I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

[karimaelo 0]

Hi,

I am from Jordan and my wife is an american citizen and we both live in United Arab Emirates. I would like to file for immigration visa by filling up i-130 and G-325a and all other documents required and mail them to USCIS lockbox. But I have few doubts and would like if someone can clear this up for me.

1) How can I pay the 420$ fees. What payment method can I use?

2) I have read http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1 point number 15 from the checklist (Evidence of a bonafide marriage (see note below for what to include)) What if I don't have anything under our both names. Since my wife is still a student at university. Is this document required?

Thanks

[Kev-N-Ann 45]

Have you looked into Direct Consular Filing? This might be a much faster option since you both live abroad. http://www.visajourney.com/content/dcf

[karimaelo 0]

I have contacted the consulate service center and asked about filing I-130 if it can be done locally here at the embassy or consulate office but they told me that since 2011 embassy stopped processing immigrants visas and they asked me to check travel.uscis.gov which redirected me to uscis website. And they told me when im approved i will be notified to conduct the interview at the embassy. I also checked the embassy's website they also mentioned that they don't process or start immigrants visas.

[karimaelo 0]

Any help is appreciated. I donno what to do here. If someone could answer my questions in the first post!!

[Ryan H 3,812]

Let's get the semantics out of the way first. The embassy does process visas, what they won't do is process the petition that must be filed with USCIS.

Answers to your questions:

1. The fee can be paid by check or money order that must be drawn from a US financial institution. Since it's your wife that is filing the petition, does she have an active US bank account? If not, does she know someone in the US that she can sent the package to and they can write the appropriate check (she would reimburse them the cost).
2. Focus on evidence of time spent together in person, there is no requirement to have joint accounts or own property together.

[karimaelo 0]

Thanks Ryan I really appreciate your help. My wife been to the states once in here life and she stayed 2 months to get her passport. She got her citizensh thru her dad. She does not have a bank account. But I have asked a local exchange store here in Dubai and they told me there is something called demand draft where I have to pay the full amount here in Dubai and the amount of the check can be withdrawn from usa in dollars. Donno if this works.

Regarding point number two for the petition what kind of evidence can I send them? At the time of interview it's easy I can show them wedding photos album. But for petition what can I do?

[Gia2577 12]

Hi,

I am from Jordan and my wife is an american citizen and we both live in United Arab Emirates. I would like to file for immigration visa by filling up i-130 and G-325a and all other documents required and mail them to USCIS lockbox. But I have few doubts and would like if someone can clear this up for me.

1) How can I pay the 420$ fees. What payment method can I use?

2) I have read http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1 point number 15 from the checklist (Evidence of a bonafide marriage (see note below for what to include)) What if I don't have anything under our both names. Since my wife is still a student at university. Is this document required?

Thanks

I lived in Dubai and filed from there with my husband, when are you wanting to move to the US? is there are time farm or are you just going to do it eventually one day. If you want to file from there, I sent everything off there is no DCF (direct consular filing) from dubai or abu dhabi so you have to send it to the lockbox directed at overseas applicants. You can send an international money order from your bank in dubai, just request one and they will be able to do this.

For evidence of bona fide marriage I had exactly the same problem as our apartment and everything there was under his name. We have affidavits from friends who have known us for years who wrote statements about our relationship, how long they have known us, and how they know that we are a couple. it seems to be enough for now, once you get to the interview one day then you can have other documents and photos to show.

by the way when we did it, we got my husbands brother to mail the package and do a US money order, but you can do an international money or, or deman draft check. You can also call uscis and they will explain this.

[karimaelo 0]

I lived in Dubai and filed from there with my husband, when are you wanting to move to the US? is there are time farm or are you just going to do it eventually one day. If you want to file from there, I sent everything off there is no DCF (direct consular filing) from dubai or abu dhabi so you have to send it to the lockbox directed at overseas applicants. You can send an international money order from your bank in dubai, just request one and they will be able to do this.

For evidence of bona fide marriage I had exactly the same problem as our apartment and everything there was under his name. We have affidavits from friends who have known us for years who wrote statements about our relationship, how long they have known us, and how they know that we are a couple. it seems to be enough for now, once you get to the interview one day then you can have other documents and photos to show.

by the way when we did it, we got my husbands brother to mail the package and do a US money order, but you can do an international money or, or deman draft check. You can also call uscis and they will explain this.

Thanks for your reply. It really helps a lot. But would you please let me know what exactly are the most required douments to submit. Becuase in some places I read a photo copy of birth certificates are required for both pertitioner and the beneficiary although I haven't read that they are required in the checklist provided in this website. And do I have to a attach a photocopy of the beneficiary passport? And more thing regarding the evidence of bona fida merriage can I send some wdding photos along with the package or it will be inappropriate!!

I am not in rush I don't have a deadline but the earlier the better just wanna get my papers ready and send them. I donno how long they take to process them. Where have you reached in your process?

[NikLR 13,227]

Follow the guideline on this website and you will do fine. A photocopy of the beneficiary's birth certificate or passport is not needed at the I-130 petition stage. Wedding photos can certainly be included (you can print several per page of paper if you wish) along with any other evidence of a genuine relationship.

in this guide, at the bottom, there is a long list of evidence you can send with your petition. Because your spouse is from a middle eastern country, I suggest sending as much as possible. http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/EZGuideSpouse

[karimaelo 0]

Follow the guideline on this website and you will do fine. A photocopy of the beneficiary's birth certificate or passport is not needed at the I-130 petition stage. Wedding photos can certainly be included (you can print several per page of paper if you wish) along with any other evidence of a genuine relationship.

in this guide, at the bottom, there is a long list of evidence you can send with your petition. Because your spouse is from a middle eastern country, I suggest sending as much as possible. http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/EZGuideSpouse

Thanks alot for your helpful advice it really helped so much. I will start gathering the required documents soon. But the only thing which worries me is the address which I intend to live in USA. I still not decided yet where to go!! Hope this address can be changed later.

[NikLR 13,227]

You can put "to be determined" in this spot.

[karimaelo 0]

I have a doubt filling this part. My wife got her citizenship thru her dad so I have to tick Parents. But next shall I tick Yes or No. She does not have the certificate number.

[karimaelo 0]

And here in this part. I am the beneficiary entered USA in 2006 on F-1 Student visa and I graduated in 2008 then found a job and got my H-1B which expired in 2011. But I left the states in 2010 before the expiry of my H-1B. And I am now in UAE. So 13. Should be answered YES. 14. Talks about if I am currently in USA but I am not. Do I have to fill Arrival/Departure Record (I-94) and Date arrived? And Date authorized stay expired, or will expire, as shown on Form I-94 or I-95 shall I fill anything here?

By the way I have my I-94 number.

I guess this part below (17) is regarding the beneficiary so I have to fill my wife's (petitioner's ) name and her relation to me as wife, right?

[NikLR 13,227]

I have a doubt filling this part. My wife got her citizenship thru her dad so I have to tick Parents. But next shall I tick Yes or No. She does not have the certificate number.

How does your wife have a certificate of citizenship then? Or does she simply have a passport? If she doesn't have a certificate then the answer is NO.

[NikLR 13,227]

And here in this part. I am the beneficiary entered USA in 2006 on F-1 Student visa and I graduated in 2008 then found a job and got my H-1B which expired in 2011. But I left the states in 2010 before the expiry of my H-1B. And I am now in UAE. So 13. Should be answered YES. 14. Talks about if I am currently in USA but I am not. Do I have to fill Arrival/Departure Record (I-94) and Date arrived? And Date authorized stay expired, or will expire, as shown on Form I-94 or I-95 shall I fill anything here?

By the way I have my I-94 number.

I guess this part below (17) is regarding the beneficiary so I have to fill my wife's (petitioner's ) name and her relation to me as wife, right?

Are you currently in the USA? If not then the answer to this question is n/a.

Since this is the petition, the beneficiary's name and any children they have is listed on this section.

So if your wife is petitioning you it will say

WIFE NAME, WIFE, DOB, COB

and then any children you may have...

Edited January 2, 2014 by NLR