, including the following countries; Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Cyprus, Croatia, the Netherlands, and more. Now all cases pertaining to nationals and U.S. citizens residing within the specified countries are handled by the consulate in Frankfurt rather than their local U.S. embassy or consulate. 

Due to the main consulate being outside of many people’s countries, the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt may allow applicants to mail in their requests as well as their complete application (consisting of the I-130 petition and necessary documents). However, this does not apply to nationals or residents of all countries handled through Frankfurt. You must check with the consulate in Frankfurt to make sure whether or not you need to appear in person to file your application. 

What is Direct Consular Filing? 

Direct Consular Filing is a process that allows certain U.S. citizens residing abroad to file a Form I-130 (Petition for an Alien Relative) directly with a U.S. embassy rather than sending it to a USCIS service center in the U.S. In qualifying cases, this can substantially shorten processing times.

DCF is available only in exceptional circumstances, and approval of a DCF request is entirely at the discretion of the Consular Section in the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt.

The U.S. consulate in Frankfurt considers DCF requests under circumstances such as:

• Military emergencies 
• Medical emergencies affecting the petitioner or beneficiary 
• Threats to personal safety, including domestic violence or regional instability 
• Child “ageing out” (approaching 21 years of age) 
• Recent naturalization of the U.S. citizen petitioner 
• Adoption cases 
• Short-notice U.S. job relocation or transfer 
• U.S. military members stationed in Croatia 
• Widow(er) of a U.S. citizen self-petitioning 

Applicants must clearly state which category applies and include documentation to substantiate the claim.

The Form I-130 filing fee for DCF is generally $675 USD, payable directly to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Accepted payment methods at the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt are typically:

• U.S. Cashier’s Check issued by an American bank in U.S. Dollars payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security” (Barscheck ausgestellt durch eine amerikanische Bank auf den Namen “U.S. Department of Homeland Security.”)

• Bank Check or Counter Check issued by a German bank in U.S. Dollars drawn on a U.S. bank. (Bankscheck ausgestellt von einer deutschen Bank bezogen auf eine U.S. Bank in U.S. Dollars auf den Namen “U.S. Department of Homeland Security.”)

• U.S. Dollar Money Order made payable to the “U.S. Department of Homeland Security.” (Print your name and address on money order) Cash, Credit/Debit Cards, Personal Checks, Travelers Checks ARE NOT accepted.

Once your DCF request is submitted, the Immigrant Visa Unit will typically respond within 3–5 business days. 

If approved for local filing, the embassy will allow you to mail in (or submit in person):

• The completed Form I-130 
• Documentation supporting the exceptional circumstance 
• Proof of U.S. citizenship and Croatian residence (e.g., residence permit) 
• Civil documents for the beneficiary (passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.) 

You will then file your petition directly at:

U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt

Immigrant Visa Unit

Gießener Str. 30, 60435

Frankfurt am Main, Germany

German and Dutch Nationals/Residents 

For Dutch and German nationals and/or U.S. citizens who reside in the Netherlands or Germany, the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt allows applicants to withdraw pending I-130 petitions. 

Withdrawing a pending I-130 means the petitioner (usually the U.S. citizen spouse) formally requests to cancel the petition before a final decision is made, halting the case before the foreign relative can move forward toward an immigrant visa or green card. Since the case is being handled directly by the consulate rather than a USCIS service center, the petitioner sends a signed withdrawal request to the Frankfurt consulate itself rather than to USCIS or the National Visa Center.

In most U.S. embassies or consulates, withdrawing an I-130 petition can result in consequences for the beneficiary, as it halts the path to permanent residency in the U.S.. If a couple who previously withdrew their petition wants to file it again, they will need to start the entire immigration process again from the beginning. This includes both DCF and regular processed I-130 cases. If you withdraw your petition, but it is being processed through DCF, it does not mean it will be automatically eligible for DCF processing if you restart the process. 

However, the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt allows applicants to withdraw their regular processed I-130 petitions, to then reapply for DCF of the I-130 petition (if the applicant falls under DCF circumstances). This rule can also be applied to applicants who have made a mistake in their I-130 petitions, the U.S. consulate in Frankfurt will allow them to withdraw their application and start anew. 

We Can Help You Today

At Blue Lake Law, we have extensive experience assisting U.S. citizens in Europe with Direct Consular Filing, including cases handled through the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt.
We guide clients through every step—from preparing the DCF request email to compiling evidence and preparing for the consular interview. 

If you are a German or Dutch national/resident and want to withdraw your application, our firm has experience guiding clients through the withdrawal process, as well as, creating a new immigration case after withdrawal. 

If you’re facing an urgent or exceptional situation, contact us today for clear guidance and professional support. We can help you navigate the DCF process efficiently and effectively.