March 2015 IR-1/CR-1 filers

[WalterW40 0]

Hello VJ Family!!

I submitted the I-130 petition for my wife yesterday (3/05/2015) to the Chicago Lockbox. My wife currently resides in the Dominican Republic. I know it's a long road ahead but this is the first step and it felt so emotional and exciting. I'm sure there will be many questions I will have. I will keep updating my timeline as time progresses.

This is the package I sent to USCIS:

• I-130 Cover Letter
• G-1145 e-Notification
• Form I-130
• USCIS Filing Fee of $420
• Form G-325A - US Citizen (Me)
• Form G-325A - Foreign Spouse
• USCIS color photograph - US Citizen
• USCIS color photograph - Foreing Spouse
• Copy of Long Form Marriage Certificate
• Translation of Marriage Certificate
• Copy of valid US Passport - US Citizen
• Copy of Long Form Birth Certificate - US Citizen
• Copy of Divorce Decree from previous marriage - US Citizen
• Copy of 401k Beneficiary updated to Foreing Spouse
• 2 Copies Affidavit of Third Party
• 10 Photos of us together - 2 of Wedding and 8 of normal activities

Hopefully this will be enough and I don't receive an RFE.

Edited March 5, 2015 by WalterW40

[RP&SP 8]

Yayyy Walter welcome, and your Package sounds perfect. I am praying for Texas so I will be praying for you to go to Texas as well.....

My update still have not heard from USCIS, I am praying that I do by tomorrow, I hate waitng but all good things come with patience.

[mbalih 35]

Yayyy Walter welcome, and your Package sounds perfect. I am praying for Texas so I will be praying for you to go to Texas as well.....

My update still have not heard from USCIS, I am praying that I do by tomorrow, I hate waitng but all good things come with patience.

So true!

[WalterW40 0]

Yayyy Walter welcome, and your Package sounds perfect. I am praying for Texas so I will be praying for you to go to Texas as well.....

My update still have not heard from USCIS, I am praying that I do by tomorrow, I hate waitng but all good things come with patience.

Thanks so much. Is Texas processing going fast these days?

I have low patience too....Just trying to keep myself busy at all times with work. I actually am taking a hobby in cooking to keep my mind busy when I get home....and have lovely meals

[IslAmy 122]

Hi March Filers!

Dropped in to say welcome and wish you luck with your journey.

I'm a March filer from last March, 2014.

[RP&SP 8]

@Mbalil yes it is the hardest thing do you know ifnanyone who had file on feb 28 got their receipt number yet.....

@Walter base on alot of updates it is, and I am just praying fingers crossed. It's good to haveba hobby. It makes the time fly a bit faster.I am still stuck at all these holidays that are gong and coming and I cant be around the two most precious gifts that I have in this life.... I think I am going to have to take up a hobby too, just not sure what....

Hi IsIAmy, omg thanks for that... please give us some pointers.....

[IslAmy 122]

@Mbalil yes it is the hardest thing do you know ifnanyone who had file on feb 28 got their receipt number yet.....

@Walter base on alot of updates it is, and I am just praying fingers crossed. It's good to haveba hobby. It makes the time fly a bit faster.I am still stuck at all these holidays that are gong and coming and I cant be around the two most precious gifts that I have in this life.... I think I am going to have to take up a hobby too, just not sure what....

Hi IsIAmy, omg thanks for that... please give us some pointers.....

My best advice: Don't just be prepared, be overprepared- double check everything before sending it off, and start doing your homework for the next step before it's time to actually do that step (we started preparing for NVC a month before it was time for USCIS to approve us so we were ready to go when it got to NVC, it helps cut down on time).

Most of all...be ready to wait...a lot... but just know that right when you get to the point where you can't wait anymore, you get movement and it's time for the next step!

Good luck!

[RP&SP 8]

@IsIAmy thanks so much for the share... I am starting to get alot of documents needed for the NVC.... andbalso doing practice NVC forms so I can have it perfected 4-6months from now when we finally at that stage...

[IslAmy 122]

That's awesome! You can start ordering the IRS tax transcripts too. It's not too early for you to practice forms, it took me ages to get the financial forms down pat.

[RP&SP 8]

I have written that on my to do list... so much to do, but hey it's all for a reason....

[IslAmy 122]

My best advice: Don't just be prepared, be overprepared- double check everything before sending it off, and start doing your homework for the next step before it's time to actually do that step (we started preparing for NVC a month before it was time for USCIS to approve us so we were ready to go when it got to NVC, it helps cut down on time).

Most of all...be ready to wait...a lot... but just know that right when you get to the point where you can't wait anymore, you get movement and it's time for the next step!

Good luck!

OH! And make an exact copy of every single package you send at any step in the process. That way if you talk to a phone rep about your case or something goes "missing" you can tell them exactly what was in there and where it was in the packet.

[RP&SP 8]

Thanks. I know I did for the 1st package but now that makes more sense. somehow I keep thinking I missed something ever since I sent the package in. However I keep going over it and it looks fine... I just hate worrying for no reason.....

[pamjohnson 2]

good day!@...March filer here!....

[RP&SP 8]

Hey Pam

[Ryan H 3,812]

Hello VJ Family!!

I submitted the I-130 petition for my wife yesterday (3/05/2015) to the Chicago Lockbox. My wife currently resides in the Dominican Republic. I know it's a long road ahead but this is the first step and it felt so emotional and exciting. I'm sure there will be many questions I will have. I will keep updating my timeline as time progresses.

This is the package I sent to USCIS:

• I-130 Cover Letter
• G-1145 e-Notification
• Form I-130
• USCIS Filing Fee of $420
• Form G-325A - US Citizen (Me)
• Form G-325A - Foreign Spouse
• USCIS color photograph - US Citizen
• USCIS color photograph - Foreing Spouse
• Copy of Long Form Marriage Certificate
• Translation of Marriage Certificate
• Copy of valid US Passport - US Citizen
• Copy of Long Form Birth Certificate - US Citizen
• Copy of Divorce Decree from previous marriage - US Citizen
• Copy of 401k Beneficiary updated to Foreing Spouse
• 2 Copies Affidavit of Third Party
• 10 Photos of us together - 2 of Wedding and 8 of normal activities

Hopefully this will be enough and I don't receive an RFE.

It wasn't necessary to include a copy of your birth certificate because you included a complete copy of your passport. The purpose of the complete passport copy or birth certificate copy is to establish US Citizenship. Everything else on your list looks good.