lemayz

Sorry everyone, I am about to send out my I-130 and my brain is finally fried and I am overthinking everything.

I just realized that in most parts of the application documents, we referred to myself as the petitioner and to my husband as the beneficiary. However, now I see in some parts that we also referred to myself as the applicant. So the question is:

Is applicant and petitioner the same thing? Is it okay if in some places I am the applicant and in some, the petitioner? He is always the "beneficiary."

Please let me know!

Thanks JP and Tee!

Darnell, sorry, I read your footnote of "Sometimes my language usage seems confusing..." but I still don't understand your question. I am filling out the I-130 for my spouse. I am the petitioner and he is the beneficiary. Does that answer the question?

Do I need my father's ORIGINAL tax returns for the interview? Or will I need to send the originals to NVC? What other docs might I need?

Thanks!

Hello,

I am in the process of applying for an I-130 overseas so that I can move with my husband to the US. As I am overseas, I am having my father (who lives in the US) scan some of the documents that I need to send with the I-130 packet.

However, I understand that for the consular interview, I will need the originals of ALL of the documents, right? The reason I am asking is because it's a bit trickey having him send them to me, but a friend will soon be traveling from the US to here and could bring me a package of documents.

So, although I am getting a bit ahead of myself in terms of the process, I'd like to know exactly what original documents I should have on hand for the consular interview. I understand that I need all of the documents that go in the first I-130 packet in Original form (including, for example, my certificate of citizenship, which is in the US right now), but what else should I prepare? He will be the joint sponsor so does that mean I need all of his original W2s from the last year? Is there a list or thread anywhere on VJ that has this info? I tried checking the US embassy's website here, and it has no info on that.

Sorry if this question is not well researched, but since I haven't gone through the whole process yet and need to know ASAP what documents I'll need, I haven't been able to research all that much. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

Ok, so with one passport picture each we should be fine. Thanks for the answers!

Hi everybody,

I am about to send in the whole I-130 packet and have some last minute confusion due to some things I've read, like for example this thread: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/350330-i-130-last-minute-questions/

I thought that the G-325a was just a form that both I (petitioner) and my husband (beneficiary) would have to fill out. As far as I can tell it is just ONE PAGE that asks for some basic information. Nevertheless, some people are talking about attaching photos to it. I see absolutely NO mention of photos in the form instructions. Do photos need to be attached to the form?

The only reference I have seen to photos so far is the request for ONE passport size photo for myself and ONE for him, which is mentioned in the I-130 instructions for Proving a family relationship.

Can someone help me with this photo issue?

Also the instructions on the I-130 say it is not necessary to repeat the same info on the G-325a as in the I-130. However, my impression is that most people ARE repeating it...is that right?

Thanks so much!

I'm a bit confused though....in your timeline you have both the I-130 AND the I-129F?

Thanks, Harpa, that's very good news for me!

Jefcarina, sure, let me know, but I'm also just starting out myself :-)

Thank you!

Hello,

As of August 2011, unfortunately it is no longer possible to do DCF in Chile, and so I must do it through the Chicago Lockbox (I am a USC living in Chile with my Chilean husband). I am just wondering if anyone here has gone through the process of filing with the Chicago Lockbox from abroad, and if so, can share experiences. I have heard that if you file from abroad, the process is expedited, but am not 100%.

Thanks and please forgive me if this is in the wrong forum....I just wasn't syre where to publish it.

Laure&Colin - thanks for your response. I am wondering about something you said - in "special circumnstances" you mentioned "USC living abroad"....is that a special circumstance that makes the process faster? I had never heard about this, but I was looking at your timeline and it seems like in your case, USC living abroad was the case, and the whole process was very quick for you.

That is the case for me....I am a USC living abroad (Chile), and got married in Dec. to my Chilean husband. In your experience, does this mean my wait times might be quicker than the averages? Your timeline seems extremely quick - I can't believe your NOA2 came by email only about 2 weeks after NOA1!

I am also wondering something similar....

All of the supporting documents to prove a bona fide relationship (such as a Lease, letter from the banks stating we have a joint account, tickets for trips together) can all be sent as just plain ole copies, right?

What about the affidavits of a bona fide relationship? Should that be an original?

Thanks!

Hi!

I have a follow up question in terms of waiting times...on the USCIS website, if you look up the California Service Center for I-130 (spouse), it says the processing time is 5 months.

However, on te Visa Journey page here: http://www.visajourney.com/content/times there is a graph on the right-hand side that chows the CSC at about 110 days (and it says it was updated today), which is much less than the 5 months that the USCIS says. Does anyone know why the huge difference between the USCIS table and the Visa Journey graph?

Thanks!

Uy........really didn't want to be the guinea pig here, but I guess that is the only option :-(

Thanks again

Thanks pushbrk, but what do you mean about "no need for the NOA1?" Just that if I fill out the G1145 I will get both NOA1 and NOA2 via email? And the packet sent by the NVC after the NOA2, they will send that to my address abroad?

Thanks again!

Thanks so much for both of your responses!

Any feedback as to my address question? I am so confused in that sense about where the NOA will arrive and whether I can list my Chilean address.

Thanks!

Hello.

I am new to this forum, so I'd like to introduce myself. I have been living in Chile for 6 years, and I met my current husband almost three years ago. We just got married in December of 2011, and are now filling out the I-130. I have tried to read through and search the many helpful threads that this site has, but I am still unclear on a few things, and would like to ask for help.

First of all, I am a bit confused as to the addresses that should be listed in the forms. I saw this post, but am confused as to the answers given: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/348080-um-where-are-they-gonna-mail-my-noa1-2/

Both of us live together in Chile, and we will therefore have to apply through the Chicago Lockbox. So, on the application:

1) where it said "what is your address" on I-130, I listed our addres in Chile

2) where it says "where do you intend to live in the US on I-130, I listed my parents' address in Oregon

3) where it says "your relative's address abroad" on the I-130, I listed the same address as our current address here in Chile

4) on G-325A the 5 year address history, I listed only my addresses in Chile.

Also, I understand that in the I-864, in Part 4, to satisfy the Country of Domicile requirement, I will go with option "B. You are living abroad temporarily," and will send my bank statements and other information in order to prove that my country of domicile is in the US.

Am I doing this correctly? If so, where will the paperwork sent from UCSIS/Chicago Lockbox/NVC (NOA, etc.) arrive?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

And now my other question as to "proof of family relationship"...

I am wondering if it is helpful to send picture to show proof of family relationship. If so, what kind of pictures are best to send? I was planning on sending 2 pictures from our wedding, in which we appear with both of our families, a few pictures of us visiting my family in the US about 6 months ago (we weren't yet married), and a few more of the two of us with the people that will be writing our affidavits of a bona fide marriage. Would this work?

In any case, the pictures will by no means be everything. We are also sending the following documents:

1. Marriage certificate, translated

2. Family registry booklet, translated

3. Letter from our bank stating that we have had a joint banking account for 9 months (does not include current balance), translated

4. Print-out from another bank showing that we have had a joint savings account for 6 months (does not include current balance), translated

5. Wedding invitation in English

6. Rental agreement for our apartment, with both of our names (signed a year and a half ago), translated

7. Letter from our realtor stating that we have been living at our current apartment for the last year and a half, translated

8. Three affidavits: 2 from family, and one from a friend

Would this most likely be enough to prove our relationship?

And lastly, as the person who posted before me, I'm a bit confused as to the format for Affidavits depending on who is signing them and where. One will be from my mother, who lives in the US and is a US citizen. Another one is from a friend (who was a witness in our wedding), who is a US citizen but currently lives here in Chile. Another one will be from my mother in law, who is Chilean and lives in Chile. I understand that the one written by my mother in law must be translated, but do any of these need to be notarized? Can they all have the same format?

I understand that US citizens just need to put this text in order to avoid having to notarize: "I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on [date]". But what about non-US citizens?

Thanks very much in advance, I'd appreciate any and all feedback that you can give!

Leana