Petition for Your Refugee/Asylee Family to Join You (Form I-730)
TITLE: Petition for Your Refugee/Asylee Family to Join You (Form I-730)
WHAT IT IS:
Form I-730 is a petition that lets you ask the U.S. government to bring your spouse and unmarried children under 21 to live with you in the United States. You are the "petitioner" (the person asking), and your family members are the "beneficiaries" (the people who benefit). It is for people who received refugee status or asylum, and their family is still outside the U.S. or sometimes already here.
WHO NEEDS IT:
You must be a "principal" refugee or asylee to file this form. A principal means you are the main person who was granted that status.
• If you are a refugee: You must have been admitted to the United States within the past 2 years.
• If you are an asylee: You must have been granted asylum within the past 2 years.
You use this form to ask for your spouse and your unmarried children who are under 21. In some special cases, unmarried children who are over 21 may also qualify, or you can get a waiver of the 2-year filing deadline for humanitarian reasons. For these special situations, you must check the official instructions for Form I-730 and the Child Status Protection Act page on the USCIS website. If you are not sure if you qualify, read the official instructions carefully.
HOW TO FILE:
1. Know Your Family's Location: The process is different if your relative is inside the U.S. versus outside. The official instructions will tell you where to mail the petition based on their location.
2. Gather Photos: You MUST submit a passport-style photograph or a recently taken clear photograph of each family member you are petitioning for. If you forget, USCIS will send a request for evidence, and your case will take longer.
3. Complete the Form: Fill out Form I-730. Follow the official instructions for every question.
4. Submit Your Petition: Mail the completed, signed form, all required photos, and any other evidence listed in the instructions to the correct USCIS address. The "Where to File" section of the official instructions has the exact address. (Check the official instructions) for the correct mailing address.
5. What Happens Next:
• USCIS first checks your petition for basic eligibility. They may send you a request for evidence (RFE) if they need more documents.
• If your relative appears eligible, USCIS sends the case to another office for an interview.
• If your relative is in the U.S., the case goes to a USCIS domestic field office near them.
• If your relative is outside the U.S., the case goes to a USCIS international field office (if one has jurisdiction for that country) or to a U.S. embassy/consulate through the Department of State. That office will contact you and your relative with interview instructions.
FEES:
(check the official fee schedule)
CURRENT EDITION & DEADLINES:
(check the current edition on the official page)
COMMON MISTAKES:
• Forgetting to include a passport-style or clear photo for every family member you are asking for. This is a common reason for delays.
• Using an old edition of the form. Always download the form fresh from the official USCIS website right before you file.
• Not signing the form. A petition without a signature is not accepted.
WHERE TO GET THE FORM:
Always download the form and instructions from the official USCIS website: www.uscis.gov/i-730. Never use a form from a third-party site that might be outdated.
SOURCE: https://www.uscis.gov/i-730
DISCLAIMER: General info from USCIS, not legal advice — always verify on the official page and consult a licensed immigration attorney for your case. English is authoritative.