Document Checklist
I-130 Evidence Checklist (2026): Every Document USCIS Wants
The three required document layers
Every I-130 petition needs evidence in three layers. Miss a layer and your filing is incomplete; USCIS will either reject it at the lockbox or issue an RFE after intake.
- Petitioner proof — that the petitioner is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident with standing to file. Without this, USCIS cannot proceed.
- Beneficiary identity — that the beneficiary is the person named in the petition. Passport biographic page is the gold standard.
- Qualifying relationship proof — the marriage certificate, birth certificate, or adoption order that establishes the family relationship.
Marriage cases add a fourth layer: bona fide marriage evidence across the four USCIS-recognised buckets (joint financial, joint residence, joint life, testimonial). See our bona fide marriage evidence guide.
Layer 1 — Petitioner status proof
Use one of the following. USCIS does not require all of them — pick the strongest you have access to.
- U.S. passport biographic page (most common, fastest).
- U.S. birth certificate (state-issued long-form, not the short hospital version).
- Naturalization certificate (Form N-550 or N-570).
- Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561).
- Lawful Permanent Resident — both sides of the green card (Form I-551).
- FS-240 Consular Report of Birth Abroad for USCs born outside the U.S.
Layer 2 — Beneficiary identity proof
- Beneficiary's passport biographic page — required for almost every case.
- Beneficiary's birth certificate from country of origin (with certified English translation if not in English).
- Beneficiary's national-ID card if no passport is yet issued (rare, but accepted).
- Two passport-style photographs of the beneficiary — USCIS specs (2×2 inch, plain background, taken within the last 30 days).
Layer 3 — Qualifying relationship proof
This is where the checklist diverges by relationship type.
| Relationship | Required proof | Common gotcha |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse | Marriage certificate (civil registry, not religious-only). Divorce / death decrees for all prior marriages of both spouses. | Religious marriage without civil registration is often not recognised. |
| Parent (USC petitioning for foreign parent) | Petitioner's birth certificate naming the parent. | Step-parent or adoptive relationships need additional proof (marriage of biological parent + adoption order). |
| Child (USC or LPR petitioning for foreign child) | Child's birth certificate naming the petitioner. | Out-of-wedlock children of a USC father need legitimation evidence under the law of the child's domicile. |
| Sibling (USC ≥ 21 petitioning for foreign sibling) | Both birth certificates showing at least one shared parent. | Half-siblings work; step-siblings without legal adoption do not. |
Bona fide marriage evidence (spousal cases only)
For marriage cases only. Build evidence across all four buckets. See our bona fide marriage evidence deep dive for examples and RFE triggers in each bucket.
- Bucket 1 — Joint financial: joint bank accounts, joint credit cards, joint tax returns, life-insurance beneficiary designations, jointly-titled assets.
- Bucket 2 — Joint residence: lease or mortgage with both names, utility bills, DMV records, mail at joint address.
- Bucket 3 — Joint life: chronologically diverse photos, travel records, shared subscriptions, joint memberships.
- Bucket 4 — Testimonial: affidavits from family, friends, employers, clergy attesting to the relationship.
The translation rule that catches every DIY filer
Every non-English document submitted to USCIS must be accompanied by (a) a full English translation and (b) a certification by the translator that the translation is complete and accurate, and that the translator is competent to translate from the foreign language to English. The translator does not need to be ATA-certified; any competent translator (yourself, a friend, a paid service) qualifies — but the certification must be in the file.
Form edition rule
USCIS rejects petitions filed on outdated form editions. Always download Form I-130 directly from uscis.gov/i-130 at filing time — not from a third-party cached copy. The form edition date is in the lower-left corner of every page; USCIS publishes the currently-accepted edition on the form's webpage.
Optional extras that prevent RFEs
Not required, but every attorney includes them.
- Cover letter — 1–2 page introduction with exhibit index (see our I-130 cover letter template).
- Tabbed exhibit dividers — letter-coded tabs (A, B, C, ...) that match the cover letter index.
- G-1145 e-Notification — receive USCIS receipt-number text and email confirmation.
- Two-hole punched documents at the top of each page (USCIS scanners prefer this).
How Visaido builds your checklist automatically
Visaido's $99 Family Self-File Kit dynamically tailors the checklist to your specific relationship type and intake answers, flags missing documents, and produces a pre-numbered exhibit index. You upload evidence; the platform classifies it into the correct bucket and surfaces gaps.
Official sources
This guide is based on official U.S. government sources. Forms, fees, and processing details change — always confirm current requirements directly:
- USCIS — Form I-130, Petition for Alien RelativeOfficial I-130 form, instructions, edition date, and filing fee — the petition that establishes a qualifying family relationship.
- USCIS Policy Manual — Volume 6, Part B: Evidence of a Bona Fide MarriageOfficial USCIS Policy Manual guidance on evidence used to establish a bona fide marriage for family-based petitions.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the most commonly missed I-130 document?
- Certified English translations of foreign-language birth and marriage certificates. Petitioners assume the foreign-language original is enough, but USCIS routinely RFEs petitions missing the translator certification. Every non-English document needs both a translation and a certification signed under penalty of perjury.
- Do I need certified copies of marriage and birth certificates, or are scans okay?
- USCIS accepts photocopies for I-130 — you do not need to send originals. Keep originals at home in case you're asked to bring them to the I-485 interview. If a document is in a foreign language, photocopy of the original plus full English translation plus translator certification.
- Does USCIS accept digital photos of the beneficiary, or do they have to be printed?
- Both work for I-130. If filing on paper, print 2×2-inch passport-style photos and include them. If filing online through myUSCIS, upload digital scans meeting the photo specs. USCIS photo specs: 2×2 inch, plain white or off-white background, head 1–1⅜ inches from chin to top of hair, taken within the last 30 days.
- Can I submit additional evidence after I-130 is filed?
- Yes. You can mail supplementary evidence to the USCIS service center handling your case, referencing your receipt number. But it is far better to front-load everything in the initial filing — supplementary evidence often takes weeks to be merged with the file and may be missed at adjudication.
- What happens if I forget a required document?
- USCIS will issue an RFE (Request for Evidence) — a letter listing what is missing and giving you 60–90 days to respond. The case is not denied; it pauses pending your response. Properly responding to an RFE almost always saves the case. Letting the RFE expire results in denial.
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