OtterFillHow to fill out Form I-130
Form I-130, “Petition for Alien Relative”, is the form a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident files with USCIS to prove a family relationship with a relative who wants to immigrate. You, the petitioner, fill it in about yourself and your relative, the beneficiary; it is the first step towards your relative’s green card, not the green card itself.
Last checked against the official form:
- Form
- I-130
- Edition
- Edition 04/01/24
- Issued by
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- Form language
- English
- Who files it
- You, the petitioner: a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. national; one petition for each relative
- Who receives it
- USCIS, online through a USCIS account or by mail to the lockbox listed on the official page for where you live
- What it does
- Proves the relationship and gives your relative a place in line; it gives no status. The green card comes later, through Form I-485 in the United States or an immigrant visa abroad
- Length
- 12 pages in 9 parts, with 11 pages of instructions; for a spouse, also Form I-130A. This guide follows the edition dated 04/01/24
- Cost
- Changes over time: check the fee schedule (Form G-1055) linked from the official page. By mail, pay by card with Form G-1450 or from a U.S. bank account with Form G-1650
What this form is
Form I-130 asks USCIS to recognize that you and your relative are family in a way the law lets you petition for. USCIS approves it if you prove the relationship; approval does not give your relative a green card, a visa or permission to come to the United States. It only lets them apply for one, in the United States with Form I-485 or abroad through a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
How long your relative then waits depends on the relationship. The spouse, unmarried children under 21 and parents of a U.S. citizen are immediate relatives: a visa is always available to them. All other relatives are in a preference category with a yearly limit and wait for their priority date, the day the petition was properly filed, to become current in the Department of State’s Visa Bulletin.
The form has 12 pages in 9 parts: Part 1, the relationship; Part 2, about you, including 5 years of addresses and jobs, your marriages, your parents and your status; Part 3, your biographic information; Part 4, about your relative, including where they will apply for the green card; Part 5, earlier petitions; Part 6, your statement and signature; Parts 7 and 8, an interpreter and a preparer; Part 9, extra space. If you file for your spouse, your spouse also fills in Form I-130A, a 6-page supplement with their own addresses, parents and jobs, sent in the same package.
Who has to fill it in
You file Form I-130 if you are a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. national, and your relative is one of these:
- If you are a U.S. citizen: your spouse; your unmarried child under 21; your unmarried son or daughter 21 or older; your married son or daughter.
- If you are a U.S. citizen 21 or older: your parent, or your brother or sister.
- If you are a lawful permanent resident: your spouse; your unmarried child under 21; your unmarried son or daughter 21 or older.
- If you are a U.S. national born in American Samoa or Swains Island: the same relatives as a permanent resident; you tick “Lawful Permanent Resident” in Part 2, Item 36.
- Stepchildren and stepparents if the marriage that made the relationship took place before the child turned 18, and adopted children if the adoption took place before 16 and the 2-year custody and residence rules are met.
Do not use Form I-130 for:
- A grandparent, grandchild, nephew, niece, uncle, aunt, cousin or parent-in-law: the instructions say you may not file for them.
- Your fiancé(e) you are not yet married to: USCIS uses Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e).
- A married son or daughter if you are a permanent resident: there is no category for them, and a petition for an unmarried son or daughter is denied or revoked if they marry before immigrating.
- Yourself, as the spouse, child or parent of an abusive U.S. citizen or permanent resident: you may petition on your own with Form I-360 (VAWA).
Field-by-field instructions
Part 1: Relationship
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1, 1.I am filing this petition for my (Select only one box): Spouse / Parent / Brother/Sister / Child | Who your relative is to you: your spouse, parent, brother or sister, or child. | Tick only one box. Use “Child” for a son or daughter of any age. A permanent resident may tick only “Spouse” or “Child”. USCIS rejects the petition if Part 1 is left blank. |
| Part 1, 2.If you are filing this petition for your child or parent, select the box that describes your relationship (Select only one box): Child was born to parents who were married to each other at the time of the child's birth / Child was born to parents who were not married to each other at the time of the child's birth / Stepchild/Stepparent / Child was adopted (not an Orphan or Hague Convention adoptee) | For a child or a parent, how the parent-child relationship arose: birth inside marriage, birth outside marriage, a step relationship or adoption. | Tick one only if you ticked “Child” or “Parent”. Born outside marriage: the documents depend on whether you are the mother or the father. Stepchild/Stepparent: the marriage must have taken place before the child turned 18. Adopted: before 16, with 2 years of legal custody and living together; orphan and Hague Convention adoptions use other forms. |
| Part 1, 3.–4.If the beneficiary is your brother/sister, are you related by adoption? / Did you gain lawful permanent resident status or citizenship through adoption? | Whether you and a brother or sister are related through adoption, and whether you became a permanent resident or citizen through adoption. | Answer Item 3 only for a brother or sister. Answer Item 4 truthfully: if you gained your status through adoption, the instructions say you may not file for your natural parent. |
Part 2: Information about you (petitioner): name, birth and addresses
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Part 2, 1.–3.Alien Registration Number (A-Number) (if any) / USCIS Online Account Number (if any) / U.S. Social Security Number (if any) | Your A-Number, your USCIS Online Account Number and your Social Security number, if you have them. | A permanent resident finds the A-Number on the green card; a citizen by birth usually has none. You have an Online Account Number only if you filed a form whose receipt number begins with IOE; it is not the A-Number. Write “N/A” for any you do not have. |
| Part 2, 4.a.–5.c.Your Full Name / Other Names Used (if any) | Your current legal name, and every other name you have used: maiden name, aliases and nicknames. | Write family name, given name and middle name as on your documents. If your name differs from the one on your evidence, send the document that changed it, such as a marriage certificate or court order. More names go in Part 9. |
| Part 2, 6.–9.City/Town/Village of Birth / Country of Birth / Date of Birth (mm/dd/yyyy) / Sex | Where and when you were born, and your sex. | Write the city or village, the country and the date as mm/dd/yyyy. USCIS rejects the petition without your date of birth. |
| Part 2, 10.a.–11.Mailing Address / Is your current mailing address the same as your physical address? | Where USCIS sends your notices, and whether you also live there. | Fill in “In Care Of Name” only if mail goes to someone else. Answer Item 11; if “No”, give the address where you actually live in Items 12 and 13. USCIS rejects the petition without a mailing address. |
| Part 2, 12.a.–15.b.Address History: Provide your physical addresses for the last five years, whether inside or outside the United States. | Every place you have lived during the last 5 years, in the United States or abroad. | Start with your current address if it is not your mailing address, then go back with dates as mm/dd/yyyy until the 5 years are covered. More addresses go in Part 9. |
Part 2: Your marriages and your parents
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Part 2, 16.–19.d.How many times have you been married? / Current Marital Status / Date of Current Marriage (if currently married) / Place of Your Current Marriage (if married) | How many times you have been married, your status today, and the date and place of your current marriage. | Count every marriage, including the current one. Tick one status. If you are filing for your spouse, the date and place must match your marriage certificate. USCIS rejects the petition without your marital information. |
| Part 2, 20.a.–23.Names of All Your Spouses (if any) / Date Marriage Ended (mm/dd/yyyy) | The name of your current spouse first, then every earlier spouse, with the date each marriage ended. | Send proof that every earlier marriage ended, such as a divorce decree, an annulment or a death certificate. If you are single, write “N/A”. |
| Part 2, 24.a.–35.Information About Your Parents: Full Name / Date of Birth / Sex / Country of Birth / City/Town/Village of Residence / Country of Residence | Your mother’s and father’s names, dates of birth, sex, country of birth and where they live now. | Use their full names. If you are filing for a parent or for a brother or sister, these names must match the birth certificates you send. |
Part 2: Your status and employment
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Part 2, 36.I am a (Select only one box): U.S. Citizen / Lawful Permanent Resident | Whether you file as a U.S. citizen or as a lawful permanent resident. | Tick one and send proof: a citizen sends a copy of a U.S. birth certificate, a naturalization or citizenship certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240) or the unexpired U.S. passport; a permanent resident sends both sides of the green card. |
| Part 2, 37.–39.c.My citizenship was acquired through (Select only one box): Birth in the United States / Naturalization / Parents / Have you obtained a Certificate of Naturalization or a Certificate of Citizenship? / Certificate Number / Place of Issuance / Date of Issuance | How you became a citizen, and the details of your certificate if you have one. | Only citizens answer. Tick birth in the United States, naturalization or parents. If you have a Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship, copy its number, place and date of issuance. |
| Part 2, 40.a.–41.Class of Admission / Date of Admission / Place of Admission / Did you gain lawful permanent resident status through marriage to a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident? | How and when you became a permanent resident, and whether that came through a marriage. | Only permanent residents answer: copy the class and date of admission and the place from your green card or admission record. If you answer “Yes” to Item 41 and are filing for a new spouse, read the instructions first: unless you have been a permanent resident for at least 5 years or the earlier marriage ended with your former spouse’s death, you must prove with clear and convincing evidence that the earlier marriage was genuine. |
| Part 2, 42.–49.b.Employment History: Name of Employer/Company / Your Occupation / Date From / Date To | Your jobs for the last 5 years, in the United States or abroad. | Start with your current job: employer, address, occupation and dates. If you do not work now, write “Unemployed” in Item 42. More jobs go in Part 9. |
Part 3: Biographic information (about you, the petitioner)
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Part 3, 1.–2.Ethnicity (Select only one box) / Race (Select all applicable boxes) | Your ethnicity and race, used by USCIS for identity and background checks. | Tick one box for ethnicity, Hispanic or Latino or not, and every box that applies for race. Hispanic or Latino is not a race on this form. |
| Part 3, 3.–4.Height (Feet, Inches) / Weight (Pounds) | Your height and weight in U.S. units. | Height in feet and inches: 5 feet 9 inches is “5” and “09”. Weight in pounds; if you do not know it, write “000”. Never centimeters or kilograms. |
| Part 3, 5.–6.Eye Color (Select only one box) / Hair Color (Select only one box) | The color of your eyes and of your hair. | Tick the one box that fits best for each; “Unknown/Other” and “Bald (No hair)” are options. Part 3 is about you, not your relative. |
Part 4: Information about the beneficiary: name, birth and addresses
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Part 4, 1.–3.Alien Registration Number (A-Number) (if any) / USCIS Online Account Number (if any) / U.S. Social Security Number (if any) | Your relative’s A-Number, USCIS Online Account Number and U.S. Social Security number, if they have them. | A relative who has never dealt with U.S. immigration usually has none: write “N/A”. |
| Part 4, 4.a.–5.c.Beneficiary's Full Name / Other Names Used (if any) | Your relative’s current legal name and every other name they have used. | Write it as in their passport. Include maiden names, aliases and nicknames. USCIS rejects the petition without the beneficiary’s full name. |
| Part 4, 6.–9.City/Town/Village of Birth / Country of Birth / Date of Birth (mm/dd/yyyy) / Sex | Where and when your relative was born, and their sex. | Copy them from the birth certificate or passport, the date as mm/dd/yyyy. USCIS rejects the petition without the beneficiary’s date of birth. |
| Part 4, 10.Has anyone else ever filed a petition for the beneficiary? Yes / No / Unknown | Whether anyone other than you has ever filed a petition for your relative. | Tick “Unknown” only if neither you nor your relative knows. If “Yes”, give the details in Part 9. |
| Part 4, 11.a.–11.h.Beneficiary's Physical Address | Where your relative lives now. | If they live abroad in a home with no street number or name, leave 11.a and 11.b blank and fill in the rest. USCIS rejects the petition without the beneficiary’s physical address. USCIS also uses this address to decide where to send the approved petition if Items 61 and 62 are unclear. |
| Part 4, 12.a.–13.f.Provide the address in the United States where the beneficiary intends to live, if different from Item Numbers 11.a. - 11.h. / Provide the beneficiary's address outside the United States, if different from Item Numbers 11.a. - 11.h. | The U.S. address where your relative intends to live, and their address abroad. | In Item 12 write the U.S. address, or “SAME” in 12.a if it is the address in Item 11. In Item 13 write the address abroad, or “SAME” in 13.a. |
| Part 4, 14.–16.Daytime Telephone Number (if any) / Mobile Telephone Number (if any) / Email Address (if any) | Your relative’s phone numbers and email address. | All are optional. Write “N/A” for what your relative does not have. |
Part 4: The beneficiary’s marriages and family
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Part 4, 17.–20.d.How many times has the beneficiary been married? / Current Marital Status / Date of Current Marriage (if currently married) / Place of Beneficiary's Current Marriage (if married) | How many times your relative has been married, their status today, and the date and place of their current marriage. | Count every marriage. If you are filing for your spouse, these answers must match yours in Part 2. USCIS rejects the petition without the beneficiary’s marital information. |
| Part 4, 21.a.–24.Names of Beneficiary's Spouses (if any) / Date Marriage Ended (mm/dd/yyyy) | Your relative’s current spouse first, then every earlier spouse, with the date each marriage ended. | Send proof that each earlier marriage ended. If you are filing for your spouse, you are Spouse 1. |
| Part 4, 25.a.–44.Information About Beneficiary's Family: Provide information about the beneficiary's spouse and children. / Relationship / Date of Birth / Country of Birth | Your relative’s spouse and children: name, relationship, date of birth and country of birth. | List each of them, up to 5 people; more go in Part 9. In the preference categories, your relative’s spouse and unmarried children under 21 may immigrate with them as derivatives without a petition of their own; the instructions ask you to list them here. |
Part 4: Entry, passport, employment, proceedings and native script
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Part 4, 45.–46.d.Was the beneficiary EVER in the United States? / He or she arrived as a (Class of Admission) / Form I-94 Arrival-Departure Record Number / Date of Arrival / Date authorized stay expired, or will expire, as shown on Form I-94 or Form I-95 (mm/dd/yyyy) or type or print "D/S" for Duration of Status | Whether your relative has ever been in the United States and, if they are there now, how and when they arrived and how long they may stay. | If they are in the United States, copy the class of admission, the I-94 number, the arrival date and the date their authorized stay ends as shown on the I-94, or “D/S” for duration of status. The I-94 can be printed from the CBP website. |
| Part 4, 47.–50.Passport Number / Travel Document Number / Country of Issuance for Passport or Travel Document / Expiration Date for Passport or Travel Document | The passport or travel document your relative used to travel to the United States. | Give the number, the issuing country and the expiry date, even if the document has since expired. If they have never traveled to the United States, write “N/A”. |
| Part 4, 51.a.–52.Beneficiary's Employment Information: Name of Current Employer (if applicable) / Date Employment Began | Your relative’s current employer, in the United States or abroad. | Give the employer’s name and address and the date the job began. If they do not work, write “Unemployed” in Item 51.a. |
| Part 4, 53.–56.Was the beneficiary EVER in immigration proceedings? / Removal / Exclusion/Deportation / Rescission / Other Judicial Proceedings / City or Town / State / Date | Whether your relative has ever been in removal, exclusion, deportation, rescission or other judicial immigration proceedings. | If “Yes”, tick the type and give the city, state and date. If you married your spouse while they were in proceedings, read the instructions first: you must ask in writing for the bona fide marriage exemption and prove with clear and convincing evidence that the marriage is genuine. |
| Part 4, 57.a.–58.f.If the beneficiary's native written language does not use Roman letters, type or print his or her name and foreign address in their native written language. | Your relative’s name and foreign address in their own script, if their language does not use Roman letters. | Write them as your relative writes them, for example in Chinese, Arabic or Cyrillic characters. If their language uses Roman letters, write “N/A”. |
| Part 4, 59.a.–60.b.If filing for your spouse, provide the last address at which you physically lived together. If you never lived together, type or print, "Never lived together" in Item Number 59.a. | For a spouse only: the last address where you and your spouse lived together, with dates. | If you have never lived together, write “Never lived together” in 59.a. For any other relative, write “N/A”. |
Part 4: Where the beneficiary will apply (answer 61 or 62, never both)
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Part 4, 61.a.–61.b.The beneficiary is in the United States and will apply for adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in: City or Town / State | Your relative is in the United States and will apply for the green card there, with Form I-485. | Fill in Item 61 or Item 62, never both and never neither, as USCIS asks. Write the city and state of the USCIS office. Choose this only if your relative is in the United States. |
| Part 4, 62.a.–62.c.The beneficiary will not apply for adjustment of status in the United States, but he or she will apply for an immigrant visa abroad at the U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate in: City or Town / Province / Country | Your relative will apply for an immigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. | Write the city and country of the embassy or consulate. One outside the country where your relative last lived does not have to accept the case. After approval the petition goes to the National Visa Center. |
Part 5: Other information
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Part 5, 1.–5.Have you EVER previously filed a petition for this beneficiary or any other alien? / Date Filed / Result (for example, approved, denied, withdrawn) | Whether you have ever filed a petition for this relative or for anyone else. | If “Yes”, give the name, the city and state where you filed, the date and the result, such as approved, denied or withdrawn. USCIS checks this against its records. |
| Part 5, 6.a.–9.If you are also submitting separate petitions for other relatives, provide the names of and your relationship to each relative. | The other relatives you are filing separate petitions for at the same time. | Give each one’s name and relationship. A U.S. citizen filing for a spouse also files a separate I-130 for each child they share, including stepchildren and adopted children, with a copy of the receipt notice for the spouse petition. |
Parts 6 to 9: Statement, signature, interpreter, preparer and extra space
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Part 6, 1.a.–2.Petitioner's Statement: I can read and understand English … / The interpreter named in Part 7. read to me every question … / At my request, the preparer named in Part 8. prepared this petition for me … | Whether you read the form yourself in English, or an interpreter read it to you, and whether someone prepared it for you. | Tick 1.a or 1.b; for 1.b, write the language. Tick 2 and write the preparer’s name if someone filled it in for you. |
| Part 6, 3.–5.Petitioner's Daytime Telephone Number / Petitioner's Mobile Telephone Number (if any) / Petitioner's Email Address (if any) | How USCIS can reach you. | Give a daytime phone number; a mobile number and email address are optional. |
| Part 6, 6.a.–6.b.Petitioner's Signature (sign in ink) / Date of Signature (mm/dd/yyyy) | Your signature, certifying under penalty of perjury that everything in the petition is complete, true and correct. | Sign by hand in ink and date it. A typed or stamped name is not accepted, and USCIS rejects an unsigned petition; a photocopy or scan of a signed original is accepted. |
| Part 7Interpreter's Contact Information, Certification, and Signature | The details of anyone who read the form to you in another language. | The interpreter writes their name, organization, address and contacts, names the language, and signs. Leave it blank if nobody interpreted. |
| Part 8Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature of the Person Preparing this Petition, if Other Than the Petitioner | The details of anyone other than you who filled in the form, paid or not. | The preparer completes and signs Part 8 and says whether they are an attorney or accredited representative. An attorney who represents you beyond preparing the form also sends Form G-28. |
| Part 9Additional Information | Extra space for anything that does not fit, such as more addresses, jobs, spouses or children. | Write your name and A-Number (if any) at the top, the page, part and item number of each answer, and sign and date each sheet. Copy the page if you need more. |
Key terms
| Term on the form | What it means |
|---|---|
| Petitioner | You, the U.S. citizen, permanent resident or U.S. national who files the petition. |
| Beneficiary | Your relative, the person the petition is for. |
| Immediate Relative | The spouse, an unmarried child under 21 or a parent of a U.S. citizen. A visa is always available to them, with no wait in line. |
| Family Preference Category (F1, F2A, F2B, F3, F4) | The groups for all other relatives, with a yearly limit of visas: F1, F2A, F2B, F3 and F4. Your relative waits for their priority date. |
| Priority Date | The date your petition was properly filed. In the preference categories it is your relative’s place in line, compared each month with the Visa Bulletin. |
| Derivative Beneficiary | The spouse or unmarried child under 21 of a beneficiary in a preference category, who may immigrate with them without a petition of their own. |
| Form I-130A, Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary | The supplement your spouse fills in when you petition for your spouse; filed with Form I-130. A spouse living abroad fills it in but does not have to sign it. |
| Alien Registration Number (A-Number) | The number DHS gives a noncitizen, printed on the green card. Many beneficiaries do not have one yet. |
| Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record | The record of a noncitizen’s arrival and how long they may stay; its number and date go in Part 4, Item 46. |
| Adjustment of Status | Applying for the green card from inside the United States, with Form I-485; Part 4, Item 61. |
| Consular Processing | Applying for an immigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad; Part 4, Item 62. |
| National Visa Center (NVC) | The Department of State office that receives approved petitions for consular processing and sends them to the embassy or consulate. |
| Bona Fide Marriage | A real marriage, entered into to build a life together and not to get an immigration benefit. A spouse petition should send evidence of it. |
| Conditional Permanent Resident Status | The 2-year green card a spouse gets if the marriage is less than 2 years old when the spouse becomes a permanent resident; you and your spouse then file Form I-751 in the 90 days before it expires. |
| EVER | Printed in capitals in Part 4 and Part 5: the question covers your relative’s whole life or yours, not only recent years. |
| Biometric Services Appointment | An appointment where USCIS may take your fingerprints, photograph and signature. If you do not attend, USCIS may deny the petition. |
Common mistakes
- 1
Leaving a required field blank
USCIS rejects the petition if Part 1, your name, date of birth, mailing address or marital information, or your relative’s name, date of birth, physical address or marital information is missing. Write “N/A” or “None” elsewhere rather than leaving blanks.
- 2
Answering both 61 and 62, or neither
Fill in exactly one: Item 61 if your relative is in the United States and will adjust status, Item 62 if they will apply at an embassy or consulate. Otherwise USCIS decides from the address you gave, and changing it after approval may need Form I-824.
- 3
Forgetting Form I-130A and the photos for a spouse
A spouse petition needs Form I-130A filled in by your spouse, and 2 identical color passport-style photos of you and of your spouse if they are in the United States, taken within 30 days of filing.
- 4
Sending a marriage certificate and nothing more
A certificate proves the marriage is legal, not that it is real. Add evidence of a shared life: a joint lease or property, combined finances, children’s birth certificates or sworn statements from people who know you.
- 5
Not proving that earlier marriages ended
If you or your relative was married before, send the divorce decree, annulment or death certificate for each earlier marriage.
- 6
Filing one petition for the whole family
Each relative needs a separate I-130, except derivatives in the preference categories. A U.S. citizen filing for a spouse also files one for each child they share, stepchildren included.
- 7
Mixing editions or using an old form
All 12 pages must be from the same, current edition, with the edition date visible at the bottom. Check the edition on the official page before you print.
- 8
Paying the wrong fee or by check
USCIS rejects a petition with the wrong fee. By mail, pay with Form G-1450 (card) or Form G-1650 (U.S. bank account), and check the fee schedule on the day you file.
- 9
Sending documents without a translation
Every document in another language needs a full English translation with the translator’s signed certification that it is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate.
Questions and answers
Who can I sponsor with Form I-130?
A U.S. citizen can petition for a spouse, children and sons or daughters of any age, and, if 21 or older, parents, brothers and sisters. A permanent resident can petition for a spouse and unmarried children of any age. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and in-laws are not eligible.
How much does Form I-130 cost?
Fees change: check the fee schedule (Form G-1055) linked from the I-130 page on the day you file. One fee is due for each petition.
Can I file Form I-130 online?
Yes, through a USCIS online account. You can file online even if your relative will later file Form I-485 by mail: give them a copy of your receipt notice. If you file by mail, use the lockbox address on the official page for where you live.
Does an approved I-130 give my relative a green card?
No. It only proves the relationship. Your relative then applies for the green card with Form I-485 in the United States or for an immigrant visa abroad, once a visa is available to them.
Can my relative file Form I-485 at the same time?
If your relative is in the United States and a visa is immediately available, as it always is for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, Form I-485 can be filed together with Form I-130. This is called concurrent filing and has its own filing address.
What documents do I send with Form I-130?
Proof of your citizenship or permanent residence, proof of the relationship (such as a marriage or birth certificates), proof of any name change, and, for a spouse, Form I-130A, the photos and evidence of a real marriage. Send copies, not originals, unless USCIS asks.
Do I need Form I-130A?
Only if you are filing for your spouse. Your spouse fills it in and signs it; a spouse living abroad still fills it in but does not have to sign it. It goes in the same package as Form I-130.
What happens if I become a citizen while the petition is pending?
Tell USCIS, or the National Visa Center if it is already approved, and send proof of your naturalization. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 then become immediate relatives, with a visa immediately available.
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