Top Civil Documents Needed for Your Immigrant Visa Application

When applying for an immigrant visa, submitting the proper civil documents is critical to a smooth application procedure. These documents help to prove your identity, relationship with family members, and visa eligibility. This guide explains the main civil documents needed for your immigrant visa application, with a focus on Forms DS-260 and I-864.

What Are Civil Documents Used For?

Civil documents are official paperwork that verify your identity, background, and eligibility for an immigrant visa. They serve several objectives in the application process:

1. Identity Verification: Birth certificates and passports serve as proof of your identity and nationality.

2. Proof of Relationship: Marriage certificates, divorce decrees, and adoption records all serve as proof of familial links, which is frequently required for family-based immigration petitions.

3. Eligibility Evidence: Documents such as police certificates and medical examination reports prove that you meet the eligibility requirements for the visa category for which you are applying.

These documents are used by the U.S. Department of State and USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) to verify the information provided in your visa application and to ensure you meet all the requirements for entry into the United States.

Form DS-260 Checklist of Civil Documents

Some of the documents that the applicant needs to provide while filling the DS-260, Online Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application are so-called “civil documents”. 

Here is Form DS-260 checklist of the essential documents you need to provide:

1. Passport: A passport which is current and will remain so for at least six months after your visit to the United States.

2. Birth Certificate: A legal document which is an official birth certificate from a relevant government’s authority of your country of origin. If it is in any other language than English, then a certified translation of the original certificate has to be also submitted.

3. Marriage Certificate: In this case, tender a marriage certificate in an effort to substantiate your status. This is needed for family-based immigrant visas Still, individual discretion is used for spouse immigration visas, as well as other forms of family-based immigrant visas.

4. Divorce Decree or Death Certificate: There are additional requirements in case you or your spouse was married before, and you have to submit the copies of divorce, decisions, or death certificates to indicate the ending of earlier marriage.

5. Police Clearance Certificates: Policed certificates from all states of where you have lived and worked since reaching the age of 16 years with no record of criminal conduct.

6. Medical Examination Report: This report must be from a USCIS approved medical physician, demonstrating that you have followed all the compulsory medical examination and do not have any of the listed infectious diseases.

7. Affidavit of Support: For family-based application, you will be required to complete form I-864 or I-864EZ together with other supporting documents from the petitioner.

Make sure all papers are current and correct. This is because when an applicant is short of, or simply provides wrong documents, their application will not be processed on time.

Form I-864 Checklist of Documents

Affidavit of Support, Form I-864 is the document that proves that the petitioner is able to support the immigrant. This form needs to be accomplished with other documents which are different from those needed for the previous form. Here is Affidavit of Support checklist to guide you:

1. I-864: Petition for Qualifying Immigrant: All forms of Affidavit of Support for qualifying immigrants including form I-864 and other supplementary forms that may have been adopted which must be complete and must have been signed by the sponsor.

2. Proof of Income: Prior two years’ tax returns, form W-2 and the pay checks to confirm petitioner’s income status. If the petitioner is self-employed, attach a copy of profit and loss statement.

3. Proof of U.S. Citizenship or Legal Residency:Petitioner’s clear photocopy of the U.S. passport I.D., passport to Citizenship or Green card.

4. Evidence of Employment: A certificate from the employer of the petitioner stating the job grade, salary and working experience of the said petitioner. For own business engaged applicants, attach copies of business registration and certificates of accounts.

5. Household Size: Documents which tally with the number of individuals in the household, the number of the dependent, the immigrant as well as the petitioner. This can be tax returns and birth certificates and other official papers.

6. Proof of Assets: If the above stated income is not met by the petitioner, then one can provide proof of earning capacity in terms of property or saving. This may comprise bank statements and accounts, deeds of the property, and any other relevant document that may be relevant in proving ownership of any form of wealth.

It will be beneficial to ensure that all the accompanying documents are clear to read, especially the financial statements of the petitioner. If the documents provided are incorrect or not properly completed, this could result in the affiant being asked to return early next year or even having their affidavit denied.

Providing accurate civil documents is an important stage in the immigrant visa application procedure. Gather all relevant documentation for Form DS-260, including proof of identification, relationship, and background information. For Form I-864, provide extensive evidence of financial assistance. By carefully compiling and sending these documents, you can assist ensure a smoother application process and boost your chances of receiving a visa approval. The official instructions supplied by the US Department of State and USCIS are always the most up-to-date and detailed source of information.