Gathering documents to file for I-130

[newbie_00 0]

Still waiting for G325-A to arrive in a mail(singed by spouse), so i can go ahead with the I-130 processing.

So far here is what i have, minus signed G325-A from beneficiary

1. cover letter listing enclosed documents

2. marriage certificate

3. Completed form I-130

4. G325-A (petitioner)

5. G325-A (beneficiary --waiting)

6. 1 passport size pic each

7. letter explaining detailed time line of our journey till the marriage day

8. Print out of phone bill to prove on going relationship

9. Receipt from different restaurants while we were together

10. Copy of Itinerary, receipt of air ticket, visa and boarding pass

11. Pictures from wedding with her family

12. 3rd party affidavit from a friend who attended the wedding. (does this need to be notarized?)

Anything I am missing?

Also i live in NY, should i be filing in Vermont Service Center or Chicago Lock box?

Thank you everyone for the inputs.... will have more questions once i am ready to send the I-130 package.

[Jaxson 0]

Still waiting for G325-A to arrive in a mail(singed by spouse), so i can go ahead with the I-130 processing.

So far here is what i have, minus signed G325-A from beneficiary

1. cover letter listing enclosed documents

2. marriage certificate

3. Completed form I-130

4. G325-A (petitioner)

5. G325-A (beneficiary --waiting)

6. 1 passport size pic each

7. letter explaining detailed time line of our journey till the marriage day

8. Print out of phone bill to prove on going relationship

9. Receipt from different restaurants while we were together

10. Copy of Itinerary, receipt of air ticket, visa and boarding pass

11. Pictures from wedding with her family

12. 3rd party affidavit from a friend who attended the wedding. (does this need to be notarized?)

Anything I am missing?

Also i live in NY, should i be filing in Vermont Service Center or Chicago Lock box?

Thank you everyone for the inputs.... will have more questions once i am ready to send the I-130 package.

Wow! You have assembled a lot of things. Maybe you want to save some of the evidence for later on in the process. At this stage your marriage certificate should be sufficient. You need proof of citizenship, like a copy of your birth certificate(if you are a citizen by birth), copy of your U.S. passport, or naturalization certificate(if applicable)

[estrellademiel 7]

Wow! You have assembled a lot of things. Maybe you want to save some of the evidence for later on in the process. At this stage your marriage certificate should be sufficient. You need proof of citizenship, like a copy of your birth certificate(if you are a citizen by birth), copy of your U.S. passport, or naturalization certificate(if applicable)

THE ONLY THING IS MISSING IS THE CHECK OR MONEY ORDER WITH THE FEE.. BUT SURE YOU KNOW THIS RIGHT??

1. cover letter listing enclosed documents

2. marriage certificate

3. Completed form I-130

4. G325-A (petitioner)

5. G325-A (beneficiary --waiting)

6. 1 passport size pic each..DONT FORGET TO WRITE DOWN NAMES AND DATE OF BIRTH

7. letter explaining detailed time line of our journey till the marriage day NOT NECCESARY

8. Print out of phone bill to prove on going relationship NOT NECCESARY

9. Receipt from different restaurants while we were together NOT NECCESARY

10. Copy of Itinerary, receipt of air ticket, visa and boarding pass NOT NECCESARY

11. Pictures from wedding with her family NOT NECCESARY

12. 3rd party affidavit from a friend who attended the wedding. (does this need to be notarized?) NOT NECCESARY

REALLY LEAVE ALL THAT STUFF FOR THE INTERVIEW..IF YOU WANT JUST SEND 1 OR 2 PICTURES..WE DID NOT SEND ANYTHING WITH OUR PACKAGE AND WE WERE OK

IF YOU LIVE IN ANY OF THIS PLACES:

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands, West Virginia, or District of Columbia

YOU SHOULD SEND YOUR PACKAGE TO THIS ADDRESS

USCIS

P.O. Box 804616

Chicago, IL 60680-4107

IF YOU LIVE IN ONE OF THIS PLACES:

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, or Wyoming

YOU SHOULD SEND IT TO THIS ONE

USCIS

P.O. Box 804625

Chicago, IL 60680-4107

GOOD LUCK

[Darnell 8,478]

Wow! You have assembled a lot of things. Maybe you want to save some of the evidence for later on in the process. At this stage your marriage certificate should be sufficient. You need proof of citizenship, like a copy of your birth certificate(if you are a citizen by birth), copy of your U.S. passport, or naturalization certificate(if applicable)

I would totally disagree about 'saving evidence for later on'.

The I-130 instructions are very clear.

Unfortunately, for newly married couples, or couples living apart in different countries, the evidence is difficult to obtain prior to filing the I-130.

There are other things that can be done, though, for initial petition submittal.

Here's what I did, ages past -

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;#entry3324240

Click the link, have a read? FWIW, USCIS does not 'evaluate' this 'bonafide marriage evidence', but it gets passed along to the IV Unit at the Embassy/Consulate, and it IS LOOKED at and EVALUATED by a ConOff PRIOR to interview day. (which, is really the point, ya? a ConOff Reviewing ALL prior to Interview Day).

Jaxson - do note - I'm not knocking ya, I just vehemently disagree with you on this ONE point.

Now, move forward to interview day. You've had at least 6 months to gather up NEW EVIDENCE, so make sure to bring that on interview day, as well, the foreign spouse carry it into the Embassy/Consulate. The ConOff won't have much time to review anything that is passed under the window, but it's good to have AS COMPLETE of an EVIDENCE PACKAGE as possible, on interview day.

Anything I am missing?

Put together an 'Evolution of Relationship' letter. Keep it under 2 pages. If you have any particular red flags that need addressing, address them in the EOR letter.

Edited February 28, 2010 by Darnell

[dan_ling 6]

I agree with Darnell on this, I would collect as much evidence as possible. I included photos of my wife and I with her family and had my wife's family write letters as witness of our relationship. I think this helped in our quick approval throughout the process.

Good luck!

[newbie_00 0]

Wow! You have assembled a lot of things. Maybe you want to save some of the evidence for later on in the process. At this stage your marriage certificate should be sufficient. You need proof of citizenship, like a copy of your birth certificate(if you are a citizen by birth), copy of your U.S. passport, or naturalization certificate(if applicable)

So you would recommend to just send marriage certificate for now and save rest for the interview? I figure if i include all the evidence ahead of time could save me time and may clear things for the processing.. As i have read numerous posting here about front loading the application... what do you guys suggest..

I do not want to work this against me

Regards,

[Darnell 8,478]

I suggest, strongly, that you front-load the application.

re-read my link, try to map out :

1. what you can do this week vs

2. what you can do, after the petition is submitted

keep these as two 'discrete data sets' -

again, IMO, front-loading is important.

[newbie_00 0]

I suggest, strongly, that you front-load the application.

re-read my link, try to map out :

1. what you can do this week vs

2. what you can do, after the petition is submitted

keep these as two 'discrete data sets' -

again, IMO, front-loading is important.

Thanks all ! i think i am going to include everything i have mentioned here ... so up for front-loading the application...

Thanks again....

[Darnell 8,478]

Thanks all ! i think i am going to include everything i have mentioned here ... so up for front-loading the application...

Thanks again....

I suggested you could 'do more'.

I suggested that you 'do more'.

I suggested that YOU NEED TO DO MORE.

RE-READ MY LINK, in my first reply - see how you can adapt it to your situation.

If you can't find my link, above, let me know?