I-130 Summary

Form:

I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

Purpose of Form:

A citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States may file this form to establish the relationship to certain alien relatives who wish to immigrate to the United States. A separate form must be filed for each eligible relative.

Please note: USCIS processes Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, as a visa number becomes available. Filing and approval of an I-130 is only the first step in helping a relative immigrate to the United States. Eligible family members must wait until there is a visa number available before they can apply for an immigrant visa or adjustment of status to a lawful permanent resident. Please read more.

Edition Date:

10/26/05

Where to File:

A petitioner residing in the United States should file Form I-130 at the Service Center with jurisdiction over the petitioner's place of residence.

Petitioners residing in Canada can also file with the Vermont Service Center. United States citizens residing in Canada who are filing for their spouse, child, or parent, may now file at the nearest Embassy or Consulate, with the exception of Quebec City.

Filing Fee:

$190

Please consult the "Paying Fees" section of your local office or Service Center page to learn which forms of payment are accepted. Acceptable forms of payment may vary by office. Checks should be made payable to Department of Homeland Security or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Special Instructions:

Effective August 2, 2004, USCIS has changed its requirements for photographs to a standard passport-style photograph. Please see this informational flyer for more details.