I130 for stepchildren

[jlvr 1]

The guides are fuzzy on procedure for bringing stepchildren to the US. When I file the I130, do I have to file the other forms, I864, DS230?

[sdw 10]

You must file the following with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services:

* Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

* A copy of your birth certificate or U.S. passport

* If you were not born in the U.S., a copy of either:

o your Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship or

o your U.S. passport

* A copy of the child’s birth certificate showing the child’s name and the names of both parents

* A copy of civil marriage certificate showing the names of both parents, or proof that a parent/child relationship exists or existed (if you are petitioning for a stepchild, your marriage to the child’s parent must take place before the stepchild’s 18th birthday)

* A copy of any divorce decrees, death certificates, or annulment decrees that establish the termination of any previous marriages entered into by you or your spouse

The I864 and ds230 will come along later on once the I130 has been approved and your file goes to NVC.

[aaron2020 11,651]

The guides are fuzzy on procedure for bringing stepchildren to the US. When I file the I130, do I have to file the other forms, I864, DS230?

If the stepchild was under the age of 18 when the marriage between the US citizen and the foreign biological parent occurred, it is exactly like the USC parent petitioning for his/her own child. The only additional requirement is the marriage certificate for the parent and stepparent. The US citizen stepparent files Form I-130. After USCIS approve it, the petitioner will be contacted to file the I-864 and the beneficiary will be contacted to file the DS-230. If the child is under age 21 when the petition is filed, the child will be an Immediate Relative and the process should take 6-12 months. If the child is over age 21, then it will take about 4-5 years for the child to get a visa.

If the marriage occurred after the stepchild's 18th birthday, only the LRP parent can petition for the child. The USC stepparent cannot file for any child who was 18 or older when the marriage occurred. Same filing requirement as above. It will take 4 to 17 years for the child to get a visa depending on the national origin of the child.

[jlvr 1]

*whew* Wiping brow and all that...

That's what I thought, but I started to panic as I looked at the forms required for other I130 filings. Last minute anxieties.

Thanks a lot for your replies.

[rogblake 0]

Uh Oh..

Is there a seperate payment due for the seperate I-130 for the stepchild? $355.00 times two?

[payxibka 10,045]

Uh Oh..

Is there a seperate payment due for the seperate I-130 for the stepchild? $355.00 times two?

Yup, it is $355 * the number of petitions being submitted

separate fee payments (checks) as well

[Eli the Barrowboy 16]

Uh Oh..

Is there a seperate payment due for the seperate I-130 for the stepchild? $355.00 times two?

it's $185 to file the i-130 - can't believe it takes 6-12 months for the visa to arrive ....

[payxibka 10,045]

it's $185 to file the i-130 - can't believe it takes 6-12 months for the visa to arrive ....

No it isn't..... been $355 since 7/30/2007

Edited January 20, 2010 by payxibka

[NArocks 13]

And if the marriage is under 2 years then you have to do the I-751 times however many step Children This I know.

And yes now it is 355.00 each for the I-130 please do not put incorrect information.

[Darnell 8,478]

it's $185 to file the i-130 - can't believe it takes 6-12 months for the visa to arrive ....

Not for Chicago Lockbox, it's not. Where would you normally send that 185 to?

[Eli the Barrowboy 16]

Thanks for the heads up guys ... I had the old form plus check all ready to go to Nebraska tomorrow ... the old download the form from visajourney not USCIS trap. Phew ... depressed they raised the fee though.

[payxibka 10,045]

Thanks for the heads up guys ... I had the old form plus check all ready to go to Nebraska tomorrow ... the old download the form from visajourney not USCIS trap. Phew ... depressed they raised the fee though.

ummm... the VJ forms are direct links to the USCIS website so your trap was not that....

[Eli the Barrowboy 16]

I looked back at where I got the file ... believe it or not it was on the USCIS website ... Google"form i 130 instructions" and the number one return is Rev. 06/05/02.

That'll teach me not to read the expiry date.

Oh well, all sent off today with correct form and fee.

Is there a section on VJ for watching i-130 application times for children?

Also, can our daughter enter the US on a tourist visa while her i-130 is pending? We wanted her here for the summer but if her visa won't be available for 6-12 months maybe she won't make it.

Finally, can her Mum or a member of my family in the UK accompany her to the interview or do they expect me/my wife to attend?

R.