Interview Package

[sachinky 464]

Because I'm absolutely ridiculous and this process is consuming my life, I've decided to start my interview packet list (even though I don't have a NOA2 yet). This is what I have so far. Please let me know if I should add to it or if you have any other suggestions.

Petitioner's Affidavit

Beneficiary's Affidavit

Support Affidavits - 2 from his parents, one from my mom, one from my uncle, one from our common friend in college, one from my former college roommate, and two from unrelated guests.

About 300 pictures.

About 10/15 emails printed out.

And the list of "to and from" emails indicating regular communication.

A couple of letters he's written to me.

Wedding invitation card.

Congratulations/Best wishes cards received on wedding day.

Phone bills from both our sides.

E-card print outs.

Greeting cards from him.

Boarding pass from our trip when he was here in India.

Copy of his passport, Indian tourist visa, Birth certificate and driver's license.

Joint Bank statement.

Guest list. (Do I need this?)

Chat logs. (We've been chatting online since we started going out. Do I need it from the beginning or just post-wedding?)

A printout of our Facebook wall-to-wall posts. Haha.

And the basic forms and certificates, obviously.

What do you guys think? Is it exhaustive/comprehensive enough? Am I missing something?

Edited November 8, 2009 by sachinky

[Darnell 8,478]

i assume you submitted an I-130.

How much of this did you include on initial submittal ?

There's a list in the instructions that cover this.

[BRB 6]

Agree most of that needs to be sent with the initial I-130.

[christeen 966]

It is quite comprehensive but I think that 300 photos is way overkill... I would select some of the more meaningful ones and put them together... Something else I did not see on the list is anything regarding joint lease or housing (if you are the sole owner of the residence, then dont worry about that)... As far as what to print, they are pretty much only concerened with communication AFTER the marriage... And I have heard that recently India has gotten particular over following religious norms in part of establishing valid relationships (aka, registered Muslim or Hindu ceremony)

But you sound like you have it pretty covered...

[sachinky 464]

Uh, I sent in 6 pictures, the wedding invitation card, 3 support affidavits and the joint bank statement with our initial I130 petition. I figured I should still take copies of those for the interview as well? Correct? (If people submit all of these things with the I130 what do they take to the interview? Specially, when it's a new marriage and there's not a lot of stuff in both parties' names.)

Christeen, we don't have regarding housing because we lived in separate dorms while at college together. After graduation we lived in an apartment together for a month but that was a summer sublet and there's nothing on paper regarding that.

I'm a Hindu, he's not, so we did not have an elaborate Hindu wedding with rituals. We signed the marriage certificate in front of guests and the marriage registrar, exchanged gold rings and rose garlands, followed by a dinner reception. Our marriage was registered under the Special Marriage Act (unlike the Hindu or Muslim Marriage Acts) of India, 1954 since we don't belong to the same religion. All rules regarding waiting time period were followed as specified under the act.

Edited November 8, 2009 by sachinky

[christeen 966]

Evidence wise then you should be fine... However, one of the requirements is proving domicile... meaning that you are living in the USA and have a home to come to... Where will you be living in the USA?? If with a relative I would download a lease and have you both sign a lease with your parents, or if you are going to rent a place, put both of you on the lease...

[k.loveh 0]

Because I'm absolutely ridiculous and this process is consuming my life, I've decided to start my interview packet list (even though I don't have a NOA2 yet). This is what I have so far. Please let me know if I should add to it or if you have any other suggestions.

There's no such thing as being ridiculous when your future depends on being a perfectionist.

I don't believe either there's any such thing as over-kill where proofs are concerned, at least not in the immigration business. Evidence is vital in getting approved. So submit them all, all 300 of your photo's if thats what you choose, it's your case and it's important. There are plenty of others who have submitted more than these even, and if anything it just added more weight.

You seem to be a very nice person/couple from what I've seen of your posts and wish you only the very best for you and your husband.

Edited November 8, 2009 by k.loveh

[sachinky 464]

Aww, thanks kloveh. What a nice thing to say. I'm sure you are looking forward to your fiance getting there. How exciting. Yeah, I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Christeen, I live in India, not in the U.S. Why would I need to prove domicile? My husband is the USC. I WAS in the U.S. for the four years for my undergrads and that's where we met -- in college. The plan currently is that I will be living with my husband and in-laws in Michigan for a couple of weeks when I first get there. After that, we'll rent a one/two bedroom apartment for ourselves. What would you suggest in this case? Rent an apartment before the interview and have him mail the lease over? Or have his parents write a "letter of invitation" of sorts?

[k.loveh 0]

Aww, thanks kloveh. What a nice thing to say. I'm sure you are looking forward to your fiance getting there. How exciting. Yeah, I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Yes, I 'am' very excited and counting the days right down to the minute. And you're right, better safe than sorry and is where my fiance and I made our mistake the first time, we weren't as cautious as we should have been.

Take care.

[sachinky 464]

I'm glad your visa journey is over. Now let the life journey commence.

Hey Christeen, I live in India, not in the U.S. Why would I need to prove domicile? My husband is the USC. I WAS in the U.S. for the four years for my undergrads and that's where we met -- in college. The plan currently is that I will be living with my husband and in-laws in Michigan for a couple of weeks when I first get there. After that, we'll rent a one/two bedroom apartment for ourselves. What would you suggest in this case? Rent an apartment before the interview and have him mail the lease over? Or have his parents write a "letter of invitation" of sorts?

[christeen 966]

I'm glad your visa journey is over. Now let the life journey commence.

Hey Christeen, I live in India, not in the U.S. Why would I need to prove domicile? My husband is the USC. I WAS in the U.S. for the four years for my undergrads and that's where we met -- in college. The plan currently is that I will be living with my husband and in-laws in Michigan for a couple of weeks when I first get there. After that, we'll rent a one/two bedroom apartment for ourselves. What would you suggest in this case? Rent an apartment before the interview and have him mail the lease over? Or have his parents write a "letter of invitation" of sorts?

The US citizen would have to prove domicile.... If you are going to live with the in-laws and wanted to suppliment your proof, I would have your husband download a "lease" agreement between both of you, and your in-laws, saying that you will 'rent" a room from them... You can download the forms easily on the internet, just a simple lease agreement will show where you both will live after you are issued the visa. Kind of an "official" plan if you will...

[sachinky 464]

Uh okay, thanks for the tip, Christeen. I'll look up on it.

So his MI driver's license + vehicle/ US passport / bank account and the fact that he's been living in the U.S for his entire life means nothing? He still has to prove domicile? I thought proving domicile was important only in the case of DCF.

[Lizz&Mohamed 2]

Uh okay, thanks for the tip, Christeen. I'll look up on it.

So his MI driver's license + vehicle/ US passport / bank account and the fact that he's been living in the U.S for his entire life means nothing? He still has to prove domicile? I thought proving domicile was important only in the case of DCF.

I just wanted to add that when I submitted our I-130, I did not attach any pics, chat logs, phone bills, or anything of this sort. I just provided the very minimal...whatever docs they mentioned on the I-130 instructions and called it a day, sort of speak. I made sure to include the affidavits and financial documention. I was afraid to include all our pics or anything of this sort, afraid of the "over kill" syndrome. FYI: our I-130 petition was approved in 21 DAYS.

This is in no way discouraging you from sticking to your list but I would use some caution and maybe cut it back some...Again, this is only my opinion.

Good luck in your Visa process!

Liz and Mohamed

Edited November 9, 2009 by Lizz&Mohamed

[sachinky 464]

Oh, I already sent in my I-130. I was just getting a headstart on my inteview packet. I've started compiling all the evidence.

[k.loveh 0]

I just wanted to add that when I submitted our I-130, I did not attach any pics, chat logs, phone bills, or anything of this sort. I just provided the very minimal...whatever docs they mentioned on the I-130 instructions and called it a day, sort of speak. I made sure to include the affidavits and financial documention. I was afraid to include all our pics or anything of this sort, afraid of the "over kill" syndrome. FYI: our I-130 petition was approved in 21 DAYS.

This is in no way discouraging you from sticking to your list but I would use some caution and maybe cut it back some...Again, this is only my opinion.

Good luck in your Visa process!

Liz and Mohamed

"Over kill" syndrome? Have you ever heard of RFE? and 221(g)? Just because yours was so easily approved without a hitch doesn't mean a darn thing where other cases are concerned, every case is not the same nor treated the same. I still believe there's no such thing as overkill. No matter how easy some cases are.

Edited November 10, 2009 by k.loveh