How to Fill Out Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative (Step-By-Step Instructions)

Form I-130, also known as the “Petition for Alien Relative” is a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) form, which is filed to establish a relationship between a U.S. citizen or  green card holder (“Petitioner”), and the foreign relative applying for a green card (“Beneficiary”).

You can find detailed information about Form I-130 eligibility, processing time and other important rules in our guide.

It’s crucial to correctly prepare and file the Form I-130 and the required forms and supporting documents, to avoid rejection or denial in your relative’s permanent residency application process.

The Petition for Alien Relative is a 12-paged USCIS form that has 9 sections:

• Part 1: Relationship (You, the U.S. citizen or the green card holder are the Petitioner. Your relative is the Beneficiary)
• Part 2:  Information About You (Petitioner)
• Part 3: Biographic Information (Petitioner)
• Part 4: Information About Beneficiary (relative seeking the green card)
• Part 5: Other information
• Part 6: Petitioner’s Statement, Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature
• Part 7: Interpreter’s Contact Information, Certification, and Signature
• Part 8: Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature of the Person Preparing this Affidavit, if Other Than the Petitioner
• Part 9: Additional Information

Can I Submit Form I-130 Online?

USCIS allows the petitioners to file the Form I-130 online.

Online filing allows you to submit forms electronically via your online USCIS account and receive notices electronically too. USCIS will send hard copy notices by mail.

To file Form I-130 online petitioners must create a free USCIS online account at myaccount.uscis.dhs.gov. You will need to pay applicable government fees online too.

Online USCIS account allows a petitioner to:

• File eligible forms online,
• Pay fees online,
• Track the case status online,
• Communicate with USCIS through a secure inbox, and
• Respond to RFEs (Request for Evidence) via uploading evidence to your account.

You can always file Form I-130 by mail.

What Documents Do You Need To File Form I-130?

The Petitioner must file the Form I-130 with all the required supporting documents, to establish the relationship with the Beneficiary.

You submit only copies of the original documents with Form I-130. You might be requested by USCIS to present the original documents during the interview (if applicable).

To submit Form I-130, Petitioner must pay the government fee.

You can find the checklist of all required documents for filing Form I-130 here.

How Long Does It Take To Approve Form I-130?

The processing time for your I-130 petition and the approval depends on a number of factors. Each case has its own unique processing time, so it’s difficult to predict how long will it take to receive a decision from USCIS.

The most common factors:

• Beneficiary’s immigration category (“Immediate relatives” vs. “Family preference”)
• The processing time of the USCIS field office and the USCIS officer that receives your application
• Location of the petitioner and beneficiary (in the U.S. or abroad).

It is also important to know that USCIS reviews applications on a first-come first-serve basis. It is important to file your Form I-130 as soon as possible.

You can find the average USCIS processing times here.

What is a “Class of Admission” on Form I-130?

Class of Admission is a 3-character code, typically one or two letters followed by a number.

It is a designation of nonimmigrant and immigrant categories.

This alphanumeric code describes the visa category that was used to admit the beneficiary into the U.S. as a permanent resident or as a non-immigrant.

Your Class of Admission can be found on your Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record and your green card (permanent resident or conditional resident).

It is located under the “Category” section on the front side of your green card. It can also  be located on the backside of older green cards.

Where to Send Forms I-130 and I-485?

The location of filing the Form I-130 depends on where you physically reside. 

The latest filing locations for a Form I-130 can be found on the USCIS website here.

                     If you are filing a standalone Form I-130:

                      If you are filing a standalone Form I-130:

                                                       If you are filing a standalone Form I-130:

If you and your relative, both live in the U.S., and your relative is concurrently filing the Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, file your petition at Chicago, Dallas, or Phoenix Lockbox, depending on your location.

Keep in mind that only immediate relatives of U.S. citizen lawfully admitted to the U.S. as non-immigrants can file Form I-130 and I-485 concurrently (at the same time).

For example, spouses of permanent residents physically present in the U.S., must first get Form I-130 approved before they can submit Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status applications).

How to Write a Check for Form I-130

If you are paying your I-130 fees by check see the instructions below.

Personal checks must be pre-printed with your name and your bank’s name.

• The check can be drawn on only banks or other financial institutions located in the United States and must be payable in U.S. currency, and 
• The check will be payable to the “U.S. Department of Homeland Security”. Do not use the initials like “USDHS” or “DHS”. 
• Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate for instructions regarding payment method, for the ones living abroad.
• The date should be in accordance with the U.S. style of month/day/year. 
• Use numerals to represent the exact amount of the fee.
• Sign your personal check.

 How Much Does it Cost to File Form I-130?

The filing fee for Form I-130 is $535. Government fees are subject to change.

Double check the latest Form I-130 fees on the official USCIS website.

The government fees required to file a petition a relative vary from $1,200 to $1,760 per immigrant.

Expect to pay additional costs, such as legal fees, medical exam fee, mailing fee, translation fees, etc. 

The costs associated with filing an I-130 petition depend on the number of relatives you want to sponsor and their location (in the U.S. or abroad). 

For sponsoring more than one family member, separate I-130 petitions must be filed, along with corresponding filing fees, for each of them.

How to Fill Form I-130 for Parents 

Only U.S. citizens can file Form I-130 to obtain their parents permanent residence. Lawful permanent residents cannot sponsor their parents.

USCIS will reject any expired forms. The latest version of Form I-130 can be downloaded here. 

• You can fill the form on a computer or an electronic device so that you can make changes to your form later, if required.
• The form must have an original ink signature, in black. 
• Submit only legible photocopies of documents requested

 Part 1: Relationship (You are the Petitioner. Your relative is the Beneficiary)

If a question does not apply to you, type or print “N/A”. 

• Item 1: Please check the ‘Parent’ box (you can check only one box)
• Item 2: Select the most relevant option (you can check only one box)
• Item 3: Leave it blank, this question does not apply to you
• Item 4: Answer “Yes” or “No”. If you have gained your U.S. permanent residency through adoptive parents, you no longer can file a petition for your biological parents.

 Part 2:  Information About You (Petitioner)

In this part, U.S. citizen who’s sponsoring his/her parents, must answer the following questions:

• Item 1. Alien Registration Number (A-number): An Alien Registration Number is an identification number issued for an immigrant by the immigration authorities. You can put N/A here if you don’t have one.
• Item 2. USCIS Online Account Number: You will have this USCIS account number if you have created an online account in the past, for immigration-related purposes. You can leave this blank, if you don’t have one.
• Item 4.a. Family name (last name): Please provide your last name as it appears in your official documents (passport, government-issued ID, birth certificate). If you have changed your last name, provide your previous last name(s) in the “Other names used” section on the next page of this form.
• Item 4.b.: Given name (first name): Please provide your first (given) name(s) as it appears in your official documents (passport, government-issued ID, birth certificate). If you have changed your first name, provide your previous first name(s) in the “Other names used” section on the next page of this form.
• Item 4.c.: Middle name: Please provide your middle name, if you have one. If you don’t have a middle name, leave it blank.
• “Other names used”, Items 5.a. – 5.c.: If you have ever used any other names, have legally changed your name, please provide all your previous names in this section. If you need more space, you can provide all your other names at the end of the Form I-130, on Page 12, “Additional Information”. Enter the page number, form’s part number and item number.
• Items 10.a. – 10.i. Mailing address: Provide the Petitioner’s address in this section. USCIS will send all notices in your case via mail. Make sure to update the USCIS if you change your mailing address.
• Item 16. How many times have you been married? Enter “0” if you have never been married. Enter “1” if you are currently married. If you have been married to the same spouse several times, enter each marriage separately.
• Items 18-19: Leave them blank if you are unmarried.
• Items 39.a. – 39.c.: The ‘Certificate Number’ is your naturalization certificate number, which you can find on the top side of your certificate. You can find the place of issuance and date of issuance on your naturalization certificate as well.
• Item 40. Class of Admission: You can find your ‘Class of Admission’ on the front side of your green card, under the ‘Category’ section.  The ‘Date of Admission’ is the ‘Resident Since’ field on your green card. 

Part 3: Biographic Information

Provide your biographical information here. Choose the option that most accurately describes your race and ethnicity.

Part 4. Information About Beneficiary

This section covers all the required details about your parent. 

• Items 1-3: Provide your parent’s Alien Registration Number, USCIS Online Account Number and U.S. Social Security Number. If your parent has never been previously in the U.S., he/she most likely doesn’t have these numbers. Leave these fields blank if your parent doesn’t have any.
• Item 10: If someone has ever filed a Form I-130 for your parent previously, answer “Yes”. 
• Items 25-44: Carefully enter relevant details of your parent’s spouse and all children, including you. 
• Item 46.a: If your parent is currently in the U.S., provide your parent’s “class of admission”. If your parent entered the U.S. on a visa, the class of admission is provided in his or her I-94 record. For instance, if your parent entered on a tourist or business visa, his or her class of admission might be B-1 or B2.

The beneficiary would have  an electronic Form I-94 issued by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or USCIS, on admission in the U.S. after April 30, 2013. 

One can also visit http://www.cbp.gov/i94 for obtaining a paper version of their Form I-94.

• Items 46.b-46.d: The Form I-94 issued by CBP or USCIS to the beneficiary provides the form number, along with the expiry date for his/her  authorized period of stay. “D/S” is usually granted only to beneficiaries admitted in the U.S. on a student visa or exchange visitor programs.
• Items 47-50: If the parent has entered the U.S. using a passport or a travel document, then enter the document’s number, even if the document has expired.
• Item 53. Was the beneficiary EVER in the immigration proceedings: If your parent was ever in immigration court in deportation (removal) proceedings, answer “Yes”. Immigration proceedings include removal, exclusion/deportation, rescission and other judicial proceedings.
• Items 61.a.-61.b. – If your parent is currently in the U.S.., entered the U.S. on a visa and will apply for the green card within the U.S., choose this option. Provide the city or town and state of the current residence in the U.S.
• Items 62.a.-62.c. – If your parent is outside the U.S. and will be applying for an immigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, then choose this option. Provide the city or town, province and the country of your parent’s residence.

Part 5. Other Information

• Items 1-5: This subsection asks if you have ever filed a Form I-130 for this parent or for any other relative. If you have ever filed previously the Form I-130, please provide the details (who did you sponsor, the date you filed the petition and the result).
• Items 6-9: If you are submitting separate Forms I-130 for your other parent, child, spouse or siblings, provide the details in this subsection.

Part 6. Petitioner’s Statement, Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature

• The petitioner (you, the U.S. citizen) must affirm to the information provided by you in this form.
• If an interpreter assisted you in reading and understanding the questions in this form, check the box 1.b. and type or print your language;
• Make sure to properly sign and date your petition and provide your contact details and email address. USCIS rejects unsigned forms.
• A stamped or typewritten name in place of a signature is not acceptable. 

Part 7. Interpreter’s Contact Information, Certification, and Signature

If you have used an interpreter to help you prepare the form, this section must be completed by him/her. The interpreter must sign and date the petition.

Part 8. Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature of the Person Preparing this Petition, if Other Than the Petitioner

• If an attorney or anyone else helped you to prepare this form, they must provide their information, sign and date it.
• If you have prepared the application yourself, leave this section blank.
• If the person helping you prepare your petition is an attorney or accredited representative, he/she must also submit a completed Form G-28, along with your petition.

Part 9. Additional Information

This section is for any additional information you want to provide. You can also make copies of this section, for extra space and file it with your petition.

Note: USCIS recommends you to save a copy of your completed petition to review in the future. 

Form I-130 Documents Checklist (Parents)

Attach the following supporting documentation while submitting your parent’s Form I-130 petition. Submit only copies of original documents, unless mentioned specifically.

How to Fill Out Form I-130 for Spouse

USCIS will reject any outdated forms. The latest version of Form I-130 can be downloaded here. 

Part 1: Relationship (You are the Petitioner. Your relative is the Beneficiary)

• Item 1: Please check ‘Spouse’.

Part 2: Information About You (Petitioner)

Petitioner is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident sponsoring his/her foreign spouse. This section asks questions about the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse.

• Item 1. Alien Registration Number (A-number): An Alien Registration Number is an identification number issued for an immigrant by the immigration authorities. You can put N/A here if you don’t have one.
• Item 2. USCIS Online Account Number: You will have this USCIS account number if you have created an online account in the past, for immigration-related purposes. You can leave this blank, if you don’t have one.
• Item 4: If your name has changed after marriage or you have ever used other names, make sure to provide your previous names.
• Items 10.a. – 10.i. Mailing address: Provide the Petitioner’s address in this section. USCIS will send all notices in your case via mail. Make sure to update the USCIS if you change your mailing address.
• Item 17: Select your current recent marital status
• Items 20-23: Enter the required information about your current spouse, along with any prior spouse(s), if applicable.
• Items 36-39: The ‘Certificate Number’ is on the top right-hand side of your naturalization certificate. ‘Place of Issuance’ will be where you have taken your oath ceremony.
• Item 40. Class of Admission: You can find your ‘Class of Admission’ on the front side of your green card, under the ‘Category’ section.  The ‘Date of Admission’ is the ‘Resident Since’ field on your green card.

Part 3: Biographic Information

Provide your biographical information here. Choose the option that most accurately describes your race and ethnicity. 

You can find the categories and definition for ethnicity and race as defined by the USCIS here.

Part 4: Information About Beneficiary

Beneficiary is a foreign spouse seeking a green card. This part asks questions about the foreign spouse.

• Items 1-3: Provide your Alien Registration Number, USCIS Online Account Number and U.S. Social Security Number. If you have never been previously in the U.S., you most likely don’t have these numbers. Leave these fields blank if your were never issued these numbers.
• Item 10: If someone has ever filed a Form I-130 for the foreign spouse previously, answer “Yes”.
• Items 21-24: Carefully enter relevant details of beneficiary spouse’s marital history, including the current marriage to a U.S. citizen/lawful permanent resident.
• Items 25-44: Mentioning you as the first family member in the list, provide information of all the children of the beneficiary.
• Item 46.a: If the beneficiary is living in the U.S., provide his or her “Class of Admission” (B-1/B-2, F-1, etc.). You can find it on Form I-94.
• Items 46.b-46.d: The Form I-94 issued by CBP or USCIS to the beneficiary. You can obtain it online (if the beneficiary entered the U.S. after April 30, 2013). Provide the beneficiary’s I-94 number, date of the last arrival and period of authorized stay. “D/S” is usually granted only to beneficiaries admitted in the U.S. on a student visa or exchange visitor programs.
• Items 47-50: If beneficiary entered the U.S. using a passport or a travel document, then enter the document’s number, even if the document has expired.
• Item 53. Was the beneficiary EVER in the immigration proceedings: If beneficiary was ever in immigration court in deportation (removal) proceedings, answer “Yes”. Immigration proceedings include removal, exclusion/deportation, rescission and other judicial proceedings.
• Items 61.a.-61.b. – If the beneficiary is currently in the U.S., entered the U.S. on a visa and will apply for the green card within the U.S., choose this option. Provide the city or town and state of the current residence in the U.S.
• Items 62.a.-62.c. – If the beneficiary is outside the U.S. and will be applying for an immigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, then choose this option. Provide the city or town, province and the country of beneficiary’s residence.

Part 5. Other Information

• Items 1-5: This subsection asks if you have ever filed a Form I-130 for this beneficiary or for any other relative. If you have ever filed previously the Form I-130, please provide the details (who did you sponsor, the date you filed the petition and the result).
• Items 6-9: If you are submitting separate Forms I-130 for your other relatives (parent, child, spouse or siblings), provide the details in this subsection.

Part 6. Petitioner’s Statement, Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature

• The petitioner (you, the U.S. citizen) must affirm to the information provided by you in this form.
• If an interpreter assisted you in reading and understanding the questions in this form, check the box 1.b. and type or print your language;
• Make sure to properly sign and date your petition and provide your contact details and email address. USCIS rejects unsigned forms.
• A stamped or typewritten name in place of a signature is not acceptable. 

Part 7. Interpreter’s Contact Information, Certification, and Signature

If you have used an interpreter to help you prepare the form, this section must be completed by him/her. The interpreter must sign and date the petition.

Part 8. Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature of the Person Preparing this Petition, if Other Than the Petitioner

• If an attorney or anyone else helped you to prepare this form, they must provide their information, sign and date it.
• If you have prepared the application yourself, leave this section blank.
• If the person helping you prepare your petition is an attorney or accredited representative, he/she must also submit a completed Form G-28, along with your petition.

Part 9. Additional Information

This section is for any additional information you want to provide. You can also make copies of this section, for extra space and file it with your petition.

Note: USCIS recommends you to save a copy of your completed petition to review in the future. 

Form I-130 Documents Checklist (Spouses)

Attach the following supporting documentation while submitting your spouse’s Form I-130 petition. 

• Complete and signed Form I-130A, Supplemental Information for Spouse and Beneficiary.

 Can I File Form I-130 and I-485 Together?

If the immigrant spouse is living in the U.S. and entered the U.S. on a valid visa, the petitioner, who is a U.S. citizen can submit the Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative and Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust status to the USCIS at the same time, also known as as ‘concurrent filing”.

In this case, the foreign-born spouse is eligible to “adjust status” (apply for the Green Card) at a USCIS office, without leaving the U.S.

Applying for a green card in the is called “Adjustment of Status”.

Applying for immigrant visa abroad is called “Consular processing.

This means that spouses of US citizen do not need to wait until the I-130 petition is approved.

However, spouses of green card holders can submit Form I-485 only after the Form I-130 is approved and the visa number is available.

What is an “Alien registration Number” on I-130 Form? 

An Alien Registration Number is an eight- or nine-digit identification number issued to foreign born nationals by USCIS.

You can find this number on your green card and any other immigration notices, in the “USCIS #” or “A number” field. 

We have covered a detailed guide, explaining where you can find your Alien Registration Number. You can find it here.

What is the “Date of Admission” on Form I-130?

“Date of Admission” is the date you were granted a permanent resident or conditional permanent resident status by the USCIS.

It can be either the date your green card was approved or the date you entered the U.S. on immigrant visa.

You can find the date of admission on the front side of your permanent resident card, in the “Resident Since” field.

What is ‘In Care of Name’ in Form I-130?

In “Part 2. Information About Petitioner“ section of the I-130 form, there is an item marked ‘10.a’, or ‘In Care of Name‘ field.

If the petitioner wants to receive the mail at an address where he/she doesn’t reside, or at an address with many occupants, you can provide the name of the person who will receive the mail on your behalf.

You may also leave the section blank, if it does not apply to you.

What is “Place of Admission” on Form I-130?

• For a foreign national, who obtained the U.S. green card through an immigrant visa, the Place of Admission will be the place where you entered the U.S. for the first time.
• For a foreign national obtaining a green card through adjustment of status method, the ‘Place of Admission’ will be the city in which USCIS approved your green card application, namely, where you appeared for your adjustment of status interview.

What’s Next After Form I-130 is Approved?

Once your I-130 petition has been approved, you have successfully completed the first step in your relative’s immigration process to the U.S. 

You can find detailed and complete information about what to do next once your I-130 petition is approved, in our guide here.

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