I-130 Checklist — American Visa Guide

1. Case classification

Petitioner status confirmed (USC or permanent resident)

Beneficiary category correct (IR1/CR1, IR5, F1, etc.)

If CRBA: US citizen parent physical presence documented (5 years, 2 after age 14)

2. Forms and filing integrity

I-130 Part 1 (petitioner info): all fields complete

I-130 Part 2 (beneficiary info): all fields complete

Petitioner has signed Part 1 in correct signature box

Beneficiary name matches all documents exactly

All prior marriages disclosed (both petitioner and beneficiary)

⚠️ Critical: Petitioner names and signatures must be in the correct spaces on the form. Wrong placement is a documented cause for I-130 denial. Check this carefully.

Note: Beneficiary does not sign I-130A (outside the US).

3. Document categories at I-130 stage

Category	Required	Notes
Civil (Identity)	✓	Birth certificates for both petitioner and beneficiary (certified copies). Petitioner must also prove US citizenship (passport, naturalization cert, or birth certificate).
Relationship	✓	Marriage certificate (certified copy). If previously married, all divorce decrees or death certificates (certified).
Translation	✓	All non-English documents must be translated. Certified translation required if USCIS deems it necessary (common for UK documents).
Forms	✓	I-130 (completed and signed by petitioner). I-130A if beneficiary is outside US.
Relationship Evidence	✓ (spouse/CR1/IR1)	See Section 4 for spouse/CR1/IR1 evidence requirements. IR5/K visa categories have different requirements.
Medical	—	Medical exam not required at I-130 stage. Completed at later stages (NVC, Medical, Interview).
Police	—	Police certificates not required at I-130 stage. Required at NVC stage.

For a complete breakdown of all document requirements at each stage (I-130, NVC, Medical, Interview) with detailed notes on formats and translations, see Master Document Checklist.

4. Relationship evidence (spouse/CR1/IR1 only)

Essential evidence to prove genuine spousal relationship and prevent RFE:

Commingling of finances: joint bank statements (6+ months), shared bills, or joint credit cards

Joint residence: lease or mortgage with both names (or utility bills showing same address over time)

Relationship continuity: photos (wedding, vacations, recent), travel records, communication logs

Relationship timeline: written description of how/where you met, dates of major milestones, key life events together

5. Consistency audit

Petitioner names identical across all documents

Beneficiary names identical across all documents

Dates of birth consistent everywhere

Addresses consistent (if multiple addresses, all explained)

No contradictions between I-130 statements and supporting evidence

6. RFE risk scan

Commingling of finances is strong (joint accounts, shared bills)

If long-distance, visits are documented and frequent

No major timeline gaps without explanation

All translations are certified where required

Documents are legible (scans are clear, photocopies readable)

Bona fide evidence covers the entire relationship, not just the proposal

7. CR1 vs IR1 forward planning

Marriage date confirmed and documented

If married less than 2 years at expected US entry, CR1 applies

Original marriage certificate procured for CBP at US entry (CR1 holders)

8. Final packaging

Documents organized in logical order

All scans are legible and at least 300 DPI

No missing pages (check document count)

All required forms are included

9. Post-submission monitoring

Expected: months of inactivity and generic "case is being processed" messages

Meaningful signals: "Actively being reviewed" status or document tab updates

Not meaningful: processing time fluctuations on myUSCIS (this is normal)

Some people attempt to check USCIS case processing via unofficial API tools or JSON data. This is not an official tool. Codes are not always interpretable, and data can be incomplete or misleading. Use with extreme caution and do not rely on these for important decisions. For accurate case status, use USCIS Case Tracker.

Disclaimer: This is not legal advice. Verify all requirements against official sources before your appointment. If your case is complex, consult an immigration attorney.

I-130 Pre-Submission Checklist