RFE Bona Fide Texas Service Center

[tern4petrel 0]

Hi VJers,

Thanks in advance for your response. I filed an I-130 for my Husband in mid-May 2015. I received an RFE from the Texas Service Center, asking for evidence of a bona fide marriage on October 13th. I sent the response the next day, and it was received on October 16th. I included emails between my husband and I from 2009 to the present, our Canadian tax returns referencing one another as common law spouses, travel itineraries for visits, itineraries and hotel booking for our honeymoon, receipts for our wedding/engagement rings, original wedding invitation, order of service for the wedding, a decree changing my last name to my husband's, and photographs of us from 2009 through the wedding (and after). Any thoughts on when we're likely to get NOA2?

Thanks! This waiting is maddening!!

[dwheels76 5,468]

Hi VJers,

Thanks in advance for your response. I filed an I-130 for my Husband in mid-May 2015. I received an RFE from the Texas Service Center, asking for evidence of a bona fide marriage on October 13th. I sent the response the next day, and it was received on October 16th. I included emails between my husband and I from 2009 to the present, our Canadian tax returns referencing one another as common law spouses, travel itineraries for visits, itineraries and hotel booking for our honeymoon, receipts for our wedding/engagement rings, original wedding invitation, order of service for the wedding, a decree changing my last name to my husband's, and photographs of us from 2009 through the wedding (and after). Any thoughts on when we're likely to get NOA2?

Thanks! This waiting is maddening!!

30 to 60 days probably. No one can say. they have to scan all that and such.

[tern4petrel 0]

Oh dear! That is quite a bit longer than I was hoping for. Thanks!

[dwheels76 5,468]

Oh dear! That is quite a bit longer than I was hoping for. Thanks!

Well it is an estimate based on others RFE. But looks like nothing was submitted so they basically have to start all over and review and go through what you submitted. You go at the speed of the adjudicator. I have seen it take as long as 6 months. and as little as a couple of days. So depends whats involved and how deep the adjudicator wants to go.

[tern4petrel 0]

6 months! Yikes! I'm going to keep my fingers crossed for a shorter period. I submitted affidavits with the I-130 but I guess they weren't enough. Thanks again, dwheels76!

[TBoneTX 45,542]

*** Thread moved from CR-1 Process forum to the CR-1 Case Progress subforum. ***

[nikiandmike 0]

it looks like TSC asks for RFE in most cases...It only took them 6 days to approve our case after RFE so don't lose hope!!

[tern4petrel 0]

Thanks, nikiandmike! I'm glad to hear yours was fast and will keep my fingers crossed that ours will be, too!

[ditdot 46]

6 months! Yikes! I'm going to keep my fingers crossed for a shorter period. I submitted affidavits with the I-130 but I guess they weren't enough. Thanks again, dwheels76!

We did the same... only sent affidavits For some, the affidavits alone gets them through and some, that alone doesn't satisfy the USCIS adjudicators hence more evidence is requested.

We are nearing our 5 month mark and I am growing restless day by day lol If we get a RFE we will send in what is needed and the evidence of bona fide marriage info but if we get an approval, I will still send them with the AOS/IV package at NVC. We are gathering the evidence now and my aim is to send them before the case reaches the Consulate/Embassy.

I want to say that it's amazing that you did all that in one day! I am just preparing them now so I have a few questions for you if you don't mind... How did you present your emails..? (layout on paper etc.) How many pages did you submit?.. Did you include chat logs?.. If you did.. How did you present them?... (please don't mind my questions)

Through your experience, your insight on this will be very helpful to those in the same situation and very much appreciated tern4petrel !

[tern4petrel 0]

We did the same... only sent affidavits For some, the affidavits alone gets them through and some, that alone doesn't satisfy the USCIS adjudicators hence more evidence is requested.

We are nearing our 5 month mark and I am growing restless day by day lol If we get a RFE we will send in what is needed and the evidence of bona fide marriage info but if we get an approval, I will still send them with the AOS/IV package at NVC. We are gathering the evidence now and my aim is to send them before the case reaches the Consulate/Embassy.

I want to say that it's amazing that you did all that in one day! I am just preparing them now so I have a few questions for you if you don't mind... How did you present your emails..? (layout on paper etc.) How many pages did you submit?.. Did you include chat logs?.. If you did.. How did you present them?... (please don't mind my questions)

Through your experience, your insight on this will be very helpful to those in the same situation and very much appreciated tern4petrel !

Hi, ditdot. I just printed the emails directly from my gmail account. It was about 100 pages worth - a selection to show that we started dating back in 2009 and that the relationship is ongoing. I didn't include chat logs because we've mostly emailed and texted. I was able to submit them all in one day because I had already gathered most of it for the interview stage. Plus the USCIS website said the RFE was sent September 25 but then it changed to October 7 (!). The actual RFE was postmarked October 8. I went over my petition carefully and decided that the RFE was most likely for bona fides, so I drafted a cover letter and table of contents and basically just had to sign and date it and send it. I used exhibit tabs as well to organize it all. Hope that helps!

[ditdot 46]

Hi, ditdot. I just printed the emails directly from my gmail account. It was about 100 pages worth - a selection to show that we started dating back in 2009 and that the relationship is ongoing. I didn't include chat logs because we've mostly emailed and texted. I was able to submit them all in one day because I had already gathered most of it for the interview stage. Plus the USCIS website said the RFE was sent September 25 but then it changed to October 7 (!). The actual RFE was postmarked October 8. I went over my petition carefully and decided that the RFE was most likely for bona fides, so I drafted a cover letter and table of contents and basically just had to sign and date it and send it. I used exhibit tabs as well to organize it all. Hope that helps!

Yes! Definitely gave me a clearer idea so thank you! I hope you receive your approval soon from USCIS and All the best in your journey!