What is Form I-130?

Form I-130, also known as the Petition for Alien Relative, is a form that U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents use to establish the relationship to certain alien relatives who wish to immigrate to the United States. It is the first step in the process of sponsoring a relative to become a permanent resident.

What are the types of Form I-130?

There are different types of Form I-130 depending on the relationship between the petitioner and the beneficiary. The common types of Form I-130 include:

Immediate Relative: This category is for spouses, unmarried children under 21 years old, and parents of U.S. citizens.
Family Preference Categories: These include unmarried children over 21 years old, married children of any age, and siblings of U.S. citizens.

How to complete Form I-130

Completing Form I-130 requires attention to detail and accurate information. Here are the steps to complete the form:

01
Gather necessary documents: Collect all required supporting documents, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and evidence of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.
02
Fill out the form: Carefully fill out all sections of Form I-130, including personal information, beneficiary information, and relationship details.
03
Include supporting evidence: Attach the necessary supporting documents to establish the claimed relationship.
04
Review and double-check: Before submitting the form, review all the provided information and ensure its accuracy.
05
Submit the form: Send the completed Form I-130 along with the required filing fees to the designated USCIS address.
06
Keep copies: Make copies of the completed form and all supporting documents for your records.

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Video Tutorial How to Fill Out Form I-130

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Questions & answers

If you don't send it to the right address, your application will be rejected and sent back to be filed correctly. You can opt to send it either via the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx, DHL, or UPS.
As of 2022, the USCIS processing time for Form I-130 range between 5 months and 10 years.
Filing Your Form I-130 Online To learn more, visit our How to Create a USCIS Online Account page. You can file Form I-130 online even if your relative is in the United States and will file Form I-485 by mail. Once you submit your Form I-130 online, we will send a receipt notice to your USCIS online account.
You can file Form I-130 online even if your relative is in the United States and will file Form I-485 by mail. Once you submit your Form I-130 online, we will send a receipt notice to your USCIS online account. Provide a copy of the receipt notice to your relative to include in their Form I-485 packet.
Submitting documents online is naturally faster than sending them through the mail. However, nothing else about the Form I-130 process is different. Filing the form online does not speed up the government's review process, nor does it change what authorities want to see.
The required supporting documents for an I-130 petition typically include: Proof that the sponsor is a U.S. citizen or green card holder. Proof that a legally valid relationship exists. Proof that the relationship is not fraudulent. Proof of name changes for the sponsor and/or the person seeking a green card, if any.