I-864 - copy of passport page with non-immigrant visa prior to being stamped?

[simonschus 58]

Hi all,

For the I-864, it is required that we submit a "Copy of passport page with nonimmigrant visa".

I have the K1 visa in my passport but haven't gone through the POE yet. Can I just take a copy of the passport page now without any entry stamps? Or is it required that the copy of the passport page has the entry stamp on it from the POE?

Simon.

Edited March 25, 2016 by simonschus

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

The I-864 is the Affidavit of Support form filed with adjustment of status. Your visa is not part of the documentation. Tax returns and letters of employment go with an I864.

[simonschus 58]

Whoops, and my apologies as that was a typo! I meant Form I-485 rather than Form I-864. I have been putting everything together for both the forms this evening. You are, of course, correct insofar that my visa is not part of the documentation for the I-864 (although a passport could be submitted by a joint/household sponsor to prove their US Citizenship).

Anyway, my question was supposed to be about the I-485 so I'll rewrite it! Here goes:

For the I-485, it is required that we submit a "Copy of passport page with nonimmigrant visa". I have the K1 visa in my passport but haven't gone through the POE yet. Can I just take a copy of the passport page now without any entry stamps? Or is it required that the copy of the passport page has the entry stamp on it from the POE?

I'm trying to avoid having too much to think about after entering, and just get as much of the documentation prepared as possible now for submission after entering and married.

Simon.

Edited March 25, 2016 by simonschus

[aleful 1,905]

hi

not needed until you're married and then you send copy of your passport once you've entered the country

Edited March 25, 2016 by aleful

[simonschus 58]

hi

not needed until you're married and then you send copy of your passport once you've entered the country

Thanks for your response aleful, I appreciate it! I'm aware that this wouldn't get sent until after we're married (and by implication after we've entered the US). However, I was wondering whether a photocopy of the nonimmigrant visa would suffice prior to entering the country. After all, the documentation doesn't state that the visa has to be stamped or otherwise, it only states that there should be a "Copy of passport page with nonimmigrant visa" and nothing more. This would be particularly useful given that we're putting most of the documentation together prior to my entry with the exception of the marriage certificate, I-94 Arrival/Departure record, and possibly one or two other things... just to frontload our effort now rather than when everything gets really busy just before/after getting married.

In addition you mention sending a "copy of your passport". I'm assuming that only the biographic data page will be necessary given what is written in the I-485 instructions on the USCIS website.

Simon.

Edited March 25, 2016 by simonschus

[Shauneg 762]

Whoops, and my apologies as that was a typo! I meant Form I-485 rather than Form I-864. I have been putting everything together for both the forms this evening. You are, of course, correct insofar that my visa is not part of the documentation for the I-864 (although a passport could be submitted by a joint/household sponsor to prove their US Citizenship).

Anyway, my question was supposed to be about the I-485 so I'll rewrite it! Here goes:

For the I-485, it is required that we submit a "Copy of passport page with nonimmigrant visa". I have the K1 visa in my passport but haven't gone through the POE yet. Can I just take a copy of the passport page now without any entry stamps? Or is it required that the copy of the passport page has the entry stamp on it from the POE?

I'm trying to avoid having too much to think about after entering, and just get as much of the documentation prepared as possible now for submission after entering and married.

Simon.

What's to think about? Just get a scanned copy after poe. You're thinking too hard about it now.

[simonschus 58]

What's to think about? Just get a scanned copy after poe. You're thinking too hard about it now.

Thanks Sauneg for your thoughts, I appreciate the dose of reality.

Nonetheless, the question still stands and I wonder if anybody has any thoughts about the presence of the stamp.

Simon.

P.S. Some context. For a variety of reasons, we are considering getting married less than 24 hours after entering the POE and submitting the adjustment documents the same day so it may feel a little bit of a rush (the marriage license can be organised and used the same day in the state we'll be getting married within, plus the marriage certificate being issued the same day too. We'll have a much larger ceremony next year with all our friends and family). Even if we don't get married less than 24 hours after POE, I think that the question itself is still warranted merely out of interest but I'm happy to be corrected!

Edited March 25, 2016 by simonschus

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Whoops, and my apologies as that was a typo! I meant Form I-485 rather than Form I-864. I have been putting everything together for both the forms this evening. You are, of course, correct insofar that my visa is not part of the documentation for the I-864 (although a passport could be submitted by a joint/household sponsor to prove their US Citizenship).

Anyway, my question was supposed to be about the I-485 so I'll rewrite it! Here goes:

For the I-485, it is required that we submit a "Copy of passport page with nonimmigrant visa". I have the K1 visa in my passport but haven't gone through the POE yet. Can I just take a copy of the passport page now without any entry stamps? Or is it required that the copy of the passport page has the entry stamp on it from the POE?

I'm trying to avoid having too much to think about after entering, and just get as much of the documentation prepared as possible now for submission after entering and married.

Simon.

The stamped visa is to show you were "Admitted with Inspection" which means you didn't sneak across the border. It shows you legally entered the US.

When I put my finances packet together while he was still in England, I put In a blank page and wrote on it "photocopy of visa page" or "photocopy of marriage certificate". It reminded me what I needed to do and where I wanted to put it without having to think about it all over again. On the forms, I used a highlighter to mark what was still to be determined like his entry flight so I wouldn't forget to do it. Once he got here I didn't have to spend much time thinking.

Edited March 25, 2016 by Nich-Nick

[simonschus 58]

The stamped visa is to show you were "Admitted with Inspection" which means you didn't sneak across the border. It shows you legally entered the US.

Thanks again for replying haha! Of course, I agree that if the intention of showing the "Copy of passport page with nonimmigrant visa" is to show legal entry at a POE then it would make sense to include a photocopy including the stamp on the visa. However, the I-864 doesn't make it clear if that is the intention (which is fair enough, the USCIS' justification isn't required) nor whether the stamp is required or not.

Simon.

P.S. I've been approaching the adjustment package all in the same way with "insert Marriage Certificate document here", etc just so we don't forget anything. I used the same approach for all the other stages so far. However, the need for the photocopy of the stamp on the K1 entry visa confused me due to a lack of clarity on the I-864 and now it is just a matter of interest! :) I'm sure I could find a scanner on the day/day after if needed but still, it tickled my interest.

Edited March 25, 2016 by simonschus

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Thanks again for replying haha! Of course, I agree that if the intention of showing the "Copy of passport page with nonimmigrant visa" is to show legal entry at a POE then it would make sense to include a photocopy including the stamp on the visa. However, the I-864 doesn't make it clear if that is the intention (which is fair enough, the USCIS' justification isn't required) nor whether the stamp is required or not.

Simon.

P.S. I've been approaching the adjustment package all in the same way with "insert Marriage Certificate document here", etc just so we don't forget anything. I used the same approach for all the other stages so far. However, the need for the photocopy of the stamp on the K1 entry visa confused me due to a lack of clarity on the I-864 and now it is just a matter of interest! :) I'm sure I could find a scanner on the day/day after if needed but still, it tickled my interest.

I understand your point. They just say copy of the visa so do what they say, copy it now. Could be fine. That was basically my spin that it shows you actually entered through CBP with that visa on a date before the visa expired.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Copy of the visa doesn't need entry stamp to prove legal entry because you also must supply a copy of the I-94 that will.