Preparing to file the I-130

[BOS_LHR 829]

It's almost time to get started! My fiance will be here in two weeks, we'll be married in about 3 weeks, and we're mailing the I-130 once we're back from the honeymoon. I want all of our paperwork (with the exception of the marriage certificate) ready to go before the wedding chaos begins, so I'm taking this week and next to finalize our evidence of bona fide relationship. I've read a lot on here and feel pretty good about everything, but a nod from people who've been through this already would do loads for my confidence

My thought is to do a sort of moderate amount of front-loading, and at NVC we can add as needed.

Here's what I'm planning to include for now:

• Flight and lodging receipts from trips in November, March, and May
• Photographs of us from trips together and our wedding (which will include family members), approx a dozen photos in total
• Emails and receipt for Justice of the Peace who officiated the marriage
• Wedding reception reservation receipt
• Honeymoon reservation confirmation
• PayPal money transfer receipt
• Evidence of spouse as beneficiary on my retirement and life insurance accounts
• Skype call logs

Is this appropriate for the I-130? I know the co-mingling of finances looks great on these petitions, but we've never lived together, so I can't show co-tenancy, our name together on bills, etc. I can set us up with a joint checking account before we file if that'll help, as well as add him to my credit cards -- or would that be better at NVC stage? Am I ok leaving out the personal exchanges (letters, etc.) at this point?

[cathy2904 97]

We also filed a few weeks after our wedding and we didn't send any relationship evidence other than three affidavits from people who knew us as a couple. We were approved with no RFE. We sent nothing extra to NVC. I went to my interview with plenty of evidence but London did not ask to see any of it.

The purpose of the I-130 is to establish that you have a "petitionable relationship"; your marriage certificate does that.

Congratulations on your forthcoming wedding and best wishes on your visa journey.

Edited May 10, 2013 by cathy2904

[BertusJ 0]

check the guides section of the site, they have a list of what to include when mailing the I 130 petition

best wishes

[BOS_LHR 829]

check the guides section of the site, they have a list of what to include when mailing the I 130 petition

best wishes

Thank you. I've read the guides top to bottom more times than I can count, but this is me asking for a final sanity check for my particular plans

[BOS_LHR 829]

I went to my interview with plenty of evidence but London did not ask to see any of it.

I've read that about London a number of times, which is a big part of why I want to send things in early -- I feel like if I don't get them out there now, they'll never matter. Your timeline is really encouraging! I'm hoping hard that if I cover every possible base we'll be living together for our first anniversary. Fingers crossed!

[Ryan H 3,856]

I know the co-mingling of finances looks great on these petitions, but we've never lived together, so I can't show co-tenancy, our name together on bills, etc. I can set us up with a joint checking account before we file if that'll help, as well as add him to my credit cards -- or would that be better at NVC stage? Am I ok leaving out the personal exchanges (letters, etc.) at this point?

USCIS will not expect a couple living apart in separate countries to have co-mingled fiances or own property together (such items are not required anyway).

[cathy2904 97]

Send whatever you feel comfortable with but I agree with Ryan, they do not expect or need to see financial evidence at the filing stage (and London will probably never want to see it). However, when you come to ROC they will want to see evidence if financial co-mingling over the course of the marriage so it will be worth adding him to your checking and credit card accounts as soon as you can. The bank may want to see his ID so try doing that while he is here. Bank of America added me to Trevor's account with just my British passport and DL - no SSN required.

Also, just as an FYI, it might be worth him taking out an American Express credit card in the UK if he can. Provided he has held it for at least three months and is in good standing they will transfer it to a US card when he moves which will help him establish credit in his own right.

[cathy2904 97]

I've read that about London a number of times, which is a big part of why I want to send things in early -- I feel like if I don't get them out there now, they'll never matter. Your timeline is really encouraging! I'm hoping hard that if I cover every possible base we'll be living together for our first anniversary. Fingers crossed!

I hope you're lucky. We did it in under 8 months from filing to visa in hand and that was with a minor delay because Trevor was not a citizen when we started out and a major panic at the end because of an issue at the medical! We were ready for the next submission at every stage.