Some advices to apply I130 form

[Paula&David 24]

Hi. I have a couple of questions. 

My name is Paula and I'm from Colombia. My husband and I are together from almost six years, and we married last june. He returned to USA for job and study opportunities and we want to start the application for spouse visa. 

1. We are worried about the evidence that we have to present with the I-130 form. A lot of forums said the best evidences would be joint lease, account banks, insurance covers, etc, but we never did that things, we lived together and paid some bills, but never under our names because for much in our relationship we were young and the payments and leases were under his parents names. We have a lot of photos, and testimonials to ensure the veracity of our relationship but we are worried if that will be enough. 

2. We've been thinking about contract a lawyer to review our application but it is neccessary? 

3. It is worth applying for a K3-visa while waiting for I-130 approval? We are planning to apply in Vermont Center or Texas Center and we are concerned about the time consumption of all these.  

 

Thanks!! 

[etrangais 927]

Go ahead and apply right way, so that you can gain processing time.

3- You don't get to select what processing center you apply with. USCIS will decide for you.

2- A lawyer is not necessary unless your case is complicated or you have no clue what you are doing

1- you can start building your case as you go, especially if you file online, as you get to add more evidence on the go

[dwheels76 5,463]

14 minutes ago, Paula Jaimes said:

Hi. I have a couple of questions. 

My name is Paula and I'm from Colombia. My husband and I are together from almost six years, and we married last june. He returned to USA for job and study opportunities and we want to start the application for spouse visa. 

1. We are worried about the evidence that we have to present with the I-130 form. A lot of forums said the best evidences would be joint lease, account banks, insurance covers, etc, but we never did that things, we lived together and paid some bills, but never under our names because for much in our relationship we were young and the payments and leases were under his parents names. We have a lot of photos, and testimonials to ensure the veracity of our relationship but we are worried if that will be enough. 

2. We've been thinking about contract a lawyer to review our application but it is neccessary? 

3. It is worth applying for a K3-visa while waiting for I-130 approval? We are planning to apply in Vermont Center or Texas Center and we are concerned about the time consumption of all these.  

 

Thanks!! 

1. Just compile your  photos, and testimonials, Chats, text all communications, visits.

2. No need for a lawyer. You can do it yourself ask questions on these forums here.

3. K3-visa aren't issued. Most apply for them in hopes I-130 will be approved faster. Also you do not select your service center. Easiest way to file is online. Your service center will be assigned when you submit application.

 

Expect 2 to 3 years from filing to interview.

[SalishSea 16,853]

17 minutes ago, Paula Jaimes said:

3. It is worth applying for a K3-visa while waiting for I-130 approval? We are planning to apply in Vermont Center or Texas Center and we are concerned about the time consumption of all these.  

You cannot choose your service center, the petitions are dispatched to them via the lockbox.

 

There is no more K3.

[Dashinka 23,355]

You don't need all the marital comingling evidence to file the I130, this will come in a year or so at the NVC stage.  As to getting a lawyer, that is up to you, but if your USC spouse is good at following and filling out detailed forms, and your case is not complicated, it should not be an issue or in need of a lawyer.  Filing the I129 for the K3 is something some did that may or may not have sped up the processing of the I130.  It is up to you.

 

Good Luck!

[Crazy Cat 39,591]

1 hour ago, Paula Jaimes said:

Hi. I have a couple of questions. 

My name is Paula and I'm from Colombia. My husband and I are together from almost six years, and we married last june. He returned to USA for job and study opportunities and we want to start the application for spouse visa. 

1. We are worried about the evidence that we have to present with the I-130 form. A lot of forums said the best evidences would be joint lease, account banks, insurance covers, etc, but we never did that things, we lived together and paid some bills, but never under our names because for much in our relationship we were young and the payments and leases were under his parents names. We have a lot of photos, and testimonials to ensure the veracity of our relationship but we are worried if that will be enough. 

2. We've been thinking about contract a lawyer to review our application but it is neccessary? 

3. It is worth applying for a K3-visa while waiting for I-130 approval? We are planning to apply in Vermont Center or Texas Center and we are concerned about the time consumption of all these.  

 

Thanks!! 

Welcome to Visa Journey, Paula!  You have found the very best source for immigration information.  We are here to help......

[Ryan H 3,796]

Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.

[pushbrk 12,228]

Note that one does not apply for an I-130 and the I-130 is not an application for anything.  The I-130 is a petition for alien relative.  Your US Citizen spouse downloads it and "files it" to start the spouse visa process.  It's good you're asking questions, but this process starts with action from your husband.  He has some homework to do....or....he can find professional help here.  https://www.visajourney.com/partners/

 

[JamesYJessica 5]

Hi Paula,

 

My wife is Colombian as well, a paisa (we married in April 2022). I considered a lawyer, one on the Colombian side and one on the US side, but finally decided to fill out the I-130 application myself online. It is really easy; the harder part is collecting the paperwork and translations. 

 

1. Evidence - Like you, we don't have anything joint in our names. I included a document with a relationship timeline including photos with family and friends, samples of text conversations from early in our relationship, and copies of our boarding passes from traveling together. I also included screenshots of social media posts, because those have date/times on them which help validate the timeline. I also had both her mother and my mother write a letter acknowledging our relationship, our wedding, etc. One of the challenges with submitting online is that you are limited in the size of the files that you upload, so you can't include 100's of photos. I also included a cover page to the case agent that gave an overview and an outline of the other documents of evidence. A Table of Contents, like in a book. These immigration case workers are overloaded, so I know they are making judgements quickly.

 

2. Once you know which form to fill out, I don't think a lawyer will be any better at putting it together than you can do yourself. The advantage of doing it yourself, and doing it online, is that you will be able to submit it and get your priority date sooner. I saved about 30 days doing it myself compared to using an online service or lawyer. The bigger challenge was getting all my wife's documents in Medellin (birth, marriage, etc) and getting them officially translated (make sure to translate front and back sides), only because that required her to physically go to a notary each time.

 

3. As others stated, the trick of speeding up processing doesn't seem to work anymore So you'll file the I-130 online, be automatically assigned a service center, and then the patience test starts...

 

 

 

[BLC 112]

16 hours ago, pushbrk said:

Note that one does not apply for an I-130 and the I-130 is not an application for anything.  The I-130 is a petition for alien relative.  Your US Citizen spouse downloads it and "files it" to start the spouse visa process.  It's good you're asking questions, but this process starts with action from your husband.  He has some homework to do....or....he can find professional help here.  https://www.visajourney.com/partners/

 

Lol I don’t think it’s even worth going into the semantics each time someone calls it an application..people will often say they applied for I-130 and it doesn’t affect the process, so 🤷‍♀️

[pushbrk 12,228]

1 hour ago, BLC said:

Lol I don’t think it’s even worth going into the semantics each time someone calls it an application..people will often say they applied for I-130 and it doesn’t affect the process, so 🤷‍♀️

Your opinion is noted, but I've seen plenty of misunderstanding leading to major disappointment, stemming from incorrect terminology, including but not limited to members thinking the I-130 is the only form in the process.  Been here a long time and seen lots.

 

[Paula&David 24]

8 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

Your opinion is noted, but I've seen plenty of misunderstanding leading to major disappointment, stemming from incorrect terminology, including but not limited to members thinking the I-130 is the only form in the process.  Been here a long time and seen lots.

 

We know there are more forms to filled out, but I only mentioned I-130 because is the form that takes more time (in average). But thanks for the aclaration. 

Edited August 4, 2022 by Paula Jaimes

[pushbrk 12,228]

3 minutes ago, Paula Jaimes said:

We know there are more forms to filled out, but I only mentioned I-130 because is the form that takes more time (in average). But thanks for the aclaration. 

I don't pretend to know how much you know about the process.  I just tell you and anybody else readying, what it appears you/they need to know.  Aside, in my opinion, the I-864 form takes about the same amount of time, or more, and is the most difficult form to get right.  It just comes later in the process.  Lots of homework yet to do.

[Family 3,549]

13 hours ago, JamesYJessica said:

3. As others stated, the trick of speeding up processing doesn't seem to work anymore So you'll file the I-130 online, be automatically assigned a service center, and then the patience test starts...

 

@JamesYJessica that was a superb job on your I-130 . You also intuitively chose the online filing which guarantees you picked USCIS’s newest, preferred …and I believe fastest method . Hope OP also follows your lead and great advice.

Plus having an online account you get instant notices from USCIS. 

For OP , don’t worry about the quantity of Joint Life at this stage , you have more than most who submit w civil docs only at this stage ( not ref to VJ posters , just USCIS bulk applicants). 
 

According to @Mike E , only ten K-3 were approved last year .  Apparently the process is something like unicorns, you either believe or you don’t. 
 

Edited August 5, 2022 by Family

[pushbrk 12,228]

1 hour ago, Family said:

@JamesYJessica that was a superb job on your I-130 . You also intuitively chose the online filing which guarantees you picked USCIS’s newest, preferred …and I believe fastest method . Hope OP also follows your lead and great advice.

Plus having an online account you get instant notices from USCIS. 

For OP , don’t worry about the quantity of Joint Life at this stage , you have more than most who submit w civil docs only at this stage ( not ref to VJ posters , just USCIS bulk applicants). 
 

According to @Mike E , only ten K-3 were approved last year .  Apparently the process is something like unicorns, you either believe or you don’t. 
 

People advising filing the I-129F for spouse here are not thinking it will result in a K3 visa.  The purpose is to get the I-130 pulled out of queue and approved early.  Sometimes it works.  Sometimes it doesn't.