I-130 for DCF
May 16th 2002, 6:20 pm
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
I-130 for DCF
We are doing DCF this summer. I have a question about I-130:
In: B. Information about you, #13 requires information about the US citizen.
My wife (the US citizen)was born in Africa from American parents.
#13 states:
My citizenship was acquired through (check one):
1. Birth in the U.S
2. Naturalization. Give certificate number and date and place of issuance.
3. Parents. Have you obtained a certificate of citizenship in your own name?
I think we should check #3, but she doesn't have a "certificate of citizenship".
Instead she has "Certification of birth" (Form FS-545) issued by the US Consul in
that country. Is it the same thing? Should we respond YES to that question?
Also in the instructions they list "Form FS-240, Report of Birth Abroad of a US
Citizen" as one of document that can prove US citizenship. Again it seems like a
slightly different form from what she has.
Please help!
In: B. Information about you, #13 requires information about the US citizen.
My wife (the US citizen)was born in Africa from American parents.
#13 states:
My citizenship was acquired through (check one):
1. Birth in the U.S
2. Naturalization. Give certificate number and date and place of issuance.
3. Parents. Have you obtained a certificate of citizenship in your own name?
I think we should check #3, but she doesn't have a "certificate of citizenship".
Instead she has "Certification of birth" (Form FS-545) issued by the US Consul in
that country. Is it the same thing? Should we respond YES to that question?
Also in the instructions they list "Form FS-240, Report of Birth Abroad of a US
Citizen" as one of document that can prove US citizenship. Again it seems like a
slightly different form from what she has.
Please help!
May 16th 2002, 11:20 pm
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: I-130 for DCF
It seems to me that Naturalization would be her answer. But I am not positive. You
could call the INS hotline and get an answer to that question. We called them many
times and had helpful information.
Adriatik <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> We are doing DCF this summer. I have a question about I-130:
>
> In: B. Information about you, #13 requires information about the US citizen.
>
> My wife (the US citizen)was born in Africa from American parents.
>
> #13 states:
> My citizenship was acquired through (check one):
> 1. Birth in the U.S
> 2. Naturalization. Give certificate number and date and place of issuance.
> 3. Parents. Have you obtained a certificate of citizenship in your own name?
>
> I think we should check #3, but she doesn't have a "certificate of citizenship".
> Instead she has "Certification of birth" (Form FS-545) issued by the US Consul in
> that country. Is it the same thing? Should we respond YES to that question?
>
> Also in the instructions they list "Form FS-240, Report of Birth Abroad of a US
> Citizen" as one of document that can prove US citizenship. Again it seems like a
> slightly different form from what she has.
>
> Please help!
could call the INS hotline and get an answer to that question. We called them many
times and had helpful information.
Adriatik <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> We are doing DCF this summer. I have a question about I-130:
>
> In: B. Information about you, #13 requires information about the US citizen.
>
> My wife (the US citizen)was born in Africa from American parents.
>
> #13 states:
> My citizenship was acquired through (check one):
> 1. Birth in the U.S
> 2. Naturalization. Give certificate number and date and place of issuance.
> 3. Parents. Have you obtained a certificate of citizenship in your own name?
>
> I think we should check #3, but she doesn't have a "certificate of citizenship".
> Instead she has "Certification of birth" (Form FS-545) issued by the US Consul in
> that country. Is it the same thing? Should we respond YES to that question?
>
> Also in the instructions they list "Form FS-240, Report of Birth Abroad of a US
> Citizen" as one of document that can prove US citizenship. Again it seems like a
> slightly different form from what she has.
>
> Please help!
May 17th 2002, 12:42 am
#3
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 717
Re: I-130 for DCF
Citizenship was acquired through parents - you can give the number on the FS-240 (Consular report of birth abroad), making sure that it's clear that it's clear this number comes from a FS-240 and not as a result of derivative naturalisation.
May 17th 2002, 12:20 pm
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: I-130 for DCF
Falx Cerebri wrote:
>
> It seems to me that Naturalization would be her answer.
That would be the wrong answer, she was a citizen at birth, Naturalization is a
formal process to go through, and then you would get a certificate stating this.
If the OP doesn't have one of the documents listed, they could
1. Follow item F in the intructions which points to "What if a document is not
available"
2. Obtain a US passport, which would them match item D.
3. Contact INS to see if the document they do have is acceptable.
>
> It seems to me that Naturalization would be her answer.
That would be the wrong answer, she was a citizen at birth, Naturalization is a
formal process to go through, and then you would get a certificate stating this.
If the OP doesn't have one of the documents listed, they could
1. Follow item F in the intructions which points to "What if a document is not
available"
2. Obtain a US passport, which would them match item D.
3. Contact INS to see if the document they do have is acceptable.
May 18th 2002, 3:20 am
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: I-130 for DCF
Thanks for your answers.
I am still confused. What is a "certificate of citizenship"? Is that some common
document for USC who are born from American parents outside US? She doesn't have
this document.
I understand that her US valid passport would be enough for I-130. Is that right?
> We are doing DCF this summer. I have a question about I-130:
>
> In: B. Information about you, #13 requires information about the US citizen.
>
> My wife (the US citizen)was born in Africa from American parents.
>
> #13 states:
> My citizenship was acquired through (check one):
> 1. Birth in the U.S
> 2. Naturalization. Give certificate number and date and place of issuance.
> 3. Parents. Have you obtained a certificate of citizenship in your own name?
>
> I think we should check #3, but she doesn't have a "certificate of citizenship".
> Instead she has "Certification of birth" (Form FS-545) issued by the US Consul in
> that country. Is it the same thing? Should we respond YES to that question?
>
> Also in the instructions they list "Form FS-240, Report of Birth Abroad of a US
> Citizen" as one of document that can prove US citizenship. Again it seems like a
> slightly different form from what she has.
>
> Please help!
I am still confused. What is a "certificate of citizenship"? Is that some common
document for USC who are born from American parents outside US? She doesn't have
this document.
I understand that her US valid passport would be enough for I-130. Is that right?
> We are doing DCF this summer. I have a question about I-130:
>
> In: B. Information about you, #13 requires information about the US citizen.
>
> My wife (the US citizen)was born in Africa from American parents.
>
> #13 states:
> My citizenship was acquired through (check one):
> 1. Birth in the U.S
> 2. Naturalization. Give certificate number and date and place of issuance.
> 3. Parents. Have you obtained a certificate of citizenship in your own name?
>
> I think we should check #3, but she doesn't have a "certificate of citizenship".
> Instead she has "Certification of birth" (Form FS-545) issued by the US Consul in
> that country. Is it the same thing? Should we respond YES to that question?
>
> Also in the instructions they list "Form FS-240, Report of Birth Abroad of a US
> Citizen" as one of document that can prove US citizenship. Again it seems like a
> slightly different form from what she has.
>
> Please help!
May 18th 2002, 6:20 am
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: I-130 for DCF
Adriatik wrote:
>
> Thanks for your answers.
>
> I am still confused. What is a "certificate of citizenship"? Is that some common
> document for USC who are born from American parents outside US? She doesn't have
> this document.
I don't know that one. You might be able to find more info at http://state.gov
>
> I understand that her US valid passport would be enough for I-130. Is that right?
Yes, since all they are looking for is proof of citizenship.
>
> Thanks for your answers.
>
> I am still confused. What is a "certificate of citizenship"? Is that some common
> document for USC who are born from American parents outside US? She doesn't have
> this document.
I don't know that one. You might be able to find more info at http://state.gov
>
> I understand that her US valid passport would be enough for I-130. Is that right?
Yes, since all they are looking for is proof of citizenship.
May 18th 2002, 11:46 am
#7
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 717
Re: I-130 for DCF
The normal document establishing US citizenship for an American citizen who is born abroad is the "Consular Report of Birth Abroad" - form FS-240. This is both a birth report and a birth certificate.
Since you can only *report* the birth one time, you only ever have the original and not copies. If you need additional certified copies of this, you get the *certificate* of birth abroad - form FS-545 (issued by a US consulate), or form DS-1350 (issued by the passport office in the US).
I *think* this is how it works - in any case, the FS-545 does indeed prove that your wife is a US citizen and so can use this document in support of the I-130 petition.
Since you can only *report* the birth one time, you only ever have the original and not copies. If you need additional certified copies of this, you get the *certificate* of birth abroad - form FS-545 (issued by a US consulate), or form DS-1350 (issued by the passport office in the US).
I *think* this is how it works - in any case, the FS-545 does indeed prove that your wife is a US citizen and so can use this document in support of the I-130 petition.
