Documents And Information:

• Documents:

  • Copies of ​Birth Certificates​ and/or Certificate of Naturalization

    • Proof of Sponsor's US Citizenship​

    • Birth Certificate of Immigrant

    • Include translations

    • You DO NOT need to hire an "official translator" (they are a rip off). USCIS permits anyone to translate as long as they certify that they are fluent in both languages. At the bottom of the translation the translator must put the following:

    • CERTIFICATION OF TRANSLATOR: I, ________, being of full age, do hereby certify that I am fluent in ________ and English and competent to translate ________ to English.  The above translation is a true and accurate translation of [Immigrant’s] [document being translated].

    • The translator must sign, date, and include address and phone number ​

  • ​​​​​Passports

    • Copy of biographic page ​

  • Passport Photos
    • 2 of Citizen or Green Card Holder​
    • 6 of Immigrant
  • Copy of marriage certificate​
    • Copy of prior divorce orders, if any
  • Copy of Visa that you entered the country with​​​
  • Copy of I-94
    • If you don't have it you can find it online here. ​
  • Form I-693 medical exam​
    • The doctor will give you a sealed envelope with the record of the exam. Do not open it, just include it with your submission.​
    • You can find an immigration doctor here.

  • Financial documents of Citizen or Green Card Holder:

    • The last 3 years of tax returns

      • Only the 1040, not the supplements​

    • Letter of employment​

    • Year-to-date pay stubs

    • Generally, the Sponsor needs to make at least $20K per year. If not, you will need a joint sponsor who will need to provide the same financial info​​

  • If anyone has been arrested, they will need to get certified dispositions from the court​

• Information needed for petition (from both spouses):​

  • Social Security numbers​, if any

  • Naturalization number, if any

  • Alien number, if any

  • City and country of birth

  • Father and Mother's full name, date of birth, city and country of birth, city and country of current residence

  • Date and city/state/country of current marriage

  • Former spouse's (if any), name, date of birth, date and place of marriage and divorce

  • Addresses for last 5 years with dates that you lived there

  • Last address outside of the USA and dates you lived there

  • Employment for the last 5 years with dates you worked there, addresses

  • Last occupation outside of the USA with dates and address, if any

​

Interview Preparation:

• Documents For Interview:

  • ​ORIGINALS of everything you submitted with your petition:

    • Birth Certificates​

    • Passports (including any old passports)

    • Sponsor's proof of US Citizenship

    • Any and all forms of identification such as drivers license, etc

    • Tax returns

    • Marriage Certificate

    • Lease, electric bill, etc with both names on it

  • PROOF OF COMMINGLED FINANCES​​

    • Make sure you have a joint bank account​

    • Bring print outs of all your monthly joint bank account statements

    • If possible, have both of your paychecks deposited into the joint account

    • Have two debit cards and both of you make purchases.

      • I recommend purchasing everything with your debit cards, groceries, etc.​

  • Pictures​

    • Pictures of the wedding​

    • Pictures of your life together

      • Your home​

      • Both of you in the home

      • Pictures of you out at restaurants, travelling, spending time with friends, etc

    • Make sure they are quality pictures (not black and white print outs)​

      • A decorative binder with wedding photos will look good​

  • Other Documents

    • Lease with both names on it

    • Electric, phone, and other utility bills with both names on them

    • Medical and life insurance if you are both on the same policy or listed as a beneficiary

    • Any bills or documents where you are both listed​​​

 

• Preparing ​​For Interview Questions:

  • ​KEEP A JOURNAL OF THINGS YOU DO TOGETHER WITH DATES AND TIMES

    • Immigration officers ask a lot of questions about what you did and when you did it​

    • In my experience, that is what my clients have the most trouble with - dates and times

  • For the two weeks leading up to the interview, keep track of what each of you does and when you did it, including when you went to sleep, what TV shows you watched, etc​

  • Study all the forms you submitted and memorize all the info to the extent possible

  • Know things such as:

    • How many windows there are in your bedroom

    • What color is the bed spread

    • What color is the couch

    • What is your spouses favorite food

    • What are your spouse's relative's and friend's names