Important Aspects of Form I-130A
The first step in obtaining immigrant status under any family preference category is filing the Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, by a lawful permanent resident or US citizen as a petitioner (commonly known as the sponsor) for her/his alien relative. It establishes the relationship between the petitioner and the intending immigrant. However, if you are petitioning for your spouse, USCIS also requires Form I-130A, Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary, to be submitted along with the I-130. Which is used by USCIS to acquire further information about the spouse beneficiary.
What Is the Function of the I-130A Form?
The Form I-130A, originally known as Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary, is used by the USCIS to collect more detailed personal information regarding the intended immigrant. Such as, the detailed address and employment history, information about the parents, etc. This form is used as an attachment to the original petition to provide more information about the spouse beneficiary.
Who Needs to Complete the I-130A Form?
Every spouse beneficiary applying for a marriage-based green card is required by the USCIS to submit Form I-130A as their first step toward the immigration journey. This form must be completed and signed by the beneficiary and attached to their original I-130 petition. Nevertheless, beneficiaries residing outside the US need not to sign the form.
The I-130A form is not necessary for people submitting a family sponsorship form for other types of relatives, such as children, siblings and parents, as it is only required for the marriage-based green card.
What Distinguishes Forms I-130 and I-130A from One Another?
In the immigration procedure, Form I-130 and I-130A have different functions. Form I-130 is used to establish that you are indeed married to the individual you are sponsoring. On the contrary, the USCIS collects detailed information about the spouse beneficiary to verify the marital relationship using the Form I-130A.
Supporting documents:
You must submit Form I-130A along with additional supporting documentation to your green card application to establish your marital status. Though supporting documents can vary depending on the case, following are some of the general required supporting documents to submit along with the petition:
- A copy of your marital certificate,
- Proof that you ended your prior marriage, if you were formerly divorced,
- Evidence of shared life together (for example, joint tax return, joint health insurance, joint bank statements, etc.)
- Your birth certificate,
- Birth certificates of your children,
- Affidavits signed by friends or family members to prove the legitimacy of your marriage.
Filing Fee:
There is a filing fee of $535 for the I-130 petition. Since the I-130 A is filed along with the petition, there is no extra filing fee for this form.
Where and how should you file your Form I-130A?
Form I-130A should be submitted with Form I-130, along with any additional supporting documents. If you are a US Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident who is considering applying for your family members to bring them to the US but find the procedure to be a little challenging, do not hesitate to get in touch with Raju Law. We will assist you in determining your eligibility and help you complete your entire immigration process. Our experienced Managing Attorney Mr. Raju Mahajan, Esq and the Raju Law team will assist you with your case at every stage – from the very beginning of your case until it gets approved. To contact us, please send us an email at info@rajulaw.com. You can call 24/7 over the phone at this number – 833-725-8529.
