Starting I-130 journey

[lilsweetpea11 0]

Hello all, I'm sending in the I-130 form today along with 2 g-325 forms. I am including all need documentation for these forms. Are there any other forms that I should be sending in to make the process easier or faster? I was going to send in the I-129 but I have read on these forums that it is a waste of money and don't make my husband get to me any faster. Any advice? Thank you

[aleful 1,905]

hi

that's all for now

there is no cost for the i129f, but it is obsolete because generally the k3 is closed at the nvc stage and the i130 will continue

[Kastrs 723]

If you want electronic notification of updates to your case-via text/email, then also include the G1145. Just one thing to keep in mind, that although you include it, sometimes you will get updates and sometimes you will not. For example in my case I got a text when my file was received, but not when the petition was approved.

I agree do not waste your time chasing a K3 visa.

As long as you have all the forms, as well as documentation to support your marriage then you should be ok. If you want a comprehensive review of your packet-then it is ok to provide a complete list of what you are including and have the members review it.

Best of Luck

[lilsweetpea11 0]

Thank you both! I will do the g1145 now, thank you for informing me about that.

[NikLR 13,232]

~~moved to IR1/CR1 process and procedures from K3 process and procedures.~~

Make sure to read our guides so you have everything you need. There is a bunch of things you haven't listed?

But maybe that's what you meant by documentation?

[lilsweetpea11 0]

Do I need to write a cover letter or letter of intent for I-130?

[Hccaldwe 17]

Do I need to write a cover letter or letter of intent for I-130?

You don't have to. Some people do. Some don't. I think there is a letter of intent for the K1. But it isn't needed for I-130.

[lilsweetpea11 0]

Okay, thank you!

[NikLR 13,232]

letter of intent is only for K1. A cover letter is handy so you can list everything you're sending.

[lilsweetie 32]

I always included cover letters for every package I sent in. I figured, the more organized and easy it is to follow, the faster they can approve it!

I never got any RFE's.

With the I-130 I also included 3 affidavits, 10 photos with captions, letter of intent, documents (marriage certificate, petitioner's US passport copy, etc)

[lilsweetpea11 0]

Okay, I've been delaying this because I'm scared I dont have all the needed material. So just a couple more questions for you all. Do I need to print every page in my spouses passport or mine? Also, do I need to have a copy of the front and back of my birth certificate if the back is blank? And last but not least, I printed off copies of our plane tickets together, tickets of activities we have done together, picture of us and also the day we got married, and receipts for our wedding rings. Are these things along with affidavits enough evidence?

[Ryan H 3,828]

Okay, I've been delaying this because I'm scared I dont have all the needed material. So just a couple more questions for you all. Do I need to print every page in my spouses passport or mine? Also, do I need to have a copy of the front and back of my birth certificate if the back is blank? And last but not least, I printed off copies of our plane tickets together, tickets of activities we have done together, picture of us and also the day we got married, and receipts for our wedding rings. Are these things along with affidavits enough evidence?

Answers:

• The purpose of sending a copy of all passport pages or a copy of a birth certificate is to establish the petitioner's US Citizenship. Only one method is needed, not both. If you choose to send a copy of your birth certificate, my suggestion is to be on the safe side and copy both sides even though the back side is blank.
• The section of your post I placed on bold and green is your best evidence.
• Skip the wedding ring receipts, that means nothing.
• Skip the affidavits, they carry little to zero weight in the overall evaluation of a file. It appears that you have plenty of evidence of time spent together in-person and that is your strongest evidence.

[Thesmiths2016 117]

First of all .... I've only just filed, but I took advice from reading A LOT on this forum and speaking to two people personally who have their greencards.

Affidavits are usually used if you don't have enough evidence without it. EG: if you've lived apart for some time, don't have photos together due to your computer dying, and so on.
I provided copies of lease agreements, marriage certificate and passports (bio page only), itinerary/hotel bookings/photos of all trips together (including what it was for "eg: meeting Mary's family for the first time", and "visiting the USA for a friends wedding" and so on), some event/sporting tickets we did together, joint bank account letter from the bank, rent transactions from our joint acct, a bunch of photos of us "over the years" to show us aging together (all my photos I just did in a collage program and printed them as it took up less space and I was able to give pages headings).
I did a "our relationship timeline" letter which was basically just a one page typed story about where we met, where and why we moved to australia, what our future plans are. I also put a table of contents for each section. I did that just so they can't have any ammunition to say "you didn't include ....". I basically made it as easy to go through the evidence as I could to be safe :-)

I also read somewhere (on this forum I think) that with your wedding certificate and photos, try to include a couple type photo, one with family and friends that witnessed the wedding, and so on .... basically to show there were others involved on the day and not just a marriage cert signed. Wedding ring receipts won't carry any weight.

Good luck!

[JFH 12,191]

You have to imagine yourself in the shoes of the USCIS adjudicator. He or she has never met you and knows nothing about you. You have to convince him/her that the two people listed on the form are genuinely in love and married for love, not for a green card. A ring receipt doesn't prove that. All it proves is that someone went shopping and bought a ring. Focus on evidence that can only show one thing - the two of you are a happy couple together. Photos, tickets to see each other, hotel reservations for the two of you, emails or messages between you. Photos of you with your spouse's family are also good.

Edited April 12, 2016 by JFH

[lilsweetpea11 0]

Specifications on how to send it or which type of envelope?