Updated IR-5 Guide

[J_d_Petitioner 17]

I do see a lot of posts here asking "What's next?", so I thought I'd share the guide that I made for myself. Hope somebody will find this useful. Though I'd like recommending to anybody to follow the Wiki Guide as I find it very helpful myself. It provides more specific details that my guide does not cover. I also welcome suggestions and comments with the following guide when necessary.

Good luck to all!

-J for Jona

PS: I've attached all the necessary links to forms and websites for quick access.


IR-5 PROCESS:

USCIS

• File a petition – Fee $420/petition *one mailing but separate each petition with binder/paper clip or manila folder
  • Mother
    • Form I-130
    • My Certificate of Naturalization (copy)
    • My birth certificate (copy)
    • My marriage certificate (copy)
    • Check for $420 payable to: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
    • Form G-1145, E-Notification
  • Father
    • Form I-130
    • My certificate of naturalization (copy)
    • My birth certificate (copy)
    • My marriage certificate (copy)
    • Parent’s Marriage Certificate (copy)
    • Check for $420 payable to: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
    • Form G-1145, E-Notification
  • Submit above-listed documents to USCIS Chicago or Phoenix Lockbox

NATIONAL VISA CENTER

• Choice of Agent
  • Submit request, once case # and invoice # is available, at: DS-261, Online Choice of Address and agent

• Affidavit of Support (AOS)
  • Affidavit of Support Payment - $88 for both
    • Send documents (Separate file but one mailing):
      • Affidavit of Support for petitioner (me)
        • Form I-864
        • Letter of employment
        • Paystubs (6 months)
        • Joint tax return transcripts (3 years)
      • Affidavit of Support for joint sponsor (spouse)
        • Form I-864
        • Letter of Employment
        • Paystubs (6 months)
        • Joint tax return transcripts (3 years)
    • Mail documents to:

National Visa Center
Attn: DR
31 Rochester Ave. Suite 100
Portsmouth, NH 03801-2914

• Immigrant Visa (IV)
  • Complete application at: DS-260, Online Immigrant Visa Application - $230/applicant
  • Mail Civil documents (Original and a COPY) to:

National Visa Center
Attn: DR
31 Rochester Ave. Suite 100
Portsmouth, NH 03801-2914

Civil Documents:

• Beneficiary:
  • NSO (National Statistics Office in the Philippines) birth certificate
  • NSO marriage certificate (1 for each)
  • Copy of biographic page of PASSPORT
  • 2X2 photos (2 for each) – write with PENCIL: NVC Case # & DOB
  • Original NBI Clearance (check with your country's requirement - this may not be requiired)
  • Original Police Clearance (check with your country's requirement - this may not be requiired)
• Petitioner:
  • Birth Certificate
  • Certified-copy of Marriage Certificate
  • Copy of my passport Biographic page
  • Copy of Naturalization Certificate

US EMBASSY

• Medical Exam - Fee $223.35/applicant – paid in Philippines Pesos in current Exchange rate (varies by country)
  • Documents to bring:
    • Appointment letter from NVC or email confirmation from Visa Information & Appointment Service (original and 2 photocopies)
    • Passport
    • 2x2 Photos (4 each)

• Interview –
  • Documents to bring
    • Appointment Letter (other documents below are NOT required but I'd prefer to bring them in case they ask for it because I've read on some posts regarding cases where documents got lost during the process)
    • Original birth certificate
    • Original marriage certificate
    • Copy of my birth certificate
    • Copy of my Naturalization certificate
    • Copy of my passport
    • Black pens
    • AOS packet copies
    • IV packet copies

• Visa delivery

• Attend CFO Seminar

• Pay Immigrant Visa Fee - $165/person at USCIS - ELIS IV Payment Online

[Leatherneck 693]

Nice job Jona!

[J_d_Petitioner 17]

Thanks Leatherneck. I hope this becomes helpful to some people.

[Ianne25 0]

This is very helpful sis! Well done :thumbs:

[J_d_Petitioner 17]

This is very helpful sis! Well done :thumbs:

Thank you sis! Glad to help.

[Leatherneck 693]

Thanks Leatherneck. I hope this becomes helpful to some people.

You're welcome. Surely someone in need will do a search and find your information useful.

[JimmyPH 0]

This is very informative.

[J_d_Petitioner 17]

This is very informative.

Thanks Jimmy56. I tried to get as much information as I could get for myself and to provide to others who is undergoing the same turmoil.

[Tiferny 0]

Hello JD petitioner,

Thank you for this post. I`m sure it is going to help a lot of people : )

I filed I-130 not long ago for my mother who is living abroad.

I wonder if I could do everything for my mother here in the US ?

I`m worried because my mom doesn't speak English. (well, she knows "hello,sorry,thank you,I love u...) lol

Is it like all she has to do is go to the interview at the consulate? or there`s more she needs to do on her end?

Thank you so much : )

[unknowKhmer 0]

Mail Civil documents (Original and a COPY)

In my case NVC said i shouldn't made them a copy of the orginal. I should just give them original or certified and don't make copy for them. This what i did, I packed mine with a 2 pocket folder. Label on the folder which are copy and which side are origginal/certified. Guess what? I guess they only look at the copy and state it's not a cerifited. Then I said ok, mail my packet backl to prove your looking at the right stuffs. They said the fine print stated they do not mail packet back. So I had to request another marriage certificate for ny county again.

[J_d_Petitioner 17]

Hello JD petitioner,

Thank you for this post. I`m sure it is going to help a lot of people : )

I filed I-130 not long ago for my mother who is living abroad.

I wonder if I could do everything for my mother here in the US ?

I`m worried because my mom doesn't speak English. (well, she knows "hello,sorry,thank you,I love u...) lol

Is it like all she has to do is go to the interview at the consulate? or there`s more she needs to do on her end?

Thank you so much : )

You're very much welcome.

You will pretty much do everything until the case is transferred to the Embassy. That's when your Mom does her medical examination and Interview.

Good luck!

[J_d_Petitioner 17]

In my case NVC said i shouldn't made them a copy of the orginal. I should just give them original or certified and don't make copy for them. This what i did, I packed mine with a 2 pocket folder. Label on the folder which are copy and which side are origginal/certified. Guess what? I guess they only look at the copy and state it's not a cerifited. Then I said ok, mail my packet backl to prove your looking at the right stuffs. They said the fine print stated they do not mail packet back. So I had to request another marriage certificate for ny county again.

I would put the original and the copy together instead of separating the copy from the original. Not sure how they looked at docs at NVC but for sure, they didn't look through them thoroughly. I'm sorry to hear what happened. I hope the next submission will be breeze for you. Good luck!

Here is what I saw at the NVC website.

Documents the Applicant Must Submit to the NVC

Original Document Requirements

You and each family member immigrating with you to the United States must submit to the NVC original civil documents issued by an appropriate authority, or certified copies of those documents listed in this section.

Photocopy Requirements

You and each family member immigrating with you must also submit to the NVC a photocopy of the original documents or certified copies of the documents.

Edited June 6, 2014 by J_d_Petitioner

[Hunnybaby 1]

Hi Jona!

I saw your I-130 timeline and was surprised to see the approval was 19 days only....

I received NOA1 for both of my parents and transferred to Nebraska on May 29. I hope mine will get approve like yours too

So what stage are you on right now?

[J_d_Petitioner 17]

Hi Jona!

I saw your I-130 timeline and was surprised to see the approval was 19 days only....

I received NOA1 for both of my parents and transferred to Nebraska on May 29. I hope mine will get approve like yours too

So what stage are you on right now?

Hello Hunnybaby!

Most of the petitions for the Philippines beneficiary are approved quicker because typhoon Haiyan. Here's the link: http://www.uscis.gov/news/uscis-extends-relief-measures-filipino-typhoon-victims

I really hope yours gets approve quicker as well. I'm currently waiting for NVC to issue the case numbers.

Good luck!

[J_d_Petitioner 17]

Again, hoping to be helpful, here are some more info I gathered about my case which is may be similar to others,

I was reading everything I could find to no avail - so I ended up calling NVC to get some answers. Hopefully this would help others with confusion with I-864.

The following were my questions and the NVC agents' answer:

1. I petitioned BOTH parents, but my income can only support ONE - which form to use?

I-864 for one immigrant, and i-864 plus i-864A for the 2nd immigrant. (Note: On I-864A, you will notice on Part 2, you would list down the intending immigrants. I lists BOTH my parents. And I am including I-864A for both as well - for me, MORE IS BETTER)

2. On Part 3, Item 1 - which to select, "Yes" or "No"?

"Yes" - put "NA" on 2a.

3. On Part 5 - where to include to 2nd immigrant?

None - since they were petitioned separately. Though household size does NOT include the 2nd immigrant, we still count him/her in your household,