What you need to know about the new I-130 Petition for Alien Relative?

Petition for Alien Relative
August 08, 2017

The newly published Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative from USCIS brings many changes!

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has recently updated the I-130 Petition for Alien Relative, going from a two-page form to a twelve-page form. This is an article to help family members seek guidance to requesting family relatives to come to the U.S.

Purpose for I-130 Petition for Alien Relative

To allow alien family relatives of citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States to immigrate to the United States.

Where to get Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative

You can obtain the form and instructions at USCIS website https://www.uscis.gov/i-130 where you can view, print and download the forms to fill out. USCIS can also have the forms mailed to you by calling the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 or 1-800-767-1833 for the deaf or hard of hearing.

An Immigration attorney located in Northern Virginia residing near Annandale, Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William Counties can help you file Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative, in order to ensure all the proper paperwork is filed in the correct manner and to handle any denials or any further course of action if any were to occur.

Eligibility for I-130 Petition for Alien Relative

You can file the form if you are a U.S citizen and are filing for:

  • Your spouse;
  • Your unmarried or married children of any age;
  • Your brothers or sisters (NOTE: you must be 21 years of age or older) and;
  • Your mother or father (NOTE: you must be 21 years of age or older).

 

You can file the form if you are a U.S permanent resident and are filing for:

  • Your spouse and;
  • Your unmarried child of any age

Please note that you must file separate Form I-130 for each eligible relative.

An Immigration attorney located in Northern Virginia residing near Loudoun, Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William Counties can help you file Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative, and can aid you in determining if a relative qualifies for this form.

Properly Filling out Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative

If you download the forms, you can type in the designated boxes or if you have the forms mailed to your residence or printed, you must write in print legibly in black ink.

Please note the difference between Petitioner (Citizen or Permanent Resident) and Beneficiary (Family member seeking residency).

You would need the following information (Petitioner):

  • Alien Registration number or U.S. Social Security Number and if eligible, a USCIS Online Account Number (if any)
  • Full name
  • Current Mailing Address
  • Marital Information
  • Employment History
  • Basic Information: Ethnicity and Race, Height, Weight, Eye Color and Hair Color, Birth country, and date, etc.

 

You would need the following information (Beneficiary):

  • Alien Registration number or U.S. Social Security Number and if eligible, a USCIS Online Account Number (if any)
  • Full name
  • Current Mailing Address
  • Marital Information
  • Entry Information
  • Employment History
  • Basic Information: Ethnicity and Race, Height, Weight, Eye Color and Hair Color, Birth country, and date, etc.

 

Please do not forget to sign near the end of the form and if there is any additional information that needs to be used it is available at the end of the form.

If you need assistance in filing form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative there are many attorneys in the Northern Virginia Region near the Annandale, Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William Counties who are more than willing to aid to ensure the forms are correctly filled out and give you peace of mind.

Where to File the I-130 Petition for Alien Relative

If you reside outside the U.S. you may file in the USCIS international office in the country in which you reside. If your country does not have an international office you may file to have a relative file to the U.S Embassy or consulate in which you reside.

If you are filing outside the U.S. and have a USCIS international office and want to mail it out the address is below:

USCIS Chicago Lockbox:

  • For U.S Postal service

USCIS

ATTN: 1-130

P.O. Box 804625

Chicago, IL 60680-4107

  • For Express mail

USCIS

ATTN: 1-130

131 South Dearborn- 3rd Floor

Chicago, IL 60603-5517

If you live in Alaska American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia Islands, Washington and Wyoming use the following address:

  • For U.S Postal service:

USCIS

ATTN: 1-130

P.O. Box 21700

Phoenix, AZ 85036

  • For Express mail:

USCIS

ATTN: 1-130

1820 E. Skyharbor Circle S

Suite 100

Phoenix, AZ 85036

If you live in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, D.C., West Virginia and Wisconsin use the following address:

  • For U.S Postal service:

USCIS

ATTN: 1-130

P.O. Box 804625

Chicago, IL 60680-4107

  • For Express mail:

USCIS

ATTN: 1-130

131 South Dearborn- 3rd Floor

Chicago, IL 60603-5517

Filing Fee for I-130 Petition for Alien Relative

$535

How to Pay for I-130 Petition for Alien Relative

A check or money order payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security” from any U.S. bank or institution will be accepted.

What Happens After Filing Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative

After the form is filed you would need to wait for a written notice stating your form has been received.

Different notices may vary in order to understand or figure out further actions, an immigration attorney may be beneficial. Many attorneys located near Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William Counties can help explain and aid in figuring out the next steps.

Additional Forms you may need to file along with Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative

This form is used to gather any additional information for a spouse beneficiary

This form is used if you want USCIS to notify you via text message or email with any updates

Different notices may vary in order to understand or figure out further actions, an immigration attorney may be beneficial. Many attorneys located near Annandale, Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William Counties can help explain and aid in figuring out the next steps.

Questions or Concerns

You can visit the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov to help further assist you with any questions or concerns.

You may also contact an immigration attorney near the Loudoun, Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William Counties in the Northern Virginia region if you have further questions or concerns.

References: United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Page

See our previous article the USCIS Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative here: