Send your Form I-130 to the USCIS service center that covers your state, not to a local office or embassy
The Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, goes to one of four USCIS service centers based on where you live in the United States. You do not mail it to an embassy, a consulate, or a local USCIS office. The service center processes the petition, and only after approval does the case move to the National Visa Center or a consulate abroad for visa processing.
Which service center you use depends entirely on your state of residence. USCIS divides the country into four regions, each with its own address. Sending your form to the wrong center will delay processing, so confirming your correct address before you mail is essential.
Key Takeaways
- Form I-130 goes to a USCIS service center based on your state, not to a local office or embassy.
- The four service centers are Nebraska, Texas, California, and Vermont, each handling specific states.
- You can mail the form or file it online through USCIS online accounts if you are filing for a spouse or parent.
- Include all required documents with your mailing: birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decrees, police clearances, and medical exam results for the relative abroad.
- Processing times vary by service center and petition type, typically ranging from several months to over a year.
The four USCIS service centers and which states they cover
The Nebraska Service Center handles petitions from Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
The Texas Service Center covers Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
The California Service Center processes petitions from Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, and Nevada.
The Vermont Service Center handles Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, D.C.
Mailing address for each service center
| Service Center | Mailing Address |
|---|---|
| Nebraska Service Center | USCISNebraska Service CenterP.O. Box 87130Lincoln, NE 68501-7130 |
| Texas Service Center | USCISTexas Service CenterP.O. Box 152122San Antonio, TX 78215-2122 |
| California Service Center | USCISCalifornia Service CenterP.O. Box 10130Laguna Niguel, CA 92607-0130 |
| Vermont Service Center | USCISVermont Service Center75 Lower Welden StreetSt. Albans, VT 05479-0001 |
Online filing as an alternative to mailing
If you are filing Form I-130 for a spouse or parent, you can file online through your USCIS online account instead of mailing a paper form. Online filing is faster and you receive a receipt number when ready. You will still need to upload all supporting documents as PDF files.
To file online, create a USCIS account at uscis.gov, start a new petition, and follow the form instructions. You will pay the filing fee online by credit card or debit card. Not all petition types are available online yet—petitions for siblings, adult children, and married children still require mailing a paper form to the service center.
Documents to include with your Form I-130
Your mailing package must include the completed Form I-130, the filing fee (currently $435 for most petitions, though some family relationships are fee-exempt), and copies of documents that prove your relationship to the relative you are petitioning for. For a spouse, include a copy of your marriage certificate. For a parent, include your birth certificate showing the parent's name. For a child, include the child's birth certificate. For a sibling, include both your birth certificate and the sibling's birth certificate.
You will also need to include documents proving your relative's identity and background. These typically include a copy of their passport, birth certificate, police clearance certificate from their country of residence, and a completed medical exam (Form I-693) performed by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon. The medical exam is not required at the time of filing but will be needed later in the process.
If your relative has been married before, include divorce decrees or death certificates for previous spouses. If your relative has ever been arrested or convicted, include court documents and police records. The exact documents required depend on your relative's country and personal history—USCIS provides a detailed checklist with the Form I-130 instructions.
What happens after you mail Form I-130
After the service center receives your form, you will receive a receipt notice (Form I-797) within two to three weeks. This receipt shows your case number and confirms that USCIS has begun processing. Keep this receipt—you will need the case number for all future correspondence.
The service center will then review your petition. Processing times vary by service center and petition type. when ready relative petitions (spouse, parent, or unmarried child under 21) typically take four to six months. Family preference petitions (siblings, married children, or adult unmarried children) can take one to two years or longer, depending on visa availability.
Once the service center approves your petition, the case is sent to the National Visa Center if your relative is living abroad. The National Visa Center will then forward the case to the U.S. consulate in your relative's country for visa processing. If your relative is already in the United States, the case may be sent to a local USCIS office for adjustment of status instead.
Common mistakes that delay Form I-130 processing
Sending your form to the wrong service center is the most common error. Double-check your state against the service center list before mailing. Using an outdated mailing address also causes delays—USCIS updates addresses periodically, so verify the current address on the USCIS website before you mail.
Incomplete documentation is another frequent problem. Missing birth certificates, marriage certificates, or police clearances will cause USCIS to send a request for evidence (Form I-797-E), which adds months to processing. Review the checklist that comes with Form I-130 and include everything listed, even if you think some documents are unnecessary.
Signing the form incorrectly or leaving required fields blank also triggers requests for evidence. Both the petitioner and the relative being petitioned for must sign the form in the correct places. If you are filing online, the system will alert you to missing signatures before you submit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file Form I-130 for multiple relatives at the same time?
You can file separate petitions for different relatives, but each petition requires its own form, filing fee, and supporting documents. You can mail all petitions to the same service center in one package, but they will be processed as separate cases with separate case numbers.
What if I move after I file Form I-130?
Notify USCIS of your address change by filing Form AR-11 online at uscis.gov or by mailing it to the service center that is processing your case. Include your case number so USCIS can update your file. Do not wait—address changes should be reported within 10 days of moving.
Do I need to notarize Form I-130 before mailing it?
Notarization is not required by USCIS, but some people choose to notarize their signature as extra proof of authenticity. It is not necessary and will not speed up processing. Your signature alone is sufficient.
Can my relative sign Form I-130 if they are outside the United States?
Yes. Your relative can sign the form and mail it to you, or they can sign it in front of a notary public or U.S. consulate official abroad. Both signatures (yours and your relative's) must be on the form before you mail it to the service center.
What is the difference between mailing Form I-130 and filing it online?
Online filing is faster and gives you a receipt number when ready. Mailed forms take two to three weeks to receive a receipt. Online filing is currently available only for spouses and parents. All other family relationships require mailing a paper form.