I-485 Questions

[coolmind1414 13]

Hello Everyone,

This website is really helpful. I almost hired a lawyer, and the day before I found this helpful website.

Thanks to all community members,

I am almost done with my filing preparation for documents. Still have some questions.

I-485 Form:

I married my wife in this February, in Illinois state. And I'm on H-1B. She's US Citizen.

I am going to include I131 and I-765 forms with I-130. Do I need to include a Complete document set for I-765 individually? And Include I-131 documents set individually? I don't mind printing out few extra pages and attach to the documents. but does additional documents confuses the person at USCIS?

In this case, I do need to include those sets on Cover letter as well right?

I'm going to write personal check. Does it need to be my wife's check (As she's sponsoring me?)

My wife and I, we both have our birth certificate in (our native language + English Translated), do we need to certify that as well?

We married in Illinois, do I need to certify Marriage Certificate as well?

Guys, please correct me if I'm wrong anywhere or just verify if its correct.

Again, Thank You for your help.

[Ryan H 3,834]

Moved from AOS from Family Based Visas to AOS from Work, Student, & Tourist Visas.

[Hagrid 22]

Welcome to VJ!

I am going to give you answers at the best of my knowledge Hope it's of help to you during this process!

In this case, I do need to include those sets on Cover letter as well right?

R/ Well you don't really have to but I did as the applications are split and treated as separate applications despite you filed them jointly.

I'm going to write personal check. Does it need to be my wife's check (As she's sponsoring me?)

R/ No, it doesn't. The only requirement or suggestion taken from the USCIS website is that the check must reflect your current address. In my case we used a check from our joint account and I signed it but both of our names are there. So either way works, she can do it or you can do it either if you have a joint account or not, as long as your current address is there.

My wife and I, we both have our birth certificate in (our native language + English Translated), do we need to certify that as well?

R/ Some VJ have gotten RFE for not having a certified translation, some others have not. The USCIS website says they must be certified so if you are fluent in both languages you can certify it by yourself. Some people say it can't be but the members that have done it had no problem. I translated myself into English and added this (taken from USCIS website):

Certification by Translator

I [typed name], certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and ________ languages, and that the above/attached document is an accurate translation of the document attached entitled ______________________________.

Signature_________________________________

Date Typed Name

Address

Then I went to the bank and notarized my signature to make it more serious. Some people do it, some people don't. We personally did it as it was for free, took five minutes and my wife and I don't want RFE's.

We married in Illinois, do I need to certify Marriage Certificate as well?

R/ The USCIS say you don't have to and that you can send copies but the guidelines and other members recommend a certified copy. A certified copy is just five bucks (at least here in utah), so we just sent a certified copy to avoid RFE's, therefore delays.

Edited: This is the USCIS page with filing tips that I used also as a source for this process:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextchannel=fe529c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextoid=ff053d146a7ee010VgnVCM1000000ecd190aRCRD

Edited December 19, 2012 by Juan L

[coolmind1414 13]

My wife and I, we both have our birth certificate in (our native language + English Translated), do we need to certify that as well?

R/ Some VJ have gotten RFE for not having a certified translation, some others have not. The USCIS website says they must be certified so if you are fluent in both languages you can certify it by yourself. Some people say it can't be but the members that have done it had no problem. I translated myself into English and added this (taken from USCIS website):

Certification by Translator

I [typed name], certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and ________ languages, and that the above/attached document is an accurate translation of the document attached entitled ______________________________.

Signature_________________________________

Date Typed Name

Address

Then I went to the bank and notarized my signature to make it more serious. Some people do it, some people don't. We personally did it as it was for free, took five minutes and my wife and I don't want RFE's.

Hello, Thank You for your reply.

Made many of the confusion resolved with your reply.

I will be more clear here.

My birth certificate has Native language + English translation in one document. so that original birth certificate is with two language. Do I still need to certify? I can certify through bank, but what are they certifying for? The copy of Original document? or the translation? or my signature?

You translated into English, and then added the "Certification by Translator" but in my case, its already English written in it.

the bank near me did not do notary. I asked for Certify, and they said they don't do that. Do I need to ask for Notary?

This is little confusing and as you said, I don't want/like RFE as well. and just want to make sure before sending all these documents.

Again, Thank You for your quick reply.

[coolmind1414 13]

Also,

Certified copy - Bank, USPS, UPS are denying for doing Certified copies... Are they supposed to do that? or its branch specific service?

[coolmind1414 13]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Certified_copy

As I'm in CA right now, does Certified Copy is allowed for Birth Certificates?

They all are ready to do Notarized copy. but not certified.

I have 4 originals of Marriage certificate, and I'm thinking to send one. as you can easily order your marriage certification from Illinois with 20-30$.

and I've English+native language version of Birth certificate original - 3 copies. I can send this one as well.

What do you recommend?

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

USCIS accepts plain photocopies of your vital documents. You will bring the originals to the interview for inspection. You do not need to get them "certified" anywhere. If the originals are dual language (one being English) than a translation is not required.

[Hagrid 22]

USCIS accepts plain photocopies of your vital documents. You will bring the originals to the interview for inspection. You do not need to get them "certified" anywhere. If the originals are dual language (one being English) than a translation is not required.

That's right, if your birth certificate has both languages and that's the way it is and one of those it's English, no translation needed. The translation is for those birth certificates that are in another language other than English. In that case, you certify the translation. As you already have your birth certificate in two languages, same document, and one of those are English, the way it is already, no translation needed, hence no certification needed because you don't need any translation!

[Hagrid 22]

[/b]

Hello, Thank You for your reply.

Made many of the confusion resolved with your reply.

I will be more clear here.

My birth certificate has Native language + English translation in one document. so that original birth certificate is with two language. Do I still need to certify? I can certify through bank, but what are they certifying for? The copy of Original document? or the translation? or my signature?

You translated into English, and then added the "Certification by Translator" but in my case, its already English written in it.

the bank near me did not do notary. I asked for Certify, and they said they don't do that. Do I need to ask for Notary?

This is little confusing and as you said, I don't want/like RFE as well. and just want to make sure before sending all these documents.

Again, Thank You for your quick reply.

Just about your question just in case, you can notarize a signature, in the bank but not all the banks do it. You don['t need to do that because you have already your birth certificate in English so you just mail a plain photocopy.

For the marriage certificate, wow 20 30 dollars it's expensive per copy. So just send one certified copy of it and then color copies for the other applications, for example: i485 certified copy and the other applications, if you need to attach a marriage certificate, just a full color copy.