Hi everyone! Needing some clarifications regarding I-130 and F2A Requirements

[rikimarurc 1]

Hello everyone! I know this post might be a little long since I'm new here so please bear with me. I need your help.

My wife and I just recently got married last December 2013 in the Philippines and I am about to proceed with the next step to getting my wife from the Philippines through pursuing F2A. I AM A GREENCARD holder. I have an idea about the process but I would like to clarify some things before we start filing for the petition:

1. Regarding the requirement - copy of "Marriage Certificate", will they require the original certificate from our government's National Statistics Office? Or is the Marriage Certificate duly certified/registered by the local city government sufficient? My concern is since we are newly weds, the official marriage document issued by the Philippine government (NSO) takes about 2 to 4 months to be released. I don't wanna wait that long before I file for my wife's petition, and we only have in hand now the Marriage Certificate duly certified/registered by the local city government. Another option that my wife suggested (should USCIS require a Philippine government issued document) is that to request an "Authenticated True Copy" from the local city government while waiting for the NSO issued marriage certificate, question is will USCIS honor that?

2. Regarding the i-130 forms, in filling out the names for my spouse and submitting her ID's, will it be an issue if we still use her maiden name for all applications? We haven't changed any of her official ID's into MY last name since we're newly weds and so she's still using her original surname. Does she need to change her ID's in the Philippines for this petition/application?

3. Regarding the Affidavit of Support (which to my understanding is required in a later time of the process), would it be an issue if the petitioner is only working part-time? In which basis do they predict if the sponsor is able to financially support the petitioned?

Hoping for a favorable response.

[TBoneTX 47,545]

*** Thread moved from Introducing Our Members forum to the Bringing Family Members of Permanent Residents to America forum, for relevant responses. ***

[F2aSonofLPR 15]

1. You can file I-130 now and use the marriage certificate you have on hand. USCIS will send you an RFE for the SECPA marriage certificate from NSO. This way,you will have an early priority date.

2. Use your wife's married name on the I-130. Tell your wife to start using her married name.

3. For the AOS, check the latest poverty guidelines on your household size. You might need a joint sponsor since you only work part time.

[rikimarurc 1]

Thanks for the response!

Regarding your reply on #1, what's "RFE" and "SECPA"?

And regarding #2, would it bring complications if we use her married name during this application? Again, my concern is since we're newly weds, she doesn't have any valid ID's bearing MY surname yet. Also, please correct me if I'm wrong, but I've heard a friend of mine was able to do whole process using his wife's maiden name until she got her green card. Is that really possible?

Many thanks!

1. You can file I-130 now and use the marriage certificate you have on hand. USCIS will send you an RFE for the SECPA marriage certificate from NSO. This way,you will have an early priority date.

2. Use your wife's married name on the I-130. Tell your wife to start using her married name.

3. For the AOS, check the latest poverty guidelines on your household size. You might need a joint sponsor since you only work part time.

[F2aSonofLPR 15]

Thanks for the response!

Regarding your reply on #1, what's "RFE" and "SECPA"?

And regarding #2, would it bring complications if we use her married name during this application? Again, my concern is since we're newly weds, she doesn't have any valid ID's bearing MY surname yet. Also, please correct me if I'm wrong, but I've heard a friend of mine was able to do whole process using his wife's maiden name until she got her green card. Is that really possible?

Many thanks!

Sorry, RFE means request for evidence. SECPA means security paper, it's the marriage certificate issued by the NSO and not from the local govt.

Well, you can also use her maiden name when filing the I-130 , but since you are already married why not use her married name? Does she have a passport already?

[JbTin 51]

1. We also used the certified true copy, and there was no problem with uscis. As long as it has all the original stamp, seal, etc.. We got our NSO copy in about a month after the wedding so just make sure u also have that ready just in case uscis asks u to send a copy of it. For now, u can just use the one u have.

2. Better to use the married name. You wont be asked to submit a copy of the beneficiary's ID during the uscis stage so dont worry, she has enough time to have her IDs changed. She can do it while waiting for your i-130 approval.

[rikimarurc 1]

Sorry, RFE means request for evidence. SECPA means security paper, it's the marriage certificate issued by the NSO and not from the local govt.

Well, you can also use her maiden name when filing the I-130 , but since you are already married why not use her married name? Does she have a passport already?

Thanks again for the clarification!

She does have her passport but that one still bears her maiden name.

[rikimarurc 1]

1. We also used the certified true copy, and there was no problem with uscis. As long as it has all the original stamp, seal, etc.. We got our NSO copy in about a month after the wedding so just make sure u also have that ready just in case uscis asks u to send a copy of it. For now, u can just use the one u have.

2. Better to use the married name. You wont be asked to submit a copy of the beneficiary's ID during the uscis stage so dont worry, she has enough time to have her IDs changed. She can do it while waiting for your i-130 approval.

Thanks a lot for this. Thanks for giving me the idea that we'll still have time to process her ID's since I heard the next notices takes awhile.

[JbTin 51]

Thanks a lot for this. Thanks for giving me the idea that we'll still have time to process her ID's since I heard the next notices takes awhile.

You're welcome. just make sure to process her new passport asap as soon as she gets the NSO copy of your marriage certificate since it usually takes around 45days for her to claim the new passport.

[e24 6]

Hello everyone! I know this post might be a little long since I'm new here so please bear with me. I need your help.

My wife and I just recently got married last December 2013 in the Philippines and I am about to proceed with the next step to getting my wife from the Philippines through pursuing F2A. I AM A GREENCARD holder. I have an idea about the process but I would like to clarify some things before we start filing for the petition:

1. Regarding the requirement - copy of "Marriage Certificate", will they require the original certificate from our government's National Statistics Office? Or is the Marriage Certificate duly certified/registered by the local city government sufficient? My concern is since we are newly weds, the official marriage document issued by the Philippine government (NSO) takes about 2 to 4 months to be released. I don't wanna wait that long before I file for my wife's petition, and we only have in hand now the Marriage Certificate duly certified/registered by the local city government. Another option that my wife suggested (should USCIS require a Philippine government issued document) is that to request an "Authenticated True Copy" from the local city government while waiting for the NSO issued marriage certificate, question is will USCIS honor that?

2. Regarding the i-130 forms, in filling out the names for my spouse and submitting her ID's, will it be an issue if we still use her maiden name for all applications? We haven't changed any of her official ID's into MY last name since we're newly weds and so she's still using her original surname. Does she need to change her ID's in the Philippines for this petition/application?

3. Regarding the Affidavit of Support (which to my understanding is required in a later time of the process), would it be an issue if the petitioner is only working part-time? In which basis do they predict if the sponsor is able to financially support the petitioned?

Hoping for a favorable response.

Got married recently to, filed petition for my husband and got an approval few days ago. My answers are based on my experience

1. You can use certified true copy of your marriage certificate ask a copy from the municipal civil registrar.

2. I used my maiden name in all the docs because it will take a lot of time to change my id,etc.

3. If your already on NVC stage thats the time you will need AOS if your salary does not meet the poverty guideline given by nvc you can have a joint sponsor. Goodluck

[rikimarurc 1]

Hello! Thanks for this reply!

If I may ask:

1. Are you greencard holder or US Citizen?

2. When did you get married?

3. When did you submit your husband's I-130?

4. How long did it take to get his approval (NOA1?) ?

Best regards!

Got married recently to, filed petition for my husband and got an approval few days ago. My answers are based on my experience

1. You can use certified true copy of your marriage certificate ask a copy from the municipal civil registrar.

2. I used my maiden name in all the docs because it will take a lot of time to change my id,etc.

3. If your already on NVC stage thats the time you will need AOS if your salary does not meet the poverty guideline given by nvc you can have a joint sponsor. Goodluck

[e24 6]

Hello! Thanks for this reply!

If I may ask:

1. Are you greencard holder or US Citizen?

2. When did you get married?

3. When did you submit your husband's I-130?

4. How long did it take to get his approval (NOA1?) ?

Best regards!

Hi.

Pls refer to my timeline anyway if you are using your phone you might not see it. Anyway:

1. Im a green card holder just arrived here in USA August 2013

2. got married on 11/29/13

3. submitted I-130 as soon as i came back to USA. PD 12/9/13

4. got approved on 1/21/14. It was fast did not expect it though. So happy..

I hope for the best for you too.

Edited January 27, 2014 by e24

[rikimarurc 1]

Hello again, e24!

Yes I was using the mobile site that's why I didn't see you timeline. But thanks a lot for responding. Waiting for my wife to send in her papers from PI so I could start filing too. I'm glad it didn't take that long for your NOA1, I hope it does the same for me and my wife also. It's hard to be apart. God bless!

Hi.

Pls refer to my timeline anyway if you are using your phone you might not see it. Anyway:

1. Im a green card holder just arrived here in USA August 2013

2. got married on 11/29/13

3. submitted I-130 as soon as i came back to USA. PD 12/9/13

4. got approved on 1/21/14. It was fast did not expect it though. So happy..

I hope for the best for you too.

[Pinay1 1]

hello im a LPR & have age 17 & 16 girls in manila . Can anyone help me the steps & requirements to petition my children? Thanks

[Pinay1 1]

hello & happy for all of u. im on a LPR & i have 2girls 17 & 16 yrs old & i want to petition them both without ny husband. Can anyone help what to do & the requirements ty!!!