Beneficiary
In US immigration, the beneficiary is the foreign national who benefits from a petition filed by someone else. For example, the spouse named on a US citizen's I-130, or the worker named on an employer's H-1B petition.
How it works
The petitioner files; the beneficiary is who the petition is for. A petition can have one principal beneficiary, and in many categories that person's spouse and children can join as derivative beneficiaries.
The beneficiary usually must still file their own forms later, such as the I-485 to adjust status or the DS-260 for an immigrant visa, and must pass background, medical, and admissibility checks.
Approval of a petition does not by itself give the beneficiary a visa or status. See how US immigration works.
Frequently asked questions
Is the beneficiary the same as the applicant?
Often the beneficiary later becomes the applicant when they file for the visa or green card.
Can a beneficiary have multiple petitions?
Yes. A person can be the beneficiary of more than one petition at the same time.
Does the beneficiary sign the petition?
Usually not. The petitioner signs, though the beneficiary provides documents.
Official sources
- USCIS: Glossaryuscis.gov
General information, not legal advice. NorthAmericans.com is independent and not affiliated with any government.