furble

Be aware you are not mailing an application for anything. The I-130 is a "petition". When it is approved, your spouse will have the opportunity to APPLY for a visa.

Yea true that.

I am living in Bogor

I still have no idea yet.

All i can think is just put your legal us address......

Then have your parents forward everything to you. But i do not want to say for sure, because I have no idea.

You can attest to the ethics of the Postal service here in Indonesia they are horrid and worthless.

Indonesian post is one of the worst rated in the world lol.

SO I am still Waiting for someone with more knowledge to key in on this topic. as it is affecting more then one person.

Again, I can't say for sure as I haven't done anything yet either, but I do have an attorney involved as a consultant. Perhaps you may want to contact him as well. My situation is a little different than yours as looks like you have a KITAS or some sort of residency in Indo, whereas I'm a Sosbud/temporary visitor, just I keep renewing. Since I'm not a resident here I have to go through Chicago, however if you are then perhaps you are eligible for a DCF filing. I think that sounds easier, but then again I don't really know. My Attorney/Consultant said I should put my parents address as that is where we intend to live in America (until we get a place of our own).

Also, knock on wood, the mail has been ok to us, although we rarely use it. We are in Bali though which is a little bit more in this century both technologically and politically. If you do DCF and deal directly with the Consulte then you could use Tiki or something which is supposed to be more reliable (although when we got married the Tiki took forever to get us our prenumpt). There is also FedEx, DHL & UPS in Bali. I don't know about Bogor. Most of them contract out to local couriers anyway though.

Send me a private message if you are interested in a referal to the Attorney. He is not expensive nor does he technically act as your Attorney, but more as a consultant (with a flat fee unless you want him to do more). Frankly I've only posting stuff here because I decided to stop torturing the guy with my maticulous questions and cut him a break since he isn't charging me too much. He has helped me a lot already. He is very affluent in dealing with South East Asia, claims to have done 100s of cases in SEA. Worth a phone call or email at least. Let me know.

You can open the envelopes, not a problem. In fact, I highlighted the top section of the first page where it shows the name, SSN and year of the transcript.

Not to worry much about the detail, all they are looking for are the filing status, dependents listed and income figures.

If you filed jointly at some point and there are more recent filings with you only, then it should not be a problem, The I-864 only requires last tax year figures, prior to that is optional. If you feel nervous about it, then have some paychecks on the ready which can support what you stated as your income. Assuming of course, that you have filed or have ready (with your petition) the divorce decree. The decree date will "match" with the tax returns dates when filed jointly and then single.

Unfortunately it was the later of the 3 tax returns which were filed jointly (Marriage didnt' last long). Even last year was filed jointly, was actually agreed upon as part of our divorce that we would file jointly as we were married and living together for 2 weeks of 2010 which qualified us (and divorce wasn't finalized till 2011 anyway). Was my idea to file the last one jointly because she was unemployed and mixing her 0 income with my income made for a substantial tax savings which was mine to pay anyway. I read about it somewhere on the US Govmnt's website that in the case such as mine I would just be able to prove whih portion of the income was from me, and unfortunately it looks like the transcripts don't effectively do that without the original W-2s. I have them, just in a storage locker burried away. I had just never really seen inside the transcripts yet so I wasn't 100% sure that it wasn't itemized.

Good news is my 2011 return will be filed Jointly with my Indonesian wife and an ITIN, which would also serve as some nice evidence of joint proprety if I actually wanted to wait next month to send in the taxes and actually complete my taxes that early on.

This will be important when the affidavit of support is submitted. Look through the criteria to make sure you meet the requirements. From what you're saying, you've got what is needed.

For a self employed person the income amount used is line 22 of the most recent 1040 tax return. Unless you have a C corporation, this will likely apply to you.

Corp is a Subchapter S, I got W-2s as I pay myself via payroll and K-1s.

I've now read through much of this forum (great stuff btw) and regarding my initial posting I think I'm going to skip #3, keep #4, and #5 doesn't matter.

I am also going to do my best to make it clear in any where that it makes sense to do so that I am living in Indonesia temporariliy. I also saw that according to the criteria for showing this one way was based on your Visa being clear about being temporary. My current Visa is a Sosial Budaya visa which is actually described by Indonesia as "Classified the same as a tourist Visa although giving permission to temporarily stay up to 6 months for the purposes of vising with friends or relatives (60 days + 4 extensions) with sponsorship from the friend or relative". (Well or somethign really similar to that, as I pulled it out of my head, but have read it many times).

Regarding #1 & #2 I am still looking for wisdom if anyone has any.

I'm hoping some of my questions are also helping other people.

Ok, so here is an interesting tax transcript question(s)

1) I have them in hand already, but I haven't opened the envelope. Can I Open the envlopes and look at them or does that make them not official anymore. I know it works that way for a school transcript.

2) So here is the the big question. I have looked online at some other people's sample tax transcripts so I do have an idea of what they look like. And it looks like unfortunately it doesn't break down into too much detail the section about W-2s. Unfortunately I have an ex-wife that is on some of these transcripts as when we were married we filed jointly. That being said I am assuming it is a problem that the transcript doesn't seem to specify who's who with W-2s other than just a grand total of all W-2s. Sooooo.... does this mean I need to find my old W-2s so it is clear which income is from me in particular on the old transcripts? And yes my portion of the W-2s is more than enough for the guidelines.

I dont know if any one has had their laminated documents accepted but the general concensus is that they should not be. I had some of my diplomas laminated also cos it was fashionable to do it at the time and we were made to believe the documents are being protected but most western nations do not like that ...cos I think it hampers their attempts to verify the originilaity of what people are submitting( and I am guessing feeling the actual paper is part of the process ).

I wonder if there is a way one can UNlaminate a document.

Well yea, of course it's better if they aren't laminated but too late now. Frankly it's so common place here I don't know anyone that hasn't laminated their documents in Indonesia. They are so important here as you need to provide a photocopy of them to do just about anything and they are a nightmare to replace. Running a photocopy-mart is a great business here BTW if anyone is looking for a new career.

Kinda sucks not being able to laminate some stuff. On our baby's birth certificate the baby's first foot prints and the baby's face is watermarked into the paper and it's just really cute, but just on kind of a green cardboard construction paper. I so badly want to laminate it to protect it and keep it safe forever, but I will have to wait so as not to cause a problem. People here think we are absolutely crazy for not having laminated it yet, along with a few other things.

Yes, someone mentioned on VJ, their laminated doc didnt have problem with NVC, but it is kind of risk. Why dont you arrange someone in that 3rd world to get her birth certificate? I mean, call someone or some friend or anyone who can take care of this task.

Better to get multiple copies of birth certificate ( Just in case ).

Wish it were that simple. A little about how Indonesia works (if anyone is interested)....

Indonesia has a complex local government system. It's actually sort of clever, but cumbersome and behind a few centuries, although I can see actually see it's merrits as it is actually quite well organized. Basically the country is divided into villiages in districts within cities. Each level has it's own Manager/Boss/Mayor and if you want to do anything you have to go through the heirarchy within the Village you are registered too (which is the one you are born in unless you apply to change it). You basically have to first see the villiage boss (The RT) and have them sign off, then go to the the District manager (The RW) and have him sign off, then go to the City Mayor (The Lurah) and have them sign off, then take all that signed stuff to the correct goverment office and submit it then wait a while to get your document. This all has to be done in person as per the rules or if you pay someone a lot of money they will do it for you, but that isn't legal and we make sure to do everything legitimiately becasue we don't need any problems. Of course the next level up on the heirarchy won't sign of until the one below them has signed, and each one may require a waiting period because they are busy signing stuff all day amongst their other duties.

Of course she would have to do all of this with our little one in-tow. Seems like something my America wouldn't want to put one of it's newest citizens through.

Then you wonder, why not just have her change her registered villiage? Same process everyone in the old village has to sign off on it, and then everyone in the new village you are moving too has to sign off. Worse yet though, each of the 3 bosses in the old village want a "fee" or "release tax" to lose one of their constituants, which is entirely up to whatever they want, and then the new village wants a "fee" to get in as well which is also left up to their imagination.

So she is from a really small village in Java that only recently got electricity and sort-of running water. Now of course we stay in Bali which is much nicer Also interesting, to stay in Bali she has to get a "Temporary Stay Permit" kind of like a local Visa every 3 months to continue to stay here lawfully. It also takes a few weeks to process that every time, but at least once you have one you just keep renewing it.

This is all because of the old Deutch system put in place as a means of population control for the various Islands from what I understand.

Just thinking ahead here. Although they won't be needed for a while, my wife's Birth Certificate is Laminated. If you actually had a laminated doument if you could please chime in if that was a problem or not and when it was reviewed?

I am hoping to not have to get a new birth certificate for her. It would be a) expensive due to local shenanigans, and b) require my wife and our baby to travel back to her home village which is very 3rd world (if even that clean) and stay there about a month. This would not be safe for our baby that is 4 months now and a US citizen btw.

anyone?

Hey, where are you in Indo? We are just starting on this, literally days from mailing the I-130 and wondering what you have found out. Perhaps we could compare notes. We are in Bali. Send me a PM if you are interested.

You will have to establish a US domicile. See this FAQ for some information that may be useful. >>> http://travel.state....nfo_3183.html#3

*Edit - This is for later on in the process, not the initial filing*

Yea this was something I've been pondering what the deal would be with. It's an interesting situation because I'm not "technically" residing abroad as I'm a tourist here. On that token, according to the link you sent then the best deal is to be clear that I am living here temporarily. Of course I'm going through great efforts to explain how I live here with my wife as that is clearly evidence of a bonafide marriage. Perhaps I reword my writings to say I am temporarily living here with my wife until we can go back to the US together? Any thoughts?

Is my plan of moving in with my parents until we find our own place just not likely to fly in your opinion? Seems ridiculous when technicaly my parent's house is my house since my name is on the Deed.

It seems like a complete waste of money to pay rent on a seperate place in the US that nobody is going to live in until who knows when. Personally I have a problem with lighting money on fire and I hope thats not what they expect me to do.

Would it be better that we apply planning to live at my parent's house indefinitely/long term?

Also you say this is for later on, so is this something we can just worry about later when the time comes? Keep in mind we are applying to Chicago based on my parent's Maryland address, however if I am going to have to piss money away renting some place then it will be in San Diego where we eventually want to go to anyway.

By the way, I am employed in the US. I am self employed, have my own corporation. The entirety of my job / company exists online and is done completely online from anywhere in the world. I am paid in US Dollars and although everything is on the internet all of the transactions take place on servers located in the US. I have W-2 Paystubbs from the corporation and everything. It is a California Corporation.

So we are about to send in our I-130 et. all for my Wife and before I do so I just want to take a moment to make sure I don't do anything that will uncessisarily complicate things by asking those who have already done this and have a little more experience than me.

Quick Background Info on our case:

Wife is Indonesian, I am American (Natural born citizen). I live in Bali with my wife and our Baby, I've lived here for almost 2 years together with her although we've been married for 6 months. Baby is now 4 months and is already a properly registered dual citizen. Important to note however is on a technicality, I am not a Resident here, but technically a "tourist" as my Visa to Indonesia is a tourist visa which I keep getting new ones as needed. Long story short it's not worth getting a Resident visa for me here, big headache and expensive and we prefer to move to the the U.S. So even though I'm a tourist, I live here, I'm here every day, have been for a while and not leaving till we leave together as a family. In fact I have no place in America other than a storage locker. Unfortunately as a non-resident of Indonesia I have to apply to USCIS in America vs direct to the embassy in Jakarta. We are filing to the Chicago Lockbox beause we are going to be moving into my parents home in Maryland first when we go, of which my name is on the Deed to the house (the 1st name on it in fact) and has been for 10+ years, where we will stay until we find our own place in Sunny California.

All that said, here are my questions:

1. The title of my cover sheet is currently: "CR-1 Spouse I-130 Petition For My Wife". Is it better I say "Immediate Relative Spouse I-130 Petition for My Wife". It seems like CR-1 is more accurate, but whenever I search USCIS's website it just calls everything in this category "Immediate Relative"

2. I have read that certain visa categories are limited per year but the "Immediate Relative" category is unlimited. Is CR-1 still considered part of this "unlimited" "Immediate Relative" Category, although it is really a "Conditional Resident". Can find no clarity on this on USCIS' website.

3. I am submitting (currently) some extra documents beyond what it seems they are asking for which are hopefully helpful to whoever processes our application. In particular I want to submit copies of all of my wife's various identity documents (Copy of her Passport, ID Cards [1 for Indonesia, 1 for Bali], Birth Certificate, Family Record [an Indonesian Thing]) all of which are Indonesian Goverment Doucments, officially transalted, and I've also included copies of the originals. So is there any harm in sending this stuff now? Harm being the keyword.

4. I've inclued some written explanations for 2 items in the packet of stuff I want to send:

a) An explanation as to why we didn't change her last name (well she actually doesn't have one). Explanation is basically that it is a complicated pain in the butt thing to do here and would require us to re-create all of her Identity documents including a new passport, all of which are really complicated and require us to go through a lot of local shinanegans to accomplish and would probably take more than a year to do (at least). I did go on to mention that even though we never "Officially" changed her name that she does use my last name on stuff like FaceBook and restaurant reservations, and we also listed her name with my lastname as her "Other Names Used" on the I-130 and G325A. Our daughter does have my last name, that was fortunately easy to do at the time of birth. I do go on to mention that our plan is that someday in the distant future should she become an American Citizen, at that point we would want to officially change her last name because it would then be more simple to do with the American court system.

b) Regarding proof of Joint property, bank accounts, etc... it is illegal for a foreigner to own any property here or be on a lease, even if married to a Citizen, or as a joint property. Furthermore I can't have my name on a bank account with my "Tourist Visa". I could probably get her name added to my credit card and bank accounts in the US, but upon first inspection it seems like more trouble that it is worth until she has a green card and not worth the time that we should be spending with our baby!

So basically, the question is, is it a bad idea that I bothered to explain this stuff at all rather than just ignore it all together given that we are submitting a massive mountain of other evidence: Our Daughter's birth certificate, affidavits, marriage certificates, etc... Furthermore we have 5000+ photos to choose from for the last 2 years.

5. So in the varous things we've included in the packet aside from the forms themselves, we always write from the point of view of "We" rather than "I". Seems stupid to write "I & My" instead of "We & Our" because we are writing all this stuff together, literally, in the same room at the same place at the same time. We are a family and thus a team. I only ask because technically I think it is supposed to be "I or Me" that is petitioning for my wife and baby.

Sorry if that was a lot of questions and I tend to be verbose. I hope some of you knowledgable people who have already passed this step can share your wisdom and opionions to help out our family. We will be sure to pay it forward and share our own wisdom as it comes. Also any other tips, pointers, or recomendations based on the background we provided would of course be appreciated as well!