Suitable I-130 Cover Letter?

[Diem 0]

We're writing the cover letter for our I-130 form and we were wondering if the style we used was appropriate. If anyone has experience of this, we'd be very grateful for advice!

(insert name)

(home address)

U.S. Embassy in Japan

1-10-5 Akasaka

Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420 Japan

Nature of Submission: I-130 Application

Dear Sir or Madam:

Enclosed please find my Form I-130, Petition for Alien Spouse for (beneficiary) and supporting documents. Contents include:

1. Form I-130.

2. Evidence of Residency: Valid Japanese Visa and Proof of Entry, Foreign Resident card with photocopies

3. Proof of US Citizenship: Original, unexpired, full validity US passport, original birth certificate with photocopies.

4. Photo ID of the petitioner: US passport with photocopy

5. Beneficiary's passport with Japanese Visa and Japanese entry and exit stamps, with photocopies

6. Beneficiary's Birth Certificate with copy

7. Form DS-230 part 1 and 2 with copies

8. Passport-style color photographs of the US citizen petitioner and beneficiary

9. Form G-325A with copies for petitioner and beneficiary

10. Marriage Certificate in Japanese with English translations with copies

11. Essay detailing description of relationship with copy

12. Evidence of ongoing relationship: Apartment rental contract, airline ticket information from vacations in America and England, photographs of petitioner and beneficiary together, dated greeting card addressed to beneficiary.

13. Form I-864 completed by the sponsor/petitioner with copy, including 2009, 2008 and 2007 tax returns with copies

14. Form I-864A completed by household member of the sponsor, notarized, with copy, including 2009, 2008 and 2007 tax returns with copies and household member's payslips from the previous six months

15. Deed to household member's house used as asset

16. Balance statements for bank accounts of petitioner and beneficiary

Thank you for your assistance in this matter

Very truly yours,

(name)

[kristinakiko 0]

*bump* Diem is my hubby and we are still curious

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

You are not required to submit a cover letter with your I-130, but many people do to keep things clear for the consulate staff. Your letter looks fine to me, but just one question: does Tokyo require submission of the I-864 (plus supporting docs) when filing the I-130? Usually it's not, but Tokyo may have its own protocol.

Edited to add: just checked, and it looks like it's optional. If you have it, why not? I assume you guys are working from this checklist: http://tokyo.usembassy.gov/e/visa/tvisa-ivi130check.html

Edited March 23, 2010 by elmcitymaven

[kristinakiko 0]

Yep, that's the exact page we've been following.

I didn't know the I-864 was optional; that's the bit we've been stressing over the most! When does that usually come in to play if not at the I-130 appointment? Don't they want to make sure the relative won't become a charge of the state (after making sure he/she isn't a terrorist or mafia member)?

A thousand domo arigatous for having a look over our cover letter, elmcitymaven!

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

It's only optional to file it with the I-130; you will eventually need to produce it though, no way out of that. If you don't bring it with you to the initial appointment, it will be required at the interview stage. It really isn't a bad idea to bring it with you to the appointment -- on the website it says:

By bringing [the I-864] to the I-130 interview, the Immigrant Visa staff can help you resolve any problems.

So if you have any questions, or it turns out you're missing something, you'll have the opportunity for the IV staff to help you out. This isn't an option at a lot of other consulates -- in London, for example, it's turn up on the day with your I-864 (plus supporting docs) and if anything is missing, the visa is delayed until you provide it. If you have it checked before the interview, it's one less thing for you to worry about on the day of the interview.