Stand alone I-130 for stepchild(ren)

[cgayle 1]

Hi Quana. I have a few questions for you. My husband is here and his 5 year old son is still in Jamaica. We are getting ready to file the I-130 petition. Do we need to have his sons passport? Also can you give me any info about the DNA testing.

[cgayle 1]

Has anyone had the DNA testing done? Will the parent of the child have to return to have the DNA testing done or can the parent have the testing done here in the states and have the results sent to Jamaica?

[sancruz 26]

You will need a passport for the child. A DNA test is not always required. It just depends on the country i think. From everything i have read the parent can have the test done here in the states but the results have to be sent to the embassy as they need originals. You just need to check and make sure the lab you use is approved. I've also read that they wont always accept results if they havent requested the DNA test to be done. I would just check to make sure it is necessary before you get the test done because of the extra cost. In my case according to the Website for the US embassy in Honduras they do not require DNA testing. It says as a last result after all other means to prove the relationship (ex. pictures, reciepts, phone records etc...)that a parent can request that a DNA test be performed to prove the biological relationship.

Edited September 21, 2012 by sancruz

[cgayle 1]

You will need a passport for the child. A DNA test is not always required. It just depends on the country i think. From everything i have read the parent can have the test done here in the states but the results have to be sent to the embassy as they need originals. You just need to check and make sure the lab you use is approved. I've also read that they wont always accept results if they havent requested the DNA test to be done. I would just check to make sure it is necessary before you get the test done because of the extra cost. In my case according to the Website for the US embassy in Honduras they do not require DNA testing. It says as a last result after all other means to prove the relationship (ex. pictures, reciepts, phone records etc...)that a parent can request that a DNA test be performed to prove the biological relationship.

Thank you very much for this information it was very helpful.

[beejay 123]

cgayle - sancruz gave you a great answer.

Here is a list of AABB accredited facilities in the US.

Like sancruz said I would check with your consulate to see if they will accept DNA tests when they have not been requested. (In my case Manila specifically says on their website they will not accept early testing.) One of our thread members appears to have been successful sending DNA results with her petition to USCIS - she received an RFE for the original results and had the testing facility forward the results directly to the service center with her case number. Hopefully that is a sign the test will hold up at the consular level.

And to concur with sancruz you will need a passport for your stepchild. You won't need to send a copy of it with your petition to USCIS but you will need a copy for NVC and ultimately it will be needed at the interview for the US embassy to put the visa in and for your child to travel out of the country.

Good luck!

[sancruz 26]

Called NVC and they received our case and i finally have new case number. Now just waiting for email from them. Yay!! This process is going so much faster than i thought but im not getting my hopes up too quickly i know it could still be months. Happy for being one step closer to bringing our baby home!

[beejay 123]

Called NVC and they received our case and i finally have new case number. Now just waiting for email from them. Yay!! This process is going so much faster than i thought but im not getting my hopes up too quickly i know it could still be months. Happy for being one step closer to bringing our baby home!

Great news! Did you get your IIN? Are you able to log into the payment portal and pay AOS yet?

[cgayle 1]

cgayle - sancruz gave you a great answer.

Here is a list of AABB accredited facilities in the US.

Like sancruz said I would check with your consulate to see if they will accept DNA tests when they have not been requested. (In my case Manila specifically says on their website they will not accept early testing.) One of our thread members appears to have been successful sending DNA results with her petition to USCIS - she received an RFE for the original results and had the testing facility forward the results directly to the service center with her case number. Hopefully that is a sign the test will hold up at the consular level.

And to concur with sancruz you will need a passport for your stepchild. You won't need to send a copy of it with your petition to USCIS but you will need a copy for NVC and ultimately it will be needed at the interview for the US embassy to put the visa in and for your child to travel out of the country.

Good luck!

I called the NVC and they told me that it is up to the Embassy to request the DNA so we will have to wait to see if it will be needed. Thank you for your help and the link for where the testing can be done.

[beejay 123]

I called the NVC and they told me that it is up to the Embassy to request the DNA so we will have to wait to see if it will be needed. Thank you for your help and the link for where the testing can be done.

Unfortunately, if DNA is requested it will be at the interview stage and not before.

[sancruz 26]

Great news! Did you get your IIN? Are you able to log into the payment portal and pay AOS yet?

Thanks! The lady i talked to said they were in the process of entering our case so although she gave me the new case number she couldnt give me the IIN number. She told me to check back in a couple of weeks....whatever!! I will call back on Monday. They also told me two weeks ago to check back in about a month to see if they had received my case yet. The key is to definately stay on top of your own case and call everyday. It can save a lot of time. So when i get the IIN how do i go online to pay? Also, do you know the current fee amounts? One other thing i was wondering, If we have a cosponsor do we send 2 affadavit fees? Thanks for your help!

[beejay 123]

Thanks! The lady i talked to said they were in the process of entering our case so although she gave me the new case number she couldnt give me the IIN number. She told me to check back in a couple of weeks....whatever!! I will call back on Monday. They also told me two weeks ago to check back in about a month to see if they had received my case yet. The key is to definately stay on top of your own case and call everyday. It can save a lot of time. So when i get the IIN how do i go online to pay? Also, do you know the current fee amounts? One other thing i was wondering, If we have a cosponsor do we send 2 affadavit fees? Thanks for your help!

Grr to NVC and their standard answers. No doubt they should have your IIN by Monday.

Here is the NVC payment portal If you ever lose the link just google NVC payment portal and you will be able to find it again.

The AOS fee is $88 and you only pay it once. You will be able to pay that soon after you have your Case# and IIN.

After you have established the agent of choice (via email or standard mail) the IV fee will be invoiced and that will be $230 per case.

Glad you're moving along!

[lovejamaica 1]

No it only pertains to NVC. No fun at all. Well I send 4 passport pics to medical so maybe thats how they do it now..they go to the medical appt and not kingston. Oh well I will just have her take like 6 more! LOL

i was hoping your interview would be before mine so that i would know what will happen better. since your situation is so close to mine. my step kids are in jamaica hoping and praying to join us soon here in the us. medical cost me $700!!!! for two kids. 10 shots each!@

[lovejamaica 1]

is your husbend's name on the birth certificate? was he and baby mama married? did you do a paternity test? do you expect one?

[Kazulie 132]

Hey All,

Checking in again. No news on the boys' cases but my husband and I finally got our interview date for his I-130. October 3!! I'm hoping he AND the boys will be approved on that day. Keep me in your prayers and I, of course, have you all in mine as well. can't wait for this awful process to be finished for ALL of us!

[beejay 123]

Hey All,

Checking in again. No news on the boys' cases but my husband and I finally got our interview date for his I-130. October 3!! I'm hoping he AND the boys will be approved on that day. Keep me in your prayers and I, of course, have you all in mine as well. can't wait for this awful process to be finished for ALL of us!

Great news! So glad you are making your way out of limbo. Please let us know how everything goes.

Hoping for the best!