For most family-based immigration cases, the immigration journey begins with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Before the National Visa Center (NVC), before the visa interview, and before entering the United States, the U.S. petitioner usually begins the case by filing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative.
The USCIS stage generally looks like this:
File Form I-130
↓
Receive USCIS Receipt Notice
↓
Receive Priority Date
↓
USCIS Reviews the Petition
↓
Possible Request for Evidence (RFE)
↓
USCIS Approves the I-130
↓
Case Moves to the Department of State / National Visa Center
For family-preference categories such as F1, F2A, F2B, F3 and F4, there may then be a wait for the priority date to become eligible under the Visa Bulletin.
You can use BurmaHeaven’s Visa Bulletin Calculator or Priority Date Tracker to understand where your case may be in the line.
Step 1: File Form I-130
Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative is used by a qualifying U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident to petition for certain family members.
The person filing the petition is called the:
Petitioner
The foreign relative the petition is filed for is called the:
Beneficiary
The Department of State confirms that for family-based immigrant visa cases, USCIS must first approve the immigrant petition before the case can proceed to the National Visa Center.
Important
An approved I-130 does not by itself give the beneficiary:
- a Green Card
- an immigrant visa
- permission to work in the United States
- permission to enter the United States
- lawful permanent resident status
The I-130 stage is primarily about establishing the qualifying family relationship.
Who Can File Form I-130?
A U.S. citizen can generally petition for certain qualifying relatives including:
- spouse
- unmarried child
- unmarried adult son or daughter
- married son or daughter
- parent, if the petitioner is at least 21
- brother or sister, if the petitioner is at least 21
A lawful permanent resident, also called a Green Card holder, can generally petition for:
- spouse
- unmarried child
- unmarried son or daughter
A permanent resident generally cannot use Form I-130 to petition directly for:
- parents
- siblings
- married sons or daughters
Always check the current USCIS Form I-130 page and official I-130 instructions before filing.
What Evidence Is Submitted With Form I-130?
The exact documents depend on the relationship.
USCIS generally needs evidence of:
1. The petitioner’s qualifying U.S. status
and
2. The qualifying family relationship
Examples can include:
- U.S. birth certificate
- U.S. passport
- naturalization certificate
- Certificate of Citizenship
- Permanent Resident Card
- beneficiary’s birth certificate
- marriage certificate
- divorce records
- death certificates from previous spouses
- adoption records
- other civil documents proving the relationship
USCIS requires the supporting evidence listed in the current Form I-130 instructions.
Burmese Documents and Names
Burmese cases can sometimes require extra attention because Burmese names may not follow the Western first-name / middle-name / last-name format.
Names may also appear differently across:
- birth records
- passports
- household lists
- marriage documents
- school records
- English translations
Do not casually change names simply to make them fit an American form.
Use the current USCIS instructions and provide evidence or explanations when records contain legitimate differences.
Documents not in English generally need an acceptable English translation according to USCIS requirements.
Filing Online or By Mail
Form I-130 can generally be filed:
Online
or
By mail
Use the official USCIS Form I-130 page to determine how and where to file.
Do not use an address from an old blog post or an old copy of the form because USCIS filing locations and form editions can change.
Current I-130 Filing Fee
As of the current USCIS fee schedule, the general Form I-130 filing fees are:
Online filing: $625
Paper filing: $675
USCIS fees can change, so always verify the amount before submitting the petition using the official USCIS Fee Schedule. The current USCIS fee schedule lists those amounts for general I-130 filing.
Step 2: Receive the USCIS Receipt Notice
After USCIS accepts the petition, USCIS issues a receipt notice.
This is usually a Form I-797, Notice of Action.
The receipt notice confirms that USCIS received the petition and created a case.
Keep this notice.
Do not throw it away after checking the case online.
It contains important information including:
- receipt number
- receipt date
- priority date when applicable
- petitioner information
- beneficiary information
- petition type
What Is the USCIS Receipt Number?
The receipt number is a unique 13-character case number.
It generally contains:
3 letters + 10 numbers
Examples of USCIS prefixes include:
- IOE
- EAC
- WAC
- LIN
- SRC
- NBC
- MSC
USCIS explains that this receipt number is used to identify and track the petition.
Example:
IOE1234567890
Do not confuse this with your later:
- NVC case number
- Invoice ID
- A-Number
- visa number
They are different identifiers used at different stages.
Keep Your Receipt Number Private
You need the receipt number to monitor your case, but avoid posting the complete number publicly on Facebook, TikTok, immigration groups or other public forums.
If you are asking someone for help, redact identifying information when possible.
Step 3: Understand Your Priority Date
For many family-preference cases, the priority date is extremely important.
The priority date generally establishes your place in the immigrant visa waiting line.
For many family-based petitions, it is based on the date USCIS properly received the petition.
Your priority date can usually be found on the I-797 receipt notice.
Who Needs to Watch the Visa Bulletin?
Family-preference categories are subject to annual numerical limits.
These include:
- F1 — Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
- F2A — Spouses and children of permanent residents
- F2B — Unmarried adult sons and daughters of permanent residents
- F3 — Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
- F4 — Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens
For these categories, USCIS approval does not necessarily mean NVC processing or visa issuance can happen immediately.
Your priority date may still need to become eligible.
Use:
BurmaHeaven:
Visa Bulletin Calculator
Official Government Source:
U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin
The Department of State explains that for other family-based relationships, NVC processing may not begin immediately after USCIS approval because the priority date must be compared with the Visa Bulletin.
What About Immediate Relatives?
Immediate-relative immigrant visa categories for certain close relatives of U.S. citizens are not subject to the same annual numerical limits.
Examples generally include:
- IR-1 / CR-1 — spouse of a U.S. citizen
- IR-2 — qualifying child of a U.S. citizen
- IR-5 — parent of a U.S. citizen age 21 or older
These cases do not normally wait years for a Visa Bulletin cutoff date in the same way that F1, F2A, F2B, F3 or F4 cases may.
Step 4: Check Your USCIS Case Status
After receiving the receipt number, you can monitor your petition online.
Use the official:
Enter the 13-character receipt number.
USCIS says the receipt number can be used to monitor the actual status of a pending case.
Common USCIS Case Status Messages
The exact wording can change, but you may see messages such as:
Case Was Received
USCIS received the petition and it is pending.
Case Is Being Actively Reviewed
USCIS is reviewing the case.
This does not necessarily mean a decision is coming immediately.
Some cases remain in an actively reviewed status for a long time.
Request for Evidence Was Sent
USCIS needs additional information or evidence before deciding the petition.
Response to USCIS’ Request for Evidence Was Received
USCIS received the RFE response.
The petition then returns to review.
Case Was Approved
USCIS approved the I-130 petition.
Case Was Sent to the Department of State
For a consular-processing case, USCIS has sent or is sending the approved petition toward the Department of State / NVC stage.
USCIS Online Account
You can also create or use a USCIS online account at:
Depending on the case, the account may allow you to:
- see case history
- receive notices electronically
- see documents
- manage certain case information
- receive updates
Keep your login information secure.
How Long Will the I-130 Take?
There is no single processing time for every I-130.
Processing can depend on:
- petition type
- relationship category
- USCIS workload
- office or service center
- whether an RFE is issued
- whether additional review is required
- individual case circumstances
Use the official:
USCIS explains that processing times can change and that its tool can tell you when a case may qualify for an inquiry.
Do Not Compare Your Case Too Closely With Someone Else’s
You may see:
“My cousin filed after me and already got approved.”
or
“Someone in a Facebook group got approved in six months.”
That does not necessarily mean something is wrong with your case.
Two I-130 petitions can move at different speeds.
Use USCIS’ actual processing information rather than assuming another person’s timeline applies to you.
What If the Case Is Taking Too Long?
First check:
If USCIS indicates the case is outside the normal inquiry timeframe, you may be able to submit an inquiry through:
USCIS says applicants should use its processing-time tool to determine whether the case is eligible for a service request.
Step 5: Request for Evidence — RFE
During review, USCIS may determine that more evidence is needed.
USCIS may issue a:
Request for Evidence
commonly called an:
RFE
An RFE does not automatically mean the I-130 will be denied.
It means USCIS wants additional evidence before making its decision.
Why Might USCIS Send an RFE?
The reason depends on the individual case.
Examples can include questions about:
- proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residence
- birth certificates
- marriage records
- termination of previous marriages
- parent-child relationships
- sibling relationships
- adoption records
- name differences
- translations
- bona fide marriage evidence
- incomplete or unclear documentation
Do not assume an RFE received by another family is the same as yours.
Read your own notice.
What Should You Do if You Receive an RFE?
1. Read the Entire Notice
Do not read only the first paragraph.
USCIS should explain what evidence it believes is missing or insufficient.
2. Find the Deadline
The RFE will state when USCIS must receive the response.
Do not ignore this date.
3. Answer What USCIS Asked
Respond directly to the issues in the RFE.
Do not bury the requested evidence under hundreds of unrelated pages.
4. Follow the Submission Instructions
The notice should explain how and where to respond.
Follow those instructions rather than using an address found online.
5. Keep Copies
Keep a complete copy of:
- the RFE
- your response
- supporting documents
- proof of delivery or submission
6. Check Your Case Status
After USCIS receives the response, the status may update to indicate that the RFE response was received.
Do Not Ignore an RFE
If USCIS asks for evidence and receives no adequate response by the applicable deadline, USCIS can decide the case based on the information already available.
That can result in a denial.
If the RFE involves a complicated legal problem, obtaining qualified immigration legal advice may be appropriate.
Step 6: USCIS Makes a Decision
After reviewing the petition and any additional evidence, USCIS can make a decision.
The two major outcomes are:
Approval
or
Denial
If Form I-130 Is Approved
USCIS generally sends the petitioner an approval notice:
Form I-797, Notice of Action
Keep this document permanently with your immigration records.
An approved I-130 means USCIS has approved the immigrant petition.
It does not mean the beneficiary already has an immigrant visa.
It does not mean the beneficiary can immediately get on a plane to the United States.
For someone living outside the United States and using consular processing, another stage still remains.
What Happens After USCIS Approval?
For a consular-processing immigrant visa case, USCIS generally transfers the approved petition to the National Visa Center (NVC).
The Department of State confirms that after USCIS approval, USCIS sends the petition to NVC.
NVC then creates the immigrant visa case.
When appropriate, NVC sends a Welcome Letter containing information such as:
- NVC case number
- Invoice ID
- instructions for CEAC
The exact timing depends partly on the visa category and visa availability.
Immediate Relative vs. Family Preference After Approval
This distinction is important.
Immediate Relative Case
For certain immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, NVC can generally begin the next stage without waiting for a family-preference Visa Bulletin cutoff.
Family Preference Case
For categories such as:
- F1
- F2A
- F2B
- F3
- F4
the approved petition may have to wait until the priority date is eligible for further visa processing.
The Department of State specifically explains that NVC can hold a petition until visa processing can proceed based on the priority date and Visa Bulletin.
If You Are F4 — Brother or Sister of a U.S. Citizen
F4 cases can involve a particularly long wait.
The sequence generally looks like:
U.S. citizen sibling files I-130
↓
USCIS receipt notice
↓
Priority date established
↓
USCIS reviews petition
↓
I-130 approved
↓
Case transferred toward NVC
↓
Wait for priority date / Visa Bulletin eligibility when applicable
↓
NVC processing
↓
Documentarily Qualified
↓
Embassy interview
↓
Visa decision
↓
Travel to the United States
Do not confuse I-130 approval with visa availability.
They are separate things.
Continue to the Visa Bulletin
If your approved petition is in a family-preference category, your next important subject is your priority date.
Use:
BurmaHeaven Visa Bulletin Calculator
BurmaHeaven Priority Date Tracker
BurmaHeaven Visa Bulletin History
Official:
U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin
Continue to the NVC Stage
Once your case is ready for National Visa Center processing, continue with:
BurmaHeaven NVC Resource Center
There you can learn about:
- NVC Welcome Letter
- CEAC
- immigrant visa fees
- Form DS-260
- Affidavit of Support
- financial documents
- civil documents
- translations
- document submission
- Documentarily Qualified status
- interview scheduling
You can also use:
USCIS Stage Quick Checklist
Before Filing
☐ Determine whether the relationship qualifies
☐ Read current I-130 instructions
☐ Gather proof of petitioner’s status
☐ Gather relationship evidence
☐ Obtain necessary translations
☐ Check current filing fee
☐ Confirm current filing method and address
After Filing
☐ Save I-797 receipt notice
☐ Record receipt number
☐ Record priority date
☐ Create or access USCIS online account
☐ Check USCIS case status periodically
☐ Watch mail and online account for notices
If You Receive an RFE
☐ Read entire RFE
☐ Identify requested evidence
☐ Note deadline
☐ Follow USCIS response instructions
☐ Submit complete response
☐ Keep copies
☐ Save proof of submission
After Approval
☐ Save I-797 approval notice
☐ Confirm USCIS is transferring the case for consular processing
☐ Understand whether the case is Immediate Relative or Family Preference
☐ If Family Preference, monitor your priority date
☐ Monitor the Visa Bulletin
☐ Watch for NVC communication
☐ Continue to the NVC stage when instructed
Important Links
USCIS
Form I-130 — Petition for Alien Relative
USCIS Online Account — myUSCIS
Department of State
Official Immigrant Visa Process
BurmaHeaven
The Bottom Line
The USCIS stage is the beginning of most family-based immigrant visa cases.
Think of it this way:
I-130 = establish the family relationship
Receipt Notice = USCIS received the case
Priority Date = your place in the visa line when applicable
Case Status = where the USCIS petition currently stands
RFE = USCIS needs more evidence
Approval = USCIS approved the petition
Visa Bulletin = determines when many preference-category cases can move forward
NVC = the next major stage of consular processing
An approved I-130 is a major milestone, but it is not the immigrant visa itself.
Once USCIS finishes its part, the case moves into the next part of the immigration journey.
Next: National Visa Center (NVC) Resource Center →
This guide is for general educational purposes and is not legal advice. Immigration forms, fees, processing procedures and government policies can change. Always verify filing requirements using USCIS and the U.S. Department of State before submitting immigration documents.