I-130 Petition Evidence — Cover Letter & Exhibit Index
USCIS / I-130 · Last reviewed 2026-06-07 · Download PDF
A cover letter is the first thing the USCIS officer sees when they open your I-130 evidence package. A clear, organized cover letter and exhibit index can dramatically reduce the chance of an RFE by making your evidence easy to navigate.
Template
[YOUR FULL NAME]
[YOUR STREET ADDRESS]
[CITY, STATE, ZIP]
[PHONE NUMBER]
[EMAIL ADDRESS]
[DATE]
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
[USCIS LOCKBOX ADDRESS FOR YOUR STATE — see uscis.gov/i-130]
RE: Petition for Alien Relative — Form I-130
Petitioner: [PETITIONER FULL NAME, USC OR LPR]
Beneficiary: [BENEFICIARY FULL NAME]
A-Number (if any): [A-NUMBER]
Dear USCIS Officer,
I am submitting this Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative on behalf of my spouse, [BENEFICIARY FULL NAME], a national of [BENEFICIARY COUNTRY OF CITIZENSHIP]. We were lawfully married on [MARRIAGE DATE] in [MARRIAGE CITY, COUNTRY], and have been continuously married since that date.
Our relationship is bona fide and was not entered into for the purpose of evading United States immigration law. We have shared finances, joint property interests, regular communication and visits, and the support of both families. The exhibits enclosed with this petition document the genuineness and continuity of our marriage.
The following items are enclosed for your review:
Enclosed Forms and Filing Fees
- Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative (signed and dated)
- Form I-130A, Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary (signed and dated by beneficiary)
- Filing fee in the amount of $[CURRENT I-130 FILING FEE — see uscis.gov/i-130] (check or money order payable to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security")
- Two passport-style color photos of the petitioner (taken within last 30 days)
- Two passport-style color photos of the beneficiary (taken within last 30 days)
Exhibit A — Proof of U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Residence (Petitioner)
- Copy of U.S. passport biographic page / Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550) / U.S. birth certificate / I-551 Permanent Resident Card (both sides)
Exhibit B — Proof of Marriage
- Certified copy of marriage certificate issued by the civil registrar of [MARRIAGE JURISDICTION]
- Certified translation of marriage certificate (if not in English)
- Evidence of termination of any prior marriages (divorce decrees, death certificates) for both petitioner and beneficiary, with certified translations as applicable
Exhibit C — Proof of Bona Fide Marital Relationship
- C-1: Joint financial documents — joint bank account statements ([NUMBER] months), joint credit card statements, beneficiary designations on life insurance / 401(k), shared tax returns where applicable
- C-2: Joint property and lease — copy of joint lease or property deed, utility bills in both names, joint home/renters insurance
- C-3: Communication evidence — chronological appendix of [NUMBER] pages of WhatsApp / Telegram / Messenger / iMessage conversation excerpts covering the period from [START DATE] to [END DATE], with timestamps and senders preserved
- C-4: Photographic evidence — [NUMBER] photographs of the couple together, with both families, at events, and in different locations, with date and location captions
- C-5: Travel records — boarding passes, hotel receipts, and passport entry/exit stamps documenting in-person visits
- C-6: Third-party statements — signed affidavits from family members, friends, and clergy confirming the genuineness of the marriage
Exhibit D — Identity Documents (Beneficiary)
- Copy of beneficiary's passport biographic page (clear, complete, valid for at least 6 months past anticipated entry)
- Copy of beneficiary's national ID card (if applicable)
- Certified copy of beneficiary's birth certificate with certified English translation if not originally in English
All photocopies are exact reproductions of the original documents, which remain in our possession and are available upon request. All non-English documents are accompanied by a certificate of translation accuracy signed by a translator competent in both languages, as required by 8 C.F.R. § 103.2(b)(3).
Thank you for your time and consideration of this petition. Should you require any additional information or clarification, please contact me at the telephone number or email address listed above.
Respectfully submitted,
___________________________________
[PETITIONER FULL NAME]
Petitioner
Date: [DATE]
When to use this template
Use this template as the first page of your I-130 evidence package. USCIS officers process hundreds of petitions per week and rely heavily on the cover letter to navigate the supporting evidence. A clear exhibit index reduces processing time and makes it less likely that an officer issues a Request for Evidence (RFE) because they could not find a specific document.
How to customize it
- Replace every [BRACKETED FIELD] with your case-specific information. Square brackets should not appear in your final submission.
- Verify the current I-130 filing fee on uscis.gov before submitting — fees change annually.
- Adjust the exhibit list to match what you actually enclose. Do not list exhibits you do not include.
- For petitioners outside the U.S. or with unusual situations (military overseas, K-1 conversion to I-130, etc.), consult the I-130 instructions on uscis.gov or an immigration attorney.
What officers look for in your cover letter
- A clear statement of the relationship and that it was not entered for immigration purposes — required language under INA §204(c).
- An organized exhibit index so the officer can find each piece of evidence without searching.
- Confirmation that all photocopies are accurate and that translations comply with 8 C.F.R. §103.2(b)(3).
- A professional, respectful tone — not a personal narrative. Save your love story for the I-130A or affidavits.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Writing a multi-page emotional narrative as the cover letter — officers scan, they do not read essays. Keep it to one page.
- Listing exhibits with vague descriptions like "various documents." Be specific: "12 months of joint bank statements (Chase, account ending in 1234)."
- Missing the bona-fide-marriage statement. INA §204(c) bars approval of any petition entered into for immigration purposes; explicit denial of that intent helps.
- Stapling the cover letter to other documents. USCIS prefers paperclipped or binder-clipped submissions for scanning.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to submit a cover letter with my I-130?
No, USCIS does not require a cover letter — the I-130 form itself is what creates the petition. But submitting an organized cover letter with an exhibit index is widely recommended by immigration attorneys because it makes the evidence package navigable for the reviewing officer. Petitions with clear organization tend to be approved faster and with fewer RFEs.
Can I attach the cover letter to the front of my I-130 packet?
Place the cover letter on top, followed by the I-130 form, the I-130A, the filing fee, and then the exhibits in the order listed in your index. Use paperclips or binder clips rather than staples — USCIS scans documents and staples can damage equipment. Some attorneys recommend a tabbed binder for very large packages.
How long should the I-130 cover letter be?
One page is ideal. Two pages maximum if your exhibit index requires more space. The cover letter is not the place for a love story — that belongs in the I-130A relationship narrative or in third-party affidavits. The cover letter's job is to orient the officer and inventory what is enclosed.
Do I need an attorney to use this template?
No. The template is general-purpose and can be customized by anyone applying for an I-130. That said, USCIS petitions involve legal complexity (especially in cases with prior marriages, removal proceedings, or visa overstays). For non-standard situations, consult a licensed U.S. immigration attorney. This template is informational and does not constitute legal advice.
What if my case is a K-1 conversion (adjustment of status) instead of an outside-the-U.S. I-130?
A K-1 holder who marries in the U.S. and files for adjustment of status uses Form I-485, with the I-130 filed concurrently. The cover-letter structure is similar but addressed to the National Benefits Center or the local USCIS Field Office handling adjustment, with the exhibit index updated to include K-1 entry stamps and the marriage certificate dated within 90 days of K-1 entry. Adapt this template accordingly.
Official sources
Free to use without attribution. Not legal advice. PartnerProof — document-formatting tool for immigration applications.