I-130: Petition for Alien Relative

Form I-130 is filed by a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident to establish a qualifying family relationship with a foreign relative who wants to immigrate to the United States.

Quick Facts

Official NameI-130 — Petition for Alien Relative
Filing Fee$535
Processing Time12–24 months (immediate relatives); 2–20+ years (preference categories)
Premium ProcessingNot available

Purpose

Establish a qualifying family relationship as the first step in the family-based immigration process.

Common Case Statuses

  • Case Was Received
  • Case Is Being Actively Reviewed
  • Case Was Approved
  • Case Was Transferred

Tips

  • Immediate relatives (spouse, unmarried children under 21, parents of U.S. citizens over 21) have no visa number limits
  • Preference category petitions may wait years due to visa number backlogs
  • Online filing is available and may process faster than paper filing
  • You must demonstrate you can financially support the immigrant with Form I-864
  • If the beneficiary is in the U.S. and eligible, I-130 can be filed concurrently with I-485

Related Forms

Related Guides

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For official information, visit the USCIS I-130 page.