Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, is submitted to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on behalf of a foreign relative seeking a Green Card. It can be filed by a U.S. citizen or Green Card holder, and it is typically the initial step that foreign relatives must take when applying for a Green Card.
Before beginning your Green Card application or filing a petition on behalf of a family member, get informed on Form I-130 eligibility criteria, how to fill out Form I-130, and what to do after receiving Form I-130 approval.
Who Can be Sponsored By Filing Form I-130?
There are two main Green Card categories and ten subcategories that allow foreign relatives to be sponsored with Form I-130 submission:
- Family preference
- First preference (F1) – unmarried children (21 years old or older) of U.S. citizens
- Second preference (F2A) – spouses and unmarried children (under 21 years old) of lawful permanent residents
- Second preference (F2B) – unmarried children (21 years older or older) of lawful permanent residents
- Third preference (F3) – married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
- Fourth preference (F4) – siblings of U.S. citizens (if the U.S. citizen is 21 years old or older).
- Immediate relative
- IR-1/CR-1 visa – Spouses
- IR-2 visa – Unmarried children under 21
- IR-3 visa – Orphan adopted abroad by a U.S. citizen
- IR-4 visa – Orphan adopted domestically by a U.S. citizen
- IR-5 visa – Parents(if the U.S. citizen petitioner is 21 or older)
How to Fill Out Form I-130
The form is twelve pages and consists of nine sections:
- Part 1 asks you to define the relationship between the petitioner (U.S. citizen or Green Card holder) and the beneficiary (the foreign relative being sponsored).
- In Part 2, you’ll enter personal and immigration information about the petitioner.
- Part 3 requests biographic information regarding the physical characteristics of the petitioner.
- In Part 4, you’ll enter personal and immigration information about the beneficiary.
- Part 5 is reserved for other information such as indicating if you’ve ever filed I-130 before and the names of any other relatives included in the petition.
- Part 6 is when you will read the petitioner’s statement, provide contact information, read the declaration, and sign.
- Part 7 is an optional section for applicants who use an interpreter.
- If you have an interpreter, Part 8 is where you’ll provide their contact information.
- Part 9 provides extra space to enter additional information for applicants who need it.
For full details, navigate to the comprehensive guide for how to fill out I-130.
What To Do After Form I-130 is Approved
If Form I-130 is approved, the applicant should first check the current Visa Bulletin published by the Department of State to determine if their priority date is current or not. If the priority date is current, you may move on to the next steps in the application process.
The next steps will depend on whether the applicant is inside the U.S. or outside the U.S.
