Gathering Documents for an I-130

[TennMike7 8]

Hello. I'm an American citizen living in Brazil. I've posted here once before, but I never did file for my wife's immigration visa. At the time I was waiting on the divorce records of a civil marriage to arrive to me for this process. I finally got the divorce records to include in the immigration visa application, and now I have decided to proceed. I am going to do the paperwork on my own and wanted to see if other forum members could take a look and give me any solid advice.

Here are the documents that I will be sending:

- a cover letter and the I-130 form completed

-a photocopy of my US birth certificate

- a copy of all pages of my US passport (should this be also the front and back? all pages?)

-a copy of my translated civil marriage certificate with my wife (the beneficiary)

- small passport-stye photos on a white background with our full name printed on the back

- the entire packet and documents of my civil divorce (U.S.)

- the G 325A (biometrics) forms for both my wife and I

-the money order withdrawn from the U.S. for the appropriate amount

-pictures of the wedding

-a flash drive with the recorded wedding ceremony

-translated Brazilian joint bank statements

-3 notarized witness testimonies including all the required information

- a notarized copy of our lease agreement

If there is anything that I didn't see here, please let me know. I think I may file next month. I have been dragging my feet since my wife and I live together abroad and both work in Brazil.

Thanks a lot for your feedback.

I was also curious about the two other fees. When and with whom do I pay the $165 USCIS Immigrant Fee and the biometrics fees? Must I pay these two fees before sending the I-130 to the lockbox? After sending? Can I pay them online? I guess I didn't find good information and they are not even mentioned in the Instructions for Form I-130.

Oh, and since this is related, my profile here says that I must file at the Atl lockbox...is that correct? For some reason I thought that I had to file at the Chicago USCIS lockbox?

Edited September 15, 2016 by TennMike7

[NewBrunswicker 19]

- a copy of all pages of my US passport (should this be also the front and back? all pages?) Include the front and back

-a flash drive with the recorded wedding ceremony I wouldn't include that

I was also curious about the two other fees. When and with whom do I pay the $165 USCIS Immigrant Fee and the biometrics fees? Must I pay these two fees before sending the I-130 to the lockbox? Later After sending? Can I pay them online? Yes I guess I didn't find good information and they are not even mentioned in the Instructions for Form I-130. It is because they are not related to the I-130.

Oh, and since this is related, my profile here says that I must file at the Atl lockbox...is that correct? For some reason I thought that I had to file at the Chicago USCIS lockbox? It depends on the state you are filing from.

Edited September 15, 2016 by NewBrunswicker

[TennMike7 8]

- a copy of all pages of my US passport (should this be also the front and back? all pages?) Include the front and back

Is that front and back as in, the front and back cover (US logo) or just the actual inside pages of the booklet. I guess it is just a very minor detail. It doesn't have to be notarized does it? Just regular copies?

Oh, and since this is related, my profile here says that I must file at the Atl lockbox...is that correct? For some reason I thought that I had to file at the Chicago USCIS lockbox? It depends on the state you are filing from.

I'm living in Brazil and probably will remain here throughout the entire process.

[NewBrunswicker 19]

Just regular copy. I have not seen anywhere that it has to be notarized.

For your second question, I guess it depends on the state you intend to be living in. Have you thought about direct consulate filling (DCF)? It might be an option for you.

[TennMike7 8]

Thanks for your response. I hadn't heard of Direct Consulate Filing. Is this an option in Brazil? Is there a way that I can find out this information, besides writing directly to the consulate and asking?

All of my paperwork can be obtained here in Brazil now, so I am just starting to get the ball rolling today. Getting those old divorce documents was a crucial step. Once I get all the documents and translations, I will have a friend send a money order from the U.S. and then send everything to the Chicago lockbox. If there is DCF, this will make everything a lot easier for me.

[TennMike7 8]

I just got a huge doubt about the documents that I am going to notarize. For example, my rent agreement and the witnesses. The nearest consul is 10 hours away. It is impossible for me to notarize these things at the consul here. They will accept documents notarized by a notary public here in Brazil, won't they?

[TennMike7 8]

I guess I figured out the answer to my questions. All my translations have to be translated by a translator that the local consul recognizes and all my notarized documents have to be notarized at the consul.

What about my rent agreement? Should that be notarized or is a translated copy sufficient?

Thanks.

[teddy k 35]

Don't worry about the rental agreement just have it translated

[TennMike7 8]

Thanks for the answers. This has certainly helped me figure out the document part of my I-130. I'm getting closer to having all the documents that I need.

I noticed that at the interview I will have to show 3 years of tax returns and current employment. But, I live and work in Brazil. Is it my Brazilian employment that they look at? Or will I have to show proof of a job in the U.S.? Even though I don't work in the U.S.? Seems like a strange situation. I work in Brazil and would prefer to keep working in Brazil up to the time of leaving for the United States and set up work there after I get there.

I don't have any w-2 tax returns either. Is there an easy way to get them sent to me? Can I just request my last tax returns and have them sent?

It is starting to seem like the most difficult part will actually be the interview.

[TennMike7 8]

I've been planning to do this immigration thing for over a year now, and I've been saving money to try to make it possible. But what I've been reading lately about the interview and the Affidavit of Support makes it almost impossible for me. I am not a homeowner and plan to get a job after I move there. My original intention was to get a CDL and a job as a truckdriver for the first couple years.

But now I'm reading through the Affidavit of Support to understand about what I will need when it comes time for the interview. I don't have my most recent W-2s. They would've been from 2009, 2010 and 2011 since that was the last time I worked in the U.S. and filed my income. I've been working in Brazil for the last three years. This is beginning to seem like a major roadblock for me. I've been working in Brazil for three years, so my yearly income isn't that great.

Is the I-130 immigrant visa only for rich people who have a job in the U.S. and a house there, too? That is sure what it is starting to seem like.

[NewBrunswicker 19]

Sorry I was busy lately. For your taxes, you need to keep filling even when away from the US. As for proof of income, you need US income. One way around would be enough savings in a US account to meet the requirements. Another would be a proof of job transfer within the same company to the US (if they have a US branch). If you have relative, ask them for a co-sponsor. As long you support yourself, your co-sponsor will never be asked for money. It is important that people immigrating to the US are self-supported and that they will not become the government responsibility. So no, it is not for rich people only.

About DCF, look at this. http://www.usaimmigrationattorney.com/DCFandnoDCFcountries.html

This would make your life easier if you qualify.

[TennMike7 8]

I filed my taxes while abroad last year online, but I never received anything in the mail or any proof of having done this. I will file them next year, too. I got no income tax back, obviously, and I didn't have to pay anything in. I just filled out everything online and sent it. How would I be able to get proof of this?

I agree that someone should be financially stable and not become a burden to the government. In order to prove this according to their guidelines, I would have to leave my wife in Brazil and go back to the U.S. and work and wait, something I'm not willing to do at this time. I'm not going to ask a relative to co-sponsor her. Looks like I'll be in Brazil until I can get 3x the 125% of the Federal Poverty line in a U.S. bank account.

Let's say that I did get a co-sponsor, though.

Would the co-sponsor have to go to the U.S. embassy in the United States? How would this work? Would they set an appointment for us and a seperate appointment for him? As much as I hate to ask someone to be a co-sponsor, it might be my only chance...

Edited September 19, 2016 by TennMike7

[NewBrunswicker 19]

The co-sponsor would only need to fill the paperwork. It shouldn't be more than that. However, the co-sponsor has to disclose his financial information.

You can get your past tax report for free on-line via the IRS website.

[TennMike7 8]

So the co-sponsor just fills out the forms and sends copies of his last 3 years of w-2s, right?

Does the co-sponsor have to have the same U.S. address as us. What if we don't wish to reside with the co-sponsor?

[NewBrunswicker 19]

No need to live with the co-sponsor. The co-sponsor is only responsible financially if needed. The only thing I will add is let say your co-sponsor have a household of 4 already, then is new household would be 5 so the requirement for your co-sponsor are higher.