I-485 question

[John Jutzy]

I am a U.S. citizen that has lived abroad for the past 8 years. I have just moved to Arizona to start my MBA studies. I have maintained my U.S. citizenship and have no personal issues. I need help with my wife and step daughter. Here are the facts.

1. My wife and I were married 11/03/2012, in Chile. We were married in a civil ceremony (State Ceremony) and later in a religious ceremony (The religious ceremony is not recognized by the Chilean government, civil ceremony is the only legal ceremony and we have our marriage certificate as well as a marriage book which were both provided by official government office).
2. My wife is a widow, we have all documentation documenting the death of spouse and termination of marriage.
3. We have a 2 year old daughter together who has dual citizenship (Chile/USA) and passports from both countries as well as US birth certificate.
4. My eight year old daughter was born in Chile to a different father (Now deceased).
5. I am currently unemployed, but looking for work as my MBA program is an executive MBA program, which allows me to work.
6. My parents make plenty of money to act as sponsors and have no problem doing so.
7. I will have all Spanish language documents translated by a certified translator.
8. We do have income from Chile that amounts to approximate $18,000 USD/year (Rental property).
9. My wife and 8 y/o daughter have been here for just over one month on B1/B2 visas.
10. My 8 y/o daughter is registered for school here in Arizona and starts next Wednesday.
11. I have accumulated the following documents: I-13-, I-485, G-1145, G-325A (one copy four all 4 family members).
12. I have all other documentation required in the above mentioned documents, including birth certificates, marriage certificates, child born abroad birth certificate for our natural daughter...
13. We have a lease agreement on the house we are renting where all of our names appear on the document, as well as utility bills with my name on them.

Where do I start?
Do I need to file I-130 and I-485 together?
I was born and raised in the United States to U.S. citizens. My status is not at all in question.
What is the quickest way to legalize my wife and daughters status?
My wife would like to work as soon as possible. Can I file all paperwork at the same time?
Do I need to compile any more forms?
What is the proper filing order?

So far we have not broken any immigration laws, and I would like to make my wife and daughter legalized permanent residents. Can someone just lay out the process in the order we need to follow so I can assure quick and easy, hopefully error free processing?

Thanks for any help you all might to be offer. I hope to have all of the paper work completed and mailed off this weekend!

[rayb]

John,

You can't do it all by this weekend.

You will need to submit I-130 and I-485 pkgs, with supporting and other associated docs, for each, wife and stepdaughter, in separate packages.

They will both need immigrant medical exams recorded on form I-693 in sealed envelopes to accompany your submitted packages.

You will be the primary sponsor, but your parents will have to provide paperwork as joint sponsors (I-864 from one parent,and I-864a from second parent). Separate sponsorship packages, but identical, will be needed for wife and child.

Your natural daughter is not included in this processing.

Processing will take about 6 months.

Fees will be $420 each for I-130 submittals
$1,070 for wife's I-485 and $635 for daughter's I-485.

The medical exams by a USCIS-listed doctor, will take you the longest, usually minimum of 5 days (exam, shots, tests, lab results).

--Ray B

I am a U.S. citizen that has lived abroad for the past 8 years. I have just moved to Arizona to start my MBA studies. I have maintained my U.S. citizenship and have no personal issues. I need help with my wife and step daughter. Here are the facts.

1. My wife and I were married 11/03/2012, in Chile. We were married in a civil ceremony (State Ceremony) and later in a religious ceremony (The religious ceremony is not recognized by the Chilean government, civil ceremony is the only legal ceremony and we have our marriage certificate as well as a marriage book which were both provided by official government office).
2. My wife is a widow, we have all documentation documenting the death of spouse and termination of marriage.
3. We have a 2 year old daughter together who has dual citizenship (Chile/USA) and passports from both countries as well as US birth certificate.
4. My eight year old daughter was born in Chile to a different father (Now deceased).
5. I am currently unemployed, but looking for work as my MBA program is an executive MBA program, which allows me to work.
6. My parents make plenty of money to act as sponsors and have no problem doing so.
7. I will have all Spanish language documents translated by a certified translator.
8. We do have income from Chile that amounts to approximate $18,000 USD/year (Rental property).
9. My wife and 8 y/o daughter have been here for just over one month on B1/B2 visas.
10. My 8 y/o daughter is registered for school here in Arizona and starts next Wednesday.
11. I have accumulated the following documents: I-13-, I-485, G-1145, G-325A (one copy four all 4 family members).
12. I have all other documentation required in the above mentioned documents, including birth certificates, marriage certificates, child born abroad birth certificate for our natural daughter...
13. We have a lease agreement on the house we are renting where all of our names appear on the document, as well as utility bills with my name on them.

Where do I start?
Do I need to file I-130 and I-485 together?
I was born and raised in the United States to U.S. citizens. My status is not at all in question.
What is the quickest way to legalize my wife and daughters status?
My wife would like to work as soon as possible. Can I file all paperwork at the same time?
Do I need to compile any more forms?
What is the proper filing order?

So far we have not broken any immigration laws, and I would like to make my wife and daughter legalized permanent residents. Can someone just lay out the process in the order we need to follow so I can assure quick and easy, hopefully error free processing?

Thanks for any help you all might to be offer. I hope to have all of the paper work completed and mailed off this weekend!

[John Jutzy]

Can I mail both packages in same envelope?

John,

You can't do it all by this weekend.

You will need to submit I-130 and I-485 pkgs, with supporting and other associated docs, for each, wife and stepdaughter, in separate packages.

They will both need immigrant medical exams recorded on form I-693 in sealed envelopes to accompany your submitted packages.

You will be the primary sponsor, but your parents will have to provide paperwork as joint sponsors (I-864 from one parent,and I-864a from second parent). Separate sponsorship packages, but identical, will be needed for wife and child.

Your natural daughter is not included in this processing.

Processing will take about 6 months.

Fees will be $420 each for I-130 submittals
$1,070 for wife's I-485 and $635 for daughter's I-485.

The medical exams by a USCIS-listed doctor, will take you the longest, usually minimum of 5 days (exam, shots, tests, lab results).

--Ray B

I have placed all of the documents in one envelope, but have both packets seperated, one per person. I put binder clips on the four sides of each packet to seperate them. Because my daughter is under 13 years old, she pays less as long as she files with my wife. That's why I want to know if these packets can be mailed in one envelope. We hope to mail in the paperwork tomorrow....

One more thing, We live in Phoenix. Can we send to Phoenix Lockbox, or do we need to file at the Chicago Lockbox?

Thanks.
-- John