Form I-130 — Petition for Alien Relative

What is it?

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, is filed by a US citizen or lawful permanent resident to establish a qualifying relationship with a foreign national relative. Approval of the I-130 does not grant any immigration benefit on its own — it simply sets a priority date and places the relative in a visa queue. The relative must then go through consular processing or I-485.

Who needs it?

US citizens who want to sponsor a spouse, child (under 21), parent, adult son/daughter, or sibling. Lawful permanent residents can sponsor a spouse or unmarried child.

Required Documents

• Form I-130 and Form I-130A (for spousal petitions)
• Proof of your US citizenship or LPR status
• Proof of qualifying relationship: marriage certificate, birth certificate
• Petitioner's government-issued photo ID
• Evidence of bona fide relationship (for spouses): photos, communication, joint finances
• Filing fee (verify current amount at uscis.gov)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Missing proof of the qualifying relationship
• Insufficient evidence of a bona fide marriage (for spousal petitions)
• Not including certified translations of non-English documents
• Wrong fee or outdated form version
• Filing without understanding the visa bulletin wait times for your category

Approval Tips

• File as soon as possible — the priority date is set on the filing date, not approval
• Organise relationship evidence chronologically
• Immediately notify USCIS of any address changes using Form AR-11
• For marriage petitions, include a variety of evidence: photos, messages, financial records, travel together