Hello, I may have a few questions about this later, but for now just one:

What did you use to prove residency and did you need translations?

In addition to my passport, I have a work permit and drivers license which show many years of residence. I'm wondering if anybody here who used such documents to prove residency was asked to provide translations of same.

It seems like the work permit and drivers license are standard enough and have enough English in them already to not require translations, but I don't want to assume too much.

(I also have a lease, which I'm already having translated to prove bona fide relationship. I hope I'm correct in assuming that since it's in the I-130 packet I don't need to have another copy of it to prove residence separately.)

Thank you for any personal experiences that you care to offer.

Second question, regarding fees:

I'm doing my best to read and understand the online instructions, but I'm confused about how to pay the fees since I'm filing directly at the USCIS office (rather than submitting to a lockbox). Do I pay when I'm submitting the forms at the office? Or do I need to make payment (somewhere else) beforehand?

Thanks again for taking the time to read and for any answers that you care to offer.

I'm doing my best to read and understand the online instructions, but I'm confused about how to pay the fees since I'm filing directly at the USCIS office (rather than submitting to a lockbox). Do I pay when I'm submitting the forms at the office? Or do I need to make payment (somewhere else) beforehand?

Answering my own question. I just received an informative reply to an email I sent to USCIS.

If all is in order with the I-130 petition and they can accept it, then they give you a payment slip which you take across the street to pay at the cashier at the US Embassy. After paying, you bring the receipt back to the USCIS office to complete the filing of the I-130. No appointments are required at the USCIS office or the US Embassy.

You don't have to show residence. You just have to show you have been here 6 months on other than tourist visa. I left the country for 5 months, came back on a marriage visa and extension. I was here 6 months and 4 days before applying.. It took little over 3 months for my wife to get her visa.Proof of relationship is more important. Docs in Thai have to be translated, marriage, birth certificates and the like. There is a translation service in the same building on the second floor if you forget something.

Thank you Bunnydrops. Very informative and useful post. 3-4 months!

I'll stop worrying about proving that I'm qualified to file in Bangkok now and focus on what's important.

Hi,

I am in a similar situation.

I have a B visa, work permit and am French. My wife holds an O (dependant) visa and is a US citizen. We got married in the US. I'm looking at immigrating to the US in the future.

I understand that she needs to file the petition but does she have to bring it to the embassy or can I? Do they need copies of both passports and my work permit?

Thanks for your help.

To file at the embassy, she has to be here for 6 months on other than tourist visa. If she has not, she needs to file in the US. It all can be done by mail.