On October 30, 2019, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) enabled petitioners to complete and file the Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, online.
In order to file the Form I-130 online, petitioners must create a USCIS online account at myaccount.uscis.dhs.gov. Creating a USCIS account is free. In addition to allowing online filing the Form I-130 and several other USCIS forms, online account users may also:
- Submit and track the status of their forms;
- Pay their fees;
- Track the status of their case;
- Communicate with USCIS through a secure inbox; and
- Respond to requests for evidence.
With the addition of the Form I-130, petitioners may also file the following USCIS forms through the USCIS online portal:
- Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card
- Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
- Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status
- Form N-336, Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings (Under Section 336 of the INA)
- Form N-400, Application for Naturalization
- Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document
- Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship
- Form N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322
As of October 31, 2019, the USCIS still accepts the paper version of the Form I-130 and of all of the forms listed above by mail. There is no indication that the USCIS will require online filing of these forms in the foreseeable future. Thus, for the time being, online filing is one of two options available to petitioners.
Online filing is a convenient option for filing the Form I-130 and several other important immigration forms. Petitioners requiring assistance of case-specific guidance should always consult with an experienced immigration attorney for guidance. When filing any form with USCIS, petitioners should always ensure that they are using the current and up-to-date version of the form and that they carefully follow all of the form instructions.
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