How to Get a Green Card for Your Spouse While Living in the United Kingdom

How to Get a Green Card for Your Spouse While Living in the United Kingdom:

If you are a UK national living in the United Kingdom, and married to a U.S. citizen you can apply for a green card and may be eligible for expedited service. 

The first step in applying for a green card and U.S. citizenship as a UK spouse of a U.S. citizen is to file a I-130 form. This is where the U.S. citizen will petition for an immigrant visa for their alien spouse. You and your spouse will be required to file an I-130 Form detailing the U.S. citizen’s personal history and the beneficiary’s information, as well as an additional supplementary form consisting of the beneficiary’s personal history, the I-130A Form. 

The regular immigration visa process for a foreign spouse is usually handled through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), taking anywhere from 15 to 24+ months from the date of filing to getting a green card in hand. However, there is the possibility to file the I-130 petition directly with the U.S. Embassy in London. This process is called Direct Consular Processing and can expedite the processing of the immigrant visa from months to just a number of weeks. This process is provided by the U.S. Embassy in London and is under their own discretion to decide if your case falls under special circumstances. 

Direct Consular Filing 

The U.S. Embassy in London will consider 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 the UK
• 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 $675 USD, payable directly to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 

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 instruct you to bring or mail; 

• The completed Form I-130, 
• documentation supporting the exceptional circumstance, 
• proof of U.S. citizenship and a UK residency permit, 
• and finally civil documents for the beneficiary (passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.) 

You will then file your petition directly at your country of residence’s U.S. Embassy in London who handles DCF cases. 

These DCF Circumstances Don’t Apply To Me

What now? If the exceptional circumstances that allow you and your spouse to apply for an immigrant visa through the expedited process do not apply for you, then you must follow the regular procedure. 

When residing in the UK the preferred method of filing the I-130 form by most is online. You and your spouse will file the form directly with USCIS by creating an online account with them. This allows you to get access to all receipts, view your tracking status, and upload documents efficiently. However, if you are unable to apply online then you must file a physical I-130 form by mailing it directly to the USCIS Dallas lockbox.

For USPS (U.S. Postal Service):

USCIS, Attn: [Insert Form Number, e.g., NFB, DACA], 

P.O. Box 660867, Dallas, 

TX 75266-0867

For FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:

USCIS, Attn: [Insert Form Number], 

2501 S. State Highway 121 Business, Suite 400, Lewisville, 

TX 75067-8003

DISCLAIMER: Please refer to the official USCIS website for the up-to-date lockbox address, as it may change from the time this article was written. 

USCIS will review your case and petition to verify your relationship. Once they have approved your I-130 form, your case is sent to the National Visa Center (NVC). The NVC will then contact the UK spouse to begin the immigrant visa application process. This involves submitting documents and attending an in-person interview in the U.S. Embassy in London. 

The I-130 immigrant visa process is long and meticulous. It is highly recommended to seek assistance from a qualified attorney to make sure the process goes as smoothly and efficiently as possible. 

Blue Lake Law Can Help You Today

At Blue Lake Law, we have extensive experience assisting U.S. citizens living in the UK with securing a green card for their foreign spouse, whether it is through Direct Consular Filing or the usual process. 

We guide clients through every step; from preparing the DCF request email to compiling evidence and preparing for the consular interview.

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