Some questions regarding our I-130 Package

[Dewave2 17]

Hi Guys,

So following on from my last thread, which was amazingly helpful, I'm here once again looking to not only ask a few questions, but to clarify a couple of bits, and also, just for some friendly advice where needed.

So we're just in the middle of preparing my entire AOS package, hopefully this will be completed in the next day or two. I'm just waiting to pick up my medical checkup package from the Civil Surgeon, which should be on Wednesday morning! (Not that this was a cheap case of affairs. In the end, I paid $345 for the entire checkup, including 2 shots, a blood test, and a TB test. Following this, I then had to pay another $63 for a chest X-Ray as my TB results were positive. So just over $400 in the end). So as were collating everything now, you may notice a couple of threads popping up by me, as I'm the kind to triple check everything important like this, so I will therefore be running through each section with you guys if you don't mind, looking for advice, and hopefully some sort of confirmation that everything is looking good.

So just the very simple basics to help in case my previous thread has been lost in the past couple of weeks. Im a UK citizen, my wife is a US citizen who was born here, and has lived here ever since, been together for about 4 years now, and on this trip over, we decided to get married as both our families were around for the first time in a very long time. Married, and now I'm planning on adjusting my status from my Waiver Visa that I travelled on.

So, the I-130 Package. Im going to copy over the checklist from the step by step guide that I was directed to initially, and ill highlight my initial questions by the side of them.

1. Payment as required by USCIS. Use a money order so you can track the payment. If a personal check is allowed, use that instead. Firstly, what exactly is a money order? Secondly, is one more preferred than the other? Is one easier than the other?

2. Cover Letter. Should include a description of what your are petitioning for (I-130), a table of contents (list everything in the packet). If you need additional room to explain your case, attach a separate sheet (list the attachment on the cover sheet). Make sure to sign and date the cover sheet. I want to make sure this includes absolutely everything is should, and is worded correctly. I don't suppose anyone could direct me to any guides for writing this specific cover letter? Specifically, what phrases I need to make sure are in the bulk of the text. If anyone has any direct examples, that would be great. Also, should this be signed by the both of us, or just my wife?

3. Form I-130: Petition for Alien Relative. Everything is fine with this, I may tart another thread tomorrow regarding one or two questions just for confirmation were doing it right, but I think everything is fine.

4. Copy of the Full Birth certificate (front and back) for the US Citizen or a copy of ALL pages of the US Citizen's passport. This is used to establish citizenship. Is it beneficial to send both the birth certificate and passport, or will just the birth certificate be ample?

5. A copy of petitioner's proof of naturalization. (If applicable) What exactly is required here? I'm sure we will have whatever it is that is needed to be provided.

6. A copy of petitioner's proof of permanent residency. (If applicable) Same as above, what exactly is required from us here?

7. A copy of the intending immigrant's birth certificate and/or passport along with English translation. (If in any language other than English) I'm currently waiting on the copy of my birth certificate just drop in my email. I didn't bring it with me, as nothing was planned, so had a bit of difficulty getting a copy of it (I will have the original sent over after). Should I send copies of both my birth certificate and passport? If I send copies of my passport, should I send a copy of every page? And if lets say, something crazy happens, and I can't get my birth certificate, can I just send my passport copies? Or should I wait for both?

8. A certified copy of your certified marriage certificate (again, translated if not in Engligh) Silly question I guess, but where do we get a certified copy? and what is the cost attached to this?

9. A certified official copy of the petitioner's and/or intending immigrant's divorce documents. (If one or both of you have been divorced before) Niether of us have been divorced before. Should be mention anything in the cover letter regarding that neither have been divorced, or will that fact that nothing has been included be enough for them to know this?

10. A copy of a prior spouse's death certificate. (If filing for a spouse, and one or both have you were married before, and the prior spouse died) As above, N/A, should we mention this in the cover letter, or just not mention it, and they will gather as to why?

11. G-325A filled out by the US Citizen, signed and dated. All filled out, no problem (In the former husbands or wives section, we have just written 'None' in all the 5 boxes. Is this OK?

12. One passport-type photo (see specification) of the US Citizen. Write the full name on the back. Place in a plastic bag and label the bag "Photo of <Insert Name>". Attach the bag to a sheet of paper and place behind the corresponding G-325a. We have stapled the bag to the sheet of paper. Should we then staple this to the G-325a, of just place behind loose?

13. G-325A filled out by the foreign spouse signed and dated. When I fill this in, under the last five residence addresses. Do I put my UK address, as in the place I lived before I came here this trip, or do I now put my wives US address. which I guess is now our address, however, I have never lived here in the past, as in I'm not on the lease. I would obviously always stay here on every trip over though. In the section below where it asks for my let address outside of the US, do I repeat my last UK address is this box too? Also, under the section 'This form is submitted in connection with an application for: either, Naturalization, status as a permanent resident or other. Which box to I tick? Also, which box should we tick on my misses form, as in Question 11? And finally, under Alien Registration number. What do I put here? And what does my misses put on hers?

14. One passport-type photo (see specification) of the foreign spouse. Write the full name of the beneficiary on the back. Place in a plastic bag and label the bag "Photo of (insert name) ". Attach the bag to a sheet of paper and place behind the corresponding G-325a. Again, probably a silly question, but who's name am I putting on the back of the picture?

15. Evidence of a bonafide marriage (see note below for what to include)

A couple more things to ask. So. 16.What is the A-Number that I keep reading about? To the best of my knowledge, we don't have one. Should we?

17. Also, when collecting this into an envelope, is there any preference to envelope? Sounds stupid even asking, but just making sure. What is the best piece of wording to have on the front of this envelope?

18. Im going to include tabs, with reference to these tabs in brackets besides each item in the table of contents. for example (1a) (1b) (2) (3), and then my plan was to add those little colored sticky tabs you can buy to the bottom of each piece, just for ease of filing and locating. Is this acceptable?

I'm sorry for going into such great length that most will probably be put off from replying. I'm just trying to be as thorough as possible and gain as much input into doing this as correct as possible. My wife would call it being #######, however, I don't think you can be too careful. So if anyone does have the patience to answer, even if you're only sure about one of the numbered questions, just let me know which, and all help will be great appreciated!

Thank you all in advance

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

1. Use a check, it is easier

4. One OR the other. Do not send both. Always read closely and interpret literally.

5/6. Not sure what is unclear here. Are you (the petitioner) a naturalised US citizen? Send a copy of your naturalisation cert. Are you a greencard holder? Send a copy of your greencard? Born US citizen? forget about these points.

7. I would send both, but one should suffice.

8. YOu can usually get certified copies from the county clerk.

9/ 10/11. They will know because you indicate on the forms that you have never been married.

12. Just place it. Don;t use staples unless specified, they like loose paper. Paperclip to hold the package together is fine.

13. You are no longer visiting, so your US address is your current address. You are trying to gain residency. You have no A number unless you were in immiogration proceedings before. Your US citizen wife has no A number if she is a born US citizen.

14. You (the foregin spouse) are the beneficiary.

[Dewave2 17]

Thank you for the reply Much appreciated.

Your answers pretty much confirm ours and what we were going for so thats good. As I said, I'm just a worrier and I like to triple check everything on something this important before I go ahead. The last thing I would like is for any of this to go any less than smooth!

Thank you again!

I don't suppose anyone has any direct advice regarding the cover letter for the I-130?

And also, whether the tabs I'm planning on using, to give whoever opens it all the reference points to make their life easier, is OK?

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Please note that certified copies of the marriage certificate are no longer required. The VJ guide needs updating on that point. A regular photocopy of the marriage cert is fine. The cover letter doesn't need anything special. "Please find enclosed the following forms to: XYZ" or something is fine. You can put tabs but they will take everything off and organize it their way. Do make sure any supporting evidence is obvious as to its purpose, or labelled as such.

[Maria TH 20]

16.A-Number is Alien Number, you will get one when you file the petition. It's in the NOA.

17.I don't know what others do, buy I have all my document in 2 folders, one for I-130, another for I-485 and all support forms. In front of the folders, I labeled Form# (I-130, I-485 filed concurrently with I-130), petitioner name, beneficiary name.

I sent 2 folders in the USPS Express Mail envelope (the Tyvek one)

18.I put index(tabs) to identify what is what. I don't know if it would help to fasten anything as I have sent my package for 55 days, I haven't heard anything after Biometric Appointment.

Edited January 11, 2012 by Maria TH

[Dewave2 17]

Please note that certified copies of the marriage certificate are no longer required. The VJ guide needs updating on that point. A regular photocopy of the marriage cert is fine. The cover letter doesn't need anything special. "Please find enclosed the following forms to: XYZ" or something is fine. You can put tabs but they will take everything off and organize it their way. Do make sure any supporting evidence is obvious as to its purpose, or labelled as such.

Thank you for the advice, its good to know a photocopy will suffice! Might save a little bit of time for sure.

My aim will be to obviously aim to have all supporting evidence as obvious and clear as possible. If I were to have to label anything, what would be the best way to do this? I obviously don't want to just be writing at the top of it or similar, I don't think!

16.A-Number is Alien Number, you will get one when you file the petition. It's in the NOA.

17.I don't know what others do, buy I have all my document in 2 folders, one for I-130, another for I-485 and all support forms. In front of the folders, I labeled Form# (I-130, I-485 filed concurrently with I-130), petitioner name, beneficiary name.

18.I put index(tabs) to identify what is what. I don't know if it would help anything, as I have sent my package for 55 days, I haven't heard anything after Biometric Appointment)

Hey

When you say folders, what kind of folders did you use exactly? I was under the impression, folders were a bad thing? I was planning on just using envelopes, with everything inside, as from what I had read, that was generally the norm?

And Im sure your package is just fine I'm sure the extra bit of organization didn't hurt!

[Little_My 464]

Though I am a firm believer in paying attention to detail, it is very easy to go a bit overboard with this process.. which is what might be happening with you here

USCIS will not reject your package because you used a manila folder instead of a plastic sleeve - or because you used none. The key is to make the package as logical and easy to process as possible, so be consistent, have the paperwork in clear order, write a short and concise cover letter listing everything inside - but don't go crazy and loose sleep over the type of envelope you should use.

I personally do not see any point in labeling each and every document - I mean, they are pretty self-explanatory on their own. We had one cover sheet for the I-130 package listing everything included in that, put inside a folder. Then we had another cover letter listing everything in the I-485 package, and all that paperwork in another folder. both folders were mailed inside one big envelope. I am 100% sure that even if I did not put them in any folders and even if I had not included cover letters, our case would have gone exactly as it did with the folders - so don't stress too much about these issues. Just use common sense, it will take you very far in this process!

[gildayjason 2]

I second the common sense suggestion! We used only one cover letter that listed everything in the package (I-130, I-485, I-765, I-131 and all supporting documents) and used binder clips to keep all the I-130 stuff together on the one hand and all the I-485/I-765/I-131 paperwork on the other. At the last minute, I also decided use Post-it flags at the bottom to identify each piece of the application, but that was more my OCD flaring up than any real concern they wouldn't be able to figure out what was what. No RFEs and interview scheduled 90 days after filing, so I think we did OK .