Best options to bring my wife

[scienceworks 64]

To add to the list of documents for bonafide relation, you can add her as an excluded driver in your car insurance. I added my non-USC wife like that. Also, as the previous member said, add her in your tax return. I did mine as married filing separate and for her SSN, wrote no SSN required. I never had any issues. Also, you can do some money transfer to her account and I believe BofA statement will show this data. Do save all gmail/skype chats. If Morocco allows ( India does) your wife to add your name in her passport, then that is a big proof IMHO. Also sent her some gifts/correspondence via mail/courier. etc etc. During your journey, think hard along these lines and add her name where ever you can.

[lubnajavid 20]

@ucmc2013:

Well - since I have health insurance through my employer, I called my employer up, told them I was now married, provided them the required documents to prove that (English marriage certificate) and then added her to the health insurance. Told them she didn't have a SSN right now as she lives outside the US... that was 2 yrs ago - not had any problems - they take the extra out of my check each pay period - theyre happy...I get some more proof of the relationship...

As for taxes - we actually filed for an ITIN - then filed married filing jointly - got relief on our taxes too.

For the bank - they don't need a SSN to add a beneficiary - atleast not Chase Bank...

[road417king 7]

@ucmc2013:

Well - since I have health insurance through my employer, I called my employer up, told them I was now married, provided them the required documents to prove that (English marriage certificate) and then added her to the health insurance. Told them she didn't have a SSN right now as she lives outside the US... that was 2 yrs ago - not had any problems - they take the extra out of my check each pay period - theyre happy...I get some more proof of the relationship...

As for taxes - we actually filed for an ITIN - then filed married filing jointly - got relief on our taxes too.

For the bank - they don't need a SSN to add a beneficiary - atleast not Chase Bank...

Also keep copies of the itineraries for travel as well as itineraries of any family members that attended the wedding, etc.

Phone records (calls made and received), and make her life insurance beneficiary, if they will let you, get a life insurance policy on her with you as the beneficiary.

If you have a will, make sure it's updated for her to be your beneficiary there as well.

When I put my wife on my accounts while she was still in Japan, they will ask for an SSN, however you simply tell them she doesn't have one yet and that you're applying for her residency. BofA will use a fake SSN that they default to for non-resident account holders.

Also, if you're sending money to help support her, make sure you keep copies of all the money transfers along with her keeping copies of all the receipts when she got the money.

Good luck!

[ucmc2013 0]

@lubnajavid

I didn't know that I can add her to tax return since she is not living in the US. I will take to a tax specialist for more info, hopefully I can do it.

For the insurance, I will talk to my employer...

I do have WU receipts for money transfers and asked her to keep them too. I did one wire transfer that I can get a record of,

Not sure if she can add me to her passport, but I will check out with her. That would be awesome. I can;t add her to my egyptian cause it is gonna take more than the processing time for the green card itself, as they send the passport to Egypt then back to here.

I had a bad experience with BofA regarding the SSN. SO IA m not sure if it could be of any help. I may try Chase for that

[ucmc2013 0]

I too was a LPR for 3 yrs at the time that I initially filed for my wife; the advice above is correct - file your I-130 now, it will save you time later when you finally get your naturalization as I did - my NOA2 was already in place and as soon as I got my naturalization, the NVC kicked in and the interview was scheduled within 2 months.

Your proof of bonafide relationship seems OK - photos of your marriage should be sent with your I-130, along with the requisite requirements, i.e. marriage cert, passport copies from both of you...any previous marriages you had, should have the divorce paperwork copied and sent too.

Keep boarding passes and take pics each time you visit - print a sample of those each time and file them in a photo album, showing you together and with each others' family.

Any other trips you take together, collect those receipts... honeymoon receipts etc.

Keep all these in a separate file that your wife can take with the photo album to the interview.

As for bank accounts etc. - can you add her to your health insurance if you have it? I did...

Can you add her as a beneficiary to any life insurances? Any tax returns you will file as married.... Also I added my wife as a beneficiary to the bank accounts - youre correct they wont allow you to show her as joint account holder, but you can add her as a beneficiary without the SSN.

I read on the USCIS website that it has to be 5 years since approval of my green card before I can sponsor anyone for a green card. Mine was approved on 6/25/09. SO I am 4 years as of today.

[lubnajavid 20]

That's not correct.

You can file the I-130 now under classification F2A. When you do, your wife will get a priority date. This is also known as NOA1.

It may take 6-12 months to be approved. When it does, you will get an approval notice - known here on VJ as NOA2.

Then basically you and your wife would normally wait for her priority date to become current as per the have to wait for the F2A dates on the visa bulletin that's issued each month.

However, since you are eligible for naturalization after being a LPR for 5 yrs, you can begin the process after 4 yrs and 9 months...meaning you can be ready to be a naturalized citizen as soon as possible. Then when you do get naturalization, you file to upgrade the case to IR-1 or CR-1 based on you now being a citizen. Your wife no longer has to wait for a visa number...

I recommend you apply as soon as you can - if you wait til you are a citizen a year from now - you will still have to go through the I-130 process and the time it takes - which could take 6-12 months.

Does that make sense?

The above is exactly the process I followed...and my wife will be here in the US in a couple of weeks

Edited June 30, 2013 by lubnajavid

[ucmc2013 0]

That's not correct.

You can file the I-130 now under classification F2A. When you do, your wife will get a priority date. This is also known as NOA1.

It may take 6-12 months to be approved. When it does, you will get an approval notice - known here on VJ as NOA2.

Then basically you and your wife would normally wait for her priority date to become current as per the have to wait for the F2A dates on the visa bulletin that's issued each month.

However, since you are eligible for naturalization after being a LPR for 5 yrs, you can begin the process after 4 yrs and 9 months...meaning you can be ready to be a naturalized citizen as soon as possible. Then when you do get naturalization, you file to upgrade the case to IR-1 or CR-1 based on you now being a citizen. Your wife no longer has to wait for a visa number...

I recommend you apply as soon as you can - if you wait til you are a citizen a year from now - you will still have to go through the I-130 process and the time it takes - which could take 6-12 months.

Does that make sense?

The above is exactly the process I followed...and my wife will be here in the US in a couple of weeks

Thanks a lot for the detailed reply, really appreciate it.

So in my current situation, being a permanent resident, all what I need to do first is filing for I-130, correct?

How to file to upgrade once I get citizenship? I mean what forms should I use?

I am really glad to hear that you and your wife will unit soon. God bless you both, and thanks again for the insights

[ucmc2013 0]

That's not correct.

You can file the I-130 now under classification F2A. When you do, your wife will get a priority date. This is also known as NOA1.

It may take 6-12 months to be approved. When it does, you will get an approval notice - known here on VJ as NOA2.

Then basically you and your wife would normally wait for her priority date to become current as per the have to wait for the F2A dates on the visa bulletin that's issued each month.

However, since you are eligible for naturalization after being a LPR for 5 yrs, you can begin the process after 4 yrs and 9 months...meaning you can be ready to be a naturalized citizen as soon as possible. Then when you do get naturalization, you file to upgrade the case to IR-1 or CR-1 based on you now being a citizen. Your wife no longer has to wait for a visa number...

I recommend you apply as soon as you can - if you wait til you are a citizen a year from now - you will still have to go through the I-130 process and the time it takes - which could take 6-12 months.

Does that make sense?

The above is exactly the process I followed...and my wife will be here in the US in a couple of weeks

Do I need to translate the letters or small notes I exchanged with my wife?

[lubnajavid 20]

Receipts etc. do not need to be translated.

Follow the I-130 instructions (and the G-325 form also) for what needs to be translated at this time...later you might need other docs translated if they apply to your case.

I did have an English copy of our marriage certificate created by the certifying authority - and that was accepted.

Birth certificates should be translated - remembering that you need a statement for the translation also - see instructions again on the USCIS/DOS websites.

To upgrade the case later, all you need to do is send an email with the scanned copy of your naturalization certificate and the case number requesting it be upgraded.

[ucmc2013 0]

Receipts etc. do not need to be translated.

Follow the I-130 instructions (and the G-325 form also) for what needs to be translated at this time...later you might need other docs translated if they apply to your case.

I did have an English copy of our marriage certificate created by the certifying authority - and that was accepted.

Birth certificates should be translated - remembering that you need a statement for the translation also - see instructions again on the USCIS/DOS websites.

To upgrade the case later, all you need to do is send an email with the scanned copy of your naturalization certificate and the case number requesting it be upgraded.

how about these supporting documents:

· Joint ownership: health care policy, life insurance,

· Beneficiary on bank account.

· Money transfer: receipts (WU, Citi Wire) from me

· Money transfer: receipts (WU, Citi Wire) from my wife (that she received it)

· Boarding passes: of the trips I made to Morocco.

· Visa stamps: of the visits I made to Morocco.

· Photos: marriage, 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd visit.

· DVD: of wedding party.

· Emails.

· Copy of my passport (with her name added)

· Copy of my wife’s passport (with my name added) with translation

· Affidavits sworn (translation required)

· Hotel reservations together

· Movie tickets in Casablanca.

Edited June 30, 2013 by ucmc2013

[lubnajavid 20]

Those are good documents to show the bonefide relationship, but you don't need those until you get invited to interview...which is MUCH later on in your process.

Right now, of your list above, the only docs I would consider translating are the passports (IF they do not have English in them) and the affidavits.

Do read this entire thread again when you get around to filing - it will help.

Also - read the guides for I-130 here on VJ too.

But rely on the official I-130 and G-325 instructions from the US government.

[ucmc2013 0]

Those are good documents to show the bonefide relationship, but you don't need those until you get invited to interview...which is MUCH later on in your process.

Right now, of your list above, the only docs I would consider translating are the passports (IF they do not have English in them) and the affidavits.

Do read this entire thread again when you get around to filing - it will help.

Also - read the guides for I-130 here on VJ too.

But rely on the official I-130 and G-325 instructions from the US government.

I thought she is the only one who is going to be interviewed, nevertheless, I don't mind to be interviewed too?!

I also thought I would need to send the supporting evidence right from the beginning ( as mentioned in I-130 instruction) , and have them too in case of an interview. That way they will have copies and take a lot at originals?! what if I send everything from now, will they reject it or send it back?

I am not sure if I need to send birth certificates or copies of passports, that wasn't mentioned in I-130 instructions.

What do you think of this list as a starting point:

1- Cover letter

2- Fees

3- I-130 application

4- G-325A (biographic info) for me

5- G-325A (biographic info) for my wife.

6- G-1145 (E-notification)

7- Green card copy (front and back)

8- Copy of marriage certificate (English and Arabic)

9- Photos: 1 for myself and 1 for my wife. (write the name and A# on back of each one)

10- Bona fides of marriage: