need help w/ IR-1

[semper 0]

hello everybody,

me and my wife (US citizen, married for 5 years) are looking into applying for an IR-1 visa for myself.

We currently live in Germany together and are preparing all the forms to file for IR-1 / DCF in Frankfurt.

As my wife lives in Germany with me, she does not have a job in the US, so her Mom agreed to co-sponsor me on the affidavit of support. Now I am trying to get an overview of ALL the documents and forms we need to fill.

This is what I have so far:

1x I-130 Petition for Alien Relative (by my wife)

2 x G-325a (1x my wife, 1x me)

1x birth certificate (by my wife)

1x marriage certificate

2x photo 5x5 cm (1x my wife, 1x me)

1x DS-230 Part I (by me)

1x passport and ID (by me)

for later

1x DS-230 Part II (by me)

1x birth certificate (original & copy) (by me)

1x marriage certificate (original & copy)

1x police clearance certificate (by me)

2x I-864 Affidavit of Support (1x by my wife, 1x by co-sponsor)

1x international certificate of vaccination (by me for the medical)

(maybe?) 1x statement that we will be allowed to reside rent-free at my mother-in-laws residence until we have found a place of our own

What else will be required?

- Tax returns of the last three years by my wife and the co-sponsor (plus explanation letter about why my wife only filed tax returns of the last two years)?

- Birth certificate by the co-sponsor?

- Anything else?

- my bank and real estate statements (I want to include my assets in the I-864)

There are just so many forms and documents at this point. I am kinda paranoid that we will forget one little thing and then there might be complications with obtaining the visa. I am actually considering seeking help from a professional to prepare filing for the visa.

But as for the list, is that all we will need or did I forget something essential? Any other tips or suggestions about what to look out for?

Thanks in advance for your support (:

[canadian_wife 1,827]

The USC will need proof of legal residence in Germany as well as proof of US citizenship

The beneficiary will also need a birth certificate listing parents names and a medical done by an approved physician

Have you seen this link for DCFers?

http://www.visajourney.com/content/dcf

Good luck

[Navyk 78]

If I am correct DCF will not be there after this month, so you may have to go the CR1/IR1 route only. So your I-130 needs to have following:

A Cover letter with list of attachments.

A check for USD 420/- drawn on US bank/ institution.

I-130 by you.

G325A each - you and your wife.

Copy of your Passport/ Citizenship/ Birth Certificate (if born in USA) to prove your US citizenship.

Two photos each - you and your wife.

Copy of Marraige Certificate

Two Affidavits from relatives/ friends who attended your marraige or any joint lease papers and/or intermingling of finances....

5 - 10 Marraige photos

Explanation letter explaining your relationship - like how you met and ......

Proof of your German residency

The rest like DS230, I-864, co-sponsor will come into picture probably after 3 - 5 months (after your case is approved at USCIS) and when your case is transferred to National Visa Center for further processing after USCIS approval (http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/National_Visa_Center)

[semper 0]

Thank you for all the information.

I think rather than going to Frankfurt for this in person, we will send all required forms and documents by mail since that is a possibility.

The USC will need proof of legal residence in Germany as well as proof of US citizenship

As proof of US citizenship, we will attach a copy of my wife's passport.

As proof of legal residence, there is her German visa ("Aufentaltserlaubnis") as well as her confirmation of address ("Meldebestätigung"). I guess to rather be safe than sorry, we will attach both.

A check for USD 420/- drawn on US bank/ institution.

I checked with the Frankfurt US embassy. Their I-130 petition checklist quotes "Attach a FILING FEE of $420.00 for each petition. The $420.00 fee must be a US Dollar’s cashier’s check, US Dollar money order, international bank draft made payable to the US Citizenship & Immigration Services, Visa or MasterCard.".

I would prefer paying by MasterCard, but how would this work? Do I just give them my MC #, name, expiration date and permission to charge my card with the amount?

Two Affidavits from relatives/ friends who attended your marraige or any joint lease papers and/or intermingling of finances....

We got married in Denmark and only my German relatives were there for the wedding. Can these Affidavits be in German, as that is the native language of those relatives, or will they have o be translated?

5 - 10 Marraige photos

Explanation letter explaining your relationship - like how you met and ......

When will we have to provide this? I could not find it on any requirement sheet or similar; quite the contrary, they all say do not submit any unrequested items...?

A big concern of mine is still the I-864. I know, there will still be enough to to worry about that, but I like to have everything ready as soon as possible

We just need my wife's tax returns (as she did not work in the third year, we can only provide her last two tax returns), my mother-in-laws tax returns (already requested those from the IRS) and my mother-in-laws birth certificate & proof of US residence? Also, where can she request proof of her US residence? Does an officially addressed envelope (i.e. the envelope the IRS will send her tax returns in) count as proof of residence?

[Navyk 78]

You can not pay using a credit card. You need to get a Bank Check or Money Order from any of the banks in your place favoring USCIS payable in US for USD 420.

The affidavits can be in German. You wife will have to translate those into English and certfy those translated copies with her signature. Only send the copies now.

Explanation of the relationship is not an unsolicited document - rather is optional and most cases is almost required. Don't forget to send it (I sent and got my approval).

The last (2010) tax return is required (the additional 2009 & 2008 are optional). get the IRS Tax transcripts - you can get those in 10 days. Also get the 2010 IRS Tax transcript of your mother-in-law. First complete the I-130 stuff and submit it, then we can guide on the DS-230 and I-864 requirements. Yes a copy of the birth certificate of your mother-in-law is good enough, if she was born in US else a citizenship certificate copy or a passport copy will do.

[FoundNanning 0]

Ooops! I only sent one photo each with my recently submitted I-130. Am i in trouble?

Two photos each - you and your wife.

[Navyk 78]

You may get a RFE after the guy assigned your file notices this. Proactively, I suggest that, you send the other one now - write the CIS Case # also at the back of the photo.

[FoundNanning 0]

Ok. Thanks. Just to be clear: I sent one of me and one of my wife.. So, I guess I need to send TWO more (one of each of us).

You may get a RFE after the guy assigned your file notices this. Proactively, I suggest that, you send the other one now - write the CIS Case # also at the back of the photo.

[Navyk 78]

Yes, one each.

[Anh map 2,098]

You can not pay using a credit card. You need to get a Bank Check or Money Order from any of the banks in your place favoring USCIS payable in US for USD 420.

Not all embassies and consulates operate the same way. Credit cards are accepted at Frankfurt. Here's the proof >>> http://germany.usembassy.gov/visa/iv/fees/

[Navyk 78]

If he filing I-130 and sending to Chicago lockbox, then credit card is not an option.

[Anh map 2,098]

hello everybody,

me and my wife (US citizen, married for 5 years) are looking into applying for an IR-1 visa for myself.

We currently live in Germany together and are preparing all the forms to file for IR-1 / DCF in Frankfurt.

As my wife lives in Germany with me, she does not have a job in the US, so her Mom agreed to co-sponsor me on the affidavit of support. Now I am trying to get an overview of ALL the documents and forms we need to fill.

This is what I have so far:

1x I-130 Petition for Alien Relative (by my wife)

2 x G-325a (1x my wife, 1x me)

1x birth certificate (by my wife)

1x marriage certificate

2x photo 5x5 cm (1x my wife, 1x me)

1x DS-230 Part I (by me)

1x passport and ID (by me)

for later

1x DS-230 Part II (by me)

1x birth certificate (original & copy) (by me)

1x marriage certificate (original & copy)

1x police clearance certificate (by me)

2x I-864 Affidavit of Support (1x by my wife, 1x by co-sponsor)

1x international certificate of vaccination (by me for the medical)

(maybe?) 1x statement that we will be allowed to reside rent-free at my mother-in-laws residence until we have found a place of our own

What else will be required?

- Tax returns of the last three years by my wife and the co-sponsor (plus explanation letter about why my wife only filed tax returns of the last two years)?

- Birth certificate by the co-sponsor?

- Anything else?

- my bank and real estate statements (I want to include my assets in the I-864)

There are just so many forms and documents at this point. I am kinda paranoid that we will forget one little thing and then there might be complications with obtaining the visa. I am actually considering seeking help from a professional to prepare filing for the visa.

But as for the list, is that all we will need or did I forget something essential? Any other tips or suggestions about what to look out for?

Thanks in advance for your support (:

Be sure that you have done enough to establish a US domicile for your USC spouse. The affidavit from your MIL is a good piece of evidence.

Also, if you are going to be using a joint sponsor, no need to include info about your individual savings or real estate. If you won't be able to qualify with joint (you and your wife) income and/or assets the interviewing officer won't take your holdings into consideration. (It doesn't make your case "stronger")

If you want to use your holdings they will be considered at a 5:1 ratio ($5 assets = $1 income). Any real estate value must be established by submitting a recent appraisal done by a licensed appraiser. And real estate held outside the US is not the most liquid asset in the scope of the affidavit of support. If the real estate is not held by you alone, it's likely to not be accepted at all.

This I-864 FAQ may be helpful to you both as you prepare >>> http://travel.state..../info_3183.html

Edited July 18, 2011 by Anh map

[Ryan H 3,821]

If I am correct DCF will not be there after this month,

There is a USCIS field office in Frankfurt, there will be no change for people filing in Germany.

[FoundNanning 0]

I'm confused. I told an Attorney friend of mine that I only sent 1 photo of me and 1 of my wife with my I-130, and that I was planning to send another one of each as advised here. HE told me that one of each of us was all that was necessary, and a second one was not needed. So, which is correct (or is either ok)?

You may get a RFE after the guy assigned your file notices this. Proactively, I suggest that, you send the other one now - write the CIS Case # also at the back of the photo.

Edited July 19, 2011 by LeonS

[Robby999 1,024]

Read page 3 of this pdf. Look at" What Documents you need to prove a family relationship".

http://www.uscis.gov.../i-130instr.pdf