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  • Step-by-Step Guide on Filing an I-130 for a Spouse Inside the US

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    BE WARNED:

    You must qualify to file for an I-130 in the US. Not everyone does, and in some cases doing so can be considered fraud and result in being deported and banned from re-entry into the US for a period of time. If you attempt to file and you do not qualify your legal status in the US can be placed in jeopardy. J1 Visa holders will almost always require a waiver and should consult with an immigration lawyer or the USCIS for more information. If you have any doubt, consult an immigration attorney.

    If your fiance/fiancee came to the US on a tourist visa with the intent of immigration and marriage, and you are not yet married, then he/she should return to his/her home abroad, and the K-1 visa should be filed (using an I-129f) instead of the I-130 to avoid a denial, deportation, or even being banned from re-entry to the US.

    If you are already married, and your spouse came to the US on a tourist visa with the intent of immigration and marriage, then he/she should return to his/her home abroad, and the I-130 (or along with an I-129f for a K-3 Visa) should be filed with the relative outside of the U.S. to avoid denial, deportation, or even being banned from re-entry to the US.

    The above conditions are serious and can result in the separation of families for many years if not taken seriously.


    Download the Following Forms:

    1. I-130
    2. I-130A
    3. I-864
    4. I-485
    5. I-765 (optional)
    6. I-131     (optional)
    7. G-1145 (optional)

    The above forms can be filled out on your computer and printed. Make sure you sign and date them as required. Anything you cannot fit by typing, you can hand-write (very neatly) in black ink in the blank instead. You should always verify the current forms at www.uscis.gov.

    Assembling the I-130 Package: Checklist
    Forms and Documents (follow these assembly instructions. All supporting documents must be in English or be translated as noted here.):

    1. Payment as required by USCIS. Use a personal check so you can track the payment. Money Orders are also accepted. Read the Guide to Paying USCIS Immigration Fees.
    2. Cover Letter. Should include a description of what your are petitioning for (I-130), a table of contents (list everything in the packet). If you need additional room to explain your case, attach a separate sheet (list the attachment on the cover sheet). Make sure to sign and date the cover sheet.
    3. Form I-130: Petition for Alien Relative
    4. Copy of the Full Birth certificate (front and back) for the US Citizen or a copy of ALL pages of the US Citizen's passport. This is used to establish citizenship.
    5. A copy of petitioner's proof of naturalization. (If applicable)
    6. A copy of petitioner's proof of permanent residency. (If applicable)
    7. A copy of the intending immigrant's birth certificate and/or passport along with English translation. (If in any language other than English)
    8. A certified copy of your certified marriage certificate (again, translated if not in Engligh)
    9. A certified official copy of the petitioner's and/or intending immigrant's divorce documents. (If one or both of you have been divorced before)
    10. A copy of a prior spouse's death certificate. (If filing for a spouse, and one or both have you were married before, and the prior spouse died)
    11. Two passport-type photos (see specification) of the US Citizen. Write the full name on the back of each photo. Place in a plastic bag and label the bag "Photo of <Insert Name>". Attach the bag to a sheet of paper and place behind the corresponding I-130.
    12. Two passport-type photos (see specification) of the foreign spouse. Write the full name of the beneficiary on the back of each photo. Place in a plastic bag and label the bag "Photo of (insert name) ". Attach the bag to a sheet of paper and place behind the corresponding I-130.
    13. Evidence of a bonafide marriage (see note below for what to include)
    14. Form I-130A: Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary

     

    question.gif Evidence of a Bonifide Marriage
    The USCIS now requires that when filing an I-130 for a spouse that you include evidence of a bonifide marriage. They list examples of acceptable evidence as:
     
     
    1. Documentation showing joint ownership or property; or
    2. A lease showing joint tenancy of a common residence; or
    3. Documentation showing co-mingling of financial resources; or
    4. Birth certificate(s) of child(ren) born to you, the petitioner, and your spouse together; or
    5. Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties having personal knowledge of the bona fides of the marital relationship (Each affidavit must contain the full nameand address, date and place of birth of the person making the affidavit, his or her relationship to the petitioner of beneficiary, if any, and complete information and details explaining how the person acquired his or her knowledge of your marriage); or
    6. Any other relevant documentation to establish that there is an ongoing marital union.


    Assembling the I-485 Package: Checklist
    Forms and Documents (follow these assembly instructions. All supporting documents must be in English or be translated as noted here.):
    1. Payment as required by USCIS. Use a personal check so you can track the payment. Money Orders are also accepted. Read the Guide to Paying USCIS Immigration Fees. Be sure to include the payment for both the I-485 and the biometrics fee*.
    >> The fee for I-485 applications filed on or after July 30th 2007 inlcudes the cost of the I-131 and I-765 (no need to pay for them if filed with or while your I-485 application is pending adjudication -- as long as you paid the "new" rate for the I-485 effective July 30th 2007).
    2. Cover Letter. Should include a description of what your are petitioning for (I-485), a table of contents (list everything in the packet). If you need additional room to explain your case, attach a separate sheet (list the attachment on the cover sheet). Make sure to sign and date the cover sheet.
    3. Form I-485: Petition for Alien Relative
    4. Form I-944 (Declaration of Self-Sufficiency with applicable supporting documents) (no longer required as of March 9, 2021)
    5. Copy of the non US Citizen Spouses Passport (biographical page as well as entry stamps).
    6. Electronic I-94 Copy or (for older entries) a copy of the non US Citizen Spouses valid paper I-94 (front and back of form)
    7. A copy of the intending immigrant's birth certificate along with English translation. (If in any language other than English)
    8. A certified copy of your marriage certificate. (If filing for your spouse)
    9. A copy of the petitioner's and/or intending immigrant's divorce documents. (If filing for a spouse, and one or both of you have been divorced before)
    10. A copy of a prior spouse's death certificate. (If filing for a spouse, and one or both have you were married before, and the prior spouse died)
    11. Two passport-type photos (see specification) of the Non US Citizen Spouse. Write the full name on the back. Place in a plastic bag and label the bag "Photo of <Insert Name>". Attach the bag to a sheet of paper and place behind the corresponding I-485.
    12. I-693, Medical Examination of Aliens Seeking Adjustment of Status
    13. I-864, Affidavit of Support (see poverty limits here)
    >> Include any additional required supporting documentation
    14. I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, if you want to work while your application is processed (optional)
    >> Include any additional required supporting documentation or photos as well as payment per USCIS instructions.
    15. I-131, Application for Travel Document, if you need to travel outside the United States while your application is processed (optional)
    >> Include any additional required supporting documentation or photos as well as payment per USCIS instructions.
    16. I-485 Supplement A, and penalty fee if applicable. See 8 CFR 245.10
    17. I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Excludability**, if applicable
      * Fingerprint fee not needed for applicants under 14
      ** an I-601 is NO FEE, if, and ONLY if filed WITH an I-485. Later filing DOES require a fee. Whether to file an I-601 is an important decision -- like the J-1, consulation with an attorney is recommended.

     

    Add an overall cover page:

    It is useful to add an overall cover sheet with the description of the package and pertinent information such as the applicants name and address. Make sure the cover sheet indicates the package is an Immediate Relative (Spouse) Family Based Adjustment of Status Application with a concurrent I-130 filing. List the major contents of the package (i.e. I-485 and evidence, I-130 and evidence, I-765, I-131,etc).

    I-944 (Declaration of Self-Sufficiency) Information:

    This form is required to be submitted with your I-485 for all applicants, and is in addition to the required I-864 (Affidavit of Support). The supporting documents list is lengthy and includes a tax transcript (not actual tax return) of the U.S. citizen, last foreign tax return filed by the fiancé, asset statements, certificates for any English courses taken, higher education verification, if applicable (including diplomas and equivalency evaluations), and several other onerous requirements. The most troublesome item is the requirement for a U.S. credit bureau credit report, or a letter from a credit bureau stating that no credit report is available. Since most recent immigrants will not have a credit record in the U.S., no credit report will be available, and the 3 credit bureaus have not been issuing letters stating no report is available. Our best advice at this point is to write a letter explaining why no credit report is available. You can find an example of this letter and an example filled out I-944 here.

    Attach "E-Notification" Form (Optional)

    Clip a completed G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance, to the first page of your application (on top of the cover page). By completing this form and attaching it, USCIS will send you an email and/or text message to alert you when your application was received.

    Where to File Everything:

    You should mail the completed form(s) to the USCIS address here (Note the PO Box address for your filing type: Form I-130 with Form I-485). Mail the package with return receipt requested / delivery confirmation. Send via USPS.

    IMPORTANT!
    Make TWO copies of the entire package before you send it in. This includes the money orders too. You want to have a perfect replica of the package you are sending in. All Forms that you submit must be originals with original signatures. Supporting Evidence that you submit may be photocopies. Retain ALL original supporting Evidence since the USCIS has the right to check them by issuing an RFE (Request For Evidence). If you receive an RFE, follow the direction exactly, and make two copies of what you sent back. During any future interviews the USCIS may also want to examine the original supporting evidence.

    After Filing: What to do?

    Now starts the waiting game. If you filed for an EAD, your spouse will get their Employment Authorization Document approved in 30 to 90 days and will be scheduled to have their picture taken and to have their EAD card issued.

     

    After your spouse has received their EAD, the real wait begins. I-485's can take several months to couple years for approval, and often leaves the petitioner feeling completely hopeless of ever receiving approval. DO NOT GIVE UP! Though it seems like forever, the CIS will eventually get to your petitions!

     

    Your spouse may also be required to have a medical sometime during the AOS process. The medical must be done by a CIS accredited doctor. Your CIS office should give you a list of CIS accredited doctors in your area, if not check with your local office to get one. The medical exam can cost anywhere from $100-200 dollars, many physicians will not take a check, but only accept cash. Be prepared of the cost before your spouse gets this done. It would be wise to collect their vaccination information before going to the appointment as the doctor will need to have record of them. At the appointment your spouse will be tested for TB, AIDS and Syphilis. If they do the skin test for TB, they will be required to return to the CIS doctors office to have the site checked before they finish the exam paperwork. Note: Some CIS Offices allow you to schedule your appointment when you want, as long as it is done before the AOS appointment, check with your CIS office to see how they handle CIS medical exams before filing your AOS paperwork.

     

    Your spouse will be required to have biometrics taken at some point including fingerprints and photo's. This can typically precede the interview date by up to 15 months, however is ussually much closer. Eventually you will receive a letter from the CIS informing you of your interview date. You and your spouse will need to bring supporting evidence of the relationship... i.e. photos, joint checking account, joint lease, joint mortgage, and birth certificates of children if any etc. Also, it is very important to bring the current passport of the applicant, as the CIS will stamp his/her passport with the I-551 stamp if they are approved. This stamp is proof of permanent residency that can be used until they receive their greencard. This normally can take up to six months. The interview is fairly painless and may be video recorded and lasts between 15-30 minutes.

     

    NOTE: If you are married less than 2 years, your spouse will have to renew his/her greencard 2 years from issuance by filing the I-751 to remove conditional status.


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    NOTE: The above information does not address the specific requirements for any given case and is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.

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    Recommended Comments



    Yeni ivette

    Yeni ivette 0

    Posted

    I have a question.i applied for i130,petition of my son.i did the mistake  and I put the beneficiary name of my husband his father.i received the I i797 ,with this error.what can I do?.

    I should cancel the petition and make a new one?

    bamse

    bamse 15

    Posted

    Is the I-944 public charge form required for spouses adjusting status?

    geowrian

    geowrian 22,337

    Posted

    On 4/23/2020 at 12:40 PM, GAD505 said:

    Is the I-944 public charge form required for spouses adjusting status?

    Yes

    samdog

    samdog 56

    Posted

    Do you recommend having 2 separate envelopes within a master envelope that we should send to the Chicago lockbox? Or, should we just use paperclips to create "two packets" in that the forms and evidence for 130 and 485 are separate but joined together?

    markbk182

    markbk182 0

    Posted

    I have a question, my wife is the petitioner she is an US citizen, but I'm working in the States since 2017 under a TN visa , we got married two months ago and I would like to start my green card process but my concern is if I start this process am I would be still able to keep working with my TN visa? Do I need to fill out the form I-864 even though I'm the one who is supporting my wife and paying for her school since before we got married?

    Does anyone has any experience like my case trying to adjust the status from a TN visa to a family based status?

    geowrian

    geowrian 22,337

    Posted

    17 minutes ago, markbk182 said:

    I have a question, my wife is the petitioner she is an US citizen, but I'm working in the States since 2017 under a TN visa , we got married two months ago and I would like to start my green card process but my concern is if I start this process am I would be still able to keep working with my TN visa? Do I need to fill out the form I-864 even though I'm the one who is supporting my wife and paying for her school since before we got married?

    Does anyone has any experience like my case trying to adjust the status from a TN visa to a family based status?

    It’s the same process as entry on basically any other visa (except K-1 as that doesn’t need the I-130).

     

    Filing for AOS doesn’t terminate TN status. So go to using to work until that status expires or terminates is fine. Just note that you can’t exit the US and re-enter without AP.

     

    Your income can be included in the household income for the I-864 the petitioner provides. But yes, they must provide an I-864 and be responsible for you under its terms. What exactly will convince the IO that you won’t become a public charge is a judgement call based upon the totality of the circumstances.

    nendu

    nendu 86

    Posted

    In this guide when the term "copy" is used for any document, as in "Copy of the Full Birth certificate" it just means a basic photocopy, right?

    HopefulImmigrant2

    HopefulImmigrant2 0

    Posted

    I have a question. My wife (US citizen) and I (South African) both live and work in South Korea. We have been married for more than 2 years now and are wanting to immigrate to the US later this year. Will it be possible for us to go there, me on a tourist visa, and then adjust our status there? I am asking as this guide specifically says not to go there for the purpose of marriage *and* immigration.

    YSJ

    YSJ 0

    Posted

    i have a question about I 130a form... what am i asked for this part?

    image.png.57c2cefd4bf2bda39f65f86b74920df6.png

    YSJ

    YSJ 0

    Posted (edited)

    32 minutes ago, YSJ said:

    sorry I figured out

     

     

    Edited by YSJ
    mistake
    rambil

    rambil 0

    Posted

    Hi Everyone, 

     

    This might sound silly but I just want to confirm if I am correct. Since Form I-944 is not needed anymore,

    do I still need to include Form I-864 in my packet? Thank you so much in advance. 

    nendu

    nendu 86

    Posted

    2 minutes ago, rambil said:

    Hi Everyone, 

     

    This might sound silly but I just want to confirm if I am correct. Since Form I-944 is not needed anymore,

    do I still need to include Form I-864 in my packet? Thank you so much in advance. 

    Yes, I864 is still required 

    Fancyaa

    Fancyaa 1

    Posted

    I am doing this process now and have two questions: Do you have to submit your evidence twice for both the i130 and the i485. These both require proof of citizenship, proof or relationship etc so do I submit the same copies to accompany both applications or just once is sufficient. Also - do you send one money order for the full fee or separate money orders for each application?

    Luchhee

    Luchhee 0

    Posted

    Good day Everyone, 
    I got married in march of this year and waited till july to start my filing process because my husband joined the military in april. I have a little confusion on the address, as he has moved out of his apartment because of going to Military camp and all that. He wants me to stay at his family friend’s place as the address on the “where your spouse intends to stay”. I don’t know if this will affect us. Although he will get his apartment but once i am settled in. Has anyone been in similar situations?

     

    Onelife786

    Onelife786 54

    Posted

    Hi, thank you for awesome post!

    I am sending my pack tomorrow! As spouse of USC

     

    I am doing cuncurrent filing! You have not mentioned I-693 in the above list, is it ok not to send this?

     

    Thanks

    bk2014

    bk2014 34

    Posted

    I'm a Naturalized US citizen. I have U.S passport. But, I don't have Naturalization Certificate or Certificate of Citizenship since I became U.S citizen when I was minor along with my parents.

    Now, I'm filing I-130 for my spouse. Is copy of all pages of my U.S passport sufficient evidence to prove my U.S Citizenship ? 

    rambil

    rambil 0

    Posted

    Hello Everyone, 

    Before I submit my packet I just want to triple check if I get all my information correct. 

    Fees: 

    I-130 - $535

    I-485 and Biometrics - $1,225.00 

     

    I'm concurrently filing and will be sending my packet at this address:

    USCIS

    Attn: AOS 

    P.O. Box 805887

    Chicago, IL 60680

     

    Thank you in advance. 

    STO Overland

    STO Overland 137

    Posted

    At least 3 subsequent links to USCIS results in a "Page not found"

    danibri2023

    danibri2023 0

    Posted

    My husband (USC) and I live in Europe. I am a UK citizen with a valid ESTA. We want to move to the USA asap as he's recently lost his job in Europe and would like to job-search in the USA. We are at the beginning of our process to immigrate to the USA. A lot of the avenues we are seeing risk us being apart for some time. Is there a way I can move with him to the USA and apply for a visa once there?

    Crazy Cat

    Crazy Cat 41,919

    Posted (edited)

    14 minutes ago, danibri2023 said:

    My husband (USC) and I live in Europe. I am a UK citizen with a valid ESTA. We want to move to the USA asap as he's recently lost his job in Europe and would like to job-search in the USA. We are at the beginning of our process to immigrate to the USA. A lot of the avenues we are seeing risk us being apart for some time. Is there a way I can move with him to the USA and apply for a visa once there?

    No.  You cannot enter the US as a visitor with the intent to stay and adjust status.  Please start a discussion in a proper forum area to discuss this matter.

    Edited by Crazy Cat
    Nile

    Nile 0

    Posted

    What does it mean to have a certified copy of the marriage certificate? How do I get it certified?

    abdirashidm

    abdirashidm 0

    Posted

    Sir or madam

    I get interview so the consular officer said me I contact you to take medical examination 

    So how I can request the medical exam



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