Green Card for Spouse, Need Help with First Step

[christine55 5]

Hi all!

 

I am a U.S. citizen married to a British citizen. We have been married for 3.5 years, have one child together and have been living in Norway for the past 3 years  we have decided to move back to the U.S. and we need to get him a green card. I looked into hiring an attorney, but seems we may be able to save some money and just everything on our own. I am moving back to the U.S. in August so I can start working and be my husband's sponsor since we don't have anyone who can be a joint sponsor for us. But we would like to start the process now. Can you guys help me with the first step? Thanks in advance!

[JFH 12,196]

Welcome! The first step is to file the I-130 with required and supporting documents. The fee for this is $535 but they will only accept a check or money order from a US bank in US dollars. Do you have someone who can do that for you? I assume your child is a US citizen and won't need a visa. 

 

You will also also need to complete and send an I-130A. G-1145 is optional if you would like to be notified by text or email that your petition has been received and logged. 

 

https://www.uscis.gov/i-130

 

 

Edited April 26, 2017 by JFH

[JFH 12,196]

*~*~*moved from "Bringing family members of USCs" to "IR-1/CR-1 spouse visa process and procedures" which is a more appropriate section*~*~*

[Georgia16 2,858]

Will he be staying in Norway while the IR-1 visa is processing?

 

If so he will have the interview in Stockholm just so you know.  

[christine55 5]

Okay! Thank you! So I have my mom send in the money order?

 

Our child is a U.S. citizen so she won't need a green card. And yep, he'll be staying in Norway

[christine55 5]

Okay, more questions. I changed my last name to his after we moved to Norway, but I haven't changed it on my passport or any U.S. documents. Should I used the name that is on my passport or the name that I use in Norway?

 

Also, for my mailing address and my current address. Can I use my mom's U.S. address as my mailing address and my Norwegian address as my current? Or should I use my mom's address as both? I will be living with my mom in 3 months when I move back. Thanks again!

[Thesmiths2016 117]

22 hours ago, christine55 said:

Okay, more questions. I changed my last name to his after we moved to Norway, but I haven't changed it on my passport or any U.S. documents. Should I used the name that is on my passport or the name that I use in Norway?

 

Also, for my mailing address and my current address. Can I use my mom's U.S. address as my mailing address and my Norwegian address as my current? Or should I use my mom's address as both? I will be living with my mom in 3 months when I move back. Thanks again!

I'm in the same situation, I took my husbands surname but my ID and passport hadn't been changed over.  You'll need to apply with the name on the passport, your greencard will be issued with this name.  If you want it changed later, you'll do so by applying for a replacement with a name change, and I believe its around $450-500 to do this.
Alternatively if you want it in your married name, go ahead and change your passport before you start this whole process.

[Mr&Mrs G. 903]

On 4/26/2017 at 0:22 PM, JFH said:

The fee for this is $535 but they will only accept a check or money order from a US bank in US dollars. 

 

For the I-130 the USCIS will accept any bankers draft from any country as long as it's payable in USD. When it is at the NVC stage all payments must be drawn on a US bank account. Not sure why they differ in their approaches but we confirmed it with phone calls.

 

We sent off a $535 bank draft drawn on an Irish bank and there was no issues at all.

[Thesmiths2016 117]

1 hour ago, Mr&Mrs G. said:

 

For the I-130 the USCIS will accept any bankers draft from any country as long as it's payable in USD. When it is at the NVC stage all payments must be drawn on a US bank account. Not sure why they differ in their approaches but we confirmed it with phone calls.

 

We sent off a $535 bank draft drawn on an Irish bank and there was no issues at all.

not fully correct. I filed from Australia, my bank was wiling to do a bank draft in US$ but USCIS advised they won't accept it.  We ended up sending our package to my in laws, getting them to put a check in the package, and mail it off at a USPS office for us.

[Mr&Mrs G. 903]

1 hour ago, Thesmiths2016 said:

not fully correct. I filed from Australia, my bank was wiling to do a bank draft in US$ but USCIS advised they won't accept it.  We ended up sending our package to my in laws, getting them to put a check in the package, and mail it off at a USPS office for us.

Strange, we were advised it was not a problem I even mentioned it in my very first post that we were concerned because we used an irish bank draft. 

 

I wonder if there are any members who have actually had bank drafts returned recently.

 

Best of luck with your upcoming interview, your just about done.