G-325a Signature Question

[stephmd 0]

I'm about to start the IR-1 process, and I'm wondering if my husband (a Bulgarian citizen) needs to sign his G-325a form. I read somewhere on this forum that the foreign spouse doesn't have to sign it...

Since we're apart, it would take awhile for his signed form to reach me via mail, so I was thinking he could fax it to me. Would this be acceptable or does it have to be the signed original copy?

Any help is much appreciated!

[Samantha78 117]

I'm about to start the IR-1 process, and I'm wondering if my husband (a Bulgarian citizen) needs to sign his G-325a form. I read somewhere on this forum that the foreign spouse doesn't have to sign it...

Since we're apart, it would take awhile for his signed form to reach me via mail, so I was thinking he could fax it to me. Would this be acceptable or does it have to be the signed original copy?

Any help is much appreciated!

When I sent my husbands in, it was not original but.... I did have him sign in blue pen. He scanned it, emailed to me, and I printed it on a color printer to show it was a legit signature. I don't know that I even needed to do that. I think USCIS is aware many people cannot send originals and will accept faxed copies or in my case scanned copies. They can verify that signature at many stages of the process so if it's questionable, they will question.

I think it's safe to send in a faxed version. When you visit him again, have him sign another or give you the original of what he sent you. Take it home with you for future inquires if necessary.

Hope that helps a little.

[iwuvcheshert 6]

hi.. from what ive read through previous posts here, the signature is a very important element. up to an extent that one vj member said that uscis reviewers look into the indent that the pens used made to confirm authenticity. just better to be on the safe side, maybe you can ask hubby to dwonload form himself there online, have him fedex/ups you the paper before you collectively send your i130 package..

just my 2 cents worth

I'm about to start the IR-1 process, and I'm wondering if my husband (a Bulgarian citizen) needs to sign his G-325a form. I read somewhere on this forum that the foreign spouse doesn't have to sign it...

oh, you NEED to to have the form signed , very important

[stephmd 0]

Thank you for the quick reply!

I'm also confused if I should submit the i-130 with the i-485. Is the i-485 for immigrants who are currently in the U.S? My husband is still in Bulgaria, so I'm not sure if I only need to file the i-130 by itself. I just want him to be able to get his visa ASAP so he can actually enter the country.

[iwuvcheshert 6]

my husband only sent g325, G-1145 and i 130.. i485 will follow if your petition for husband is approved.

refer to this linkMy link

most helpful link i've read.. we've used it while on the journey

[Samantha78 117]

Thank you for the quick reply!

I'm also confused if I should submit the i-130 with the i-485. Is the i-485 for immigrants who are currently in the U.S? My husband is still in Bulgaria, so I'm not sure if I only need to file the i-130 by itself. I just want him to be able to get his visa ASAP so he can actually enter the country.

I agree with iwuvchesert about what to submit. I submitted only what was necessary. Some send more documents and pictures....but I didn't and mine was approved.

[TheOptimist 22]

Hi Steph,

I have to concur with iwuvcheshert..

Any documents that require a signature should be original.

I considered scanning a signature for my fiance and after doing ALOT of research, I decided it was best to be safe and send every document that required signatures as originals.

Everything else I sent that could be a copy went as a copy.

Best..

[Aya820 33]

Thank you for the quick reply!

I'm also confused if I should submit the i-130 with the i-485. Is the i-485 for immigrants who are currently in the U.S? My husband is still in Bulgaria, so I'm not sure if I only need to file the i-130 by itself. I just want him to be able to get his visa ASAP so he can actually enter the country.

Hi stephmd, Welcome to VisaJourney!

The previous link provided for the Guide is a good one and you should follow that as well as read up as much as you can on this process. The I-485 form you mentioned is for K-1 & K-3 Visas, since you are filing CR-1 (not IR-1...since according to your timeline you have only been married less than 2 years), but once your spouse is here you will have to Remove Conditions:

"If your relative is your wife or husband and

you have been married for less then 2 years at the time of his/her arrival at a port of entry

, then he/she will receive a temporary I-551 Stamp and then later a Green Card by mail good for only 2 years. Ninety days before the green card expires you will have to file an I-751 form to remove it's conditional status."

You can read up on it here: Removing Conditions But it is wayyyy early for that and best, I think, to concentrate on the initial process first...God Bless you on your journey!

Hi Steph,

I have to concur with iwuvcheshert..

Any documents that require a signature should be original.

I considered scanning a signature for my fiance and after doing ALOT of research, I decided it was best to be safe and send every document that required signatures as originals.

Everything else I sent that could be a copy went as a copy.

Best..

[iwuvcheshert 6]

I agree with iwuvchesert about what to submit. I submitted only what was necessary. Some send more documents and pictures....but I didn't and mine was approved.

thanks for the quote.. my hubby just submitted those forms, along with our bank statements when we lived together for a year, no pics and other stuff, just marriage cert, bank statements of mutual funds,and we got no RFEs..

just send along evidence of co mingling of finances, or any suggested fromt he link and you will be fine

best regards!

[angelo gutierrez 6]

thanks for the quote.. my hubby just submitted those forms, along with our bank statements when we lived together for a year, no pics and other stuff, just marriage cert, bank statements of mutual funds,and we got no RFEs..

just send along evidence of co mingling of finances, or any suggested fromt he link and you will be fine

best regards!

I submitted the required forms (marriage cert. etc) along with my Page 2 from the military which is the "Dependency/Record of Emergency Data " and the documents to request marriage to a foreign national overseas that was sent and approved by my command. I have not received the NOA2 yet, I hope I dont get RFE, I think I already sent enough supporting documents.

Edited August 28, 2011 by angelo gutierrez

[angelo gutierrez 6]

When I sent my husbands in, it was not original but.... I did have him sign in blue pen. He scanned it, emailed to me, and I printed it on a color printer to show it was a legit signature. I don't know that I even needed to do that. I think USCIS is aware many people cannot send originals and will accept faxed copies or in my case scanned copies. They can verify that signature at many stages of the process so if it's questionable, they will question.

I think it's safe to send in a faxed version. When you visit him again, have him sign another or give you the original of what he sent you. Take it home with you for future inquires if necessary.

Hope that helps a little.

It is always better to send the originals. Just to be on the safe side to avoid having problems in the future. What I did was my wife signed the forms first and sent it to me via Fedex.

[Julie y Pat 67]

I'm about to start the IR-1 process, and I'm wondering if my husband (a Bulgarian citizen) needs to sign his G-325a form. I read somewhere on this forum that the foreign spouse doesn't have to sign it...

Since we're apart, it would take awhile for his signed form to reach me via mail, so I was thinking he could fax it to me. Would this be acceptable or does it have to be the signed original copy?

Any help is much appreciated!

Print a copy of your husbands G-325 with no signature. Attach a copy of the memo below: http://www.uscis.gov/files/pressrelease/I1...325A_110105.pdf

he will be able to sign it at his interview at the consulate

[Ryan H 3,812]

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Edited August 28, 2011 by Ryan H

[Navyk 78]

Print a copy of your husbands G-325 with no signature. Attach a copy of the memo below: http://www.uscis.gov...325A_110105.pdf

he will be able to sign it at his interview at the consulate

I send mine signed but I beleive that the petitioner can sign for the beneficiary "for xxxxxxx" and sign below. Then at the interview time the beneficiary can submit the signed one. I saw threads that addressed this issue and this process was confirmed to be alright. The law firm I initially talked before decided to go on my own, also said that I could sign for my wife.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

When I sent my husbands in, it was not original but.... I did have him sign in blue pen. He scanned it, emailed to me, and I printed it on a color printer to show it was a legit signature. I don't know that I even needed to do that. I think USCIS is aware many people cannot send originals and will accept faxed copies or in my case scanned copies. They can verify that signature at many stages of the process so if it's questionable, they will question.

I think it's safe to send in a faxed version. When you visit him again, have him sign another or give you the original of what he sent you. Take it home with you for future inquires if necessary.

Hope that helps a little.

I'm sure it wasn't your intention, but unless you actually ADMITTED it was a scanned copy and not original , going to the effort of printing it in colour and what not says fraud to me. The "they never asked if it was real" doesn't matter because you went to great lengths to make it APPEAR original when it wasn't. It wasn't a "legit" signature because it wasn't REAL. It was a digitally scanned copy of his actual signature. It might have looked the same but loss of integrity of the image makes it not the same as "original" which is what USCIS requires.

I only mention this because fraud is bad. You don't want to cut corners for a little bit of saved time when it could bring your world down.