❗️THE BEST ❗️2026 ONLINE I-130 Guide for Spouse | Marriage Green Card Petition for Alien Relative

Hi guys, welcome or welcome back to my channel. My name is Cassenia. I make

channel. My name is Cassenia. I make

videos for people who are going through the family green card process. I'm not

an attorney. My videos are based on public information, my own experience and the experience of my subscribers.

And the purpose of my channel is to give you guys the confidence to go through this process completely on your own.

Today's video is a newest, most upto-date online I130 guide for spouse.

The old guide is still pretty much applicable. So, if you have any

applicable. So, if you have any questions that I may have forgotten to answer in this video, definitely check out that old video. I highly recommend

that you look through the comments under that old video to see if your question has already been answered. So, the I130

is the first essential step in beginning the process for obtaining a green card for your relative. Even though we're filing this form online, I do recommend

that you refer to the instructions of this form on the I130 USCIS page. So, if

you scroll down here and you click right here, forms and document downloads, click on the form instructions and I will be referring to them throughout

this video. So in order to start filing

this video. So in order to start filing this form, you first want to create an online USCIS account. So this account

must belong to the petitioner, the person who is a US citizen or a permanent resident. So you cannot file

permanent resident. So you cannot file this form from your beneficiaries account. Once you sign into your

account. Once you sign into your account, click on go to my USCIS and then you can click on this button that says file a form online or you can go in

the drop down here and click on file a form online. Click on this drop-down and

form online. Click on this drop-down and select the following form I130 petition for alien relative. So it will give you two

alien relative. So it will give you two options. If you have already filled out

options. If you have already filled out your form I130 on paper, this version of the form,

you can then simply go ahead and do a PDF upload of the form here. But in my personal opinion, it's best to do it this way by filling out the form fields

online because it will guide you through the application more easily and it will take out all the fields that don't apply to your situation.

But in this one, you really have to sit down, read through the paper form, read the form instructions very carefully.

So, in my opinion, this one is more convenient. So, before you begin, they

convenient. So, before you begin, they do give you a little bit of guidance of whom you can petition. As a US citizen, there are certain relatives that you can

petition such as your spouse, your unmarried children under the age of 21, unmarried sons and daughters over the

age of 21, brothers and sisters, or your parents. And this also includes

parents. And this also includes stepchildren and stepparents only if they meet certain conditions. And then

if you are a lawful permanent resident, you can only file for these three types of relatives. The online filing fee does

of relatives. The online filing fee does give you a $50 discount compared to if you file this form by mail. They also

give you some documents that you may need, but this is not an exhaustive list. The paper form instructions on

list. The paper form instructions on pages six and seven. You will see the suggestions of evidence that you may

need depending on what relative you're filing for. This is just standard

filing for. This is just standard notices. You can read those at your own

notices. You can read those at your own time. By the way, you totally don't have

time. By the way, you totally don't have to complete this application in one go.

The 30-day time limit that they talk about here only refers to leaving your application completely untouched. So it

will be automatically deleted after 30 days. But if within that time you keep

days. But if within that time you keep logging in, keep adding information to your application, keep adding evidence,

this 30-day timer will reset. Also, you

are allowed to have multiple I130 petitions started in your online USCIS account if you are filing separate

petitions for different relatives. and

let's click start. So these are all the fields we're going to have to complete.

And depending on the answers you provide in here will determine the evidence that you will then need to upload first.

Answer if anybody is assisting you with this petition, yes or no. So if you have somebody is preparing this petition on your behalf or interpreting the

application for you, you will then have to provide their information. So if you answer yes to these two or any of these two, you will be asked to provide the

information of these people or this person on the next pages. But in our case, we're doing it ourselves. So we'll

just say no. Click next. Provide the

current legal name of the petitioner. So

the person who is a US citizen or a permanent resident.

They will then ask you if you have ever used any other names since birth. If you

answer yes, you will then have to provide additional alternative names you have ever used. They do say nicknames, alliases, and maiden names. But in terms

of nicknames, they do mean nicknames that you may have used on other documents applications.

So, not necessarily nicknames that your family and friends may call you because anytime you indicate that you have ever used any other names, you will then be

potentially asked to provide proof of that name change in a form of a document. It also includes variations in

document. It also includes variations in the spelling of your name. In our case, the petitioner has not used any other names since birth. So, we'll answer no

and click next. Provide your daytime telephone number, your mobile phone number. If it is the same as your daytime number, you can

either leave it blank or repeat it again here. And the email address is the

here. And the email address is the address that you have created your account under. So it will autopop

account under. So it will autopop populate. Next, provide your current

populate. Next, provide your current mailing address. If you live in an

mailing address. If you live in an address where someone else receives mail on your behalf, then you will write that

person's name here. But if you yourself receive mail at this address, then you can simply leave this box blank. And

also by the way in the online application do not write N slash A or not applicable in these lines because it

will mess up the online system. Any

field that does not apply to you in the online application. You simply do not

online application. You simply do not type anything.

The online system will help you verify your address. Obviously I'm using a fake

your address. Obviously I'm using a fake address. So, it may potentially give you

address. So, it may potentially give you an error. If you are 100% sure that your

an error. If you are 100% sure that your address is correct, then you can just ignore this message. Next, answer

whether your mailing address is also the same address where you live, which is what they mean by physical address. If

you don't live at this address, then on the next page, you will be asked to provide an additional addresses where

you reside. But if you currently live

you reside. But if you currently live here, click yes and move on. Now, you

will need to provide your address history for the last 5 years. In the

address history, you do not have to include your current address where you actually live and add the addresses

where you have resided for the last 5 years immediately before the current address. So, click on add address and

address. So, click on add address and provide it here. You also want to go in

a reverse order moving backwards for 5 years and then provide the dates when you have

resided at this first prior address.

And if you need to add more addresses, you can add them here. So let's add another address. So let's say for

another address. So let's say for example we lived in this address since birth. But if this address falls within

birth. But if this address falls within the last 5 years history, we will then indicate that we have lived here since birth

and until the date before the prior address. So you want to make sure that there are no gaps in your

address history. And again, you can add

address history. And again, you can add as many as you need. Please keep in mind that you do not have to add addresses

where you didn't actually reside. So

addresses where you may have visited as a tourist, you don't have to add. But if

maybe you lived overseas, studied overseas, then you would have to add that address. or if you're currently in

that address. or if you're currently in college or you lived in co in a college then the address history would include

your college address. Once you complete the 5 years history you can click next.

Provide the general biographical information.

You can select as many races as you need. They do give you some notes here

need. They do give you some notes here of what you would potentially include, but definitely keep it consistent with

other forms of ID that you have.

Next, now you will need to provide your work history for the past 5 years also whether inside or outside the US. And

they do ask you to provide your current employer first. If you are currently

employer first. If you are currently unemployed to type unemployed for the name of employer. So if you click on this button add employment. If you are

unemployed you will write unemployed and then leave the rest of this blank and then do provide the date from which you

became unemployed. And then you would

became unemployed. And then you would click this box that says currently work here. But if you click this, it'll just

here. But if you click this, it'll just say present. So if you're presently

say present. So if you're presently unemployed, you'll just still select this box. If you are a student, then you

this box. If you are a student, then you can write unemployed student for example and then provide the

address of your college or university where you're a student. And then you can once again write student for example here. and then the dates when you begin.

here. and then the dates when you begin.

But if you are on a paid internship, then that is considered your employment.

Even if it is for a college, if you're getting paid, that means you are employed.

So once you fill in your first employer information, the current employer, save that entry and then you can add as many

as necessary. Some people ask me if you

as necessary. Some people ask me if you should include gaps. And I would say yes, if your gaps were for longer than a

month, then I would definitely include it here. But if you had short gaps in

it here. But if you had short gaps in employment for a couple of weeks here and there, then I would not really count

them. But longer gaps, I definitely

them. But longer gaps, I definitely would include them here.

And also as you can see if you have multiple jobs at the same time currently you are given an option to select this box for multiple employers. Once you

complete that click next. Some

additional information they will ask you if you are a US citizen or a permanent resident. They will ask you if you have

resident. They will ask you if you have gained your permanent resident status through citizenship or adoption. Answer

yes or no. In our case, that would be a no. They will then ask you if you have

no. They will then ask you if you have an A number. An alien number only will apply to people who have ever gone through the immigration process in the

United States themselves.

So, as a US citizen, if you naturalized, then yes, you still have an A number, which you can find on your naturalization certificate. But if you

naturalization certificate. But if you are a US citizen who was born in the United States, then you don't have an alien number. It also asks you about

alien number. It also asks you about online USCIS account number. Again, this

will only apply to people who have ever filed any applications online. Sometimes

you can also locate your online account number in this drop- down menu. There

should be a profile button here. If you

have ever filled out applications using this account before, if you really cannot find it, that is perfectly fine.

You can simply say I don't know or I don't have one. Then provide your social security number. Provide your date of

security number. Provide your date of birth. Provide your country of birth and

birth. Provide your country of birth and the city or town where you were born.

Next, they will then ask you how you obtained your US citizenship. Select one

of these. So, this is self-explanatory.

Also, this if you derived your citizenship through parents by obtaining a CRBA or an N600, then this is what you would select. They will ask you if you have

select. They will ask you if you have obtained certificate of naturalization or citizenship. If you were born in the

or citizenship. If you were born in the United States, the answer to this will be automatically no. And then if you're currently a lawful permanent resident,

then on this next page, instead of your citizenship information, they will ask you to provide your permanent residency information. So they'll first ask you

information. So they'll first ask you for your class of admission, which means what is the green card category that you have. You have all of these options that

have. You have all of these options that you can select from the drop down. And

then they would ask you for your date of admission, which would be the issue date that is listed on your green card.

Usually that date would be the same date that you officially arrived in the United States and admitted at the port of entry if you did consular process or

the date your I485 was approved if you adjusted status from inside the US. and

then provide the city, town and state where you were admitted to permanent residency. So again, if you adjusted

residency. So again, if you adjusted your status from inside the US, then here you would provide the city and town where you had your interview in the

state. Or if you um again arrived from

state. Or if you um again arrived from outside the US, then this would be the port of entry where you were admitted to the United States for the first time as

a permanent resident. And then you would answer if you gained your permanent resident status through a marriage to a US citizen or a lawful permanent resident depending on your circumstance.

Um I would read the form instructions, but that could determine the outcome of your current petition. Next, provide

your current marital status. Again,

we're filling this out for our spouse, so we'll select married. And then they will ask you how many times you have been married. include all marriages,

been married. include all marriages, anal marriages, marriages to other people, marriages to the same person, and also you need to count here your

current marriage as well. So, if we're filing for your spouse and this is your first marriage, you will say that you have been married at least one time. But

of course, if you had prior marriages, you will count them all up, including the current marriage. If you say that you have been married more than once,

you will notice that you will then be asked about your prior marriages. And I

will just show you what it looks like here. You will be asked to add any prior

here. You will be asked to add any prior spouses you've had, their legal name, and when the marriage ended. If you've

only been married one time to your current spouse, you should not have to answer information about your prior marriages. Click next. And again, this

marriages. Click next. And again, this is still all about the petitioner. The

beneficiary's information will be in another section. As the petitioner, you

another section. As the petitioner, you will then need to provide the information about your current spouse.

Our spouse is our beneficiary. So

obviously here you will provide your beneficiary's name and the date you got married to this current spouse. They

will then ask you where you and your current spouse got married, what is listed on your marriage certificate. And

then for remote virtual marriages, basically you will put down the location of the authority that officiated your

marriage. So the jurisdiction, the state

marriage. So the jurisdiction, the state that conducted this virtual ceremony for you and then they ask you when did your last

marriage end. It is asking about the end

marriage end. It is asking about the end of this current marriage. The question

is just not worded very well in this application. This marriage has not yet

application. This marriage has not yet ended. So you will simply leave this

ended. So you will simply leave this field blank. If you look in the paper

field blank. If you look in the paper form on page three, this date refers to

this part of the paper application. In

the preview section of the PDF of your form, it will populate this date in this question. So, you want to avoid that if

question. So, you want to avoid that if you are still married. Don't make this mistake. Click next. Provide the

mistake. Click next. Provide the

information about the parents, the parents of the petitioner. And by the way, the parent information refers to biological parents unless you were

legally adopted. In that case, you would

legally adopted. In that case, you would provide the information about your legal adoptive parent. And you will need to

adoptive parent. And you will need to provide your parents legal name. So if

you're filling out your mom, for example, it is asking you to provide her current legal name. So not her maiden name. If she changed her name after

name. If she changed her name after getting married, then this is her married name that you will include here.

And the date of birth of this parent, their gender and country of birth and where they currently reside.

If the parent is currently deceased, not living, you can leave this residence information blank or you can also

equally write deceased. Next, provide

the information about your second parent. And some people may not know

parent. And some people may not know their second parent. You can simply leave this blank or you can write unknown for example. Click next. Now we

are at the part of the application all about your beneficiary. We are again filing this petition for your spouse.

When you select spouse, you will also be asked to provide this additional form with this application and it will appear

over here in the evidence section I130A.

So, while you're filling out this form I130, you can have your beneficiary spouse fill in the form I130A.

You can also locate this form. Um,

again, on the same page where you would have downloaded the form instructions in this dropdown, you will see it right here. It is a supplemental form that

here. It is a supplemental form that must be submitted with your I130 application, even if you're doing it

online. But do note that this is only

online. But do note that this is only for spousal cases. If you are filing for any other relative, this form does not

need to be included. Next, answer if anyone has ever filed a petition for this beneficiary. This includes not only

this beneficiary. This includes not only other petitions I130 but it also includes petitions like I40

whether they were filed by an employer or self. It also includes petitions for

or self. It also includes petitions for alien fiance I129F.

In our case, let's say no. Move on.

Provide your beneficiary's current legal name. You will notice that because we're

name. You will notice that because we're filing for our spouse, some of the information will be repetitive in the petitioner section, but it was asking about our marital status and current

spouse information. We of course

spouse information. We of course indicated our beneficiary's name. And

unfortunately, the way that the form is designed, you have to repeat it all again. Same would be if you filed for

again. Same would be if you filed for your parents and you already provided your parents' information.

Unfortunately, if the beneficiary is your parent, you would have to refill all of that information here one more time. And let's assume that Jane has

time. And let's assume that Jane has changed her name after marriage. She can

begin using her married name in the applications for her green card. The marriage

certificate, the American marriage certificate will serve as proof of Jane's name change even if she hasn't

changed it in any other documents yet like her passport. Now, if the beneficiary has ever used any other name since birth, then obviously we will have to indicate them here. And so, for

example, if Jane has ever used other last names before, you still need to type in her first name and then that

variation of the last name. Also, as we said before, maybe Jane has her name spelled a little bit differently in her

foreign passport. You also want to

foreign passport. You also want to include these variations. any changes of name, you will have to put in those

documents in this online application.

Click next. Provide the beneficiary's phone number. If your beneficiary is

phone number. If your beneficiary is currently in the United States, even if they don't have their own phone number yet, American phone number, you can go

ahead and use the petitioner's phone number. And then if your beneficiary is

number. And then if your beneficiary is still overseas completing this process as a consularor process then of course

provide the current country code and phone number. If the mobile and daytime

phone number. If the mobile and daytime phone numbers are the same you can leave this blank and then provide your beneficiary's email address. Next

provide the beneficiary's current address where they live. If your

beneficiary is applying for adjustment of status, meaning that they will be applying for their green card from within the US using the form I485,

then you can go ahead and provide their current resident address here. Even if

they, for example, arrived on a tourist visa, because you have decided to apply for adjustment of status, their current residency address would be within the United States. And then if your

United States. And then if your beneficiary is still overseas, then you would provide their foreign address here. For example, for us, Jane is in

here. For example, for us, Jane is in the United States. They also do tell you that if your beneficiary resides outside

the US in a home without a street number or name that you can leave address line one and two blank and simply provide the country and the town of where your

beneficiary resides. And you can also

beneficiary resides. And you can also clarify it right here in the additional information section later if necessary.

And then where does the beneficiary intend to live when they come to the United States? So if your beneficiary is

States? So if your beneficiary is already in the United States, then simply here in address line one, you will write same. If this is a foreign

address that we provided and your beneficiary is outside the US, then their intended address in the United States for spousal cases, this should

ideally be the petitioning spouse's address. And then provide the

address. And then provide the beneficiary's address outside the United States if different from where they live now. So Jane is visiting the US, decided

now. So Jane is visiting the US, decided to apply for adjustment of status. So

currently her address is in the US. So

then we would then need to go ahead and provide her foreign country's address.

And by the way, when you type foreign addresses in these forms, you can do it one of two ways. You can either interpret the address of what it would

appear like in English. For example, you can write one Lenon Street. But an even better way is instead of interpreting

the address, you literally translate it.

That way, it will be easier to decipher in case your beneficiary is still outside the United States and needs to be located. Next, answer the question

be located. Next, answer the question where you and your spouse last lived together. So, what they mean by last

together. So, what they mean by last lived together is most recently. So if

most recently you have resided together at your current address then that's the address you would provide. If your

beneficiary is outside the US and maybe you have visited them as a petitioner for a couple of weeks here and there

that doesn't really count as living together. So you would essentially write

together. So you would essentially write right here in this line never lived together and then you would leave the

rest of this blank. If the petitioner lived overseas and also included that foreign address in their address history with the beneficiary, then of course you

can count it as living together. But

again, short visits, trips don't really count. They will also ask you when did

count. They will also ask you when did you and your spouse live there together at this address. You would type in the dates when you began physically residing at this address together. And if you

currently reside at this address together, then you can leave date two blank. Click next. Provide the

blank. Click next. Provide the

beneficiary's alien number. You would

know if your beneficiary has an alien number, if they have ever applied for any kind of immigration in the past, specific maybe even student status, OPT,

etc., H1B, all of that. Then you would provide their alien number here. If they

live overseas, they probably don't have an alien number. So, you can simply click they do not have an A number. Same

applies to the online USCIS account number. So, your beneficiary would only

number. So, your beneficiary would only have it if they have ever filed any applications online from their own online USCIS account. So, most likely

they don't have one. Again, you can simply click this box and move on. Same

applies to the social security number.

If your beneficiary is here on the type of visa that allows them to work and they were able to obtain their social security number, you would obviously provide it here. If your beneficiary has

never been to the US, they would not have a US social security number. Even

if they're here on like a tourist visa, any other non-immigrant visa, and never really worked in the US, they would not have a social security number. So, you

can simply click this box that they don't have one. If your beneficiary has an itin, so a tax ID number, but not a

social security number, you would still leave the social security number blank.

Provide your beneficiary's date of birth, country of birth, where they were born, and their gender. Next, they will then ask you if your beneficiary has

ever been in the United States. This

does include prior trips, even if they're currently not in the US. If your

beneficiary is currently in the United States, provide their passport number that they last used for entry, even if it has already expired. So, for example,

if your beneficiary has been here for a long time and they overstayed their visa, you would provide the passport number that they used for their latest

entry. If your beneficiary is currently

entry. If your beneficiary is currently not in the United States, you do not need to answer any of these questions.

The travel document number refers to any other travel documents your beneficiary may have used that is not a passport. So

for some people this could be a refugee travel document, their border crossing card. If your beneficiary was admitted

card. If your beneficiary was admitted through parole in place, for example, then you can leave the passport and the

travel document blank. But if you already filled in the passport number, you can leave the travel document number blank. Provide the country of issuance

blank. Provide the country of issuance of this document. country of issuance of your passport or your travel document is

the country of citizenship of that passport. So even if you renewed this

passport. So even if you renewed this passport or even if it was issued to you in a different country because you obtained it through the embassy of your

native country that would be the country of issuance of this passport and the expiration date of this travel document.

Then answer if this beneficiary has ever been in immigration proceedings. If you

look at the paper application, they are asking about these immigration proceedings removal recision exclusion, deportation or other judicial

proceedings. So this doesn't mean any

proceedings. So this doesn't mean any other immigration processes like applications. No, this means actual

applications. No, this means actual proceedings that had to do with potential removal from the country or immigration court. In our case, that's a

immigration court. In our case, that's a no. Next, this second part of

no. Next, this second part of immigration information page two, you would only answer if your beneficiary is

currently in the United States. So, if

they're not in the US right now, you do not have to fill out any of these questions. You can skip this page. And

questions. You can skip this page. And

even if they visited in the past and then left the country and now you're doing consular process, you also skip this. So only fill this out if they are

this. So only fill this out if they are in the US at this moment. Provide their

class of admission. As you can see, there are all of these different classes of admission. If your beneficiary

of admission. If your beneficiary arrived on a visa waiver program, you would select WT. If you are unsure about their class of admission or if your

beneficiary entered without inspection, then you would leave this blank. But in

our case, let's say we were here on a B2 visa. Provide the I94 arrival departure

visa. Provide the I94 arrival departure number. You can easily obtain the I94

number. You can easily obtain the I94 online through the cbp.gov website. By

the way, even if you were on a visa waiver arrival, you still should be able to obtain your I94 online. And if you

don't see it there, then you can contact CBP for them to email you that information, the latest date of arrival,

and when does the beneficiary's stay expire? If you arrived on the type of

expire? If you arrived on the type of visa that does not expire, you can simply leave this area blank. People who

arrived here as a student, your expiration date on I94 would say something like D/S.

So in that case, you can also leave this blank and move on. Provide your

beneficiary's current employment information. You have to always be

information. You have to always be honest about beneficiaries employment.

Working without authorization, you still should be listing this information in the form. Also, if your

beneficiary is working remotely for a foreign company, but they're still located on US soil, that is also considered employment, unauthorized

employment, in fact. and you would still have to indicate it. If your beneficiary truly is not working, then you would simply write unemployed. And then you

can leave the rest blank. Next, provide

your beneficiary's current marital status. Of course, we're filing for our

status. Of course, we're filing for our spouse, so our beneficiary is married to us, the petitioner. And how many times they have been married? Again, this is

the same type of question that was asked from the petitioner in the section. You

do need to count current marriage. Next,

provide the name of beneficiary's current spouse because of the nature of this petition. This would be our

this petition. This would be our petitioner's name. And when this

petitioner's name. And when this marriage took place and where? Again,

this is the same type of question. When

did this last marriage end? Because this

last most recent marriage has not ended, we simply leave this date blank. And you

will see it here in the paper application on page six. It will ask to name all of beneficiary spouses. Under

spouse one, you would type in the current spouse's name. And then if you put this date here, it will prepopulate it in the PDF form into this date. So be

very careful that if you're still married, if your beneficiary is still married, you leave this blank. Next,

provide beneficiaries family information. This is where people often

information. This is where people often make a mistake is they forget to include beneficiaries spouse here, especially

when you're filling out this I1304A spousal case. So do not forget to

spousal case. So do not forget to include the spouse here. So again we will have to provide our petitioner's

name one more time their relationship date of birth and country save entry and then also if the beneficiary has any

children they should be included here by the way any of the petitioner's children also count as beneficiaries stepchildren

now for the purposes of immigration the beneficiary will count them as their stepchildren and but you would still select them as a

child in this online application. Also,

you would not include any prior spouses here. This is asking about current

here. This is asking about current family. So, current children, current

family. So, current children, current spouse. Click next. Now, this is a very

spouse. Click next. Now, this is a very important piece of the application. This

is also where I see people make a lot of mistakes. So I will take my time

mistakes. So I will take my time explaining the importance of this part.

This page includes two primary questions. At which USCIS office will

questions. At which USCIS office will the beneficiary apply for adjustment of status? Or at which embassy or consulate

status? Or at which embassy or consulate will the beneficiary apply for an immigrant visa? Only answer one of these

immigrant visa? Only answer one of these two questions. You will only answer this

two questions. You will only answer this first question about adjustment of status if your beneficiary is currently

in the US and is eligible to and will apply for their green card from within the US by filing the form I485.

If your beneficiary is outside the US doing consularor process, ignore this first part and only answer this second

question by providing the embassy or consulate where they will apply for their green card, their immigrant visa.

If you accidentally answer both of them or none of them or the wrong question, USCIS is not going to transfer this

application to an appropriate agency afterwards. And if your beneficiary is

afterwards. And if your beneficiary is outside the US, you will then have to submit an entirely separate application to have this petition transferred to a

consulate, which will cost you additional money and time. And if you have any questions about transferring

petitions from consularor to adjustment of status or transferring your petition to a consulate overseas, I do have those

videos on my channel and I will link them in the description box of this video. But again, I cannot emphasize

video. But again, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to answer one of these two questions correctly. Jane

is in the US right now. She will apply for adjustment of status. So this is the only question we will answer when it asks at which city or town you will

apply for adjustment of status. It is

not asking to which lockbox facility you will be sending your applications.

Logbox facilities are just pre-processing facilities. This is

pre-processing facilities. This is asking about the field office where you will have your green card interview. You

can go to the USCIS page about field offices and down here you can use the zip code function to find your field

office. It will give you a field office

office. It will give you a field office of that location. So this is the field office. Depending again on the zip code

office. Depending again on the zip code of where you live, you will then write this field office here. Moving on. Next,

it will ask you if you have ever filed a petition previously for this beneficiary or any other alien. This is a question to the petitioner. Have you ever

petitioned anyone else? Or have you ever petitioned this beneficiary? Answer yes

or no. If you answer yes, you will then be asked to provide information about prior petitions. Now, for those of you

prior petitions. Now, for those of you who are going to submit multiple I130s for multiple relatives around the same

time, even if you have already clicked submit on those prior petitions, you would not answer yes to this question.

It is asking about petitions which have already had an outcome in the past. So

in the paper form in part five, this is the question that they're asking. Have

you ever previously filed a petition? So

this is where you would include a petition that already had some kind of result. Either it was already approved

result. Either it was already approved or denied or withdrawn. If you have already received a receipt notice for

this prior petition, maybe you submitted it a while ago, even if it not has yet been approved, you would just indicate

here the result of this petition and you could say pending. But if you are filing multiple petitions around the same time,

then you would answer no and move on.

And in this section then you would answer if there's anyone else for whom you're filing these petitions. So for

example, if Jane had a child and you were also filing for her child as your stepchild, then you would add that

child's information here as your other beneficiary. You would say that they are

beneficiary. You would say that they are your child, even if they're your stepchild. In my other I130 guide for

stepchild. In my other I130 guide for parents, you saw me explain that if you're filing separate petitions for each of your parents, then this is where you would indicate the other parents'

name. Jane doesn't have any children.

name. Jane doesn't have any children.

We're not filing any other separate petitions for them. So, we skip this and click next. This is asking about the

click next. This is asking about the beneficiary in their native written language. So here you would want to

language. So here you would want to upload a document that includes your beneficiary's name and foreign address in their native written language, but

only if your beneficiary's native language does not use Roman letters. In

other words, Roman letters are English letters. So if they come from a country

letters. So if they come from a country that uses Roman/English letters, you don't have to do anything here. You can

simply ignore this section. But for

example, Jane is from Russia, they use cerillix, completely different characters. Or if your beneficiary is

characters. Or if your beneficiary is from China where they use Chinese characters or Arabic characters, anything else that does not look like

English letters, then here you will need to upload a document with their name and foreign address in that document. So it

can be an official document, their foreign identity document, any kind of document that would include that

information here. You also could create

information here. You also could create your own document. When you upload that document, do make sure that it is in

PDF. Sometimes people will have a glitch

PDF. Sometimes people will have a glitch where they will try to upload a file here and then it disappears and doesn't

seem to appear at all. In fact, it is still downloaded to the online application even if you cannot see it.

It can be a very common glitch that occurs. So instead of uploading that

occurs. So instead of uploading that document multiple times, once you upload it one time, it is probably already in the system. You don't have to redo it if

the system. You don't have to redo it if it disappears. Click next. Now, we are

it disappears. Click next. Now, we are at the evidence section. Because we're

filing for a spouse, the evidence that is required for this online form is significantly larger than the evidence for any other relative. You can also

double check that in the form instructions on page six. First, you

will need to upload proof of your US citizenship as the petitioner. They give

you some options on what you can use.

Their birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or an unexpired US passport. You only need one of these

passport. You only need one of these documents. You can upload a picture or a

documents. You can upload a picture or a PDF document. In my opinion, uploading a

PDF document. In my opinion, uploading a PDF document is better for the online applications. You should be uploading

applications. You should be uploading all your documents in full color.

And if I can also give you one piece of advice, your file name should also be clearly readable. If your file name

clearly readable. If your file name looks like a mess, a collection of numbers and letters, it's not very convenient for the USCIS officer who's

reviewing your case. Go through all the files that you will be uploading with this online application to make sure the

file names also reflect clearly what is in that file and then select the document type. So this is our birth

document type. So this is our birth certificate. If you choose to upload

certificate. If you choose to upload more than one identity document that's okay too. Next provide proof of

okay too. Next provide proof of marriage. So this first part of proof of

marriage. So this first part of proof of marriage only asks you for a copy of your marriage certificate.

If your marriage occurred in a foreign country and your marriage certificate is in a foreign language that you then had to translate, I do recommend that you

combine the copy of the original and the translation into one PDF file. If that

really isn't an option for you and you don't know how to do that, that's okay.

Just upload the translation separately.

But then you would want to make sure that the file name also reflects that.

But ideally, you would want to have the actual certificate and the translation combined into one PDF file. So, one of the things I wanted to point out that

sometimes happens is when you provide information about marriages, if the petitioner or the beneficiary had more

than one marriage and you indicate the information about a prior spouse, here in the evidence section, you will be asked to provide the evidence of the end

of your prior marriages. Here's where

you would upload a divorce decree for example or anulment or a death certificate of that spouse. But you will also notice that it will do the same for

your spouse's prior marriage. It is

something that appears automatically. So

in a section where it doesn't apply to you. So, for example, if the beneficiary

you. So, for example, if the beneficiary has never had any other marriages besides this one to the petitioner, you can go ahead and ignore this piece of the evidence because it doesn't apply.

So, you don't really have to upload anything here. Some applicants choose to

anything here. Some applicants choose to upload a document that says, I have never been married before or I have only been married once to this petitioner.

You also can equally just ignore it.

When you click next, you will get an alert that says you should provide evidence here. But if it truly does not

evidence here. But if it truly does not apply to you, it's okay to skip this piece of evidence. It is unfortunately a glitch that happens for these online

applications. Just because it is a

applications. Just because it is a yellow alert, you will be allowed to proceed with the rest of the application. Next, this is the passport

application. Next, this is the passport photo requirement for this application and this is only required for spousal cases. For any other I130s,

cases. For any other I130s, you do not need passport photos. What

they mean by photo of you is the photo of the petitioner first. You can either go and get these photos done at USPS or

Walgreens or CVS, for example, or you can take one on your smartphone. You can

look up the passport photo requirements on the Department of State's website.

They do give you a guide on what your passport photos should look like. So, if

you want to take one on your phone, you can do that. The other confusing instruction here is to include an image of the back of the photo with your name

and a number written in it. For as long as I have been doing these guides, and anyone who has applied online will tell you that they only uploaded just the

front of their photo. They did not upload the back of it. And it only really applies to paper filed applications because of course, if you

are sending your application by mail, you would want to clearly show who is the petitioner and their name and who is the beneficiary. For the online

the beneficiary. For the online application, honestly, you don't really need to do this, but if you are inclined to, you can include a picture of the

back of your passport photo. Click next.

Do the same for your spouse beneficiary.

Click next. Now, this is the biggest part of your evidence and that is additional proof of marriage. This is

where you will include bonafides of your marital relationship. They give you some

marital relationship. They give you some examples of what you can show as your bonafide proof, but this is not an exhaustive list. And some of you whose

exhaustive list. And some of you whose spouse is overseas or some of you whose spouse doesn't have a social security number, it might be difficult to provide

some of this evidence. I do recommend this video that gives you some ideas of bonafide marital relationship. another

video that talks about some evidence you can obtain if your spouse doesn't have a social security number and another video talking about bonafide marital evidence

for spouses who live overseas. So here

you can upload as many files as necessary and then for each document you want to select what this document is.

And once again, when uploading these documents, do make sure that the file name reflects what's in the file. If you

have bank account statements, for example, I don't recommend to upload them one by one from each month. I

recommend to combine all the bank account statements into one PDF document. Same applies to photographs,

document. Same applies to photographs, for example, that you're going to be using. Instead of uploading photos of

using. Instead of uploading photos of your relationship one by one, you want to ideally combine all of those photos into one document. So, it can be a PDF

file of either like a presentation that you made. You can use a template that I

you made. You can use a template that I sell in my shop that includes a lot of different things such as timeline, relationships, etc. I'll also post a video on the screen that you can use as

a resource to check out that template or you can simply make a word document on your own highlighting your relationship throughout the years. So things that you

can combine, definitely combine. As you

can see, you can upload as many as necessary. Click next. Now this is

necessary. Click next. Now this is asking for proof of legal name change.

And this appeared for us because in the beneficiary section we indicated that Jane used other names before such as her maiden name. So you can either once

maiden name. So you can either once again upload a marriage certificate here. The marriage certificate on its

here. The marriage certificate on its own serves as proof of name change for the purposes of immigration. You can

also use any other documents showing the variations in your name. Biographical

passport page. Next, you will need to upload this form I130A, the one that we were talking about earlier. This needs to be filled out by

earlier. This needs to be filled out by Jane. This includes additional

Jane. This includes additional information about Jane's employment, address history, and parents. Also, if

your beneficiary is located inside the US, you ideally would want them sign this form in ink, which means using a

pen. But if you notice at the top of

pen. But if you notice at the top of this form, if your beneficiary is outside the US, you still can complete

this form, but you don't need to sign it. However, if your beneficiary is

it. However, if your beneficiary is overseas, but they still have the ability to sign this form in INC, they can still do that. Go ahead and upload

it here and select that it is form I13A.

This is only the requirement for spousal petitions. Again, do not forget to

petitions. Again, do not forget to upload this. If you don't upload this,

upload this. If you don't upload this, you will receive a request for evidence.

Your case may be delayed. So, don't

forget to do it. Next, this is another section that confuses a lot of people talking about an official statement.

This is only referring to cases where required evidence is unavailable, especially proof of marriage, proof of

citizenship. That is where you will

citizenship. That is where you will include any of these additional documents to show that you were not able to obtain this evidence for whatever

reason. But if you were able to upload

reason. But if you were able to upload all of these with no problem, simply ignore this page. You only need to

upload something here if one of these pieces of evidence is not available to you. Now, you will get a message that is

you. Now, you will get a message that is a yellow alert that says you should provide evidence. This is not the same

provide evidence. This is not the same as the red alert that says you must provide evidence. This is simply letting

provide evidence. This is simply letting you know that there was nothing uploaded here. It doesn't apply to you, simply

here. It doesn't apply to you, simply skip it. Now, the additional information

skip it. Now, the additional information section, just like in the paper application, is the last page of this

form. And this is used for you to

form. And this is used for you to clarify anything that you want to provide a clarification for. You will

see that if you click on add a response, it will ask you about what section you're referring to on what page and what question. For example, and this is

what question. For example, and this is where you would provide that explanation. If you have nothing to

explanation. If you have nothing to clarify, you can ignore this page and click next.

Finally, these last few pages will give you a chance to review your application before you submit it. It will tell you the application fee. As you can see, it

gives you a $50 discount compared to filing it by mail. They will also tell you if you missed any information that you should have provided. On the next page, you will have an opportunity to

review your answers. You can review them like this. Or what I suggest to do is to

like this. Or what I suggest to do is to click this button to view a draft snapshot of your application. You'll be

able to review it in kind of like a PDF form as if you filled it out by paper.

And I do suggest that you save this for your records. You won't be able to

your records. You won't be able to submit this by mail, but this is good to have for your own records.

Next, here you will provide your statement that you provided all the answers, that you understood everything.

And here you will sign your application.

So, if you click this box and type in the petitioner's full name, this will apply a signature to your application.

And then on the very last page, you will then be directed to the payment for this form. You can only pay for this

form. You can only pay for this application using a US bank account or US card. So, they will not accept any

US card. So, they will not accept any foreign payments. This is pretty much

foreign payments. This is pretty much it. If you liked this video, please give

it. If you liked this video, please give it a thumbs up and please do subscribe to my channel. It really does help me.

If you have any questions, like I said, first check out the comments under the old guide to see if your question has been answered, but also feel free to leave them in the comments below. Please

do check out all the resources and videos I mentioned in this video, and I hope to see you guys in my next videos.

Bye.