I-130 Petition for Alien Relative Cover Letter Template

[Petitioner’s Full Legal Name]
[Street Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
United States of America
Phone: [Phone Number]
Email: [Email Address]

[Date]

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
[USCIS Lockbox or Service Center Name]
[USCIS Mailing Address from I-130 Instructions]

Re: Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
Petitioner: [Petitioner’s Full Legal Name] – [U.S. Citizen / Lawful Permanent Resident]
Beneficiary: [Beneficiary’s Full Legal Name]
A-Number (if any): [A-Number]
Receipt Number (if any): [Receipt Number]

Dear Sir or Madam,

1. Purpose of Submission

I, [Petitioner’s Full Legal Name], am submitting the enclosed Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, on behalf of my [relationship, e.g., “spouse,” “child,” “parent,” “sibling”], [Beneficiary’s Full Legal Name].

The purpose of this filing is to establish our qualifying family relationship and to request that USCIS approve this petition so that [Beneficiary’s Name] may pursue lawful permanent residence in the United States through the appropriate process.

2. Petitioner and Beneficiary Information

Petitioner (U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident):

• Full Name: [Petitioner’s Full Legal Name]

• Date of Birth: [MM/DD/YYYY]

• Place of Birth: [City, State, Country]

• Status: [U.S. Citizen / Lawful Permanent Resident]

• Current Address: [Petitioner’s Full Residential Address]

Beneficiary (Relative Abroad or in the U.S.):

• Full Name: [Beneficiary’s Full Legal Name]

• Date of Birth: [MM/DD/YYYY]

• Place of Birth: [City, Province/State, Country]

• Country of Citizenship: [Country]

• Current Address: [Beneficiary’s Full Residential Address]

3. Relationship Background (Brief Summary)

[Petitioner’s Name] and [Beneficiary’s Name] are [describe relationship, e.g., “lawfully married spouses since [Wedding Date],” “parent and child,” “siblings,” etc.].

We have maintained an ongoing family relationship as described in the enclosed documentation. [Optional 2–3 short sentences summarizing key points, such as date of marriage, children in common, or history of living together.]

4. Summary of Enclosed Forms and Supporting Evidence

The following forms and supporting documents are enclosed in support of this Form I-130 petition (copies unless otherwise indicated):

1. Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, completed and signed by the petitioner.

2. Filing fee for Form I-130 (check or money order).

3. Proof of Petitioner’s U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Resident Status, such as:

   • Copy of U.S. passport, or

   • Copy of U.S. birth certificate, or

   • Copy of Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship, or

   • Copy of Permanent Resident Card (Green Card).

4. Proof of Qualifying Family Relationship, such as:

   • For spouse: marriage certificate, and if applicable, evidence of termination of any prior marriages (divorce decrees, annulments, or death certificates).

   • For child or parent: birth certificate(s) showing both names and relationship.

   • For siblings: birth certificates showing at least one common parent.

5. Passport-style Photos of the petitioner and/or beneficiary, if required by current instructions.

6. Evidence of Bona Fide Marital Relationship (if petition is for a spouse), such as:

   • Joint lease or mortgage, joint bank account statements, joint tax returns, insurance policies, or other shared financial records.

   • Photos together with family and friends.

   • Evidence of communication or travel together.

7. Proof of Legal Name Changes for petitioner or beneficiary, if applicable (marriage certificates, court orders, etc.).

8. Any Additional Supporting Documents relevant to this relationship or case, such as prior approval notices, immigration records, or other evidence.

5. Explanations or Special Circumstances (If Applicable)

[Use this section only if you need to briefly explain something unusual, such as:

• periods of long-distance separation;

• cultural or religious reasons affecting your living situation or marriage;

• discrepancies in names or dates on documents;

• previous immigration filings or decisions.

Example: “Due to [reason], we lived apart between [dates], but we remained in regular contact as shown in the enclosed evidence.”]

6. Statement and Request

We respectfully submit that this petition and the enclosed supporting evidence establish a qualifying family relationship between [Petitioner’s Full Legal Name] and [Beneficiary’s Full Legal Name].

In light of the information and documentation provided, I respectfully request that USCIS approve this Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, for [Beneficiary’s Full Legal Name] and allow [him/her/them] to proceed with the appropriate immigrant visa or adjustment of status process.

Thank you for your time and consideration of this petition.

Sincerely,

[Petitioner’s Signature]

[Petitioner’s Printed Full Legal Name]
[City, State]
[Date of Signature]