Can you update I-130 with evidence after submitting? Specifically, DNA

[GhQuestions 6]

Hi everyone, 

 

We're working on bringing my husband's teenage sons (from a previous relationship) to the US now that he is a citizen. One is 16, the other 14, and I really want them to do their first entry between the ages of 16-18 so that they are citizens upon arrival and get 10 year passports the first time around. We are planning to submit I-130 for the older one now and I realize that this is actually a dangerous timeline now with how slow things go. 

 

They will definitely need to do DNA tests because none of the other evidence they ask for is possible to get (they don't have baptismal records, the school records from young childhood don't exist, etc.). I've heard that there's a backup of getting the DNA tests done at the Ghanaian Embassy right now. A few questions:

 

(1) Does it make sense to apply ASAP and wait for the USCIS to demand the DNA test?

(2) Or is better to submit the application along with an AARB approved DNA test, even if that means waiting 2-3 months to submit the I-130?

 

Other questions:

(3) Can we submit the I-130 (like, today) and then update the application with the DNA results once they become available?

(4) Does the testing HAVE to be done at the Embassy, or if there is an AARB approved lab in the country, can the two of them visit there together with their passports and have a chain-of-custody process done there? He visits his home country every few months to see the kids, so he could possibly do this in July. 

 

Thanks for any help!

Edited April 5, 2022 by GhQuestions

[randy32 165]

DNA testing is done when requested for by the embassy not before.

 

I have not heard of USCIS or NVC asking for DNA testing if the beneficiary is outside the country.

 

Also trying to time immigration process is practically impossible these days

[GhQuestions 6]

7 minutes ago, randy32 said:

DNA testing is done when requested for by the embassy not before.

 

I have not heard of USCIS or NVC asking for DNA testing if the beneficiary is outside the country.

 

Also trying to time immigration process is practically impossible these days

When you submit the I-130, there's a page where they ask for evidence of relationship, and the final box allows you to submit DNA evidence (screenshot below)

 

To update, we called an AABB approved lab and have scheduled the tests, so I guess I'll continually update this thread with how it goes in case someone else ends up with the same question one day. He'll be tested here in the US, the kids will go to a lab in their country, and it's all kept within chain-of-custody. Should have the results in less than 3 weeks. 

 

Edited April 5, 2022 by GhQuestions
Typo

[jan22 3,056]

20 hours ago, randy32 said:

DNA testing is done when requested for by the embassy not before.

 

I have not heard of USCIS or NVC asking for DNA testing if the beneficiary is outside the country.

 

Also trying to time immigration process is practically impossible these days

USCIS requests DNA to prove the relationship in several high fraud countries for cases where there are no supporting documents available or can't be trusted.  The test kit is sent to the Embassy and the collectiin taken under consular officerobservation. 

 

If done proactively (i.e., before requested by USCIS), it is important to be sure the lab sends the results directly to USCIS, labelled with your case number.

[GhQuestions 6]

4 hours ago, jan22 said:

USCIS requests DNA to prove the relationship in several high fraud countries for cases where there are no supporting documents available or can't be trusted.  The test kit is sent to the Embassy and the collectiin taken under consular officerobservation. 

 

If done proactively (i.e., before requested by USCIS), it is important to be sure the lab sends the results directly to USCIS, labelled with your case number.

As I mentioned in my reply to @randy32, there's a part of the I-130 where you can upload DNA results as part of your initial application. That screenshot I posted comes from within the I-130 application I'm preparing on the USCIS site. Not sure if this is something new, but the AABB lab we called from the approved list seemed familiar with it. Since we will be submitting the results as part of the initial I-130 filing, there won't be a case number until after it's submitted. 

 

Perhaps the allow DNA tests as part of the original submission now to get ahead of the issue and prevent time wastage with followup appointments. But it's part of the official I-130 form now that you do online if you don't have supporting documents.