What Documents Are Needed in a Form I-130 Petition for a Foreign Spouse?

A USCIS Form I-130 is a Petition for Alien Relative. A U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder) is eligible to petition his or her foreign spouse to immigrate to the United States. 

Along with a Form I-130 and accompanying Form I-130A, supporting documentation is also submitted when the petition is filed with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). These include the following:

• Copy of the U.S. Citizens passport or if the petitioner is a green card holder, a copy of their green card and foreign passport.
• U.S. size passport photos of the petitioner and beneficiary.
• Copy of the foreign spouse's passport.
• Copy of the foreign spouses birth certificate.
• Marriage certificate between the petitioner and foreign spouse.
• Copies of previous marriage terminations from the petitioner or beneficiary (divorce or annulment decrees or death certificates).
• Copies of birth certificates of children born between the petitioner and beneficiary.
• Family photos of the petitioner and beneficiary taken over the course of their relationship. 

All documentation submitted to USCIS must be translated into English if the original document is in a foreign language. For more information or questions regarding the required documentation in petitioning a foreign spouse, contact an immigration lawyer for assistance.




by: Enterline and Partners Consulting

What is a Form I-130A Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary?

A Form I-130A is a supplemental form that is submitted with a Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative and supplemental documentation to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). A Form I-130A is only included when a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card Holder) is petitioning his or her foreign spouse. A Form I-130A is not required for all other Form I-130 filings (i.e. parents and children). 

The I-130A asks specific information related to the foreign spouse. This includes the names, place
of birth, and birth dates of his or her parents; previous and current addresses, previous marriages (if any); and other questions which the foreign spouse must answer truthfully. 

Once completed and submitted with the accompanying Form I-130 documentation, USCIS will commence processing. If USCIS determines that any additional information is needed, the agency will send out a Request for Evidence also known as an RFE. 

For more information or questions concerning a Form I-130A, contact an immigration attorney for further assistance.




by: Enterline and Partners Consulting

What is a Form I-130?

A Form I-130 is a Petition for Alien Relative filed through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The form can be filed by either a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder) which establishes that a valid family relationship exists. It is the first step in helping immediate relatives immigrate to the United States. U.S. citizens over the age of 21 are allowed to file an I-130 for the following immediate foreign relatives:

1. Spouse
2. Parents
3. Children
4. Brothers and Sisters

A green card holder over the age of 21 may file a Form I-130 for the following immediate foreign relatives:

1. Spouse
2. Children

When the U.S. citizen or green card holder petitioner files a Form I-130, they must include a $535 filing fee which is payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Depending on the category the family category that the immediate foreign relatives fall under, one filing fee may be sufficient to include multiple foreign immediate relatives while in other categories, separate filing fees are required for each foreign immediate relative. 

In addition to the signed Form I-130 and accompanying filing fees, supplemental information is also required. This includes passport size photos of the petitioner and immediate relative, copy of U.S. passport or green card of the petitioner, and other documentation needed to establish a family relationship. For more information on filing a Form I-130, contact us today. 

by: Enterline and Partners Consulting