Consular Report of Birth Abroad & ESTAs

[cbro 58]

My spouse and I have had two kids here in Hong Kong (where we have been living for past 6-7 years) and have consular report's of births abroad for each child.  Don't they need to review marriage and authenticity of the mothers information etc when approving these? 

 

My spouse, also born in HK, has Australian citizenship and has used an ESTA in the past when we travel to the US together - we are using her Aus passport when applying for the i-130 and subsequent forms - I assume this is the way to go?

 

Also, for an ESTA isn't there any kind of background checking and verification done?

 

Just feels to me there are certain pieces of evidence or history that should be able to fast track or streamline the process for cases with them included.  Maybe that is too much to ask.

[Just Paul 4,591]

The kids just need US passports to travel if they have CRBA (they have to enter the US using US PAssports). 

Your wife can travel on ESTA.

[Nitas_man 3,100]

58 minutes ago, cbro said:

My spouse and I have had two kids here in Hong Kong (where we have been living for past 6-7 years) and have consular report's of births abroad for each child.  Don't they need to review marriage and authenticity of the mothers information etc when approving these? 

 

My spouse, also born in HK, has Australian citizenship and has used an ESTA in the past when we travel to the US together - we are using her Aus passport when applying for the i-130 and subsequent forms - I assume this is the way to go?

 

Also, for an ESTA isn't there any kind of background checking and verification done?

 

Just feels to me there are certain pieces of evidence or history that should be able to fast track or streamline the process for cases with them included.  Maybe that is too much to ask.

Im not seeing the relationship between ESTA for your wife CRBA for your children.  and your filed I-130.

 

So:  I will now assume that this is some convoluted way of  asking if this moves her place up in the processing line or cuts processing time.

 

No, it does not.  That is too much to ask.

 

[cbro 58]

The only relationship being is that they are pieces of evidence/background of beneficiary for the i130 - things that have already had some due diligence and verification gone into them. 

 

I know there is none other but maybe there could be, and I know they don't help to fast track, and wasn't really asking if they do, but maybe they could.  When we get punched up on some system perhaps some things could stick out and in the end maybe result in less processing time than perhaps a super, much more complicated case. And yes, I would assume anyways as it is today more complicated cases take longer... We have red flags that might make things longer, why not green flags that speed things up?

 

But alas yes, I guess it is too much to ask 😉

[pushbrk 12,092]

Your file will be with everybody else waiting, then an actual person will spend less than an hour with it.  Maybe your actual "processing time" will be a few minutes shorter.  Maybe not.  Otherwise, "processing time" is a misnomer.  It's "waiting with nothing at all happening time".

[cbro 58]

1 minute ago, pushbrk said:

Your file will be with everybody else waiting, then an actual person will spend less than an hour with it.  Maybe your actual "processing time" will be a few minutes shorter.  Maybe not.  Otherwise, "processing time" is a misnomer.  It's "waiting with nothing at all happening time".

Ahhhhhh, yes true...that makes sense, and I guess than a green flag or any previously vetted filings or an anything wouldn't really in the end speed anything up... so maybe not too much to ask but it probably wouldn't do any good!  Thank you!

 

I see these IOE numbers people seem to be getting back generally mean less "waiting with nothing happening at all time" ?  Is that true to any extent?  Is it just random that people get these or becoming more the norm? 

[Hank_ 9,171]

4 hours ago, cbro said:

My spouse and I have had two kids here in Hong Kong (where we have been living for past 6-7 years) and have consular report's of births abroad for each child.  Don't they need to review marriage and authenticity of the mothers information etc when approving these? 

 

My spouse, also born in HK, has Australian citizenship and has used an ESTA in the past when we travel to the US together - we are using her Aus passport when applying for the i-130 and subsequent forms - I assume this is the way to go?   

 

Also, for an ESTA isn't there any kind of background checking and verification done?

 

Just feels to me there are certain pieces of evidence or history that should be able to fast track or streamline the process for cases with them included.  Maybe that is too much to ask.  YUP - THAT IS TOO MUCH TO ASK!

 

 

The CRBA documents are good relationship evidence for the marriage .. do include copies with the I-130     

 

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

Documents you will need:

• A copy of marriage certificate.
• USC, proof of citizenship, this is your birth certificate, or, ALL pages of your passport (yes including the blank pages)
• Legal Permanent Resident (Green Card holder), copy of both sides of your green card.   ( IR/CR-1 ignore this part )
• Previously married (petitioner & beneficiary); you will need to include copies of your annulment, divorce decree or death certificate
• 2X2 passport style photos, with name printed on the back (both petitioner & beneficiary) Use a baggy to attach them.  
• Evidence of bonafide marriage*;  examples are listed in the I-130 Instructions Sheet

* In addition to the required documentation listed above, you should submit one or more of the following types of documentation that may prove you have a bona fide marriage:

•  Documentation showing joint ownership of property;
•  A lease showing joint tenancy of a common residence, meaning you both live at the same address together;
• Documentation showing that you and your spouse have combined your financial resources;
•  Birth certificates of children born to you and your spouse together;    <<<< THIS
•  Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties having personal knowledge of the bona fides of the marital relationship. Each affidavit must contain the full name and address of the person making the affidavit; date and place of birth of the person making the affidavit; and complete information and details explaining how the person acquired his or her knowledge of your marriage; or
• Any other relevant documentation to establish that there is an ongoing marital union.