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I will add you to the group msg 

IR-1 visa candidate here. Me and my wife @Licorne.
We got Documentarily Qualified on October/12/2019.
Could you add us to the file here please? : https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LvnDvX95_tfWtTvsJJM49PDPPvPKal0WG2rgdZHhsz0/htmlview
Thank you.

Yes, but also include a recent pay stub showing a full pay period.  Decisions about the public charge issue are made by Consular Officers as judgment calls, based on totality of circumstances.  It would be nice not to obligate others unless really necessary, but you'll want to be ready with a joint sponsor in case the Consular Officer requests/requires it.

Received a few email notifications about VJ Timelines I follow that were updated to "NVC Received" today. 
 
Decided to call the NVC to inquire about our case. Guess what? NVC RECEIVED! Yay!
 
If you are still waiting for your case to be received at the NVC, you may want to call. It looks like they may have received a chunk of February NOA2s today!

While that is true, an affidavit from somebody who actually was a close observer during the evolution of the relationship can be helpful, if they tell a good and truthful story.  Character witnesses, are useless though.

Chat logs
Emails
Timeline of your relationship 
Photos 
Evidence of visits (flights/hotels ect)
Cards for one another (Various occassions)
Marriage certificate
Tax Returns (reflecting married instead of single)
 

I like you wanted to get a head start on everything. This list isn't exhaustive but should keep you busy. I've got almost everything ready. 
 
One set of documents are the financials for the affidavit of support I-864. don't know if you'll need a joint sponsor but they'll have to collect documents to if that's the case. You'll fill out the version of I-864 that best applies to your case
 
I am collecting everything they possibly could ask for as the petitioner and sole sponsor. Some are optional. This is the overkill approach.
-Tax transcripts from three most recent years (got these online, they should be enough on their own assuming you have enough income)
-Copies of federal tax returns from three most recent years (substitute for tax transcripts if you also have W2s)
-Copies of W2, 1099s from three most recent years (substitute for transcripts if you also have tax returns)
-When I get the NOA2, I'll submit six months of pay stubs (optional)
-I'll also get an employment letter (optional)
 
Second set of documents to be submitted at NVC and interview stages
Civil documents for beneficiary
-birth certificate, translation to English if necessary, copies
-passport biographic page copies, make sure it's valid 6 months beyond intended date of entry
-police certificate from beneficiary's country of origin, any other countries where they've lived for more than 12 months after turning 16 years old, police certificate from country in which they currently reside (don't need it for U.S.)
-you'll submit a copy of marriage certificate again and beneficiary will present the original at the interview
-vaccination records for beneficiary to be used at medical exam
-any applicable divorce certificates for both beneficiary and petitioner
-plan for beneficiary to have extra copy of petitioner's proof of U.S. citizenship or domicile just in case
-proof of bona fide relationship, photos, emails, letters, messages, etc.
-at a later date, you're going to need at least 7 passport style photos of the beneficiary. I'd wait until the NVC stage. I'm going to have my benificary take ten and that should be more than enough
 
 
 
 

Look carefully at your copy of the I-130 and see if you indicated he was in the US at the time of filing.  Look also at what you entered in the section about adjusting status or consular processing.  If the first says no, and the second clearly indicates consular processing instead of adjusting status (meaning there is no city/state entered in the adjusting status field) then this is a USCIS mistake.  Call them, get a tier two representative try to resolve this.
 
If you indicated he was in the US but got the consular processing right, do the same.
 
If you indicated that he was in the US AND put something in the adjustment of status fields, then don't expect success with a phone call. Expect to file the I-824, as it was YOUR mistake, not theirs.

Send it with the new name whenever it is ready.  You do NOT have to complete the changing of ID to start using a married name.  In the US, it is legal to use any name one wishes, as long as it is not for the purpose of defrauding somebody.  Whether you can get ID in a name is a separate issue but you do NOT need ID from DMV or SS to file an I-130 under a married name.

Hello people,
 
First of many messages here, I'm sure 
My wife and I are going to apply for an IR-1 visa (we've been married for +2 years today, we got married in Montreal, Canada).
My wife's last name is "Banana" and my name is "Orange". She is in the process of changing her last name to "Banana-Orange".
She is doing the DMV first, which will take a few days, but then she has to change her social security card.
 
Question is, when can we send the I-130? When she receives her new driving licence? Or when she gets her new social security card?
 
Thank you so much!