USA Visas - Famiy Package

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Check list for Famiy Package

I-130 Petition For Famiy Package

FILING TIPS

Submit Photocopies of your documents with your application, but be sure that you have original or certified copies of the same documents in your possession just in case the government wants to examine them. An original or certified copy of a document usually bears an original seal, stamp or signature of the office of record.

Filing Fee: The I-130 application filing fee must be submitted in the form of a personal check, bank check or money order. The government does not accept cash payment. Be sure to check the USCIS.Gov website to get the latest filing fee for most immigration applications.

Translations: All non-English documents submitted should be accompanied by full English translations. Translations need not be made by a professional translator; they can be completed by any competent person. The translator must certify that the translation is complete and correct and that he or she is competent to translate the foreign language into English. For example, the statement written on the translation may read: "I, [insert name], am competent at translating [insert name of foreign language] to English, and I certify that the above translation is true, complete and correct," followed by the signature of the translator. It is not necessary to have the translation notarized.

PETITIONER'S CHECKLIST

		Evidence of Residency. If the Petitioner is not a US Citizen, the the petitioner must provide evidence that he or she is a U.S. Permanent Resident Alien: Permanent Resident Alien Card (I-551) Foreign passport stamped by the U.S. Government indicating that the holder has been "Processed for I-551" Permanent resident Re-entry Permit (I-327) Arrival Departure Form I-94 with "Temporary I-551" stamp and holder's photograph affixed Travel Document issued to Permanent Residents (I-327)

		Proof of U.S. Citizenship: If the Petitioner is a US Citizen: An original or certified copy of a certificate of birth in the USA (issued by a civil registrar, vital statistics office, or other civil authority); An original, unexpired, full validity U.S. passport; An original naturalization certificate or certificate of citizenship issued by USCIS or the former INS; or Form FS-240, Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States, issued by a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
		Two Passport-style Color Photographs Of The Petitioner: Photos should be taken within 30 days of the date of the petition. The photos must have a white background and be glossy, unretouched and not mounted. The dimensions of the full frontal facial image should be about 1 inch from the chin to the top of the hair.

If the petition is submitted on behalf of a spouse, please also submit the following documents (original or certified copy plus a photocopy):

		Marriage Certificate: A certificate of marriage between the petitioner and the beneficiary from the jurisdiction where the marriage took place.

		Divorce Decree or Death Certificate: If the petitioner and/or the spouse were previously married, submit original divorce decrees or death certificates, or certified court copies of the documents, showing termination of all prior marriages of both the Petitioner and Beneficiary

		Proof of Relationship: If you have been married less than two years, please provide a detailed description of how you met and how the relationship developed, as well as evidence of an on-going relationship (for example photos of you together over time, emails, letters, phone bills, post cards, greeting cards, documents showing a joint bank account or lease, etc.).


If the petition is submitted by a petitioner mother on behalf of a child, then submit the following documents:

		Child's Birth Certificate: A petition submitted by a mother on behalf of a child must be supported by the child's birth certificate showing the current name of the mother. If the mother's present name differs from that at the time of the child's birth, the mother's marriage certificate and evidence of the legal termination of any prior marriage(s) must be submitted. If the change of name did not result from the marriage of the mother, other appropriate evidence of the name change must be submitted.

If the petition is submitted by a petitioner father on behalf of a legitimate child or is filed by a petitioner step-parent, then also submit the following documents:

		A certificate of marriage of the parents

		Proof of legal termination of all prior marriages of the parent(s)

		Any other proof of name change of the natural parent: The documentation should show a clear link between the child on the birth certificate and the petitioner.

If the petition is submitted by a petitioner father of a legitimated child, then also submit the following documents (original or certified copy plus a photocopy):

		Evidence of the child's legitimization, which must have taken place before the child reached the age of 18; and

		Proof of legal termination of any prior marriages if the legitimization was the result of the marriage of the natural parents to each other.
If the petition is submitted by a petitioner who is the parent of an adopted child
Submit a copy of the adoption decree showing that the adoption took place before the child became 16 years old. If you adopted the sibling of a child you already adopted, you must submit a copy of the adoption decree showing that the adoption of the sibling occurred before that child's 18th birthday. In either case, you must also submit copies of evidence that each child was in the legal custody of and resided with Petitioner parent who adopted him or her for at least two years before or after the adoption. Legal custody may only be granted by a court or recognized government entity and is usually granted at the time the adoption is finalized. However, if legal custody is granted by a court or recognized government agency prior to the adoption, that time may count to fulfill the two-year legal custody requirement.
If the petition is submitted by a petitioner who is the natural father of a child born out-of-wedlock, the petitioner must also establish that:

		He is the natural father of the offspring; and

		A bona fide parent-child relationship exists or has existed while the child was unmarried and under the age of 21.

BENEFICIARY'S CHECKLIST
		*The Beneficiary's Passport:* If available, provide a copy of the picture ID page of the beneficiary's passport. Also provide a copy of any USA visas that may be stamped in the beneficiary's passport. Two Passport-style Color Photographs Of The Petitioner: Photos should be taken within 30 days of the date of the petition. The photos must have a white background and be glossy, unretouched and not mounted. The dimensions of the full frontal facial image should be about 1 inch from the chin to the top of the hair.

		*Birth Certificate:* Provide the birth certificate for the beneficiary. For any birth certificate registered more than 6 months after the date of birth, please provide a written statement explaining why the birth was registered late and two alternate forms of original, secondary evidence of identity. Secondary evidence of identity normally means original documents dating from the time of the beneficiary's birth and childhood, such as prenatal records, doctor's notes and baby book, baptismal certificates issued on the date the baptism took place, school records/report cards registered or signed by the parents, or pieces of government-issued identification (SS card, driver's license, etc.)