I-130 FILING: Can I send more evidence after I file, before they request more evidence?

[OhSusannah 2]

TL;DR:  I am USC and living with my spouse together in the UK, applying for green card for him.  Can I complete the I-130 application for my spouse now, including the bare minimum of what they require in the way of proof of relationship, and then add to this in a month or two -upload it then?  

 

LONGER VERSION - MORE INFO:  Live in UK with British spouse.  I have just started the process of filling out our application and was hoping to get it sent off within the next few weeks.  HOWEVER, I must now return back to the U.S. to help care for an elderly relative while she is undergoing some medical issues.  Last time I did this, I was there for nearly six weeks.  I was hoping to get this application sent off before I leave, but looks like that will be within the next week or so.  

 

I have all of the official main documents we need to submit along with the application - prior divorce papers, marriage license, birth certificates, name change papers, etc.  However...  further long-term proof of an ongoing 16-year relationship is going to require sifting through boxes of old records, lots of printing and scanning.  I was going to create an extensive "proof" file like I submitted with my UK visa application, to include financial documents through the years, boarding passes, leases and mortgage contracts, joint bills and statements.  Also, I need to provide a file of photos of us together through that time, neatly scanned and labeled and arranged, documenting a wide time frame, etc.  I do not have time to do all of that proper justice in the next week or so- I need to prepare for a six-week trip whilst researching my mother's medical conditions and planning her care. 

 

Can anyone provide any experience or advice on whether it's okay for me to file the I-130 with all of the requested "official" documents, and then put together an extensive "proof of relationship" package when I return home around the beginning of June?  The waiting time frames are so long now that I really, really want to press "send" and get the clock ticking on our case, not wait until late June to send it off. 

 

Hope this rambling makes sense.  Very stressed about my mother's health and this I-130 application.  I just don't want this application pushed out another two months - need to get the ball rolling now!  Can I send it off with only what they're asking for and just a few "proof of ongoing relationship" documents, but really do a good job with an extensive file and upload it mid June?  

 

Since it could be nearly a year before they even glance at my application, do they care and/or will it matter that I added more after I sent it to them? 

 

Many thanks for any advice or your own experience. 

 

NOTE:  I will be sending all "required" documents with this application.  My question pertains to whether I can later upload more extensive proof of ongoing relationship.  I will not be sending this application off without including the minimum required documentation.

Edited Saturday at 04:05 PM by OhSusannah

[OldUser 8,597]

Yes you can

[OhSusannah 2]

2 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Yes you can

 Ah, that was quick and simple.  lol  So, sending more info later doesn't boot me to the back of the queue or delay anything or make them think we're unprepared? 

 

It feels strange for me, who overdoes almost everything, to just send off what feels like a "bare minimum" application, but I just can't bear the thought of putting us another two months behind on the waiting list.  

[OldUser 8,597]

Just now, OhSusannah said:

 Ah, that was quick and simple.  lol  So, sending more info later doesn't boot me to the back of the queue or delay anything or make them think we're unprepared? 

 

It feels strange for me, who overdoes almost everything, to just send off what feels like a "bare minimum" application, but I just can't bear the thought of putting us another two months behind on the waiting list.  

No, you won't get delayed. I-130 adjudication takes 17 months, out of which application sits in queue for 99.999% of the time, only reviewed at the very end for 30 mins.

 

So nobody would see your evidence until it's been almost 17 months of waiting.

[OhSusannah 2]

15 minutes ago, OldUser said:

No, you won't get delayed. I-130 adjudication takes 17 months, out of which application sits in queue for 99.999% of the time, only reviewed at the very end for 30 mins.

 

So nobody would see your evidence until it's been almost 17 months of waiting.

Oh, that would be such a help to me in just getting this application filed in the next week, then worry about it when I'm back home in June. 

 

Thank you for taking the time to answer.  It's nice to find helpful people and I appreciate it.  

[S2N 51]

1 hour ago, OldUser said:

No, you won't get delayed. I-130 adjudication takes 17 months, out of which application sits in queue for 99.999% of the time, only reviewed at the very end for 30 mins.

 

So nobody would see your evidence until it's been almost 17 months of waiting.

It’s actually gotten faster recently. Seeing approvals from late December 2023 so 14-15 months now.

[OldUser 8,597]

6 minutes ago, S2N said:

It’s actually gotten faster recently. Seeing approvals from late December 2023 so 14-15 months now.

Don't forget embassies are now scaling down as we speak. With fewer staff, I'd be ready for 17 months morally. If it comes faster, that's a great bonus.

Edited Saturday at 05:33 PM by OldUser

[appleblossom 3,650]

46 minutes ago, S2N said:

It’s actually gotten faster recently. Seeing approvals from late December 2023 so 14-15 months now.

 

That’s spot on the quoted processing times for people that applied back then, so hasn’t got faster, it's just what would be expected for anybody that applied that long ago.

 

It’s different for those applying now though, so the OP should assume 17 months as per the quoted processing times, and maybe longer given the staff cut backs (I suspect the backlog will grow between now and then).

Edited Saturday at 06:13 PM by appleblossom

[S2N 51]

15 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

 

That’s because the processing time when they applied was 14-15 months. It’s increased since then, so the OP should assume 17 months as per the quoted processing times, and maybe longer given the staff cut backs (I suspect the backlog will grow between now and then).

That’s not how the math works. The actual time it takes to process is based on applications processed per day. A month ago the approvals were at 16 months for people who applied when processing times were 11 months.

 

Processing times had slowed down pre-January and have picked up in the last 3 months. They’re processing 200-300 more a day than they were in December/January, which brings us back in line with November, when they were processing people in 14-15 months, and we’re seeing approvals come through that match that.

 

Things can slow down in the future, sure, but they are increasing speed from the low we saw in December and January. You can’t really know when you apply how long it will take. It depends on the speed when you’re number 90,000 in line (i.e. there’s three months ahead of you.) Once they’re processing people who applied 3 months ahead of you, you have a pretty good idea of how long you’ll have to wait based on how long it took them to process that month. Sometimes it takes 2 months to process a month. Other times less than a month. Usually somewhere in between.

 

Theres also the embassy factor, but that’s a lot harder to predict than the USCIS I-130 times. All-in, people should expect 18-24 months depending on the embassy. At least for now, though, USCIS has been speeding up, so at least that stage isn’t seeing further delays.

Edited Saturday at 06:26 PM by S2N

[KMG 182]

10 hours ago, OhSusannah said:

TL;DR:  I am USC and living with my spouse together in the UK, applying for green card for him.  Can I complete the I-130 application for my spouse now, including the bare minimum of what they require in the way of proof of relationship, and then add to this in a month or two -upload it then?  

 

LONGER VERSION - MORE INFO:  Live in UK with British spouse.  I have just started the process of filling out our application and was hoping to get it sent off within the next few weeks.  HOWEVER, I must now return back to the U.S. to help care for an elderly relative while she is undergoing some medical issues.  Last time I did this, I was there for nearly six weeks.  I was hoping to get this application sent off before I leave, but looks like that will be within the next week or so.  

 

I have all of the official main documents we need to submit along with the application - prior divorce papers, marriage license, birth certificates, name change papers, etc.  However...  further long-term proof of an ongoing 16-year relationship is going to require sifting through boxes of old records, lots of printing and scanning.  I was going to create an extensive "proof" file like I submitted with my UK visa application, to include financial documents through the years, boarding passes, leases and mortgage contracts, joint bills and statements.  Also, I need to provide a file of photos of us together through that time, neatly scanned and labeled and arranged, documenting a wide time frame, etc.  I do not have time to do all of that proper justice in the next week or so- I need to prepare for a six-week trip whilst researching my mother's medical conditions and planning her care. 

 

Can anyone provide any experience or advice on whether it's okay for me to file the I-130 with all of the requested "official" documents, and then put together an extensive "proof of relationship" package when I return home around the beginning of June?  The waiting time frames are so long now that I really, really want to press "send" and get the clock ticking on our case, not wait until late June to send it off. 

 

Hope this rambling makes sense.  Very stressed about my mother's health and this I-130 application.  I just don't want this application pushed out another two months - need to get the ball rolling now!  Can I send it off with only what they're asking for and just a few "proof of ongoing relationship" documents, but really do a good job with an extensive file and upload it mid June?  

 

Since it could be nearly a year before they even glance at my application, do they care and/or will it matter that I added more after I sent it to them? 

 

Many thanks for any advice or your own experience. 

 

NOTE:  I will be sending all "required" documents with this application.  My question pertains to whether I can later upload more extensive proof of ongoing relationship.  I will not be sending this application off without including the minimum required documentation.

I kept on adding documents until I was approved.  In the end, I had a total of 43.  By the the time they looked at my case it took less than an hour to get the approval letter,

[OhSusannah 2]

KMG, that is very good to know- thank you for your response!

[frange24 3]

On 4/5/2025 at 10:55 PM, KMG said:

I kept on adding documents until I was approved.  In the end, I had a total of 43.  By the the time they looked at my case it took less than an hour to get the approval letter,

How long it takes to be approved? Did you file for K-3?

 

Thank you,

[appleblossom 3,650]

13 minutes ago, frange24 said:

How long it takes to be approved? Did you file for K-3?

 

Thank you,

 

You can click on people’s profiles to see their timelines, looks like it was just over 15 months. 

 

Please do fill in your own timeline to help others going forwards too, thx.

[KMG 182]

3 hours ago, frange24 said:

How long it takes to be approved? Did you file for K-3?

 

Thank you,

Took Mine 15 1/2 Months. No, I did not file K3 it does nothing to speed up the process except clog USCIS with more paperwork, being it is an obsolete visa.

Edited 22 hours ago by KMG