Getting married in 2 weeks/filing I-130 shortly after

[Mike445 28]

I'm very new to this process. I'm a Canadian living in Canada.  On April 7 I will be marrying my US finace.  A month or so after marriage we will be sending in the I-130 package.  We were going to wait until November to start the process but we have decided against that. She is 23 and I am 44.  We have been together for 3 years, engaged for a year.  For the evidence of bona fide marriage we have NO joint property or bank accounts or anything of that nature.  She has come and stayed with me in Canada on and off for the last year.  I have records from my work provided medical insurance company that has her name on it and dates of dental work she had done.  I have another form that shows her as 50% beneficiary of my retirement plan from work (my mother is the other 50%).  Is that sufficient?  We can send LOTS of pictures.  That won't be an issue.  We have taken many trips over the years.  Can we send screenshots from Facebook/Instagram that have pictures of both of us since its time/date stamped? We also have mail addressed to her and I at my house in Canada.  We will have wedding invitations and wedding pictures.  We area also having a second reception in Canada and have invitations for that and we will have pictures from that too. For the I-130 affidavits...when should I have them written up? We will have people from all over the USA and Canada coming to the wedding and I want them to write an affidavit for us.  How many is too many?  SO sorry for all the questions!!  thanks in advancce!!

 

Edited March 22, 2018 by Ryan H
Reason for edit: to remove full name.

[geowrian 22,336]

You'll be fine with that and so much time physically together (and from Canada...low fraud). Joint bank accounts and such is often not provided with spouses living abroad as it can be difficult to impossible to obtain them. It shouldn't be an issue.

The age gap is a little bit of a red flag, but the time spent together and other evidence should overcome that.

You can include the photos just fine. Don't go overboard, but photos that show you together over time are fine to include. Mail addressed to a common residence (along with any other evidence of living together) is great.

 

Affidavits carry very little to no weight.

[Mike445 28]

8 hours ago, geowrian said:

You'll be fine with that and so much time physically together (and from Canada...low fraud). Joint bank accounts and such is often not provided with spouses living abroad as it can be difficult to impossible to obtain them. It shouldn't be an issue.

The age gap is a little bit of a red flag, but the time spent together and other evidence should overcome that.

You can include the photos just fine. Don't go overboard, but photos that show you together over time are fine to include. Mail addressed to a common residence (along with any other evidence of living together) is great.

 

Affidavits carry very little to no weight.

Thank you! I appreciate the reply!! We will also have a wedding guest registry. We can send copies of that. I won’t go overboard with the affidavits then.

Edited March 22, 2018 by TBoneTX
remove name from post

[NikLR 13,220]

Dont post personal information fyi (like your full name.)

 

Canada is very low fraud.  You can get away with about 5-10 pics, joint auto insurance (its pretty easy to add a spouse) beneficiary of retirement...

 

I highly suggest the Canadian spouse start and RBC Canada and USA account if they dont have one after marriage.  It allows for cross border money transfers and will allow them to use their Canadian credit score for a US credit card after moving.  You could easily be added and provide that evidence as well.  

2 affidavits is fine, but low evidence.  If you choose to do them, you would want them from people who know your relationship well.  

 

Best of luck.  Enjoy your wedding.  Remember depending on the province it could take 1-3 months to get the wedding certificate back and you cant file the I-130 until you have that.  

 

[TBoneTX 43,195]

Post has been edited to remove poster's name.  This public forum can be viewed by anyone, so caution with personal information is appropriate.

[Mike445 28]

2 hours ago, NikLR said:

Dont post personal information fyi (like your full name.)

 

Canada is very low fraud.  You can get away with about 5-10 pics, joint auto insurance (its pretty easy to add a spouse) beneficiary of retirement...

 

I highly suggest the Canadian spouse start and RBC Canada and USA account if they dont have one after marriage.  It allows for cross border money transfers and will allow them to use their Canadian credit score for a US credit card after moving.  You could easily be added and provide that evidence as well.  

2 affidavits is fine, but low evidence.  If you choose to do them, you would want them from people who know your relationship well.  

 

Best of luck.  Enjoy your wedding.  Remember depending on the province it could take 1-3 months to get the wedding certificate back and you cant file the I-130 until you have that.  

 

Thank you!! I didn’t even think about posting my name. Thanks for catching that!! I am the Canadian spouse. I have an RBC Canadian and RBC Centura account. We are getting married in Arkansas and they give you 4 original copies of the marriage certificate on the spot when you return it to the county clerk. As for people who know our relationship well...there are several. Not just family but friends. I appreciate all your Great Info!!

[pushbrk 12,146]

14 hours ago, Mike445 said:

Thank you! I appreciate the reply!! We will also have a wedding guest registry. We can send copies of that. I won’t go overboard with the affidavits then.

Any affidavits would be overboard, as would the wedding guest registry.  They aren't interested in your ceremony or party.  Concentrate on evidence of being together in person.  Most of that would be in your passport and if you've been actually living in Canada, maybe on a lease etc.

[Mike445 28]

37 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

Any affidavits would be overboard, as would the wedding guest registry.  They aren't interested in your ceremony or party.  Concentrate on evidence of being together in person.  Most of that would be in your passport and if you've been actually living in Canada, maybe on a lease etc.

No lease and no passport stamps. We have only travelled throughout the USA and parts of Ontario. 

[pushbrk 12,146]

1 minute ago, Mike445 said:

No lease and no passport stamps. We have only travelled throughout the USA and parts of Ontario. 

So other evidence of time spent together.  Travel receipts, photos together in different places.  Not a lot of relationship scrutiny in Canada cases, but any scrutiny is about the relationship, not the wedding.  People in fake relationships often go overboard with weddings etc.

[Mike445 28]

Thank you. Photos I have. Lots of them. Here is an example. First is when we got engaged. Second is at Monster Jam. 

[NikLR 13,220]

8 hours ago, Mike445 said:

Thank you!! I didn’t even think about posting my name. Thanks for catching that!! I am the Canadian spouse. I have an RBC Canadian and RBC Centura account. We are getting married in Arkansas and they give you 4 original copies of the marriage certificate on the spot when you return it to the county clerk. As for people who know our relationship well...there are several. Not just family but friends. I appreciate all your Great Info!!

Ah okay.  No worries, the RBC account will hold you over after you move.  Not sure if you're aware but if your job can't continue when you move, you are entitled to EI until you can get a job down here, or it runs out.  Same rules apply as in Canada.  One benefit of being the CR1 is that you're a green card holder immediately and don't have to wait for anything else to collect!

[Mike445 28]

20 minutes ago, NikLR said:

Ah okay.  No worries, the RBC account will hold you over after you move.  Not sure if you're aware but if your job can't continue when you move, you are entitled to EI until you can get a job down here, or it runs out.  Same rules apply as in Canada.  One benefit of being the CR1 is that you're a green card holder immediately and don't have to wait for anything else to collect!

Well that’s great yo know!!! I’ll be darn sure to draw out all the money I’ve paid into EI over the years.  Even some of the years I only work six months I made too much money and would have had to reimburse if I collected. Thank you so much for letting me know that!!  I also have some locked in RRSP investment accounts with RBC in Canada. I will very likely keep my RBC Canada and USA accounts.  Have a great night!