Organizing Documents for CR-1 (Spouse) Visa Interview

Immigration involves endless amount of paperwork, time, stress, money, and sheer force of will at times. I would like to share some tips on how to organize your documents to make it easier, based on my experience.

Using 3 different color folders, I separated the documents based on their classification.

Folder A - Interview Packet

Our lawyer suggested to separate all the documents that are listed on the interview letter in one packet, so that's what I did. The first folder contains:

• Copy of the appointment letter
• Original unexpired passport and copy of the biographic page
• Two (2) color photographs sized 5cm x 5cm
• Confirmation page from DS-260 application for an Immigrant Visa submitted online at ceac.state.gov
• Original birth certificate, English translation and copy
• Medical examination results in a sealed envelope

I put each of the documents in each plastic folder (see image below) and marked it with sticky notes.

Folder B - Affidavit of Support Packet 

For family-based visa application, we need to bring the additional documents from our petitioner, which contains:

• Original Form G-28 and copy 
• Original Form I-864 and copy
• U. S. Federal income tax returns
• W-2 forms
• Recent paycheck stubs
• Copy of U. S. Passport and birth certificate

Folder C - Proof of Relationship 

In this folder, we have to show the evidence of relationship between the petitioner and visa applicant. It contains:

• Original marriage book and copy 
• Original marriage certificate (Surat Keterangan Nikah), English translation and copy
• Wedding pictures 
• Conversation logs (Facebook because we only talk there)
• Other pictures from our first meeting until the last time Joe was here in May 2016, screenshots of Skype video calls, receipts, gifts and screenshots of our travel blog
• Tickets
• Travel pictures
• Police certificate (even though an Indonesian police certificate is not required but bring it anyway; both original and copy). For Indonesian citizens who have ever lived outside of Indonesia for more than a year must bring a police certificate that was issued at the country you lived.

I bought a transparent zipper bag to carry all those packets.

The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta is using a courier service to deliver your passport and immigrant visa package, therefore you must first register your application and address here. Once you have submitted your information, including your address, your passport will be able to be sent back to you via the RPX Courier. You will receive and email/SMS notification at the phone number you provided when you applied, within 2-4 business days when your passport is ready.

If you selected a RPX location for pick-up, you may collect your passport from that location between 10:00 a.m. and 03:00 p.m. the business day following notification. If you selected delivery, your passport will be delivered to the home or office address you requested. You will get the email instruction when you get the interview date confirmation email.

I hope this post helps, and best luck to all of you who is scheduled for a visa interview.