Insider’s Guide to Form I-130A: Tips and Tricks for a Smooth Process

Insider’s Guide to ForIn

Form I-130A, officially titled “Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary,” is typically submitted by the spouse beneficiary of a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who is sponsoring them for a family-based green card. The purpose of Form I-130A is to provide additional information about the beneficiary to support the main Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative.

Therefore, the individual required to submit Form I-130A is the spouse who is the intended beneficiary of the immigration petition filed by their U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse. It is not required for all family-based immigration petitions, but specifically for spousal petitions.

How to fill out Form I-130A

Filling out Form I-130A, “Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary,” involves providing detailed information about the beneficiary (spouse) to support the main Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, filed by the sponsoring U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Here is a general guide on how to fill out Form I-130A:

• Part 1 – Information About You (Petitioner):

  • Provide your personal information, including name, address, date of birth, and contact details.
  • Indicate your U.S. citizenship or immigration status.

• Part 2 – Information About Your Alien Spouse (Beneficiary):

  • Provide the beneficiary’s personal information, including name, address, date of birth, and contact details.
  • Include information about the beneficiary’s immigration status, if applicable.

• Part 3 – Biographic Information:

  • Answer questions regarding the beneficiary’s biographic information, such as nationality, marital history, and previous U.S. travel history.

• Part 4 – Information About Your Prior Marriages:

  • If either the petitioner or beneficiary has been previously married, provide details about the previous marriages, including the date of marriage, date of divorce or death, and the reason for the termination.

• Part 5 – Information About Your Current Marriage:

  • Provide details about the current marriage, including the date of marriage, place of marriage, and information about any previous filings related to the current marriage.

• Part 6 – Additional Information:

  • Answer any additional questions in this section that are applicable to your situation.
• Part 7 – Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature of the Petitioner:
  • Provide contact information for the petitioner.
  • Read and sign the declaration, certifying the accuracy of the information provided.
• Part 8 – Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature of the Person Preparing this Petition, if other than the petitioner:
  • If someone else is preparing the form on behalf of the petitioner, they should provide their information and sign the declaration.

• Filing and Supporting Documents:

  • Ensure that Form I-130A is submitted along with the main Form I-130 and any required supporting documents, such as marriage certificates, proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, and photographs.

• Review and Submission:

  • Carefully review the completed form for accuracy and completeness before submission to USCIS.

Form I-130A checklist

Creating a checklist for Form I-130A can help ensure that you have gathered all the necessary information and documents before submitting the form. Here’s a checklist to guide you through the process:

Form I-130A Checklist:

• Personal Information – Petitioner (You):
  • Full legal name
  • Contact information (address, phone number, email)
  • Date of birth
  • U.S. citizenship or immigration status information
• Personal Information – Beneficiary (Spouse):
  • Full legal name
  • Contact information (address, phone number, email)
  • Date of birth
  • Immigration status information
• Biographic Information:
  • Nationality
  • Marital history details
  • U.S. travel history for the beneficiary
• Information About Prior Marriages:
  • Details of any previous marriages for the petitioner or beneficiary
  • Dates of marriage, divorce, or death
  • Reasons for the termination of previous marriages
• Information About Current Marriage:
  • Date of current marriage
  • Place of marriage
  • Details about any previous filings related to the current marriage
• Additional Information (if applicable):
  • Answer any additional questions relevant to your situation
• Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature – Petitioner:
  • Contact information for the petitioner
  • Read and sign the declaration, certifying the accuracy of the information provided
• Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature – Person Preparing the Petition (if applicable):
  • If someone else is preparing the form, their contact information and signature on the declaration
• Supporting Documents:
  • Marriage certificate (proof of the legal marriage)
  • Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency for the petitioner
  • Photographs (if required)
• Review:
  • Carefully review the completed Form I-130A for accuracy and completeness.
• Submission:
  • Submit Form I-130A along with the main Form I-130 and all required supporting documents to USCIS.
• Payment:
  • Include the appropriate filing fee or a fee waiver request, if applicable.

sider’s Guide to Form I-130Am I-130A