Forgot to include evidence of bona fide marriage in i-130 package

[QM&TD 2]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum and would like to say hi to you all at first. I have a question regarding evidence of bona fide marriage for i-130 application. I am a USC and my wife is from vietnam. I sent out the I-130 package to TSC last month without evidence of our bona fide marriage. I had only included the following items:

- a copy of my US passport (only the page has my photo, not included all pages)

- signed form i-130

- signed form G-325A for both of us.

- a copy of our marriage certificate along with its translation.

- 5 passport photos for each of us

So I'm wondering if I need to send more photos that we have taken together and wedding photos now. I have read on some other topics and realized that many of you guys mentioned to include evidence of bina fide marriage likes skype screenshot, photo of the couple, ... etc. and if i need to, would it slow down the process of my i-130 application? anyone can help me clarify this?

Thanks so much!!!

[Gorkhali 213]

Hi there

well we included tons of evidence showing we are married and we also sent the docx this sept to USCIS.

As you have already sent, well from my POV i would say wait. If you get RFE then send them other supporting docx of evidence. As far as i understood, there is no any such set of rules how much and what all you need to send. The marriage certificate should do the job.

Note : This is just an advise. I am not any attorney. I am also new into visa process. May be some other older folks with better knowledge will help you with concrete reply.

Good luck

[QM&TD 2]

Hi Rdahal,

Thanks for your advise. I will wait for more responses from other members to decide what i should do.

appreciate your help!

[Ian H. 207]

You can't really do anything until you receive an RFE. Some people have managed to get approved with little or no evidence. A cousin of mine was able to get approved without any evidence submitted, which I found very odd. Of course, it may be because they already had 2 years married by the time the petition was adjudicated.

The instructions do point out that you need to include proof of the bona fide relationship. It's more than likely that you will receive an RFE though, especially if you have been married for less than 2 years.

Therefore, you need to start gathering evidence now so that you can submit it right away if you get an RFE. Now in the off chance that you don't get an RFE and your petition is approved, you will definitely need this proof at the visa interview.

Also keep in mind that receiving an RFE, responding to it, and having the new evidence reviewed can add some time to your wait. I'm not sure how long they typically take to review RFE's, but I have seen about 3 months in other threads and timelines in addition to the normal processing time.

Edited September 22, 2014 by Ian H.

[mrskvelasco 30]

Yes, you will likely receive a RFE. I would start preparing more evidence, and please read all instructions thoroughly.

[Ryan H 3,790]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum and would like to say hi to you all at first. I have a question regarding evidence of bona fide marriage for i-130 application. I am a USC and my wife is from vietnam. I sent out the I-130 package to TSC last month without evidence of our bona fide marriage. I had only included the following items:

- a copy of my US passport (only the page has my photo, not included all pages)

- signed form i-130

- signed form G-325A for both of us.

- a copy of our marriage certificate along with its translation.

- 5 passport photos for each of us

So I'm wondering if I need to send more photos that we have taken together and wedding photos now. I have read on some other topics and realized that many of you guys mentioned to include evidence of bina fide marriage likes skype screenshot, photo of the couple, ... etc. and if i need to, would it slow down the process of my i-130 application? anyone can help me clarify this?

Thanks so much!!!

To get the semantics out of the way first, an I-130 is a petition form, not an application form.

What you have sent is the minimum amount to meet the requirements. You may or may not receive an RFE asking for additional evidence. Sending anything unsolicited at this point will likely be nothing more than an exercise in futility as it is unlikely the items you send would be matched with the file. If you receive an RFE, you can submit your additional evidence then. If you don't, then you will have an opportunity to include extra evidence with the IV package when you are dealing with the NVC.

Edited September 27, 2014 by Ryan H

[XXXYYYZZZ 20]

I filed in Vietnam for CR-1 with the same documentation you did and was approved. Some people send a 500 page packet; I sent 20 pages. At this point if they want more info wait for the RFE because you won't know what they need until then.

[XXXYYYZZZ 20]

Also we had only been married 3 weeks when I filed the petition. Your marriage certificate is proof of a relationship especially in Vietnam. It took me months to get that certificate. Again don't worry about it unless an RFE is received.

I did send 4 photos at the NVC stage on printer paper with hand written comments.

[raven52 233]

At some point in time, interview, NVC, etc..,.,.,.you will surely have to add a lot of evidence as positive proof, of marriage.

Pictures, boarding passes, receipts from her county.,.,.,pictures with her family.,.,.,.just read the guide on this site, "it tells you exactly" what to prepare for.

[QM&TD 2]

Thanks everyone here for sharing your experiences. I will just wait to see if they ask me to supply more evidences.

[jennynguyen1404 0]

Our case same as yours and we are waiting for the RFE also.

[Sarac 1]

Mine is the same and I used an online company to help with the forms!!! When I looked things over after the petition was put in I realized and called the company. They swore up and down nothing else would be needed. I'm waiting for my RFE

[NikLR 13,220]

Mine is the same and I used an online company to help with the forms!!! When I looked things over after the petition was put in I realized and called the company. They swore up and down nothing else would be needed. I'm waiting for my RFE

You may not even be asked for more since you're from Canada, however I'd send marriage evidence with the IV package if you aren't.