Need help???

[TomandCatie 7]

What happens after the year? What else do you have to do to make this a permanent switch?

I'm just going to end up doing an international bank draft and taking care of it that way. There's a charge, but oh well!

I know the first part is $420, but what other charges are incurred through the process?

Btw, I'm sending this off monday, I filled out all the forms and stuff. However, I have the second part of the checklist in what order you put everything.

On the checklist it says put the E-notification towards the bottom, but on the actual form itself it says to put it on the top of your application.

Should I follow the checklist or the form? What did you do?

[lost_at_sea 995]

What happens after the year? What else do you have to do to make this a permanent switch?

I'm just going to end up doing an international bank draft and taking care of it that way. There's a charge, but oh well!

I know the first part is $420, but what other charges are incurred through the process?

Btw, I'm sending this off monday, I filled out all the forms and stuff. However, I have the second part of the checklist in what order you put everything.

On the checklist it says put the E-notification towards the bottom, but on the actual form itself it says to put it on the top of your application.

Should I follow the checklist or the form? What did you do?

You've been married less than 2 years, right? So, like me, your husband will get a CR-1 visa (rather than an IR-1 visa) which means he'll get a 2 year conditional green card and he'll be a "Conditional Permanent Resident", which has little effect on him really except he'll have to apply to have the conditions removed from his green card (to get the full one) just before his 2 year anniversary (his GC will have an expiry date on it, so you'll know when). There's a guide on it: http://www.visajourney.com/content/751guide So not a year, more like a year and a half before you start thinking about it. It's essentially a way they hope to reduce fraud. Meh for us.

For charges... just trying to think off the top of my head...

* I-130, $420

* CR-1, $230

* Medical is currently 235GBP, but may cost more if you get any jabs there

* IV fee $165, which is an immigration fee you pay either just before you enter the US or I think you can pay it any time within a year after, but I'm not sure what the effect of waiting to pay it is. It only came into exisitence this past February, if I recall correctly.

* There will be a fee to pay to have the passport couriered back to you, but the price on that'll vary depending on how fast/guaranteed time you want it back

* Any cost of travel/hotels or anything like that. I guess also cost of mailing stuff.

Probably forgot something... sure someone else will chime in...

E-notification: I followed the check-list (so it went towards the end)! I didn't even notice it suggested to put it on top... Oops.

Edited July 13, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[TomandCatie 7]

I'm planning on sending everything off today. *Fingers Crossed it gets approved*

I'm going to have to get an International Bank Draft, as I got an email back from the USCIS and they said they don't advise scans of the payment form.

I have a copy of the divorce decree for my husband, however I just realized that my spousal visa took some photos and kep thte original decree.

I'm kind of upset, as I thought they included all the original documents back to you. Now I'm worried about when it comes to the interview stage where they want originals. I'm going to have to see if I can't call the courts and get a new one for him or something.

Quick question: Should I scan my UK entry clearance stamp and Spousal visa card on the same page? That way they can see both on one form? Or do seperate copies?

Also, should I include my birth certificate WITH my passport bio page? Did you do that? On my birth certificate it states my two middle names as one middle name. On my passport it just has my first half of my middle name, and on my marriage certificate it says both of them. I put both of them on the G325A forms, so I just want to show my birth certificate as proof that that's my actual middle "names" since my passport doesn't show both.

My passport still has my maiden name on it... should I put the marriage certificate in the pile where it needs to be, then put it again in the pile where "change of name" or can they put 2 and 2 together and see it from just one form lower in the pile? On the checklist it says "If either you or the you are filing for is using a name other than that shown on the relevant documents you must provide legal documentation that effected the change (i.e. marriage certificate) so I wanted to know if I should include two copies.

They request marriage license and certificate? I never had to do any license so I'm assuming there isn't one, and I just put in my certificate?

On the order of piling, it says "ON TOP - checklist for petition for Alien Spouse" Do they mean they want me to put the actual checklist on the top of my app?

Last question:

As far as stapling it together, which did you staple and which did you leave free? I don't want to staple together the wrong bunches and get denied for making it hard on the officer to decipher.

I KNOW, stupid quesitons... but I'm a worry wart.

[lost_at_sea 995]

I'm planning on sending everything off today. *Fingers Crossed it gets approved*

I'm going to have to get an International Bank Draft, as I got an email back from the USCIS and they said they don't advise scans of the payment form.

I have a copy of the divorce decree for my husband, however I just realized that my spousal visa took some photos and kep thte original decree.

I'm kind of upset, as I thought they included all the original documents back to you. Now I'm worried about when it comes to the interview stage where they want originals. I'm going to have to see if I can't call the courts and get a new one for him or something.

Quick question: Should I scan my UK entry clearance stamp and Spousal visa card on the same page? That way they can see both on one form? Or do seperate copies?

Also, should I include my birth certificate WITH my passport bio page? Did you do that? On my birth certificate it states my two middle names as one middle name. On my passport it just has my first half of my middle name, and on my marriage certificate it says both of them. I put both of them on the G325A forms, so I just want to show my birth certificate as proof that that's my actual middle "names" since my passport doesn't show both.

My passport still has my maiden name on it... should I put the marriage certificate in the pile where it needs to be, then put it again in the pile where "change of name" or can they put 2 and 2 together and see it from just one form lower in the pile? On the checklist it says "If either you or the you are filing for is using a name other than that shown on the relevant documents you must provide legal documentation that effected the change (i.e. marriage certificate) so I wanted to know if I should include two copies.

They request marriage license and certificate? I never had to do any license so I'm assuming there isn't one, and I just put in my certificate?

On the order of piling, it says "ON TOP - checklist for petition for Alien Spouse" Do they mean they want me to put the actual checklist on the top of my app?

Last question:

As far as stapling it together, which did you staple and which did you leave free? I don't want to staple together the wrong bunches and get denied for making it hard on the officer to decipher.

I KNOW, stupid quesitons... but I'm a worry wart.

1. Divorce decree. We only sent a photocopy for the I-130 (so you're fine for the moment). He'll need the real deal for the interview - it requests an original (or certified copy) of applicant divorce decree. The courts or his solicitor should be able to get you a copy.

2. Clearance stamps - if they both fit on one sheet, sure! 'sup to you.

3. You only have to submit a photocopy of birth certificate OR a photocopy bio page of your passport, but as I'm a worrier, I sent both for my husband. You may send either (but I think, like me, you're a worrier and will send both).

4. I didn't change my name, so I didn't have to do that bit. If I was you, I'd only include one copy of the marriage cert where it asks for it and not worry about the name change deed poll - I assume a marriage certificate shows the name change if you opt for it? If there's a separate sheet, put that in where it asks for name change info (sounds like there isn't, though). Putting in 2 copies of the same thing seems redundant - they'll see UK marriage certs every day and know what it means!

5. The UK doesn't issue licences. You just need a photocopy of the certificate (that's all we included).

6. Checklist. Yes, literally put that checklist on top, ticked off. It's useful for them and you. I actually crossed out the items that we *weren't* including too, that weren't relevant to us, because it made me feel better.

7. I stapled the entire package together with one staple (including checklist on front and SAE envelope on back). I think it says to do that somewhere (on the checklist?).

[TomandCatie 7]

Also, just to double check:

Is the address I'm sending to correct? I am using the one on the britexpat forum the man sent to, I can't seem to find the address on the website anywhere? Or maybe I'm missing it?

Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, American Embassy - London, P.O. Box 2444, London, England, W1A 5WT, United Kingdom.

[lost_at_sea 995]

Also, just to double check:

Is the address I'm sending to correct? I am using the one on the britexpat forum the man sent to, I can't seem to find the address on the website anywhere? Or maybe I'm missing it?

Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, American Embassy - London, P.O. Box 2444, London, England, W1A 5WT, United Kingdom.

Yep. That's where ours went. I sent it recorded delivery, too, via Royal Mail.

[TomandCatie 7]

Did you even include the order of documents checklist on top, or scrap that?

[lost_at_sea 995]

Did you even include the order of documents checklist on top, or scrap that?

Yeah, I think that's the one I put on top. I probably put both of the sheets in there! It won't hurt to have one or the other or both.

[TomandCatie 7]

K! Thank you so much for all your help up to this point! I truly appreciate it! Wish me luck, and GOOD LUCK tomorrow! Praying for you!

[lost_at_sea 995]

K! Thank you so much for all your help up to this point! I truly appreciate it! Wish me luck, and GOOD LUCK tomorrow! Praying for you!

Your paperwork'll be fine - you don't need luck!

More likely to die from HEAT EXPOSURE walking to the post office, today (I just went to get new passport photos done for tomorrow - heat has created the least attractive, shiny face, EVER), so I wish you luck mailing the package instead.

Thanks!

[TomandCatie 7]

Found out the international bank draft takes a week to process, so we couldn't send it off today

The photos we took today were cut to 2x2 inch passport style american photos. I asked for passport style, but they said American or British?

I'm assuming they want american? Or do they not?

Also, my marriage certificate is so HUGE, so I couldn't copy all of it. It would only go on part of the paper due to the length. So I'm thinking I'll send one of the four copies I got on the actual day, which are the big ones. It's in an envelope marked marriage certificate. Should I take it out of the envelope or leave it in because it's so large?

[lost_at_sea 995]

Found out the international bank draft takes a week to process, so we couldn't send it off today

The photos we took today were cut to 2x2 inch passport style american photos. I asked for passport style, but they said American or British?

I'm assuming they want american? Or do they not?

Also, my marriage certificate is so HUGE, so I couldn't copy all of it. It would only go on part of the paper due to the length. So I'm thinking I'll send one of the four copies I got on the actual day, which are the big ones. It's in an envelope marked marriage certificate. Should I take it out of the envelope or leave it in because it's so large?

We only had the large handwritten one from the ceremony at the time, so we copied it A3. Put it in, then folded the excess into the stack so it wasn't in the way. I have a certified copy now which is A4, so we'll use that now.

I'd not include anything in an envelope.

Edited July 15, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[TomandCatie 7]

I'm not used to A3/A4... A4 is the small one? A3 will fit the giant handwritten one?

Worse comes to worse I'll attach the ACTUAL handwritten one, as we have multiples of those.

So the photos should be okay?

[lost_at_sea 995]

I'm not used to A3/A4... A4 is the small one? A3 will fit the giant handwritten one?

Worse comes to worse I'll attach the ACTUAL handwritten one, as we have multiples of those.

So the photos should be okay?

A4 is normal letter size (like, the default photocopy size would probably be A4). A3 is twice the size of A4. A3 is wider than those stupid big marriage certificates, so it would fit on that with some left over. It's annoying how those certs are just a little bit wider than A4. Grr.

Sorry, missed the bit about photos. Yeah, you want US sized, as you would use for a US passport (the 2x2inch ones).

UK ones are taller than they are wide, and won't do (although if you want, you can use a UK sized on for the medical - they don't care which size you use).

[TomandCatie 7]

I'm overthinking it again. The pencil won't write on the back of the photo and I don't have a felt tip pen. Did you use just a regular pen?