AOS Evidence

[UKGirl123 24]

Hi all,

My fiance and I are planning on getting married vis justice of the peace a few days after I arrive. No family there, no fancy dressed no reception just two friends there to witness. This is going to be the wedding for the actual piece of paper to say we married but our actual full wedding with family and friends etc will be at the end of the year.

The reason we are doing this is so we can AOS asap so I can work quicker and bring some money in so we can have a bigger family wedding.

Will this cause problems when apply for AOS? As no family will be there and the evidence of our actual marriage will just be pictures, marriage cert, and a recently opened joint account?

Thanks in advance

[Markieboy 104]

Hi all,

My fiance and I are planning on getting married vis justice of the peace a few days after I arrive. No family there, no fancy dressed no reception just two friends there to witness. This is going to be the wedding for the actual piece of paper to say we married but our actual full wedding with family and friends etc will be at the end of the year.

The reason we are doing this is so we can AOS asap so I can work quicker and bring some money in so we can have a bigger family wedding.

Will this cause problems when apply for AOS? As no family will be there and the evidence of our actual marriage will just be pictures, marriage cert, and a recently opened joint account?

Thanks in advance

You shouldn't have any problems adjusting status having had only a civil wedding. I am in the same situation. My wife and I are planning a grand church wedding someday.

As for AOS evidence, the joint accounts (bank, credit, utilities, phone) are very strong evidence of a bonafide marriage. The more you have, the stronger your case.

Good luck with you AOS journey! And congratulations on your upcoming marriage!

[Nartaki 7]

We had a civil marriage too but we had a small religious ceremony prior to going to the court house. We had about 9 people attend our small & simple ceremony and we took a lot of pictures.

In our evidence of bonafide marriage we sent in about 15 photos with some of them from the ceremony, along with other evidence.

We are planning to have a more grand religious wedding later this year.

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

We sent no evidence or photos with our application. The only proof of marriage was the marriage certificate. The file was transfered to California and the green card was issued without an interview. Many K1s don't interview for AOS.

Should you have an interview, then that would be the appropriate time to take evidence of joint living and pictures. At least take a photo with the Justice of the Peace and your witnesses, or our outside the courthouse just to document the day. And remember the requirement is to marry in 90 days, not to throw an expensive wedding. It will be fine.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

We sent no evidence or photos with our application. The only proof of marriage was the marriage certificate. The file was transfered to California and the green card was issued without an interview. Many K1s don't interview for AOS.

Should you have an interview, then that would be the appropriate time to take evidence of joint living and pictures. At least take a photo with the Justice of the Peace and your witnesses, or our outside the courthouse just to document the day. And remember the requirement is to marry in 90 days, not to throw an expensive wedding. It will be fine.

Agreed. I haven't even had my biometrics yet but I didn't send ANY evidence with the paperwork except what was asked for (marriage certificate etc). I don't see the point honestly because if they want me to interview I will, I'm not scared or worried about it. I don't like sending anything that isn't asked for.. I tend to think it makes you look guilty. Plus this way I have more time to make sure I have LOTS of evidence.

[Nartaki 7]

Agreed. I haven't even had my biometrics yet but I didn't send ANY evidence with the paperwork except what was asked for (marriage certificate etc). I don't see the point honestly because if they want me to interview I will, I'm not scared or worried about it. I don't like sending anything that isn't asked for.. I tend to think it makes you look guilty. Plus this way I have more time to make sure I have LOTS of evidence.

I thought the I-130 required evidence of bonafide marriage, thats why I sent a lot of stuff. Besides many VJers believe that if you send in enough evidence now, the IO who might preview your file would not request anything more for their files, making the interview go smoothly.

Many VJers have sent in tons of evidence with their initial application, with no problems. I disagree that if you send in a lot of stuff now it will make you look guilty.

[Markieboy 104]

I thought the I-130 required evidence of bonafide marriage, thats why I sent a lot of stuff. Besides many VJers believe that if you send in enough evidence now, the IO who might preview your file would not request anything more for their files, making the interview go smoothly.

Many VJers have sent in tons of evidence with their initial application, with no problems. I disagree that if you send in a lot of stuff now it will make you look guilty.

I tend to agree with this line of thinking.

[UKGirl123 24]

Well the plan is that we are going to be married and file for AOS within a week of my arrival. The evidence that my fiance are going to TRY to sort before we file is as follows:-

- Joint account (although will be just opened)

- He is going to add me on to the utilites, so whatever bills / letter we can get in a week that shows both are names on

- We are going to ask one of our friends who will be attending to write a letter saying he was there at the wedding and we are a genuine married couple (we may get this notarized too)

- Photo's from the wedding

- Copy of wedding license

- Copy of marriage certificate

Do you think this will be enough?

[Nartaki 7]

You will be fine with the evidence you just listed. Just be prepared to bring more to the interview. I would suggest pictures, life insurance, auto insurance, IRAs or CDs listing the foreign spouse as the beneficiary, receipts of major financial transactions such as buying a car or paying tuition, joint cell phone bill, joint credit cards etc

[besaangel 17]

I also think that the amount of evidence you submit may be reflected on what visa you are AOSing from, IMO... Bein from F-1 and living here while dating, I submitted a lot of evidence since we were able to have many trips and a family plan for years. I included:

Evidence of our relationship

a. Copy of our marriage certificate

b. Copy of our lease showing joint tenancy and other evidence of living together

c. Documentation showing joint accounts

d. Our pictures together over the years

e. Documentation highlighting major purchases

f. Copies of flight records indicating visits made throughout relationship

g. Phone records reflecting joint family plan

h. Copies of cards and letters sent throughout relationship

i. Cards/letters addressed to both of us.

j. Proof of spouse on Life & Medical Insurance

I think you can bring additional evidence to the interview, like ID reflecting same address etc but I'd probably only take originals of those submitted.

Edited April 25, 2010 by besaangel

[alex and astrid 38]

Well the plan is that we are going to be married and file for AOS within a week of my arrival. The evidence that my fiance are going to TRY to sort before we file is as follows:-

- Joint account (although will be just opened)

- He is going to add me on to the utilites, so whatever bills / letter we can get in a week that shows both are names on

- We are going to ask one of our friends who will be attending to write a letter saying he was there at the wedding and we are a genuine married couple (we may get this notarized too)

- Photo's from the wedding

- Copy of wedding license

- Copy of marriage certificate

Do you think this will be enough?

You do not need to send any evidence with your AOS application, apart from a copy of the marriage certificate. It isn't like the K1 packet where you can front load it. If you get an interview, thats when you can show all the evidence of your marriage and mingling of your lives. You would only need to send that kind of information if you are AOS'ing from a tourist visa, or a F1 or a J1 etc. K1 you don't need to.

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Well the plan is that we are going to be married and file for AOS within a week of my arrival. The evidence that my fiance are going to TRY to sort before we file is as follows:-

- Joint account (although will be just opened)

- He is going to add me on to the utilites, so whatever bills / letter we can get in a week that shows both are names on

- We are going to ask one of our friends who will be attending to write a letter saying he was there at the wedding and we are a genuine married couple (we may get this notarized too)

- Photo's from the wedding

- Copy of wedding license

- Copy of marriage certificate

Do you think this will be enough?

Again. No evidence of a relationship is wanted for a K1 AOS unless you are interviewed in person. Start a folder of joint things as you get them...even mail sent to both of you at your address. Then if you have an interview, you'll have a nice file of things you've gathered.

To Markie Boy and Nartaki--- Yes the I-130 requires evidence, but the person posting is a K1 and already submitted an I-129 petition showing evidence of the relationship and meeting in person. We all AOS but with different documents and requirements. A K1 only submits the I-485, with the applications for EAD and AP being free but optional.

Here's my list of things for a K1 to send. We received no RFEs.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/189022-uk-aos-2009-thread/page__view__findpost__p__2821550

Missing from the list is the G-1145 Form for E-notification of Application/Petition Acceptance which will inform you when they receive your application. That wasn't available when I made my list.

Here's Vanessa & Tony's list: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/235331-aos-ead-ap-from-k1-the-aussie-way-doc-list-included/

Edited April 25, 2010 by Nich-Nick

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

PS to the above post. A marriage license often becomes the marriage certificate when it is signed by the officiant and is registered with the county. You will send the marriage certificate, not the license as a license does not prove a marriage.

[baron555 934]

Hi all,

My fiance and I are planning on getting married vis justice of the peace a few days after I arrive. No family there, no fancy dressed no reception just two friends there to witness. This is going to be the wedding for the actual piece of paper to say we married but our actual full wedding with family and friends etc will be at the end of the year.

The reason we are doing this is so we can AOS asap so I can work quicker and bring some money in so we can have a bigger family wedding.

Will this cause problems when apply for AOS? As no family will be there and the evidence of our actual marriage will just be pictures, marriage cert, and a recently opened joint account?

Thanks in advance

That's all we did. Not a problem because you got legally married and that is all USCIS wants to see.

[Donald-n-Analyn 6]

Nowhere on any of the instructions for the forms required for Adjustment of Status does it ask for evidence of living together, co-mingling of assets, etc.

The I-485 instructions, under section 12.B. (Evidence of eligibility) says to attach copies of:

• Approval notice (NoA2) from Form I-129F submission
  
• Marriage Certificate
  
• Form I-94
  

Just follow the instructions and you will be fine. USCIS doesn't want to see any "additional proof" or they would ask for it.

Good luck, it looks like most K-1 adjustments are proceeding without interview lately

[edited for the inevitable typo <sigh>]

Edited April 26, 2010 by Donald-n-Analyn