Family Reunification Cover Letter (Form I-130)
Cover letter for Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) — first step for family-based immigration.
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Jordan Alex Taylor
482 Elm Street, Apt 3B, Portland, OR 97214
Phone: +1 503 555 0118
Date: May 4, 2026
To: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
(file online via myUSCIS or mail per Form I-130 instructions)
Re: Form I-130 — Petition for Alien Relative
Petitioner: Jordan Alex Taylor (U.S. citizen)
Beneficiary: Aleksandra Petrova, Spouse
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To Whom It May Concern,
I am filing Form I-130 to petition for Aleksandra Petrova, my Spouse, to be classified for immigration to the United States.
PETITIONER
Name: Jordan Alex Taylor
Status: U.S. citizen
Address: 482 Elm Street, Apt 3B, Portland, OR 97214
BENEFICIARY
Name: Aleksandra Petrova
DOB: April 12, 1985
Current address: Nevsky Prospekt 47, St. Petersburg, Russia 191025
RELATIONSHIP
Relationship type: Spouse
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EVIDENCE OF QUALIFYING RELATIONSHIP
Marriage certificate (certified copy with English translation if not English-language).
If marriage: combined evidence of bona fide marriage — photographs together, joint bank statements, joint lease, communications history, travel together, etc.
For parent-child: birth certificate showing the parent-child relationship.
For siblings: both birth certificates showing common parent.
For parent: U.S. citizen petitioner's birth certificate AND parent's identification.
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PRIOR MARRIAGES (both spouses)
Petitioner: previously divorced (one prior marriage). Final divorce decree dated 2018-03-15, attached.
Beneficiary: never previously married.
(Documentation of every prior marriage termination is required: divorce decree, annulment decree, or death certificate.)
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ENCLOSED DOCUMENTS
Form I-130 (signed)
Filing fee per current USCIS schedule (verify at uscis.gov)
Evidence of petitioner's U.S. status: passport bio page (citizen) or green card front + back (LPR)
Marriage certificate (or birth certificate / sibling birth certificates as applicable)
Evidence of bona fide marriage (for spouse petitions): joint financial accounts, joint lease, photos together, communications, etc.
Divorce decrees / death certificates for any prior marriages of either spouse
Form G-1145 (e-notification) optional
If concurrent: I-485 (adjustment of status), I-693 medical, I-864 affidavit of support
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I confirm under penalty of perjury that the relationship described is true and that all documents submitted are authentic. I understand that I-130 establishes the relationship; subsequent stages (consular processing or I-485 adjustment of status) determine eligibility for permanent residence.
Thank you for processing this petition.
Sincerely,
_______________________________ Date: May 4, 2026
Jordan Alex Taylor (Petitioner)
About this template
Form I-130 is the first step in family-based immigration — the petitioner (a U.S. citizen or LPR) establishes the qualifying family relationship with the beneficiary. Approval of I-130 alone does NOT grant immigration status; it makes the beneficiary eligible for the next step, which is either consular processing (DS-260, interview at U.S. consulate) for beneficiaries abroad, or adjustment of status (I-485) for beneficiaries already in the U.S. lawfully. The two-track distinction is critical: "immediate relatives" of U.S. citizens (spouses, unmarried children under 21, parents of citizens 21+) have no annual visa cap and proceed quickly; "preference categories" (F1 through F4 for citizens, F2A/F2B for LPRs) are subject to annual caps and country-by-country waiting lists shown in the State Department's Visa Bulletin. For F4 (sibling of U.S. citizen) the wait can be 12+ years for some countries; F2A (spouse/child of LPR) is typically 1-3 years; F1 (adult child of citizen) is typically 7-9 years. Spouse petitions face the strictest scrutiny — USCIS evaluates whether the marriage is bona fide (not entered into for immigration purposes). Evidence of bona fide marriage: joint financial accounts, joint lease, joint utilities, joint tax returns, photographs together, communications history, travel together, social media presence as a couple. Marriage fraud carries serious civil and criminal penalties, including permanent immigration bars and federal prison sentences. Filing fee currently $675 paper / $625 online (verify at uscis.gov). Processing times: 6-18 months for I-130 alone; concurrent filing with I-485 (adjustment of status) typically processes together over 8-14 months for immediate relatives.
When to use it
- U.S. citizen petitioning a spouse, unmarried child under 21, or parent.
- U.S. citizen petitioning a married child, adult child, or sibling (preference categories).
- LPR petitioning a spouse or unmarried child (F2A/F2B).
- Concurrent filing with I-485 for immediate relatives already in the U.S.
- Stand-alone filing when beneficiary is abroad and will consular-process.
What to include
- Petitioner identification and U.S. status.
- Beneficiary identification and current address.
- Specific relationship category.
- Evidence of qualifying relationship (marriage cert, birth cert, etc.).
- Bona fide marriage evidence (for spouse petitions).
- Prior marriage termination documents.
- Petitioner's status proof and filing fee.