I-130 originals or copies question

[marriedguy 34]

I am filing for my Wife who is in Ukraine.

I want to know if I need to provide xerox copies of my divorce papers or originals ?

My wife's birth certificate is translated into english, a copy of that is enough ?.Her passport is in Ukrainian and English do i need a translation of that ?

I just want the i-130 to be approved first time i apply and do not want any rejections.

1. Cover sheet listing all included documents
--2. Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative of Petitioner
3. Petition Fee (check)
--4. Photographs Petitioner: 2 5x5 cm
--5. Photographs Beneficiary: 2 5x5 cm
--6. Form G-325A of Petitioner
--7. Form G-325A of Beneficiary
--8. Passport Petitioner: scanned
9. Passport Beneficiary: scanned copy and translation
--10. Birth Certificate Beneficiary: scanned copy and translation
--11. Marriage Certificate: scanned with Apostille and certified English translation
--12. Translator's Certificate: Document from certified translator stating the translator has knowledge and authorization to translate official documents
13. Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application and Petition Acceptance
--14. Divorce certificate
--15. Naturalization certificate.
16. Evidence of Relationship: skype calls, cell calls, facebook, travel trips, apartment trips. money order bills., photos 4 photos and back write up. Hotel Receipts,
Engagement Ring Receipt

[Gorkhali 214]

for i-130, i think we need to send copies. As we are filing our i-130, we are sending copies of all the docs.

[NikLR 13,234]

I am filing for my Wife who is in Ukraine.

I want to know if I need to provide xerox copies of my divorce papers or originals ?

My wife's birth certificate is translated into english, a copy of that is enough ?.Her passport is in Ukrainian and English do i need a translation of that ?

I just want the i-130 to be approved first time i apply and do not want any rejections.

1. Cover sheet listing all included documents

--2. Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative of Petitioner

3. Petition Fee (check)

--4. Photographs Petitioner: 2 5x5 cm

--5. Photographs Beneficiary: 2 5x5 cm

--6. Form G-325A of Petitioner

--7. Form G-325A of Beneficiary

--8. Passport Petitioner: scanned

9. Passport Beneficiary: scanned copy and translation

--10. Birth Certificate Beneficiary: scanned copy and translation

--11. Marriage Certificate: scanned with Apostille and certified English translation

--12. Translator's Certificate: Document from certified translator stating the translator has knowledge and authorization to translate official documents

13. Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application and Petition Acceptance

--14. Divorce certificate

--15. Naturalization certificate.

16. Evidence of Relationship: skype calls, cell calls, facebook, travel trips, apartment trips. money order bills., photos 4 photos and back write up. Hotel Receipts,

Engagement Ring Receipt

Send photocopies. Do not send any original documents (except the USCIS forms) with the I-130 petition. I assume when you say "scanned" you mean a photocopy?

Put the the G1145 on top of everything, then the fee, then your cover letter, then the I-130 etc...

passport and birth certificate from beneficiary is not needed.

You can send either a photocopy of your naturalization certificate OR your entire passport. Only one item is needed to establish citizenship. The naturalization certificate may be easier as it's only a single sheet.

Engagement ring receipt proves you got engaged, nothing else... I wouldn't bother.

The rest is fine. Just pick and choose quality over quantity. Also the photos can be printed on paper vs actual photos.

Edited August 25, 2014 by NLR

[pushbrk 13,625]

This question indicates the member has not yet carefully studied the I-130 instructions, as the answers and errors are cleared up in those instructions. Be sure you read all future form instructions too. You never know what you don't know, until you read the instructions. If you don't read them, you are likely NOT to know to ask about some important things. If you DO read them, you'll ask fewer questions, because you'll already know the answers.

Careful study of form instructions will be CRITICAL to your ultimate success.

[NikLR 13,234]

Nice to see you again pushbrk!

[marriedguy 34]

I translated our marriage certificate in to english and had it apostilled, should i send this or just a copy of apostilled document is fine ?

[pushbrk 13,625]

I translated our marriage certificate in to english and had it apostilled, should i send this or just a copy of apostilled document is fine ?

There is no need for the apostille. Send a photocopy of a certified copy of the marriage certificate AND a photocopy of the certified translation.

[marriedguy 34]

What is a certified copy ? is it the original marriage certificate ?

[NikLR 13,234]

A certified copy is a copy issued by the original issuer.

[marriedguy 34]

I cannot send a copy of the original marriage certificate ? I am confused . I never received any certified copies of marriage certificate in Ukraine.

There is no need for the apostille. Send a photocopy of a certified copy of the marriage certificate AND a photocopy of the certified translation.

Edited September 7, 2014 by marriedguy

[NikLR 13,234]

I cannot send a copy of the original marriage certificate ? I am confused . I never received any certified copies of marriage certificate in Ukraine.

Technically most of the time what you consider your "original" is actually a certified copy. It doesn't matter, it's semantics at this point because you're just getting confused.

For the USCIS you send a photocopy of the original that you have. Do not send the USCIS any original documents except the signed forms.

Also you do not need anything apostilled. But because you did, send a photocopy of that, not the actual apostille document.

Example of certified copy: My birth certificate from when I was born has been lost. I had to order a new one from the government. That new one is called a certified copy.

[marriedguy 34]

Thanks a lot it makes sense now

Technically most of the time what you consider your "original" is actually a certified copy. It doesn't matter, it's semantics at this point because you're just getting confused.

For the USCIS you send a photocopy of the original that you have. Do not send the USCIS any original documents except the signed forms.

Also you do not need anything apostilled. But because you did, send a photocopy of that, not the actual apostille document.

Example of certified copy: My birth certificate from when I was born has been lost. I had to order a new one from the government. That new one is called a certified copy.