I-130 Petition for Alien Relative – Help for U.S. Citizens and Green Card Holders
Form I-130 is the first step when a U.S. citizen or green card holder wants a relative to get a green card. It is filed with USCIS and proves the family relationship. An approved petition does not give status by itself. It opens the way to an immigrant visa at a consulate, or to adjustment of status if the relative is already in the U.S. We check whether your family qualifies, prepare and file the petition, and then take the case to the green card. Our work starts at $1,750, USCIS fees are separate.
What our work covers
- We confirm the category and the route to a green card
- We gather proof of the relationship and of your status
- We complete Form I-130, plus I-130A for a spouse
- We handle the case after approval – at NVC or with Form I-485
Who can file Form I-130 for whom
The relatives you can sponsor depend on your own status.
If you are a U.S. citizen
- your husband or wife
- your children, including adult and married children
- your parents, once you are 21 or older
- your brothers and sisters, once you are 21 or older
If you hold a green card
- your husband or wife
- your unmarried children
Bringing your spouse from abroad? The full route from petition to visa is on our US spouse visa CR-1 and IR-1 page.
Not sure your case qualifies?
Tell us how you are related and where your relative lives. A lawyer will tell you the category and the likely wait.
How we prepare your I-130 petition
Category and route. We confirm whether your relative is an immediate relative of a citizen, with no queue, or falls into an F category with a Visa Bulletin wait. We also decide up front where the green card will be processed – at a consulate or in the U.S.
Evidence. We collect proof of your status – U.S. passport, naturalization certificate or green card – and the birth and marriage certificates that link you to your relative. For a spouse we add Form I-130A and evidence that the marriage is genuine.
Filing with USCIS. We file by mail or online. Online filing costs $50 less, and the receipt notice gives you the case number for status checks.
USCIS requests. If USCIS asks for more evidence, we prepare the response before the deadline in the request.
After approval. For a relative abroad, the case moves to the National Visa Center – Form DS-260, Form I-864 and a consular interview. An immediate relative of a citizen who is already in the U.S. after a lawful entry can file Form I-485 together with the I-130.
Where cases lose time
Form I-130 asks where your relative will apply for the green card – in the U.S. or at a consulate. You can mark only one option, and you cannot leave it blank. A wrong answer sends an approved case down the wrong route, and switching routes means new paperwork and another wait. That is why we settle the route before we fill in the form.
Yulia Golinevich, immigration lawyer
Documents for an I-130 petition
The set depends on who you are sponsoring. Most cases need:
- proof of your status – U.S. passport, naturalization certificate or green card
- a birth certificate that shows the relationship (for children, parents, brothers and sisters)
- the marriage certificate and proof that earlier marriages ended, for a spouse
- Form I-130A for a spouse
- evidence of a shared life – lease, joint accounts, photos, statements from people who know you
- translations of documents not in English
Once the petition is approved, the person who filed it becomes the sponsor and signs Form I-864, a legally binding promise to the U.S. government to support the relative. The sponsor’s income must be at least 125% of the federal poverty guidelines – $27,050 a year for a household of two in the 48 contiguous states (Form I-864P, 2026).
If income falls short, a joint sponsor signs a separate I-864. Since October 1, 2026, USCIS accepts only the 08/24/26 edition of Form I-864. USCIS charges no fee for it, and on the consular route NVC charges $120 to review it.
Requirements and the evidence list are on the USCIS page Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative.
How long an I-130 takes
The wait is USCIS processing plus, for most categories, a place in the Visa Bulletin queue.
| Category | Who it covers | Wait |
|---|---|---|
| IR – immediate relatives | a citizen’s spouse, unmarried children under 21, parents | USCIS median 13 months, no queue |
| F1 | a citizen’s unmarried children 21 or older | USCIS median 43.3 months plus Visa Bulletin wait |
| F2A | a green card holder’s spouse and unmarried children under 21 | USCIS median 43.3 months plus Visa Bulletin wait |
| F2B | a green card holder’s unmarried children 21 or older | USCIS median 43.3 months plus Visa Bulletin wait |
| F3 | a citizen’s married children | USCIS median 43.3 months plus Visa Bulletin wait |
| F4 | a citizen’s brothers and sisters | USCIS median 43.3 months plus Visa Bulletin wait |
Medians come from USCIS data for April – June 2026. USCIS reports one figure for all F categories. In an F category, the relative waits after approval until the priority date becomes current in the State Department’s Visa Bulletin.
I-130 petition cost
The first table shows VizaUS fees, which depend on where your relative will get the green card. Government fees go directly to USCIS and the State Department.
VizaUS work
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| I-130 plus adjustment of status – I-485, work permit, advance parole | from $1,750 |
| I-130 plus consular stage – NVC, DS-260, interview preparation | from $2,250 |
| Form I-864 affidavit of support | from $250 |
| Response to a USCIS request for evidence (RFE) | from $250 |
Government fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Form I-130, USCIS | $675 |
| Form I-485, if the relative is in the U.S. | $1,440 |
| Form I-765 filed with I-485 | $260 |
| Form I-131 (advance parole) filed with I-485 | $630 |
| Immigrant visa fee, consular route | $325 |
| Affidavit of support review at NVC | $120 |
| USCIS Immigrant Fee, consular route | $235 |
| Medical exam | set by the clinic |
Full list of prices for visas and USCIS forms
USCIS fees are for paper filing. Online, Form I-130 costs $625, Form I-485 $1,390 and Form I-131 $580. Prices and fees are current as of October 2026. See the latest USCIS fees in the USCIS Fee Schedule.
What happens after I-130 approval
Consular processing
For a relative outside the U.S. The case goes to the National Visa Center, where you pay fees, complete Form DS-260 and upload documents and Form I-864. The interview takes place at the U.S. embassy or consulate in the relative’s country, and the green card is mailed after entry.
Adjustment of status in the U.S.
For a relative already in the U.S. An immediate relative of a citizen who entered lawfully can file Form I-485 together with the I-130, without waiting for approval. Details are on our marriage green card page.
| Consular processing | Adjustment of status | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the relative is | outside the U.S. | in the U.S., lawful entry |
| Main form after I-130 | DS-260 at NVC | I-485 with USCIS |
| Interview | U.S. embassy or consulate | USCIS field office |
| Work and travel before the green card | right after entry | with an I-765 work permit and I-131 advance parole |
| Fees after I-130 | $325 + $120 + $235 | $1,440 + $260 + $630 |
A part-by-part walkthrough and the mistakes that get petitions returned are in our guide how to fill out Form I-130.
I-130 petition FAQ
How much does it cost to file Form I-130?
The USCIS fee is $675 by mail or $625 online. VizaUS work, together with the next stage, starts at $1,750 if your relative adjusts status in the U.S. and at $2,250 for consular processing.
Who can I sponsor with Form I-130?
A U.S. citizen can sponsor a spouse and children, and from age 21 also parents, brothers and sisters. A green card holder can sponsor a spouse and unmarried children.
Does an approved I-130 let my relative enter or stay in the U.S.?
No. It only confirms the relationship. Your relative enters on an immigrant visa after a consular interview or, if already in the U.S., applies for a green card with Form I-485.
Is Form I-864 the same as Form I-130?
No. Form I-130 proves the family relationship. Form I-864 is the sponsor’s financial promise, filed later at NVC or with Form I-485, with income of at least 125% of the poverty guidelines.
Can I file Form I-130 online?
Yes, through a USCIS online account. Online filing costs $625 instead of $675 by mail. Paper petitions now go to new mailing addresses introduced in October 2026 – check the form page on uscis.gov before sending.
What happens to my petition if I become a citizen?
A petition for your spouse moves from F2A to the immediate relative category, so there is no Visa Bulletin wait anymore. You send proof of citizenship to NVC.
Where does my relative have the interview?
On the consular route, at the U.S. embassy or consulate in the country where your relative lives. Relatives living in Canada are interviewed at the U.S. Consulate General in Montreal. With adjustment of status, the interview is at a local USCIS field office.
Want to bring a relative to the U.S.?
Tell us how you are related and where your relative lives. A lawyer will tell you the category and what to prepare.
