I-130 Evidence of Relationship: Complete Document Guide (2026)

What I-130 is and what it asks USCIS to decide

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, is the form a US citizen or lawful permanent resident files to establish a qualifying family relationship with a foreign-national beneficiary. For marriage-based immigration, the I-130 asks USCIS to recognize the marriage as bona fide and to authorize the next step in the green card process.

I-130 is not a green card application by itself. Approval of I-130 establishes the qualifying relationship; the beneficiary then proceeds to either Adjustment of Status (I-485) inside the US or consular processing abroad.

The evidentiary standard on I-130 is proof that the marriage is "bona fide" — entered into with the intent to establish a life together, not primarily to obtain immigration benefit.

INFO: This is a general educational guide. PartnerProof is a document-formatting tool, not a legal service. For case-specific advice consult a licensed US immigration attorney.

The required documents (mandatory)

USCIS requires certain documents with every I-130. Missing any of these causes an automatic RFE.

• Completed Form I-130 (signed by petitioner)
• Completed Form I-130A if filing for a spouse (signed by beneficiary)
• Filing fee (as of 2025: approximately $675 when filed online, $715 when filed by paper — always verify current amount at uscis.gov/g-1055)
• Petitioner's proof of US citizenship or permanent residency (passport bio page, naturalization certificate, or green card)
• Marriage certificate (certified copy)
• Proof of termination of all prior marriages (divorce decrees, death certificates)
• Passport-style photos of both petitioner and beneficiary (see USCIS photo specs)
• Beneficiary's birth certificate

Relationship evidence (the discretionary but crucial part)

Beyond the mandatory forms, USCIS expects meaningful relationship evidence. There is no fixed checklist — USCIS phrases it as "evidence to establish that your marriage is bona fide and not entered into for the primary purpose of evading U.S. immigration laws". In practice, officers look for evidence across the four dimensions described in our bona fide marriage guide.

Category A: Financial commingling

Joint financial accounts are USCIS's single favorite evidence category. They demonstrate shared economic life — something fabricators rarely commit to.

• Most recent joint federal tax return (Form 1040 filed jointly — strongest single piece of evidence)
• Joint bank account statements (3–6 months minimum, showing active use by both)
• Joint credit card statements
• Auto insurance policy listing both spouses
• Life insurance policy with each spouse as the other's beneficiary
• 401(k) or IRA beneficiary designation pages
• Joint investment or brokerage account statements
• Joint loans (mortgage, auto loan, personal loan)

Category B: Shared address and household

Living together is the clearest indicator of a shared life, though not always possible due to immigration status.

• Joint lease or mortgage/deed
• Utility bills (electric, gas, water) listing both spouses or showing each receiving mail at the same address
• Internet/cable/streaming subscriptions in both names at the shared address
• Driver's licenses showing the shared address
• Car registrations or voter registrations at the same address
• Pet licenses or veterinary records at the shared address
• Homeowners or renters insurance covering both spouses

Category C: Social evidence

Affidavits from third parties who know the couple carry weight. USCIS does not require notarization — a declaration signed under penalty of perjury per 28 U.S.C. § 1746 is legally equivalent.

• 2–4 written affidavits from friends/family who have interacted with the couple
• Wedding photos (ceremony, reception, with guests)
• Photos across the relationship at different events (anniversaries, holidays, family gatherings)
• Joint social media presence where appropriate (engagement posts with reactions, couple tags)
• Joint invitations to weddings, birthdays, reunions

Category D: Communication and ongoing relationship

For couples who were long-distance at any point (which is most modern couples), communication history is essential. A structured chat export covering the pre-marriage period establishes that the relationship predates the immigration benefit.

USCIS has accepted structured chat PDFs with growing regularity. The strongest format is a professional PDF with cover-page statistics, chronological timeline, platform breakdown, and SHA-256 verification of the source file. This is meaningfully more credible than screenshots.

• Full chat export (WhatsApp, Instagram DMs, Telegram, iMessage) covering at least 6 months before the marriage
• Call logs or video call screenshots
• Email correspondence
• Travel records showing visits before and after marriage
• Photos from pre-marriage period
• Plane tickets, hotel reservations, entry stamps

How to structure your I-130 packet

A well-organized packet shortens review time and signals professionalism. The structure USCIS officers respond to is:

• Cover letter (1–2 pages) summarizing the relationship and mapping each claim to an exhibit
• Form I-130 and I-130A
• Filing fee / payment confirmation
• Petitioner citizenship/PR evidence
• Beneficiary's birth certificate
• Marriage certificate
• Proof of termination of prior marriages
• Exhibit A: Financial commingling (tax return, joint accounts, insurance)
• Exhibit B: Shared household (lease, utilities, DLs)
• Exhibit C: Social evidence (affidavits, photos, wedding evidence)
• Exhibit D: Communication history (chat export PDF)
• Exhibit E: Travel records and photos

Common I-130 mistakes

These are the most common mistakes that turn a straightforward I-130 into an RFE or denial.

• Submitting only a marriage certificate without supporting evidence
• Screenshots instead of a structured chat export
• Photos without dates, captions, or EXIF metadata
• Joint tax return listing only one address
• Weddings with no photos or witnesses documented
• Mismatched addresses across documents
• Not disclosing prior marriages or divorces
• Filing fee errors

Timing expectations

I-130 processing times vary by USCIS service center. Recent processing times for spouses of US citizens are roughly 12–18 months. Spouses of LPRs wait longer due to visa bulletin priority dates.

Check USCIS processing times at uscis.gov/processing-times for current estimates. Expedite requests are available in narrow circumstances (medical emergency, financial loss, humanitarian reasons).

After I-130 approval

Once I-130 is approved, the beneficiary proceeds to either: Adjustment of Status inside the US (I-485) if already legally present, or consular processing through the National Visa Center and a consular interview abroad.

Both paths require additional evidence of the ongoing bona fide marriage, including an interview. Continue collecting evidence after I-130 approval — your post-approval joint tax returns, joint accounts, and photos become the evidence base for the next stage.

Frequently Asked Questions