Nervous about proof of relationship

[SennaBrigante 92]

My husband will submit our I-130 this Monday (finally) though I am a bit worried if our proof is enough to get our petition to the next stages. Long in short, we met online on 2011, stayed in regular contact until July this year when we finally saw each other in person. Took a while for me to get a tourist visa approved and he can't leave the US because he's on probation.

Anyways, I got pregnant when I was in the US. I'm 5 months pregnant now, back in the Philippines but we got married before I left to make sure that the baby will be considered a legitimate child when born here and of course, because we do love each other and we're very excited to start our own family.

The only proofs of relationship that we were able to dig up were:

> SOME photos. We mostly stayed home the 4 months I was there and I HATE getting my photo taken so we didn't have a lot. I do have pics with his family though. My relatives and his immediate family live in the same city.

> Skype video call logs - a screenshot per month since 2011

> Facebook chat logs - same, screenshot per month since 2011

> Marriage certificate - no wedding pics because it was just 2 of us in a court house. Sounds weird but that's how we always planned our wedding to be lol.

> Postages of parcels sent to me when I was in our home in Tx

> Pregnancy confirmation from the center we tested at

> Ultrasound pics and findings of our baby

> Credit card bills to show that we were in the same place at the same time throughout my stay and especially during the estimated conception date of the baby

> Boarding passes and passport scans of my visa and stamps

And that's pretty much it. I really don't know if it's enough evidence though my husband insists that the strongest evidence is our baby. I just don't want to get RFE's because I'm due on April 2014 and he's just now submitting the application so there's no way we'll be able to be reunited as a family before the baby is at least 6 months. That's already a lot of moments missed and my husband already hates me for flying back home. I really really want nothing more than him, me and the baby to be together under the same roof.

Thanks for yall opinions!

[Cathi 5,849]

Pregnancy tests and ultrasound pictures are not proof of paternity or of a bonafide relationship, they may ask for a paternity test. I didn't have any pictures from our courthouse wedding either. The rest of your evidence sounds good.

[SennaBrigante 92]

We're okay to do a paternity test though I'm not sure how that's gonna happen with me in the Philippines and him in the US

[Jeanna 21]

We used photos, passport stamps (took copies) and lots and lots of phone records! The more the better so anything you have, put it all together nicely. The fact you are already married and met each other's family (and have picture proof) is really strong. They often ask if you have met/talked to family so I think that is a big indicator for immigration. Best of luck!

[JRF 117]

Sounds like you have sufficient evidence. Paternity test probably not a bad idea if you can swing it but you seem to have plenty of other evidence.

[Avery Cates 1,141]

Since a paternity test isn't entirely practical, seems you need to send the best of what you have and hope for the best.

[SennaBrigante 92]

Thanks everyone!

We did consider doing a paternity test when I was still in the US but I have very little understanding of the procedure if baby is still in vitro. I imagine that it would be an invasive (and expensive) procedure that I really wasn't willing to go through given the risks to the fetus.

We can only hope for the best at this point. And I'm a firm believer that everything happens at the right time and for a reason so fingers crossed.

Thanks again for the replies!

[TeaCup 65]

SennaBrigante! - Good luck with everything, while I'm still new to this too, it seems like you have some decent proof!

I'm also filing this coming Monday!

[Cathi 5,849]

We're okay to do a paternity test though I'm not sure how that's gonna happen with me in the Philippines and him in the US

If the embassy wants a paternity test they will request it, and it will have to be done by one of their approved physicians, this is not something you do on your own.

Sounds like you have sufficient evidence. Paternity test probably not a bad idea if you can swing it but you seem to have plenty of other evidence.

This is something the embassy would ask for,if needed, it has to be done by a physician approved by them.

[Darnell 8,479]

I think your list is sufficient for I-130 stuff - as you're recently married.

however, after he files, ask him to consider to put your name on his utility bills, and show months of these bills via INCLUDING them with the DS-260 submission into NVC.

Thanks everyone!

We did consider doing a paternity test when I was still in the US but I have very little understanding of the procedure if baby is still in vitro. I imagine that it would be an invasive (and expensive) procedure that I really wasn't willing to go through given the risks to the fetus.

We can only hope for the best at this point. And I'm a firm believer that everything happens at the right time and for a reason so fingers crossed.

Thanks again for the replies!

I will bet it won't be needed, when you apply for CRBA in the PI, after the child is born.

[LBeachey 46]

A child born to a legally married couple where you have proof you were in the same place at the time of conception. Unless for some reason your husband was disputing his paternity, I don't think you will need a DNA test either. The baby is also pretty good evidence for the I-130. I think you will be OK.

The bigger concern may be your husband's past legal trouble depending on what exactly he was convicted of.

[SennaBrigante 92]

Thanks everyone. I feel a bit better.

@LBeachey his past convictions were misdemeanors and some were drug related but he's been on the straight and narrow path since we got together (except for one speeding ticket) and he'll be off probation on Feb 2014, hopefully sooner.

@Darnell my husband is renting the house we were living in and not all the utility bills were transferred to his name, just the electric. I'm gonna suggest to him that he puts me on his car insurance as a non-driver though. I hope that'll be somewhat enough. We don't have a joint account either since we really don't have savings in the bank at the moment anyways. Every dime we earn has been going to doctor's appointments and prep for this petition.

@TeaCup good luck sweetie!

Another question, how long does it usually take to get the NOA2 and do we immediately submit the DS260 after? Does everyone submit that online these days?

[JayJayH 546]

This looks good. I'm fairly certain you won't have much trouble.

They don't expect you to pull out the big guns til Removal of conditions.

Enjoy the journey.

[Darnell 8,479]

Car insurance/non-driver, IMO, is useless.

There are other things he can do, suggest to do AFTER filing the I-130 next week:

utility bills:

--cable bill

--cell phone bill

--telephone bill

--electric bill

banking stuff:

--POD payee on any of his banking accounts

life insurance stuff:

--POD payee

re: yer question about NOA-2/DS-260 timings

--currently, expect an approval on the I-130 anywhere from 4 to 11 months. USCIS currently is in flux for where to adjudicate stand-alone I-130 petitions, so it's very hard to pin down an exact timeline.

--figure 2 weeks to 2 months transit time, approved I-130 INTO NVC

--figure 2 weeks to 1 month before NVC finishes logging the casefile and they prep for DOC Intake

--figure 2 months (currently) before the DS-260 intake can occur, after DOC Intake process starts.