bringing kids over using 'following to join' benefits

[JessicaS 0]

Hi there,

Hoping someone can help me. Finally mastered the fiancée visa/GC process, now onto new bureaucracy!

My husband immigrated here to the U.S. this year and got his Green Card a few weeks ago. We would now like to petition to bring his two minor children here as well. It appears that we can use a 'following to join' benefits (form I-824) which will hopefully make things quicker. My questions are this:

1) The I-824 form request the ORIGINAL application/petition (I presume this would be his fiancee visa application).

How is this possible? The original sits at the U.S. Embassy in Sierra Leone. Can anyone advise on what is possible/acceptable?

2) My husband is the father of the children, and it is stated on the kids' birth certificates. However, he and the mother were never married. Looking at instructions for form I-130, a similar process, it states that for fathers, a blood test may be required. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Best wishes

Jessica