Success Story: Direct Consular Filing for Hungarian National Residing in Germany

Success Story: Direct Consular Filing for Hungarian National Residing in Germany

Our client, a Hungarian national, is married to a U.S. citizen who received a short notice job relocation back to the States. Our client and their spouse were residing in Germany during this application process. Just because you are not a national of the country you are applying for a U.S. visa from, does not mean you need to go through the process in your home country, if you are a resident of the country you are applying for. In this case as a Hungarian national our client was able to petition and request a DCF of the I-130 petition through the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt because both our client and their spouse are legal residents in Germany. 

Direct Consular Filing (DCF) allows U.S. citizens living abroad to file an I-130 petition directly at a U.S. Embassy. A sudden, short-notice job relocation back to the U.S. is an “exceptional circumstance” that allows you to bypass the standard 1-2 year USCIS processing time and get your spouse’s visa in weeks.

Our firm was able to handle our client’s case through the consulate in Frankfurt, resulting in an Immigrant Visa approval within 5 months of filing the original I-130 form, Petition for an Alien Relative. Blue Lake Law would like to extend a huge congratulations to our client and their spouse who are happily living together in the U.S.!

At Blue Lake Law, we know that immigration doesn’t always fit neatly into borders.

If you’re a foreign national living outside your home country and your U.S. citizen spouse has received a short-notice job relocation, you don’t have to navigate the process alone or wait years for a resolution. As this case demonstrates, your nationality doesn’t determine where you file, your residency does. That means if you’re legally residing in a country, you may be able to file your I-130 petition through the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in that country, even if it isn’t your home nation.

Our team has hands-on experience handling complex DCF cases across Europe, including situations involving cross-national residency, short-notice relocations, and consulates in Frankfurt, London, Paris, and beyond. We understand the nuances of consular jurisdiction and know how to build a strong, well-documented case that gets results.

If you and your spouse are facing an urgent relocation and need to move quickly, contact Blue Lake Law today. We’ll identify the fastest, most effective filing route for your unique situation and help keep your family together every step of the way.