HeidiItaly

No, not necessary. At least in Naples (from our very recent experience).

Rob, don't worry. Just bring the letter/statement....they don't want anything additional in Naples.

Rob, I just wrote a simple letter like you stated in your intial post. The Naples embassy didn't have any problems accepting. Just make sure your wife dates it, includes her full name, a statement that she is filing on behalf of you (your full name, include the NPL # too), and then the statement about why she doesn't have tax returns for the years 2008 and 2009. Then have her sign and date the bottom. That's it! Good luck, waiting to hear when your appointment is. We leave in one week for the US, so I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Hang in there, you're almost finished! GOOD LUCK!

One more thing about I864: at points 12 and 13 they ask for the sponsor address. In my wife's case, should we put the italian or the US address? (She lives in Italy with me still). Also, since I am unemployed and my wife too (she is finishinh schoo land start working in July) is it ok to write income 0 (zero) right? Her grandma will be our joint sponsor. Also, can I list my co-owned italian apartment?

Thanks!

Your wife should put her Italian address (the one she shares with you). Yes, you put "zero" income and your wife should include a statement as to why she has zero income (and why she doesn't have a tax return for 2009). You can include your co-owned property in Italy, but in the end, they will only consider 50% of the appraised value towards the I864. I own property here in Italy, but I chose not to use it on the I864 because it would require an appraisal (extra paperwork). We had a co-sponser and since they met all the requirements for support, I just relied on that.

As far as the name, if your still worried, email the embassy. If they say there is no problem, print the email and bring it with you to the interview (to cover all your bases).

I was thinking to put Antonio as well and bring along a copy of my father's ID as a proof,would that be ok?

Rob, my husband had a birth certificate with a middle (2nd name) on it, but all his other documents didn't have this name. I emailed Christina at the embassy and she said it was no problem. In Italy (I understand), its very common to have a second name on the birth certificate (they used to seperate name with a "vergola"). Don't stress, email the embassy if you're still unsure, but I'm sure it won't matter in the end.

Believe me, don't stress too much. The whole process was much easier than we imagined and the embassy in Naples was very easy to deal with. Good luck!

Anybody?

The consular report of a birth abroad is accepted in lieu of a birth certificate. I know, because when my husband had his interview at Naples a month ago, he had to present my childrens' birth certificates and my youngest son has exactly that. Don't worry, there's no problem. If you are super-concerned email Christina Woods at the Embassy in Naples. She is the one who actually interviews you at the embassy and collects all your paperwork (she is really nice and flexible).

One more thing, Rob. When my husband went they asked for his military records (or a paper saying that he was never in the military). Unfortunately, I misunderstood about this and didn't include it in our packet. Luckily Ms. Woods was really kind and accepted the packet without the paper that said my husband was never in the military. So, you might want to make sure you have this paper, just in case you don't get interviewed by Ms. Woods. Hope this helps!

Well, my husband had his Interview today in Naples and was APPROVED!!!! Yea, thank goodness! I wasn't able to go with him (kids in school), but he said it all went smooth and easy and that the people at the embassy were very easy-going and flexible. He picks up his visa today after 5pm at the Mail Boxes Etc. YEAAAA!

How long did it take from when you got your approval letter from Rome to when Naples sent the Packet? It seems like Naples is pretty backed up right now.

It took maybe three weeks. It was quick for us. It seems to be quicker for CR-1/IR-1 visas, though. Plus we've been married for 10years with two kids.

Let us know when your interview is set for!!

Interview is finally set for April 20th......woohoo! Seems quick, only hope the process at the embassy itself goes as smoothly.

Faxed embassy today Ds-230 Part 1 and Applicants Statement. Received an immediate email response telling me everything was fine and to wait one week and then call the Visa Appointment phone number to make our appointment. Almost done! Thank goodness!

Thanks Heidi, I will soon!

One thing: is the police certificate needed for me only or also for the US petitioner? And the birth certificate? Thanks a lot!

Only your police certificate and birth certificate are needed. Your wife should have already submitted her proof of US citizenship when you submitted your I-130. Make sure when you get your birth certificate that it is the "estratto di nascita con paternita' e maternita'" or sometimes known as "Art. 3". You have to have your parents names listed on your birth certificate and the usual "estratto di nascita" doesn't have their names on it. Hope this helps! By the way, I sent you an email with downloads...hopefully you received it already. Good luck!

-Heidi

Rob, if you need the download I can email it to you (if you want to give your email address in a private message). I don't know if I can post it on here....I'm not that technically gifted.

Rob, Christeen is right, you just show the bank statement (or a letter from your wife's bank in the US) showing her balance and name on the account. If you are going to use a co-sponser, from what I understand, they must currently reside in the US...so I don't think you can use your father-in-law. However, your wifes grandmother could be a possible sponser (should you need it).

Hey, me again! As far as I understand, your need for loans in the future have nothing to do with your I-864 now. When you fill out the form, include your wifes assets (bank account) and current salary (if applicable), then make sure that it's 5x the 125%poverty line requirements if your ONLY using assets (Naples requires 5x when using assets, other consulates only require 3x). If you don't reach the 5x 125%poverty line, then you will need a co-sponser.

Hope that helps!

Download the files that include the forms/instructions, and then start collecting all the things you'll need (birth cert, police records, marriage cert). Exciting and intimidating at the same time, isn't it?

Congrats Rob!

It seems the embassy in Rome takes much longer to process requests by mail rather than by person. Hang in there and keep calling/emailing them. Also, don't forget to check the "junk" file in your email (sometimes their messages get put there). Let us know how things go!

Hi again! You will be fine, I know from 2-3 people before us that you can have an interview within 3 weeks of your call to have the appointment, so you will be done by March if you gather all the docs! Good luck!! Please let's stay in touch!

Thanks for the reassurance! Before I found this website, I was playing everything by ear...so it's nice to find other people in the same situation that can relate to the stress and confusion. Let's keep posting here and let me know when you receive your NOA from Rome. Til next time!

We filed in person. I know how the Italian postal system can be, and didn't want it to get lost. We were notified of the acceptance via letter from Rome. The letter stated that the application had been accepted and that it was forwarded to Naples (in order to complete the process). We, too, are planning to return to the US in the summer....so I'm hoping to get an appointment quickly (want the visa approved before we buy plane tickets). Filing in person probably makes things go faster, but I'm sure you'll get your approval soon!

Hi people,

my I-130 was received by the Embassy in Rome on mid Dec 2009, but for one month it was stuck since they requested some info to my wife but they sent an email to the wrong address - thank God we checked ourselves! I was told the process would take 4-6 months in total, so it should be over by mid July, hopefully before that! So far, communication via email is quite smooth and fast... Will keep you posted, still waiting for approval for petition!

Hey Rob, I'm American and my husband is Italian. We're going through the same process right now. We filed our I-130 in Rome on Dec. 30, but we were lucky that we were approved and received our notice a week and a half later. In early January we received an email from the Naples office with all the forms (DS-230, vaccination info/med. forms, I-864, etc). We are now nearly finished collecting police reports and birth certificates and will soon be faxing the required forms to Naples so that we can get our appointment. Hope everything goes smoothly for you and good luck with the process!