Currently F-1, just married a USC, filing for Residency and Green Card

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

It doesn't sound like intent to me - you told the truth all the time, etc, and your plans changed. You also are here on a valid student visa for the purpose of studying. I wouldn't worry. Good luck.

[Little_My 463]

Great, thank you for the input!

Few last questions before we finally get rid of this huge pile of paper and applications that is currently taking over our entire apartment and lives..

1. Is there a need to submit a copy of I-20? I didn't notice it being asked anywhere, but as I was going through my immigration papers (for my F-1), it just occurred to me..

2. I've been working while on F-1 (legally, according to the F-1 regulations: On campus, for a professor, max. 20 hours per week). I listed my employers on my G-325A, but have not included any additional information / proof of my employment while in the U.S. (letters from employers, W2 etc.) Should I? Is there a need for them? My husbands salary is enough to sponsor me, so my income (which is almost nothing anyways) is not needed to show sufficient funds.

3. Do you think it is ok for me to translate my birth certificate myself? I know I am more than qualified to do it.. will it be sufficient evidence for USCIS that I scored 120/120 in my TOEFL test and have been studying in a Master's program here for almost 2 years?

[BMW4me 12]

1. you need to prove your current immigration status for the form I-485, that is with your I-20. Be sure send in the original I-20 not photocopy. (it is an easy document you can always grab another original one from your International Student office)

2. no you don't need to

3. You can't. I did it myself too but no birth certificates need to be translated by a sworn translation office, so they can also notarize it. It shouldn't cost you more than 50 bucks.

[Little_My 463]

Really? Submit the original I-20? That seems a bit weird to me.. and isn't my current visa status proven by copies of my current F-1 visa?

[Little_My 463]

I've checked the translation guidelines on USCIS and all it states there, is that

Any foreign language document must be accompanied by a full English translation that the translator has certified as complete and correct, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate the foreign language into English.

Does anyone have experience of sending a self-translated birth certificate / other document? I also have a document from the Finnish population registry to support the birth certificate, as the Finnish BCs are very different than American's. It basically only states that on my birthday, my mother had a baby girl, and the time of my birth. No name, no nothing. So I'm submitting the population registry document with the BC, and that document is originally in English - so I only need to get the BC translated.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I am not that familiar with F-1 visa, but I would not send the original I-20, rather just the copy, if it's needed at all. USCIS wants copies of everything, unless it was something made explicitly for them. A translation of your BC, etc, should be original (because you bothered to make the translation for USCIS). The BC itself should be photocopy.

People translate their stuff themselves. We did not know that so we hired someone, but there are a lot of threads on it if you search, where people have translated their own stuff. You would need to put a statement that you are sufficient in both languages etc. There is a standard wording floating online someplace. Your idea to also include something from the population registry sounds like a really good idea. Good luck.

[BMW4me 12]

about birth certificate when i said you can't do it it's because, the document itself must be notarized and you can't get it notarize it if you are the one who translating it.

After i translated mine, i took it to a turkish translation office in manhattan guy said, this is all fine but I can't notarize it. so for 45 dollar he translated (again) and notarized it.

basically all is that document need to be in English and notarized.

for example my brother had a friend who has notarize stamp, he did the translation by himself and get her to notarized it, and he didn't pay any money. and also he had no problems with it.

[BMW4me 12]

oh and about the I-20 like i said i remember reading it somewhere, some page on USCIS that says you need to send in the original I-20

like i said I-20s are easy to get, from your school's ISO, i have like 10 of those lol

check here it states uscis link

Examples of supporting documents which must be presented in the original are:

[Little_My 463]

Does the BC need to be notarized? It only says to submit "a copy of the foreign birth certificate", according to instructions for I-485..

For the I-20, it actually doesn't specifically mention submitting I-20 with I-130 or I-485 forms, but of course I-20 is a way to show current non-immigrant visa status. My plan is to send a copy with the application, and then if requested, I can of course bring the original with me to the interview - the same goes with the birth certificate and all other copies I am sending.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Nothing needs to be notarized. Nothing.

[cartaverde 12]

Mrs.Finland-USA, in case it's still helpful for you: you can ask for a copy of your vaestorekisteriote (birth certificate) to be issued in English, and with an apostille. At least the people's registry office in Helsinki issues vaestorekisteriote in multiple languages and options (so ask for it in English, for visa and immigration purposes, with everything included in it, and to be supplied with an apostille).

That way everything is already in English for them. I would expect at least the other major cities would have the same option. (I'm not sure if the church registries provide this service, but in case you are only in civil registry this should work for you).

And the cost of the certificate is the same, no matter which EU language you ask it to be in.

Best of luck for the paperwork.