I-130 Bona Fide Documents List

[Caterpillar8 62]

Hello Everyone! I am new on this forum. 

 

I have several questions:

 

I am from Italy and my fiancè (US Citizen) lives with me and been together for almost 3 years (in Aug. 3 years) in Italy (we both are in Italy to study and graduate from University next year). We will be flying together to the US in June to apply to marry and file the I-130 few days after (with an attorney). Would that raise any eyebrow that fact we file days after the marriage? Other question: when we get to the US Airport at the Customs and Border Protection do we have to say we are in the U.S. to marry? (Although we are also to visit her family and spend time with them).

 

I am starting from now to retrieve all our Bona Fide docs such as air travels, hotels, etc.. I am going to list below what documents we have for Bona Fide and would love if anybody can tell me if it's good amount of docs we have for approval. 

 

- Flights, hotels, car rentals receipts

- I-94 for my old passport showing my travel history to the U.S. (I have a new passport now since my old one was about to expire) https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/i-94-instructions

- Enrollment Letter from our University for both of us

- Joint Bank Account (U.S.-based bank)

- Postcards from family and a friend in the U.S. to our address in Italy

- Rent Agreement stating my name and my fiancè name but my father as agreement signer (the rent is under his name as we live with him)

- We also have lived with my father to another address but we don't have any proof for that but before that, we lived to my mom's address (proof is postcards address). We lived for a total of 3 different addresses (same city) in Italy.

- Few pictures together

- Fiancè Permit to Stay ID Card in Italy

 

 I think that is all for now. Do you think is enough? As we are University students we do not work and we don't have utilities billed to any of us.

She has a credit card with her name.

 

 

Thank you in advance for taking your time to read and reply to my thread. Much appreciated. 

Edited April 24, 2017 by zeven1

[A'n'L 735]

You need to be perfectly honest with the CBP officer upon arrival. Marrying in the US on a tourist visa is fine, but he will be concerned that you intend to stay. Make sure to bring plenty of evidence that you will return to Italy and await the processing of your immigrant visa. Return ticket, rental agreement, employment or school enrollment in Italy will help. Also make sure not to bring to much luggage.

 

As for your evidence of bona fide marriage, you have made a good start.

[Caterpillar8 62]

26 minutes ago, A'n'L said:

You need to be perfectly honest with the CBP officer upon arrival. Marrying in the US on a tourist visa is fine, but he will be concerned that you intend to stay. Make sure to bring plenty of evidence that you will return to Italy and await the processing of your immigrant visa. Return ticket, rental agreement, employment or school enrollment in Italy will help. Also make sure not to bring to much luggage.

 

As for your evidence of bona fide marriage, you have made a good start.

 

 

 

Thank you for your reply! I appreciate it! I will be traveling with my fiance, not alone. I always bring Enrollment Letter from my University. Hope it's enough. We are bringing wedding rings in our luggage.

 

As for my evidence of Bona Fide, that is all I'm gonna put on, we are not going to have any other document from now until filing (July). Is it enough or do you think there should be something more?

Edited April 24, 2017 by zeven1

[A'n'L 735]

2 minutes ago, zeven1 said:

Thank you for your reply! I appreciate it! I will be traveling with my fiance, not alone. I always bring Enrollment Letter from my University. Hope it's enough. We are bringing wedding rings in our luggage. What if I just say "we are here for visiting"?

 

As for my evidence of Bona Fide, that is all I'm gonna put on, we are not going to have any other document from now until filing (July). Is it enough or do you think there should be something more?

As I said, be honest. 

 

If that's all you have, I think it will be fine. Of course, you will add your marriage certificate and maybe some wedding pictures with family. Evidence of travel together is also good (boarding passes, passport stamps, pictures). You will have time to collect more before your eventual interview.

[Caterpillar8 62]

5 minutes ago, A'n'L said:

As I said, be honest. 

 

If that's all you have, I think it will be fine. Of course, you will add your marriage certificate and maybe some wedding pictures with family. Evidence of travel together is also good (boarding passes, passport stamps, pictures). You will have time to collect more before your eventual interview.

 

 

 

 

Yes, I forgot to mention the marriage license and wedding pictures, although we are marrying at the courthouse civilly but will be taking a proper symbolic ceremony in May 2018.

Edited April 24, 2017 by zeven1

[A'n'L 735]

3 minutes ago, zeven1 said:

 although we are marrying at the courthouse civilly but will be taking in May 2018

I'm not sure I understand. 

[Caterpillar8 62]

Just now, A'n'L said:

I'm not sure I understand. 

I am sorry! Perhaps, I was not clear enough. So we will be marrying in July 2017 in the United States in the courthouse (civil ceremony) so we will just have the marriage license.

 

However, in May 2018 we will be having in Italy a proper formal symbolic ceremony with our family from Italy and some relatives from the U.S.

[A'n'L 735]

6 minutes ago, zeven1 said:

I am sorry! Perhaps, I was not clear enough. So we will be marrying in July 2017 in the United States in the courthouse (civil ceremony) so we will just have the marriage license.

 

However, in May 2018 we will be having in Italy a proper formal symbolic ceremony with our family from Italy and some relatives from the U.S.

Aha, I see. That should be fine. Quite common for VJ couples in fact.

[Caterpillar8 62]

21 minutes ago, A'n'L said:

Aha, I see. That should be fine. Quite common for VJ couples in fact.

Sounds good! Hopefully, we are not going to get a "Request for Evidence", that would be horrible, most of all we don't have any other document to put in and hopefully with a lawyer, everything is easier. Anyways I know I would get the "Temporary" Green Card and after 2 years a 10-year Green Card. Are USCIS officers more 'lenient' let's say because I am getting a temporary green card for now?

[A'n'L 735]

5 minutes ago, zeven1 said:

Sounds good! Hopefully, we are not going to get a "Request for Evidence", that would be horrible, most of all we don't have any other document to put in and hopefully with a lawyer, everything is easier. Anyways I know I would get the "Temporary" Green Card and after 2 years a 10-year Green Card. Are USCIS officers more 'lenient' let's say because I am getting a temporary green card for now?

No, the requirements for 2- and 10-year GC's are the same. However, they will understand that your marriage/relationship is younger, and that you will not have as much evidence as couples who've been together for years.

 

You can avoid the cost of a lawyer by spending some time doing research on VJ, most of us do the filing ourselves. It is in most cases safer, as we best know our own details. There are many examples on here of people getting RFE's because their lawyers has made mistakes when filling out the forms.

[Caterpillar8 62]

10 minutes ago, A'n'L said:

No, the requirements for 2- and 10-year GC's are the same. However, they will understand that your marriage/relationship is younger, and that you will not have as much evidence as couples who've been together for years.

 

You can avoid the cost of a lawyer by spending some time doing research on VJ, most of us do the filing ourselves. It is in most cases safer, as we best know our own details. There are many examples on here of people getting RFE's because their lawyers has made mistakes when filling out the forms.

 

Yeah, let's hope USCIS understand that. Also, we have been together for almost 3 years and we really love each other, hopefully, they do not think it's fraud or something like that when we file days after marriage.

 

Thank you for letting me know about VisaJourney!  It's a never-ending resource. However, to be honest with you, I must continue with the attorney since I already paid them. I am sure the lawyer I chose will do things right. It is in their best interest otherwise they will get bad reviews and bad name. My attorney looks OK, has really good reviews online, the paralegal gave me questionnaires to fill out which is pretty much all the info for I-130 and Beneficiary and Petitioner Biographic Information form. Although from now until July there is still quite a bit of time.

 

Well, if the I-30 is approved (hopefully) LOL then I will stick with VJ a lot!

 

I am so scared USCIS might deny the I-130  

[A'n'L 735]

4 minutes ago, zeven1 said:

Yeah, let's hope USCIS understand that. Also, we have been together for almost 3 years and we really love each other, hopefully, they do not think it's fraud or something like that when we file days after marriage.

 

Thank you for letting me know about VisaJourney!  It's a never-ending resource. However, to be honest with you, I must continue with the attorney since I already paid them. I am sure the lawyer I chose will do things right. It is in their best interest otherwise they will get bad reviews and bad name. My attorney looks OK, has really good reviews online, the paralegal gave me questionnaires to fill out which is pretty much all the info for I-130 and Beneficiary and Petitioner Biographic Information form. Although from now until July there is still quite a bit of time.

 

Well, if the I-30 is approved (hopefully) LOL then I will stick with VJ a lot!

 

I am so scared USCIS might deny the I-130  

Try not to worry too much (easy to say, I know). The i130 is the easiest part (especially perhaps with a lawyer doing the research for you), and you will get an opportunity to rectify any mistakes if you get a RFE (so it's not the end of the world). They're really only looking for formalities at that stage. It's at the interview stage you'll need to bring your best game. However, being from a VWP country makes that also a lot easier.

[Caterpillar8 62]

11 minutes ago, A'n'L said:

Try not to worry too much (easy to say, I know). The i130 is the easiest part (especially perhaps with a lawyer doing the research for you), and you will get an opportunity to rectify any mistakes if you get a RFE (so it's not the end of the world). They're really only looking for formalities at that stage. It's at the interview stage you'll need to bring your best game. However, being from a VWP country makes that also a lot easier.

 

Hehe yeah didn't want to say it but I thought so that coming from a VWP country such Italy (long-lasting friendship with U.S.) would be easier for me. 

 

So if this is the easiest part, where exactly the interview will be taking place? At the U.S. Embassy in Italy or at the arrival at the U.S. Airport? I thought the interview was only done to couples who were under heavy scrutiny from USCIS for fraud. I speak and write fluent English since we both study at an American University. (Maybe Enrollment Letter from American Uni in Italy would be appreciated to USCIS)

[A'n'L 735]

25 minutes ago, zeven1 said:

So if this is the easiest part, where exactly the interview will be taking place? At the U.S. Embassy in Italy or at the arrival at the U.S. Airport? I thought the interview was only done to couples who were under heavy scrutiny from USCIS for fraud. I speak and write fluent English since we both study at an American University. (Maybe Enrollment Letter from American Uni in Italy would be appreciated to USCIS)

 

ALL applicants for immigrant visas will be interviewed at the US consulate in their country of residence before the visa is issued. You will also need a special immigration medical exam before your interview.

 

Being fluent is of course convenient for you, but you do not need to prove that.

[Caterpillar8 62]

3 minutes ago, A'n'L said:

 

ALL applicants for immigrant visas will be interviewed at the US consulate in their country of residence before the visa is issued. You will also need a special immigration medical exam before your interview.

 

Being fluent is of course convenient for you, but you do not need to prove that.

1

No problem!  I feel confident about that. Moreover, the U.S. consulate that issues visas is in Naples, Italy. They should be pretty lenient, and the fact that I speak fluent English comes handy! My fiancé will accompany me anyways, we are always going to places together. When arriving at the airport (next year when visa is accepted), no interview will be taken? Just a stamp? and I know that I should get a mailed green card in a few weeks after my arrival.

 

I'm sorry I'm bombarding you with questions, but so far you've been the only one that explained to me pretty much everything. Attorney hasn't so far!