With US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States may file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, establishing the existence of a connection with certain alien relatives who wish to come to the United States. States.
Who can file Form I-130?
A U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident may file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative with USCIS to demonstrate a relationship with a foreign relative who intends to live in the United States.
Form I-130 Checklist of Required Documents
With your Form I-130 petition, you must submit the following documents:
- Proof of sponsor’s immigration status (US passport or green card)
- Proof of relationship (for example, birth certificate, marriage certificate, adoption order, etc.)
- For petitioners sponsoring their spouses, additionally submit:
- Form I-130A, Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary;
- Passport-style photographs for both spouses
- Proof of actual marriage (for example, joint tenancy agreement, joint bank account statement, proof of joint assets and liabilities, etc.)
Form I-130 filing fee
Note that each relative who is sponsored must pay a government filing fee. For example, if you are submitting immigration petitions for both spouses and children, separate paperwork and payments are required.
Form I-130 Payment Methods
Check or money order payable to “US Department of Homeland Security” must be signed and include the correct USCIS filing fee. If submitting payment by check or savings account, it must be paid in US dollars and drawn on a US bank.
It is very important to follow USCIS policies when making payments to prevent any processing delays. Incorrect payments or missing paperwork can result in petition delays or denials.
Fee discounts
USCIS may grant a fee waiver for Form I-130 under certain circumstances. Petitioners seeking fee waivers must demonstrate that they cannot afford the filing costs. Typically, this is done by sending Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, and supporting records such as verification of income, financial hardship, or receipt of means-tested assistance.
Requests for fee waivers are evaluated by USCIS on a case-by-case basis. Included are family size, household income, and type of financial hardship experienced. Supporting a request for a fee waiver depends on complete and accurate information.
Additional points of view
USCIS regularly evaluates and changes filing costs. Before submitting, be sure to review the USCIS website or speak with an immigration attorney for the latest fee information.
Filing Locations: Depending on the petitioner’s residence, the filing fee must be paid to the appropriate USCIS lockbox using the Form I-130. Wrong filing places can delay the process.
How long does it take for Form I-130 to be approved?
Factors that affect the processing timeline will be thoroughly covered in this article and what petitioners can expect in the approval process. Close Relatives: Usually experience expedited processing delays because annual restrictions on visa availability do not exist for direct relatives.
Family Preference: Other family members fit into multiple priority groups with annual numerical restrictions. These groups include married sons and daughters of US citizens, single adult children of US citizens and siblings of US citizens. Due to visa restrictions, priority categories often have longer processing times.
Each of the USCIS Service Centers across the country handles different cases. The workload of the Special Service Center where the application is registered will affect the processing time. The USCIS website has the current processing time limit for the relevant service center, which you can check online.
Completing the I-130 form will help avoid delays. Incorrect forms, missing paperwork, or mistakes can lead to Requests for Additional Information (RFEs), therefore prolonging processing time. Learn more: Form I-130 Instructions.
conclusion
Many factors can greatly affect the time it takes to get a Form I-130 authorized. Understanding the general processing dates and taking steps to guarantee that your petition is comprehensive and accurate can help minimize delays. Consult an immigration attorney for personal guidance and support to guide you through the process and assist you with any complications that may arise.