A quick piece of advice on filing the I-130 in Guangzhou

[AaronTMartin]

Hi all,

 

This is my first post on CFL. I'd like to thank all members, especially RobertH and Kyle, for their help, generosity and input.

 

I just got back from the Guangzhou Consulate after having tried to file my wife's I-130. If this post helps even one person, then I consider it a successful one. Let me explain what I mean when I said "tried to file."

 

It had been my assumption that one could file ONLY the completed I-130 form, and that would be enough to get the ball rolling. Of course I have read many threads highly recommending/strongly encouraging providing as many documents as possible when first filing, but I had thought that these were optional. Either I am extremely naive, or I did not thoroughly do my homework (or perhaps some of both!).

 

These materials being optional is not the case. I had a nice, neat, organized folder containing lots of supporting documents and photos, but WITHOUT my wife's:

• notarized/translated birth certificate
  
• notarized/translated police record
  
• and both of our notarized/translated wedding certificates
  

The Consular Official told me that without these documents, the petition cannot be officially processed. She gave the choice of either leaving my folder there as "incomplete/pending" or coming back once my wife's documents were ready to turn in everything all at once. I chose to come back some other Tuesday or Thursday afternoon once everything was ready.

 

In the meantime, my wife must find some time to get back to Hubei Province, where she will probably have to wait 15 working days for her birth certificate to be prepared. I surely hope that the other docs can be completed in that time frame.

 

This was probably poor planning on my part, and this is not meant to be a sob story by any means. However, as I said above, I post this in the hopes that it might help at least one person out there.

 

Good luck to us all!

 

Aaron

[shenzhen]

Hi all,

 

This is my first post on CFL. I'd like to thank all members, especially RobertH and Kyle, for their help, generosity and input.

 

I just got back from the Guangzhou Consulate after having tried to file my wife's I-130. If this post helps even one person, then I consider it a successful one. Let me explain what I mean when I said "tried to file."

 

It had been my assumption that one could file ONLY the completed I-130 form, and that would be enough to get the ball rolling. Of course I have read many threads highly recommending/strongly encouraging providing as many documents as possible when first filing, but I had thought that these were optional. Either I am extremely naive, or I did not thoroughly do my homework (or perhaps some of both!).

 

These materials being optional is not the case. I had a nice, neat, organized folder containing lots of supporting documents and photos, but WITHOUT my wife's:

• notarized/translated birth certificate
  
• notarized/translated police record
  
• and both of our notarized/translated wedding certificates
  

The Consular Official told me that without these documents, the petition cannot be officially processed. She gave the choice of either leaving my folder there as "incomplete/pending" or coming back once my wife's documents were ready to turn in everything all at once. I chose to come back some other Tuesday or Thursday afternoon once everything was ready.

 

In the meantime, my wife must find some time to get back to Hubei Province, where she will probably have to wait 15 working days for her birth certificate to be prepared. I surely hope that the other docs can be completed in that time frame.

 

This was probably poor planning on my part, and this is not meant to be a sob story by any means. However, as I said above, I post this in the hopes that it might help at least one person out there.

 

Good luck to us all!

 

Aaron

The instructions (I-130 Form / GUZ and BJ websites) state to submit bring an original marriage certificate and beneficiary birth certificate. They also state that all documents not in the English language must have a certified English translation.

 

The police certificate is not required until the interview. Are you sure you did not misunderstand the requirement for the police certificate?

[AaronTMartin]

Hi all,

 

This is my first post on CFL. I'd like to thank all members, especially RobertH and Kyle, for their help, generosity and input.

 

I just got back from the Guangzhou Consulate after having tried to file my wife's I-130. If this post helps even one person, then I consider it a successful one. Let me explain what I mean when I said "tried to file."

 

It had been my assumption that one could file ONLY the completed I-130 form, and that would be enough to get the ball rolling. Of course I have read many threads highly recommending/strongly encouraging providing as many documents as possible when first filing, but I had thought that these were optional. Either I am extremely naive, or I did not thoroughly do my homework (or perhaps some of both!).

 

These materials being optional is not the case. I had a nice, neat, organized folder containing lots of supporting documents and photos, but WITHOUT my wife's:

• notarized/translated birth certificate
  
• notarized/translated police record
  
• and both of our notarized/translated wedding certificates
  

The Consular Official told me that without these documents, the petition cannot be officially processed. She gave the choice of either leaving my folder there as "incomplete/pending" or coming back once my wife's documents were ready to turn in everything all at once. I chose to come back some other Tuesday or Thursday afternoon once everything was ready.

 

In the meantime, my wife must find some time to get back to Hubei Province, where she will probably have to wait 15 working days for her birth certificate to be prepared. I surely hope that the other docs can be completed in that time frame.

 

This was probably poor planning on my part, and this is not meant to be a sob story by any means. However, as I said above, I post this in the hopes that it might help at least one person out there.

 

Good luck to us all!

 

Aaron

The instructions (I-130 Form / GUZ and BJ websites) state to submit bring an original marriage certificate and beneficiary birth certificate. They also state that all documents not in the English language must have a certified English translation.

 

The police certificate is not required until the interview. Are you sure you did not misunderstand the requirement for the police certificate?

 

Hi shenzhen,

 

Here's where my wife and I got our information (both the English and Chinese versions):

 

http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/cr...nd_cr2/ir2.html

 

As you can see there is NO mention of getting notarized/translated documents for the initial step, either in this site or its links (that I could see, anyway). Let me say that I was probably not as thorough as I should have been in my research, in the interest of filing our petition. Having said that, I'd still like to know the location of the site in your quote above.

 

Also, how about that part about the police certificate?

 

Thanks,

Aaron

[Randy W]

 

Hi shenzhen,

 

Here's where my wife and I got our information (both the English and Chinese versions):

 

http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/cr...nd_cr2/ir2.html

 

As you can see there is NO mention of getting notarized/translated documents for the initial step, either in this site or its links (that I could see, anyway). Let me say that I was probably not as thorough as I should have been in my research, in the interest of filing our petition. Having said that, I'd still like to know the location of the site in your quote above.

 

Also, how about that part about the police certificate?

 

Thanks,

Aaron

 

 

You are reading a Department of State Website about filing a petition with the USCIS. Here is the USCIS site that you should be referring to:

 

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...000082ca60aRCRD

 

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

 

From the USCIS

 

To petition for a family member to receive a green card (permanent residence), you must submit with your Form I-130, petition for alien relative:

 

* Proof of your U.S. citizenship

* Evidence of the qualifying relationship (birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc.)

 

Police reports will need to be current at the time of the interview, so it is best to hold off on those until shortly before the interview (unless asked for at NVC)

[AaronTMartin]

 

Hi shenzhen,

 

Here's where my wife and I got our information (both the English and Chinese versions):

 

http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/cr...nd_cr2/ir2.html

 

As you can see there is NO mention of getting notarized/translated documents for the initial step, either in this site or its links (that I could see, anyway). Let me say that I was probably not as thorough as I should have been in my research, in the interest of filing our petition. Having said that, I'd still like to know the location of the site in your quote above.

 

Also, how about that part about the police certificate?

 

Thanks,

Aaron

 

 

You are reading a Department of State Website about filing a petition with the USCIS. Here is the USCIS site that you should be referring to:

 

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...000082ca60aRCRD

 

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

 

From the USCIS

 

To petition for a family member to receive a green card (permanent residence), you must submit with your Form I-130, petition for alien relative:

 

* Proof of your U.S. citizenship

* Evidence of the qualifying relationship (birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc.)

 

Police reports will need to be current at the time of the interview, so it is best to hold off on those until shortly before the interview (unless asked for at NVC)

 

Hi Randy,

 

Thanks for those links, and for the advice on the police check. Much appreciated. We'll save the police report for our trip to see Xuemei's parents during the summer.

 

Regards,

Aaron

[shenzhen]

Hi all,

 

This is my first post on CFL. I'd like to thank all members, especially RobertH and Kyle, for their help, generosity and input.

 

I just got back from the Guangzhou Consulate after having tried to file my wife's I-130. If this post helps even one person, then I consider it a successful one. Let me explain what I mean when I said "tried to file."

 

It had been my assumption that one could file ONLY the completed I-130 form, and that would be enough to get the ball rolling. Of course I have read many threads highly recommending/strongly encouraging providing as many documents as possible when first filing, but I had thought that these were optional. Either I am extremely naive, or I did not thoroughly do my homework (or perhaps some of both!).

 

These materials being optional is not the case. I had a nice, neat, organized folder containing lots of supporting documents and photos, but WITHOUT my wife's:

• notarized/translated birth certificate
  
• notarized/translated police record
  
• and both of our notarized/translated wedding certificates
  

The Consular Official told me that without these documents, the petition cannot be officially processed. She gave the choice of either leaving my folder there as "incomplete/pending" or coming back once my wife's documents were ready to turn in everything all at once. I chose to come back some other Tuesday or Thursday afternoon once everything was ready.

 

In the meantime, my wife must find some time to get back to Hubei Province, where she will probably have to wait 15 working days for her birth certificate to be prepared. I surely hope that the other docs can be completed in that time frame.

 

This was probably poor planning on my part, and this is not meant to be a sob story by any means. However, as I said above, I post this in the hopes that it might help at least one person out there.

 

Good luck to us all!

 

Aaron

The instructions (I-130 Form / GUZ and BJ websites) state to submit bring an original marriage certificate and beneficiary birth certificate. They also state that all documents not in the English language must have a certified English translation.

 

The police certificate is not required until the interview. Are you sure you did not misunderstand the requirement for the police certificate?

 

Hi shenzhen,

 

Here's where my wife and I got our information (both the English and Chinese versions):

 

http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/cr...nd_cr2/ir2.html

 

As you can see there is NO mention of getting notarized/translated documents for the initial step, either in this site or its links (that I could see, anyway). Let me say that I was probably not as thorough as I should have been in my research, in the interest of filing our petition. Having said that, I'd still like to know the location of the site in your quote above.

 

Also, how about that part about the police certificate?

 

Thanks,

Aaron

Here is the GUZ link regarding I-130 submitall requirements.

 

http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/i-...n-relative.html

 

To file Form I-130 with USCIS Guangzhou:

 

1.make sure that all pertinent information on Form I-130 is completed and signed by the Petitioner.

2.Submit originals of the following:

a. Registered marriage certificate for both the petitioner and beneficiary,

b. Proof of U.S. Citizenship of petitioner,

c. Proof of termination of any prior marriage(s) for both the petitioner and beneficiary,

d. Photographs - one passport-sized photo, attached with completed and signed Form G-325A (Biographic Information) for both the petitioner and beneficiary,

e.Birth certificate of the beneficiary. (If the original birth certificate is not available, you must obtain a certification letter, on formal letterhead, from your local Public Security Bureau reporting the beneficiary's name, both parents' names, date and place of birth, and registration of birth.),

f. Copies of the biographic page of valid passports for both the petitioner and beneficiary,

g. NOTE: The petitioner is required to bring copies and originals when filing. Originals will be returned to the petitioner after certifications of the copies are completed.

h. All documents not written in the English language must be accompanied by certified English translations.

[Kyle]

We held off on getting the police report until we received our P3. They are going to want all of your original documents (marriage red books-copies) plus the white book translations - at least they did for us. Sorry you hit this bump in the road; let's hope that this is the only one. Good luck. The police report, they'll want at the time of the interview.

[warpedbored]

I suggest you read the FAQ on filing DCF.

http://candleforlove.com/FAQ/CFL_FAQ_DCF_Final1.htm