Step 1: Filing An Immigrant Visa Petition

This is the first of two steps in obtaining an immigrant visa. The second step is the actual application for the visa, which is described in a separate section (Step 2 Application).

How to file an I-130 petition:

Effective August 15, 2011, petitioners residing overseas who wish to file a Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, may do so as follows:

If the petitioner resides in a country such as Japan where USCIS does not have a public counter presence, the Form I-130 must be filed with the USCIS Chicago Lockbox at one of the addresses below:

USCIS Chicago Lockbox addresses for regular mail deliveries:

USCIS
P.O. Box 804625
Chicago, IL 60680-4107

USCIS Chicago Lockbox address for express mail and courier deliveries:

USCIS
Attn: I-130
131 South Dearborn-3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517

If the petitioner resides in a country such as Korea in which USCIS has a public counter presence, the Form I-130 may be filed directly with the USCIS field office or through the USCIS Chicago Lockbox at one of the above addresses.

For more information, please visit USCIS News or USCIS website.