Newbie Question Re: K3 Process

[Puravida4ver 0]

My wife and I were married in Costa Rica this past week. Now I am back in the US and ready to begin the application for a K3 visa for her. I am waiting on the certificate of marriage from the Costa Rican goverment. I am guessing it will take at least a month, probably longer, to arrive here in the US. My question is: Can I do anything else to begin the visa process prior to receiving the certificate? I have begun collecting all the other documents listed in the K3 application guide. I have read the K3 Guide as well as the FAQs and I read the K3 forum as well. Thank you in advance for any suggestions, tips, do's or don'ts. Cheers!

[pushbrk 12,881]

My wife and I were married in Costa Rica this past week. Now I am back in the US and ready to begin the application for a K3 visa for her. I am waiting on the certificate of marriage from the Costa Rican goverment. I am guessing it will take at least a month, probably longer, to arrive here in the US. My question is: Can I do anything else to begin the visa process prior to receiving the certificate? I have begun collecting all the other documents listed in the K3 application guide. I have read the K3 Guide as well as the FAQs and I read the K3 forum as well. Thank you in advance for any suggestions, tips, do's or don'ts. Cheers!

About all you can do is gather the forms and get them filled out for when you file you petition. Get the G325A in quadruplicate twice from your wife. Once is for the I-130 and the other for the I-129F. That certification of marriage will need a certified translation as well. Check on exactly how to do that for Costa Rica.

Then remember you are not applying for a visa. You are petitioning for your wife to have the privilege of applying for a visa. No time is too early to learn the correct terminology that goes with the process.

[kyle_lairic 0]

Ask her to Download G-325A form and ask her to fill it out. And you will need her original or certified copy of her birth certificate. Passport photo of her. Ask her to gather that documents and send it to you along with wedding certificate.

[G&A 1]

Ask her to Download G-325A form and ask her to fill it out. And you will need her original or certified copy of her birth certificate. Passport photo of her. Ask her to gather that documents and send it to you along with wedding certificate.

What are birth cerificates needed for? to populate G-325A?

I did not think they need to be included as part part of any application process.

[Reba 2]

Its been a while, so forgive me I've forgotten more than I used to know.

I think with the petitions and such you'll need a photocopy of birthcertificates (yours and hers...?), but at the interview stage she will need the official certified copy with her.

Never send your official certified copies to USCIS. You wont get them back and you'll only have to wait to get new ones. Send them photocopies and then take certified copies to interviews.

[pushbrk 12,881]

Its been a while, so forgive me I've forgotten more than I used to know.

I think with the petitions and such you'll need a photocopy of birthcertificates (yours and hers...?), but at the interview stage she will need the official certified copy with her.

Never send your official certified copies to USCIS. You wont get them back and you'll only have to wait to get new ones. Send them photocopies and then take certified copies to interviews.

Its been a while, so forgive me I've forgotten more than I used to know.

I think with the petitions and such you'll need a photocopy of birthcertificates (yours and hers...?), but at the interview stage she will need the official certified copy with her.

Never send your official certified copies to USCIS. You wont get them back and you'll only have to wait to get new ones. Send them photocopies and then take certified copies to interviews.

I too filed a copy of my wife's birth certificate with the petitions, however it is not a required document. She should have one with her at the interview in case it is requested.

The USC must prove US Citizenship in the petition. This is most commonly done by including a copy of both sides of a certified birth certificate. Alternatively, a photocopy of all pages of the passport can be substituted.

Yes, having the foreign spouse's birth certificate can assist in accurately filling out the other required forms.

If your spouse will be bringing any children, their birth certificates must be filed with the petition to show they are the child of your spouse.

Edited May 17, 2007 by pushbrk

[Campanita 0]

Did you file for the marriage certificate yourself or did your attorney do it? If it was done by your attorney (or the person who married you) I would suggest checking back with them every month. I have heard they tell you its a month for the certificate but it is actually more like 4 months. So, I would keep inquiring.

[Rings 10]

Prepare for a long journey, get the papers and make a lot of copies of everything. You should look into the I-130 and all the required forms for that. Start having your friends and family sign sworn affidavits to your relationship. Try to get them to get those notarized if you can. Your petition is very important and you do not want and RFE (Request for Information) so make sure you follow the guides and the checklist and just when you think you may have it all... double check it and add some more to it. The reality here is that you can't send them too much information, but you can cause yourself delays by not sending enough. Prepare for a long hard wait and keep your spirits high. The time goes slowly in the beginning, but it passes nevertheless.

[Rings 10]

I actually sent in copies of everything. i did not send originals of anything outside of the G235A forms, but I kept tons of copies for myself anyway. I figured that the more they know and want to look into, the less likely I would get and RFE. I would rather just not risk it so I sent them copies of everything, but then again I am a paperwork nutcase so........