I-130 packet options

[M n J 7]

Hi all:

I'm looking to send the I-130 packet in a couple days. The only thing I'm concerned about is how to format the packet and what types of binders/folders do you all use? What seems to work best for making it easy to read? Staples, paper clips, manila folders, or leave it loose? What have you all done in the past?

Secondly, in proving our marraige, we have several things.

1. Marraige Cert (I know it says copy, but when making a copy the certificate's background shows "void" - is that OK?)

2. Affidavit

3. We have so many emails to chose from. Do you just show the folder of all the emails with the subject line... do you send actual emails as well?

4. Boarding passes for trips together. (do you just make a copy of this?)

5. Pictures (How do you explain the picture? do you write on the back of the photo? Do you put those in a bad stapled to a paper explaining them? what's best?)

Would it be best to make copies of all of these and either put a header or footer explaining what they are looking at? I just don't want the package to look like a mess. what are the best practices to make it look clean and clear? Should there be sticky notes, tabs??

Sorry for all the questions, I'm a little nervous about sending this package and making it look good.

Thank you all for the help!

[Done--Really 331]

USCIS disassembles your entire package so they can scan it, so stickies, tabs, staples, etc are really a nuisance rather than helpful.

You will get many different opinions on what to send--I am in the don't overdo it camp, but you will find others who sent the kitchen sink. We were approved quickly sending just the following:

Marriage certificate

Headings form emails--not the emails themselves

One month phone log

Six pictures (in plastic bags)

Visa stamps in passports

Joint bank account statement

Credit card statement

Different items for sure, but very little paper.

[M n J 7]

thanks Magical. Would you suggest just including all the forms and information in the Fed Ex envelope, or a manila envelope? What's the preference?

[Done--Really 331]

It really doesn't make much difference--I just used a big clip to hold everything together and put it into a priority mail envelope.

[~happyndinlove~ 540]

Well, we wanted to make sure that RFE won't hit us, so, we sent as many as we could.

[Done--Really 331]

Like I said--many different opinions and they all seem to be valid.

[M n J 7]

Thanks. perhaps I'm overcomplicating this; however, the instructions on the I-130 state to include "proof of 'ongoing' marital union".... should I not include pictures/email/phone logs prior to us getting married. We've only been married for a few weeks so we don't have that much proof. what are your thoughts?

[Done--Really 331]

Again you will get a wide range of opinions and they are all correct. We were married exactly one month when we sent everything, and while the evidence was quite basic and included NOTHING from before we were married, we skated right thru. You will find others who validly sent a ton of stuff, sometimes going back years !! And others who were approved with nothing more than a marriage certificate.

There are no rights or wrongs--just opinions on this subject.

[Terca 6]

I also sent very few items along with the proper civil docs and forms.

-16 photos pasted on 4 white pages, with glued on short captions at the bottom. Very short captions straight to the point.

-1 e-mail per year for 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009

-like 3 flight itineraries

-one affidavit from my mother and one from my dear mother-in-law along with translation both notarized acknowledging our relationship and so on

-1 phone record for 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 so 5 in total

I tried to open a bank account in the island but they gave me hell cause im a USC and I didn't have time to jump through all their hoops before coming back to us.

Thanks. perhaps I'm overcomplicating this; however, the instructions on the I-130 state to include "proof of 'ongoing' marital union".... should I not include pictures/email/phone logs prior to us getting married. We've only been married for a few weeks so we don't have that much proof. what are your thoughts?

I did, because just like you i had only been married a couple of months before petitioning ..

[M n J 7]

Just a follow-up to the first question..

For Marriage Cert (I know it says copy, but when making a copy the certificate's background shows "void" - is that OK?)

[Dave and Kinnari 31]

Just a follow-up to the first question..

For Marriage Cert (I know it says copy, but when making a copy the certificate's background shows "void" - is that OK?)

???

I am guessing there is something etched into the original marriage passport that when it's xeroxed it show's a void watermark?

Is that what you are stating?

[M n J 7]

I think so..

[Dave and Kinnari 31]

**Marriage CERTIFICATE NOT PASSPORT SORRY! LOL!

Hmm... this is a new one to me. I will let other Filipino members chime in on this one.

[~happyndinlove~ 540]

should I not include pictures/email/phone logs prior to us getting married. We've only been married for a few weeks so we don't have that much proof. what are your thoughts?

Yes. But don't overkill the package with those items. A few of each are sufficient.

[~happyndinlove~ 540]

Just a follow-up to the first question..

For Marriage Cert (I know it says copy, but when making a copy the certificate's background shows "void" - is that OK?)

I've never heard of this "void" thing before.

I'm confused. Coz we made several copies of our MC back in the visa process and there wasn't any "void" in it at all.