Applying online

[JustinK112 0]

Hello, my wife and I are trying to apply for the cr-1 visa online but we have reached some roadblocks. How do you upload a passport photo? Can you take a pic of the passport photo on your phone or scan it? We are afraid that it will get denied if we send a picture of a picture in. Also, our marriage license has creases in it which is not supposed be visible in pictures when uploaded on the site. Does it matter if the creases are seen? Thank you for your help! 

[JKLSemicolon 413]

22 minutes ago, JustinK112 said:

Hello, my wife and I are trying to apply for the cr-1 visa online but we have reached some roadblocks. How do you upload a passport photo? Can you take a pic of the passport photo on your phone or scan it? We are afraid that it will get denied if we send a picture of a picture in. Also, our marriage license has creases in it which is not supposed be visible in pictures when uploaded on the site. Does it matter if the creases are seen? Thank you for your help! 

If all you have is a physical (printed) passport photo, you could scan it. Is there a reason why you can't just take your own photo against a white background and crop it appropriately? There are passport photo apps for that if you prefer. That would give you a digital file to upload that's not a photo of a photo. Guidelines for taking your own photos are here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/photos.html

 

Re: the creases on the marriage license, as long as all the information is clearly legible I don't see why this would be an issue.

 

You're also planning to provide the marriage certificate as well, right? Usually the license gives you permission to get married and the certificate proves you actually did it. You didn't specify where you got married, so I'm not sure whether that same definition applies, but the certificate is the one that's required for the I-130.

 

 

Edited April 5, 2021 by JKLSemicolon

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.

[Babu Frik 1,162]

there's a huge online filing thread you'd probably find helpful 

Be very careful with taking your own photo, make sure it meets the guidelines.

It's not as simple as just downloading an app

[JKLSemicolon 413]

3 hours ago, Babu Frik said:

there's a huge online filing thread you'd probably find helpful 

Be very careful with taking your own photo, make sure it meets the guidelines.

It's not as simple as just downloading an app

It looks like the Department of State has now updated their photo tool.

 

Anyone taking their own photo should look at that tool, along with the link of guidelines that I posted above.

[Sabi76 6]

So long as you're picture meets all the requirements or go to Walmart and get a picture taken. If she is out of the country there are usually a lot of shops, usually printing places, that provide an inexpensive passport photo service.  You can inquire if they can email the digital print to you so you don't have to worry about scanning it so you can upload it.  As for your other question usually they want the actual marriage document that is entered into the official database.   In our case they needed "the book" version of the marriage document not the computer print out.  Also be aware that they will  need it translated, apostilled, and certified by a notary.  When it comes to the second stage for NVC filing they will also need it translated, apostilled, and certified by a notary again if they expired.

[Babu Frik 1,162]

2 hours ago, Sabi76 said:

So long as you're picture meets all the requirements or go to Walmart and get a picture taken. If she is out of the country there are usually a lot of shops, usually printing places, that provide an inexpensive passport photo service.  You can inquire if they can email the digital print to you so you don't have to worry about scanning it so you can upload it.  As for your other question usually they want the actual marriage document that is entered into the official database.   In our case they needed "the book" version of the marriage document not the computer print out.  Also be aware that they will  need it translated, apostilled, and certified by a notary.  When it comes to the second stage for NVC filing they will also need it translated, apostilled, and certified by a notary again 

If the beneficiary is not in the US,  a photo of them is not needed,  only the petitioner.

[Chancy 6,241]

On 4/11/2021 at 4:10 PM, Sabi76 said:

In our case they needed "the book" version of the marriage document not the computer print out.  Also be aware that they will  need it translated, apostilled, and certified by a notary. 

 

Is apostille/notarization of marriage certificate a requirement for Ecuador?  Please cite the source.  There is no such requirement in the I-130 instructions, if I recall correctly.

 

[Babu Frik 1,162]

9 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

Is apostille/notarization of marriage certificate a requirement for Ecuador?  Please cite the source.  There is no such requirement in the I-130 instructions, if I recall correctly.

 

I agree that's not common, even translating if it's not in the native countries language.

Now these may be things that are helpful and less of a pain to deal with later for other reasons once your'e stateside.

 

[pushbrk 12,898]

6 hours ago, Babu Frik said:

I agree that's not common, even translating if it's not in the native countries language.

Now these may be things that are helpful and less of a pain to deal with later for other reasons once your'e stateside.

 

USCIS absolutely requires a translation of marriage certificate with the I-130 filing, if it is not in English.  OTHER documents not needed until AFTER the petition is approved are submitted to the Dept. of State (NVC/Consulates) and do not require translation if in the local language.

[Paul and Sopheap 91]

17 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

USCIS absolutely requires a translation of marriage certificate with the I-130 filing, if it is not in English.  OTHER documents not needed until AFTER the petition is approved are submitted to the Dept. of State (NVC/Consulates) and do not require translation if in the local language.

Definitely true. Our marriage certificate is printed English / Danish / Dutch and they STILL wanted it translated even with English already on it.

[Babu Frik 1,162]

55 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

USCIS absolutely requires a translation of marriage certificate with the I-130 filing, if it is not in English.  OTHER documents not needed until AFTER the petition is approved are submitted to the Dept. of State (NVC/Consulates) and do not require translation if in the local language.

Correct, sorry I got confused with the NVC stage