USCIS Form I-130: Petition for Alien Relative

Edition date

04/01/24. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.

Where to file

You have 2 options for filing your Form I-130 petition with USCIS: Online; or By mail (paper). The filing location for your Form I-130 depends on where you live and if the Form I-130 will be filing filed with your alien relative’s Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, at the same time (this is called “concurrent filing”).

Filing Your Form I-130 Online The first step is to create an account or log in if you already have an account. To learn more, visit our How to Create a USCIS Online Account page.

Visit the Forms Available to File Online webpage for details on when you or your representative can file Form I-130 online. You can file Form I-130 online even if your alien relative is in the United States and will later file Form I-485 online from their own USCIS online account or by mail.

After you submit your Form I-130 online, we will send you a receipt notice. Provide a copy of the receipt notice to your qualifying relative to include in their Form I-485 packet.

Please see our Form I-485 pages for current filing information and refer to the form instructions for specific instructions on completing each of these forms.

Filing fee

You can find the filing fee for Form I-130 by visiting our Fee Schedule page.

Initial evidence

Did you provide the following? Evidence of U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residence, or U.S. national status: A copy of your birth certificate, issued by a civil registrar, vital statistics office, or other civil authority showing you were born in the United States; A copy of your naturalization or citizenship certificate issued by USCIS or the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS); A copy of Form FS-240, Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA), issued by a U.S.

Embassy or U.S. Consulate; A copy of your unexpired U.S. passport; An original statement from a U.S. consular officer verifying you are a U.S. citizen with a valid passport; or A copy of the front and back of your Permanent Resident Card (also known as a Green Card or a Form I-551).

Evidence of family relationship with 1 of the following (see form instructions for more detailed guidance): Spouse: A copy of your marriage certificate Evidence you or your spouse terminated any prior marriages (if applicable) Child: A copy of your child’s birth certificate(s). Parent: A copy of your birth certificate.

Brother/Sister: A copy of the birth certificate for you and your sibling.

USCIS filing tips

Filing Tips for Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative Complete all sections of the form. We will reject the form if these fields are missing: Part 1 – Relationship Part 2 – Information About You Your Full Name Date of Birth Mailing Address Your Marital Information Part 4 – Information About Beneficiary Beneficiary Full Name Date of Birth Beneficiary’s Physical Address Beneficiary’s Marital Information Don’t forget to sign your form!

We will reject any unsigned form.

Special instructions

E-Notification: If you want to receive an e-mail and/or a text message that we have accepted your form at a USCIS lockbox, complete Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance, and clip it to the first page of your form. When completing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, please make sure that you (the petitioner) select 1 and only 1 option for Part 4 (Question 61 or 62) to indicate whether the beneficiary requests adjustment of status inside the United States or consular processing outside the United States.

Do not complete both questions and do not leave this section blank. If the petition is approved, but you do not fill out Part 4 (Question 61 or 62) completely and accurately, USCIS will use discretion to decide whether to send the approved petition to the NVC for consular processing or retain the petition for adjustment of status processing based on evidence of your relative’s most recent location, including your relative’s physical address listed on the petition.