I-130, Petition for Alien Relative



Purpose of Form :
For citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States to establish the relationship to certain alien relatives who wish to immigrate to the United States.
Note: A separate form must be filed for each eligible relative. USCIS processes Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, as a visa number becomes available. Filing and approval of an I-130 is only the first step in helping a relative immigrate to the United States. Eligible family members must wait until there is a visa number available before they can apply for an immigrant visa or adjustment of status to a lawful permanent resident.
Number of Pages :
Form 2; Instructions 7.
Edition Date :
11/23/10; (06/14/10, 05/27/08; 01/31/08 editions also accepted)
Where to File :
All petitioners who live in the United States or Canada and who are filing a stand-alone Form I-130 must submit their petitions to the Chicago Lockbox facility. Form I-130 petitions filed with the Chicago Lockbox will be routed to and adjudicated at the appropriate USCIS Service Center.  This routing will be based on the petitioner’s place of residence.
Please review the "Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative" link listed under "Related Links" on the upper right corner of this page, or the Form I-130 instructions available through the link at the top of the page, for specific information on where to file your petition.
Important: Any Form I-130 filed at an incorrect location will be rejected.
If Form I-130 is being filed together with Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, submit both forms with the correct fees to the USCIS Chicago Lockbox. (See Filing Chart for address.)
E-Notification: If you want to receive an e-mail and/or a text message that your Form I-130 has been accepted at a USCIS Lockbox facility, complete Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance and clip it to the first page of your application.  Form G-1145 can be downloaded through the link above.
Filing Fee :
$420
Special Instructions :

Important Lockbox Filing Tips:
  • Read and follow all form instructions for fees, filing location, and eligibility requirements.
  • If hand writing your application, ensure all entries are neat and legible.
  • When entering information on your application or petition, be sure to keep your information within the box or space provided. 
  • Use black or blue black ink only. Do NOT use highlighters or red ink on your application as they may make your materials undetectable when scanned.
  • Ensure that you are using the correct edition of the form. The correct edition is always available for FREE download at the top of this page.
  • Ensure that printed forms do not have the data fields grayed out. Information entered into grayed-out data fields will not be detected by the machine scanners.
  • Ensure that you provide all required supporting documentation and evidence.
  • Ensure that the supporting documents written in a language other than English are accompanied by an English translation. 
  • Be sure to sign your application.
  • Be sure that you mail all pages of the application.
  • If you must change your form, we recommend that you begin with a new form, rather than trying to white out information. Our scanners may see through the white correction tape or fluid and make your form incorrect, possibly leading to processing delays or rejection.
Fees
  • Be sure to enclose the correct fees. Checks must be made payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Read the form instructions for complete details.
  • We suggest that you use a separate check or money order for each application in the package and biometric fees.  If a single check is submitted for multiple applications and one of the applications must be rejected, then all applications will be rejected.  The Lockbox can not accept overpayment and make partial refunds.
  • Note that the requirement for biometrics fees varies depending upon your age and the benefit for which you are applying. Ensure the biometric fees submitted are correct based upon age and benefit.
Customer Service
  • If your form is rejected and you don't understand our explanation or disagree with that determination, please write to Lockboxsupport@dhs.gov before you re-file.  We will respond quickly to your concern.  Please include the form type, receipt number(s), and the applicant name and mailing address in your inquiries.  We specifically ask that Alien Numbers (A-numbers) NOT be included in email, as email is not a secure means of communication.
  • Lockboxsupport@dhs.gov can answer questions regarding applications and petitions which are pending acceptance or rejection at the Lockbox, and those which have been rejected.  Once your application has been accepted, the Lockbox has no information on the adjudication status. After your application or petition has been accepted by the Lockbox, if you have questions about the status of your pending application or petition, contact USCIS Customer Service at (800) 375-5283 or visit our website, www.uscis.gov, and use the InfoPass system to make an appointment at your local USCIS office.
  • Requests to withdraw an application or petition must be addressed to the office adjudicating your application or petition.
  • Requests to send files to a different office must be made to the office holding your file.  Call USCIS Customer Service at (800) 375-5283 to determine where your inquiry should be sent.
  • The Lockbox does not process refunds.  Information about refunds can be found by visiting our website and typing Refund Request in the Search box in the upper right hand corner of the homepage.
What Not to Send to a Lockbox Facility
  • Only applications with fees or fee waiver requests should be sent to any Lockbox. 
  • The following items are examples of items that should not be mailed to any Lockbox:   
  • The Lockbox does not accept additional evidence submitted in response to a Request for Evidence (RFE) or a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID).  Send all documents and information requested through a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) to the office requesting the information.
  • The Lockbox does not process changes of address. Please see our website for more information on change of address.