Filing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, is a necessary step in assisting your spouse in obtaining a green card and joining you in the United States. To secure a successful application, it is critical to follow the proper procedure, understand the expenses, and provide all required documents. This tutorial will show you how to file Form I-130, explain the expenses, and provide a complete list of the documents required.

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How to File Form I-130
Download and complete the form: Start by downloading Form I-130 from the official USCIS website. Fill out the form carefully, including precise information about yourself (the petitioner) and your spouse (the beneficiary). To avoid delays, ensure that all portions are correctly completed.
Gather Required documentation: In addition to Form I-130, send supporting documentation proving your eligibility to sponsor your spouse and the authenticity of your marriage. Proof of your U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency, your marriage certificate, and evidence of any prior legally dissolved marriages are all important documents.
Prepare the Filing Fee: The filing fee for Form I-130 is $625 or $675. This charge must be paid by check or money order if filing by mail, or online if filing electronically. Check the current charge on the USCIS website, since it may change.
Submit the Form: Mail the completed form and papers to the correct USCIS address. The address varies depending on your region and whether you are completing additional documents. You can also file online via the USCIS website.
Receive Notice of Action: USCIS will issue a Notice of Action (Form I-797) to confirm receipt of your petition. This notification will include your case number, which you can use to check the status of your application.
Form I-130 Cost

It costs $625-$675 to file Form I-130. This cost is nonrefundable and must be submitted together with your application. Note that additional payments will be required later in the process, such as for Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) or immigrant visa processing if your spouse is applying from overseas.

Form I-130 Checklist for Spouse
Ensuring all needed documentation are included with your Form I-130 is critical for a smooth application process. Here’s a full Form I-130 checklist of required documents:

Proof of United States Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Residency
If you are a US citizen, please provide a copy of your birth certificate, passport, naturalization certificate, or certificate of citizenship. If you are a lawful permanent resident, please send a copy of your green card (both sides).

Marriage Certificate
Submit a copy of your marriage certificate to validate the legal union between you and your spouse. If the certificate is not in English, provide a certified translation.

Proof of Termination of Prior Marriages
If either spouse has been previously married, provide proof that all previous marriages were legally ended. This may contain divorce decrees and annulments orders, or death certificates.

Proof of Bona Fide Marriage
Provide evidence of your marriage’s validity. This can include joint bank account records, lease or mortgage agreements, utility bills, insurance policies, and photos of you both.

Passport size Photos
Share two current passport size photos of you and your spouse. Ensure that they fulfill USCIS criteria.

Form I-130A
If your spouse is in the US, fill out Form I-130A, Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary. This form includes additional biographical information about your spouse.

Documentation of Legal Name Changes
If either spouse has changed their legal name, provide a marriage certificate or court decree indicating the change.

Filing Fee
Attach the $535 filing fee to your application. Payment can be paid by check, money order, or online, depending on your filing method.

Cover Letter
Including a list of all submitted documents in your cover letter will speed up the USCIS application process.

Marriage is a green light for the spouse to attain their green card and live in the US; the first step to achieving this is by using Form I-130. Some of the key pitfalls which anyone dealing with a US Immigration Petition must be able to avoid include failure to ensure that all the necessary documents have been provided, failure to ensure that the forms have been completed properly and as a consequence having the petition processed slowly. However, for every immigration, always refer to the USCIS website for the latest directive and charges, and in special situations seek advice from Immigration attorneys. Giving due diligence to the application process is of paramount importance in the course of the exercise.

Personal finance should be taking seriously as it provide balance to organization inflow and outflow. Let’s learn the tips and tricks required to manage personal finance effectively.

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The phrase “Personal Finance” refers to managing your finances in addition to investing and saving. It includes banking, insurance, investments, mortgages, retirement, taxes, and estate planning in addition to budgeting. The phrase is frequently used to describe the whole sector that offers financial services and investment advice to families and individuals.

It’s best to begin financial planning as soon as possible, but it’s never too late to set financial objectives to provide financial stability and independence for your family. These are some personal finance best practices and advice.

Top Five Personal Finance Strategies You Must Know in 2024
1. Be Informed About Your Wealth
If you don’t know how much money you take home after taxes and withholding, it’s all for nothing. Thus, be sure you are aware of your actual take-home salary before making any decisions.

2. First You Should Pay Yourself
“Paying yourself first” is crucial to making sure you have money set aside for unforeseen costs like hospital bills, a big auto repair, living expenses in the event of a layoff, and more. Three to twelve months’ worth of living expenditures is the optimal safety net.

The prevailing consensus among financial gurus is to set aside 20% of each paycheck each month. Don’t stop saving when your emergency fund is full. Continue allocating the 20% of your monthly income to other financial objectives, such a down payment on a house or a retirement fund.

3. Take Enough Credit Which You Can Afford
Although credit cards can be significant financial traps, it is unfeasible in today’s environment to not hold one. Moreover, their uses go beyond simply purchasing goods. They play a vital role in determining your credit score and are an excellent tool for keeping tabs on your expenditures, which may greatly assist with budgeting.

Credit needs to be handled properly, which means you should maintain a low credit usage ratio (i.e., keep your account balances below 30% of your total available credit) or pay off your whole bill each month.

If you are able to pay off your bills in full, it makes sense to charge as many things as you can because of the amazing rewards and incentives available these days (like cashback).

4. Track Credit Score Of Yourself
Since credit cards are the major tool used to establish and preserve credit, keeping an eye on your credit score and controlling your credit usage go hand in hand. A good credit report is necessary if you ever want to get a loan, lease, or any other kind of financing. Credit scores come in several varieties.

5. Future Planning And Understanding
Make sure you create a will and, depending on your requirements, maybe establish one or more trusts in order to safeguard the assets in your estate and guarantee that your desires are carried out after your death. You should also research insurance, including auto, home, life, disability, and long-term care (LTC), and try to lower your premiums if at all feasible. Review your policy on a regular basis to be sure it continues to fit your family’s needs during significant life events.

A healthcare power of attorney and a living will are two more important legal documents. All of these contracts can save your next of kin a great deal of time and money in the event that you become ill or become incompetent, even if they don’t all directly touch you.

Marsh Tincknell’s Financial Planning arm – MT Wealth helps you fulfill your wealth planning & risk management needs through concise solutions.

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Accounting firms offer a variety of services to help business owners stay organised, tax-compliant, and ready for growth. They should be seen as business partners, not just bookkeeping cost-cutters. Most accounting firms provide bookkeeping, payroll, tax preparation, business valuation, financial Planning Brisbane, and more, with some specialising in tax strategy. Here are some of the most common services that an accounting firm can provide:

Payroll and operational bookkeeping
Accountancy firms can assist by working with Brisbane bookkeeper to maintain accurate cash flow records, generate profit and loss statements, manage accounts receivable, and handle outgoing funds like vendor payments and payroll processing. They can also assist in completing the required federal paperwork for onboarding employees and independent contractors, ensuring the company can issue year-end payment documents.

Tax preparation and planning
Accounting firms prepare corporate tax returns and year-end business documents and delegate authority to represent clients in ATO (the Australian Taxation Office), information requests, or audits. They also help identify the best tax scenarios for businesses and help create entities that make the most tax sense.

Accounting firms can assist in estate planning requirements and develop the right mix of business entity creation and family trust establishment. They collaborate with estate planning attorneys, financial planners, and insurance agents to develop long-term strategies for business transfers and estate tax mitigation. They also help identify specific estate planning requirements for businesses and their key owners.

Business Growth and Valuation
Accounting firms are crucial for companies to create valuation reports, obtain audits, and obtain financing for loans or funding. They use the previous year’s revenues, book of business, and growth patterns to determine a reasonable value for a company. They also provide pro forma financial statements and projections to new businesses, used to secure initial funding or expand a business. These calculations are based on industry data and existing company financial history.

What are the different types of accounting firms?

Accounting firms are essential for businesses in Australia to handle critical financial tasks, adhering to ASIC and GAAP accounting rules. They audit financial statements and provide taxation, management consulting, mergers and acquisitions, and forensic accounting. The required firms are determined by a business’s needs and can offer tools and software like Reckon Accounting Packages for basic invoicing, billing, tax calculations, and project management.

Tax accounting companies
Tax accounting firms cater to businesses and individuals, employing CPAs. They must stay updated on the tax laws established by the ATO. Employees are required to take continuing education courses to stay informed. Tax season is particularly busy, with employees working long hours.

Firms that provide bookkeeping services
Bookkeeping firms provide basic accounting services for small and medium-sized businesses, including accounts receivable and payable, bank reconciliation, financial statement preparation, payroll, tax preparation, and loan package preparation. They can also automate a company’s bookkeeping by using Quickbooks Online.

Firms of Public Accountants
Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) who work in audit, tax, and management consulting are common in public accounting firms.

Forensic accounting firms
Forensic accounting firms use accounting skills and legal policies to uncover fraudulent activities, collaborate with law enforcement, and testify in court cases involving embezzlement, identity theft, money laundering, and stock price manipulation.

Conclusion

Finally, accounting firms’ responsibilities include providing financial advice, conducting audits, preparing tax returns, ensuring regulatory compliance, offering management consulting, and assisting businesses in making sound financial decisions. Besides, some accounting firms also provide you with career opportunities in junior or senior accountant jobs in South Brisbane. The services provided may differ depending on the type and specialisation of the accounting firm. Business owners should interview multiple firms to find the best fit for their specific needs.

Marsh Tincknell, a 30-plus-year-old accounting firm in Mt. Gravatt, offers financial assistance to clients of all sizes, ensuring financial success and freedom of choice. They also offer senior tax accountant jobs in Brisbane.