I-130 petition for alien relative - 11 Pro Lawyer Tips for When You Insist on DIY for form I 130
Channel: fronteraLabor
Date: 2017-11-10

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I provide 11 Immigration Lawyer Tips for completing your form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative in a way that makes it safer for you to file, and more likely that your application will not be sent back due to formatting mistakes, disorganization, or sloppiness.

For a blog post that lays out much of the information in the video,  go here: https://bullcity.lawyer/form-i-130-petition-for-alien-relative/

Download the I-130 form from USCIS here:  https://www.uscis.gov/i-130

Please note, I avoid giving legal advice on purpose, and my preference is that people who can always think about finding a professional, whether that's a BIA rep or a lawyer, to help them with the I-130 petition, or any other form.

But, I also have way too many people that come find me after they bungle their I-130 themselves, so I've made this video to give those of your out there that insist on DIY a fighting chance for success. Our channel's mission is to provide reliable information, to help immigrants make better decisions, and avoid costly mistakes, and this is the sort of content that advances that. 

Finally, please also note that many of the tips here apply to other immigration forms you may fill out, like the I-129, the I-129f, the I-140, the N-400 naturalization form, the I-485, voluntary waivers, and others. 

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These 11 tips start with three tips that really apply across any immigration you may file:

1:02 - I-130 form Pro Tip 1: Don't do it by yourself and have it reviewed (by anyone, not just a lawyer)

Your form I-130 petition for alien relative is important enough that you should take the time to do it right, and this means triple-checking every response for absolute accuracy, and having an outside person check for grammar and spelling, where appropriate.

Perhaps more importantly, having someone with experience and training in immigration is critical because there are potential issues in anyone's background that can be barriers to having an I-130 approved, and potential triggers for more serious immediate consequences, like deportation.

For an I-130 review from me, go here: https://goo.gl/DvNGYw

1:50 - Pro Tip 2: Do NOT file first and ask questions later

Too many people file immigration forms with the assumption that they can either omit information or put in false information and then deal with the consequences later. The truth is that every year the background search process for all applicants gets more sophisticated and better at discovering untruths and half-truths. As a result, if there is anything on your file that needs to be explained or you're not sure about, you need to address it before you file.

2:30 - Form 130 Tip 3: Never lie or say something you're not 100% sure of

This piggy-backs on point 2, but is a point that bears emphasizing. If you knowingly lie on your application, not only is that a crime, but you are jeopardizing the rest of your immigration process and your ability to stay in the United States.

From there, the next 8 tips deal with more practical matters:

3:20: Tip 4 - Get PDF Software

PDF Escape (free): https://www.pdfescape.com/account/?expired
Adobe Reader (free): https://get.adobe.com/reader/

4:20 - Tip 5 - Set up a filing system and get organized

*A huge organization hack for immigrants is getting a labeler. We recommend the following two:

Budget labeler: https://goo.gl/VcHhEf
Laber our office uses: https://goo.gl/wvRGfmp

7:00 - Tip 6 - Get a scanner

Scanner wand (budget):  https://goo.gl/YT3GVJ
Scanner app (android): https://goo.gl/5m3DiV
Scanner app (apple): https://goo.gl/1g8tWa

8:00 - Tip 7 - N/A is not always best, let the directions guide you

9:15 - "bonus tip", aka "Tip 8" - A number formatting when you don't have one

9:30 - Tip 9 - Utilize an "addendum" for additional information

10:34 - Tip 10 - Do a proper translation, and spend money to get it certified when you can

Our firm's trusted Spanish translator group: https://thespanishgroup.org/

11: 50  - Tip 11 - Memorize the answers on your form

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If you need immigration help: https://bullcity.lawyer/consultation/