Documents help to file I-130

[baluchsaab 2]

***I posted this in a different section, couldn't get any reply, that's why I'm posting it here. Hoping someone could help.***

Hi, I'm a new member here, I'm hoping somebody could help me and give any kind of advice on what to do. I'm going to give some background info that would maybe help in understanding the situation.

I am US Citizen, got my citizenship through adoption. After arriving in US, I received my permanent residence card (GR) and once my adoption case was complete , I received a Illinois state issued birth certificate with place of birth as Karachi, Pakistan. I was 17 when I entered U.S. and my adoption case was filed when I was under 16. I have my adopted parents name on my IL birth certificate.

Now the concept of adoption is different in US and Pakistan. From what I know, and I maybe wrong, Pakistan being a Muslim country doesn't really have full adoption, I mean someone could take full guardianship of a child through a legal channel, but the child still retains his/her Biological father and mother names. My case is similar, my biological father passed away before I was adopted/adoption case filed, and my mother gave full guardianship to my adopted parents under Pakistani judicial system. This was one of the requirements to have my adoption case approved in U.S. that biological mother has given her full consent to this guardianship/adoption etc. I have all the adoption papers regarding these proceedings.

I got married last year in Pakistan and my marriage certificate has my biological father's name (this cannot be changed by law). my problem is that I don't know if it'll be a issue when I submit this marriage certificate along with I-130 and other required documents. And to avoid having any issues, which adoption documents should I include with I-130 petition. Court documents from U.S. or Pakistan, that I was adopted? or a descriptive explanation? I'm so confused! :/

and I have some other questions regarding the I-130 application itself, I'm applying for my wife, please help.

1-On I-130 field A (3) "Did you gain permanent residence through adoption?" -- Do I put Yes here? and would this cause any problem or disqualification?

2- I-130 field C (1); I know I have to put my wife's name there but which one, ha! Her name on marriage certificate is FirstName: (her name) LastName: (father's name) but in updated Pakistani State ID, she has FirstName: (her name) LastName: (my first name). ex. with made names; her name before marriage was Angel Smith. and my name is Zack Bert(family name in US). so after marriage in her Pakistani State ID it changed to Angel Zack (usual practice in pakistan is that mostly people put their father's first name as their last name). Now I'm confused what would I put in C (1). (Family name in CAPS) (First) (Middle). And which name should I put the one before marriage or the one after?

I know this is maybe too much to ask, but please help! I'd really appreciate it. Thank You so much for reading this.

[sara..... 371]

I will try to help if im wrong someone will come a long and correct me...........i also was adopted from over seas so you put yes you gained your permanent residence thru adoption...........if you dont have certificate of citizenship copy our complete pass port as proof of your citizenship.............you add your adoption papers showing your name before adoption and what it was changed to include your over seas birth certificate and the one from the states......put all of these together with a explanation of what is what and why....

your marriage certificate along with your wife's birth certificate and her copy of her id and passport will show why her name is changed and what it was before your marriage to her.......you put her family name because it does ask for her father and mothers name as well then put in first middle and name after marriage..........

i hope this helps im pretty sure im right about it but as always there is always someone that has more information than i do that will come and correct what ever i have gotten wrong

sara

[baluchsaab 2]

I will try to help if im wrong someone will come a long and correct me...........i also was adopted from over seas so you put yes you gained your permanent residence thru adoption...........if you dont have certificate of citizenship copy our complete pass port as proof of your citizenship.............you add your adoption papers showing your name before adoption and what it was changed to include your over seas birth certificate and the one from the states......put all of these together with a explanation of what is what and why....

your marriage certificate along with your wife's birth certificate and her copy of her id and passport will show why her name is changed and what it was before your marriage to her.......you put her family name because it does ask for her father and mothers name as well then put in first middle and name after marriage..........

i hope this helps im pretty sure im right about it but as always there is always someone that has more information than i do that will come and correct what ever i have gotten wrong

sara

First of all, Thank you so much for the reply, Sara.

After searching all over VJ, I think I do have to attach copies of adoption papers both from U.S. courts and Pakistan. Do I still have to mention that the biological father name cannot be changed with adopted one in that country? or I should assume they would know that by then?

And regarding what name to put for my wife, I will follow the same example I mentioned above. just as an example Her father name is Mark Smith, and before marriage her name was Angel Smith. Now on her state ID and passport it will show Angel Bert, not "Angel Smith Bert". You said I have to put her family name which would be Smith. and then put her FirstName; Angel, and leave out the Bert? because I can't put it in MiddleName, since in her ID and other documents have only firstname and lastname.

And another thing I want to ask is that, when filing I-130, I have to include G-325A completed forms by I and my wife. But Since she's living in Pakistan, do I just tell her to complete G-325A, sign it, date it and mail it to me in U.S. then I send the I-130, correct? I can't just fill that form on her behalf. I'm sorry if this questions seems stupid, but I have never petitioned and such before. And I want to make sure I get everything right on the first try.

Thank you so much again...

[indiandude1111 27]

salams bro. I live in Chicago too and originally from India so I can understand your queries a little better.

I have been waiting almost 8 months now on my i130 for my wife.

You do need to fill out G-325 A form for you and another G- 325 A form for her.

If you have changed your wife's last name, then you need to show evidence of the name change that occurred. I did the same for my wife and simply attached my wife's new passport page info.

As far as your adoption paperwork, make sure you have names that are consistent throughout and never turn in anything that you aren't sure of as your case might be very genuine but you don't want to raise red flags.

Hope it helps.

[baluchsaab 2]

salams bro. I live in Chicago too and originally from India so I can understand your queries a little better.

I have been waiting almost 8 months now on my i130 for my wife.

You do need to fill out G-325 A form for you and another G- 325 A form for her.

If you have changed your wife's last name, then you need to show evidence of the name change that occurred. I did the same for my wife and simply attached my wife's new passport page info.

As far as your adoption paperwork, make sure you have names that are consistent throughout and never turn in anything that you aren't sure of as your case might be very genuine but you don't want to raise red flags.

Hope it helps.

Wsalaam! Thanks for the reply.

Yes, I can attach a copy of her pakistani state ID and passport which will have FirstName: HerFirstName, LastName: MyFirstName. So since the name is changed, on I-130 do I write my LastName in her FamilyName field right? and Her FirstName in it's respective field. BUT here's the kicker, would this be a problem since in her state ID and passport it only shows herFirstName as firstname and myFirstName as lastname,

And another slightly different question I want to ask is that I was adopted by a relative and he has the same last name (I didn't have my biological father's first name, but our family name as last name) as I had before being adopted but there was just one alphabet spelling difference in our last name. So I had that changed legally in Pakistan to the same spelled last name, as the person who was adopting me. and from what I remember I think this is already mentioned in the adoption papers. So I did not use that old last name after moving to U.S. ever. I've been using the same last name that was changed in pakistan and it's the same last name that my adopted parents have. .... So I want to know if I have to mention that I used a different name before or not on I-130. Because I've never put that anywhere. My Pakistan birth certificate also have the updated last name corrected. etc

I know this might sound confusing but I'm really lost so I want to make sure im doing everything right the first time.

Again thanks for the reply!!!

[indiandude1111 27]

On your i-130 form you write the name that is presently being held. Like say for example your wife's name at birth was Mary Smith and now it is Mary Johnson.

You will write Mary Johnson. However, #7 on the form i130 says, "Other Names Used". There you should write her name as Mary Smith ie. the name prior to getting married. The same goes for you as well. I think #7 you would write your name at birth ie. before your adoption.

I would attach all court documents both from Pak and US showing that the name change occurred for you. Sorry bro.. don't know much about adoption process but if I were you I would get all the papers reviewed by an attorney before submitting. This is the best advice I can give you. Submit affidavits that would document things systematically for you.

Take care,

[baluchsaab 2]

On your i-130 form you write the name that is presently being held. Like say for example your wife's name at birth was Mary Smith and now it is Mary Johnson.

You will write Mary Johnson. However, #7 on the form i130 says, "Other Names Used". There you should write her name as Mary Smith ie. the name prior to getting married. The same goes for you as well. I think #7 you would write your name at birth ie. before your adoption.

I would attach all court documents both from Pak and US showing that the name change occurred for you. Sorry bro.. don't know much about adoption process but if I were you I would get all the papers reviewed by an attorney before submitting. This is the best advice I can give you. Submit affidavits that would document things systematically for you.

Take care,

Thanks for helping.