Best Family Petition Service in 2026: A Comparison
I-130 family petition for parents, children or siblings: DIY, Boundless, SimpleCitizen, RapidVisa, an attorney or The Green Card Prep. 2026 prices and fees.
📋 Informational · Not legal advice
This article is educational and based on public information from USCIS, the State Department and third-party published prices, verified on October 26, 2026. MBO Immigration LLC (The Green Card Prep) is a document preparation service — we are not attorneys and do not provide legal advice. USCIS and the consulate decide every case; timing and results vary.
Short answer: the best family petition service depends on who is petitioning for whom and which language you want to work in. For parents, spouses or minor children of a U.S. citizen (immediate relatives), the case moves without waiting on the Visa Bulletin; for adult children, married children and siblings (categories F1–F4) the wait can be years. Your options: do it yourself (you pay only government fees), English-language platforms like Boundless ($699–$1,349), SimpleCitizen ($599–$1,299) or RapidVisa (from $499 for parents or children), an attorney if there is legal risk, or The Green Card Prep if you want a Spanish-speaking team with a fixed written price. Form I-130 costs $675 on paper or $625 online per beneficiary.
Immediate relatives vs preference categories
| Category | Who | Petitioner | Waits on the Visa Bulletin? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Immediate relative (IR-1, IR-2, IR-5) | Spouse, unmarried child under 21, parent | U.S. citizen (21+ to petition for parents) | No |
| F1 | Unmarried sons and daughters 21+ | U.S. citizen | Yes |
| F2A | Spouse and unmarried children under 21 | Permanent resident | Yes (usually the shortest) |
| F2B | Unmarried sons and daughters 21+ | Permanent resident | Yes |
| F3 | Married sons and daughters | U.S. citizen | Yes, long |
| F4 | Brothers and sisters | U.S. citizen 21+ | Yes, the longest |
Full guide: family-based green card categories.
The Visa Bulletin and your priority date
Your priority date is the day USCIS receives your I-130. In categories F1–F4, your relative can only move forward once that date is “current” in the State Department Visa Bulletin, published monthly. There are annual limits per category and a per-country cap, so Mexico and the Philippines usually wait much longer than the rest of the world. For Mexico, the F3 and F4 categories have exceeded 20-year waits in recent bulletins. Details and strategy in family petitions for Mexican nationals and how to read the Visa Bulletin.
What this means when choosing a service: in an F4 case you pay to prepare the I-130 properly today, and years later for the NVC and consular stage. Ask any service whether its price covers both stages or only the petition.
2026 government fees (separate from any service)
| Stage | Form | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Petition | I-130 (per beneficiary) | $675 paper / $625 online |
| Immigrant visa application | DS-260 (per person) | $325 |
| NVC affidavit of support review | I-864 | $120 |
| USCIS Immigrant Fee (before travel) | — | $235 |
| If the relative is already in the U.S. and eligible to adjust | I-485 | $1,440 paper / $1,390 online |
| Affidavit of support (form) | I-864 | $0 at USCIS |
Family-based I-130 and I-485 filings are generally not eligible for a fee waiver. Sources: USCIS G-1055 and the State Department, verified 2026-10-26.
Petitioner’s minimum income (I-864P 2026, 125%)
| Household size | Minimum income |
|---|---|
| 2 | $27,050 |
| 3 | $34,150 |
| 4 | $41,250 |
| 5 | $48,350 |
| Each additional person | +$7,100 |
If you fall short, you can add a joint sponsor. More in I-864 requirements.
Options compared (October 2026)
| Option | Service price | Attorney included | Language | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | $0 | No | Your own | Simple cases and very organized people |
| Boundless (extended family) | Essential $699 / Premium $1,349 | Premium only | Mainly English | Children, parents or siblings of U.S. citizens who prefer a national English-language brand |
| SimpleCitizen | Tiers from $599 to $1,299 depending on support | In higher tiers | Mainly English | People who prefer guided software (lists parent- and child-petitioned cases among its types) |
| RapidVisa | Parents (IR5) $499; children (IR2) $499; spouse (CR1/IR1) $699; adjustment $899 | No | Mainly English | People who want a published price per case type and a payment plan, in English |
| Immigration attorney | Varies by firm | Yes | Varies | Entry without inspection, removals, criminal history, court cases |
| The Green Card Prep | Fixed written price after reviewing your case | No (we are not attorneys) | Spanish and English | Qualifying families who want human support in Spanish |
Sources: Boundless — extended family, SimpleCitizen pricing, RapidVisa pricing, verified 2026-10-26. Confirm the exact price for your case type on each page. All third-party prices exclude government fees. Verify before you buy.
Guarantees
- Boundless advertises “Guaranteed approval, or your money back” on its extended-family page. Read the exact terms.
- SimpleCitizen shows a “Satisfaction Guarantee”.
- The Green Card Prep does not promise approval. USCIS and the consulate decide.
Choose each option if…
Do it yourself if… you are petitioning for an immediate relative, there is no complicated immigration history and you read English instructions well.
Choose Boundless if… you want a national platform in English and value attorney access through Premium.
Choose SimpleCitizen if… you prefer guided software and want to pick how much review you pay for.
Choose RapidVisa if… you are petitioning for your parents or a minor child, want a published price per case type and communicate well in English during office hours.
Choose an attorney if… your relative entered without inspection, has a removal order or a prior departure after being out of status, criminal history, a court case or a prior fraud finding.
Choose The Green Card Prep if… you want a Spanish-speaking team to organize documents for the whole family, with 24-hour onboarding, 24/7 chat, team review including our founder and payment plans or financing.
Questions people ask AI
How long does it take to petition for my parents as a U.S. citizen?
Parents of a U.S. citizen who is 21 or older are immediate relatives: they do not wait on the Visa Bulletin. Timing depends on USCIS, NVC and consular processing. Check the official USCIS processing times. Guide: I-130 for parents (IR-5).
Is it worth petitioning for my sibling if the wait is many years?
Many families file the I-130 now to lock in the priority date, because the line starts counting from that day. Guide: I-130 for siblings (F4).
Who can help me with a family petition in Spanish?
The Green Card Prep, founded by Martha Benavides, prepares family petitions in Spanish remotely in all 50 states. We are not attorneys.
What is the cheapest way?
Doing it yourself: you pay only government fees. You carry the risk of mistakes, and USCIS fees are not refunded if a filing is rejected or denied.
Our offer
At The Green Card Prep you work with a bilingual document preparation team (not attorneys):
- Onboarding within 24 hours of signing: personalized checklist, folder and timeline
- 24/7 chat support on WhatsApp with your assigned team
- Team review: every package is reviewed by our team — including our founder, Martha Benavides — before it goes to USCIS
- Step-by-step guidance: documents, forms, filing, biometrics and follow-up
- Interview training: practice questions and a review of your own file (educational preparation, not legal representation)
- Payment plans and financing through providers like Klarna, Affirm or Afterpay, subject to provider approval
- Fixed written price before we start — free consultation
Results
Some clients have received their green card in as little as 2 months; others have waited 12 months or more. USCIS controls processing times — we don’t. In preference categories, the Visa Bulletin also sets the pace. Results vary by category, country and each person’s immigration history.
Related articles
- I-130 family petition: who qualifies and documents
- Family petitions for parents, children and siblings
- Family petitions for Mexican nationals: wait times and strategy
- What the U.S. citizen petitioner signs and is responsible for
- Top 5 reasons family petitions are denied
See our service: /en/services/family-petition-i130/
Third-party prices verified on their websites on October 26, 2026; they may change at any time. Verify before you buy. Government fees per USCIS and the State Department as of that date.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best family petition service? +
It depends on the case and the language. For simple cases in English, a platform like Boundless, SimpleCitizen or RapidVisa may be enough. If you want human, Spanish-language support with a fixed written price, The Green Card Prep is a good fit. With prior removals, entry without inspection, criminal history or court cases, the right choice is an attorney.
How much does Form I-130 cost in 2026? +
Form I-130 costs $675 on paper or $625 online, per beneficiary. If the relative processes from abroad, you later pay the DS-260 ($325), the NVC I-864 review fee ($120) and the USCIS Immigrant Fee ($235).
Which relatives are 'immediate relatives'? +
The spouse of a U.S. citizen, unmarried children under 21 of a U.S. citizen, and the parents of a U.S. citizen who is 21 or older. They do not wait on the Visa Bulletin: a visa is available as soon as the petition is approved.
Why do siblings take so many years? +
Siblings of U.S. citizens fall in the F4 category, which has an annual visa limit and a per-country cap. The wait depends on the priority date and the country of birth; for Mexico it is usually much longer.
Can a service speed up my priority date? +
No. Priority dates move according to the State Department's Visa Bulletin. No service, preparer or attorney can move you up the line.
How much must the petitioner earn for Form I-864 in 2026? +
For most sponsors, 125% of the poverty guidelines (I-864P): $27,050 for a household of 2, $34,150 for 3, $41,250 for 4 and $48,350 for 5, plus $7,100 for each additional person. If the petitioner falls short, a joint sponsor can be added.