Adequate proof of bona fide marriage?

[ebe 6]

Hi all, I'm hoping to send my I-130 packet soon and I'm finishing getting everything together. Have read a lot about this in other threads but I guess I am looking for specific affirmation or suggestions.

We've been living together in Chile for over a year, but my name is not on our condo title and it's not possible to add it right now. Same thing with our bank accounts and car ownership; everything is separated. I'm hoping that the fact I moved to Chile to be with him in the first place counts for something? Wondering what your thoughts on the below documents are. Trying for a balance between official-type things and personal things.

Official things:

- Marriage certificate, marriage booklet, and receipts from registro civil + translations/certificate

- His health insurance, listing my name as a recipient of benefits

- Passport stamps of me entering Chile and him entering the US circled in blue on copies of our passports (this is accompanied by email flight itineraries verifying same travel. Also including my family's flight itineraries to visit us in Chile.)

Personal things:

- Photos showing us together in various geographically identifiable locations, plus photos of me with his family, him with my family, various combinations

- Affidavits from my mom, sister, and best friend about our relationship

- 6 screenshots of emails back and forth (this is the page in my mail in gmail, when I type his email in the search box, and it shows the subject and first line of "1-20 of MANY" emails from him to me)

- Screenshot of Facebook friendships between him and my sister, and between my sister and him

- Copy of an envelope from my grandparents addressed to both of us at our previous address where we lived together

Any thoughts on this? I feel like I'm light on the official documents side. We just got married 6 days ago and have been cohabitating for like 14 months but have kept all our ownership and financial stuff apart for now. I could show a screenshot of bank transfer to him to pay for flights, but that's about it.

Looking forward to your ideas! And hopefully this can help someone else too.

[Thomas&Cleofe 358]

The only proof I sent was our marriage certificate.

[ebe 6]

And that was cool? I think there are a lot of overachievers here going above and beyond with lots of unneeded docs, which is fine, but I'd like to get this thing sent sooner, with the things that actually need to be there to make the case go smoothly.

The thing I'm not sure about is whether the certificate really proves the marriage is bona fide? I mean, it proves it's legal, but in my reading they want to know that the relationship itself is for real.

Thoughts?

[Thomas&Cleofe 358]

And that was cool? I think there are a lot of overachievers here going above and beyond with lots of unneeded docs, which is fine, but I'd like to get this thing sent sooner, with the things that actually need to be there to make the case go smoothly.

The thing I'm not sure about is whether the certificate really proves the marriage is bona fide? I mean, it proves it's legal, but in my reading they want to know that the relationship itself is for real.

Thoughts?

Yep....it was cool

No RFE at USCIS

and no RFE at NVC

[ebe 6]

And were you also living abroad with your spouse? Or is that not really relevant when it comes to bona fides?

[Thomas&Cleofe 358]

And were you also living abroad with your spouse? Or is that not really relevant when it comes to bona fides?

No. I never "lived" abroad with my spouse.

But proof of a non fraudulent relationship is not required at the USCIS stage, nor the NVC stage.

Your spouse will show all that evidence when it comes time for her visa application interview.

But you are more than welcome to submit all that evidence now if you wish.

[bsd058 296]

Ya, a marriage certificate is not really proof that your marriage is bonafide. They've already assumed that you are married and have a marriage certificate. You just need to show them that you entered that commitment in good faith (ie. you married for reasons they would find acceptable, not for immigration purposes). If you don't give enough evidence of a good faith marriage, at the interview they can either ask for more proof or else deny you. Not saying they will; just saying that a marriage certificate only means that you are legally married. It doesn't prove your intentions for the marriage.

[ebe 6]

Okay, my understanding then is if we don't have enough evidence at the USCIS stage, it becomes a matter of proving it at the interview, but not really an issue that would result in an RFE at an early stage?

By this reasoning, if one is confident that their marriage will seem legitimate at the interview stage, it's not really necessary to front load with tons of documents, as the "bona fide" nature should come through at the interview anyway?

[Thomas&Cleofe 358]

Okay, my understanding then is if we don't have enough evidence at the USCIS stage, it becomes a matter of proving it at the interview, but not really an issue that would result in an RFE at an early stage?

By this reasoning, if one is confident that their marriage will seem legitimate at the interview stage, it's not really necessary to front load with tons of documents, as the "bona fide" nature should come through at the interview anyway?

That is the way we are doing it

[bsd058 296]

Okay, my understanding then is if we don't have enough evidence at the USCIS stage, it becomes a matter of proving it at the interview, but not really an issue that would result in an RFE at an early stage?

By this reasoning, if one is confident that their marriage will seem legitimate at the interview stage, it's not really necessary to front load with tons of documents, as the "bona fide" nature should come through at the interview anyway?

I guess, technically. I am just giving whatever is required and a little extra at every stage. This way, they can't have an excuse to give an RFE or a denial. When working with beaurocrats, I tend to err on the safe side. They aren't trained thinkers.

Edited September 7, 2012 by bsd058

[ebe 6]

Makes sense, and that philosophy speaks to me as well. It's just how much extra that worries me. I feel like there's no need to, say, go open a bank account together (took me months to just open my own account here in Chile in the first place) if the photos, passport stamps etc already should show the validity of our relationship. But I don't want to be lazy about things now and kicking myself later either.

[bsd058 296]

Well, if it doesn't take much for her to be connected to your current bank account, it couldn't hurt to at least put her on it, and then send a copy of a form fromt he bank proving you both own it jointly. Sometimes it is easier to add a person to an account than the initial opening of the account. I personally think you have plenty of info, and I would send only copies of everything to USCIS.

Don't send the originals until you are asked specifically to do so. Also, be prepared to part with those originals forever when they are sent (aside from official documents like a passport or a birth certificate), so you may wish to get back-ups of photos or trip itineraries, etc, if at all possible, before you send any originals of them.

[SarAyouBliss 38]

And that was cool? I think there are a lot of overachievers here going above and beyond with lots of unneeded docs, which is fine, but I'd like to get this thing sent sooner, with the things that actually need to be there to make the case go smoothly.

The thing I'm not sure about is whether the certificate really proves the marriage is bona fide? I mean, it proves it's legal, but in my reading they want to know that the relationship itself is for real.

Thoughts?

The marriage certificate itself that you are legally married, but doesn't show your intentions, that's why the RFE exists, you need supporting evidences (emails, phone call logs, photos, co-mingled money, etc....)

[sunflower123 6]

Hi all, I'm hoping to send my I-130 packet soon and I'm finishing getting everything together. Have read a lot about this in other threads but I guess I am looking for specific affirmation or suggestions.

We've been living together in Chile for over a year, but my name is not on our condo title and it's not possible to add it right now. Same thing with our bank accounts and car ownership; everything is separated. I'm hoping that the fact I moved to Chile to be with him in the first place counts for something? Wondering what your thoughts on the below documents are. Trying for a balance between official-type things and personal things.

Official things:

- Marriage certificate, marriage booklet, and receipts from registro civil + translations/certificate

- His health insurance, listing my name as a recipient of benefits

- Passport stamps of me entering Chile and him entering the US circled in blue on copies of our passports (this is accompanied by email flight itineraries verifying same travel. Also including my family's flight itineraries to visit us in Chile.)

Personal things:

- Photos showing us together in various geographically identifiable locations, plus photos of me with his family, him with my family, various combinations

- Affidavits from my mom, sister, and best friend about our relationship

- 6 screenshots of emails back and forth (this is the page in my mail in gmail, when I type his email in the search box, and it shows the subject and first line of "1-20 of MANY" emails from him to me)

- Screenshot of Facebook friendships between him and my sister, and between my sister and him

- Copy of an envelope from my grandparents addressed to both of us at our previous address where we lived together

Any thoughts on this? I feel like I'm light on the official documents side. We just got married 6 days ago and have been cohabitating for like 14 months but have kept all our ownership and financial stuff apart for now. I could show a screenshot of bank transfer to him to pay for flights, but that's about it.

Looking forward to your ideas! And hopefully this can help someone else too.

HOLA

Well, I think is better to send more evidence than get an RFE later, Just my opinion and well thats also the way my husband and I though when we sent our application I-130.

For example, Some people say that affidavits sometimes are not very important, but well, since we didn't have a bank account together yet when we sent the application, we have taken one of our affidavits to be notarized, in that way looks more professional and we think it might help. Our friend went to the Notary and signed it in front of 2 witnesses, so they put a stamp and a sort of a hologram, besides that states that any question about the info stated there, pls feel free to contact the notary. We paid about $200 (USD) to get it notarized but we think it was worth it.

Maybe you can send call logs, some correspondence between you both (envelopes with post office stamp), skype, messenger or Gtalk conversations.

For some people it has been good enough just sending marriage certificate,and thats pretty awesome! but we prefered to play safe and send as much evidence as we can we can't wait to be together again, the waiting feels like an eternity when your love is not with you , so that's why we wanna do everything right and don't get more delays in the process

Its really cool that you have joined VJ You are about to start this journey!! GOOD LUCK!

[Musashii 21]

Some people only send marriage certificate and they do not get any RFE.

We sent lot of stuff but still got RFE. It depends on the officer reviewing your petition, beneficiary's country and different factors involved.

It never hurts to play safe and go in loaded than getting an RFE later and having to send proof all over again.

My suggestion is that you send all you have. Good luck.