Family based GC questions

[msun79]

Some back ground - I am working on a H1B Visa currently, my company has applied for a employment based green card (LCA approved & I140 pending) last year. I am still waiting for USCIS to approve my H1B extension for the 7th year. Meanwhile I married my long time girl friend who is a US citizen, we did a short civil ceremony 2 months ago. I am in the process of filing for a GC through her and have some clarifications/questions from the experts on this form:

1.) What is an Alien registration number (Q10 I130 & G325A)
2.) What is the Non immigrant visa number (Part 3A I485) - Is this the "Control Number" on my H1B Visa?
3.) Organization affiliations (I485 Part3C) - What constitutes an affiliation? I donate to a lot of charities every year, should/can I list them in this section.
4.) Current status - My 6th year of my H1B ended on september 30th of this year and the application for 7th year is still pending. Do I need to spell this out when applying for the I485 to prove that I am not overstaying my visa, if so where/how should I do this? Or is it better to wait until I get my H1B approval before filing the GC documents with USCIS?
5.) Current status proof I131 - Would a I797C notice of action for pending H1B filing suffice as proof of current status?
6.) What is an A Number ( I131 Part I Q1)
7.) My wife's US passport is set to expire in 6 months, is it OK if she renews it after I apply for my green card? Would she need to have the same passport when we attend the interview?
8.) Q 22 I130 - Since i would be filing to the Chicago lock box, can i answer as "Chicago"?
9.) Can any one point me to a sample affidavit by a third party affirming our relationship (for the I130 application)?
10.) I do not have an original birth certificate. I do have affidavits from my parents confirming my date of birth and a "non availability certificate" from the local government indicating that they do not have a birth certificate in my name. Also I got these affidavits and certificate back in early 2007. Would this suffice as sufficient proof in lieu of my birth certificate?

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Appreciate it very much.

 

[LucyMO]

A number and Alient registration number is the same thing. If you ever filed for immigration or a work permit, you'd have it. If you never applied for them, you don't.
She doesn't need an old passport... Any proof of her citizenship will do.

8.) Q 22 I130 - Since i would be filing to the Chicago lock box, can i answer as "Chicago"?

well, do you live in Chicago or the jurisdiction of that district office? if not, you'd better look up your own district office on www.uscis.gov. That's where you will have your interview.

The rest of the questions have been covered on this forum many-many times.

 

[Jackolantern]

For #3, merely donating to a charity is not an affiliation. But if you actively volunteered for them, that would be.

For #4 and #5, write "H1B extension pending" for your current status, and send a copy of both the expired petition and the notice of action for the new one.

9.) Can any one point me to a sample affidavit by a third party affirming our relationship (for the I130 application)?

You don't need it. That is a last resort for people who have insufficient other evidence of the relationship, such as joint bank statements, joint lease/mortgage, life/health insurance with the other on the policy, driver's license or state IDs showing both of you have the same address, etc.

 

[msun79]

Thanks for your responses LucyMO and Jackolantern.

LucyMO - I applied for an OPT back when i was a student and received an EAD. Should I use the "INS A#" from my OPT EAD card?

Jackolantern - I volunteered with a group of folks for 4 years. This group was not registered as a charity, would this be appropriate?

 

[LucyMO]

you should. However, a new A# (an immigrant one) will still be issued to you.

Was a group of folks somehow defined as an organization or was it just that - a group of folks?

Heck, if we are fostering a dog for a rescue, does USCIS really want to know about this affiliation? However, some people even list AAA as an organization they are affiliated with....

 

[Jackolantern]

Jackolantern - I volunteered with a group of folks for 4 years. This group was not registered as a charity, would this be appropriate?

If it was an organized group, like a social club or fraternity or professional association, it should be listed even though it's not a charity.

 

[msun79]

I will use the A# from the OPT EAD.

Regarding the group, it was organized (very unofficial but committed) but just not registered as an official charity organization while I was part of it.