Small finicky I-130 Detail; labeling and numbering pages??

[shallot343 116]

Hi guys, 

 

I have been slaving over my I-130 Packet for a few weeks now and am almost done (just holding off until our actual marriage in March; I wanted to get the packet down early so we could file ASAP and I have 5+ years of documents to wade through)

 

I have a question about one finicky detail. I am putting the packet together digitally (easiest as some original papers/documents for evidence of a bonafide marriage are with my partner who is obviously abroad)

 

I have scanned documents and inserted them into a word document, full sized. In order to make things easier on the immigration officers who will be going through our packet (and reduce the chance of an RFE), I have inserted small labels at the bottom of each page to show all pages in one section are related (e.g. "evidence of trip together on xx-xx-xxx" or "full scan of Petitioner's Passport"). I have also numbered every page so I could include a table of contents.  

 

Will marking up pages that have scanned documents make these invalid? I know that seems silly but I haven't been able to find this information anywhere and I don't want all of this work to go to waste if I end up invalidating my packet! I know the adjudicators can be sticklers.

 

Would it be better to not label anything in the document, and just include either section title pages or labeled tabs?

 

Is numbering the pages okay? 

 

Thank you all!! 

 

I might be overthinking this but as we get closer to submission new worries seem to pop up all the time!

[kris&me 572]

cover letter with how you met and an outline of numbered pages is fine

take off the sticky notes 

they get your packet and scan it into computer

they won't like taking all these small labels off

also

no staples

no paper clips

no binders 

 

 

[John & Rose 7,239]

48 minutes ago, shallot343 said:

I might be overthinking this but as we get closer to submission new worries seem to pop up all the time!

^^^^ THIS ^^^^

 

First, relax.  You need the certified marriage certificate before you can file.  I don't believe I've ever heard of anyone being denied because of page numbers out of whack.

 

This really is much easier than you are making it.  Copies are perfectly acceptable so adding labels that they won't even look at won't matter.  Just keep in mind that USCIS does not issue the visa.  They are ONLY determining that you are eligible to file.  Prove you are a citizen or LPR.  Prove that you are legally married.  Somehow prove that the marriage is bona fide.  That is all they need at this point.  

 

While your petition will probably be more organized than most, that is not always a bad thing.  Show USCIS what they need to see and the petition will be approved.  It is that simple.

 

You will need more later for NVC but the petition should be the easy part.  Include what they need to see and you will be fine.

 

No stickies unless at the bottom...just no stickies

No binders or folders

If you want to hole punch they prefer 2 at the top

Use binder clips to hold the package together (no staples).

Edited February 20, 2019 by John & Rose

[D&D_NYC 58]

I think you'll be fine. I only numbered the pages in my I-130 "evidence of bonafide marriage" section -- I made a separate table of contents for just the evidence,  hand-numbered the pages neatly at the bottom (because they weren't all in one Word document), then added those corresponding page numbers to the ToC. I don't think this was a necessary step, but one that helped me keep it all organized.