i-130 Completing I-130 form

[LObiadi 2]

Hi group. I'm trying to thoroughly & accurately complete the I-130.  I'm a U.S. citizen and he's Nigerian,  still in South Africa. I have several questions, regarding changing things to my married name and signing forms with the correct name.

1. I have to change my name on my passport, aa I'm going g back to SA in January and, for a visit. Of course I'm required to send my original marriage certificate to Passport center, but I know that the USCIS could request my original marriage certificate sometime thru the petition and visa process. How likely is it that USCIS would request the original at the beginning of the I-130 process? I'm concerned that I might not get the original marriage certificate back timely, if USCIS requests it early on. Even paying the expedited fee can take a month or so.

1a. Or Should I not change my name on my Driver's License nor my passport yet, so that both docs have the same name, and change both when I come back? Or do I need to have it changed regardless, since I am officially married?

2. Before I thought of the questions above, I already submitted the form to have my married name on my social security card. Is that gonna be an issue, if I don’t change my Driver's license and Passport yet? Or do I now definitely need to change everything right away?

3. I assume that I sign my petition with my new married name, even though passport doesn't have it on there yet?

Thank you. 

[pushbrk 12,883]

6 hours ago, LObiadi said:

Hi group. I'm trying to thoroughly & accurately complete the I-130.  I'm a U.S. citizen and he's Nigerian,  still in South Africa. I have several questions, regarding changing things to my married name and signing forms with the correct name.

1. I have to change my name on my passport, aa I'm going g back to SA in January and, for a visit. Of course I'm required to send my original marriage certificate to Passport center, but I know that the USCIS could request my original marriage certificate sometime thru the petition and visa process. How likely is it that USCIS would request the original at the beginning of the I-130 process? I'm concerned that I might not get the original marriage certificate back timely, if USCIS requests it early on. Even paying the expedited fee can take a month or so.

1a. Or Should I not change my name on my Driver's License nor my passport yet, so that both docs have the same name, and change both when I come back? Or do I need to have it changed regardless, since I am officially married?

2. Before I thought of the questions above, I already submitted the form to have my married name on my social security card. Is that gonna be an issue, if I don’t change my Driver's license and Passport yet? Or do I now definitely need to change everything right away?

3. I assume that I sign my petition with my new married name, even though passport doesn't have it on there yet?

Thank you. 

1. USCIS is unlikely to EVER request your original marriage certificate.  This is a non-issue.

2. Another non-issue

3.  Correct

[Lil bear 4,201]

Remember .. when the documentation calls for an “original” it is referring to the certificate issued by the government agency who holds these records .. eg county records office… you can and should obtain several of each of your needed certificates eg marriage, birth, divorce etc .. at the start of the immigration process as there can be several stages at which you are required to submit an “ original” document. What is not acceptable … unless stated otherwise… is a photocopy of an original document. If you are submitting documents electronically then you will scan the “original”, save as a pdf, then upload as directed. Usually you will then be required to take all “originals” if and electronically submitted documents when attending the interview 

Edited August 2, 2021 by Lil bear

[LObiadi 2]

4 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

Remember .. when the documentation calls for an “original” it is referring to the certificate issued by the government agency who holds these records .. eg county records office… you can and should obtain several of each of your needed certificates eg marriage, birth, divorce etc .. at the start of the immigration process as there can be several stages at which you are required to submit an “ original” document. What is not acceptable … unless stated otherwise… is a photocopy of an original document. If you are submitting documents electronically then you will scan the “original”, save as a pdf, then upload as directed. Usually you will then be required to take all “originals” if and electronically submitted documents when attending the interview 

Thank you. It says that a "copy" of the marriage certificate is initially needed. Or am I reading that wrong on the instructions?

[LObiadi 2]

37 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

1. USCIS is unlikely to EVER request your original marriage certificate.  This is a non-issue.

2. Another non-issue

3.  Correct

Thanks so much 

[Lil bear 4,201]

3 minutes ago, LObiadi said:

Thank you. It says that a "copy" of the marriage certificate is initially needed. Or am I reading that wrong on the instructions?

As I read the I130 instructions, yes , you attach a copy ( photocopy) of the marriage certificate that has been issued by the appropriate agency .. in other places it asks for an “original” of some evidence , so that’s why I read “copy” as a photocopy. Terms that are used in multiple ways can be hard to tie down .. so read the entire section and look for cues and  clues to interpret correctly 

[LObiadi 2]

40 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

As I read the I130 instructions, yes , you attach a copy ( photocopy) of the marriage certificate that has been issued by the appropriate agency .. in other places it asks for an “original” of some evidence , so that’s why I read “copy” as a photocopy. Terms that are used in multiple ways can be hard to tie down .. so read the entire section and look for cues and  clues to interpret correctly 

Appreciate it.