Two questions about the online I-130...

[apw100 8]

I am filling out the I-130 Form online and had a few questions.

 

1. "Also, include an image of the back of the photograph with your name and A-Number written in pen or pencil."

My wife and I took photos that comply with the guidelines. Do we actually need to print these out, write our names on the back and then scan them, or can we just submit the properly formatted digital images without printing them? I'm a citizen and she doesn't have an A-Number, so would renaming the photos to our names (as entered on the form) be ok? I know, the instructions are pretty clear but it seems very silly to have to physically print the photos just to immediately digitize them again.

 

2. My wife visited the US back in 2006 when she was 17 and on a J1 exchange program. She still has her visa, which has the entry stamp, but doesn't have the I-94 Form. The I-130 form asks for the "Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record Number" and asks "When does the beneficiary's authorized stay expire?" . Since her trip was more than five years ago, the document isn't available online. Do I need to file a FOI request to get it or will the entry date and visa expiration dates suffice?

 

 

Thanks for any help, this process is quite frustrating!

 

Andrew

 

[SteveInBostonI130 3,459]

Not sure about 1, I filed on paper.

 

For 2, per the instructions, the I-94 record is required IF the person is still in the US.  That section is N/A for your case.

 

 

[pushbrk 12,898]

1 hour ago, apw100 said:

I am filling out the I-130 Form online and had a few questions.

 

1. "Also, include an image of the back of the photograph with your name and A-Number written in pen or pencil."

My wife and I took photos that comply with the guidelines. Do we actually need to print these out, write our names on the back and then scan them, or can we just submit the properly formatted digital images without printing them? I'm a citizen and she doesn't have an A-Number, so would renaming the photos to our names (as entered on the form) be ok? I know, the instructions are pretty clear but it seems very silly to have to physically print the photos just to immediately digitize them again.

 

2. My wife visited the US back in 2006 when she was 17 and on a J1 exchange program. She still has her visa, which has the entry stamp, but doesn't have the I-94 Form. The I-130 form asks for the "Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record Number" and asks "When does the beneficiary's authorized stay expire?" . Since her trip was more than five years ago, the document isn't available online. Do I need to file a FOI request to get it or will the entry date and visa expiration dates suffice?

 

 

Thanks for any help, this process is quite frustrating!

 

Andrew

 

For 1, follow the instructions, meaning print, scan and upload both sides.  Since your wife is not in the USA currently, no need for a photo of her and no need for her to sign the I-130a.

 

2 is only applicable if she is IN the USA...NOW.  Pay close attention to the context of questions on the form.  Some are about the past, and some are about the present.  Don't ignore words like "if" and "or".

[apw100 8]

On 11/3/2020 at 6:32 PM, pushbrk said:

For 1, follow the instructions, meaning print, scan and upload both sides.  Since your wife is not in the USA currently, no need for a photo of her and no need for her to sign the I-130a.

 

2 is only applicable if she is IN the USA...NOW.  Pay close attention to the context of questions on the form.  Some are about the past, and some are about the present.  Don't ignore words like "if" and "or".

It seems that the online "form" lacks the conditional information that the paper form has. On the paper form, beneath Item Number 45, ("Was the beneficiary EVER in the United States?") there is a note stating "If the beneficiary is currently in the United States, complete Item Numbers 46a-46d". This, and all other contextual and conditional information is mission on the online form. Seems like a pretty big oversight.

[Chancy 6,241]

16 minutes ago, apw100 said:

It seems that the online "form" lacks the conditional information that the paper form has. On the paper form, beneath Item Number 45, ("Was the beneficiary EVER in the United States?") there is a note stating "If the beneficiary is currently in the United States, complete Item Numbers 46a-46d". This, and all other contextual and conditional information is mission on the online form. Seems like a pretty big oversight.

 

Before you submit your petition online, make sure to review the case snapshot.  This would give you a preview of how the adjudicator will see your information.  The preview converts your info into a PDF that's very close to the paper form including the contextual details you mentioned.

 

[pushbrk 12,898]

Just a note, that these kinds of issues are why I still highly recommend filing on paper.

[apw100 8]

On 4/17/2021 at 4:54 AM, Gami19 said:

So just to clarify, instead of directly uploading digital passport photo's; it needs to be printed - both sides, scan the photo and then upload it right ?

Following the instructions precisely would be the safest course of action. While I suspect they just haven’t been revised for the eFiling process and that a digital passport photo (with the file renamed to your full name) without the printed back would be sufficient, it’s probably not worth the risk of delay to test that theory. Also, you only need to include a photo of the petitioner. 
Another note- the eFiling can be very confusing since it doesn’t include any clarification for many of the questions. I recommend that you download the pdf version to use as a guide. In addition, I filled it out identically to the eFiled version, signed it and included the pdf with the other files I submitted. I read that some people have had delays due to issues with the eSignature so I wanted them to have my real signature just in case. 
You can DM me if you have any questions.