I-130 Final Checklist

[Randazzinator 0]

Ok, so just to be safe my wife and I wanted to just double check everything were sending for our CR-1 Visa was correct. If you can think of anything were missing or doing wrong please let us know.

1. Cover Letter

2. I-130 Filled out by Sponsor

3. G-325 A Filled out by Sponsor with Passport Photo in plastic bag on back

4. G-325 A Filled out by Beneficiary with Passport Photo in plactic bag on back

5. Photo Copy of Sponsors Birth Certificate, Full Passport, Drivers License and Military ID

6. Marriage Certificate with Translation from Italian to English and Translator Certification

7. Check for $420

8. Proof of Bonafide Marriage. (Photos from Wedding and Traveling around Europe along with copies of airline tickets weve purchased to travel to the states and back.)

My wife translated our marriage certificate and filled out the translation certification herself from the examples weve been able to find on these forums. Didnt seem to give anyone any issues from what ive found.

Sending all photocopies of documents too with the cover letter stating we can send them at a later time if requested.

[Jason and Shifa 4]

i think it's best if you submit the form G-1145 i know it's optional but if you fill that form you will get notification by e-mail and SMS when you got NOA1 or NOA2 before USCIS send the hardcopy by airmail..believe me you need it

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/g-1145.pdf

Edited July 14, 2012 by Jason S

[danzz 11]

Check should be at the top.

You don't need that many document from sponsor but I guess it can't hurt.

If you have evidence of shared residence or co-mingling of financial resources it would be great to include it.

[Randazzinator 0]

Oh yeah ty forgot about the G-1145, we filled it out and have it ready too, unfortunately no co mingling of money and stuff. Hoping the whole army/military thing makes things easier when they see our application.

Also on the cover letter does it need to be super professional like shown on most the examples or do people write a little story of how each person met and their situation?

And for the photos should we write on the back of them like where we are and when, for example have photos of us being the best man and women for a friends wedding about a year before we even got married ourselves?

Lastly, how do you recommend setting up all your papers? Like in a binder invidually placed in protecters or just put all together just in order. When my wife did her B2 Visa last year we set up her papers super neat so it could easily be gone through and she was told pretty much not to do that lol. Thanks

[danzz 11]

I really recommend checking the instructions on packet assembly, either here or on the USCIS website, they give very clear instructions on what's good, what's bad, what's recommended etc. Neat is good but it has to be easy for them to disassemble, we used some binder clips and put tabs at the bottom.

They got our packet a few days ago, for our cover letter we just put an introductory sentence saying what it was, then a list of documents. Of course with the appropriate formalities. I don't think it's necessary to explain your situation in the cover later but if your case is unusual add a page after the cover letter explaining why.

For the photos, some people recommend giving info about each photo, it's probably wise. We didn't, just printed a few pages of photos in front of different landmarks, at Christmas, etc. We felt that it was sufficient since we were sending other documentation as well.

[Randazzinator 0]

What exactly does the USCIS office send you back once your I-130 is accepted. I'm not sure if I should use my address that my residence is of or the address as which I am staying with my wife on my passport in Italy because if I send the G-1145 do I receive everything by Email that would also come in the postal mail?