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Official form guide
Form I-929: Petition for Qualifying Family Member of a U-1 Nonimmigrant
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Form I-929 is a Petition for Qualifying Family Member of a U-1 Nonimmigrant, filed by a U‑1 holder (or eligible family) to request immigration benefits for a relative who never held U status, and must be mailed to the USCIS Vermont Service Center, 38 River Road, Essex Junction, VT 05479-0001, with the filing fee or fee waiver.
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USCIS Form I-929 - Petition for Qualifying Family Member of a U-1 Nonimmigrant
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Form I-929 is a Petition for Qualifying Family Member of a U-1 Nonimmigrant, filed by a U‑1 holder (or eligible family) to request immigration benefits for a relative who never held U status, and must be mailed to the USCIS Vermont Service Center, 38 River Road, Essex Junction, VT 05479-0001, with the filing fee or fee waiver.
Risk Radar
Scan points- 1Submitting the form without a valid handwritten signature will cause USCIS to reject or deny the petition.
- 2Submitting the form without a handwritten signature or with a stamped/typewritten name.
- 3Failing to include the required filing fee or an approved fee waiver.
- 4Omitting English translations for any non‑English supporting documents.
- 5Not attaching the necessary supporting evidence for the qualifying family member.
Plain English
Form I-929 lets a U-1 nonimmigrant ask USCIS to give immigration benefits to a family member who never had U status. The petitioner fills out the form, signs it, pays the fee (or gets a waiver), attaches required documents, and sends it to the Vermont Service Center.
Submission Date
- Filing date: Not stated in the official source.
- Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
- Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.
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What this form is for
- Use this form when you are a lawful permanent resident or have a pending Form I-485 based on U‑1 status and you want to request immigration benefits for an eligible family member who never held U status.
- Do not use it when the family member already holds U nonimmigrant status or when you do not meet the petitioner eligibility criteria (not an LPR or lacking a pending I‑485).
- Check Form I-485 instead when you need to apply to register permanent residence or adjust status.
Form selector
Use this form or another form?
Petitioner is a lawful permanent resident or has a pending I-485 based on U-1 status and wants to sponsor a family member who never held U status
This is the required petition for that scenario
✓ Confirm petitioner meets LPR or pending I-485 criteria
You need to pay the filing fee or request a fee waiver
Provides fee amounts and waiver eligibility
✓ Verify fee amount and eligibility for waiver
You are applying to adjust status for yourself
Used to register permanent residence or adjust status
✓ Ensure you are eligible to file I-485 based on U-1 status
Deadline or filing window
Not stated in the official source.
Checklist
What you need before filling it out
Proof of lawful permanent resident status or pending Form I-485
Copy of green card or receipt notice for Form I-485 · Petitioner’s personal file
Proof of relationship (e.g., birth certificate, marriage certificate)
Certified copies of birth or marriage certificates · Vital records office
Evidence of extreme hardship
Personal statements, medical records, financial documents · Petitioner’s supporting documents
Beneficiary’s photo
Passport‑style photograph of the family member · Recent photo taken by the beneficiary
Affidavit supporting discretion
Written affidavit from a third party · Affidavit document
Before you submit
- 1Complete all required fields on Form I-929.
- 2Attach proof of lawful permanent resident status or pending Form I-485.
- 3Attach relationship documents such as birth or marriage certificates.
- 4Attach evidence of extreme hardship.
- 5Attach the beneficiary’s passport‑style photograph.
- 6Include the filing fee or a completed Form G-1055 fee waiver request.
- 7Sign and date Form I-929 and every attached sheet.
- 8Print in black ink and type or print legibly.
- 9If extra space is needed, attach a separate sheet with name, A‑Number, page, part, and item numbers, then sign and date it.
- 10Review the checklist on page 5 to ensure all items are addressed.
How to file this form
- 1Gather all required documents and evidence.
- 2Complete Form I-929 accurately, typing or printing in black ink.
- 3Attach the filing fee or a completed Form G-1055 fee waiver request.
- 4Make a complete copy of the petition package for your records.
- 5Mail the package to the designated USCIS service center.
- 6Obtain a delivery receipt or tracking confirmation as proof of filing.
Known limitations
- 1The form cannot be used for family members who already hold U nonimmigrant status.
- 2Petitioners who are not lawful permanent residents and do not have a pending Form I-485 based on U‑1 status are ineligible.
- 3The petition must demonstrate extreme hardship; without such evidence the form is not applicable.
- 4A separate Form I-929 is required for each eligible relative; one petition cannot cover multiple relatives.
Field map
Compact field-by-field guide
Petitioner Info
3 items
Your current legal name as it appears on your Green Card or U.S. passport.
Your date of birth (MM/DD/YYYY).
Your Green Card number (A-Number) if a permanent resident, or USCIS online account number.
Beneficiary Info
3 items
Full legal name of the relative you are petitioning for.
Date of birth of the relative (MM/DD/YYYY).
Alien Registration Number of the beneficiary if previously assigned.
Relationship
1 items
Select the qualifying relationship: spouse, unmarried child under 21, unmarried child over 21, married child, parent, or sibling.
Evidence
1 items
List of documents establishing the qualifying relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.).
Signatures
2 items
Your signature certifying all information is correct under penalty of perjury.
Date you signed the form (MM/DD/YYYY).
Almost done reviewing the fields?
Fillable formOpen in Editor->The instructions show a revision date of 01/20/25 and the form expires on 02/28/2027; no changes are noted beyond the revision date.
What changed or needs a fresh check
- Edition date — confirm the revision date reads 01/20/25 as shown on the instructions page (Instructions p.1).
- Fee — confirm you include the filing fee or a completed Form G-1055 fee waiver request (Instructions p.2).
- Mailing address — Not stated in the official source.
- Signature — confirm the form and any attached sheets are signed and dated (Instructions p.1).
Quick Facts
Downloads
After you file
- 1Keep the signed Form I-929 and all supporting documents for at least five years.
- 2Store the mailing receipt and any tracking information as proof of submission.
- 3Monitor case status online using the receipt number provided by USCIS.
- 4Respond promptly to any Request for Evidence (RFE) from USCIS.
- 5If an error is discovered, file a correction or replacement petition following USCIS instructions.
Sources
- SRCInstructions p.1 — petitioner may file on behalf of a family member who does not hold U status
- SRCInstructions p.1 — petitioner must be a lawful permanent resident or have a pending Form I-485 based on U‑1 status
- SRCInstructions p.1 — purpose of the form is to request immigration benefits for a family member who never held U status
- SRCInstructions p.1 — filing fee or fee waiver must be supplied
- SRCInstructions p.2 — mother must submit a copy of birth certificate showing mother’s name
- SRCInstructions p.2 — father of child born in wedlock must submit child's birth certificate and marriage certificate
- SRCInstructions p.5 — checklist includes providing beneficiary's address, signing and dating, proof of LPR status or pending I-485, proof of relationship, proof of extreme hardship, beneficiary's photo, evidence to establish discretion
- SRCInstructions p.4 — public reporting burden estimate is 0.817 hours per response
Common confusion points
Do I need to be a U‑1 holder to file?
Petitioners often mix up their own status with the beneficiary’s status.
→ Verify you are a lawful permanent resident or have a pending I‑485 based on U‑1 status (Instructions p.1).
Do I have to provide the beneficiary’s current address?
The checklist asks for the beneficiary’s address, leading to uncertainty.
→ Ensure the beneficiary’s address is entered as required (Instructions p.5).
Can I attach extra information on a separate sheet?
The instructions allow extra sheets but require specific labeling.
→ Attach a separate sheet with your name, A‑Number, page, part, and item numbers, then sign and date it (Instructions p.1).
What documents are required for a mother?
The list of documents can be unclear.
→ Submit a copy of your birth certificate showing your name and your mother’s name, plus any legal name change documents (Instructions p.2).
Is proof of extreme hardship mandatory?
Filers sometimes omit hardship evidence thinking it optional.
→ Include detailed evidence of extreme hardship as listed in the checklist (Instructions p.5).
Do I need to include a fee waiver?
Uncertainty about when a fee waiver is appropriate.
→ Include the filing fee or a completed Form G‑1055 fee waiver request (Instructions p.2).
Workflow map
Related forms and next steps
Before
Current
Questions about USCIS Form I-929
What is USCIS Form I-929 used for?
Form I-929 lets a U-1 nonimmigrant ask USCIS to give immigration benefits to a family member who never had U status. The petitioner fills out the form, signs it, pays the fee (or gets a waiver), attaches required documents, and sends it to the Vermont Service Center.
Who must file USCIS Form I-929?
The petitioner must be the U‑1 nonimmigrant (or a qualifying family member) who is under 21 to file for a spouse, unmarried child under 21, or parent; if over 21, the petitioner may file for a spouse or unmarried child under 21.
What information does USCIS Form I-929 require?
It gathers the petitioner’s name, A‑Number, country of citizenship or nationality, and details about the qualifying family member, plus the supporting evidence required for the petition.
Where do I file USCIS Form I-929?
Mail the completed petition to USCIS Vermont Service Center, 38 River Road, Essex Junction, VT 05479-0001.
How do I complete USCIS Form I-929?
Obtain the latest Form I-929 and complete it in black ink. Attach any extra sheets, typing the name and A‑Number at the top and indicating the page, part, and item numbers. Sign and date the form, include the filing fee or an approved fee waiver, and attach all required supporting documents and English translations. Mail the entire package to the USCIS Vermont Service Center.
What happens if USCIS Form I-929 is filed incorrectly?
If the form lacks a valid handwritten signature, USCIS will reject or deny the petition.
Do I need to be a U‑1 holder to file?
Petitioners often mix up their own status with the beneficiary’s status. Verify you are a lawful permanent resident or have a pending I‑485 based on U‑1 status (Instructions p.1).
Do I have to provide the beneficiary’s current address?
The checklist asks for the beneficiary’s address, leading to uncertainty. Ensure the beneficiary’s address is entered as required (Instructions p.5).
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