I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

Versión en español

• Form I-130 (PDF, 1.63 MB)
• Instructions for Form I-130 (PDF, 233 KB)
• Form I-130A, Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary (PDF, 960 KB)
• Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance (PDF, 238 KB)

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Purpose of Form

Use this form if you are a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States who needs to establish their relationship to certain alien relatives who wish to immigrate to the United States.

Note: Filing a Form I-130 is only the first step in helping a relative immigrate to the United States. Eligible family members must wait until there is a visa number available before they can apply to become a lawful permanent resident.

How to report suspected marriage fraud: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has an online tip form to report suspected benefit/marriage fraud or other violations. 

Help for immigration crime victims
Different types of support are available through ICE’s Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office.

Number of Pages

Form 12; instructions 12.

Edition Date

02/27/17. No previous editions accepted. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.

Where to File

File at the Chicago or Phoenix Lockbox, depending on where you live and whether your relative is also concurrently filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. For a complete list of addresses, visit our Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-130 webpage.

If you reside outside of the United States where USCIS has an international office, you may file at the USCIS Chicago Lockbox facility. If you are a U.S. citizen age 21 years or older and are filing for a spouse or unmarried child under the age of 21 or a parent, you may also file at the USCIS international office in the country in which you reside. 

If you are a U.S. citizen and you reside outside of the United States where USCIS does not have an international office, you may file for an immediate relative at the U.S. Embassy or consulate having jurisdiction over the area where you live only if:

• Exceptional circumstances (PDF, 61 KB) exist, and
• The USCIS field office director with jurisdiction over that location determines that the embassy or consulate may accept and adjudicate the case. 

For a list of USCIS international offices and filing instructions, please visit uscis.gov/international.

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.

Filing Fee

$535. You may pay the fee with a money order, personal check, or cashier’s check.  When filing at a USCIS Lockbox facility, you may also pay by credit card using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions. If you pay by check, you must make your check payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Please note that service centers are not able to process credit card payments.

Special Instructions

• You must file a separate Form I-130 for each eligible relative, unless they can be considered a derivative beneficiary. See the form instructions for more information.
• You must also submit a Form I-130A, Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary.
• To receive an email or text message when we accept your form, complete Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance and clip it to the front of the petition.
• Do not include:
  •  Anything that contains electronic chips and batteries (such as musical greeting cards) or any non-paper materials such as CD-ROMS, DVDs, toys, action figures, or thumb drives. We will not accept these types of materials. However, we will accept photographs or copies of these items. 
  • Any biological or genetic samples as DNA evidence. For information on DNA testing and submitting DNA samples, please visit the Department of State’s webpage.
  • Graphic photos of childbirth or intimate relations as evidence of a relationship or marital bona fides