Cover Letter for I-130 and I-485

[Ameritica116]

Hi Everyone,
So here is a brief of our situation before I ask any questions. My husband came on an H2B visa in 06, temporary worker, once here he was informed by the American contact that they did not currently have work and his visa was only good for a week (he was told that it would be extended). So we met in late 2007, began dating around 2008, he's been here then entire time so he's considered an overstay, and we've been married for 4 months. Side note: we have his I-94 and all necessary documents showing he did come through inspected. But I have been slowly putting things together because alot of his information is very scattered and not easily traced, but we have alot. Now that we completed the 1-693 we are pretty much on a year deadline, so we gotta get down to business.

Questions:

I know I need a cover letter for both the I-130 and I-485 as well as a table of contents, what all needs to go into the cover letter?

Who would you suggest would be good candidates for affidavits of knowledge of our relationship? So far I'm leaning toward the priest that married us, our neighbor of a year, possibly the couple that we did our pre-marriage course with, and my maid of honor..any suggestions?

Please let me know if you have any input and I appreciate all the help we can get!

Thank you!!!

[Los G]

You don't actually NEED a cover letter (it's not required) but it's a good idea to have it, to help organize the documentation you're submitting. Cover letters can be pretty bare-bones, just describing what's in the packet basically

Here's a sample cover letter for the I-130 packet:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgw427sf_2jrxm5zc8

You could do a similar one for the I-485.

As far as affidavits, I wouldn't get too concerned about these unless you suspect there might be a real reason to doubt the legitimacy of your marriage. Do you have other types of evidence? Joint financial holdings, property, proof that you live together?

You might use one or two affidavits, but they should be from people who truly can attest to your relationship over time, not just to say "I know X and Y are married since ___". Your neighbor and pre-marriage counseling couple sound like good candidates. They would describe how they met you, in what ways they've seen you grow together as a couple or how they see you function together as a couple on a daily basis, what are the strong aspects of your relationship, etc.

Hope that helps, and good luck getting everything together!!

[Ameritica116]

Well we are getting my name added to the car titles and we have joint accounts, but the lease is only in my name because of lack of an SSN. I have him added to a credit card of mine, but I'm not sure what else we can do without SSN...let me know what you think.

Thanks!

[Los G]

That sounds like a good amount of evidence! With our I-130 we submitted a copy of our joint credit cards, a copy of our joint bank account statement, and a few pages of photos spanning from when we met until when we filed. That was it and no problems ever arose questioning the legitimacy of our relationship. (And we didn't know we were pregnant till after we filed, so that wasn't used as relationship evidence).

[luvsherry]

it seems like you already got the cover letter sample from LOS G. i also had a cover letter for I-130 and I-485. and for the affidavits, i only send one only because it was really well written and it made me cried lol.

marriage license
life insurance
health insurance
car insurance
joint bank account(some bank will let you add him without a SSN)
House or apartment lease
kid BC
Affidavit from family or friends
Pictures
Proof of ongoing relationship

good luck

[Happygolucky]

I actually got the format from another site and changed it to meet my needs. Here it is:

USPS
USCIS
P.O. Box 805887
Chicago, IL
60680-4120

September 18, 2010

Concurrent Filing of I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative), I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status), I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization)

Petitioner (U.S. Citizen):
Beneficiary (Alien Spouse):
Dear Sir/ Madam:

Please kindly find enclosed concurrent filing of forms: Concurrent Filing of I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative), I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status), I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization)

Contents include:

1. Check in the amount of US$355 for I-130

2. Check in the amount of US$1,010 for I-485

3. Form G1145 E-Notification of application/petition acceptance

4. I-130 Petition For Alien Relative
• Copy of US Citizen’s naturalization certificate
• Copy of marriage certificate
• Copy of beneficiary’s divorce decree
• Copy of beneficiary’s birth certificate
• G325A signed by US Citizen
• G325A signed by beneficiary
• Passport photo of US Citizen (placed in a small plastic bag along with beneficiary’s photo)
• Passport photo of beneficiary (placed in a small plastic bag, labeled with full name of beneficiary & alien #)
• Evidence of Bona fide Marriage
- Copy of joint bank account quarterly statement for the period May 2010 - June 2010
- Copy of our second joint bank account statement for May 2010-August 2010
- Copy of our health insurance cards (front & back)
- Copy of California license with our home address (front & back)
- Selection of pictures that document relationship and marriage

5. I-485 Application To Register Permanent Residence Or Adjust Status
• Copy of passport's biographical page
• Copy of passport's entry stamps
• Copy of passport's visa pages
• Copy of I-94 form (front and back)
• Copy of Marriage Certificate
• Copy of Birth Certificate
• G325A signed by US Citizen
• G325A signed by beneficiary
• Two passport-type pictures of beneficiary (placed in a small plastic bag, labeled with full name of intending immigrant & alien #)
• I-693 Vaccination Supplement (Completed by a Civil Surgeon sealed in an envelope)

6. I-864 Affidavit of Support
• Copy of Petitioner’s IRS tax return transcript for the year 2009
• Copy of Petitioner’s earning statements from the period June 2010 – September 2010
• Copy of Petitioner’s naturalization certificate

7. I-765 Application For Employment Document
• Copy previous employment authorization card (front & back)
• Two (2) Passport-type photos


Signature

[mrsdread]

when i applied i only sent in the marriage certificate, the birth cerificate of our daughter, and the fees. they made me go to the local office in Miami, I'm assuming it was because I filed the i-130 while we were already in proceedings. And all they asked for then were joint bills, joint bank account statements(if you have them) and wedding photos. We were approved on the spot.

[poetictragedyo4]

visajourney.com has good examples..

[lerryberry]

when u say "copy", does it mean photocopy or original copy? i am confused. my husband says that means all should be original copy...like original birth certificate, original marriage certificate, original passport, etc.

[angel]

Hi lerryberry, welcome!
To my understanding, all birth certificates and the marriage license have to be CERTIFIED copies. If a birth certificate is not in English then it has to be translated.
All other paperwork you submit are regular copies. All the certified papers and the originals of the copies you keep until you have your interview and you bring that with you.
Does that make sense? Is that correct everyone????