Need help sending in I-130 for IR-1/CR-1

[jworld34 0]

Hey all,

Recently married, living in São Paulo, Brazil. I'll be sending in the I-130 package ASAP. We have just about everything, but I want to make sure so I don't get it sent back to me and do it all over again because I missed something.

First, regarding the "Proof of a bonafide marriage", we had about 4-5 witnesses, including my wife's parents, present at our wedding and who signed off as being witnesses too. Now we know where we can go and have all those people sign affidavits stating they were there and have it verified by the cartorio we had our wedding. However, is there any certain way to write it? Is the USCIS a stickler for details on this? Reason I ask is that I'm wondering if we can type up a document ourselves, stating that these people swear that they saw us there, and whatnot, and have them all sign it, and then verify it by the cartorio here. Which is like a mini-city hall for each neighborhood, for anybody not from Brazil. Is that enough for a "bonafide proof of marriage"? We do not have any joint bank accounts, nor shared property. Reasoning is, we're moving back to the US so we won't make a joint account since we won't be using it. We use hers, and I deposit money from my bank account, into her bank account regularly.

Regarding the "comingling of financial resources", I use www.xoom.com to transfer occasional funds form my bank account in the US, to hers here in Brazil. It's not always a lot, usually in the $300-600 range. Would this be sufficient, along with the affidavit we would type up, have signed, and verified?

Few other tidbits

-Is copying every page of my passport alright for proving my US citizenship? Does it take any longer or same as Birth Certificate? Would take a while to obtain my birth certificate from US.

-Does my wife need her birth certificate and or passport? (Copies. I know it was mentioned this is not needed anymore, but I want to make sure).

-When it says that the "petitioner" needs something, is that me (US Citizen) or my wife (Brazilian citizen applying for IR-1/CR-1). Confuses me since we will both be writing down information.

Thanks all!

J

[The Mean Lady 604]

four or five affidavits is overkill

they hold the least amount of worth and should really only be focused on if youre hurting for evidence or are from a high fraud country

time together, pictures and finance mixing are your heavy hitters

yes proof of money transfer is helpful

you can provide your passport copy, all pages, and it makes no dif. in terms of time

wife provides birth certificate

you are the petitioner

[ndu26 114]

[lucybelle 453]

wife provides birth certificate

Then why does it now say birth certificate/passport is not needed? I didn't put one for my husband in our I130 and now I'm worried we'll get an RFE for it.

[NikLR 13,227]

Then why does it now say birth certificate/passport is not needed? I didn't put one for my husband in our I130 and now I'm worried we'll get an RFE for it.

You probably won't Some people did. Most didn't. We didn't include mine with the petition and it was fine. Some to the local offices are yanking out the REALLY old manuals though and asking for them. If they do ask, just send in a photocopy and be on yer way. It's not a biggy.

[Sweet Taghi 0]

From all that have read and understand, they want to see pictures of you together, emails, chat entries, property that you share (house, car, etc.), rent receipts (if you lived together) with addresses, shared bank accounts, etc. Not all of these are particularly necessary, but it is always better to have too much information than too little just to be on the safe side. These are the types of things they want to see to prove that you are a real husband and wife in love with each other, instead of someone out to scam. I hope this helps some. I pray for all the best and congrats on your wedding!

[The Mean Lady 604]

Then why does it now say birth certificate/passport is not needed? I didn't put one for my husband in our I130 and now I'm worried we'll get an RFE for it.

I was talking in general of the process, sorry.

Not specifically of the I-130

[lucybelle 453]

I was talking in general of the process, sorry.

Not specifically of the I-130

Okay *phew*!!! I sort of had a mini heart attack yesterday after reading that. I was really hoping for no RFE since all of the mail sent to us is lost and so if we got an RFE we would have to first change our address to a USA address... blah blah blah.

Anyways,

[jworld34 0]

Thank you all for the wonderful advice and info!

Regarding payment, is personal check and/or mail order fine? Also, does it have to be my own personal check, or could it be a check from a family member?

[The Mean Lady 604]

Thank you all for the wonderful advice and info!

Regarding payment, is personal check and/or mail order fine? Also, does it have to be my own personal check, or could it be a check from a family member?

They don't care who writes them a check as long as it draws out of a US bank