Complete Guide to Form I-130
A complete field-by-field guide to Petition for Alien Relative, explaining the petitioner, beneficiary, family relationship, addresses, immigration history, supporting information, signatures, and common filing mistakes.
Before You Start: Prepare Your Records
Form I-130 establishes a qualifying family relationship. Keep identity, citizenship or permanent-resident evidence, family records, addresses and immigration information beside you.
The petitioner is the qualifying U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident filing Form I-130. The beneficiary is the relative for whom the petition is filed. All example names below are fictional.
Relationship
Identify the relative for whom you are filing and, where applicable, the type of parent-child relationship.
I Am Filing This Petition for My...
If Filing for a Child or Parent — Type of Relationship
If the Beneficiary Is Your Brother or Sister, Are You Related by Adoption?
Did You Gain Permanent Resident Status or Citizenship Through Adoption?
Answer Yes or No according to your own immigration and citizenship history.
Information About You — Petitioner
Your identification numbers, legal name, other names, birth information, mailing address and five-year address history.
Alien Registration Number — A-Number
Enter your A-Number if USCIS has issued one to you. If you do not have one, follow the form instructions rather than inventing a number.
USCIS Online Account Number
Enter your USCIS Online Account Number if one has been assigned to you. This is not the same as an A-Number or receipt number.
U.S. Social Security Number
Enter your U.S. Social Security Number if you have one. Do not enter a foreign social-security or tax number.
Your Full Legal Name
Enter Family Name, Given Name and Middle Name exactly according to your legal identity documents.
GIVEN NAME: JOHN
MIDDLE NAME: ALEXANDER
Other Names Used
Provide other names you have used, including aliases, maiden names and nicknames where applicable.
City, Country and Date of Birth
Enter your city/town/village of birth, country of birth and date of birth.
COUNTRY: NETHERLANDS
DATE OF BIRTH: 12 APR 1990
Sex
Mailing Address
Provide the In Care Of Name if applicable, street number and name, apartment/suite/floor, city, state, ZIP Code, province, postal code and country.
Is Your Current Mailing Address the Same as Your Physical Address?
Physical Address History — Last Five Years
Provide physical addresses for the last five years, inside or outside the United States. Include Date From and Date To for each address.
Petitioner Marital Information
How Many Times Have You Been Married?
Count all legal marriages, including your current marriage and prior marriages.
Current Marital Status
Date and Place of Current Marriage
If currently married, provide the date, city/town, state or province and country of the current marriage.
Names of All Spouses
List your current spouse first if currently married, followed by prior spouses. For prior marriages, enter the date the marriage ended.
Information About Your Parents
Parent 1 Information
Provide Parent 1's full name, date of birth, sex, country of birth, city/town/village of residence and country of residence.
Parent 2 Information
Provide Parent 2's full name, date of birth, sex, country of birth, city/town/village of residence and country of residence.
Petitioner's U.S. Immigration Status
I Am a...
How Was U.S. Citizenship Acquired?
Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship
Lawful Permanent Resident Admission Information
Provide Class of Admission, Date of Admission, and Place of Admission — city/town and state.
Did You Gain Permanent Resident Status Through Marriage?
Petitioner Employment History
Provide employment history for the last five years, inside or outside the United States.
Employer 1 — Current or Most Recent
Provide employer/company name, full address, your occupation, Date From and Date To.
Employer 2
Provide the previous employer needed to complete the required five-year employment history, including address, occupation and dates.
Biographic Information
These questions apply to the petitioner.
Ethnicity
Race
The form permits selecting all applicable categories: White, Asian, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.
Height and Weight
Enter height in feet and inches and weight in pounds.
Eye Color
Select one option: Black, Blue, Brown, Gray, Green, Hazel, Maroon, Pink or Unknown/Other.
Hair Color
Select one option: Bald, Black, Blond, Brown, Gray, Red, Sandy, White or Unknown/Other.
Information About the Beneficiary
Beneficiary A-Number
Enter the beneficiary's Alien Registration Number if one exists. Do not enter a made-up number.
Beneficiary USCIS Online Account Number
Enter the beneficiary's USCIS Online Account Number if one has been assigned.
Beneficiary U.S. Social Security Number
Enter the beneficiary's U.S. Social Security Number if one exists. Do not substitute a foreign identification number.
Beneficiary Full Name
Provide Family Name, Given Name and Middle Name exactly according to legal records.
GIVEN NAME: EMMA
MIDDLE NAME: SOPHIE
Other Names Used by the Beneficiary
List other names ever used, including aliases, maiden names and nicknames where applicable.
Birth Information
Provide city/town/village of birth, country of birth and date of birth.
Beneficiary Sex
Has Anyone Else Ever Filed a Petition for the Beneficiary?
Beneficiary Address and Contact Information
Beneficiary Physical Address
Provide the beneficiary's current physical street address, city, state or province, ZIP/postal code and country.
Address in the United States Where the Beneficiary Intends to Live
If different from the beneficiary's current physical address, provide the intended U.S. address. If the same, follow the form instruction to indicate that it is the same.
Beneficiary Address Outside the United States
Provide the beneficiary's foreign address if different from the physical address already entered.
Daytime Telephone Number
Enter the beneficiary's daytime telephone number if applicable.
Mobile Telephone Number
Enter the beneficiary's mobile number if applicable.
Email Address
Enter the beneficiary's current email address if applicable.
Beneficiary Marital and Family Information
How Many Times Has the Beneficiary Been Married?
Count the beneficiary's current marriage and all prior legal marriages.
Current Marital Status
Select the applicable option: Single Never Married, Married, Divorced, Widowed, Separated, or Annulled.
Date and Place of Beneficiary's Current Marriage
If married, provide date, city/town, state/province and country of the current marriage.
Names of Beneficiary's Spouses
List the current spouse first if the beneficiary is currently married, followed by prior spouses. Enter the date each prior marriage ended where requested.
Information About Beneficiary's Spouse and Children
The form provides space for Person 1 through Person 5. For each person provide: full name, relationship, date of birth, and country of birth.
Beneficiary Entry Information
Was the Beneficiary Ever in the United States?
Class of Admission
Enter the beneficiary's class of admission, for example the status under which the person last entered. Use the actual immigration record.
Form I-94 Arrival-Departure Record Number
Enter the actual I-94 number where requested. Do not use a visa number or passport number instead.
Date of Arrival and Authorized Stay Expiration
Enter the last arrival date and the expiration of authorized stay shown on the applicable I-94/I-95 record. If the record shows Duration of Status, follow the form instruction to enter D/S.
Passport Number
Enter the passport number used for the relevant entry where requested.
Travel Document Number
Enter a travel document number if one was used and the field applies.
Country of Issuance and Expiration Date
Provide the issuing country and expiration date for the relevant passport or travel document.
Beneficiary Employment Information
Current Employer
Provide the beneficiary's current employer name and address, even if the employment is outside the United States.
Date Employment Began
Enter the date the beneficiary began the current employment, where applicable.
Additional Immigration Information
Was the Beneficiary Ever in Immigration Proceedings?
Type of Proceedings
The form includes: Removal, Exclusion/Deportation, Rescission, and Other Judicial Proceedings.
If the beneficiary has immigration-court or removal history and you are uncertain which option applies, review the actual records or obtain legal guidance.
Location and Date of Proceedings
If Yes, provide the city/town, state, and date requested by the form.
Name and Foreign Address in Native Written Language
If the beneficiary's native written language does not use Roman letters, enter the beneficiary's name and foreign address in that native written language where requested.
Last Address Where You and Your Spouse Lived Together
Provide the last physical address where you lived together and the dates you lived there. If you never lived together, follow the form instruction to state “Never lived together.”
Adjustment of Status or Consular Processing
Beneficiary Will Apply for Adjustment of Status in the United States
If the beneficiary is in the United States and intends to apply for adjustment of status, provide the requested USCIS office city/town and state.
Eligibility to adjust status depends on the beneficiary's individual immigration circumstances.
Beneficiary Will Apply for an Immigrant Visa Abroad
If the beneficiary will use consular processing, provide the U.S. Embassy or Consulate city/town, province where applicable, and country.
Other Information
Have You Ever Previously Filed a Petition for This Beneficiary or Any Other Alien?
Separate Petitions for Other Relatives
If you are submitting separate petitions for other relatives, provide the full names and your relationship to those relatives. The paper form provides spaces for Relative 1 and Relative 2.
Petitioner's Statement, Contact Information and Signature
Petitioner's Statement
Indicate whether you can read and understand English and have read every question and instruction, or whether an interpreter read the petition to you in another language.
Person Who Prepared the Petition
If someone prepared the petition for you, identify that person as required. This may include an attorney, accredited representative or other preparer.
Petitioner's Contact Information
Provide daytime telephone number, mobile telephone number if applicable, and email address if applicable.
Petitioner's Declaration and Certification
Read the USCIS declaration and certification carefully. By signing, you certify the information and documents submitted with the petition.
The petitioner's signature is required. An invalid or missing signature can cause rejection or other filing problems.
Petitioner's Signature and Date
Sign and date the petition in the manner required for your filing method. For a paper filing, follow USCIS signature instructions.
Interpreter Information, Certification and Signature
Complete this section when an interpreter was used.
Interpreter Full Name
Provide the interpreter's Family Name and Given Name.
Interpreter Business or Organization
Enter the interpreter's business or organization name if applicable.
Interpreter Mailing Address
Provide street address, apartment/suite/floor, city, state, ZIP Code, province, postal code, and country as applicable.
Interpreter Contact Information
Provide daytime telephone number, mobile telephone number if applicable, and email address if applicable.
Interpreter Certification
The interpreter certifies that they are fluent in English and the language used with the petitioner and that the questions, instructions and answers were interpreted.
Interpreter Signature and Date
The interpreter signs and dates this section as required.
Preparer Information, Declaration and Signature
Complete when someone other than the petitioner prepared the petition.
Preparer Full Name
Provide the preparer's Family Name and Given Name.
Preparer Business or Organization
Enter the preparer's business or organization name if applicable.
Preparer Mailing Address
Provide all applicable mailing-address fields.
Preparer Contact Information
Provide daytime telephone number, mobile telephone number if applicable, and email address if applicable.
Preparer Statement
Preparer Certification, Signature and Date
The preparer certifies that the petition was prepared at the petitioner's request based on information provided or authorized by the petitioner. The preparer signs and dates the form.
Additional Information
Name and A-Number
At the beginning of Part 9, enter the petitioner's name and A-Number if applicable.
Page Number, Part Number and Item Number
For each additional explanation, identify the exact Page Number, Part Number, and Item Number to which the extra information relates.
PART NUMBER: 4
ITEM NUMBER: 59
Extra Sheets
If Part 9 does not provide enough space, follow the USCIS instructions for attaching additional sheets. Clearly identify the related page, part and item.
Supporting Evidence and Final Checks
Evidence of Petitioner's Status
Submit appropriate evidence showing that the petitioner is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, according to the I-130 Instructions.
Evidence of the Qualifying Relationship
Submit the civil or other documents required for the relationship being claimed, such as marriage, birth or qualifying adoption records.
Foreign-Language Documents
Documents containing foreign-language information must be accompanied by a full English translation with the translator certification required by USCIS.
Spouse Petition — Form I-130A
If you are filing Form I-130 for your spouse, Form I-130A, Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary, is generally also required according to the I-130 Instructions.
Review Before Filing
Correct petitioner and beneficiary names
Relationship category
A-Numbers and USCIS account numbers
Five-year address history
Marriage history
Parents' information
Petitioner immigration status
Employment history
Beneficiary address and family details
I-94 and U.S. entry information if applicable
Immigration proceedings if applicable
Adjustment vs. consular processing choice
Prior petitions
All required signatures
Required evidence and translations
The examples on this page are fictional. Form I-130 must reflect the actual petitioner, beneficiary, family relationship, immigration history, addresses and supporting evidence in your case.