USCIS Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative

Form I-130 Instructions

Provide the following information in the Petition for Alien Relative Form:

1. Establish your relationship with the relative.
2. Enter your alien registration number, USCIS online account number, and social security number.
3. Indicate your full name, other names used, date and place of birth, sex, mailing address, and physical addresses for the last five years.
4. Provide the same details about your spouse and parents.
5. State your employment history.
6. Write down your ethnicity, race, height, weight, eye color, and hair color.
7. Indicate the personal details of the beneficiary, their spouse, and children, and record the immigrant's employment status.
8. Sign the form, add your contact information, and certify the statements in the form are true. If you are helped by the interpreter or preparer, they also have to sign the petition.

Where to File Form I-130?

Residents of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands should mail their form to the USCIS, Attn: I-130, P.O. Box 21700, Phoenix, Arizona 85036. Residents of Washington, D.C. and individuals living outside the U.S. should mail their form to the USCIS, Attn: I-130, P.O. Box 650264, Dallas, TX 75265.

If you live in the U.S. and file the petition with Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, mail your form to the USCIS, P.O. Box 805887, Chicago, Illinois 60680-4120.

What to Submit With Form I-130?

The Form I-130 checklist includes the following documents:

1. Form I-130A, Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary (completed if filing a petition for a spouse).
2. Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (to prove that you are a lawful permanent resident).
3. Documents to show the petitioner is a U.S. citizen (e.g., a copy of the birth certificate, certificate of citizenship, unexpired U.S. Passport, etc.).
4. Documents to prove family relationship (e.g., a copy of the marriage certificate, birth certificate, adoption decree).
5. I-130 fee ($535). Attach a check or money order payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

If official documents are not available, provide religious and school records, and submit English translations of all documents. An I-130 cover letter is needed if you file more than one form - provide a short explanation to inform the USCIS you have enclosed several documents.

How to Check Status of Petition for Alien Relative?

You may fill outForm G-1145, e-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance, to request an electronic application and know when your petition is accepted. Form I-130 processing time varies from person to person - it depends on the type of relationship between the petitioner and beneficiary and the USCIS caseload. Approval for immediate relatives takes between 5-12 months. Family preference Green Cards are limited, and the approval may take between 5 months and 10 years.

To track the status of your petition, you need to visit the USCIS official website and enter the receipt number - a unique 13-character identifier provided to you by the USCIS when your petition was received.

What Happens After I-130 Is Approved?

Once the petition is approved, the USCIS will send the petitioner an approval notice. The next step depends on the status and location of the immigrant:

1. An immediate relative inside the U.S. It is possible to adjust status to a permanent resident using Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
2. An immediate relative outside the U.S. The case will be transferred to the U.S. consulate in the country of residence, after which Form DS-260, Online Immigrant Visa Application, may be prepared.
3. Family preference outside the U.S. The case will be processed by the consulate so that the immigrant may apply for a Green Card.

Related Forms and Topics:

• USCIS Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification;
• USCIS Form AR-11, Alien's Change of Address Card.