Getting ready to file I-130 and I-129f

[Catou1181 0]

Hello VJ readers

I've been reading over all the I-130 and I-129f instructions and guides for the K-3 application. I want to be sure Im doing everything right, so that it doesn't slow down the process because I did it wrong... So I have quite a few questions... All help is sooo appreciated and I'll be sure to pass on my knowledge to others seeking help in the future

I-130 questions

Documents needed are

- US citizen's birth certificate (a photocopy front and back is fine ?)

- Passport style pic of US citizen

- Passport style pic of wife (that's me)

- Completed G-325A for US citizen (how many copies ?)

- Completed G-325A for wife (how many copies)

- Supporting evidence of marriage

- Bank account in both our names

- Money Transfers from my paypal to his

- Affidavits of people having witnessed our marriage (how many should we send ? if any)

Is that enough ? Or we should send a copy of our phone bills showing we talk daily, and emails and pictures ?

There's talk about name change... None of my IDs have my married name, is it better that we mention just my maiden name of the application ? Or should I file with my married name and then start having my IDs changed once its sent in.

I-129F questions

Do we skip Step 7 (What coduments do you need to prove that you can legally marry?)

How many copies of the G-325A do we have to send in ?

Do we skip Step 9 (What documents do you need to comply with the IMBRA?)

Basically is the only things we have to send in the I-129F itself, proof that we send the I-130 (NOA1) and the G-325A with passport style pictures ? (or do we even omit the G-325A and pictures)

Wow yeah that's a lot of questions. Sorry and thanks for taking the time to help me and my soon to be hubby

Cat

[meauxna 15]

Have you read through the Guides (above)? You should find joy there.

[Catou1181 0]

Have you read through the Guides (above)? You should find joy there.

I have read them over about 3-5 times each.

I just want to make sure I understand everything correctly

[Rob and Melinda 0]

Best evidence to support marriage is receipts of your trips there to visit, the certified copy of the marriage certificate, and photos over a period of time, with you together.

Secondly, they love to have phone records and e mails over a period of months.

These are the most effective proofs.

don't skip 9, answer which marrriage broker or put none.

In fact if you leave any question un answered, they will send the application back to you, answer all questions or put None or N/A.

Send the NOA 1 from the I-130 in with the application for the I129F You cannot apply for the I-129F till you get the NOA 1 back.

Also, very important that all names on the application match the names on the passports.

Hope these answers help a little. Go back and read and re read the guides, for the best advice.

Rob and Melinda

[tiberonsuave 0]

Never Never Never put N/A. ALL questions are applicable. If they ask about prior wives and you have never been married before the CORRECT answer is NONE. ALL questions are applicable. This used to be notorious for earning an RFE.

t

Best evidence to support marriage is receipts of your trips there to visit, the certified copy of the marriage certificate, and photos over a period of time, with you together.

Secondly, they love to have phone records and e mails over a period of months.

These are the most effective proofs.

don't skip 9, answer which marrriage broker or put none.

In fact if you leave any question un answered, they will send the application back to you, answer all questions or put None or N/A.

Send the NOA 1 from the I-130 in with the application for the I129F You cannot apply for the I-129F till you get the NOA 1 back.

Also, very important that all names on the application match the names on the passports.

Hope these answers help a little. Go back and read and re read the guides, for the best advice.

Rob and Melinda

[Catou1181 0]

And I'd have to assume that if my phone records are in french I need to get it translated by a certified translator ?

[MargotDarko 0]

Never Never Never put N/A. ALL questions are applicable. If they ask about prior wives and you have never been married before the CORRECT answer is NONE. ALL questions are applicable. This used to be notorious for earning an RFE.

t

Best evidence to support marriage is receipts of your trips there to visit, the certified copy of the marriage certificate, and photos over a period of time, with you together.

Secondly, they love to have phone records and e mails over a period of months.

These are the most effective proofs.

don't skip 9, answer which marrriage broker or put none.

In fact if you leave any question un answered, they will send the application back to you, answer all questions or put None or N/A.

Send the NOA 1 from the I-130 in with the application for the I129F You cannot apply for the I-129F till you get the NOA 1 back.

Also, very important that all names on the application match the names on the passports.

Hope these answers help a little. Go back and read and re read the guides, for the best advice.

Rob and Melinda

I put N/A wherever it really wasn't applicable. For example, when it asks for my alien registration number. That isn't applicable because I am a US citzen. And for the hubby's SSN, I put N/A because he isn't eligble for a SSN yet. But I put None for his alien registration number because he will receive one but doesn't have it yet.

[MargotDarko 0]

Before sending the 129F, I would discuss with your spouse whether or not it will really be worth it for you both. The K3 visa is a lot more work and quite a lot more money, especially considering the money lost by the spouse not being able to work three months or more while you wait for work authorisation. If the visa fees are raised later this year, then you are looking at a ton more money for the K3 visa. Waiting it out for an immigrant visa (CR1/IR1), can be tough in the short term but has a lot of benefits.

I would never say anyone was wrong to go for the K3 visa. I just know that when I first wanted to go for it, I didn't know everything involved, and I'm glad I found out before it was too late.

[Catou1181 0]

My own birth certificate (Im the non-American) isn't needed in the i-130 and I-129f right ? Only once the interview is granted, or in the packets 3 or 4 ?

Just trying to figure out if I should have it translated now as opposed to later since its in French

[tiberonsuave 0]

That would be a wrong assumption. It simply needs to be someone fluent in both languages. No certification required. There are samples of the cover letter you would write stating that you are fluent in both languages floating around,

t

And I'd have to assume that if my phone records are in french I need to get it translated by a certified translator ?

[tiberonsuave 0]

The correct answer is none. The questions are valid questions. They have lightened up on it a bit though. Apparently. Your husband COULD have a social security number and he COULD have an alien registration number as well. Just because he doesn't in your case does not make it a non applicable question.

t

Never Never Never put N/A. ALL questions are applicable. If they ask about prior wives and you have never been married before the CORRECT answer is NONE. ALL questions are applicable. This used to be notorious for earning an RFE.

t

Best evidence to support marriage is receipts of your trips there to visit, the certified copy of the marriage certificate, and photos over a period of time, with you together.

Secondly, they love to have phone records and e mails over a period of months.

These are the most effective proofs.

don't skip 9, answer which marrriage broker or put none.

In fact if you leave any question un answered, they will send the application back to you, answer all questions or put None or N/A.

Send the NOA 1 from the I-130 in with the application for the I129F You cannot apply for the I-129F till you get the NOA 1 back.

Also, very important that all names on the application match the names on the passports.

Hope these answers help a little. Go back and read and re read the guides, for the best advice.

Rob and Melinda

I put N/A wherever it really wasn't applicable. For example, when it asks for my alien registration number. That isn't applicable because I am a US citzen. And for the hubby's SSN, I put N/A because he isn't eligble for a SSN yet. But I put None for his alien registration number because he will receive one but doesn't have it yet.

[Catou1181 0]

So basically I could translate my own phone bills since Im bilingual ? lol Not sure they'd go for that o_O

[misa 2]

I know it's exhausting at first!

I-130, also include:

- cover letter listing everything in the package, petitioner name, date of birth, SSN and beneficiary name and date of birth

- marriage certificate

- G-325, 1 full set for you and one full sent for your husband. Each set has 4 pages in total and all have to have original signatures.

- Other evidence: phone bills with both your numbers on it as well as copies of photos of your wedding (they won't give these back so make sure you aren't sending the originals!)

- Name on the applications should reflect what is on the marriage certificate and then get your passport with your new name ASAP.

- Make sure your passport photos are 2"x2" (US specs)

I-129F, also include:

- cover letter listing everything in the package, petitioner name, date of birth, SSN and beneficiary name and date of birth

- marriage certificate

- In the instructions (can't remember what page) it says how to fill it out for a K3 applicant and where to put "N/A".

- You need to send in another set for each of you with original signatures for the G-325A

- You also need to send in passport photos again, name printed on back, 2"x2"

Your birth certificate, as the foreign spouse isn't needed.

Edited March 12, 2007 by misa

[mendeleev 68]

Don't send an original marriage certificate ... if they want to see it, they can ask for it, though.

[misa 2]

Right. I should have said "copy".