Questions about NVC package

[Groogrux108 14]

I'm getting ready to send in our NVC packages... I am the husband and petitioner, I currently live abroad with my wife. My understanding is that IV is about the beneficiary and AOS is all about the Petitioner (me).

Regarding AOS package:

1. If I send in my Tax Transcripts, do I need to send the Tax Returns and/or W2's ( I do not have W2s as I've always lived abroad, yet I do have similar statements from Brazilian employer's)?

2. What is "Petitioner Documents" as cited on the list of documents from the bar-coded sheet (I'm not sure what the document is called)?

3. I've read that the sponsors must attach, besides Tax documents, along with bank or any other financial documents available, what does this usually consist of?

Regarding IV package:

4. Is the birth certificate of the applicant (my wife) required or not? I've read conflicting information.

5. Are the 2 passport-sized photos still required? If so, can they be the same used for the I-130 or should they be more recent (those are about 7 or 8 months old)?

6. What are the guidelines regarding criminal records? She's lived in two other Brazilian states in her adult life. There's a broken link in one of the wiki pages so I can't figure out the drill regarding this point.

7. From what I can gather, here divorce documents, military records and birth certificate must be certified copies taken at a Notary Public's, is this the meaning of "certified"?

8. On one of the wiki pages I've read that "All documents that pertain to the applicant's petition are required, even if they were previously submitted to USCIS with the applicant's petition", This doesn't mean I will have to resend in my two inch thick supporting documents proving we are actually married, does it?

9. I'm thinking about using a co-sponsor to go along with my sponsorship through assets (even though I meet the requirements, go figure, many people tell me they might arbitrarily delay my petition and require a co-sponsor).

10. I will ask my uncle to co-sponsor: I have to ask him to fill out the I-864, send last 3 years of Tax Transcripts, last 3 years of Tax Returns, last 3 years of W2s, last 1040, 6 last pay stubs, is that about it? Is anything here not necessary do I can overwhelm him less? lol ...do I have to ask him to write on top of all 900 pages my case number too? (he will probably have to add his papers himself since I will have to send the package to his house first)

That's all for now haha I'm still getting my mind organized as to what needs to be done... any help on any of these is very welcome and thank you for your time!

[JFH 12,191]

Here are some answers.

1. Tax transcripts are fine. W-2s are really only needed for sponsors who file joint taxes so that it can be determined exactly how much of the combined income is yours. Our joint sponsor files joint taxes with his wife but his salary alone is enough to sponsor me so he provided a W-2 to demonstrate this. That way his wife doesn't have to carry the responsibility of sponsorship. W-2s are also needed for people who cannot obtain transcripts.

2. Petitioner documents are only needed for parent/child and sibling visas, not for spouse visas. Mark as "not applicable" on your check list.

3. I'm pretty sure that's only for people who are using assets or savings (or anything non-income based) for the I-864. In any event, we have not sent any bank statements from anyone.

4. Yes, a photocopy of her birth certificate is needed. She takes the original to the interview. Don't sent originals to NVC (except the I-864).

5. Passport-sized photos no longer required by NVC. She must take them with her to the interview. Check the embassy website to find out how many she must take as they all vary. Some require as many as 10!

6. She needs a police certificate from her home country, every country she has lived for more than a year after the age of 16, and every country where she's been arrested (if at all). Check the embassy website for your county for procedures on how to obtain this.

7. NVC only needs photocopies but they must be photocopies of certified copies. I don't know how it works in your wife's country but here all birth records are kept in a central records office and you must order certified copies from there. They are stamped and signed to confirm that they are true copies of the record.

8. No. No need to send all the evidence of bona-fide marriage. It just means that even though you've already sent your marriage cerificate to USCIS, you have to send it again to NVC.

9. Only the most recent transcript is required but you can send up to 3 years if you feel it would strengthen your case. Likewise pay stubs are not required unless you want to strengthen your case and provide further evidence of current income (if he has only recently started the job or recently got a significant raise he may want to include them).

It's a good idea to write your case number top right of everything. Things have a habit of getting lost at NVC.

[Groogrux108 14]

JFH, thank you so much! ... I'll re-read all of this tomorrow morning and work on my package a bit more and see if there are any other questions I might have... but so far extreeemely helpful!

[Groogrux108 14]

Here are some answers.

9. Only the most recent transcript is required but you can send up to 3 years if you feel it would strengthen your case. Likewise pay stubs are not required unless you want to strengthen your case and provide further evidence of current income (if he has only recently started the job or recently got a significant raise he may want to include them).

JFH, just to be clear, I just need to send in my uncle's (co-sponsor) 2015 tax transcript, and his I-864. Nothing else? (he's had a stable job for years and his income is enough to be the co-sponsor).

In case he files jointly with his wife (who I believe doesn't have any income), then it's a good idea to send the W-2 for 2015 as well.

Is this correct?

[gregcrs2 1,778]

4. Yes, a photocopy of her birth certificate is needed. She takes the original to the interview. Don't sent originals to NVC (except the I-864).

If NVC needs original of I-864, then how can it be done by electronic processing?

[Groogrux108 14]

Here are some answers.

1. Tax transcripts are fine. W-2s are really only needed for sponsors who file joint taxes so that it can be determined exactly how much of the combined income is yours. Our joint sponsor files joint taxes with his wife but his salary alone is enough to sponsor me so he provided a W-2 to demonstrate this. That way his wife doesn't have to carry the responsibility of sponsorship. W-2s are also needed for people who cannot obtain transcripts.

2. Petitioner documents are only needed for parent/child and sibling visas, not for spouse visas. Mark as "not applicable" on your check list.

3. I'm pretty sure that's only for people who are using assets or savings (or anything non-income based) for the I-864. In any event, we have not sent any bank statements from anyone.

4. Yes, a photocopy of her birth certificate is needed. She takes the original to the interview. Don't sent originals to NVC (except the I-864).

5. Passport-sized photos no longer required by NVC. She must take them with her to the interview. Check the embassy website to find out how many she must take as they all vary. Some require as many as 10!

6. She needs a police certificate from her home country, every country she has lived for more than a year after the age of 16, and every country where she's been arrested (if at all). Check the embassy website for your county for procedures on how to obtain this.

7. NVC only needs photocopies but they must be photocopies of certified copies. I don't know how it works in your wife's country but here all birth records are kept in a central records office and you must order certified copies from there. They are stamped and signed to confirm that they are true copies of the record.

8. No. No need to send all the evidence of bona-fide marriage. It just means that even though you've already sent your marriage cerificate to USCIS, you have to send it again to NVC.

9. Only the most recent transcript is required but you can send up to 3 years if you feel it would strengthen your case. Likewise pay stubs are not required unless you want to strengthen your case and provide further evidence of current income (if he has only recently started the job or recently got a significant raise he may want to include them).

It's a good idea to write your case number top right of everything. Things have a habit of getting lost at NVC.

My wife has been divorced previously, would they want a copy of that too?

[JFH 12,191]

JFH, just to be clear, I just need to send in my uncle's (co-sponsor) 2015 tax transcript, and his I-864. Nothing else? (he's had a stable job for years and his income is enough to be the co-sponsor).

In case he files jointly with his wife (who I believe doesn't have any income), then it's a good idea to send the W-2 for 2015 as well.

Is this correct?

That is correct. One year of tax transcripts is enough. W-2 for someone who files jointly so that then can see how much of the joint income is his.

My wife has been divorced previously, would they want a copy of that too?

Is your wife the immigrant? If so, yes you will need to send a copy of the divorce decree from her previous marriage. If your wife is the USC and you are the immigrant then NVC does not require her divorce decree.

[Groogrux108 14]

That is correct. One year of tax transcripts is enough. W-2 for someone who files jointly so that then can see how much of the joint income is his.

Is your wife the immigrant? If so, yes you will need to send a copy of the divorce decree from her previous marriage. If your wife is the USC and you are the immigrant then NVC does not require her divorce decree.

Thanks! Yes I am the petitioner! Great help!!