Filing I-130

[AFShiery]

Hello folks, I recently married a gal and am filing the I-130. here is a list I have prepared, any thoughts? It is too much? Should I be sending the same info for I-130 as the I-129f?

 

I-130 Package contents

 

Group 1-

I-130 petition

 

Group 2-

G-325A Biographic Information for myself

G-325A Photo

Birth Certificate

Previous divorce decrees

Passport copy with visas

Employment pay stub

 

Group 3-

G-325A Biographic Information for wife

G-325A Photo

Birth Certificate with translation

ID card with translation

Proof of residency with translation

Previous divorce decree with translation

Passport copy

 

Group 4-

Marriage certificate with translation

Pay stub from translation service and receipt from US Embassy

Receipt from joint bank account at Bank

Letter from my daughter

 

Group 5-

Photos from wedding ceremony on March 24, 2008

Photos from March 2008

Photos from December 2007

Photos from October 2007

 

Group 6-

Flight info and receipts from March 2008

Flight info and receipts from December 2007

Flight info and receipts from October 2007

 

Group 7-

Phone receipts for October 2007 ¨C April 2008

Phone cards

Emails copies

 

I iknow a lot of this stuff should go withthe I-129f, but should it be sent with the I-130 also? if not, isnt it a good idea to do so also? Any input would be appreciated........

[Missingyou]

I think you have prepared some very detailed documents for your applicaiton. I would send them all out. To my opinion, it is better to have more info then less. If they don't need it, they can put them aside, but just in case they need them, you are in good hands. Good luck!

[myrtle1beach]

Are you sending originals or copies & what documents need translated into english & where do you get them done at? Im just getting started on this. Ron

[Guest Rob & Jin]

http://www.candleforlove.com/FAQ/Timelines/Ne...Index_New2.html

 

Good luck

[Sebastian]

Just a coupla comments.

 

1. make copies of everything before you send it out, you'll need it in case your file is lost by us government.

 

2. if you are filing for K-3 - you'll need a lot of the same documents again for the subsequent I-129F (so make copies) . Remember - you send out the I-129F AFTER you receive NOA1 from the I-130 filing.

 

3. I found this to be useful - http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Jame%27s_Shortcut

 

Good Luck !

Edited April 14, 2008 by Darnell (see edit history)

[chilton747]

I would also include in the petition a statement about why your previous marriage with the ex Chinese spouse failed. They will be looking closely at this when the petition gets to GZ. Good luck!!!

[AFShiery]

Are you sending originals or copies & what documents need translated into english & where do you get them done at? Im just getting started on this. Ron

 

I am sending copies, they state that copies are sufficient and if they need originals, they will ask for them

[dnoblett]

A few pointers:

 

You are married so evidence of meeting in past 2 years like your group 5, 6 and 7 are not needed by USCIS, bring them to the consulate for interview.

 

VJ has a good guide for the I-130 packet: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...page=i130guide1

 

Note: carefully consider the K-3:

 

Keep in mind, for most CR-1 only takes a month or so longer to process than K-3. CR-1 costs much less overall. CR-1 is a true immigrant visa that results in a green-card upon entry to the USA K-3 needs to file I-485 to adjust status ($1010), K-3 also cannot work, get SSN, or a driver's license until they have green-card or EAD. EAD can take 90 days or more to get.

 

Compare timelines to get an idea if the time difference K-3 about a year, CR-1 is about 1 month or so longer.

 

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/k1list...na&dfile=No (K-3)

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/k1list...na&dfile=No (CR-1)

 

Also USCIS has been holding the I-130 back once you file I-129F for the K-3. So the decision to go CR-1 or K-3 needs to be made BEFORE sending in the I-129F

 

SEE: http://www.uscis.gov/uscis-ext-templating/...0000ecd190aRCRD

[AFShiery]

Just a coupla comments.

 

1. make copies of everything before you send it out, you'll need it in case your file is lost by us government.

 

2. if you are filing for K-3 - you'll need a lot of the same documents again for the subsequent I-129F (so make copies) . Remember - you send out the I-129F AFTER you receive NOA1 from the I-130 filing.

 

Good Luck !

 

Thansk Darnell- I've done the K-1 thing before, this time is different with the I-130. I know you send the 129f in later, just not clear if I needed to send all the documentation to prove relationship is valid.

Apparently I do, thanks.

 

yes folks, I have been here before in 2003. This time I am married to a fine lady from Thailand. Thought I'd revisit as the resourcefullness of this site is outstanding.

[AFShiery]

A few pointers:

 

You are married so evidence of meeting in past 2 years like your group 5, 6 and 7 are not needed by USCIS, bring them to the consulate for interview.

 

VJ has a good guide for the I-130 packet: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...page=i130guide1

 

Note: carefully consider the K-3:

 

Keep in mind, for most CR-1 only takes a month or so longer to process than K-3. CR-1 costs much less overall. CR-1 is a true immigrant visa that results in a green-card upon entry to the USA K-3 needs to file I-485 to adjust status ($1010), K-3 also cannot work, get SSN, or a driver's license until they have green-card or EAD. EAD can take 90 days or more to get.

 

Compare timelines to get an idea if the time difference K-3 about a year, CR-1 is about 1 month or so longer.

 

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/k1list...na&dfile=No (K-3)

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/k1list...na&dfile=No (CR-1)

 

Also USCIS has been holding the I-130 back once you file I-129F for the K-3. So the decision to go CR-1 or K-3 needs to be made BEFORE sending in the I-129F

 

SEE: http://www.uscis.gov/uscis-ext-templating/...0000ecd190aRCRD

 

thanks ds.

I considered the CR1 but I just dont feel comfortable with this method. We've been married a very short time and I did it for her and her family, otherwise I'd done the K-1 which I had done before. I know the process. the only little twist is throught the Bangkok embassy. Which is much easier to go through than GZ anyway. I am confident aboout what I am doing, just needed some confirmation on the details to send and if things should be repeated on the 130 and 129f for proof of relationship.

 

Yes, I will bring the 5,6 and 7 to the consulate, but this stuff is also required fo rthe 129f.....I need to prove the relationshiop is not a sham and is bonafide.........in order for the i-129f to be approved.

[dnoblett]

thanks ds.

I considered the CR1 but I just dont feel comfortable with this method. We've been married a very short time and I did it for her and her family, otherwise I'd done the K-1 which I had done before. I know the process. the only little twist is throught the Bangkok embassy. Which is much easier to go through than GZ anyway. I am confident aboout what I am doing, just needed some confirmation on the details to send and if things should be repeated on the 130 and 129f for proof of relationship.

 

Yes, I will bring the 5,6 and 7 to the consulate, but this stuff is also required fo rthe 129f.....I need to prove the relationshiop is not a sham and is bonafide.........in order for the i-129f to be approved.

Again, this evidence is not required for K-3 I-129F, because you are married, it is only needed for K-1 fiancee use of the I-129F.

 

Many have used this K-3 guide with no RFE for relationship evidence.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=k3guide

[AFShiery]

 

Again, this evidence is not required for K-3 I-129F, because you are married, it is only needed for K-1 fiancee use of the I-129F.

 

Many have used this K-3 guide with no RFE for relationship evidence.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=k3guide

 

Ok, thanks, thats what I was thinking as the 130 is only stored till adjustment of status after she arrives.

 

Yes, I have the VJ info printed out as I used the site before when going through the K-1.

 

As far the "we are married", just a bit of fyi, in order to have the legal bit done, I had to go the US embassy in Bangkok and have an affidavit from them stating that I was able to marry. then we had these forms translated, went to the gov't office were they processed the info and we were sworn in and married officially. The actual ceremony was an all day affair (buddhist tradition) the week before.

 

Let me ask ya'll this, because we havent been married very long, we have a joint bank account. I have a friend who went along and was there for the wedding, I'm going to have him sign an affidavit and a reciept for the bank account. thats all I have for proof under the new guidelines, along with bank records showing the ATM card she has that I am supporting her financially. On the bank forms are the local bank city and names in Thailand.

 

 

When I go back in June, I plan to have the car I am buying there put into both our names. I should probably write that in there somehwere too.

 

Any thoughts to you guys in the know......?

Edited April 14, 2008 by AFShiery (see edit history)

[Shadowman]

I am also in the final stages of preparing my I-130 for submission. Regarding the English translation of our Chinese marriage certificate... Should I include the actual translation booklet (white cover, red stamps, embossed seal) or submit copies? I have more than one of the booklets, so I could include one of the originals. Also, the translation is on A4 sized paper... would it be better to copy it onto LTR size?

 

Thanks in advance.

[AFShiery]

Always copies unless asked for, as you dont get them back.

 

I've changed the size of the papers to the US size for conformity.

[rogerinca]

I am also in the final stages of preparing my I-130 for submission. Regarding the English translation of our Chinese marriage certificate... Should I include the actual translation booklet (white cover, red stamps, embossed seal) or submit copies? I have more than one of the booklets, so I could include one of the originals. Also, the translation is on A4 sized paper... would it be better to copy it onto LTR size?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

Normally, or I should say, the Notary in Guangzhou, took the information from our marriage certificate and then produced their own certification, both in Chinese and in English, which certified they had reviewed the information (either that we had provided and/or what is now in the government computer) with respect to the legitimacy of our marriage in China.

 

The notarized document they provided us, with the water embossed and stamped seals, is a little larger than standard letter page size.

 

Copies are acceptable for the submission of the I-130 or I-129F; however, I had multiple copies of the original produced at the notary office, and I thought they looked much better than the photocopies, so I included orig¡¯s.

 

They would not fit in my top-hole punched, acco-clipped case file book, so I neatly trimmed off the bottom inch or so of the paper, while still leaving the sequential page numbers in tact.

 

This is what I submitted.