Questions about the very first steps, please help!

[Bella Blues]

Hello everybody! I hope you're all doing great. Thanks for taking the time to read my concerns. I am in the process of getting petitioned by my husband but we really have no idea how to start. After our wedding, we requested a petition packet online (uscis official website) which we already received. My husband works 14 hour-days and I am a stay-at-home mom to our 3 year old son and I'm also currently 7 months pregnant so you can imagine how crazy my day gets. I've already done plenty of research but still nervous about making mistakes. I just don't want to screw up our application. First of all here are the forms that we received:

G-325 A Biographic information
I-485 AOS
I-485 Supplement A (I have no idea what this is)
I-864 Affidavit of Support
I-765 Application for Employment Authorization
I-693 Medical Exam

Where it says "Beneficiary" do I use my maiden name or do I use my husband's last name even if I haven't officially changed my name yet with the DMV or SS? Do I change my name first before we fill out all these forms? I haven't received the certified copy of our marriage license yet from the country clerk recorder. By the way, we live in Los Angeles, should I just get a lawyer to do all this? I feel so overwhelmed just looking at the papers. Is it really easy to do it ourselves?
What are the steps??? I am going bananas!!!
Thank you, by the way, I've read the interviews here on the sticky message but I haven't really found help regarding what the first steps are so that's why I'm going nuts!

My timeline:

Came to the US April 1996
LPR mother petitioned me in January 1998 on F2B Category
Been waiting ever since for PD and NOW
Married to USC September 18, 2006
Next step: We don't know what to do!

[candyattitude]

does your hubby meet the affidavit requirements? (125% times poverty line). don't file I-485 A...there's no need. the other forms are right. but don't forget the I-130. that's what your hubby has to fill up. it's his petition application for you. w/o that you can't start. send everything together.

also, does your marriage certificate have your maiden or new name? you put the name that you have on your marriage certificate. if your still using your maiden name and your marriage cert indicates so, use your maiden name on all the forms.

just relax, and take it one day at a time. try to set aside one hour everyday to read at least one form and fill it out (the fill it out part is not that bad).

first go for your medical (i-693). find a civil surgeon near you. this will take some time (to get the results back) so you can then concentrate on the other forms. also wait for your marriage cert.

while waiting for the cert and medical results. fill out the I-130. attach passport size photos, photocopy hubby's birth or naturalization cert and marriage cert. and whatever else the instructions say. you'll have to read the pgs.

fill out the g-325A, one for you (has 4 pages) and one for your hubby.

then do the I-485. photocopy your I-94, visa page etc. attach photos and whatever else.

then the I-765 (which you can also send over the internet i believe)

then fill the affidavit of support (i-864). get your hubby's tax returns, W-2's, pay stubs and employer letter.

photocopy everything, and send everything together to chicago lockbox with fees.

then when you have time go and get your Drivers license and ss card changed to show your new name (if you have changed it).

if you want to use a lawyer then you should do so. it's all abt your piece of mind. good luck.

[mthakkar]

I agree with above post. Just take it easy. You don't need to file I-485A.

Take one day at time and one form at a time. Its not hard at all.

You will be fine.

[eddie_d]

Bella,

When I first looked at everything I needed to do, I procrastinated for about a year after marriage because it seemed like such a pain in the a**.

But when I finally got serious I realized it wasn't that difficult after all. I would suggest getting all the forms you mentioned (130, 485 and 864) and just read through them. When you see the big picture it makes more sense. Let it all sink in.

Unless you will need to work or travel out of the country, no need to spend money on 131 and 765. You can always get either one later if need be.

I would advise against a lawyer as well. The collected knowledge on everyone on this board is probably as good or better than most lawyers. Unless you have a special case (came here illegally, expired visa, felony conviction, that kind of thing) spending money on a lawyer is a waste of money in my opinion. Maybe after you prepared everything it might be a good idea to go for a consultation and make sure all the ts are crossed and is dotted, but that's it.

[Bella Blues]

Thank you everybody for your response. I agree, Eddie, that I don't want to spend money on the Application for Employment Authorization because I'm about to give birth and am not really planning on working that soon, I want to take care of my new baby for a little while. So all we really need to fill out are these forms: 130, 485 and 864???

And sorry if this sounds stupid, but you know how those application forms have a few pages of instructions on top, right? Well, we tear those out and only send the filled-out parts, right? or do we mail the whole thing?

I seriously want to postpone the application too but it will get crazier once we have two kids! It's hard work being pregnant and taking care of a toddler but I'm sure it will drive me crazier if I wait til the other baby comes out before we deal with the paper work!

I wish that after the wedding everything is just automatic and we didn't have to do any work but that would be impossible and a hazard to our country's safety and security.

[NeShawn]

Here's a little help in the process:

1. I-130 (filed by husband - he is the Petitioner) - use yellow paper (front & back)

2. 325's (filed by both of you) use married name

3. I-485 (filed by you- Beneficiery)

4. You don't need I-485 -A

5. I-864 - (Affidavit of Support - 125% income above poverty guidelines) (filed by husband)

Get a letter for husband on business stationery, current check stub

check this site: poverty guidelines

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigra...info_1327.html

*to request (4506 -T) tax transcripts call 1-800-829-1040 - (do this now)(allow 2 wks to receive)

I-864 will need to be notarized

6. I-693 -Medical Examination
Locate civil surgeon in your area, schedule appointment- (do this now!)

check website:
http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/exec/cs/index.asp

7. I-765 Work Authorization Document - wait to file

8. I-131 If planning to travel - wait?

Do not send originals of documents

Make multiple copies of application - for self and for the interview process if needed

Make copies of everything!!!

[cherr1980]

Just a heads up about maiden/married names...the use of maiden or married name is a personal option and has nothing to do of how your name appears in your marriage certificate. The only issue with your marriage certificate is that IF you decide to change your last name to the married one then the proof of that change of name (since in your G-325A anyway you must put your maiden name plus others used) is your marriage certificate, that's it.

Example. If your name is Ann Chang and you married Paul Smith...you can use on the forms Ann Chang or if you decide to change your last name then will be Ann Smith. The proof of your change of name (you can check that on the instructions of the forms about change of name) is your marriage certificate even if the marriage certificate states only your maiden name, which many do anyway. Of course, be consistant in all your forms and put the same name in all.

You can make search about that, there are many threads about it.

Good luck and congrats for the new baby!

[Bella Blues]

Thanks again everyone for the added replies. Thanks Cherr1980 for clarifying about the name-change thing, it really helped, I was getting confused because our marriage certificate (from the wedding not the certified copy coz I'm still waiting for that) just has my maiden last name so I thought I would have to use my maiden last name on our application forms. I didn't want to do that because I'm planning to officially change my last name as soon as I get our certified marriage certificate in the mail.

Anyway, okay, so now here are some more new questions that I'm clueless about. What is biometrics? Will that happen after we send in our forms? Also, what is the FBI name check? is that something we have to do or will the USCIS do that for us?

Thanks for all of your advice, we've decided not to get a lawyer, we need to save as much money as we can right now. And you are all right, if we just take it one day and one form at a time, it is a lot easier to handle.

Yes, my husband makes enough money (thankfully!) to complete the affidavit of support, another thing we are confused about is, how do we add our unborn child to the forms? He will be out in 2 months and 1 week so I think we have to put that we are a family of four in the affidavit, right? Any thoughts?

[candyattitude]

i agree abt the name thing. the reason i said to put whatever is on your marriage cert is b/c the most important thing is to be consistent with the name. i didn't change my last name on the cert. and put my maiden name on everything. it made life simple for me. however, its your choice.
biometrics is the fingerprints that you have to do after you submit your docs. they'll send you a letter telling you where and when to go.
after you send your forms you get receipts from USCIS giving you an application number and then you'll get fingerprints notice and then interview letter.
the FBI namecheck is a background check requested by USCIS.
umm...i think you can just add your child in. you'll have to put 4 on the page that asks abt your household. i don't remember the form too well. what you could do is put 3 right now (if the form is asking for details like name, place of birth etc.) and then when you go for the interview print out another i-864 and add your newborn to it (4 instead of 3 household members) and tell the officer you want to update the affidavit of support. then hand it in.

[NeShawn]

If you have any questions when you are ready to file you can call the 1-800-375-5283 and select the option that states:

If you have your forms and are getting ready to file, etc....

and basic questions will be answered