Immigration Form I-130 – 10 Tips
Form I-30 is meant to help a lawful United States resident to establish a relationship with their relative thus making the first step to facilitate the relative to immigrate to the United States. In this case, the relatives have to wait until a visa number is available before they can apply for permanent residence. Below are ten tips to help you in filing immigration form I-130 courtesy of RunRex.com.
- Be Prepared with All the Necessary Paperwork
You are required to fill just one form. However you need to have a lot of supporting evidence before the form is considered to be accurately filed. In this case, it is clear that you must prove beyond reasonable doubt that the person you intend to immigrate to the United States is indeed a relative. Photographs or copies of the same will do. Ensure you keep all the original supporting documents close as they are vital for the whole process to be successful.
- Explore all the Available Options
Before spending money on attorneys, it is advisable to research over the internet and get all the necessary information pertaining Form I-130. You might be lucky to find free legal service providers or legal services that guarantee a better success rate as compared to your usual legal advisor. Consider non-profit immigration agencies that will make the process much more comfortable.
- Ensure Your Relatives Documents are Translated
Form I-130 just like many of the other USCIS forms are required to be in English. Therefore, ensure you get a certified translator to do the translation then attach the required official documents such as birth certificates as indicated in the Form I-130 guidelines. The translator should also provide you with certification as proof that he or she is a qualified translator of the given languages.
- Seek Help from Relevant Authorities
Many people need help when completing the application as per the provided guidelines. Therefore, consider getting help from the right people. Consider law firms that specialize in immigration such as RunRex.com. The levels of assistance vary hence let your relative know where to seek the right and relevant counsel.
- Know Your Relative’s Criminal Record
The USCIS always does background checks on its applicants. Therefore you should be aware of all the crimes your relative might have committed in the past. You can quickly acquire such information from the FBI in case you are in the United States or from the Criminal Investigation Department of your relative’s country of origin. The immigrant attorney advice after checking your record will help you answer the application form questions correctly.
- Keep Copies of Everything
You may lose or misplace some documents in your mailbox. Hence it is advisable to keep every single record you use in the application process. It will save you the time and cost of communication as you try to find the missing records. You can keep the copies in the form of soft copies somewhere on the cloud or print the documents and keep them as hard copies.
- Proofread the Documents
It is advisable to re-read the application form before submission to ensure that the information presented in the application form is accurate. Some grammar mistakes may result in denial or rejection of the application as the applicant has to prove that he or she is conversant in English. Proofreading confirms that all you have done is indeed consistent with the information you intended to provide.
- Where to file?
In case you are a United States citizen, and you reside in another country that does not have a USCIS international office you can easily file for your immediate relative at the United States Embassy. There is also the option of filing at the USCIS Chicago Lockbox if you reside outside the United States but in a location where USCIS has an international office. File a separate Form I-130 for each eligible relative unless they stand as derivative beneficiaries.
- Complete All the Form I-130 Sections
The form is likely to be rejected in case a section of the form is not filled. Ensure that in part one, the relationship is clear. Then provide your information in part two with all the official names and personal details in place. Do not forget to fill in the information about the beneficiaries. Finally, ensure you sign the form before submission.
- What Next After Filing Form I-130
Filing form, I-130 is often the first step towards getting family-based permanent residence. It is used as the grounds for establishing the relationship between the beneficiary and the petitioner. It takes several months before approval is given as it all depends on how well you filed your form I-130 as well as the workload that the USCIS has at the time of your application.
To get the best counsel on how to file Form I-130 consider consulting the best immigration law firm, Runrex.com.