The I-130A is a form used by U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents to establish a relationship with their spouse in order to sponsor them for immigration to the United States. The form is used as part of the process to obtain a green card for the spouse. The I-130A is a supplement to the main I-130 form, which is used to classify the alien relative as an immediate relative of the U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident sponsor. Completing and submitting the I-130A, along with the required documents and fees, is an important step in the process of bringing a spouse to the United States.
It is mandatory to present Form I-130A in case of a marital-based green card for your sponsored spouse. Discover more about completing Form I-130A, a list of necessary documents, and other essential specifics in our guidelines.
As a U.S. national or legal permanent resident (green card owner), if you are the sponsor of an immigrant-qualified dependent, you are required to submit Form I-130 (Petition for Relatives of Alien) to USCIS.
In the case where the qualified relative is your spouse, you also have to present an extra Form I-130A ( Additional Documentation for Spousal Beneficiaries).
Does Form I-130A Mean Anything?
It is mandatory for U.S. nationals or legal permanent resettlers seeking to sponsor an immigrant for a qualifying dependent to submit a Form I-130 (Petitioner for Alien Relative).
The I-130A is an important form in the family-based immigration process because it establishes the relationship between the U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident sponsor and the alien relative they are sponsoring. This form is used to provide proof of the relationship, such as marriage or parent-child relationship, which is necessary for the alien relative to be classified as an immediate relative. The I-130A is also used to provide information about the sponsor, such as their name, address, and immigration status, which is necessary for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to determine their eligibility to sponsor the alien relative. Additionally, the I-130A is used to provide information about the alien relative, such as their name, address, and birthdate, which is necessary for the USCIS to determine their eligibility for immigration.
Form I-130A – Whom is Required to Present It?
Form I-130A is a crucial form that needs to be completed by U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents who are sponsoring their spouse for immigration to the United States. This form is used to establish the relationship between the sponsor and the immigrant and to provide proof of the relationship, such as marriage or parent-child relationship, which is necessary for the alien relative to be classified as an immediate relative.
As the sponsor, you will be responsible for completing and submitting Form I-130A along with the required documents and fees to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The sponsored immigrant, in this case, your spouse, will also have to fill out Form I-130 unless an exception is made.
An exception is made if you are residing in the U.S. and your spouse is residing overseas. In this case, you will be able to fill out Form I-130A to represent your spouse, and your spouse will not be obligated to sign the petition. This will allow you to initiate the process of bringing your spouse to the United States, even if they are currently living abroad.
Form I-130A – Who is not Required to Present It?
Except for the beneficiary spouse of the I-130 petitioner, no other I-130 beneficiaries are required to fill out Form I-130A.
Form I-130A Charges
The filing fee for Form I-130A is not a separate charge, as it is a supplement to Form I-130. Therefore, when you are filing Form I-130A along with Form I-130, you will only be charged the relevant costs for Form I-130. The current filing fee for Form I-130 is $535.
It is important to note that this fee is subject to change, and you should check with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for the most up-to-date fee information before submitting your application. You may also have to pay additional fees for certain services or biometrics. It’s always recommended to check the official USCIS website to get the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding the fees.
Instructions for Filling out Form I-130A
You are able to identify and download Form I-130A on the USCIS website: Download Form I-130A.
When you fill out Form I-130A, please type or write clearly in black ink.
It is vital that you answer each issue completely and precisely.
Keep in mind that supplying incorrect information on any government form is likely to cause your immigration petition to be dismissed.
Initially, the immigrant petitioner is known as a “spousal beneficiary” for the entire Form I-130A.
Thus, in the case that you are sponsoring your spouse for immigration purposes, Form I-130A identifies your spouse as the “spousal beneficiary.
In the case where your spouse is sponsoring your immigration by means of Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative), you are the “spousal beneficiary.
Secondly, in the event that any of the questions on Form I-130A do not apply to you, respond “not applicable,” “N/A,” or “none,” except as instructed to the contrary.
Part 1 – Information About You
The first part inquires about your Name, Address, and other biographical information.
Issue 1 requires your Alien Registration Number.
Often known as an “A number,” these are eight- or nine-digit numbers allocated from USCIS.
In the event you do not get an alien registration number, please keep this question empty.
Issue 2 requires your USCIS online account number.
You will only be issued this number once you have filed an application or submitted any documents on the USCIS website.
In the event you do not possess a USCIS online account number, please keep this question empty.
Issue 4 to 9 inquires about the address where you have resided for the past five years.
Start with your current address and work backward for five years.
This information consists of the following:
- Street name and number;
- Residence number;
- Urban or municipal;
- State or province;
- Mailing code or postal code;
- Country; and
- The time you stayed there.
Here are some tips on how to use these sources:
- Personal records: These can include things like personal journals, diaries, or address books that you have kept over the years. These can help you remember the addresses you have lived at and the dates you lived there.
- Bills: Utility bills, credit card statements, and other bills that have been sent to your address can provide proof of your residence. Be sure to check the billing address on these documents and compare it to the addresses you have listed.
- Mail: Official mail, like tax returns, bank statements, or government letters, can also provide proof of your residence. These letters usually have the address you lived in when you received the mail.
- Lease agreements: Lease agreements can be a great source of information because they usually include the start and end date of your tenancy, the address of the property, and the names of the landlord and tenants.
This might seem complex, particularly in case you relocate frequently.
It is critical to supply every Address to USCIS, both in the U.S. and overseas.
In the event that you have resided at the same address for the previous five years, you do not be required to answer question 6.
By all means, answer questions 8 and 9, which asked about your last address in a country other than the U.S.
Questions 10 to 23 acquire about your parents, including:
- Family names (last names);
- Given names (first names);
- Middle names;
- date of birth;
- Gender;
- Place of birth; and
- Place of residence.
If your parent is deceased, you can enter or type ” deceased” in the “Country of Residence” block.
Part 2 – Information About Your Employment
There is no demand for employment before filling out Form I-130A.
Nevertheless, USCIS is interested in finding out what you have been doing for the previous five years – unemployed, self-employed, student, or other occupation.
Begin with your most recent (or current) employer and work back five years.
The information requested covers the following:
- Name of owner or firm;
- The location of the owner, including:
- Street name and number;
- Residence number;
- Urban or municipal;
- State or province;
- Mailing code or postal code; and
- Country;
- Profession; and
- Dates of employment.
The information requested in the question you provided can be found through various means, including:
- Personal records: These can include things like your resume, CV, or previous job applications, which may have the name of the employer, their location, your profession, and the dates of your employment.
- Pay stubs or W-2 forms: These documents will have the name of the employer and the dates of your employment.
- Employment contracts or agreements: These documents will have the name of the employer, their location and your profession, and the dates of your employment.
- Tax returns: Tax returns can also provide proof of your employment, as they will list the name of the employer and the dates of your employment.
- Online research: You can search for the employer’s name or location on the internet, which may provide additional information such as their address and contact information.
It’s important to note that you should gather all the original documents and make copies of them. You should submit copies of the documents with the form and keep the original ones in case the immigration officer requests to see them during the process.
Part 3 – Information About Your Employment Outside the United States
Fill out this part only in case you have not yet supplied the information in Part 2 of the form.
In case it is required, you ought to offer it:
- Names of employer or company;
- Address of the employer, including:
- Street name and number;
- Residence number;
- Urban or municipal;
- State or province;
- Mailing code or postal code; and
- Country;
- Profession; and
- Dates of employment.
Part 4 – Spouse Beneficiary’s Statement, Contact Information, Certification, and Signature
In Section 4, USCIS is interested in finding out about your ability to comprehend, read, and write English or whether you have someone else to aid you in filling out this form.
Furthermore, you have to supply a daytime telephone number, a cell phone number ( if any), and an email address ( if any).
The spouse beneficiary is also required to sign and date Form I-130A ( except if the spouse beneficiary resides abroad).
The “Spouse Beneficiary’s Certification” section in Part 4 of the I-130A form is a statement that the beneficiary, or the spouse of the sponsor, must sign and certify. By signing this section, the beneficiary is confirming the following:
- The copies of any documents submitted are exact photocopies of unaltered, original documents.
- They understand that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may require them to submit original documents at a later date.
- That they authorize the release of any information from their records that USCIS may need to determine their eligibility for the immigration benefit they are seeking.
- They authorize the release of information contained in the form, in supporting documents, and in their USCIS records to other entities and persons where necessary for the administration and enforcement of U.S. immigration laws.
- They certify, under penalty of perjury, that they provided or authorized all of the information in the form and understand all of the information contained in, and submitted with, their form. And that all of this information is complete, true, and correct.
By signing this section, the beneficiary is taking legal responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the information provided in the form and also authorizes the release of information to the relevant parties for the process of immigration. It’s important, to be honest and accurate in providing the information and not to falsify any information since it can lead to serious consequences like denial of the application or even being subject to legal action.
Keep in mind that in the event that any answers are not adequately and precisely answered, your immigration petition (both I-130 and I-130A) will be postponed and may be rejected.
Part 5 – Interpreter’s Contact Information, Certification, and Signature
When there is an interpreter available to assist you in comprehending the question, that person will have to fill out Part 5 of the question.
This information covers the Name, Address, contact information, Name of the firm or association, and any qualifications possessed by the interpreter.
The interpreter will also need to sign and date the form.
Part 6 – Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature of the Person Preparing this Form, if Other Than the Spouse Beneficiary
In case someone in addition to you (the immigrant petitioner) is doing Form I-130A, USCIS is interested in finding out who that someone is.
As long as you were aided in filling out Form I-130A, that individual will need to supply their Name, Address, contact information, and a statement certifying any recognized representatives.
The individual who aided you in compiling the form will also need to sign and date the form at this time.
Part 7 – Additional Information
In case you require extra room when answering the questions on this form, please apply Part 7.
In case you take this room, as well as in case you require extra sheets to fulfill your answers, ensure that you enter or invert your full name and alien registration number at the top of each page to ensure that these pages stay in your file if they are segregated.
Form I-130A Checklist
Apart from the certification documents that have to be presented with Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative), USCIS demands that you have present proof of spousal relationship when completing your I-130A petition:
- Duplicate of your wedding certificate;
- proof that you or your spouse have ended any previous marriage (if applicable);
- Files displaying co-ownership of assets;
- A joint agreement indicating common living quarters ( implying that you and your spouse reside at the same address);
- proof that you and your spouse have integrated your financial wealth;
- Birth records for children born to you and your spouse jointly;
The declaration is administered or confirmed by the affiant whose personal understanding of the marriage relationship is contained in the contract – each and every declaration:
- Full Name and Address of the person making the oath;
- The Date and Place of birth of the person making the oath; and
- Comprehensive information and specifics that describe how the person gained knowledge of your marriage; and
- Any further related files to confirm that there is a continuing marital relationship.
Form I-130A Processing Time
As Form I-130A is a supplementary form that is presented simultaneously with Form I-130, the processing time is the same – approximately 7 to 13 months.
Form I-130 Processing Time
You are able to monitor the status of your I-130 petition by using the case status tracking tool on the USCIS website.
Keep in mind: USCIS grant of the I-130 and I-130A petitions is just the initial step in the procedure.
In the event that your spouse is currently in the U.S. on an effective visa, they still have to present Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status) in order to claim permanent resident status and gain a green card.
In the event your spouse is presently residing overseas, they still have to submit Form DS-260 (Immigrant Visa and Foreigner Registration Application) to be granted a visa to immigrate to the U.S.
| Category | Office | 80% of cases are completed within |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent resident filing for a spouse or child under 21 | California Service Center | 43 Months |
| Nebraska Service Center | 25 Months | |
| Potomac Service Center | 31.5 Months | |
| Texas Service Center | 36 Months | |
| Vermont Service Center | 35 Months | |
| U.S. citizen filing for a spouse, parent, or child under 21 | California Service Center | |
| Nebraska Service Center | ||
| Potomac Service Center | ||
| Texas Service Center | ||
| Vermont Service Center | ||
| U.S. citizen filing for unmarried son/daughter 21 or older | California Service Center | 81 Months |
| Nebraska Service Center | 27 Months | |
| Potomac Service Center | 46.5 Months | |
| Texas Service Center | 48.5 Months | |
| Vermont Service Center | 48.5 Months | |
| Permanent resident for unmarried son or daughter 21 or older | California Service Center | 72 Months |
| Nebraska Service Center | 48 Months | |
| Potomac Service Center | 44.5 Months | |
| Texas Service Center | 52 Months | |
| Vermont Service Center | 54.5 Months | |
| U.S. citizen filing for a married son or daughter | California Service Center | 83.5 Months |
| Nebraska Service Center | 40 Months | |
| Potomac Service Center | 44 Months | |
| Texas Service Center | 52 Months | |
| Vermont Service Center | 49 Months | |
| U.S. citizen filing for a brother or sister | California Service Center | 49 Months |
| Nebraska Service Center | 26.5 Months | |
| Potomac Service Center | 41.5 Months | |
| Texas Service Center | 50.5 Months | |
| Vermont Service Center | 49.5 Months |
What occurs in the event that you do not present a Form I-130A?
In the event that you do not submit Form I-130A with your I-130 petition, you may not become related to your spouse in the direct line of kinship.
Therefore, your I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) will be rejected by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
