Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, is the foundational immigration form used by U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs) to establish a qualifying family relationship with a foreign national relative who wishes to immigrate to the United States.
17 steps across 3 sections
1. Who Can File (Petitioner)
- U.S. citizens can petition for: spouse, unmarried children under 21, unmarried sons/daughters 21+, married sons/daughters, brothers/sisters (petitioner must be 21+), and parents (petitioner must be 21+).
- Lawful permanent residents can petition for: spouse, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried sons/daughters 21+.
2. For All Petitions
- Form I-130 with filing fee ($535)
- Proof of petitioner's U.S. citizenship or LPR status:
- U.S. passport, birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or Certificate of Citizenship (for citizens)
- Copy of green card (front and back) (for LPRs)
- Passport-style photographs of both petitioner and beneficiary
3. Relationship-Specific Evidence
- Marriage certificate
- Proof of termination of all prior marriages (divorce decrees, death certificates)
- Evidence of bona fide marriage (photos, joint accounts, joint lease, correspondence, affidavits)
- Form I-130A (if beneficiary is in the U.S.)
- Birth certificate showing parent-child relationship
- Marriage certificate of parents (if claiming legitimacy)
- Adoption decree (if adopted)
- Petitioner's birth certificate showing the parent's name
- Petitioner's proof of being 21+
- Birth certificates of both petitioner and beneficiary showing at least one common parent
Common Mistakes
- Filing for an ineligible relative
- Insufficient evidence of bona fide marriage
- Using an outdated form edition
- Incorrect filing fee
- Not filing I-130A when required
Pro Tips
- File online for faster processing
- You can file I-130 even if the beneficiary is abroad
- Concurrent filing for immediate relatives
- File early for preference categories
- Keep USCIS updated