Navigating the immigration process can feel like a big puzzle, and when you're trying to bring your parents to the United States, the paperwork can seem even more daunting. One crucial document that often causes confusion is the cover letter. This article aims to simplify things by providing a helpful I 130 Cover Letter Sample For Parents, along with explanations and examples to guide you through the process. Think of this cover letter as your introduction to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a way to present your case clearly and professionally.
What's the Big Deal About an I 130 Cover Letter?
An I 130 cover letter might seem like an optional extra, but it's actually a really important part of your petition. It’s your chance to introduce yourself and your parents to the USCIS officer who will be reviewing your case. A well-written cover letter can help ensure all your documents are organized and make it easier for the officer to understand the relationship between you and your parents. The importance of a clear and concise cover letter cannot be overstated, as it can significantly impact the speed and success of your I-130 petition.
Think of it like this: if you were applying for a job, you'd write a cover letter to introduce your resume, right? The same principle applies here. Your I-130 petition is full of forms and evidence, and the cover letter acts as a roadmap. It tells USCIS:
- Who is filing the petition (that's you!).
- Who the petition is for (your parents).
- What type of petition it is (an I-130).
- A summary of the documents included.
Here's a basic breakdown of what goes into a good I 130 cover letter:
- Your contact information.
- The date.
- USCIS's contact information (the specific service center).
- A clear subject line.
- A polite greeting.
- A statement of purpose.
- A list of enclosed documents.
- A concluding statement.
- Your signature.
I 130 Cover Letter Sample For Parents - U.S. Citizen Filing for Mother
[Your Name]
[Your Street Address]
[Your City, State, Zip Code]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[Date]
USCIS
[Address of the relevant USCIS Service Center - check USCIS website]
[City, State, Zip Code]
Subject: I-130 Petition for Alien Relative - [Your Mother's Full Name] (Date of Birth: [Mother's DOB])
Dear USCIS Officer,
I am writing to respectfully submit my Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, on behalf of my mother, [Mother's Full Name]. I am a United States citizen, born on [Your Date of Birth], and I reside at the address listed above. My mother, [Mother's Full Name], was born on [Mother's Date of Birth] in [Mother's Place of Birth].
The purpose of this petition is to establish our qualifying relationship and allow my mother to immigrate to the United States. I have enclosed all the required documentation as outlined by USCIS instructions, including:
- Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
- Proof of my U.S. citizenship (e.g., U.S. Birth Certificate, U.S. Passport)
- My mother's birth certificate
- Copy of my mother's passport
- Proof of termination of any prior marriages (if applicable)
- Passport-style photographs of myself and my mother
- Marriage certificate of my parents (if applicable to demonstrate lineage)
I have organized these documents in the order specified in the I-130 instructions for ease of review. I have also included a check or money order for the required filing fee. I am confident that the enclosed evidence clearly demonstrates our familial relationship. Thank you for your time and consideration of this important matter. I look forward to your positive response.
Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Typed Name]
I 130 Cover Letter Sample For Parents - U.S. Citizen Filing for Father
[Your Name]
[Your Street Address]
[Your City, State, Zip Code]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[Date]
USCIS
[Address of the relevant USCIS Service Center - check USCIS website]
[City, State, Zip Code]
Subject: I-130 Petition for Alien Relative - [Your Father's Full Name] (Date of Birth: [Father's DOB])
Dear USCIS Officer,
I am submitting this Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, to petition for my father, [Father's Full Name]. I am a lawful permanent resident of the United States, and my Alien Registration Number is [Your A-Number]. My father, [Father's Full Name], was born on [Father's Date of Birth] in [Father's Place of Birth].
This petition is intended to establish the familial relationship between myself and my father, which will enable him to pursue immigration to the United States. The enclosed packet contains all necessary supporting documents, including:
- Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
- Proof of my lawful permanent resident status (e.g., copy of Green Card)
- My father's birth certificate
- Copy of my father's passport
- Proof of termination of any prior marriages (if applicable)
- Passport-style photographs of myself and my father
- Marriage certificate of my parents (if applicable to demonstrate lineage)
All documents have been organized for your convenience. I have also included the required filing fee. I trust that the submitted evidence sufficiently proves our parent-child relationship. Thank you for your attention to this application.
Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Typed Name]
I 130 Cover Letter Sample For Parents - U.S. Citizen Filing for Both Parents
[Your Name]
[Your Street Address]
[Your City, State, Zip Code]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[Date]
USCIS
[Address of the relevant USCIS Service Center - check USCIS website]
[City, State, Zip Code]
Subject: I-130 Petitions for Alien Relatives - [Father's Full Name] (DOB: [Father's DOB]) and [Mother's Full Name] (DOB: [Mother's DOB])
Dear USCIS Officer,
Please accept this submission of two Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, one for my father, [Father's Full Name], and one for my mother, [Mother's Full Name]. I am a United States citizen, born on [Your Date of Birth]. My father was born on [Father's Date of Birth] in [Father's Place of Birth], and my mother was born on [Mother's Date of Birth] in [Mother's Place of Birth].
This petition is to establish the parent-child relationship and allow both of my parents to immigrate to the United States. I have prepared two separate I-130 petitions, each with its own set of supporting documents, as required for separate petitions for each parent. The contents of each packet are as follows:
Packet 1: For Father - [Father's Full Name]
- Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
- Proof of my U.S. citizenship
- My father's birth certificate
- Copy of my father's passport
- Passport-style photographs of myself and my father
Packet 2: For Mother - [Mother's Full Name]
- Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
- Proof of my U.S. citizenship
- My mother's birth certificate
- Copy of my mother's passport
- Passport-style photographs of myself and my mother
Additionally, both packets contain the marriage certificate of my parents, [Father's Full Name] and [Mother's Full Name], to further solidify the familial bond. I have included the appropriate filing fees for each petition. I appreciate your careful review of these applications.
Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Typed Name]
I 130 Cover Letter Sample For Parents - Lawful Permanent Resident Filing for Mother
[Your Name]
[Your Street Address]
[Your City, State, Zip Code]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[Date]
USCIS
[Address of the relevant USCIS Service Center - check USCIS website]
[City, State, Zip Code]
Subject: I-130 Petition for Alien Relative - [Mother's Full Name] (Date of Birth: [Mother's DOB])
Dear USCIS Officer,
I am a Lawful Permanent Resident of the United States and am submitting this Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, for my mother, [Mother's Full Name]. My Alien Registration Number is [Your A-Number], and my Green Card was issued on [Date of Green Card Issuance]. My mother, [Mother's Full Name], was born on [Mother's Date of Birth] in [Mother's Place of Birth].
The purpose of this petition is to establish the parent-child relationship and to enable my mother to immigrate to the United States. The enclosed documentation includes:
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
| Form I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative |
| Proof of LPR Status | Copy of my Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) |
| Mother's Birth Certificate | Official copy of [Mother's Full Name]'s birth certificate |
| Copy of Mother's Passport | Photocopy of relevant pages of [Mother's Full Name]'s passport |
| Passport Photos | Photographs of myself and my mother |
I have also included the required filing fee. I have organized all documents to meet USCIS requirements. I am grateful for your consideration of my petition.
Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Typed Name]
I 130 Cover Letter Sample For Parents - Using a Translator
[Your Name]
[Your Street Address]
[Your City, State, Zip Code]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[Date]
USCIS
[Address of the relevant USCIS Service Center - check USCIS website]
[City, State, Zip Code]
Subject: I-130 Petition for Alien Relative - [Parent's Full Name] (Date of Birth: [Parent's DOB]) - With Translator Declaration
Dear USCIS Officer,
I am submitting this Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, for my [Mother/Father], [Parent's Full Name]. I am a United States citizen. My parent was born on [Parent's Date of Birth] in [Parent's Place of Birth].
I have included all necessary supporting documents, including:
- Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
- Proof of my U.S. citizenship
- [Parent's Full Name]'s birth certificate
- Copy of [Parent's Full Name]'s passport
- Passport-style photographs of myself and my [Mother/Father]
- [Add any other relevant documents]
Please note that some of the enclosed documents are in [Language of the document]. I have attached a certified translation for each of these documents, along with a declaration from the translator as required. The translator's information and declaration are included at the end of this packet. I have also included the filing fee.
Thank you for your review.
Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Typed Name]
Translator's Declaration (Example - to be provided by translator):
I, [Translator's Full Name], hereby certify that I am fluent in English and [Language of the document], and that the attached translation of [Name of Document] is a true and accurate translation of the original document.
[Translator's Signature]
[Translator's Typed Name]
[Translator's Contact Information]
I 130 Cover Letter Sample For Parents - Expedited Processing Request
[Your Name]
[Your Street Address]
[Your City, State, Zip Code]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[Date]
USCIS
[Address of the relevant USCIS Service Center - check USCIS website]
[City, State, Zip Code]
Subject: Request for Expedited Processing - I-130 Petition for Alien Relative - [Parent's Full Name] (Date of Birth: [Parent's DOB])
Dear USCIS Officer,
I am submitting this Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, for my [Mother/Father], [Parent's Full Name], and I am also formally requesting expedited processing of this petition. I am a United States citizen.
The grounds for this request for expedited processing are [Clearly state the reason for expedited processing, e.g., severe financial hardship to the petitioner or beneficiary, urgent humanitarian reasons, compelling government interest, etc.]. To support this request, I have enclosed the following evidence:
- [List specific documents proving the reason for expedited processing, e.g., medical records, financial statements showing hardship, letters from organizations, etc.]
- [Add any other relevant documents]
In addition to the evidence for expedited processing, the following documents are enclosed for the I-130 petition itself:
- Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
- Proof of my U.S. citizenship
- [Parent's Full Name]'s birth certificate
- Copy of [Parent's Full Name]'s passport
- Passport-style photographs of myself and my [Mother/Father]
I have also included the required filing fee. I kindly request that USCIS review this case with urgency due to the extenuating circumstances detailed herein. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Typed Name]
I 130 Cover Letter Sample For Parents - When Beneficiary is Deceased (Probable Beneficiary)
[Your Name]
[Your Street Address]
[Your City, State, Zip Code]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[Date]
USCIS
[Address of the relevant USCIS Service Center - check USCIS website]
[City, State, Zip Code]
Subject: I-130 Petition for Probable Beneficiary - [Deceased Parent's Full Name] (Date of Birth: [Deceased Parent's DOB])
Dear USCIS Officer,
I am submitting this Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, for my deceased [Mother/Father], [Deceased Parent's Full Name]. I am a United States citizen, born on [Your Date of Birth]. My [Mother/Father] was born on [Deceased Parent's Date of Birth] in [Deceased Parent's Place of Birth] and passed away on [Date of Death].
This petition is being filed under specific circumstances where the beneficiary has passed away, and I am seeking to establish the relationship for potential humanitarian or other permissible reasons. The enclosed documentation includes:
- Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
- Proof of my U.S. citizenship
- [Deceased Parent's Full Name]'s birth certificate
- My death certificate for [Deceased Parent's Full Name]
- Proof of my relationship to the deceased (e.g., my birth certificate showing parents' names)
- [Any other documents to support the basis of filing for a deceased individual, if applicable per USCIS guidance]
I have also included the required filing fee. I understand the nuances of filing for a deceased individual and have provided all available documentation to support this petition. Thank you for your understanding and review.
Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Typed Name]
Creating an effective I 130 cover letter for your parents is all about clarity, organization, and presenting your case in a way that USCIS officers can easily understand. By using an I 130 Cover Letter Sample For Parents as a guide, you can ensure that your application is complete and professionally presented. Remember to tailor any sample to your specific situation, double-check all information, and gather all required documents. With careful attention to detail, you can successfully navigate this step of the immigration journey for your loved ones.