Assembling my I-130 Package

[bruins 14]

Hi all - With alot of help from this site thus far (thank you all!), I'm beginning to put together my I-130 Package to send to the USCIS. I'd like to get some input on what I have (enough paper, missing anything, too much, etc.).

What I have/will be sending:

1. Certified copy of marriage certificate in Vietnam along with translated version.

2. Certified copy of both our birth certificates along with a translated version of her Vietnamese birth certificate.

3. Copy of my passport, copy of my naturalization certificate.

4. Certified copy of my wife's permanent residency (So Ho Khau Gia Dinh)

5. G-324A filled out and signed by my wife

6. 2 passport photo of my wife with her name written on the back in a plastic bag.

7. 2 passport photo of myself with my name written on the back in a plastic bag.

8. 30 pictures of our relationship, dated(chronologically ordered from our first meeting to our wedding on 6/23/2013)

9. 20 copies of our letters and cards (translated into English) (chronologically ordered from when first began talking to wedding)

10. 20 pages of chat log (translated into English) (chronologically ordered from when we first began talking to wedding, specifically picked important chats, such as first chat, conversations about engagement (dam hoi), conversations about wedding, and a lot of I love yous .

Let the journey begin!

Thank you all for your help!.

[bruins 14]

I forgot to mentioned, I have also included a cover letter, table of contents, 3 years tax transcript, and letter of employment. I did not include a police certificate because I believe this is only required on the NVC part.

[JP and Tee 13]

you should be fine. I think we included a lot less than that, but ours was accepted without any RFEs.

[Darnell 8,478]

the tax transcript is useful ONLY if it's a joint return showing both names, as evidence of a bonafide marriage. Since you two only got married last month, I'm betting her name isn't on anything. So don't send tax transcripts. You'll need them later for NVC Doc Intake on the I-864 / AOS set.

the things you mention that are 'certified copies' ? USCIS not need 'certified' for casefile adjudication - a plain photocopy is sufficient - usually you need certified copies of civil documents at the NVC stage, not USCIS I-130 submittal.

However, even with that said , bet your casefile is going to some local office after a nice run through MSC, and each local office has different rules for stand-alone I-130 adjudication. If you notice in the I-130 instructions, a birth certificate on the foreign spouse isn't mentioned, but some local offices have issued RFEs and NOIDs because of it - so , I say, photocopies of any civil docs (including your marriage certificate) are sufficient.

I did not read of a G-325A on you - you are doing that form, right? it's needed ..

I did not read of photocopies of air ticket receipts, hotel receipts, bag tags , air trip iterneraries, etc. The photos you are submitting are secondary evidence, but the travel bits are considered primary evidence, so dig a bit, I bet you have this stuff somewhere.

Edited July 7, 2013 by Darnell

[bruins 14]

Thanks. I fat fingered g-324a instead of G-325a. Do I need to submit a police certificate at this stage? Also, would submitting birth certificate even if its not needed bad?

[Darnell 8,478]

i edited a lot - refresh the page, re-read.

[Darnell 8,478]

-=-=-=-=-=

3 years tax transcript, and letter of employment -- not needed at USCIS. Needed at NVC for the I-864/AOS set.

police certificate -- not needed at USCIS. Needed at NVC for the DS-230/IV set.

photocopies of birth certificates (hers and yers) - submit with I-130, even though the I-130 instructions NOT mention her birth certificate - as the local office will probably issue an RFE if you not include it.

-----

reiterate, repeat, about certified copies - certified copies are not submitted into USCIS. Regular photocopies are fine. Some of the stuff you want to submit isn't needed with the I-130 submittal. for example -

1 and 2 from yer list - photocopies are fine

4 isn't needed at all.

[NikLR 13,227]

Did you do a G-325a for yourself also?

[vegasbound 83]

you should be fine. I think we included a lot less than that, but ours was accepted without any RFEs.

@JP & Tee - Would you mind updating your timeline? It only shows up to NOA2. Thanks!

[JP and Tee 13]

@JP & Tee - Would you mind updating your timeline? It only shows up to NOA2. Thanks!

Check out my signature. It's all there.

[Chris & Trinh 15]

Also just to note...don't do something stupid like I did and got an RFE for it, Remember in Vietnam your ceremony date and wedding date are DIFFERENT. Use the legal marriage date on the marriage certificate and not the actual date of your ceremony when writing the date on the i-130 and g325a for you and your wife.

[bruins 14]

Thanks all! A couple more questions. Do I need a copy of her passport and do I need to submit a timeline along with the I-130?

[Pinball1921 4]

You don't need a copy of her passport until the NVC stage. And no, the timeline people talk about is strictly for visajourney forums. You also need a g-325 for yourself as well.

[bruins 14]

You don't need a copy of her passport until the NVC stage. And no, the timeline people talk about is strictly for visajourney forums. You also need a g-325 for yourself as well.

I believe this is country specific, but Vietnam requires a timeline of our relationship.

[JP and Tee 13]

Thanks all! A couple more questions. Do I need a copy of her passport and do I need to submit a timeline along with the I-130?

We included one, but I read that some people didn't. Seems ok.