Required documents for my I-130

[NikLR 13,220]

20 minutes ago, jseals0421@gmail. said:

Sorry guys, this won't allow me to edit.   So, for the marriage cert, divorce cert, Birth Certs etc... should I include one official copy and 3 xeroxed copies for the packet....  all xeroxed copies or all official....  I feel like I may be misunderstanding but don't want to risk refusal.  Thanks!

ALL xeroxed copies.  Do not send any originals or certified copies to the USCIS because you won't get them back without a lot of hassle. The only items that need to be original are the ones with your signature. 

[JustinS 44]

1 minute ago, NikLR said:

ALL xeroxed copies.  Do not send any originals or certified copies to the USCIS because you won't get them back without a lot of hassle. The only items that need to be original are the ones with your signature. 

This is amazing news!  That means I can just get my wife to scan the birth certificates!  This makes a lot of things so much easier!

[Ryan H 3,796]

***Hijack post removed; if you have your own question, you need to start your own thread.***

[pushbrk 12,232]

21 hours ago, jseals0421@gmail. said:

This is amazing news!  That means I can just get my wife to scan the birth certificates!  This makes a lot of things so much easier!

 

Yes, a scanned, emailed and locally printed document is the same as a "photocopy".

[JessieABC 159]

23 hours ago, jseals0421@gmail. said:

This is amazing news!  That means I can just get my wife to scan the birth certificates!  This makes a lot of things so much easier!

Yup.  Don't sent originals.  They changed that a while back since NVC kept losing original documentation.  Anything sent should be photocopies of originals/certified copies.  If the document is a translation, include photocopies of the originals as well.

 

Other easy ways to provide evidence of bona fide marriage:

• Add her to your life insurance
• Add her as a beneficiary to your savings plan / 401K / retirement plan / investment accounts
• Add her as an authorized user to a credit card
• Add her as a beneficiary to your checking account

Most of these methods only require her name, date of birth, address, and/or other methods of contact (e.g., email, phone number) and will not require any other identification.

 

Hope that helps!

[JustinS 44]

20 hours ago, JessieABC said:

Yup.  Don't sent originals.  They changed that a while back since NVC kept losing original documentation.  Anything sent should be photocopies of originals/certified copies.  If the document is a translation, include photocopies of the originals as well.

 

Other easy ways to provide evidence of bona fide marriage:

• Add her to your life insurance
• Add her as a beneficiary to your savings plan / 401K / retirement plan / investment accounts
• Add her as an authorized user to a credit card
• Add her as a beneficiary to your checking account

Most of these methods only require her name, date of birth, address, and/or other methods of contact (e.g., email, phone number) and will not require any other identification.

 

Hope that helps!

Added her to the life insurance before but added her as a beneficiary to my 401k and will do so at the bank tomorrow.  You guys are full of good news and awesome advice. Thank you!

[JustinS 44]

So I am sure I am going to answer this for myself, but for my wife and I we need to submit evidence of a bonafide relationship/marriage. 

 

I am submitting chat logs, skype logs, calls logs, evidence of trips to visit her, and pictures from those trips.   For the stepkids, it says birth certificates showing that my spouse is their mother.  

 

Does this mean I don't need to make duplicate copies of the "albums" I am creating in word?  One album is 11 pages and I don't know how much the USCIS will like me if I submit 4 copies of the same pictures just so there is a copy per application.  Thoughts?