Form I-130 is the petition that a U.S. citizen or a green card holder files for a family member that will apply for a green card. The I-130 petition is filed to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The I-130 petition is used to promote family reunification. The purpose of the I-130 petition is to establish that the legally recognized family relationship exists. For example, in a marriage case a certified copy of the marriage certificate should be included with the I-130 petition filing, along with other supporting evidence.
Depending on the family relationship and the filing location, the I-130 is filed either as a standalone petition (with supporting evidence), or together with other government application forms and supporting evidence.