preparing I-130 have questions please help!!

[Kallen 0]

my husband and i have gathered everything that we need to send in our I-130. However just have a few questions

1.Marriage certificate ....will a photo copy of the front and back good? or do you need to send a certified copy?

2.Passport photos....we went to wal-mart to get them on 1 picture for the both of us they stamped it with the date and a place for the guarantor to sign..do we write our name on that one? or use the photo that is blank on the back?.Is a zip lock bag ok to put the photo's in? and do you actually staple it to the G325A?

3.My husband (the petitioner) has a passport but he has never used it so all the pages are blank...does he still need to photocopy all the pages?

4.How many photos should we send to show we are "bona fide"

5.Husband is in Montana so we will be mailing it to the Phoenix lock box correct?

Thanks!!

Edited April 5, 2016 by Kallen

[rutabaga 209]

1: Regular photocopy will do (for everything, not just the marriage certificate), as long as it's legible.

2: I think either one will do, just remember to write the name of the person on the back. Zip lock is fine, we stapled ours to the bottom right of the appropriate G325A and didn't have issues either, but YMMV.

3: We only sent in the copy of the wife's bio page and were approved without issues, but again, YMMV.

4: We didn't send any photos, but we did have a lot of other evidence. I wouldn't go overboard with it, but I'm sure someone will chime in with a more exact recommendation.

5: Yes.

Edited April 5, 2016 by rutabaga

[slycordinator 6]

1) It needs to be a certified copy.

2) You took one photo with the two of you both as a passport photo? That definitely won't work. A passport photo must be sized for passports and be of just the one person, plus follow any other passport photo requirements.

3) It'####### or miss. I read how you needed every page, so I copied them all. Then when I turned in my i-130 (dcf), the person laughed that I copied every page and only kept the biographic page. But sending through mail you should do them all; better save than sorry.

[rutabaga 209]

1) It needs to be a certified copy.

Nope, a regular photocopy will suffice. The instructions also don't mention certified copies at all:

Copies. Unless specifically required that an original document be filed with an application or petition, a legible photocopy may be submitted. Original documents submitted when not required may remain a part of the record, and will not automatically be returned to you.

[Kallen 0]

1) It needs to be a certified copy.

2) You took one photo with the two of you both as a passport photo? That definitely won't work. A passport photo must be sized for passports and be of just the one person, plus follow any other passport photo requirements.

3) It'####### or miss. I read how you needed every page, so I copied them all. Then when I turned in my i-130 (dcf), the person laughed that I copied every page and only kept the biographic page. But sending through mail you should do them all; better save than sorry.

sorry i wrote the passport picture question kind of funny... we didn't take one with the both of us in a picture together.. i mean that we both received 2 photos at wal-mart and they put the stamp on 1 picture of each of ours

[Kallen 0]

Nope, a regular photocopy will suffice. The instructions also don't mention certified copies at all:

i did call the immigration 1800 # and asked them they did tell me that a photo copy will work because they will probably keep it.... but i was also told on here that the 1800 # is the misinformation line lol

[rutabaga 209]

Regular copies are definitely fine, USCIS' General Tips on Assembling Applications for Mailing page is even clearer than the I130 instructions:

USCIS no longer routinely requires submission of original documents or "certified copies." Instead, ordinary legible photocopies of such documents (including naturalization certificates and alien registration cards) will be acceptable for initial filing and approval of petitions and applications.

The beneficiary will, however, need to present an original (or a certified copy) during the interview.

[Kallen 0]

Regular copies are definitely fine, USCIS' General Tips on Assembling Applications for Mailing page is even clearer than the I130 instructions:

The beneficiary will, however, need to present an original (or a certified copy) during the interview.

Great thanks so much!!!

[NikLR 13,232]

my husband and i have gathered everything that we need to send in our I-130. However just have a few questions

1.Marriage certificate ....will a photo copy of the front and back good? or do you need to send a certified copy? - Photocopy

2.Passport photos....we went to wal-mart to get them on 1 picture for the both of us they stamped it with the date and a place for the guarantor to sign..do we write our name on that one? or use the photo that is blank on the back?.Is a zip lock bag ok to put the photo's in? and do you actually staple it to the G325A? - Use a plastic baggy and paperclip it to the G-325a. Use the one that is blank on the back so you can write your names and dob.

3.My husband (the petitioner) has a passport but he has never used it so all the pages are blank...does he still need to photocopy all the pages? - Does he have a birth certificate he can use? Otherwise yes he must send a copy of the entire passport.

4.How many photos should we send to show we are "bona fide" - However many you feel comfortable with. Just print them on regular paper (lighter weight for mailing.)

Can you add each other onto bank accounts?

Do you have something that shows you regularly communicate (phone records, screen shots of skype calls, facebook, email?)

Also your husband can add you onto his car insurance, it generally gets a better rate to be a married man vs single.

Have you taken any trips together?

We had about 4 photos, 2 affidavits, proof of car insurance, and proof of a joint bank account.

Canada isn't that harsh about evidence

5.Husband is in Montana so we will be mailing it to the Phoenix lock box correct? - Yes!

Thanks!!

answers in red.

[Kallen 0]

answers in red.

answered back in black

3.My husband (the petitioner) has a passport but he has never used it so all the pages are blank...does he still need to photocopy all the pages? - Does he have a birth certificate he can use? Otherwise yes he must send a copy of the entire passport.Yes we have photocopied front and back of his birth certificate

4.How many photos should we send to show we are "bona fide" - However many you feel comfortable with. Just print them on regular paper (lighter weight for mailing.)

Can you add each other onto bank accounts?

Do you have something that shows you regularly communicate (phone records, screen shots of skype calls, facebook, email?)

Also your husband can add you onto his car insurance, it generally gets a better rate to be a married man vs single.

Have you taken any trips together?

We had about 4 photos, 2 affidavits, proof of car insurance, and proof of a joint bank account. ...for this i have 2 sworn affidavits, a copy of our apartment lease that we co-signed and our daughter who was born in the states birth certificate and then about 5 pics( of our wedding daughters birth and other random days)... should that be enough?

Canada isn't that harsh about evidence

[NikLR 13,232]

Sounds okay for evidence for Canadians. Just use birth certificate. No need for his passport as well.

[NikLR 13,232]

Can you screen shot it? I dont like downloading to my comp or phone.

[rutabaga 209]

You also might wanna black out the personally identifiable information (i.e., I'd take down the PDF and do a screen shot of it and then black out all the stuff like names, addresses...).

[JFH 12,191]

I would leave out the affidavits.

[NikLR 13,232]

Affidavits are fine. I would add a spouse to car insurance or as beneficiary of life insurance. Even a will.

Affidavits are low level evidence but that doesn't mean you cant include them. Fyi i reported the post since it apparently contains personal information.