I-130 required documents

[scarlett262004 280]

Hi. I am getting ready to send in my I-130 form and I have read the guidelines but am just wondering from other people's experiences with this first step of what you sent in as evidence. I have the marriage certificate and we are going to have people write affidavits to support our relationship and marriage. Is that good enough? Should I send in pictures also of our honeymoon? My family couldn't attend since it was in Pakistan and his parents are deceased. Should I write a statement about that? Any help or advice given would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! 

[Kastrs 723]

Islamabad is not an easy consulate, you should front load your petition with as much evidence as possible, particularly if you have any "red flags"

I am not sure what you mean exactly by marriage certificate, but to cover all of your bases you should include your Nikah Nama, Nikah Nama English translation, and the NADRA marriage registration certificate

I would not/did not waste any time with affidavits, they are much weaker evidence compared to other items you could include with your petition

Yes a FEW pictures from your trips together would be helpful to include, especially if they show you as a couple with his family. Make sure they are well labeled, and remember they are secondary relationship evidence you still need to provide more.

It is not necessary to include a statement why your parents did not attend, the USCIS reviewer will be able to read your g325a and determine that your parents are deceased. Furthermore, no one from my family attended my wedding, I did not mention it and it was never brought up.

 

What you should be sure to include in your petition as relationship evidence is proof of ALL trips you have taken to visit each other and trips taken together, and evidence of communication spanning your relationship in the form of a few chat logs printed per month. 

 

After your petition is approved, you will have the opportunity to include additional relationship evidence when you are sending information to the NVC. I would suggest doing so especially if you have any "red flags"

 

Best of  luck 

[scarlett262004 280]

Thank you for your reply. This was our first time meeting each other but have been together for almost 2 years in June. We were supposed to meet in 2015 but his dad passed away suddenly and it was just hard to plan a trip sooner than we did after that. I have the NADRA marriage certificate and the nikah but not translated. Where could I get that translated? And like I said his parents are deceased so no pictures with his family. His best friends were the witnesses at our ceremony. I have those pictures and my tickets from traveling to him and he gave me the hotel bill also. And of course I can do our conversations with each other. 

[Kastrs 723]

5 minutes ago, scarlett262004 said:

Thank you for your reply. This was our first time meeting each other but have been together for almost 2 years in June. We were supposed to meet in 2015 but his dad passed away suddenly and it was just hard to plan a trip sooner than we did after that. I have the NADRA marriage certificate and the nikah but not translated. Where could I get that translated? If you are fluent in Urdu you can translate yourself. Anyone who is fluent in Urdu and English can translate, you just need to ensure you have the appropriate statement at the bottom of the document:

I [typed name], certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and [enter appropriate language] languages, and that the above/attached document is an accurate translation of the document attached entitled [enter title of document].
Signature
Typed Name                               
Address
Date

Please note all documents you provide must be in English, or have a certified translation

5 minutes ago, scarlett262004 said:

 

And like I said his parents are deceased so no pictures with his family. He does not have any brothers or sisters or uncles or aunts who could have attended your wedding? This will be a red flag. Have you spent any time with his relatives?

 

His best friends were the witnesses at our ceremony. I have those pictures and my tickets from traveling to him and he gave me the hotel bill also. And of course I can do our conversations with each other. 

Do you have any other red flags? Are you of Pakistani origin? Was this a love marriage or arranged? Are you both Muslim? Do you have large age gaps? Is this your first marriage?

 

All of these questions should influence how you assemble your petition.

[scarlett262004 280]

This is a love marriage. I converted to Islam and I'm not Pakistani descent. He does have a couple of siblings but they did not attend. We thought we were just going to do engagement this trip but decided to just take the plunge when I got there. It wasn't planned to get married at this time. And even though I'm 5 years older than him a few immigration lawyers said that's fine. They said they are talking like 10 or more years between people. 

[Kastrs 723]

5 years is probably ok, I am not saying your case is impossible by any streatch but do prepare for extra scrutiny

it would be best to ensure you include chat logs spanning your relationship, and I would encourage you to make another trip between now ant the time your case reaches the NVC so you will be able to include your trip evidence

Also, for this embassy it is not uncommon to ask what his family thinks of the situation or if his family approves and if you have met them, they like to see pictures of you with his family

 

other factors such as his job and where he lives will have an outcome on your case

[DeepInLove 35]

Well your story is somewhat similar to mine I am 10 years older than my husband, he converted to islam. we went to another country to get married nobody except one of his friend attended that. we are in relationship for two and a half years. well, tough road, But I have full hope, I am preparing my case, and loading it with so much documents, to prove that we are in a genuine relationship.

Best Of Luck.

[scarlett262004 280]

I am also hopeful. Thank you for sharing with me DeepinLove. This weekend I am going to start putting my petition for him together. My sister is also going to help me also. Of course I'm a little worried but also very hopeful about this process. 

[NikLR 13,227]

I do suggest more visits over the course of your relationship so you can sideload at the NVC.  You want the consular officer to see evidence you communicate, that you make the effort to see each other, that you have a genuine marital relationship.  Especially for this embassy.  Also prepare yourselves for the eventual administrative processing and take a look in the AP forums for others who are going through this embassy. Best of luck. 

[shiam 1]

I agree with all what is said above. I would include: 

- Copy of original and translated marriage certificate

- Copy of original and translated Nikah Nama

- Wedding pictures of husband and wife

- Wedding pictures with friends/attendees 

- I put my pictures on a word document and beside the pictures, I described who the attendee was. I think I also included their names. 

- Pictures of places you guys visited together - include location and date

- Airline tickets 

- Wedding hall receipts, etc.

 

[scarlett262004 280]

Thank you everyone for the replies. I have letters of support, pictures on a word document with captions of the wedding and honeymoon, travel documents, and am now going to work on our conversations. We plan on me traveling to see him again in August. I have to build up my vacation time again or else I would go sooner than that.