Helpful Sites, Information, and Cover Letters

Please keep in mind that laws change, and if you want the most up to date information you should visit the "Official" sites before the others, as the others may not be updated as regularly or accurately. Please post if you have other useful sites to recommend.

Official Sites:

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
http://uscis.gov/

US Embassy in London
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_web/visa/iv/ivindex.htm

Embassy's Site on Application Times
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_web/ins/i130filing.htm

Forms from the Embassy's Website
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_web/visa/forms/visaforms.htm

Official Poverty Guidelines (for the Affidavit of Support I-864)
http://travel.state.gov/povert.html

Non-Official Sites:

A helpful forum created by a UKY member who has made the move:
http://forum.diveintoamerica.com/index.php

A lawyer's US website that is chock full of information and FAQs about visa processes, including FAQs about the Affidavits of Support and other subjects.
http://www.immigration.com/

A site for people immigrating to the US from all over, including UK to US. Very helpful forum, and also has forms and loads of other information.
http://www.visajourney.com/

This is a forum of expats, and includes at the bottom some Usenet Groups that can be massively helpful, such as alt.visa.us.marriage-based, etc.
http://britishexpats.com/forum

I-130 Immigration Help Site.
http://www.geocities.com/immigration_helpsite/I-130/index.htm

A page of personal stories, UK to US, including K1 (fiancee) visas and I-130 processes.
http://www.k1homepages.com/#uk

Thorough general information guide to newcomers to the United States.
http://www.newcomersguideusa.com/


Abbreviations:

•ADIT - Alien Documentation, Identification & Telecommunications System
•AOS - Adjustment of Status 
•AOS - Affidavit of Support (you have to do this after you marry)
•BCIS - Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services 
•CPR - Conditional Permanent Resident 
•CSC - California Service Center
•DCF = Direct Consular Filing
•DOJ - Department of Justice. BCIS (INS) falls under the jurisdiction of the DOJ 
•EAD - Employment Authorization Document 
•FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions 
•IBIS - Interagency Border Inspection System 
•INA - Immigration and Nationality Act 
•INS - Immigration and Naturalization Service 
•IRS - Internal Revenue Service 
•IVACS - Immigrant Visa Applicant Control System
•NG - Newsgroup 
•NOA1 = Notice of Action 1 which you get to confirm Immigration has your visa application
•NOA2 = Notice of Action 2 you receive this when the I-129F for example has been approved
•NVC = National Visa Center
•PISS - Pre-INS Submission Syndrome 
•POE - Port of Entry. Usually airport or border crossing inspection post.
•PR - Permanent Resident (Also LPR - Legal Permanent Resident) 
•RFE = request for evidence
•SSA - Social Security Administration 
•SSN - Social Security Number 
•TPS - Temporary Protected Status 
•USC = US Citizen 
•USCIS - US Citizenship and Immigration Services
•VWPP - Visa Waiver Pilot Program

***originally posted by MarsBar

Hello all!

I'll post here the letters that I sent with my I-130 petition and martin's DS-230 application (private info excluded, of course) so that you can get an idea of how to compose one of your own if youre stuck. My letter has info specific to me that youre probably going to want to change, but you get the idea anyway.

Hope you find it helpfull,
Sarah

I-130 Petition for Alien Relative Cover Letter

Your Address
Telephone
Email

DHS (Immigration) / I-130
American Embassy
PO Box 2444
London W1A 5WT

Day Month Year

RE: Original Submission, I-130 Petition for Alien Relative


Dear Sir or Madam,

Please find enclosed my I -130 Petition for my husband. I am filing direct to the US Embassy, as I am currently resident in the United Kingdom. Proof of my status in the form of a photocopy of the Indefinite Leave to Remain stamp in my passport and a photocopy of the letter send to me by The Home Office confirming my status, is enclosed.

All supporting documentation is in the form of photocopies, however the originals are readily available should you require them. If you require further information or documentation please do not hesitate to contact me.

The fee payment from for credit card payment is also enclosed. The credit card is under my maiden name (First Last) and I have signed it so. Please let me know if this is a problem.

Please note: on this day, the Date Month Year, my husband has also submitted the DS-230 Application for Immigrant Visa and the DS2001 Checklist to the Immigrant Visa Unit at the US Embassy in London. We are prepared to proceed with the visa interview and would be delighted to accept an interview date on short notice, should you have one available.

Thank you for your kind consideration.

Regards,

Sign It

Name Printed

(Second Page)

Enclosures:

1. Fee payment form (credit card)
2. I-130 Petition for Alien Relative
3. 1 Photograph of Your Name
4. 1 Photograph of Spouse's Name
5. G-325A Bio Form: Your Name
6. G-325A Bio Form: Spouse's Name
7. Photocopy: Passport Identification Page - Your Name
8. Photocopy: Passport Endorsement Page - Indefinite Leave to Remain - Your Name
9. Photocopy: Letter from Home Office Re: Indefinite Leave to Remain - Your Name
10. Photocopy: Marriage Certificate - Your First & Spouse's First And Last name
11. Photocopy: US Birth Certificate - Your Name



DS-230 Application for Immigrant Visa Cover Letter Example

Your Address
Telephone
Email

Immigrant Visa Unit
American Embassy
5 Upper Grosvenor Street
London W1A 2JB

Day Month Year

RE: Original Submission: DS-230 Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration

Dear Sir or Madam,

Please find enclosed my application for Immigrant Visa and Alien registration (DS-230) and the accompanying DS2001 Checklist.

Please note: on this day, Date Month Year, my wife has also submitted the I-130 petition for alien relative with the DHS Direct Consular Filing Unit at the American Embassy in London. We have gathered all the necessary documentation and are prepared for the visa interview. Should you have an interview date available at short notice, I would be delighted to accept it.

Kindest Regards,

Sign It

Print Name

Enclosures:

1. Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration DS-230
2. DS2001 Checklist

We found Boundless to be super helpful too!

https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/marriage-based-green-cards-explained/