Advise needed- newly-married couple, incredibly stressed out!!

[mountaingoat 4]

Hi,

Thanks so much for this response- really good to hear from people who have gone through the same thing.

One of the factors about the I-130 that worries us the most, is the "affidavits" section, providing proof of relationship. Since we have both just gradated from university, we don't have that many joint records, and the banks won't even let us open a joint account without proof of address with both our names on it (kinda like a vicious circle in that respect)- we do however have call records from Skype, Facebook and mobile phone, as well as photos from the start of our relationship way back when. So I'm hoping this will suffice- thoughts?

Thanks again for a great response!

I understand your worries about providing proof of relationship. I had the same worries because we had never lived together. We got married and I came back to the US a few days later. I didn't even have wedding photos because we had a civil ceremony. I just sent in the only things I had at the time. I sent phone bills, a marriage announcement, 6 photos of us together, a copy of my life insurance listing him as beneficiary, a copy of my car insurance with him listed as a driver on it, copies of my airline tickets to visit him before our wedding and an affidavit from his mother stating that she knew of our relationship before our wedding and that she was present at our wedding. Our I-130 was approved without any requests for more evidence.

You've definitely come to the right place for answers. I wouldn't have made it through this process without VJ. I was constantly worried and asking questions! lol The year apart was hell but we survived and it was all worth it. Wishing you all the best!

[earthwormgym 1]

I understand your worries about providing proof of relationship. I had the same worries because we had never lived together. We got married and I came back to the US a few days later. I didn't even have wedding photos because we had a civil ceremony. I just sent in the only things I had at the time. I sent phone bills, a marriage announcement, 6 photos of us together, a copy of my life insurance listing him as beneficiary, a copy of my car insurance with him listed as a driver on it, copies of my airline tickets to visit him before our wedding and an affidavit from his mother stating that she knew of our relationship before our wedding and that she was present at our wedding. Our I-130 was approved without any requests for more evidence.

You've definitely come to the right place for answers. I wouldn't have made it through this process without VJ. I was constantly worried and asking questions! lol The year apart was hell but we survived and it was all worth it. Wishing you all the best!

Hi all,

Quick question this time- can't seem to find it on original instructions posted- do we need to include the I-864 (Affididvant form spl?) and the DS-230 with the I-130 application, or do they come later?

[pushbrk 12,212]

Hi all,

Quick question this time- can't seem to find it on original instructions posted- do we need to include the I-864 (Affididvant form spl?) and the DS-230 with the I-130 application, or do they come later?

Study of the I-130 instructions will be critical to your ultimate success. Include what those instructions tell you to include. Also study the guides here. Your question indicated you've done neither.

[canadian_wife 1,791]

Your answer is in the I130 instructions AND the Guides here on VJ

OR here

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/EZGuideSpouse

Good luck

[Ruffie 22]

USCIS does not process visa applications, visa applications are processed by Embassies and Consulates and it is State Department personnel that is doing the processing work.

Fine. Even more reason for USCIS not to "care" then

[earthwormgym 1]

Study of the I-130 instructions will be critical to your ultimate success. Include what those instructions tell you to include. Also study the guides here. Your question indicated you've done neither.

We have indeed studied the guides and do not appreciate your response- sorry, but don't respond if you're not going to be helpful!

Your answer is in the I130 instructions AND the Guides here on VJ

OR here

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/EZGuideSpouse

Good luck

Thanks for this guide very helpful!

We're just getting overwhelmed with all the information we have read- we didn't see it immediately, but other websites said it was needed- guess not until later then.

[pushbrk 12,212]

We have indeed studied the guides and do not appreciate your response- sorry, but don't respond if you're not going to be helpful!

Thanks for this guide very helpful!

We're just getting overwhelmed with all the information we have read- we didn't see it immediately, but other websites said it was needed- guess not until later then.

If you had studied the guides and the I-130 instructions you would not have asked this question. This kind of careful study is crucial to your ultimate success. If we answer questions that are clearly answered in the instructions, you'll never know what you didn't know you didn't know. The I-130 instructions and the guides here are very clear on these basics. We're here to help you with details that the instructions and guides either don't cover or don't cover sufficiently.

Trust me. Encouraging you to carefully study what needs to be studied IS helping you. This ain't my first rodeo.

[david'sgirl 134]

Hi,

Thanks so much for this response- really good to hear from people who have gone through the same thing.

One of the factors about the I-130 that worries us the most, is the "affidavits" section, providing proof of relationship. Since we have both just gradated from university, we don't have that many joint records, and the banks won't even let us open a joint account without proof of address with both our names on it (kinda like a vicious circle in that respect)- we do however have call records from Skype, Facebook and mobile phone, as well as photos from the start of our relationship way back when. So I'm hoping this will suffice- thoughts?

Thanks again for a great response!

They will know you do not live together yet. The proof we sent was about our relationship. The affidavit were written by my sister in law and mother in law who attended the wedding, my cousin who had us over for Thanksgiving, my dad and my daughter. I had them use a template I found doing a search on VJ. We did not bother with getting them notarized but provided copies and brought originals to London for the interview but were never asked for them. Do you have friends or family who can write a brief letter stating they know that you are a real couple and how they know this to be true? If you have a health plan at work ask about adding your spouse. You can make each other the beneficiary on life insurance and retirement plan if you have them. My bank allowed me to add my husband before he had a social but needed a social to open his own account.

[david'sgirl 134]

If you had studied the guides and the I-130 instructions you would not have asked this question. This kind of careful study is crucial to your ultimate success. If we answer questions that are clearly answered in the instructions, you'll never know what you didn't know you didn't know. The I-130 instructions and the guides here are very clear on these basics. We're here to help you with details that the instructions and guides either don't cover or don't cover sufficiently.

Trust me. Encouraging you to carefully study what needs to be studied IS helping you. This ain't my first rodeo.

Excellent advice!

[Darnell 8,478]

Hi all,

Quick question this time- can't seem to find it on original instructions posted- do we need to include the I-864 (Affididvant form spl?) and the DS-230 with the I-130 application, or do they come later?

Here's the cheatsheet.

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/EZGuideSpouse

[earthwormgym 1]

Hi all, quick question again- do we need to include a letter of introduction with the I-130 packer? Seem to remember reading somewhere that we did, but others sources suggest otherwise.

Thanks all!

[pushbrk 12,212]

Hi all, quick question again- do we need to include a letter of introduction with the I-130 packer? Seem to remember reading somewhere that we did, but others sources suggest otherwise.

Thanks all!

Time to decide which source you are going to trust. For VJ, the answer is in the guide you were advised to study.

[earthwormgym 1]

Time to decide which source you are going to trust. For VJ, the answer is in the guide you were advised to study.

VJ says yes, but others say no....

[pushbrk 12,212]

VJ says yes, but others say no....

I understand. Put on your big boy/girl panties and decide who you're going to follow. VJ is right on this and I assure you, that careful study of both the VJ guides AND the official form instruction will be critical to success "doing it yourself". When those two sources SEEM to conflict, ask for clarification, because they DO NOT. You must study carefully, interpret LITERALLY and answer accurately.

A "cover letter" is a BEST PRACTICE, not a requirement.

Edited July 21, 2012 by pushbrk

[Ban Hammer 12,874]

one post removed for tos violation.

one post removed for quoting that tos violation, said post returned below minus the quote.

No, you are not asking for clarification. You read the VJ information AND you read something else. Why would you think somebody here is going to give you authoritative information that would conflict with the VJ recommendations? Some people are not equipped to do this themselves. Have you considered you might be one of them?

additionally, admin action has been taken.