Stand alone I-130 for stepchild(ren)

[SerenityNOW 11]

Hi All, Getting ready to apply for my 2 step kids 5 abd 9 from Jamaica on the I-130 CR 2 at the same time and getting the docs from their mother. My question is at any point will I need to send in their origional birth cert or origional passport? We are wondering if she should send us the origional birth certs and origional passports now or if copies of both will suffice. Definately do not want them to get lost in the mail but if at petition send off point or at NVC send off we need origionals of either it might just be beneficial to have the origionals of both now. I know I hear that copies are ok for I-130 and that you may need the origional BC's at NVC is that correct? and how about the passort? Is copies ok at I-130 and NVC and then have the origional passport for the interview? Any answers are appreacitated! thanks

Welcome! You answered your own questions - copies for USCIS/I-130 package, orignals or certified copies of the birth certificate for NVC/DS-230 package. Make sure the birth certificate is the "long form" showing both parents' names.

You will just send a photocopy of the passport, and bring the original to the interview.

Good luck to you for a speedy process!

[cgayle 1]

Hi All, Getting ready to apply for my 2 step kids 5 abd 9 from Jamaica on the I-130 CR 2 at the same time and getting the docs from their mother. My question is at any point will I need to send in their origional birth cert or origional passport? We are wondering if she should send us the origional birth certs and origional passports now or if copies of both will suffice. Definately do not want them to get lost in the mail but if at petition send off point or at NVC send off we need origionals of either it might just be beneficial to have the origionals of both now. I know I hear that copies are ok for I-130 and that you may need the origional BC's at NVC is that correct? and how about the passort? Is copies ok at I-130 and NVC and then have the origional passport for the interview? Any answers are appreacitated! thanks

Hi ericanmark,

i did some investigating on all this due to us getting ready to file for mt stepson. You will eventually need the original birth certificate and passport. You need to know that the passport cannot be mailed or sent through DHL. You will physically have to go back to Jamaica and pick it up or have someone from there bring it to you. Hope this helps!

[lucy4 11]

The passport isn't needed until the interview and so it can stay with the beneficiary. That's technically the only person required to be at the interview.

[lucy4 11]

ok, flights booked, accomodations made.. I just need to work on her end now. Make sure she has everything she needs and add her to my existing all-inclusive hotel accomodations. Her mother is getting her ticket, so I've been following up with her on that. We are all going, (bio dad, myself, and our daughter) and making a vacation out of it. Its a chance for her sister to get to know her a little bit, since the last time she saw her, she was 1.

I will start packing this weekend, and try to make sure I have everything embassy related. I asked her to get about 5 more passport photos, and I have to remember to have her pack her old passport. What else do we need?

[Kazulie 132]

ok, flights booked, accomodations made.. I just need to work on her end now. Make sure she has everything she needs and add her to my existing all-inclusive hotel accomodations. Her mother is getting her ticket, so I've been following up with her on that. We are all going, (bio dad, myself, and our daughter) and making a vacation out of it. Its a chance for her sister to get to know her a little bit, since the last time she saw her, she was 1.

I will start packing this weekend, and try to make sure I have everything embassy related. I asked her to get about 5 more passport photos, and I have to remember to have her pack her old passport. What else do we need?

AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats Lucy!!! All will be well! Can't wait for you all to get home and be one big happy family!!

Safe travels, my dear!

[thegordons2009 1]

I think this has been answered before...but I just wanted to confirm. My USC husband who is petitioning my canadian children dows nit have to go to interview?...technically only.my kids have to?

thanks

[SerenityNOW 11]

ok, flights booked, accomodations made.. I just need to work on her end now. Make sure she has everything she needs and add her to my existing all-inclusive hotel accomodations. Her mother is getting her ticket, so I've been following up with her on that. We are all going, (bio dad, myself, and our daughter) and making a vacation out of it. Its a chance for her sister to get to know her a little bit, since the last time she saw her, she was 1.

I will start packing this weekend, and try to make sure I have everything embassy related. I asked her to get about 5 more passport photos, and I have to remember to have her pack her old passport. What else do we need?

Exciting!! And good news - we got the same interview date as you! Hope June 5 is a happy day for us both

All I am sending to the interview is tax transcripts (you don't need since you sent an I-864) and a selection of photos in plastic sheets - of father and son, maybe 20 total. Oh, and the original of the notarized declaration from the biomom saying the kid is free to immigrate. And more passport photos. Maybe all the copies of the paperwork filed? Though that is probably unnecessary.

[lucy4 11]

I think this has been answered before...but I just wanted to confirm. My USC husband who is petitioning my canadian children dows nit have to go to interview?...technically only.my kids have to?

thanks

According to the notice I received, the only person required is the beneficiary.

Exciting!! And good news - we got the same interview date as you! Hope June 5 is a happy day for us both

All I am sending to the interview is tax transcripts (you don't need since you sent an I-864) and a selection of photos in plastic sheets - of father and son, maybe 20 total. Oh, and the original of the notarized declaration from the biomom saying the kid is free to immigrate. And more passport photos. Maybe all the copies of the paperwork filed? Though that is probably unnecessary.

OMG!!!!! See... all we had to do was ask nicely. lol I am soo happy for you. June 5th is gonna be a great day. I am praying for no dna test.

AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats Lucy!!! All will be well! Can't wait for you all to get home and be one big happy family!!

Safe travels, my dear!

Thanks so much Kazulie. I am soo excited, I can hardly contain myself.

[MOMOE 1]

OH MY HOW EXCITING, I WISH YOU GUYS ALL THE BEST OF LUCK AND DO POST A PICTURES OF THE NEW ARRIVALS...

SOME QUESTION? PLEASE HELP

- I HAVE THE RECEIVED THE IV FEE (DUCED TO $230 ) AND PAID THAT. MY DAUGHTER IS WAITING ON POLICE CLEARANCE(SOUTH AFRICA TAKES A LONG TIME) CAN I SEND THE IV PACKET WITHOUT THAT? AND JUST HAVE IT AT THE INTERVIEW?

-WHEN SHE GOES FOR THE INTERVIEW IS THERE A CHANCE THAT SHE CAN BE DENIED? IF SHE DOES GET DENIED ,HOW WILL I EVER BE REUNITED WITH MY OLDEST DAUGHTER? SCARY THOUGHTS ARE GOING THROUGH MY HEAD.

- DO THEY STAMP HER PASSPORT AT THE INTERVIEW?

- WILL SHE NEED TO FLY OUT BEFORE HER 21ST WHICH IS ON 12/2/2013?

THANKS SO MUCH AND GOODLUCK WITH ALL THE LAST STEPS COMING UP FOR EVERYONE

[SerenityNOW 11]

Hi MOMOE - I have heard of people getting the NVC to send their packages to the embassy with something missing, so it's certainly worth a try. Post over in the NVC thread and ask there; there are so many more people who might have had experience with that.

Police certificates are so annoying. Sometimes they take so long to obtain, and then they expire after (usually) 6 months, so some people have had to get multiples.

I think your daughter has to *enter* at a POE before she is 21. Look here. Sounds like that is also a reason that they will expedite, so that is also something to investigate.

I don't know if kids can actually be denied - seems like the worst case would be to be required to take a DNA test (which is a total pain, but I don't know if they could deny after that...)

She will get a visa in her passport after the interview, which will be stamped at the Point of Entry.

So get that girl here before she turns 21! You are on track, it should be fine to get her here before December. Ask for an expedite if you don't get an interview before September/October (but you should have one by August, I would imagine if you can get that police certificate sorted out). Even if she has to go back to SA for a bit after that, make sure she at least enters the U.S. and activates her visa before that birthday.

We waited too long for my husband's older child (actually his mother was very opposed to either kid even visiting until last year... different story...), now he's 21 and we have almost no options for him. He hasn't been able to get a tourist visa yet ... another different story . Oh well. The younger son gets all the benefits!

[lucy4 11]

Can you guys help me come up with some proof of relationship items for child/bio parent? I know there have been some mentioned in this thread, but I wanted to make a refresher for all of us who are going for interview soon.

Pictures of course, school records, Western Union receipts, what else?

So far, the only things I think we have is pictures. I don't even have too many of those. I have to check to see if she has some down there.

We've used Western Union a few times, but only in more recent times. We used to just send money in person with people or send the school supplies, clothes etc with people when they would visit.

As far as school records, I don't know if her father was listed on her older records, but I know she just started secondary school last year, and her father was here already, so chances are he isn't on her current records.

What else can we use? DNA testing is really REALLY really inconvenient to us, and I would like to avoid it at all costs. I just realized the testing has to be done at the embassy, which means she would have to take another trip down to Barbados to get this done, after he has his done in the US.

[Kazulie 132]

Can you guys help me come up with some proof of relationship items for child/bio parent? I know there have been some mentioned in this thread, but I wanted to make a refresher for all of us who are going for interview soon.

Pictures of course, school records, Western Union receipts, what else?

So far, the only things I think we have is pictures. I don't even have too many of those. I have to check to see if she has some down there.

We've used Western Union a few times, but only in more recent times. We used to just send money in person with people or send the school supplies, clothes etc with people when they would visit.

As far as school records, I don't know if her father was listed on her older records, but I know she just started secondary school last year, and her father was here already, so chances are he isn't on her current records.

What else can we use? DNA testing is really REALLY really inconvenient to us, and I would like to avoid it at all costs. I just realized the testing has to be done at the embassy, which means she would have to take another trip down to Barbados to get this done, after he has his done in the US.

I hope you don't get a DNA request, and I'm not going to be much help as we had no proof so I had to start making things up. We didn't even have pictures.

I made up a "proof of relationship" letter from the boys' mom and had her sign it. The letter was basically stating how a great dad he was and always has been since day one to the boys. How he calls them multiple times per week, pays school fees, sends birthday presents, christmas presents, clothes, shoes, phones, etc.

Then I made up a "proof of residency" letter from the boys' mom and had her sign it. This was dates and places of where my husband and the boys lived together.

Then I made up the letter from their mom stating they are allowed to immigrate to the US and had her sign it.

This is all we had. not even one pic. The IO said if we had just one pic they would have given us the visa on the spot, but we didn't.

Do you have chat or email logs with her? phone logs? Does she or her mother have anything written with him listed as her father? besides the birth certificate?

GOOD LUCK MY DEAR! I will try to think more.

Side note: I wrote the embassy an email this morning at 3 am (one month after DNA test was administered) and literally BEGGED them to let my boys come and drop off their passports for visa insertion. I even used the words "I beg you" in the email. lol

When I woke up this morning, I had an email from them telling me to have the boys drop of their passports anytime Monday - Thursday at 1pm.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA ZINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!

[SerenityNOW 11]

Side note: I wrote the embassy an email this morning at 3 am (one month after DNA test was administered) and literally BEGGED them to let my boys come and drop off their passports for visa insertion. I even used the words "I beg you" in the email. lol

When I woke up this morning, I had an email from them telling me to have the boys drop of their passports anytime Monday - Thursday at 1pm.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA ZINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!

THAT IS SUCH GREAT NEWS! FINALLY!!

I am so glad to hear this

[lucy4 11]

I hope you don't get a DNA request, and I'm not going to be much help as we had no proof so I had to start making things up. We didn't even have pictures.

I made up a "proof of relationship" letter from the boys' mom and had her sign it. The letter was basically stating how a great dad he was and always has been since day one to the boys. How he calls them multiple times per week, pays school fees, sends birthday presents, christmas presents, clothes, shoes, phones, etc.

Then I made up a "proof of residency" letter from the boys' mom and had her sign it. This was dates and places of where my husband and the boys lived together.

Then I made up the letter from their mom stating they are allowed to immigrate to the US and had her sign it.

This is all we had. not even one pic. The IO said if we had just one pic they would have given us the visa on the spot, but we didn't.

Do you have chat or email logs with her? phone logs? Does she or her mother have anything written with him listed as her father? besides the birth certificate?

GOOD LUCK MY DEAR! I will try to think more.

Side note: I wrote the embassy an email this morning at 3 am (one month after DNA test was administered) and literally BEGGED them to let my boys come and drop off their passports for visa insertion. I even used the words "I beg you" in the email. lol

When I woke up this morning, I had an email from them telling me to have the boys drop of their passports anytime Monday - Thursday at 1pm.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA ZINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!

That is amazing! Congrats Kazulie! The embassy always was a little easier to deal with in my opinion.

I am going to be printing pics like crazy starting this weekend. I need to locate my pic folders on my old laptop, I know I should have pics from trips that I took down there. I know I have pics with her and her dad. I just figured we needed some from when she was younger... you know like baby pics etc. I dont think he has his old photo albums, so I haven't seen much of those.

They dont chat or skype, but I can definitely print some phone bills with him calling her.

Ill ask his mother, whom she used to live with up until a few weeks ago to write a letter about the christmas presents, money, clothes, shoes, etc that he's been sending her. As a matter of fact, Ill type it up and have her sign it since she is up here now.

[thegordons2009 1]

just got off the phone with NVC.....GOT MY CASE #s!!!!