Spouse Visa i-130 Newbie

[JP87 1]

Good evening everyone,

Let me start off by saying thank you for helping me in this process. I apologize if my situation has been answered before in the forum. I went through 10 pages of the forum before deciding to post my own situation and hope for the best. 

 

First off, I am an American citizen who is getting married in Japan in 2 weeks. My fiance/future wife is of course Japanese. I am currently living and working in Japan, but we plan to return to USA after my company training has been completed. Due to the time constraints of getting an approved visa before my departure to America, I have begun doing research into the paper work and starting the processes that need to be filed. 

 

I have a few questions. (I am basically worried about leaving items on the form blank.....my  computer form will not let me write / or - in many of the form locations)

1. I have read that the USCIS will not mail documents overseas or call overseas. Do I need to have my parents mail the documents for me in America? Would this become a problem because my last physical address on the i-130 form would be in Japan? Or would the mailing address correct this problem? Should the mailing address have my parent's name or my own name? Should my name be on the outer envelop that is being sent? Should I have in my cover letter the contact information for my father so he can contact me about what happens?

2. For spouses, do I need to hand write N/A for spouse number 2 or can I live it blank? Similarly, children under the beneficiary section, can I leave it blank or hand write N/A for person 2, person 3, person 4, and person 5.

3. My fiance/future wife and her parents do not have a middle names. Do I need to leave this blank or hand write N/A? I thought of typing none but I thought someone may think it was their actual middle names.

4. For the are you a lawful permanent resident, do I hand write N/A or leave the section blank? 

5. Can I assume in the address portion that province would mean prefecture for japan? They have prefectures, cities, and sectors for their addresses. 

6. For beneficiaries entry information, if my fiance/future wife has never been in america.... do I need to hand write N/A for questions 47-50 or do I leave it blank?

7. For part 4 number 61 and 62, I am completely lost. Should I just fill in 62 because we live in Japan and the closest US embassy is Tokyo? If yes, do I leave number 61 blank since she doesn't live in USA yet?

 

Thanks again for advice. I apologize for any stupid questions I asked here. Also, if you have any recommendations for filing spouse visa's and problems that arose from not doing something please let me know. I have 1 year to get the paper work together and finalized before I leave Japan. 

[NikLR 13,220]

25 minutes ago, JP87 said:

Good evening everyone,

Let me start off by saying thank you for helping me in this process. I apologize if my situation has been answered before in the forum. I went through 10 pages of the forum before deciding to post my own situation and hope for the best. 

 

First off, I am an American citizen who is getting married in Japan in 2 weeks. My fiance/future wife is of course Japanese. I am currently living and working in Japan, but we plan to return to USA after my company training has been completed. Due to the time constraints of getting an approved visa before my departure to America, I have begun doing research into the paper work and starting the processes that need to be filed. 

 

I have a few questions. (I am basically worried about leaving items on the form blank.....my  computer form will not let me write / or - in many of the form locations)

1. I have read that the USCIS will not mail documents overseas or call overseas. Do I need to have my parents mail the documents for me in America? Would this become a problem because my last physical address on the i-130 form would be in Japan? Or would the mailing address correct this problem? Should the mailing address have my parent's name or my own name? Should my name be on the outer envelop that is being sent? Should I have in my cover letter the contact information for my father so he can contact me about what happens?

2. For spouses, do I need to hand write N/A for spouse number 2 or can I live it blank? Similarly, children under the beneficiary section, can I leave it blank or hand write N/A for person 2, person 3, person 4, and person 5.

3. My fiance/future wife and her parents do not have a middle names. Do I need to leave this blank or hand write N/A? I thought of typing none but I thought someone may think it was their actual middle names.

4. For the are you a lawful permanent resident, do I hand write N/A or leave the section blank? 

5. Can I assume in the address portion that province would mean prefecture for japan? They have prefectures, cities, and sectors for their addresses. 

6. For beneficiaries entry information, if my fiance/future wife has never been in america.... do I need to hand write N/A for questions 47-50 or do I leave it blank?

7. For part 4 number 61 and 62, I am completely lost. Should I just fill in 62 because we live in Japan and the closest US embassy is Tokyo? If yes, do I leave number 61 blank since she doesn't live in USA yet?

 

Thanks again for advice. I apologize for any stupid questions I asked here. Also, if you have any recommendations for filing spouse visa's and problems that arose from not doing something please let me know. I have 1 year to get the paper work together and finalized before I leave Japan. 

1) Yes they send mail overseas.  It just takes a while to get it.  However, if your mail does not reach you they will require you to put a US address since they will not change a foreign one.  It doesn't matter who's name is on the envelope.  It is thrown away.  They will not call you.  If you have an issue, you will call them. 

 

Read the questions fully.  Interpret literally.  Answer accurately.

 

Example your number 6.  "IF the beneficiary is CURRENTLY in the UNITED STATES, complete these questions."  If your wife is NOT in the USA you do not complete those questions!  So you leave them... blank.   You do not need to answer a question with N/A since they are telling you to only fill out those answers IF something is THIS way. 

 

If you follow that guideline, that would tell you how to answer for your 7.

 

The only place for YOU that I would say to put NA would be PART4 Q25a-28. (leaving #27 blank)  Because it doesn't say "if any" for the children.  You do not need to answer for the other questions since you've already stated in the first section that she has no children.

Edited November 5, 2017 by NikLR

[JP87 1]

34 minutes ago, NikLR said:

The only place for YOU that I would say to put NA would be PART4 Q25a-28. (leaving #27 blank)  Because it doesn't say "if any" for the children.  You do not need to answer for the other questions since you've already stated in the first section that she has no children.

I would need to put myself in as Part 4 Q25-28 and then Person 2 I would do this correct?

[NikLR 13,220]

Yes. 

[JP87 1]

I have another stupid question.... Can I print two sided or do i need to print single sided for forms and copies?

[pushbrk 12,106]

It is not a good idea to print two-sided.  They are going to build a file fastened at the top, not sides so they really don't like having to stand on their heads to read the back sides of pages.  

[JP87 1]

3 hours ago, pushbrk said:

It is not a good idea to print two-sided.  They are going to build a file fastened at the top, not sides so they really don't like having to stand on their heads to read the back sides of pages.  

I was thinking of printing it so it was turn page style but considering they will clamp on the top I fully understand your meaning. Thank you for your explaination. I was thinking of cost reduction for shipment and less papers being sent.

 

Another question. 

How do I explain the lack of information for dates on some of the information? For instance, I worked at _______ from May 2008 to June 2010. I have no way of knowing what the actual start and end day were. I tried contacting the company but they have no information for me. It was a small part time job when I was in college. Another example, I used to live in the basement apartment back in college, but the person I rented from moved and I have no contact information for them. What can I do?

[JP87 1]

Also, when submitting the documentation. Do I need to provide both the back and front side of the birth certificate even though the backside is blank?

[pushbrk 12,106]

12 hours ago, JP87 said:

Also, when submitting the documentation. Do I need to provide both the back and front side of the birth certificate even though the backside is blank?

On your cover letter, simply refer to the document as being one-sided.