Form I-130

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, is submitted by a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident who wishes to help their eligible foreign relative immigrate to the United States. It is one of the first steps in the process of obtaining an immigrant visa or green card. Immediate family members include spouses, children, and siblings. In order to sponsor a family member, you must prove that your relationship is legitimate and provide evidence of the relationship. The petitioning spouse can include their unmarried children under 21 as derivatives on their I-130 petition. This does not prevent them from independently applying for a green card, though they will likely have to wait longer for a priority date to become current.

Any supporting documents that you submit must be in English or translated by a professional. If you include a non-English document, you must also submit a certified translation with a signed declaration that the translator is qualified to translate the text and that it is accurate. If USCIS is not satisfied with your proof of your relationship, they may issue a Request for Evidence (RFE) or a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID). Having a skilled immigration attorney on your side can help you ensure that all the required information is submitted.

Form i-130 Processing Time

If you submit the correct application and all necessary documents, USCIS will process your I-130 petition in a few months. However, it may take longer if USCIS encounters any problems or needs additional evidence to complete the process. The USCIS I-130 is a Petition for Alien Relative submitted to the USCIS (or, in the case of Direct Consular filing, to a consulate or embassy abroad) by a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident sponsoring an immediate relative to immigrate to the United States.

The sponsor is called the petitioner, and the person on whose behalf the petition is filed is called the beneficiary. A USCIS officer evaluates the I-130 and determines if the petitioner meets all the requirements to be sponsored for a visa. The petitioner must also pay the applicable fee. A certified translation must be provided if any documents included with the I-130 are not in English. If you do not provide a translation, the USCIS will reject the petition.

How to Fill out Form I-130?

The form begins with information about the petitioner, who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR). The next section asks for information about the immigrant spouse. Then, the form asks for information about any children of the beneficiary. Finally, the form asks for information about other relatives.

The petitioner must provide an Alien Registration Number or USCIS Online Account number and a Social Security Number. They can leave this section blank if they don’t have these numbers. The petitioner should also provide a date of birth, place of birth, and parents’ names.

The petitioner must swear that they understand and agree to the information in the petition. They must also sign it. The petitioner should also provide contact information for anyone who helped them complete the form. This includes attorneys and accredited representatives. The petitioner should also attach any evidence that they used to support their answers. They may submit written statements signed under oath if the evidence is insufficient or unavailable.