Step by step. Starting with the I-130

[Pulposindahouse 2]

Hi there. I've been reading in this forum for a while but still have some questions. I'll start with the ones I need to be solved now....

First clarify that I'm the beneficiary. We met in Spain in August 2013 and married December 2014. (How can I put our history in the signature?)

On preparing the I-130 I have some doubts about which documents to submit and how.

-Marriage certificate. When asking for it, I asked for a multilingual certificate. It comes with an explanation on the last paper that tells in most popular languages what does each text box mean. It is also apolstilled. Is that valid or should I need a translation?

Proves of Bonafide Marriage:

We have no joint properties, etc... All time we were living in Spain I was supporting her (no working visa), so everything is on my name.

The only think I can think about is:

-Lease for the house we lived for the last 8 months. Her name is not on the lease.

-Census certificate that shows both of us living in that house for about 7 months (we lived there longer, but it took a time before we inscribed on the census). On that certificate is mentioned the street of the above lease.

Do you think this is a valid prove? Do I need to translate it? If so, better in the states or in spain?

-Also have the her telephone bills that I payed for one year (no way to show that she was using that number but our whatsapp conversations)

-Also have lots of photos from the time we spent together before marriage. Photos from the wedding, etc...

-Couple of flights to go see my parents...

Do you guys think we are ok with that? Should I get sworn affidavits? If so, should they be notarial? (I read that is not necessary).

Thanks a lot!!

Edited February 4, 2015 by Pulposindahouse

[Ryan H 3,923]

Answers in bold and red:

Hi there. I've been reading in this forum for a while but still have some questions. I'll start with the ones I need to be solved now....

First clarify that I'm the beneficiary. We met in Spain in August 2013 and married December 2014. (How can I put our history in the signature?)

Click your username on the upper right hand corner of the screen and select settings. After you are taken to the settings screen, select signature on the left hand side of the screen and you will then be able to input what you wish.

On preparing the I-130 I have some doubts about which documents to submit and how.

-Marriage certificate. When asking for it, I asked for a multilingual certificate. It comes with an explanation on the last paper that tells in most popular languages what does each text box mean. It is also apolstilled. Is that valid or should I need a translation?

As long as there is an English page, then this is sufficient.

Proves of Bonafide Marriage:

Just a note on terminology, the only "proof" of marriage is the marriage certificate, everything else is "evidence" of marriage bona fides.

We have no joint properties, etc... All time we were living in Spain I was supporting her (no working visa), so everything is on my name.

The only think I can think about is:

-Lease for the house we lived for the last 8 months. Her name is not on the lease. Lease is useless since it doesn't have both names.

-Census certificate that shows both of us living in that house for about 7 months (we lived there longer, but it took a time before we inscribed on the census). On that certificate is mentioned the street of the above lease. This is alone is good.

Do you think this is a valid prove? Do I need to translate it? If so, better in the states or in spain? Translation shouldn't be necessary for this. However, if you wish to translate it, it doesn't matter where it's done and you don't need to hire a professional. The only requirement for translations is an attestation statement that the translation is accurate and the person doing the translating is fluent in the language.

-Also have the her telephone bills that I payed for one year (no way to show that she was using that number but our whatsapp conversations) Useless

-Also have lots of photos from the time we spent together before marriage. Photos from the wedding, etc... good

-Couple of flights to go see my parents... good

Do you guys think we are ok with that? Should I get sworn affidavits? If so, should they be notarial? (I read that is not necessary).

Up to you, they are not required and do not need to be notarized should you choose to obtain them. Furthermore, they carry little to zero weight in the overall evaluation of a file. IMO specific to your case is this, skip them. You live together in the same country and have evidence of that.

Thanks a lot!!

[Pulposindahouse 2]

-Marriage certificate. When asking for it, I asked for a multilingual certificate. It comes with an explanation on the last paper that tells in most popular languages what does each text box mean. It is also apolstilled. Is that valid or should I need a translation?

As long as there is an English page, then this is sufficient.

There is no page in English. There is just an explanation for each text box in every common language. For example:

In Box 1 there is the Family Name, so in the explanation page says. Box 1 means: Family Name (that in english, french, spanish, italian....).

For anything else... Thanks Ryan, u clarified A LOT!!!

[Ryan H 3,923]

There is no page in English. There is just an explanation for each text box in every common language. For example:

In Box 1 there is the Family Name, so in the explanation page says. Box 1 means: Family Name (that in english, french, spanish, italian....).

For anything else... Thanks Ryan, u clarified A LOT!!!

Ah, I misread earlier so I'll rephrase; as long as the explanation section has English in it (which it does), then it should be sufficient. You may want a Spain specific answer to be 100% sure.

[Pulposindahouse 2]

Thanks a lot Ryan!!!