What is Form I-130 and which documents need translation?
Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, is the form a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident files to establish a qualifying family relationship with a relative they're sponsoring for a green card. Any supporting document not in English — the beneficiary's birth certificate, a marriage certificate, or a divorce decree ending a prior marriage — must be accompanied by a complete certified English translation.
The I-130 is the first step in family-based immigration, and it's fundamentally an evidence exercise: you're proving a relationship is real. When that evidence is in another language, the certified translation is the only version an officer can actually read — which makes it as important as the form itself.
What Form I-130 Actually Does
Form I-130 establishes the qualifying relationship between a sponsor and a relative. It does not, by itself, grant a green card — it opens the door to the next stage, whether that's adjustment of status inside the U.S. or consular processing abroad. As of 2026, the I-130 filing fee is $675 by mail or $625 online, and a separate petition and fee are required for each relative you sponsor.
A Dallas-area filing note:
depending on your situation and state, stand-alone and concurrent I-130 filings route to specific USCIS lockboxes — and one of them is the Dallas Lockbox in Texas. Lockbox routing changes regularly, so verify the current address on the USCIS I-130 page the same week you mail, because sending a petition to the wrong lockbox can mean rejection and the loss of your place in line.
The Terms Behind an I-130
Petitioner
The U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident who files the I-130 to sponsor a relative.
Beneficiary
The relative being sponsored. Their foreign-language civil documents are usually what needs translating.
Form I-130A
Supplemental information for a spouse beneficiary, filed together with the I-130 at no separate fee.
Certified translation
A complete English translation plus a signed statement of accuracy and competence, required for any non-English supporting document under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3).
Which Family Members Can Be Petitioned
The relationships fall into two broad groups, and the group affects timing more than it affects the translation requirement:
- ▸Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens — spouse, unmarried children under 21, and parents — have no annual visa cap.
- ▸Family preference categories — adult children, siblings of citizens, and the spouses and children of permanent residents — are subject to annual limits and waiting lines.
Essential Documents Required for the I-130
- ✓Proof of the petitioner's U.S. citizenship or permanent residence.
- ✓The beneficiary's birth certificate.
- ✓A marriage certificate, for spousal petitions, plus bona fide marriage evidence.
- ✓Evidence ending any prior marriage — a divorce decree or death certificate — for both parties.
- ✓Passport-style photos and identity documents as specified.
Which I-130 Documents Require Certified Translation
Any supporting document not in English needs a complete certified translation. In practice that's most often:
- ▸The beneficiary's foreign birth certificate — every seal and stamp included.
- ▸A foreign marriage certificate for spousal petitions.
- ▸A divorce decree or death certificate ending a prior marriage, translated in full including the court's final judgment.
- ▸Any foreign civil or court record submitted as relationship evidence.
Each document needs its own signed certification — a single blanket statement stapled across the whole petition is a recurring reason I-130 evidence draws a Request for Evidence. If you're filing five foreign-language documents, you should be holding five certifications.
Filing an I-130 for a relative?
We translate the beneficiary's birth certificate, marriage certificate, and decrees to the USCIS standard — each individually certified, reviewed by a second translator.
Get My Free QuoteI-130 Translation Tips: How to Avoid Common Mistakes
- ✓Certify each document individually — never one blanket statement for the packet.
- ✓Translate every seal, stamp, and back page, not just the body text.
- ✓Match names and dates to the passport and to Form I-130 exactly.
- ✓Include the original-language document with each translation.
- ✓Use a human certified translator, not machine output.
How to Get Your I-130 Documents Translated in Dallas
Send complete, legible scans and your deadline for an exact quote. Our immigration document translation and USCIS certified translation services are built to the federal standard, and every translation is reviewed by a second translator before it's certified and notarized. For the specific records, see birth certificate translation and legal document translation.
The Takeaway
The I-130 proves a family relationship, and foreign-language proof only counts once it's a complete, certified English translation. Translate each document in full, certify each one individually, match names and dates to your forms, and you clear the evidence bar the petition is built on.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Form I-130 used for?
It's the Petition for Alien Relative — the form a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident files to establish a qualifying family relationship with a relative they're sponsoring for a green card. It's the first step in family-based immigration.
Which I-130 documents need certified translation?
Any supporting document not in English, most commonly the beneficiary's foreign birth certificate, a foreign marriage certificate, and any divorce decree or death certificate ending a prior marriage. Each needs a complete certified translation.
How much does the I-130 cost in 2026?
As of 2026 the USCIS filing fee is $675 by mail or $625 online, and a separate petition and fee are required for each relative sponsored. Confirm the current amount on USCIS Form G-1055 before filing.
Does each document need its own certification?
Yes. Each translated document should carry its own signed certification statement. A single blanket certification across several documents is a common reason I-130 evidence draws a Request for Evidence.
Do I need to translate stamps and seals on a birth certificate?
Yes. A certified translation must render the entire document, including every seal, stamp, and signature line — not just the printed body text.
How long does I-130 document translation take?
Most civil documents are completed within 24 to 48 hours, with rush service available. Send your documents and deadline together for an exact quote.
Petitioning for a family member?
Certified Translation Dallas provides USCIS-ready certified translations of every foreign-language document your I-130 needs — over 100 languages, individually certified, reviewed by a second translator, guaranteed accepted.
Get My Free QuotePrefer to talk it through? Speak to a human — 214-821-2050.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Immigration requirements and fees change; verify current details with USCIS and consult a licensed immigration attorney for your case.
