Form I-929, Petition for Qualifying Family Member of a U-1 Nonimmigrant

What is Form I-929?

Who needs to file Form I-929?

When to file Form I-929

Documents you need

• Lawful permanent residents: a copy of the front and back of your Permanent Resident Card. If you have no card yet, copies of your passport biographic page and the page showing admission as a permanent resident, or other USCIS evidence of status.
• If your Form I-485 is pending: a copy of the approval notice for your Form I-918, Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status, and a receipt notice showing Form I-485 was filed with USCIS.
• In all cases: a recently taken, clear photograph of the family member for whom you are filing.
• Spouse: a copy of your marriage certificate; documents showing all prior marriages of either spouse were legally terminated, if any; evidence of any legal name change.
• Child, if you are the mother: a copy of the child's birth certificate showing your name and the child's name.
• Child born in wedlock, if you are the father: a copy of the birth certificate showing both parents' names, and your marriage certificate.
• Child born out of wedlock, if you are the father and the child was not legitimated before age 18: copies of evidence of a bona fide parent-child relationship before the child reached 21, such as living together or support.
• Parent: your birth certificate showing the parent's name. For a father, also the birth certificate showing both parents, the parents' marriage certificate (marriage before you were born) and proof any prior marriages ended; add legal name change evidence if names differ.
• Stepparent or stepchild: the stepparent's marriage certificate to the child's natural parent showing the marriage occurred before the child's 18th birthday; proof of terminated prior marriages and legal name changes.
• Adoption: a certified copy of the adoption decree showing adoption before the child turned 16 (before 18 for an adopted sibling), plus evidence of legal custody and residence with the adopting parent(s) for at least 2 years.
• Evidence of extreme hardship to you or your alien relative if the relative is not allowed to remain in or enter the United States.
• Evidence that discretion should be exercised in favor of your relative, including a signed statement from your alien relative and other supporting documentation.
• If a required document is unavailable: a statement from the appropriate civil authority certifying this, plus secondary evidence such as a church record, school record, census record or affidavits from two persons.
• For any foreign-language document: a full English translation with the translator's signed certification of completeness, accuracy and competence, printed name, date and contact information.

How to fill out Form I-929

1. 1

   Select your relationship to the relative

   At START HERE, select one: Spouse; Child (Biological Child, Stepchild or Adopted Child); or Parent (Biological Parent, Stepparent or Parent who adopted me). Type or print in black ink if you complete it by hand.

2. 2

   Enter your information in Part 1

   Give your name, current address, any safe mailing address if different, date of birth, A-Number, country of birth, Social Security Number, country of citizenship or nationality, and sex. List any other names you used; if you have no citizenship, write "stateless" and explain on a separate sheet.

3. 3

   Report your marital history

   Select your marital status; if married, enter your spouse's name and place of marriage. Enter the number of marriages including the current one and list prior spouses, most recent first, with dates, places and reason for termination.

4. 4

   State your U-1 immigration status

   Under Check one, mark that you are a Lawful Permanent Resident and enter the date you obtained residence, or mark that your Form I-485 is currently pending and enter the Receipt Number.

5. 5

   Enter your alien relative's information in Part 2

   Provide the relative's name, current address, mailing address if different, date of birth, A-Number, country of birth, Social Security Number, citizenship, sex and other names used. Enter "N/A" where an item does not apply.

6. 6

   Complete your relative's marital and U.S. details

   Give the relative's marital status, spouse, number of marriages and prior marriages. If the relative is in the United States, also enter the date and place of admission, class of admission and date authorized to stay.

7. 7

   List your relative's children in Part 3

   For each child, enter name, date and place of birth, relationship (Biological Child, Stepchild or Adopted Child), sex, address, A-Number, country of birth and the names of the mother and father. Attach an additional sheet if you need more space.

8. 8

   Add your relative's name and address abroad

   In the block for the language written in the country where your relative lives, enter the relative's name and address, including C/O if used, city, country and postal code.

9. 9

   Answer the processing questions in Part 4

   Item 1: select whether the person in Part 2 is now in the United States or outside it; if outside, give the U.S. Embassy or consulate city and country where a visa will be sought. Item 2: answer No, or Yes with when and where for any deportation or removal proceedings.

10. 10

    Sign the petition in Part 5

    Sign in ink, print your full name and enter the date. A parent or legal guardian may sign if the petitioner is under 14, and a legal guardian may sign for a mentally incompetent person.

11. 11

    Complete Part 6 if a preparer helped

    A preparer other than the signer signs in ink, prints a full name, enters the date, and gives firm name, address and telephone number.

12. 12

    Review, download and assemble the package

    Check that every item is answered, extra sheets show your name, page, part and item numbers and are signed and dated, and the edition date shows on every page. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and add the evidence described under required documents and the filing channels under How to submit.

How to submit Form I-929

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting the petition unsigned, or with a stamped or typewritten name instead of a signature; USCIS rejects it.
• Printing the form with pages missing or from different editions, or without the edition date and page numbers visible; USCIS may reject it.
• Filing one petition for several relatives; a separate petition is required for each eligible relative.
• Sending original documents when none were requested; USCIS may destroy originals submitted when not required.
• Submitting foreign-language documents without a full English translation and the translator's signed certification.
• Leaving an inapplicable item blank instead of typing or printing "N/A", or "None" for a zero numeric answer.
• Omitting the relative's photograph or the address where the relative is residing now.
• Sending the optional checklist with the form, or mailing the petition to the Camp Springs, MD address used only for burden comments.
• Filing as a petitioner over 21 for a parent; the instructions list only spouse and unmarried children under 21 for that age group.