Proof of Bonafide marriage

[ausman 0]

Hi,

My partner and I are looking at going the CR-1 route, we are not married yet but intend to before I leave back for Australia.

Looking at all the CR-1 requirements we meet all the criteria etc. except for the proof of bonafide marriage.

We are rather private and don't want a wedding reception so we won't have pictures of that. She will come to Australia for a honey moon in a couple of months. We have copious amounts of evidence with regards to phone calls, pictures together, holidays and messaging however. I have lived with her about 6 nights a week for 3 months as well although that is difficult to prove. As I'm not a resident we don't share any bills or bank accounts etc.

Just wondering how that will look to the immigration officer looking for a bona fide marriage.

Thanks

Edited December 22, 2015 by ausman

[Ryan H 3,790]

The only proof of marriage that you will submit is the marriage certificate; everything else is only evidence.

Your best evidence will be evidence of time spent together in-person. You don't have to share bills or a lease but think of items that show you were in a certain place, at a certain time, with a certain person.

[Anh map 2,098]

You want to show a bona fide relationship from when you first became a couple until the present. It sounds like you have plenty of evidence to submit that would support your claim.

[JFH 12,189]

We also have never lived together, do not own any property or share any financials. We had a very small wedding that lasted 8 minutes with just us, two witnesses and an officiant. No photos. No honeymoon. However, I have got a pile of Christmas cards from over the years sent to both of us, wedding congratulation cards and anniversary cards sent to us (I am including a random selection of these), my travel history, email records, Skype records, a document from my company pension that shows my husband as the beneficiary should I die before him. We are not ones for taking photos of ourselves but I do have a few including one from his previous company's newsletter of us at the company Christmas party in 2014.

Edited December 23, 2015 by JFH

[Amhara 460]

Does she have life insurance through work? Does she have a small life insurance policy through a credit union? (Sometimes, they will give you a free $1,000 life insurance policy if you are a credit union member. I have two that do.) If she currently has a life insurance policy and you two marry, include yourself as a beneficiary and/or include yourself as a covered household member. If it's a policy through work, sometimes you only have 60 days after the marriage to change the policy. The premiums for us is very minimal.

Does she have a retirement account? She can designate you as beneficiary after marriage - maybe even before the marriage.

I don't think these two are make or break issues in a spousal visa, but they may be small steps you can take. Her visiting you in Aus is great evidence too.

[ausman 0]

Appreciate the replies guys, makes me feel a lot better

[mallafri76 1,012]

So will you be interviewing in Australia? Just double checking because your profile says Afghanistan and when it comes to wedding ceremony and pictures, it depends a lot on the country you'll interview in and that country's culture and customs.