Filing a Family Petition is the first step to help a spouse, child, or parent immigrate to the United States. This section explains the forms, eligibility rules, and steps before beginning your paperwork.
We serve clients in Fresno, Tulare, Kings, and Madera Counties.
If you want LDHC to help you complete and prepare your Family Petition packet, you can purchase the I-130 Packet directly on our website and download everything instantly.
Form I-130 establishes a qualifying family relationship between a U.S. citizen or Green Card holder and a relative who wishes to immigrate. It does not grant a green card by itself, but it is the required first step in the immigration process.
You may file an I-130 for:
If You Are a U.S. Citizen:
• Spouse
• Parent
• Child under 21
• Unmarried adult child (21+)
• Married son or daughter
• Brother or sister
If You Are a Green Card Holder:
• Spouse
• Unmarried child under 21
• Unmarried adult child (21+)
• Proof of petitioner’s status (passport, naturalization certificate, or Green Card)
• Beneficiary’s birth certificate
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Divorce decrees (if applicable)
• Passport-style photos
• Proof of bona fide marriage (for spouse cases):
– Joint bills
– Photos together
– Joint accounts
– Affidavits
If you want LDHC to prepare your Consular Processing I-130 packet correctly, you can purchase the I-130 Abroad Packet on our website.
If your relative is abroad, the I-130 is filed first. Once approved, the case transfers to the National Visa Center (NVC) for additional steps before the consular interview.
Same qualifying relatives as domestic I-130 cases, except:
• Beneficiary must reside outside the U.S.
• Beneficiary will complete the process through a U.S. consulate
• All documents listed in the Domestic I-130 section
• Beneficiary’s passport biographic page
• Police certificates (country-specific)
• Translated civil documents (if necessary)
If you’d like LDHC to help you gather financial documents, prepare the Affidavit of Support, and organize all uploads for CEAC, you can purchase the NVC Packet through our website.
Once USCIS approves the I-130, NVC requires additional documentation before they will schedule the consular interview.
• I-864 Affidavit of Support
• Petitioner’s tax returns & W-2s
• Beneficiary’s civil documents (birth, marriage, police certificates, etc.)
• Valid passport
• Two passport-style photos
• Proof of relationship (if requested)
