USCIS Enables Online Filing of the Form I-130

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 [PDF version].

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.

To learn more about family immigration generally, please see our growing selection of articles on site [see category].