Form I-130Last checked against USCIS sources: November 6, 2026

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

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Quick answer

Form I-130 is how a U.S. citizen or permanent resident asks USCIS to recognize a family relationship. Approval does not give a green card by itself. It places your relative in line for the next step: a green card application inside the U.S. or an immigrant visa abroad.

USCIS fee

Paper: $675
Online: $625

One petition and one fee for each relative.

Source: USCIS fee schedule, Form G-1055

Who files: The U.S. citizen or permanent resident (the petitioner)
For whom: Citizens: spouse and children; parents and siblings only if the citizen is 21 or older. Permanent residents: spouse and unmarried children.
How to file: Online with a USCIS account or by mail. The mailing address depends on where you live and whether you file it with Form I-485.
What happens next: After approval, your relative applies for a green card with Form I-485 if eligible inside the U.S., or through the National Visa Center and a consulate abroad.

Checklist: what to gather

Check what you already have. Nothing you check is sent or saved.

Form I-130, signed by the petitionerUse the newest edition from uscis.gov.
Form I-130A, if the relative is your spouseYour spouse's address and work history.
Proof you are a citizen or permanent residentU.S. passport, naturalization certificate, U.S. birth certificate, or green card front and back.
Proof of the family relationshipMarriage certificate, or birth certificates that show the parents' names.
Proof that earlier marriages ended, if anyDivorce decree or death certificate, for both spouses.
For a spouse: proof the marriage is realJoint lease or mortgage, bank accounts, insurance, children's birth certificates, photos together over time.
Passport-style photos, for spouse petitionsOne of the petitioner and one of the spouse.
Certified English translationsEvery document that is not in English, including Spanish, needs a full translation and a translator's statement.
Filing fee$675 on paper or $625 online, for each relative.

See JLA's full preparation list for this kind of case

Common mistakes that cause delays

Filing for a spouse without Form I-130A.
No proof that a previous marriage ended.
Documents in Spanish without a certified English translation.
One petition for several relatives. Each relative needs their own I-130.

Questions people ask

Does an approved I-130 let my relative work or stay?

No. It only recognizes the relationship. Work permits and green cards come from other forms and steps.

Can I file I-130 and I-485 together?

Sometimes, for example for the spouse of a U.S. citizen who can adjust inside the U.S. It depends on how your relative entered and their history. Ask before filing.

Want our team to review it?

We will tell you whether this is the right form for you and what is missing before you file.

Call (770) 609-9396 How we help

Official form

Download the newest edition and instructions free from USCIS. It opens the government website in a new tab.

uscis.gov/i-130

Sources: the USCIS Form I-130 page and the USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055). Checked November 6, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Every case is different.