Proof of Marriage

[cdshrout 0]

My husband lives in Saudi Arabia. We can not live together as husband and wife until he gets his visa to come here. The only proof of marriage we have is our marriage certificate. Is this enough? We got married in Egypt about a year and a half ago and we were just in Egypt together last month for 2 weeks. Other than that, we are not able to live together. It is very difficult for women to go to Saudi Arabia....and impossible if your husband doesn't have a degree.

[Anh map 2,098]

You want to show that you have a bona fide relationship. From beginning to now. The CO's understand the limits of a long distance marriage prior to immigration.

[Darnell 8,480]

what visa type are you pursuing for your husband ?

[cdshrout 0]

what visa type are you pursuing for your husband ?

I'm not sure, just starting all this. Do I do the K-3 first of the I-130?

[Darnell 8,480]

*** moving to IR-1/CR-1 forum ***

[Ryan H 3,932]

I'm not sure, just starting all this. Do I do the K-3 first of the I-130?

Spousal visa is CR-1, you file the form I-130 (along with evidence) to start the process.

[rhenzhen 5]

When i filed for I-130 I only submitted a photocopy of our Marriage Certificate, her Birth Cert., my US passport, my Naturalization cert. 2x2 photo passport of her and myself. We got APPROVED without RFE!!!

Guys, do you think should I still submit more evidence or just bring it on her interview? Like a photocopy of our credit card with both last name. Also our Notarized Affidavit letters from friends and sis/bro of bonafide marriage? Also, a Skype, AT&T phone logs and Facebook chat logs...Thanks! Btw, we are now filing for I-864 and DS-230 form... Should we include it or not? Thanks!

I heard some people getting delayed for approval because of lack of evidence, Even though you brought the evidence they're looking for, they never bothered to ask for it...

Edited July 11, 2011 by rhenzhen

[Ryan H 3,932]

Guys, do you think should I still submit more evidence or just bring it on her interview? Like a photocopy of our credit card with both last name. Also our Notarized Affidavit letters from friends and sis/bro of bonafide marriage? Thanks! Btw, we are now filing for I-864 and DS-230 form... Should we include it or not? Thanks!

Full disclosure, I'm all for frontloading. You can include the evidence you mention with the DS-230. Realize that including more at this stage could slow things down at the NVC; however, by including it with the DS-230, it becomes part of the file the CO will see prior to the interview. If you hold on to it and bring it to the interview, there is no guarantee a CO will ask for it.

[J e n n y 26]

Full disclosure, I'm all for frontloading. You can include the evidence you mention with the DS-230. Realize that including more at this stage could slow things down at the NVC; however, by including it with the DS-230, it becomes part of the file the CO will see prior to the interview. If you hold on to it and bring it to the interview, there is no guarantee a CO will ask for it.

No, don't include anything that the NVC doesn't ask for in your DS-230. Any photos and other evidence you should take with you to your interview. If you try to include that kind of stuff with your visa app the NVC will not be happy.

[Ryan H 3,932]

Any photos and other evidence you should take with you to your interview. If you try to include that kind of stuff with your visa app the NVC will not be happy.

rhenzhen: The choice of whether or not you want to send additional evidence with your DS-230 is yours. I'll rephrase something I said eariler. I said earlier that sending additional evidence with your DS-230 could slow things down at the NVC, I'll rephrase that to say that sending additional evidence to the NVC along with the DS-230 will most likely slow things down there. I personally feel that the interview is not the time to try and submit evidence for the first time, I'm not suggesting going empty handed, far from it. I hold this opinion because I have seen people post time and time again that they have brought piles of evidence to the interview only to have it not asked for or to have it immediately handed back without so much as a fleeting glance if trying to hand it to a CO without being asked.

The ideal time to send evidence is when you initially submit the I-130, since that ship in your case has already sailed, you have a second chance with the DS-230 submission. If you feel that you need to ensure the evidence you have becomes part of the file, submit it with the DS-230. Whether or not the NVC will be happy about it is secondary to how you feel about it.

This is just my opinion, take it for whatever it's worth to you. I or anyone else cannot tell you what to do. In the end, you have to decide what to do based on your own feelings and comfort zone. Best wishes.

Edited July 11, 2011 by Ryan H

[J e n n y 26]

As someone who has already (& successfully) been through this process, I would advise to follow the NVC instructions exactly. They don't want to see your Skype call logs and text messages if not previously submitted with the I-130.

[Navyk 78]

Were these guys that were not asked the additional evidence at interview been denied visa!

I don't think that those guys were denied and were not given opportunity to show additional evidence.

Yes, we need to produce evidence of marraige that is available at the time of filing I-130 fully - agreed. The additional evidence like intermingling of finances, post I-130 application commiunication, nomination your spouse as beneficiary of your 401K or bank accounts, Lease agreement,.... do happen after I-130 has been filed.

Now if a 401K/ Bank accounts nomination/ Lease agreement is/are available before filing DS-230, those are good to be submitted with DS-230 - remember DS-230 is the actual Visa application that requires original marraige and birth certificates of the beneficiary. But there is nothing wrong in taking aditional evidence to the interview, as those will help in case the CO asks for additional evidence.

Yes additional evidence, if not submitted fully/ properly, can lead to increased DS-230 processing time. But the bottom line to submit DS-230 checking it critically and ensuring that the additional evidence full and complete. But this is certainly better than getting a shock at the interview time.