bona fides, marriage and relationship

[SabrinaJerome 52]

I am about to file the I-130 and get this thing started. Wondering about the language of the bona fide bit.

The only thing we have to prove that we have a bona fide "marital union" is our certificate from TWO DAYS AGO (yeaaaa!!) and affidavits from a friend and a relative that were at our ceremony.

On the instruction page (http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-130instr.pdf) it asks for

"third parties having personal knowledge of the bona fides of the marital relationship... how the person acquired his or her knowledge of your marriage." and "Any other relevant documentation to establish that there is an ongoing marital union."

But other than that, we have no joint bills, property, credit cards (US cards require a SS#), etc etc... the only thing I am doing now is creating a joint bank account before we go back to Spain in a week. (My US bank doesn't exist in this area of the US, otherwise I could add him.)

(My apartment (rental) and bills and everything are in another part of the US, not where we are at the moment, so it would be a bit difficult - not to mention silly - to put his name on utilities... for a place he has never lived!)

I suppose we could try to do something in Spain (bank account, etc), even though we're supposedly leaving there by mid 2016.

We have TONS of documents, photos etc to prove that we have been together as a couple for 4 years, but not much to prove the bona fides of an ONGOING MARITAL UNION.

We're newlyweds!

Thanks, friends.

[awaywego 28]

Instead of focusing on the phrase "ongoing marital union" – not so useful when you've been married two days – think about what you have that shows you're in an "ongoing couple." For example, include those documents, photos, etc that show you've been together as a couple for four years. (Another way to think about it: those four years led into the marriage.)

P.S. In your other thread, you mention that you have lived together in Spain these past two years. Include this in your evidence.

Edited January 2, 2016 by awaywego

[Siam Sam 6]

Congratulations on your marriage. My Thai wife and I have been married 22 years this April, and we're in the same boat. Property in her name, utilities in one name and no joint bank accounts. For us, we still know the two witnesses to our marriage registration back in 1994, and I'm going to take them to the US Embassy here in Bangkok and have them swear out an affidavit.

But I agree that in your case, showing a lengthy relationship would be important. Photos showing the two of you aging over the years. (Okay, so four years is not that long to age.) Any boarding passes or ticket stubs from trips together. Maybe an affidavit or two from friends you've known the whole time of your relationship, or at least the last couple of years.

Edited January 2, 2016 by Siam Sam

[mallafri76 1,012]

A marriage certificate is proof of being married, not proof that you're in a bona fida relationship.

For most that don't live together, proof of bona fida relationship will be photos of time spent together, email/phone logs, passport stamps/boarding passes of visits to see each other and/or trips taken together. If you live together in Spain, send proof of living together, such as either a lease you're both on or something that shows that you're living at the same address.

US immigrations want to see that you're in a real relationship, so that's what you need to prove and that started way before you got married.

By the way, congrats to the newlyweds.

[NikLR 13,220]

Evidence not proof is needed. Provide evidence you have an ongoing genuine relationship. You just got married and the USCIS understands that. Chat messages, time spent together, pictures, emails, etc...

[SabrinaJerome 52]

Instead of focusing on the phrase "ongoing marital union" – not so useful when you've been married two days – think about what you have that shows you're in an "ongoing couple." For example, include those documents, photos, etc that show you've been together as a couple for four years. (Another way to think about it: those four years led into the marriage.)

P.S. In your other thread, you mention that you have lived together in Spain these past two years. Include this in your evidence.

Yeah, I will do that, thank you.

I was just stuck on the directions on the form that indicate the marital bit as opposed to the relationship.

Regarding Spain, we registered my information in the town hall when I moved to live with my husband, and my ID has the same address. Thinking about copying that as well.

[SabrinaJerome 52]

Congratulations on your marriage. My Thai wife and I have been married 22 years this April, and we're in the same boat. Property in her name, utilities in one name and no joint bank accounts. For us, we still know the two witnesses to our marriage registration back in 1994, and I'm going to take them to the US Embassy here in Bangkok and have them swear out an affidavit.

But I agree that in your case, showing a lengthy relationship would be important. Photos showing the two of you aging over the years. (Okay, so four years is not that long to age.) Any boarding passes or ticket stubs from trips together. Maybe an affidavit or two from friends you've known the whole time of your relationship, or at least the last couple of years.

Thank you!

Yes, I have been following your thread. Good luck!

Yes we have TONS of photos lolll and maybe we haven't aged THAT much but we certainly have gained weight heehehee Ohhhh Spain.

We have saved a lot of boarding passes, ticket stubs, etc, etc... and I was thinking also printing emails of airline confirmations - would that work?

And does affidavit imply that a statement is notarized?

[SabrinaJerome 52]

A marriage certificate is proof of being married, not proof that you're in a bona fida relationship.

For most that don't live together, proof of bona fida relationship will be photos of time spent together, email/phone logs, passport stamps/boarding passes of visits to see each other and/or trips taken together. If you live together in Spain, send proof of living together, such as either a lease you're both on or something that shows that you're living at the same address.

US immigrations want to see that you're in a real relationship, so that's what you need to prove and that started way before you got married.

By the way, congrats to the newlyweds.

Thank you! I can't believe it!

Yeah, well that's what I was getting upset about - the directions very clearly indicate "marital"...

We have some evidence in Spain (see above response).

I've always thought, from hearsay and movies and whatnot, that we were supposed to be proving we have a real relationship, not just the legal marriage bit, so with the emphasis on that, I was at a loss.

[SabrinaJerome 52]

Evidence not proof is needed. Provide evidence you have an ongoing genuine relationship. You just got married and the USCIS understands that. Chat messages, time spent together, pictures, emails, etc...

Yeah, that's what I was hoping. Maybe they should change the wording on that?