What is Form I-130?
Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, is the first step in helping a family member immigrate to the United States. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents use this form to ask USCIS to recognize a qualifying family relationship with a relative abroad (or in the U.S.) so that the relative can eventually apply for a green card. It's important to know that approval of Form I-130 does not grant your relative any immigration status — it simply establishes the family relationship and starts the process.
If you are sponsoring a spouse, reviewing the I-130 documents checklist for spouse petitions early on will help you gather the right evidence before you file.
What is Form I-130 used for?
Form I-130 is used to:
- Establish a qualifying family relationship between the petitioner (U.S. citizen or permanent resident) and the beneficiary (the relative).
- Begin the family-based immigration process so the beneficiary can eventually apply for a green card.
- Classify the beneficiary under the appropriate visa category — either as an immediate relative (no wait) or in a family preference category (subject to annual visa limits and potential backlogs).
How to fill out Form I-130
1. Choose your filing method:
- You can file Form I-130 online through your USCIS account or by mailing a paper form. Online filing allows you to track your case, upload documents, and receive electronic updates.
2. Complete Part 1 — Relationship:
- Select your relationship to the beneficiary: spouse, parent, brother/sister, or child. A separate Form I-130 is required for each relative you are petitioning for.
3. Complete Part 2 — Information About You (Petitioner):
- Enter your full legal name, A-number (if any), SSN, date of birth, country of birth, and current address.
- Indicate whether you are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident and how you obtained that status (birth, naturalization, etc.).
- Provide your marital history and current employment details.
4. Complete Part 3 — Biographic Information:
- Enter your ethnicity, race, height, weight, and eye and hair color.
5. Complete Part 4 — Information About the Beneficiary:
- Enter your relative's full legal name, date of birth, country of birth, SSN or A-number (if any), current address, and immigration status.
- Provide their marital history, employment information, and details about any children.
- Select only ONE option for Question 61 or 62 — whether the beneficiary will adjust status inside the U.S. or go through consular processing outside the U.S.
- Complete the beneficiary's native written language section if they use a non-Roman script.
6. Complete Part 5 — Other Information:
- Disclose any previously filed petitions for other relatives and their outcomes.
7. Complete Part 6 — Petitioner's Statement and Signature:
- Read and sign the certification under penalty of perjury. The form must be signed — USCIS rejects unsigned petitions.
- Provide your daytime phone number and email address.
8. Complete Parts 7–8 (if applicable):
- Part 7: If an interpreter helped you, they must provide their information and sign.
- Part 8: If someone else prepared the form for you, they must provide their information and sign.
9. Gather supporting documents and submit:
- Attach proof of your U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status, proof of the family relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificates), divorce/death certificates for prior marriages, and passport-style photos if required. Mail your package to the correct USCIS lockbox or submit online.
Who is required to fill out Form I-130?
Form I-130 is filed by U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents who want to sponsor a family member for a green card. U.S. citizens can petition for spouses, children (any age, married or unmarried), parents (petitioner must be 21+), and siblings (petitioner must be 21+). Lawful permanent residents can petition for spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried sons or daughters over 21.
When is Form I-130 not required?
Form I-130 is not needed if:
- Your relative is already a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
- You are sponsoring a fiancé(e) — use Form I-129F instead.
- Your relative qualifies for immigration through employment, the diversity visa lottery, or a special immigration program rather than a family relationship.
- You are a refugee or asylee filing for a derivative family member — use Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition, instead.
When is Form I-130 due?
Form I-130 has no fixed deadline — you can file it whenever you are ready to begin sponsoring your relative. However, the sooner you file, the sooner a priority date is established, which determines your relative's place in line for a visa number. This is especially important for preference categories that have multi-year backlogs.
How to get a blank Form I-130
To get a USCIS-issued blank I-130 form (PDF), visit our platform where the template is pre-loaded in our editor for you to fill out.
Our website helps you complete and download the form, though it doesn't support submitting it.
How to sign Form I-130
Form I-130 must be signed by the petitioner. USCIS accepts an original handwritten signature in ink and will also accept a photocopied, faxed, or scanned copy of the original for filing purposes. A stamped or typewritten name is not accepted.
You can complete the form in PDF Guru's editor, then download and print it to add your handwritten signature before mailing. If filing online through USCIS, you sign electronically through your USCIS online account.
Where to file Form I-130?
You can file Form I-130 online by creating a USCIS account at uscis.gov — this is the fastest option and lets you track your case, receive updates, and upload documents electronically.
If filing by mail, send your petition to the USCIS lockbox address that corresponds to your situation. The correct address depends on where you live and whether you are filing Form I-485 concurrently. Check the USCIS Direct Filing Addresses page for the current mailing address before sending.
Other forms related to the USCIS Form I-130
Form I-485 – Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status 
The form the beneficiary files to apply for a green card if they are already in the United States and a visa number is available. Can be filed concurrently with Form I-130 for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens.
Who uses it: Immigrants in the United States who are eligible to adjust their status to lawful permanent residents.
Form I-864 – Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA 
Required for most family-based immigrants once Form I-130 is approved and the beneficiary is ready to apply for a green card. The petitioner must demonstrate the financial ability to support the immigrant at 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Who uses it: The petitioner (sponsor) and sometimes a joint sponsor when the beneficiary applies for permanent residence.
Form I-130A – Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary 
Completed by the beneficiary spouse and submitted together with Form I-130 when petitioning for a husband or wife. Provides additional biographic and background information about the spouse.
Who uses it: The foreign-born spouse being petitioned for by a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
Form G-1145 – E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance
A short form clipped to the front of your Form I-130 to request email and/or text notification when USCIS accepts your petition at a lockbox facility.
Who uses it: Any applicant or petitioner who wants electronic confirmation that USCIS received their filing.
Form G-28 – Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative
Filed by an attorney or accredited representative who is representing the petitioner or beneficiary in the I-130 case. Must be submitted with the petition or at the interview.
Who uses it: Immigration attorneys or accredited representatives acting on behalf of any party.
