Prepare Your USCIS Form I-130Petition for Relative Application

A permanent resident card, commonly known as a green card, is a photo ID card issued by the United States government. Green card holders are allowed to live and work in the U.S. as legal residents. However, the application process can be complicated.

U.S. citizens and permanent residents may petition for a relative using Form I-130. About 226,000 family-based green cards are issued to foreign nationals every year. Learn more about who may file Form I-130, how much it costs, and what happens after you apply.

A close-up of a permanent resident card. Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, can help your family member obtain permanent residency in the United States.

Who Can Use Form I-130 to Apply for a Family Green Card?

Both U.S. citizens and green card holders may use Form I-130 to petition for relatives to receive legal permanent residency (LPR) status. Relatives of a U.S.citizen who may qualify for a green card include:

• Spouses
• Biological parents, step-parents, and adoptive parents
• Brothers and sisters, adopted siblings, step-siblings and half siblings
• Married or unmarried children under age 21
• Married or unmarried children over the age of 21

Preference of these qualified relatives is given to immediate relatives with spouses and children at the top of the list. LPR qualified relatives are:

• Spouses
• Unmarried children under the age of 21
• Unmarried children over the age of 21

Things to Remember When Completing Form I-130

• Answer all questions fully and honestly
• Provide supporting evidence for your claims about yourself and your family member
• Include your form of payment with your application
• Sign your petition

What happens after I submit my petition?

Here are some tips to keep in mind to ensure your petition for relative application is accepted and processed in a timely manner:

• Answer all questions fully and honestly
• Provide supporting evidence for your claims about yourself and your relative
• Include your form of payment with your application
• Sign your petition

How Much Does It Cost to Petition for a Relative?

There are multiple fees associated with filing USCIS forms. You can expect to pay a total of $955 to apply for a relative’s green card using Form I-130. This includes:

• $335 FileRight fee for application package preparation
• $535 USCIS filing fees to file Form I-130
• $85 USCIS biometric services, if required

Do I Need to File Form I-130 for Each Relative?

A U.S. citizen or permanent resident may sponsor more than one relative. File Form I-130 for each relative you are sponsoring. For example, if you are applying for your parents, you must submit FormI-130 for each parent.

What Happens After You Submit Your Petition?

Once U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) receives your Form I-130, the agency processes the petition for relative application. USCIS will then send you:

• A confirmation receipt notice of your petition
• A notice of a biometrics appointment date
• An interview appointment date may be scheduled
• A written notice of decision

Apply for a U.S. Visa

Normally, when the USCIS approves the petition, the agency sends it to the U.S. Department of State’s National Visa Center (NVC). When a U.S. visa is available, the NVC notifies both you and your relative of the invitation to apply for an immigrant visa. The invitation extends to qualifying dependents as well.

File Form I-864

USCIS Form I-864 on a clipboard. This is the Affidavit of Support application form needed to sponsor an immigrant for U.S. citizenship.

When the time comes for the relative to immigrate, the petitioner must agree to be his or her financial sponsor by filing Form I-864, Affidavit of Support. The form states your commitment of financial support to your immigrating relative. The minimum annual income requirement is 125% of Federal Poverty Guidelines.

How Long Does Form I-130 Take to Process?

How long your application will take to process depends on the status of the sponsoring relative. Green card holders sponsoring an immediate relative can expect a processing time between 13 and 19 months. U.S. citizens who sponsor an immediate relative using Form I-130 may experience a wait time between 15 and 20 months.

Can You Check if Your Form I-130 Is Approved?

You can check the status of your petition for relative application on the USCIS website. If your application status says it has been approved but you haven’t received notification yet, contact USCIS at 800-375-5283.

What Happens if Your Form I-130 Is Denied?

If you do not provide enough information for USCIS to make a decision, you will be issued a Request for Evidence (RFE). Your application to petition for a relative’s green card may be denied if you ignore the request or do not provide enough information.

USCIS will not refund your money, even if your petition for relative application is denied. The most important thing you can do is make sure your application is prepared with care. FileRight will help ensure your application is correct and complete.