Finals tips for I-130

[Groogrux108 14]

1) I didn't see a requirement on the USCIS website for the intending immigrants birth certificate, but apparently it's expected? So that's something I will have to have translate professionally (and expensively) trnaslated... but it's ok I just with the USCIS would list this as a requirement so I could have done it before...

2) How do people organize their vast collection of evidence of bonafide marriage? I've seen people say they use post-it notes and stuff, I think it's risky. Can I use stickers instead? also can I use transparent plastic sleeves? Can I use the stickers on the sleeves and on the documents themselves? What other suggestions do you have?

3) So I have been gathering my evidence of bona fide marriage and so far this is what I have, is it enough? And DO I HAVE TO TRANSLATE ALL OF IT???

- Translated marriage certificate.

- Tickets from 3 trips we made together; to São Paulo (Dec/2014), Fortaleza(feb/2015) and Miami (aug/2015). (all these hotel stays and reservations are in my name alone )

- Several money transfers from in between our accounts.

- Power of Attorney (me giving her full power over banking, and load of other stuff)

- A statement from the hospital that I accompanied her at her medical procedure.

- Print from facebook showing Posts of ourselves with friends' likes and comments.

- Prints of periodic chats on facebook (one from every week).also a print showing we have over 11,000 messages sent on fb.

- 30 photos or so of us on trips and with friends and family in different events

- Affidavits from my mom, dad and my brother.

- Confirmation of a hotel reservation in both our names.

- Contract we just signed selling her apartment.

- Proof that I have paid some of her bills. (non-utility)

- Proof that she received the keys to our apartment that is rented to my name.

- Proof the car I bought is now in her name (I don't have proof that I transfered just the previous and current document)

- Proof that she accompanied me to the consulate to renew my passport.

- Proof that I took out an insurance in her name for our trip to the US.

- Proof of tickets to concerts bought together (Elvis Presley Cover, Michael Jackson Cover and... well.... the backstreet boys )

- I'm also in the process of opening a bank account in the US in both our names

What do you guys think? Am I good?

[piff 46]

More than good!!! Good job!

[cl4677 3]

1) I didn't see a requirement on the USCIS website for the intending immigrants birth certificate, but apparently it's expected? So that's something I will have to have translate professionally (and expensively) trnaslated... but it's ok I just with the USCIS would list this as a requirement so I could have done it before...

The intending immigrant's birth certificate isn't necessary at this step. You will need it later when your petition is approved and you get to the NVC stage. I did not submit my wife's birth certificate and my petition was approved. Translations don't need to be done professionally. Your spouse can translate it.

2) How do people organize their vast collection of evidence of bonafide marriage? I've seen people say they use post-it notes and stuff, I think it's risky. Can I use stickers instead? also can I use transparent plastic sleeves? Can I use the stickers on the sleeves and on the documents themselves? What other suggestions do you have?

I wrote a table of contents and divided everything into three clear folders. First folder had the necessary stuff (I 130, marriage cert, G325A, photos, my birth cert), second folder had financial documents, trip and gift receipts, one affidavit, last folder had some miscellaneous stuff like I printed the Facebook post of our marriage status that had over 100 likes and comments, a brief timeline of our relationship, and 16 photos and marriage announcement.

3) So I have been gathering my evidence of bona fide marriage and so far this is what I have, is it enough? And DO I HAVE TO TRANSLATE ALL OF IT???

. Some of my reservations and my wife's travel confirmations were in Japanese. I didn't bother translating them, i just highlighted the dates, names, and destinations.

- Translated marriage certificate. .You definitely need this haha

- Tickets from 3 trips we made together; to São Paulo (Dec/2014), Fortaleza(feb/2015) and Miami (aug/2015). (all these hotel stays and reservations are in my name alone )

. Don't worry about the reservations. Mine were in my name and half were in Japanese. I just highlighted the relevant parts like dates.

- Several money transfers from in between our accounts.

- Power of Attorney (me giving her full power over banking, and load of other stuff)

- A statement from the hospital that I accompanied her at her medical procedure.

- Print from facebook showing Posts of ourselves with friends' likes and comments.

- Prints of periodic chats on facebook (one from every week).also a print showing we have over 11,000 messages sent on fb.

- 30 photos or so of us on trips and with friends and family in different events

- Affidavits from my mom, dad and my brother.

- Confirmation of a hotel reservation in both our names.

- Contract we just signed selling her apartment.

. Maybe leave this one out. You're really not supposed to be making lifestyle changes like quitting or job or selling property until you have your visa.

- Proof that I have paid some of her bills. (non-utility)

- Proof that she received the keys to our apartment that is rented to my name.

- Proof the car I bought is now in her name (I don't have proof that I transfered just the previous and current document)

- Proof that she accompanied me to the consulate to renew my passport.

- Proof that I took out an insurance in her name for our trip to the US.

- Proof of tickets to concerts bought together (Elvis Presley Cover, Michael Jackson Cover and... well.... the backstreet boys )

- I'm also in the process of opening a bank account in the US in both our names

What do you guys think? Am I good?

. Yeah you're good. That's a lot more than I had. haha

[Groogrux108 14]

LoL I meant "good" as in "safe" or "covered" hahaha... but glad you guys think it's looking good!

[Groogrux108 14]

Hey those were some very good tips! What did you use for each of the three folders? A plastic sleeve? An envelope?

Highlighting stuff with a highlighter will indeed really help I hadn't thought of that... most documents are really straightforward despite being in portuguese and highlighting our names should be enough.

Also, about selling her apartment, we weren't living in it, she just rented it out. But she recently found out about some debt so decided to sell it. Do you still think I should leave it out? It seems like it's an important transaction with both our names.

Besides highlighting the bona fide marriage documents, how can I identify what they are without translating the whole thing? Say the statement from the hospital saying I spent the night with her... I feel like it's important to write on it "statement from the hospital stating I spent the night with her" somewhere on the document... I thought about about putting a sticker on each document, some people suggested just a post-it (I'm insecure about this cause they tend to fall off a lot). Any suggestions?

[Ryan H 3,813]

Answers in bold and red:

Hey those were some very good tips! What did you use for each of the three folders? A plastic sleeve? An envelope?

Don't use any of those items, they will only be discarded when the file is received. You only need to clip it together using binder clips, the file will be taken apart and reassembled to an adjudicator's own liking.

Highlighting stuff with a highlighter will indeed really help I hadn't thought of that... most documents are really straightforward despite being in portuguese and highlighting our names should be enough.

It is recommended that you not highlight anything and this is why; documents are scanned and highlighting has been known to obscure information when documents are scanned. You don't need to highlight, if you want to make something abundantly clear, use a cover sheet instead.

Also, about selling her apartment, we weren't living in it, she just rented it out. But she recently found out about some debt so decided to sell it. Do you still think I should leave it out? It seems like it's an important transaction with both our names.

Including or excluding is up to you; ask yourself if you feel it will help show a more compelling case and go with what your gut instinct tells you.

Besides highlighting the bona fide marriage documents, how can I identify what they are without translating the whole thing? Say the statement from the hospital saying I spent the night with her... I feel like it's important to write on it "statement from the hospital stating I spent the night with her" somewhere on the document... I thought about about putting a sticker on each document, some people suggested just a post-it (I'm insecure about this cause they tend to fall off a lot). Any suggestions?

Don't highlight and if you are not unsure of Post-It notes, then use a cover sheet explaining what the document is.

[Groogrux108 14]

Answers in bold and red:

Thanks Ryan, is there a template for such cover sheets?

[Ryan H 3,813]

Thanks Ryan, is there a template for such cover sheets?

A brief explanation of what the document is all that is necessary.