Being Sponsored for a Green Card

Most people who apply for a Green Card will need to complete at least two forms—an immigrant petition and a Green Card application (Form I-485). Someone else usually must file the petition for you (often referred to as sponsoring or petitioning for you), although you may be eligible to file for yourself in some cases. Here are the most common forms:

• Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
• Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker
• Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition
• Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal

Other petitions include:

• Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant
• Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur
• Form I-918, Petition of U Nonimmigrant Status
• Form I-929, Petition for Qualifying Family Member of a U-1 Nonimmigrant

Refer to your eligibility category to see if you need a petition.