HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
- The government of Estonia is assisting refugees from Ukraine. Those fleeing conflict in Ukraine who need assistance should contact local authorities: https://www.politsei.ee/en/instructions/information-on-the-war-in-ukraine.
- Additional information is available from the United Nations Refugee Agency: https://help.unhcr.org/Ukraine, including information about non-governmental organizations that may be able to provide additional assistance.
- Additional information is also available from the European Commission: https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/stronger-europe-world/eu-solidarity-ukraine/eu-assistance-ukraine/information-people-fleeing-war-ukraine_en.
- Please do not contact the U.S. Embassy in Tallinn. We do not provide direct assistance to individual refugees.
VISA SERVICES IN ESTONIA
IMMIGRANT VISAS
If you are a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident with a Ukrainian relative seeking to travel to the United States on an immigrant visa:
- If you have an I-130 petition approved by USCIS pending processing at the National Visa Center (NVC) and want to transfer it to another Embassy, the designated processing post for Ukrainian Immigrant Visas is United States Consulate General Frankfurt, Germany: https://de.usembassy.gov/ukrainians-in-germany/. You may request expedition and transfer from the National Visa Center: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/national-visa-center/nvc-contact-information.html.
- If you have an I-130 petition not yet approved by USCIS, you may inquire with USCIS regarding expedition: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-guidance/how-to-make-an-expedite-request.
- There is also a help line if you are active military: https://www.uscis.gov/military/military-help-line.
- Please note that U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad cannot accept I-130 petitions when the petitioner has already filed with USCIS.
- If you are already in Estonia, cannot travel to Frankfurt, and have an I-130 petition approved by USCIS pending processing at the National Visa Center and want to transfer it to U.S. Embassy Tallinn, you may request expedition and transfer from the National Visa Center: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/national-visa-center/nvc-contact-information.html. However, please be aware that due to very high demand and limited availability in Tallinn, wait times may be very lengthy.
- If you have not yet filed a petition, wish to do so, cannot travel to Frankfurt, and wish to file at U.S. Embassy Tallinn, you may e-mail VisaTallinn@state.gov to inquire regarding possible local filing. (this applies only to U.S. citizens filing petitions for their spouses, unmarried children under 21 and parents). Both the petitioner and the applicant must be present in Estonia. However, please be aware that due to very high demand and limited availability in Tallinn, wait times may be very lengthy.
- If you have a question about an immigrant visa case that is already in process at U.S. Embassy Tallinn, please email VisaTallinn@state.gov
If you are a U.S. citizen with a Ukrainian fiancée/fiancé seeking to travel to the United States on a K1 visa:
- If you have already filed a petition with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that was not yet approved, U.S. law prohibits U.S. embassies from accepting K visa petitions (I-129F) for local filing abroad. USCIS must first approve K visa petitions. However, you can request an expedite for USCIS processing at https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-guidance/how-to-make-an-expedite-request.
NONIMMIGRANT VISAS
Nonimmigrant visas are for temporary stays in the United States and are not the appropriate way to begin a refugee, resettlement, or immigration process. If you apply for a nonimmigrant visa but are not able to demonstrate intent to return to a residence abroad after a defined visit to the United States, the officer will refuse your application as required by law.
Ukrainians should not attempt to apply for non-immigrant visas in order to travel to the United States as refugees. All inquiries about refugee status and assistance should be directed to the nearest office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
- Demand for nonimmigrant visa appointments at U.S. Embassy Tallinn is very high. We are currently prioritizing immediate relatives (spouses and minor children) of U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents as well as cases with unique humanitarian circumstances.
- While we respond to inquiries as quickly as we can, response wait times can be lengthy.
- We will not respond to inquiries about matters detailed in our auto response.
- Please do not visit the Embassy without an appointment.
- There are no walk-in visa appointments.
- No different information is available at the Embassy gate than is online.
- It is not possible to begin a visa application at the Embassy, even for friends and families of U.S. citizens.
- All relevant information is available online, and applications can only be made online (see information below).
If you are not qualified for a nonimmigrant visa, you may wish to refer to the humanitarian assistance information above.
If you are a Ukrainian who wants to travel to the United States or a U.S. citizen who has friends, business associates, or NON-IMMEDIATE family who want to travel to the United States on a nonimmigrant visa you should go tohttp://www.ustraveldocs.com/ee to check availability:
- Demand is high, availability is very low, and wait times and processing times are likely lengthy. Please note that the wait times listed on the travel.state.gov website are only for Estonian residents. The wait time for non-residents is much longer. You may wish to refer to the humanitarian relief information above.
- If you already have an appointment at U.S. Embassy Tallinn but wish to expedite it, you may request expedition via https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ee/ee-niv-expeditedappointment.asp.
- If you already began a nonimmigrant visa application process in Ukraine, you may send a request to Support-Estonia@ustraveldocs.com to ask for transfer of your “profile” to Tallinn after which you should be able to continue the process for an appointment in Estonia. Please note that a visa fee paid in Ukraine cannot be transferred and that it is necessary to pay a new fee in Estonia after a profile is transferred. If you are seeking but do not already have an appointment visit https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ee/ee-niv-appointmentschedule.asp and sign up for the first available appointment of the type you are eligible for.
If you are a Ukrainian with a U.S. citizen/Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) spouse or parent and are seeking to travel to the United States on a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay please visit https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ee/ee-niv-appointmentschedule.asp to schedule an appointment.
