ventoux

I guess there are actually 3 DS-156 forms, 2x English, 1x native. Strange.

In filling out the DS-156 forms, the embassy sent 2 hard copies both in the native language (not English). There seems to be a lot of talk about these forms being completed and printed online and always in English.

What is going on? I've never seen any references on VJ about non-English DS-156 forms....

Should it be completed in English or the language that the questions are written in?

Should we just complete the online versions instead (or in addition to)?

He has to get an English translation of his Swedish birth certificate. It needs to be accompanied by a certificate of translation, for which you can find a template here on VJ or on USCIS website. The certificate basically just needs to state that the person who translated it is fluent in both languages.

Hmmm, is this always the case? I was under the impression that if you go to the interview in the country where the native language is that of your birth certificate and other documents that you don't need an English translation since it's the official language and the embassy has translators on staff (if they are so inept).

Summary: Docs in native language of embassy need no translation. True or False?

Ok, I double checked and it does look like I'm using the current version.

The G-1145 is a few days expired but the current version still says "05/25/2011. Previous editions accepted." So I guess I'm fine.

I just noticed that the G-325A form has been updated in the last few days. The one I am currently including says "expires 06/30/2011" and the G-1145 I'm using says "expires 5/31/2011" but I checked on 5/31 and there was no new version. Today I see there is a new version (revised 05/25/11) with no expiration date stated.

Here are all my versions

05/31/2011 for G-1145

02/29/2012 for I-129F

06/30/2011 for G-325A

will this be a problem? It took me a few days to fill out everything and get the materials together but now do I have to do it all again?

To answer my own question #2, the G-1145 is now at the top, before the cover letter.

Looks good?

I getting together my I-129F / G-325A forms and I think I've got everything but I'd like to double check. Also the guides say to make 2 copies of the final packet but do I have to copy everything. For example, the 75 pages that is a photo copy of our passports and the photos we are including? Also, should the G-1145 be the first page, or the first page after the Cover Letter?

Here's what I've got together:

1. Cover page with address headers, ToC, etc (basically the downloadable template on VJ). [signed, dated]

2. G-1145 with email (no phone number)

3. Personal check for $340.00 [signed, dated]

4. I-129F: With the exception of Part E, every question is completed or "N/A" or "none" [signed, dated]

5. I-129F Supplement, Part B: Question 18 with 2 short paragraphs. [signed, dated]

6. G-325A for petitioner, completed all fields or "none" or "N/A" when applicable. [signed, dated]

7. Passport style photo (at least by French standards, 3.5x4cm [approx 1.375x1.75"] for the photo area, cut to 2x2" and everything seems to match the US passport photo) of petitioner, taken last week. [Neither signed nor dated]

- Enclosed in zip-loc bag

- Bag labeled "Photo of XXX"

- Back of photo labeled "XXX" with felt tip pen

- G-325A, photo bag, and blank paper all clipped together with a binder clip (aka banker's clip)

8. G-325A for beneficiary, completed all fields or "none" or "N/A" when applicable. [signed, dated]

9. Passport style photo (again, using the same French standards) of beneficiary, taken last week. [Neither signed nor dated]

- Enclosed in zip-loc bag

- Bag labeled "Photo of YYY"

- Back of photo labeled "YYY" with felt tip pen

- G-325A, photo bag, and blank paper all clipped together with a binder clip (aka banker's clip)

10. Petitioner's birth certificate (photocopy) of both front, and back (actually just a blank sheet). [Neither signed nor dated]

11. Letter of intent (Fiancee) with address headers [signed, dated]

12. Letter of intent (Fiance) with address headers [signed, dated]

13. Proof of meeting / ongoing relationship

- Full photocopies of both petitioner and beneficiary's passports (75 pages) with 50-60 stamps over the course of 6 years. Some pages of interest are indicated in handwriting on the first page of each [Neither signed nor dated]

- Brief page listing the contents (handwritten), listed chronologically and how each piece fits into the "proof" [signed, dated]

- 7 photos of us, selected solely on their ability to place us together in one spot, at a specific time (official 1-time only events and/or landmarks). Proposal, ring, and event we participated in are included. Pictures span 4-year period but most are very recent. Back of photos state the place, date, and our names (no family members or friends are present in any of the photos).

- Photocopy of EGL diamond ring appraisal report [Neither signed nor dated]

- Print out of the results from a sporting competition that took place the day after the proposal in a nearby town. "XXX" name, town, year of birth and date are highlighted. Also included the URL to these results which are publicly available online. [Neither signed nor dated]

- Reservation confirmation from the hotel in "XXX"'s name. Room for 2. Proposal weekend. Dates highlighted [Neither signed nor dated]

- Postcard from friend addressed to both of us while we were living together abroad. Address matches "Applicant residence" information.

14. (Other) Beneficiary name change documents

- Photocopy of adjusted birth certificate, acknowledging the name change in native language with the date of ruling indicated. [Neither signed nor dated]

- Translation of above in English [Neither signed nor dated]

- Page certifying the translation is an accurate representation of the original (translated by the Beneficiary) [signed, dated]

- Court ruling to legally accept name change in native language with the date of ruling indicated. [Neither signed nor dated]

- Translation of above in English [Neither signed nor dated]

- Page certifying the translation is an accurate representation of the original (translated by the Beneficiary) [signed, dated]

All sections (G-1145, I-129F, G-325A's, Birth Certificate, Letters of Intent, Proof of Meeting, Passport copies, and Name Change Information are all crimped with a binder clip and a small color-coded label affixed to the bottom of the page for easy reference. 2 large paper clips crimp the sides of the entire packet. Packet placed in a white airpack envelope. Addressed to:

United States Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Attn: I-129F

2501 South State Highway 121 Business

Suite 400

Lewisville, TX 75067

via Express International mail from France.

2 photocopies of each page will be made just prior to sending.

How am I doing? Forgetting anything or overlooking something?

Ok, I added both of our passports, full copies. I didn't include mine before (for verification of identity) because it expires in 2015 (less than 5 years away).

Mine has 30 stamps in it, but I had 89 border crossings 2009, 119 border crossings in 2010, and 4 thus far in 2011 where I did not receive a stamp (due to Schengen Zone that includes just about all of Europe since 2008)

Hers has a few from the US and Canada.

Most stamps are older than 2 years (again, due to the Schegen Zone). Hope it'll be enough.

Maybe I should include the receipt for all those *&*@ photocopies

I think too many people are answering the post solely on the topic title, sorry for not being more clear. There are a few other documents (ring certification, hotel confirmation, race results that match my name, age, hometown, on the day after proposal that coincides the hotel confirmation with my name for 2, both of us at a landmark) that support everything and they all connected and chosen because they go together.

I guess I just wasted my time with all that. A passport might show that we might be in the same country at the same time... but if that's what they want...

I did mention the hotel confirmation from a recent weekend...

and the EGL report for the ring... (you all read the list of items I'm including right!?)

Also, the photo of the ring was 1 of 5 photos from the weekend. The "story" is highlighted in Question #18, and also indicated on the back of each photo.

Owning houses and such are nice, but that often occurs after marriage (as in our case). We rent. It's in her name. I pay it in cash. Most bills are in her name since she is a citizen (trust me, it's much easier that way).

I think it's been more than 2 years since she was in the US but she certainly has some passport stamps. I have some as well.

So if include a photocopy of 1 page out of both our passports that will be enough?

But isn't faking a photocopy of a ticket or passport is just as easy as faking a photo?

I've got everything together and have a few questions about the "Proof of having met in the last 2 years" as well as proof of an ongoing relationship.

We've actually spent almost every day together for the past 6 years living together in Europe, so I'd be downright embarrassed if I got RFE for this...

Here's what I've got:

- Photo of us in her country in front of a "45th Annual Film Festival" from 11 months ago. (easy to place geographically and chronologically)

- Photo of us at a European landmark (from 4 years ago, we may look slightly younger)

- Photo of us in the US at a landmark in Vermont where anyone working at VSC would recognize (from 3 years ago).

- Photo of us on the day of proposal (2 weeks ago)

- Photo of the ring (close up, but same location)

- EGL report for the ring. Appraisal dated in early May, 2011.

- Results from a sporting competition I competed in the next day, plus a photo of me at the start.

- Photo of us a few days later at a recognizable European landmark (I happen to have the same shirt and sunglasses)

- Hotel reservation confirmation email from that weekend.

That's everything I've included so far. Not enough? To much? A lot of people seem to like using bording passes from flights or passport stamps. We haven't included any passport info or tickets of that nature.

Should I include a photo of us together both holding the packet at the post office before we send it in? This can get ridiculous...

I agree. However since the birth certificate, old J-1 visa, and SSN are all in a different name it might come in handy eventually simply due to the importance of those documents.

So can anyone say if the USCIS address on the header of documents should be the lockbox Texas address or the regional address (VSC, CSC)?

Just to add confusion to it all...

She had her name changed 1 month after getting the SSN. Therefore the name on the card does not match her name now. We are including documents to support the name change, but does this nullify the SSN?

Thanks, pushbrk! Great to get that cleared up. I think we will get it notarized for the interview and for future reference, but do the translation for the i-129f / G-325A ourselves.

Yes, I see that it should be translated by a "certified" translator where the person translating says "I am certified." Seems a bit unofficial to me. I have also seen a post on VJ where it says that only legal documents (such as birth certificates and name changes) need to be notarized.

Obviously we can translate them ourselves = easy.

Or we can have someone do it who is a lawyer and an official translator in court, maybe that is more authoritative.

Or we can have the official translator translate it, and who says we can have it notarized in accordance to the laws of the country where they affix a plethora of stamps, stickers, ribbons, and maybe a smiley face and a gold star if we do a good job.

Many degrees of hassle here. Which is necessary for a legal form that says someone's first name given at birth is now something else?

Correct, indicate the other name used in the applicable sections of the G325a and I-129F, then provide a photocopy of the official name change document along with the petition. USCIS will also want this. It is so stated in the I-129F instructions.

Thanks for the help. As far as the documents to support the name change, I have these but they are not in English. I assume I will have to get them translated and notarized for the I-129F? Or is it only important for the interview, which would take place in the country where it's the native language and therefore not require translating or notarization?

We have a SSN that was issued on a J-1 visa 6 years ago. It looks just like any SS Card except it says:

"VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION"

just above the SSN.

Is this still a valid SSN? Should my fiancee use this number on all relevant forms for the K-1 visa?

Let me see if I understand this correctly...

The application gets mailed to Texas

and the SC address on the typed pages (Table of Contents, Letter of Intent etc) should be the mailing address of the VSC or CSC (whichever one it will go to eventually)?

Or should the SC address on the typed pages be the Texas address?

G-1145 goes with the I-129F set? ok !

Indeed the G-1145 is being bundled with the I-129F. Ok.

Yes, there appears to be no new version.

So I include a form with my application that says it's already expired? That's ok?

If the benefactor had a (first) name change change 6 years ago, should that be indicated anywhere? When we met 6 years ago, she still had a passport and J1 visa for the US under her old first name.

Most of the questions on the I-129F are asking for information within the past 2 years so I'm not sure if it should be included (especially on the G-325A "All Other Names" or perhaps in other forms in the application)

Thanks for any advice!

I am getting my materials in order and I noticed the G-1145 form says that it expires 05/31/2011. I am hoping to submit my application on the 30th or 31st. I looked at the .gov website and I do not see a new version. I know this form is optional, but I would appreciate the email updates regarding my application.

Thoughts on what early June filers should do?

I read over the basic procedures which list a front and back copy of the birth certificate for the US citizen. I have a photocopy of my birth certificate (not notarized) but it's only the front. I don't have access to the original right now but I thought it was a one-sided form???? Is there really anything on the back of a US birth certificate? Will my one-sided un-notarized copy be enough?