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Is the petitioner’s original passport required at the beneficiary’s interview? When my wife has her interview, I’m not going to be in the Philippines. She has all of the other original documents required along with the photocopies. However, my concern about sending my passport is that I wouldn’t be able to travel until she mailed it back. What was your experience with this? Thanks!

Hey, everyone. Currently, I have two separate I-130 petitions in the USCIS stage: one for my spouse and one for my stepchild. In preparation for the NVC stage, I've been reading about Form I-864 so that I'll understand how to complete it correctly. I've read the I-864 instructions several times, and I've spent hours searching the VJ forums. However, I still need clarification about my specific situation. 

SUMMARY

1. I've filed separate I-130 petitions for my spouse and my stepchild, which are both in the USCIS stage.
2. My spouse and I have one biological child together, who was born abroad and lives with my spouse.
3. Our second biological child will be born soon under the same circumstances.
4. Separate CRBA filings will be made for each of our two biological children after the second is born.
5. Our first biological child doesn't have a SSN yet and couldn't be claimed on my 2017 tax return. 
6. I'll use a joint sponsor in order to meet 125% of the poverty guideline for my state.
7. The joint sponsor lives in a different state with a lower poverty guideline.

HOUSEHOLD CALCULATIONS

According to the instructions, I'm required to file separate I-864 forms for my spouse and my stepchild since I filed separate I-130 petitions for each of them. The following text is from page 4 of Form I-864 followed by my attempt at the household calculations. I've included questions in the calculations where clarification is needed. By the time that I need to submit Form I-864 to the NVC, our second biological child is expected to be born. That's why I've included our second biological child in certain household calculation questions. Please let me know what the correct household calculations should be on each form.

FORM I-864 — PAGE 4

Part 5. Sponsor's Household Size
NOTE: Do not count any member of your household more than once.

Persons you are sponsoring in this affidavit:
1. Provide the number you entered in Part 3., Item Number 28. _____

Persons NOT sponsored in this affidavit:

2. Yourself. _____
3. If you are currently married, enter "1" for your spouse. _____
4. If you have dependent children, enter the number here. _____
5. If you have any other dependents, enter the number here. _____
6. If you have sponsored any other persons on Form I-864 or Form I-864 EZ who are now lawful permanent residents, enter the number here. _____
7. OPTIONAL: If you have siblings, parents, or adult children with the same principal residence who are combining their income with yours by submitting Form I-864A, enter the number here. _____
8. Add together Part 5., Item Numbers 1. - 7. and enter the number here. _____

FOR SPOUSE

PETITIONER FORM I-864
1. — 1 (Spouse Beneficiary)
2. — 1 (Petitioner)
3. — If I enter "1" for my spouse, she would be counted twice since she's the same person being sponsored. Should I enter "0" instead?
4. — Should I enter "3" (stepchild + two biological children) or "0" since none of them could be claimed on my 2017 tax return?
5. — 0
6. — 0
7. — 0
8. — (Depends on the correct answers above.)

JOINT SPONSOR FORM I-864
1. — 1 (Petitioner's Spouse Beneficiary)
2. — 1 (Joint Sponsor)
3. — 1 (Joint Sponsor's Spouse)
4. — 0
5. — 0
6. — 0
7. — 0
8. — 3

FOR STEPCHILD

PETITIONER FORM I-864
1. — 1 (Stepchild Beneficiary)
2. — 1 (Petitioner)
3. — 1 (Petitioner's Spouse)
4. — Should I enter "2" (two biological children) or "0" since none of them could be claimed on my 2017 tax return?
5. — 0
6. — 0
7. — 0
8. — (Depends on the correct answer above.)

JOINT SPONSOR FORM I-864
1. — 1 (Petitioner's Stepchild Beneficiary)
2. — 1 (Joint Sponsor)
3. — 1 (Joint Sponsor's Spouse)
4. — 0
5. — 0
6. — 0
7. — 0
8. — 3

OTHER QUESTIONS

1. My family will live with me in my state of residence, which has a higher poverty guideline than the state where the joint sponsor lives. Which state will the joint sponsor be required to meet the financial requirements for: his state of residence or my state of residence? 

2. On page 12 of the I-864 instructions, it states:

"If the first joint sponsor completes Form I-864 for some rather than all the family members, a second qualifying joint sponsor will be required to sponsor the remaining family members. There may be no more than two joint sponsors. A joint sponsor must be able to meet the income requirements for all the persons he or she is sponsoring without combining resources with the petitioning sponsor or a second joint sponsor."

It's my understanding that only one joint sponsor is allowed. Does the above instruction allow the possibility for one joint sponsor to sponsor my spouse and a second joint sponsor to sponsor my stepchild? That's not what I intend to do, but I'm wondering if the instructions allows for such scenarios.

For any IR-1/CR-1 beneficiaries from the Philippines who have been through the interview stage:

Were you ever asked to provide a certificate of employment to prove your own employment history (not the petitioner's employment history)? My wife (beneficiary) has had 4 different employers. However, the 2 most recent employers won't issue her a COE since her employment with them didn't last long. Is this a potential problem, or are beneficiaries not asked to provide a COE for their own work history?

Additional Questions:

Page 3 — Question 38
“Have you obtained a Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship?”

Since I’m a US citizen, should I select “No”, or should I not answer that question either way?

Page 6 — Question 33
“Provide information about the beneficiary’s spouse and children.”

Should I list my wife’s son who I’m filing a separate I-130 for? Should I list our daughter who I’m not petitioning since she already has US citizenship through me?

VJ Community,

I'm preparing to submit IR-1 packets for my wife and stepson. However, I need help completing Form I-130. I apologize if any of the following questions have been answered already. I don’t have much time to read through past posts. Thanks for your help.

Page 2 — Question 12
“Provide your physical addresses for the last five years.”

My wife and I had a joint lease for an apartment in her home country which lasted 1 year. During that time, I physically lived with her there for 3 months. However, I also continued to have a physical address in the United States. The apartment we had in my wife’s home country will be listed on Page 8, Question 59 as the last address at which we physically lived together. Should I also list that apartment here?

Page 5 — Question 10
“Has anyone else ever filed a petition for the beneficiary?”

Many years ago, my wife’s grandparents filed a petition to bring her parents to the United States. My wife is included as one of her parents’ children. The case is still ongoing. Should I answer “Yes”?

Page 5 — Question 12
“Provide the address in the United States where the beneficiary intends to live…”

I’m going to move to a new location within the same city before my wife and children arrive. As a result, I don’t know exactly where we’re going to live yet. Should I answer “Undetermined”?

Page 6 — Question 25
“Provide information about the beneficiary’s spouse and children.”

Should I actually list myself?

Page 7 — Question 48
“Travel Document Number”

I already entered my wife’s Passport Number for Question 47. Should I also enter her Passport Number for Question 48, or should I leave it blank?

Page 8 — Question 59
“If filing for your spouse, provide the last address at which you physically lived together.”

As mentioned earlier, our apartment lease lasted for 1 year. We physically lived together for 3 months. Should the “Date From” and “Date To" be listed as the 3 month period that we physically lived there together, or should it be listed as the 1 year period of our lease?

Page 8 — Question 61
“The beneficiary is in the United States…”

The beneficiary isn’t in the United States. Should I leave it blank, or should I type “N/A”?

Page 8 — Question 62
“The beneficiary will not apply for adjustment of status in the United States, but he or she will apply for an immigrant visa abroad…”

I don’t understand this question. How should I answer it?

Page 8 — Question 6
“If you are also submitting separate petitions for other relatives, provide the names of and your relationship to each relative.”

I’m going to submit a separate petition for my stepson. Should I list him here? When I submit a separate Form I-130 for my stepson’s IR-1 packet, should I list my wife for this question?

Pages 10—11

I didn’t use an interpreter, and I’m the preparer of the petition. Should I leave these pages blank, or should I enter “N/A” in each field?

Bio I was referring to is the 325. Someone previously crossed that out. Each packet should contain identical docs as pertains to the individual (no MC in your son's, duh). Total redundancy, but that's what USCIS wants.

Correct. Leave that space blank. I didn't and got a RFE. Actually I thought (misguided) that my step-daughter could be on the same ap. Big mistake on my part.

I see. In that case, I'll include the G-325A in my stepson's packet.

Understood about the I-130. Thanks again for the information.

I'd send your bio with your son's packet. At some point you will need PSA BC's not the LCR version. Sequentially number each page before copying and sending. Some where in your cover letter state that you are filing for spouse and dependent and you want both to processed together at USCIS and NVC.

On the I130 there is a question about who will be applying on this document. Leave that blank on your wife's. I entered my step daughter's name and it got rejected. Have your wife apply for passport with your surname. Much easier in the future.

Thanks for the helpful information. I have the PSA birth certificates of both my wife and stepson. Each PSA birth certificate has a corresponding LCR certificate. I'll make sure to number each page sequentially. Noted about the cover letter. My wife has already obtained a new passport, SSS card, and other photo ID's with my surname.

What should my bio consist of? Do you have an example?

Just to clarify about my wife's Form I-130, I'm not supposed to enter my stepson's name where it asks who will be applying on that document, correct? I'll leave that field blank.

Thank you to everyone who replied!

The I-864 is for the NVC stage. It won't be required for some time.

Joint sponsors also complete an I-864. Household members who are combining with a joint sponsor to reach the required amount complete an I-864A. But that is some months away yet.

No G325A required for minors.

Include a selection of photos of you over the course of the relationship. Don't go overboard as photos are secondary evidence anyway. I sent two or three from each year of our relationship showing that we had seen each other several times a year. 5 photos each taken at different times are much better than 200 wedding photos from the same day.

For FedEx use the commercial courier address for Phoenix.

Your answers were especially helpful. Much appreciated!

I have crossed out the documents that you do not need to send to USCIS; but you should save them as you will need them for when you get to the NVC & Interview stages. JFH has already answered your other questions Good luck on your visa journey!

Noted. Thank you!

Hi, just to add make sure you make at least 3 copies of all of everything that you have document, civil. And personal cuz you will need to have on your journey And make a duplicate package of what you send in to uscis

Definitely. I'll make a duplicate package of my official USCIS submission.

we submitted copy of CFO certificate and copy of passport with married name with our I-130. Several have posted that it is not necessary. But from our perspective, it was just more proof.

We share the same perspective.

Greetings, VJ community!

I’m preparing to begin the CR-1 visa process for my wife and her adolescent son. Both are citizens of the Philippines, and I’m a US citizen. Based on my state residence, I’ll be mailing their I-130 packets to the USCIS Phoenix Lockbox. I’ve read many posts on VJ forums about the CR-1 process, including the IR-1/CR-1 Guide. However, I wanted to consult with the VJ members for any advice before the I-130 packets are mailed. The following documents will be included in the I-130 packets.

1. Cover Page
2. Payment
3. Cover Letter
4. Form G-1145
5. Form I-130
6. Form I-864
7. Form G-325A — Petitioner
8. Passport Style Photo — Petitioner
9. Form G-325A — Spouse
10. Passport Style Photo — Spouse
11. Birth Certificate — Petitioner
12. Birth Certificate — Spouse
13. LCR Legitimation — Spouse Birth Certificate
14. Current Passport — Spouse
15. Expired Passport — Spouse
16. CFO Guidance & Counseling Certificate — Spouse
17. Marriage Certificate
18. Report of Marriage
19. Advisory of Marriage
20. CENOMAR — Spouse
21. Joint Apartment Lease
22. Family Photos
23. Remittance Receipts
24. Passport Stamps — Petitioner
25. Passport Stamps — Spouse
26. Flight Itineraries
27. Hotel Vouchers
28. Wedding Package Voucher

1. Cover Page
2. Payment
3. Cover Letter
4. Form G-1145
5. Form I-130
6. Form G-325A — Petitioner
7. Passport Style Photo — Petitioner
8. Passport Style Photo — Stepchild
9. Birth Certificate — Petitioner
10. Birth Certificate — Stepchild
11. LCR Legitimation — Stepchild Birth Certificate
12. Passport — Stepchild
13. Marriage Certificate — Petitioner & Spouse
14. Report of Marriage — Petitioner & Spouse
15. Advisory of Marriage — Petitioner & Spouse
16. CENOMAR — Spouse
17. Family Photos

1. My wife and I were married in Fiji. In addition to our Fiji marriage certificate, we filed an official Report of Marriage with the Philippine Embassy.
   
2. We obtained our Report of Marriage on SECPA (security paper) from the PSA. The PSA confirmed to us that our SECPA Report of Marriage is our marriage contract in the Philippines.
   
3. Our SECPA Report of Marriage has been authenticated in the Philippines by both the PSA and the DFA (red ribbon process).

1. Are there any documents that should be added or removed?
   
2. Should the order of the documents in either packet be changed?
   
3. The USCIS lists the I-130 filing fee as $420 for each person. As a result, my total filing fee will be $840. Because I don’t have any checks available, I’ll pay with two separate money orders of $420 each purchased from the USPS. The I-130 instructions from the USCIS state to make money orders payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security”. However, no address is given. Do I need to include an address for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, or can I leave that section blank on the money orders?
   
4. Should I include Form I-864 with the I-130 packets, or will it be required at a later stage in the CR-1 process?
   
5. If I need to get a joint sponsor, which form do they need to complete? Is it Form I-864, Form I-864A, or a different form?
   
6. Should my stepson’s packet include a Form G-325A for himself?
   
7. Should my stepson’s packet include his passport style photo?
   
8. How many family photos should I provide as evidence of a bonafide marriage?
   
9. I’ll be mailing both I-130 packets in the same envelope through Fedex. The USCIS Phoenix Lockbox lists a separate mailing address for express mail and commercial courier deliveries. Does that include Fedex?