The U.S. Embassy in Seoul has announced that it may accept the filing of Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, from petitioners who believe they have exceptional circumstances as defined by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Individuals who think their situations qualify as exceptional are advised to contact the Visa Information Services via email at support-southkorea@usvisascheduling.com. They should request an exception and provide a detailed explanation of their circumstances with supporting proof.
It is important to note that "short notice of position relocation is temporarily suspended due to limited appointment availability and a backlog of immigrant visa applications created by the COVID-19 pandemic."
If a request to file an I-130 petition under exceptional circumstances is not authorized, petitioners must file Form I-130 with USCIS through their website at http://www.uscis.gov/i-130.
Additionally, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul will not accept filing if the petitioner has already filed Form I-130 with USCIS for the same beneficiary. In cases where urgent circumstances exist, petitioners are encouraged to request expedited processing for petitions filed with USCIS. More information can be found on the USCIS website.