Pistons_09

Thanks..I hope everything is going OK...Will give it another week!

No NOA1 yet for my I-129F, even though USPS delivery confirmation shows received on 4/28/09.

For my I-130, everything has been in time. NOA1 was sent on 4/21/09 and my app was last touched on 4/22/09.

Should I be concerned with the no NOA1 yet for the I-129F and call someone at USCIS? Or just let things be?

nowhere in the economic / finance theories I read or practice did I come across something that says it's natural for only a select group to overpay!

not to say that it's not interesting...the whole concept of a 'foreigner' overpaying because it's natural....definitely interesting...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_discrimination

Price discrimination exists when sales of identical goods or services are transacted at different prices from the same provider.

Note "price discrimination" is not a negative term. B-schools and economists advocate price discrimination. Ultimately, at the very basic level its customer segmentaiton.

Now, that said do I agree with it? Its tough. I have been the victim of it a few times. Most of the times I just let the native pay and keep my mouth shut.

Really, all that matters is that you are legally married, regardless of where you got married. If neither petitioner ever lived in place X, then so be it. This is a non-issue, no need to contrive any explanations or answers on forms. Certainly don't go back and get married again. You're married. Married is married. "Bona fides" are about the relationship, not the wedding.

Thanks! I guess what I am ultimately concerned is that since neither of us are (and never have been) residents of place X, the consulate may say its not valid since the laws (local or federal, I'm not sure) say that one of us should be a resident.

No objection for getting married any where but what US consulate you chose on form I-129F, question#20 and this is related to question #8 of I-130 and G-325A (place of marriage).

Even if beneficiary mentioned “place X” on G-325A (address for last five years), just about 4-5 months or less is good enough (for marriage certificate). Remember if you wrote six months and more on G-325A and on DS-230 question #20 (if applicable in your case), then you need police clearance.

All I am trying to say you just need one address of “place X’ on any of these form for not choosing option #2 and 3.

Hi..Thanks for responding, but neither my spouse or I am a resident of "Place X". I am a resident of US, my grandfather lives in Place X. Spouse lives somewhere else entirely in India.

Basics:

Me (USC) and my spouse (Indian Citizen) were married, however not in her hometown but rather my grandfather's hometown ("Place X"). The certificate states that I reside in Place X, as one of us needed to be shown as a resident there to obtain a marriage certificate.

Will this cause a problem in the K3 petitions being approved and/or the interview? Basically, will there be any objections to the validity of the marriage based on my place of residence stated on the certificate?

My options:

1) Do nothing and file with certificate as is

2) Get a new certificate that states I am from the USA or "Place X/USA"

3) Go back and get married again in her hometown.

Thanks!

(I posted this question in the Asia forum but posting here as well)

PIO- Person of Indian origin

OIC--Overseas Indian citizenship

These are kind of like green card of India, since you have Indian roots you are eligible for these. I am really not sure how much your Indian residency would be a problem. Make sure you have all the other bonafide relationship proofs, as much as possible.

I had arya samaj wedding and never registered it, Indian CO gave me a hard time but when the time came for real interview, American CO didn't even question it.

You don't state which path you would be going through, if you are going through CR-1 and NVC doesn't object anything about your marriage certificate then it shouldn't be a problem at consulate stage.

Sorry for the late reply. And thanks again for your responses.

As my main concern is speed of my spouse coming to the US, I'll be going for a K3.

I think I'll try to get it corrected or to at least state that my perm residence is USA.

If you had a religious ceremony and then filed for marriage certificate then its not a problem. People always do religious ceremony and then file for marriage registration certificate because it is much faster that way.

So, the fact that I was "shown" as a resident of the hometown, when I'm clearly not, won't raise eyebrows?

Thanks for your replies! This website is a godsend

Oh yes, that is a problem but do you have something like IOC or PIO with you? Which would prove your ties to India.

I'm not even sure what those are! I'm a US-born citizen and have never lived in India (outside of brief visits).

If you had a religious ceremony and then filed for marriage certificate then its not a problem. People always do religious ceremony and then file for marriage registration certificate because it is much faster that way.

So, the fact that I was "shown" as a resident of the hometown, when I'm clearly not, won't raise eyebrows?

Thanks for your replies! This website is a godsend

According to Indian civil marriage law, at least 1 of the party, either bride or groom has to live in a city for 30 days thus obtaining residency before filing for civil wedding ceremony.

You did say that it is your wife's grandfather's place, so even if the question arises, she can show that she has tie to that specific city. And since the requirement is only of 1 month, it wouldn't be a matter, even if you guys don't have any proof of when she came to that city, you can always make a notarized affidavit from grandfather stating that she lived with him for a month prior to the wedding.

Also she won't have to get any PCC from that specific district because the requirement was for only 1 month.

About the case you read, if I my memory serves I think you read about laurarajesh case. They didn't have a civil wedding, they had a proxy marriage of what I know and CO had many other objections to that case. I am not really sure about their update but do think they are still under AP.

Actually it was my grandfather's hometown (I am a US citizen). And I was not in India for 30 days. However, it was not a court marriage. (We had a religious ceremony and then filed for the certificate following)

No it wont be any problem... U can get married anywhere in india... I live in punjab and i got marroed in new delhi and we got approved the same day...

Good luck

But will the fact that neither of us are residents (I am a US citizen residing in US) of city listed on the certificate cause a problem. This is for a K3 visa.

I read that someone was denied visa at Delhi on the basis that the USC didn't stay 1 month in India prior to getting the marriage certificate. Hence the concern for my issue..

Here is the issue :

My wife and I (US Citizen) were married in India but not in her hometown. It was in my grandfather's hometown. So, for the purpose of obtaining the marriage certificate, they showed that my residence was my grandfather's hometown in India. This most likely cannot be changed or corrected as one of us needs to be a resident of that town.

Will this cause a problem during the approval of the I-130 or during the interview?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I thought of updating my address on the USCIS website to my uncle's place in Michigan. That way the service center will remain the same (CSC).

This should work?

What part of India is your wife from? If she is taking your name after marriage, then she is allowed to change her name.

Based on your earlier post, the marriage date is also incorrect on that certificate, you need to get that changed. If you list the incorrect marriage date on the petitions and USCIS finds out, you will have more of a wait than the 2-3 months.

Hi, the marriage date is not incorrect. The filing date is different from the marriage date, but the actual marriage date is correct.

Hi all..Thanks for the replies. Unfortunately, it seems that getting the marriage certificate corrected is not so simple. At the best we are looking at 2-3 months. Even still, it would include her father's name as her "middle" name as is required by city law. (Things are not as straightforward in some parts of India).

We don't want to keep waiting to start the process. What would be our best bet now? Don't send anything or send an affadivit explaining the mistakes?

If person is do not live at the temporary address more then 6-months then use “parent’s permanent address” on all forms.

Thanks...I'm thinking of the following:

Use perm address for 1 & 2 -> I believe they use this to mail the package out. By the time they do, she would have moved out of her temp address.

Put temp address in address history (3 above)

Does this sound OK?

My spouse currently lives in a temporary residence, she will be moving back with her parents in a few months. Her parents address is permanent and is listed on her passport.

There are 3 places on the I-130 and G325 forms where it asks for the spouse's address:

1) I-130, first page (Question 2, Part C). Should I use permanent address or temporary?

2) I-130, second page (Question 19). Permanent address or temporary?

3) G325. Address History. Permanent address or temporary?

Thanks again!!

I'm not sure if it will or will not cause your petition to be transferred.

Does anyone know for sure?

Filing and marriage can be different dates, so your marriage date is the date you married. Get the certificate corrected.

I was hoping I didn't have to get it corrected as it will take a few weeks!

Will a note explaining the mistakes suffice?

Change of address with USPS only lasts for so long. what will you do after the mail forwarding expires. If your address changes while your petition is in process ,you are required to notify USCIS within 30 days of the move.

Will that cause my petition to be transferred to VSC?

Sorry, few last questions re: I-130 (Hopefully!):

Our marriage certificate (done in India) has a few mistakes on it:

1) My wife doesn't have a legal middle name. However, on the certificate it lists her father's name as her middle name (which typical in India).

2) The certificate, when read in English, switched the cities of residences for me and my wife. (ie, It says I reside where she lives and vice versa). It also says that I reside in India.

- For 1 and 2, should I: attempt to get a corrected certificate, include a note in my I-130 package explaining the mistakes, or do nothing?

3) Also, while not a mistake, the certificate states that the marriage was solemnized on March 3, 2009. However the date on the certificate (ie, when it was filed) states March 4, 2009. Which date should I use as our marriage date?

Thank you so much!

If you intend to move back with your parents after your graduation soon (is that in May of this year?), you should probably put your parents address in section B2(address information about you, the petitioner). This will also be the address where communication from USCIS will be sent....so if your address is going to be changing soon, you may want to have the more 'permanent' address of your parents reflected on the I-130 and have that address be the determinant of the service center.

But in that case I may end up with VSC. I'm thinking that when I move, I can file a change of address via the USPS to forward all mail to my parent's address.

I am sending my I-130 in a few days. Had a question about which service center I will send my I-129F to. I would like for it to go to CSC.

My current address is in Michigan. However, I will be graduating soon, thus the address where my spouse intends to live will (for now) be my parent's address in Maryland.

Which address (if any) will determine the service center? Thanks!

I'm about to start the I-130 process for EITHER K3 or CR1. Two questions:

1) I'm still not sure which visa we want to go for (K3 or CR1). My main concern is speed, ie, my wife should be here asap. At what point should I make the decision regarding which visa to go for? Can I file the I-130 now and decide later?

2) For the I-130, evidence of bona fide marriage - we don't have any joint property/bank account, etc. We got court married. Is an affidavit from my parents (both US citizens) sufficient? I can also include picture taken at court (me and wife with the official) or pictures of our engagement ceremony.

Hey guys thanks for the replies. After getting over the initial shock, I think we are OK with it. Whatever happened has happened, there is absolutely no sense in risking the rest of our lives for 3 months. Thanks to everyone for helping me see straight!

We will still try the visitor's visa route, but will probably do after the process for K3. Figure the chances of her getting the visitor's visa is the same anyways (and I realize its slim) so might as well get the ball rolling for K3. Unless anyone thinks differently?