Petition vs Application: The USCIS Difference
Petition vs Application · Immigration · Reinvent NY glossary
In US immigration law, a petition is typically filed by a sponsor (employer or family member) on behalf of a beneficiary — examples include I-129 (nonimmigrant worker petition, $460), I-140 (immigrant worker petition, $700), and I-130 (family petition, $535). An application is filed by the individual seeking the benefit — examples include I-485 (adjustment of status, $1,140), DS-160 (nonimmigrant visa application), and N-400 (naturalization, $710). Understanding this distinction is important because different parties bear different responsibilities and fees.
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