Marriage-Based AOS Packet Organizer

Concurrent I-130 / I-485 · H-1B beneficiary of U.S. citizen
Verify every item below against current USCIS instructions before you file. The document requirements, form editions, fees, and conditional rules in this tool were sourced from USCIS guidance available when this page was written and may be out of date by the time you read this. USCIS publishes updated form editions periodically and auto-rejects packets filed on the wrong edition. Before treating any item here as authoritative, confirm it against the current USCIS forms list and the relevant form's instructions: I-130, I-485, I-864, I-693.

Form editions verified 2026-04-25 against USCIS sources: I-130 02/27/26 (mandatory from Apr 1, 2026) · I-130A 04/01/24 · I-485 01/20/25 · I-864 10/17/24 · I-693 01/20/25. Re-verify on the form's USCIS page before mailing.

Recent USCIS policy changes already reflected in this checklist: (1) USCIS no longer accepts self-submitted photos for I-485 / I-765 / I-131 (effective Dec 12, 2025) — biometrics + photo are collected at your ASC appointment. (2) I-693 medical exam is valid only while the underlying I-485 is pending (rule for I-693 signed on/after Nov 1, 2023; refined June 11, 2025). (3) I-765 and I-131 each require separate fees when filed concurrently with I-485 (April 2024 USCIS fee rule — no longer bundled).
This is an organizer, not legal advice. This tool does not file forms, verify eligibility, or guarantee any outcome. Before mailing, confirm the current form editions, fees, filing address, and step-by-step instructions directly on uscis.gov. Common rejection causes include unsigned forms, mixed form editions, missing pages, wrong fees, and missing certified translations. Cases involving prior marriages, arrests or citations, status gaps, prior denials, possible misrepresentation, or complicated travel history should be reviewed by a licensed immigration attorney before filing.

Petitioner (U.S. citizen spouse)

I-130, I-864 filer
Exactly as it appears on citizenship proof and government ID.
Used for I-130 Part 1 and I-864 domicile showing.
For I-864 125% of Federal Poverty Guidelines comparison.
IRS tax transcript is preferred over a 1040 copy.
E.g., petitioner has been living abroad and must show intent to re-establish U.S. domicile.

Useful resources beyond this checklist

These links go to external sites we don't moderate or maintain. Quality varies. Treat anything you read on community forums as starting points for your own research, not as legal advice. For the actual rules, always go back to USCIS.

Authoritative — start here

Curated educational guides

Community forums (use with caution)

People share real-world experiences here — processing timelines, RFE patterns, lockbox quirks. They also frequently share incorrect information. Use as ground truth for "what actually happened in someone's case," not for "what the law says." Verify any rule you read here against USCIS sources before acting on it.

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