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I-130Official USCIS form guideFamily-Based

I-130: Petition for Alien Relative

The I-130 petition establishes the family relationship between you and your relative. This is typically the first step in the family-based immigration process.

9-33 months typical processingModerate difficulty10 steps
Start with step 1 below

What you’ll need before you start

Gather these so you’re ready. You don’t have to have everything before step 1, but it helps.

  • •Proof of your relationship (marriage cert, photos, etc.)
  • •Both people’s passport-style photos
  • •Copies of passports or birth certificates
  • •Filing fee: $535 (check uscis.gov for current fee)
  • •A valid email and mailing address for USCIS

How to use this guide

1 Do steps in order2 Tap step to expand✓ Check off when done💡 Read tips & warnings

Steps

Step 1
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Step 3Premium

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Step 4Premium

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Step 5Premium

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Step 6Premium

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Step 7Premium

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Step 8Premium

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Step 9Premium

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Step 10Premium

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This guide is for general information only. Forms, fees, and rules change. Always use the official USCIS website for current forms, instructions, and filing.

Go to uscis.gov

Estimates use public USCIS data—for planning only. For official status, use uscis.gov.

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