safire

This is the part where it's up to you to prove that your relationship is bona fide. Like the poster above said, bring ever shred of paper evidence you have to prove this.

As an example, I brought 12 months of our joint bank account statements, any bills that had both of our names attached, our rental lease agreement, copy of our health insurance, I brought extra photos of us together.

I had an attorney, we put together a very large packet with copies of every bit of paper work we had received from USCIS along the way, copies of all correspondence and paperwork we had submitted, along with all identification requested, plus marriage certificates etc. Follow the instructions closely for the required paperwork.

If you submit photos, do not expect to receive these back.

Good luck!

Hello,

I am now in the US and married 2 weeks ago...and am now going to tackle all the forms for AOS etc... Can you please confirm that it is my married surname I use for all the forms? I think this makes sense but would like to double check Thanks in advance!!

Use your married name, except when instructed to use your maiden name.

Best of luck!

Oh, you're doing AOS? Not an IR-1/CR-1 visa? If you're doing AOS, then you don't go through NVC (where EP is done) or the consulate. There is no EP for AOS...

Ahh ok. Yes let me give a brief history might help!

My hubby and I met when we were children in Southern California. Our parents were involved in some volunteer work. We then parted ways at 13 years old. We re met each other in 2009. He was in the military stationed at Ft. Lewis Washington, and I was living in Vancouver, BC at the time. My contract job had just finished and he was just getting out of the military at the same time, so we decided to take a road trip to California to see all of our old friends that I hadnt seen since childhood. One thing led to another and we fell in love, got engaged in November 30th. I entered the US on November 16th, 2009. During those months we really couldn't decide if we should move to canada together or do the whole process to stay in the US. Then in January 2010 I found out I was pregnant! Still had difficulty deciding to stay or go, as my husband was unemployed. Then a mutual friend of ours hooked him up with a job in Nevada. So that settled things for us and we decided to move here. We had our little boy in September 2010. Fast forward to now and we finally got our stuff together to apply for my GC.

So now I am working on the I-130 and the I-485 packets to file together when ready. Whenever that might end up being, hopefully soon!

Canada is eligible for electronic processing, so I signed up for it

Unfortunately, Columbia is not one of those eligible countries, so you have to snail mail packages.

Ugh this is all so overwhelming! Can I sign up for electronic processing even if I'm already in the USA?

Thank you!!

In that case complete the forms in your married name. You will get the GC in your married name.

What are you filing? Are you filing CR-1 or AOS within the US?

AOS

Ok, so ran into a little confusing issue. I see this topic has been posted about before but I still would like some input from others who have gone before.

Do I put my maiden name or married name on the I-130? All of my identification is under my maiden name, Drivers License, Passport, etc. I don't believe I am able to even change my name on my passport right now as I have no supporting identification with my married name on it. They require another ID with married name on it before they will change it on my passport, which is not an option for me because I am unable to get an ID in the USA. I cannot change it on my Canadian Drivers license because I do not have an address there anymore. So, I'm thinking I should stick with my maiden name and just shell out the $$ to have that all changed later? Is that even possible once you're issued a green card? To change the maiden name to married? I would really like to use my married name eventually...

You 2 have been so helpful! Thanks so much.

And yes, I do need to read the instructions better, and I would never think of filing unless I was totally sure everything was perfect, however my little toddler is running around making messes all over the place and I"m practically tearing my hair out trying to keep up with him and start organizing this stuff on my end! Hah! The joys of mother hood, if I had only know. LoL. But yeah I just asked anyways because I like to have input from REAL people such as yourselves.

Thanks again! I'm sure I will have more questions soon.

NVC = National Visa Center. Once your I-130 gets approved at USCIS, your case gets sent to NVC for further processing (more fees and packages to be submitted).

And you can order certified copies of birth certificates online. Just Google [PROVINCE] birth certificate. That's how I found mine for Quebec. Ordered three for I think $45 and got them shipped. Arrived within a week or so if I remember correctly.

Did you get married in Canada or the US? If it was the US, then you can have your spouse simply go to the courthouse and request for one (might vary by state, but that's what we did here in South Dakota). If you got married in Canada, then I have no idea. But just Google it.

That's unfortunate. I just ordered ONE birth certificate for 60$ today and I don't want to pay another 120$ for 2 more!!! This is the one I ordered today. Certified True Copy of Birth or Marriage Registration Document $50.00* I got married in the USA, but we're not living in that state anymore. We're in Nevada, got married in California, its not a hop skip and a jump away, but not terrible I guess. *sigh* I wonder why the attorney I was going to use did not ask me for certified copy of my marriage certificate? This really sucks, now I have to shell out 120$ more. There MUST be an easier way to do this! The attorney told me I needed the certificate that had all the parental information on it, which of course was the most expensive one.

Like another member said, read the USCIS instructions. Sure VJ guides are helpful, but always follow the ACTUAL instructions. Only a COPY is required. It specifically states that in the I-130 instructions.

You WILL need an original/certified copy at NVC however, so you'll still need to obtain those for the marriage certificate and the beneficiary's birth certificate.

THANK you. What does NVC stand for? And like I asked earlier, can the post office make a certified copy or is that something I have to get from the original source.

I APOLOGIZE for not being as well versed as you on this subject. I only JUST jumped into this with both feet as of today, so PLEASE be understanding. THANK you.

You're welcome. They are not silly questions, better to ask them here and get answers than pay some Attorney thousands of dollars. I am all for keeping money out of Attorneys pockets..jejejeje...

Indeed. I ALMOST hired an attorney too, but decided I would just try it on my own. If you all can do it so can I!!

Off topic, I have no address in Canada anymore, is it bad to just put NONE in address abroad for question #19? Or should I put SOMETHING there. I have been living here for 2 1/2 years, and married for 2 years on March 26th of this year, so I'm hoping for the 10 year green card. As well as we have a 1 and a half year old child born here too.

It DOES help! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my silly questions. hehe

Take a look at the I-130 instructions provided by the USCIS. They request "a copy of the marriage certificate". The instructions further state that if a copy is requested, submit a copy. The VJ guide adds the word certified. Putting the two instructions together, I sent a copy of my certified marriage certificate. The only copies of my marriage certificate I have are certified copies, certified by the Notary in Colombia. A marriage certificate not certified by the issuing body is not legit, the marriage certificate you have most likely is certified by the issuing body, look for something official on it, approved and blessed by the person of authority at the issuing body. Same goes for your birth certificate.

I read the I-130 instructions provided by the USCIS thoroughly, I used VJ guides as supplemental guides.

Hope this helps.

I HIGHLY think you're right. BUT IT does ask for a certified copy of my marriage certificate. Do you know if a post office can make a certified copy? Thank you for your advise, I do have the instructions here, I was just a little bit confused and like to confirm.

8. A certified copy of your certified marriage certificate (again, translated if not in Engligh)

That doesn't sound like they just want a simple copy. Silly questions I know, and I'm weird about wanting to be absolutely sure before I do anything. Even if it's redundant and ridiculous.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide2

What needs to be certified copy? The marriage certificate only? Or do the other birth certificates need to be certified copies as well?

Hi all,

I'm getting together my I-130 packet. Wondering if I should send the original marriage and birth certificates in? Who can make certified copies? I'm confused on this. Will they return my originals if I send them in? I have my long form Birth Certificate from Canada on the way now.

Thanks!

Hi all,

I'm getting together my I-130 packet. Wondering if I should send the original marriage and birth certificates in? Who can make certified copies? I'm confused on this. Will they return my originals if I send them in? I have my long form Birth Certificate from Canada on the way now.

Thanks!

Thank you both for your quick replies! I was thinking of doing all the paperwork myself but I think we are going to go with an immigration lawyer, flat fee of 1250. Plus 1490 filing fees. I'm just scared to mess something up lol.

If you have a valid passport you can fly, i am assuming you are in the us and will fly domestic. When you file for your AOS, put the name on the application you want on your card. IE; first name, middle as your current last name, and husbands last name for an example. If you put your maiden name on the I485 the IO will change it at the interview no problem, they do not hyphenated names FYI. New regulations coming for two forms of government ID with a Photo, as a heads up.

Ok this is another thing... because I have not changed any of my ID because have obviously not been able to here in the USA to my husbands last name. So you're saying that I would put (my first name, my maiden name, husbands last name) ? All my canadian ID is in my maiden name. And I have no id in the USA.

Hello,

I will be filing for my GC in 2 weeks, but I was wondering if I am able to do domestic flights with just my Canadian passport. I have been in the USA for over 2 years now, married my US citizen husband in March 2010, entered the US driving across the Washington/BC border. My passport has no stamps or anything on it. Anyways its sometheing I've always wanted to know because I havent tried flying once in the past 2 years. But would love to go see my sister in Montana because I miss my family so much, whom I haven't seen in over 2 years.

Thanks for any advice!