I-130A Questions

[Orvis25 1]

Hello Everyone. I am new to the forums, so please excuse any mistakes I make here, still learning my way around. 
I recently got married to my wife (A Japanese citizen). We both currently live in Japan together, as I also work in Japan (for now). 
I am trying to start the CR-1 Application process, and am currently filling out I-130 and I-130A. 

I am a bit confused on the I-130A form. Here are my questions: 
1) On Part 3 of the form, it talks about "Information about your employment outside the United States" and that I should "Provide your (my wife's?) last occupation outside the United States if not shown above. If you never worked outside the United States, provide this information in the space provided in part 7. 
- So, what am i supposed to put here, just here most recent job from Part 2 (Information about your employment)? Since she never lived in the USA, ALL her work would be considered "outside" the USA no? 

2) On part 4 "spouse beneficiary's statement, contact information, certification, and signature", it asks about selecting one of the boxes that is most applicable. My wife's English skills are not bad, she can hold a decent conversation, but in terms of these forms "government English" structure, she has a hard time understanding some parts. She and I have sat to complete the form together, with me explaining some of the more complicated directions, and her sometimes using a dictionary to look up complicated terminology that is not easily explained by me.
- Because we did this, Should I select Box 1a (she now understands the forms English) and box 2 (that i helped her complete the form)?

----- I was also considering putting Box 1a only, and then adding a note in part 7 about that i helped her with some of the grammar, and that she used some translation, but that the whole process was in English (no interpreter (part 5)). Thoughts? 

- My side question on that is Part 6 (which relates to box 2 of Part 4) stats that i need to provide information of the preparer used if "he or she is different from the preparer used to complete form I-130", which means i don't need to do part 6 (i assume), so i don't need to do Part 4 box 2? 

3) regarding part 7, it says that if i need more, i can copy more pages of that, or use a separate sheet of paper. But then it gives instructions about writing page number, part number and item number, and then SIGN and DATE each sheet. 
- If i photocopy another copy of page 6 (Part 7 page), what do they mean about "signing and date" the page? I don't see any area that is labeled signature or date, there is only the name boxes, and the A-number box. Is my wife just to supposed to put her signature, and write the date in pen, somewhere in the white space at the top of the page? 

Thanks everyone! 

[OldUser 6,888]

I-130 is form completed by US citizen.

I-130A is form completed by foreign spouse.

 

So when it says "you / your" keep the context in mind.

 

1. Yes, these are questions about your spouse employment history outside the US.

 

Edited Thursday at 03:46 PM by OldUser

[Orvis25 1]

6 minutes ago, OldUser said:

I-130 is form completed by US citizen.

I-130A is form completed by foreign spouse.

 

So when it says "you / your" keep the context in mind.

 

1. Yes, these are questions about your spouse employment history outside the US.

 

Copy on the context of "you/your", thanks. 

 

So on part 3, I should just copy her most recent job from part 2 (since all her jobs in part two are in Japan)?

Edited Thursday at 03:52 PM by Orvis25
More info

[pushbrk 12,979]

4 hours ago, Orvis25 said:

Copy on the context of "you/your", thanks. 

 

So on part 3, I should just copy her most recent job from part 2 (since all her jobs in part two are in Japan)?

It's important to read carefully, and interpret literally.  "If NOT shown above" means exactly that. If it IS shown above, just enter "ABOVE" on the first line.

[Orvis25 1]

1 hour ago, pushbrk said:

It's important to read carefully, and interpret literally.  "If NOT shown above" means exactly that. If it IS shown above, just enter "ABOVE" on the first line.

Copy. Thank you. 

I will write that, and then fill in n/a on the rest of the lines (the instructions pdf for 130/130a says never leave a line blank, fill in n/a or something else). 

 

 

Any advice on question 2/3? 

Edited Thursday at 10:26 PM by Orvis25

[pushbrk 12,979]

22 hours ago, Orvis25 said:

Copy. Thank you. 

I will write that, and then fill in n/a on the rest of the lines (the instructions pdf for 130/130a says never leave a line blank, fill in n/a or something else). 

 

 

Any advice on question 2/3? 

The first line is all you need.  The form won't let  you type n/a in most fields anyway.  That instruction is an artifact from decades ago.  Note also that some questions are applicable but the answer is none.  In this case the answer is "Above" and I assure you that is sufficient.  Think but don't overthink. Common sense is important in this context.

[Orvis25 1]

1 hour ago, pushbrk said:

The first line is all you need.  The form won't let  you type n/a in most fields anyway.  That instruction is an artifact from decades ago.  Note also that some questions are applicable but the answer is none.  In this case the answer is "Above" and I assure you that is sufficient.  Think but don't overthink. Common sense is important in this context.

 Copy.

Just leave em' blank. 

 

I can actually fill in the boxes with anything I want, since I am useing libreofice, which removes the java script protection. I needed to use it because japanese house addresses are a bit long, so I used font size 10 when filling in the street address for my wife's work and living history so it would fit. 

-do you think this is fine? There are no instructions in the manual about font size if completing digitally. 

 

_________________

 

Any advice on my other two questions?

 

Since I am the husband (petitioner) and I am also completing I-130 myself (we currently have hired no one to translate it complete the firms for us), what do I do on part 3/4?

- do I count as preparer and "translator", or can I leave it blank since I am completing i-130 and i-130a with my wife togeather anyway? 

-- I am considering leaving both blank, with a "see part 7" and just making a note to let them know we hired no one, but I helped for form i-130a. 

 

We currently live together overseas, and we are doing all forms togeather. All discussion's are in English, with some translation being used if need be. 

[OldUser 6,888]

14 minutes ago, Orvis25 said:

 Copy.

Just leave em' blank. 

 

I can actually fill in the boxes with anything I want, since I am useing libreofice, which removes the java script protection. I needed to use it because japanese house addresses are a bit long, so I used font size 10 when filling in the street address for my wife's work and living history so it would fit. 

-do you think this is fine? There are no instructions in the manual about font size if completing digitally. 

 

_________________

 

Any advice on my other two questions?

 

Since I am the husband (petitioner) and I am also completing I-130 myself (we currently have hired no one to translate it complete the firms for us), what do I do on part 3/4?

- do I count as preparer and "translator", or can I leave it blank since I am completing i-130 and i-130a with my wife togeather anyway? 

-- I am considering leaving both blank, with a "see part 7" and just making a note to let them know we hired no one, but I helped for form i-130a. 

 

We currently live together overseas, and we are doing all forms togeather. All discussion's are in English, with some translation being used if need be. 

You're not a preparer or enterpreter. Usually a lawyer and translator would complete these. You can leave these blank.

It's normal to be filling forms together. Just make sure your significant othet understand everything you're writing and knows the facts for interview.

[pushbrk 12,979]

1 hour ago, OldUser said:

You're not a preparer or enterpreter. Usually a lawyer and translator would complete these. You can leave these blank.

It's normal to be filling forms together. Just make sure your significant othet understand everything you're writing and knows the facts for interview.

Yes, that's the answer.  I'm going to add though that these forms are intended to be completed using an Adobe application, (reader or acrobat)  You need to be extremely careful otherwise as there are built in functions that won't work otherwise.  You can have a real fit later doing that with the affidavit of support.  If you are going to pay the kind of close attention to detail that's going to take, then take the time to become an A-Student of the instructions for the forms.

[Orvis25 1]

12 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

Yes, that's the answer.  I'm going to add though that these forms are intended to be completed using an Adobe application, (reader or acrobat)  You need to be extremely careful otherwise as there are built in functions that won't work otherwise.  You can have a real fit later doing that with the affidavit of support.  If you are going to pay the kind of close attention to detail that's going to take, then take the time to become an A-Student of the instructions for the forms.

So what do you reccomend I do considering if I use Adobe, I can't fit any of the work/house adresses in the allotted space on the forms since it uses like large font 14 by default? (Even when abbreviated)

 

I just need to have an entire page of "additional information" (page 7) dedicated to doing the addresses for like 6 separate parts on this 1-39a form?

 

Or am I ok to just like fill in the whole rest of the I-130a in Adobe, then switch to libreoffice to input only the addresses in a smaller font, and then print sighn, and scan? 

Edited yesterday at 12:11 AM by Orvis25

[pushbrk 12,979]

18 minutes ago, Orvis25 said:

So what do you reccomend I do considering if I use Adobe, I can't fit any of the work/house adresses in the allotted space on the forms since it uses like large font 14 by default? (Even when abbreviated)

 

I just need to have an entire page of "additional information" (page 7) dedicated to doing the addresses for like 6 separate parts on this 1-39a form?

 

Or am I ok to just like fill in the whole rest of the I-130a in Adobe, then switch to libreoffice to input only the addresses in a smaller font, and then print sighn, and scan? 

See page (number) for complete address, then type any addresses in the open text fields at the end of the form.  That's ther reason they are there.

[Orvis25 1]

16 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

See page (number) for complete address, then type any addresses in the open text fields at the end of the form.  That's ther reason they are there.

Ok, 

 

One more question about page 7. 

 

It says I can copy this page (or use plain white paper) and to write your name and then "date" each additional page. 

 

Is that only if you use a plain white page?

On page 7 I don't see any area to fill in a date. 

[pushbrk 12,979]

6 minutes ago, Orvis25 said:

Ok, 

 

One more question about page 7. 

 

It says I can copy this page (or use plain white paper) and to write your name and then "date" each additional page. 

 

Is that only if you use a plain white page?

On page 7 I don't see any area to fill in a date. 

Yes.  Note the for form will insert your name on top of page 7 automatically, if you are using Adobe.

 

[Orvis25 1]

2 hours ago, pushbrk said:

Yes.  Note the for form will insert your name on top of page 7 automatically, if you are using Adobe.

 

Just to clarify, you mean "yes" the date is only needed for if I use normal paper? 
When I use adobe, it auto fills the name, but i still don't see any date listed anywhere on the official page 6 of the PDF.
 

I am going to need about 3 pages of "extra information" since none of the addresses fit on their default form. so page 1,2,3 are all basically going to need to go on page 6 as extra information. 
Is there a way in Adobe to duplicate the last page so I can have one complete PDF i can then save an print, it appears they security locked it with java code or something (or its locked behind subscription for "pro" when i use adobe?
I have never used it before, I have been using LibreOffice (open source and free) for over 15 years. 

Edited 23 hours ago by Orvis25

[pushbrk 12,979]

17 minutes ago, Orvis25 said:

Just to clarify, you mean "yes" the date is only needed for if I use normal paper? 
When I use adobe, it auto fills the name, but i still don't see any date listed anywhere on the official page 6 of the PDF.
 

I am going to need about 3 pages of "extra information" since none of the addresses fit on their default form. so page 1,2,3 are all basically going to need to go on page 6 as extra information. 
Is there a way in Adobe to duplicate the last page so I can have one complete PDF i can then save an print, it appears they security locked it with java code or something (or its locked behind subscription for "pro" when i use adobe?
I have never used it before, I have been using LibreOffice (open source and free) for over 15 years. 

Yes the date is only needed if you add extra sheets.  That's what the literal interpretation is, of the sentence you referred to from the instructions.  Read carefully.  Interpret literally, then respond accurately based on the first two.  You're making this harder than it needs to be.