If it is ok with everyone I am going to use this thread to keep you all updated on my DCF journey, and will be adding to it as I complete stuff in order to keep myself organised - feel free to comment/provide hints and tips along the way

So far ....

I-130 Petition
Downloaded all relevant forms for I-130 petition.
Filling them in.
Photocopied *Marriage Certificate *Wife's birth certificate (US) *Wife's passport UK and US *Statutory Declaration of change of name for wife (we double-barrelled our names when we got married in the UK) *My deed poll for change of name
Today (30/08/2013) going to photocopy my passport to support my change of name - that should hopefully be sufficient legal proof that I changed my name after marriage.

Plan: On the weekend get the US photos taken. Then post the I-130! It is a fairly small checklist of items they require I have noticed ...


Other plans

*Send police certificate request off to ACRO next week. I need to get some recent UK photos done and get someone to countersign one. Remember to send two proofs of address off also with the form.

*I have ordered my full birth certificate from GRO in the UK.

*Have contacted Dad-in-law with forms I-864 and instructions on how to complete.

*Missus to file 2011 tax return with US embassy in London. She filed 2012's last year with the Austin address, but got no receipt - wondering if it is worth sending a copy of this to the US embassy in London also with an extra page and SAE asking for it to be stamped so it can support our application?

Hoffage

She can either order tax transcripts from 2012 (they will come in the mail to the address on the 2012 tax return within about 10 days of ordering). Or, she can just photocopy the entire 2012 tax return (all pages, including W-2 or 1099 if she received such). No need to get it all stamped.

Rene

Thank you Rene most appreciated

In terms of proving the relationship, at this stage, I am assuming just to stick to the petitioner checklist as they say extra documents will be returned?

Correct. When filing the I-130 directly to London, they do not want you to send in proof of co-mingled lives together yet. You'll take that evidence to your visa interview.

Rene

Phew! I've had an interesting evening.

Just filled in all the forms for the I-130 packet.

Bit worried about the G-325A Biographic - where it says Month Year I have put the numerical Month numerical year. For example for August 2010 I have put Month - 08 Year 2010. That should be ok shouldn't it?

Probably overthinking it ...

Yes.


Definitely!

The G-325A is a legacy form left over from the days of the former INS, but the requirement to not use it has never been updated. It's importance is inversely proportional to the amount of anxiety it seems to generate!

Ian

Thanks all really appreciate your friendliness and help :-) I was looking at a copy of the petition and just realised i missed question 16 aargh. Will send the embassy an update but suspect that the form is likely to be returned. It was the question about immigration proceedings that i forgot to check no to ... Typical.

No, don't! This may seem somewhat counter-intuitive, but you should not send them anything else at this point in time. There is no way to know whether or not the new information will get matched up to your existing file... and it will only lead to confusion on their part - and you really don't want them being more confused than they already are.

If they want you to correct the form, they will contact you.

In the meantime, do nothing!

Ian

Hi Ian - no worries I will wait. Typical really I was so pleased with myself for getting it all ordered correctly, photos done (names in pencil on the back etc.) - I blame Mama Mia which was on telly last night ... ;-)

Not the embassy, the USCIS field office. You are not dealing with the embassy.

Otherwise, what Ian wrote - don't send anything more unless it's asked for.

Regards, JEff

Just checked the tracking and due to it being Labor Day Royal Mail weren't able to deliver my I-130 so they have sent it to the West London depot or something ...

I will try to rearrange a redelivery but hope the Consulate receive it tomorrow before I go that route. What a pain, special delivery - not so special.

ETA it is now being sent this morning. Yes!

Just waiting for my card to be charged now.

Missus got her 2012 tax transcript and 2012 tax return in the post yesterday so that is coming along nicely

Just checked my statement - my credit cards been charged!

It has begun .....

Did you get your email yet? Our card got charged, but still havent had any word out of USCIS.