Evidence of Bona Fide Marriage I-130 petition + other docs

[zochu 255]

Hello all,

 

I have been reading many posts about the evidence required to prove a bona fide marriage. I am Australia and my husband (and now 3 month old daughter) are both American Citizens. I am wondering if the below list of evidence/proof is sufficient enough.

 

Here is a list of the documents we are submitting to prove our marriage is real:

 

1. Proof of Joint Tenancy (Australian lease agreement)

2. Proof of combined finances (Australian bank account) (potentially getting a US bank account in joint names if possible with USAA)

3. Birth certificate of Child (Australian birth certificate(

4. Consular Report of Bird Abroad to a Citizen of the United States of America (daughters citizenship confirmation, received after interview at US Consulate in Melbourne, AUS).

5. Proof of Beneficiary's United States Uniformed Services ID and privileged card (its my ID as the spouse of a US military member, my husband is ex USN as he did not re-enlist so the card is now expired)

6. Proof of Joint Health Benefits (Australia/VIC Ambulance Cover)

7. Proof of Beneficiary's emergency contact details for employment (screen shot of my emergency contact details for my employment here in Australia)

8. Proof of Beneficiary's legal name change after marriage (multiple cards and documents that prove I am using my husbands surname passport/aus drivers license etc)

9. Proof of Beneficiary's life insurance policy (my life insurance policy that has my husband listed as the beneficiary if I die)

10. Proof of Joint Costco Membership 

11. Proof of Joint Utilities (Water bill in both names)

12. Proof of Joint Car Insurance Policy) 

 

plus 

 

60 pages that include photos of our wedding,  photos of us throughout our relationship and marriage, photos with friends and family in both Aus and USA, receipts of hotels stayed at together, Disneyland tickets/receipts, boarding passes, postal items and future holidays booked and paid for (we are going to Thailand in December and we have added our future flight itinerary and accommodation). The 60 pages have been set up in a timeline manner from our first date, trips I took back and fourth to the USA, him coming to Australia, birth of our child up until present (all dated, with location and brief explanation)

 

We have one letter of support from one of my husbands friends from the US Navy, but I've read they don't carry much weight so we have stopped asking friends and family to write one... should we include this?

 

1. Have we provided enough? We don't want a RFE as we don't know what else we can provide but we also don't want to overwhelm the officer reviewing our application.

 

 

Also, is there a guide on how we should place together? What else we should include? I have searched this forum but cannot find one? Does anyone have something they give me (please) that explains how to do a cover lettr, what order everything goes in, etc. - that would be so fantastic!

 

Anyways, thanks in advance for reading this! We hope to post the packet off within the next 5-7 days!

 

Zoe & Andrew and baby Addison 

 

[Nitas_man 3,100]

Um - that’s more than enough LOL

 

Good luck to both of you

[zochu 255]

OK LOL Thank you! 

 

Edit: Do you think then, we are giving too much that we will overwhelm the officer?

Edited September 28, 2019 by zochu
extra info

[Ontarkie 13,920]

~~Moved to IR1/CR1 P&P, from Bringing Family of USC - as the OP is a spouse of a USC and that process is discussed here.~~

[Nitas_man 3,100]

26 minutes ago, zochu said:

Hello all,

 

I have been reading many posts about the evidence required to prove a bona fide marriage. I am Australia and my husband (and now 3 month old daughter) are both American Citizens. I am wondering if the below list of evidence/proof is sufficient enough.

 

Here is a list of the documents we are submitting to prove our marriage is real:

 

1. Proof of Joint Tenancy (Australian lease agreement)

2. Proof of combined finances (Australian bank account) (potentially getting a US bank account in joint names if possible with USAA)

3. Birth certificate of Child (Australian birth certificate(

4. Consular Report of Bird Abroad to a Citizen of the United States of America (daughters citizenship confirmation, received after interview at US Consulate in Melbourne, AUS).

5. Proof of Beneficiary's United States Uniformed Services ID and privileged card (its my ID as the spouse of a US military member, my husband is ex USN as he did not re-enlist so the card is now expired)

6. Proof of Joint Health Benefits (Australia/VIC Ambulance Cover)

7. Proof of Beneficiary's emergency contact details for employment (screen shot of my emergency contact details for my employment here in Australia)

8. Proof of Beneficiary's legal name change after marriage (multiple cards and documents that prove I am using my husbands surname passport/aus drivers license etc)

9. Proof of Beneficiary's life insurance policy (my life insurance policy that has my husband listed as the beneficiary if I die)

10. Proof of Joint Costco Membership 

11. Proof of Joint Utilities (Water bill in both names)

12. Proof of Joint Car Insurance Policy) 

 

plus 

 

60 pages that include photos of our wedding,  photos of us throughout our relationship and marriage, photos with friends and family in both Aus and USA, receipts of hotels stayed at together, Disneyland tickets/receipts, boarding passes, postal items and future holidays booked and paid for (we are going to Thailand in December and we have added our future flight itinerary and accommodation). The 60 pages have been set up in a timeline manner from our first date, trips I took back and fourth to the USA, him coming to Australia, birth of our child up until present (all dated, with location and brief explanation)

 

We have one letter of support from one of my husbands friends from the US Navy, but I've read they don't carry much weight so we have stopped asking friends and family to write one... should we include this?

 

1. Have we provided enough? We don't want a RFE as we don't know what else we can provide but we also don't want to overwhelm the officer reviewing our application.

 

 

Also, is there a guide on how we should place together? What else we should include? I have searched this forum but cannot find one? Does anyone have something they give me (please) that explains how to do a cover lettr, what order everything goes in, etc. - that would be so fantastic!

 

Anyways, thanks in advance for reading this! We hope to post the packet off within the next 5-7 days!

 

Zoe & Andrew and baby Addison 

 

Ok I’m going to give you some advice.  Our evidence of marriage?  The translated marriage book.  She was on US health insurance by interview time but that was it.

 

You wont have any problem getting the petition approved but none of this joint stuff in Aussie matters.  Your petitioner needs to set up all of this in the US.  I don’t see anything here that shows US ties nor is anything mentioned about intent to establish them.

The petitioner needs to establish ties in the US (address, assets, drivers license, voters registration, banking, credit cards, etc) and the filed petition needs to reflect that.  

The support affidavit is based on US income with US bank statements, tax returns, and/or assets stapled to it.  Rethink the arrangement of this petition.  It sounds like a lifting condition version of proof of valid marriage for Australia and if the reverse was true, that all of this evidence was US-based, it would be a pretty solid file.

12 minutes ago, zochu said:

OK LOL Thank you! 

 

Edit: Do you think then, we are giving too much that we will overwhelm the officer?

See above

Edited September 28, 2019 by Nitas_man

[SalishSea 16,809]

7 minutes ago, zochu said:

OK LOL Thank you! 

 

Edit: Do you think then, we are giving too much that we will overwhelm the officer?

There is always a risk that sending a novella will delay things, as it requires them to read through everything.  Best bet is stick to the checklist on the USCIS website.  

 

The 60 pages of stuff is unnecessary.  The best evidence of a bonafide marriage is time spent together.  Living together currently puts you in a very strong position that way.  Plus, you're from a very low fraud country.  Many spouse petitions are filed for people from high fraud/high risk countries, where the couple have met once and married on that visit, etc.

 

You won't need affidavits.

 

Best wishes!

[Nitas_man 3,100]

39 minutes ago, zochu said:

Hello all,

 

I have been reading many posts about the evidence required to prove a bona fide marriage. I am Australia and my husband (and now 3 month old daughter) are both American Citizens. I am wondering if the below list of evidence/proof is sufficient enough.

 

Here is a list of the documents we are submitting to prove our marriage is real:

 

Quote

Proof of Joint Tenancy (Australia)

Birth certificate of Child (Australian birth certificate

Consular Report of Bird Abroad to a Citizen of the United States of America (daughter)

Proof of Beneficiary's legal name change after marriage (multiple cards and documents that prove I am using my husbands surname passport/aus drivers license etc)

photos of our wedding

Proof of legal status in Aussie (petitioner) 

Marriage certificate

 

 

Zoe & Andrew and baby Addison 

 

There ya go.  All cleaned up.  Handful of wedding photos (half dozen) should suffice.  You also forgot the only document that matters - marriage certifcate.

 

Now add:

Proof of establishment or intent to establish ties to the US (petitioner)

and start working on how the US petitioner will fulfill the support affidavit requirements

Edited September 28, 2019 by Nitas_man

[zochu 255]

3 minutes ago, Nitas_man said:

There ya go.  All cleaned up.

Now add:

Proof of establishment or intent to establish ties to the US (petitioner)

and start working on how the US petitioner will fulfill the support affidavit requirements

thank you very much! Andy (husband) is only here as a tourist and will leave Australia in Jan 2020 for work! 

[Nitas_man 3,100]

2 minutes ago, zochu said:

thank you very much! Andy (husband) is only here as a tourist and will leave Australia in Jan 2020 for work! 

Why would you submit a joint lease, joint bank account, and joint utilities in Aussie for a tourist?

[zochu 255]

1 minute ago, Nitas_man said:

Why would you submit a joint lease, joint bank account, and joint utilities in Aussie for a tourist?

We just have that as evidence. tourists here can get all of those things. We found it hard for me to get a US bank account while i was there on the VWP as i had no tax ID or SSN

[caliliving 606]

You are living in auz and doing a cr1 visa? Or are you currently in the us and doing an AOS? 

 

Regardless, Australia is a low fraud country. You basically just need to fill the paperwork out and you dont need any evidence. You will be fine! 

[zochu 255]

On 9/29/2019 at 12:17 PM, caliliving said:

You are living in auz and doing a cr1 visa? Or are you currently in the us and doing an AOS? 

 

Regardless, Australia is a low fraud country. You basically just need to fill the paperwork out and you dont need any evidence. You will be fine! 

 

I am living in Aus about to start the CR1 process. Ah this is so stressful! 

[Duke & Marie 1,389]

On 9/28/2019 at 1:20 PM, zochu said:

Hello all,

 

I have been reading many posts about the evidence required to prove a bona fide marriage. I am Australia and my husband (and now 3 month old daughter) are both American Citizens. I am wondering if the below list of evidence/proof is sufficient enough.

 

Here is a list of the documents we are submitting to prove our marriage is real:

 

1. Proof of Joint Tenancy (Australian lease agreement)

2. Proof of combined finances (Australian bank account) (potentially getting a US bank account in joint names if possible with USAA)

3. Birth certificate of Child (Australian birth certificate(

4. Consular Report of Bird Abroad to a Citizen of the United States of America (daughters citizenship confirmation, received after interview at US Consulate in Melbourne, AUS).

5. Proof of Beneficiary's United States Uniformed Services ID and privileged card (its my ID as the spouse of a US military member, my husband is ex USN as he did not re-enlist so the card is now expired)

6. Proof of Joint Health Benefits (Australia/VIC Ambulance Cover)

7. Proof of Beneficiary's emergency contact details for employment (screen shot of my emergency contact details for my employment here in Australia)

8. Proof of Beneficiary's legal name change after marriage (multiple cards and documents that prove I am using my husbands surname passport/aus drivers license etc)

9. Proof of Beneficiary's life insurance policy (my life insurance policy that has my husband listed as the beneficiary if I die)

10. Proof of Joint Costco Membership 

11. Proof of Joint Utilities (Water bill in both names)

12. Proof of Joint Car Insurance Policy) 

 

plus 

 

60 pages that include photos of our wedding,  photos of us throughout our relationship and marriage, photos with friends and family in both Aus and USA, receipts of hotels stayed at together, Disneyland tickets/receipts, boarding passes, postal items and future holidays booked and paid for (we are going to Thailand in December and we have added our future flight itinerary and accommodation). The 60 pages have been set up in a timeline manner from our first date, trips I took back and fourth to the USA, him coming to Australia, birth of our child up until present (all dated, with location and brief explanation)

 

We have one letter of support from one of my husbands friends from the US Navy, but I've read they don't carry much weight so we have stopped asking friends and family to write one... should we include this?

 

1. Have we provided enough? We don't want a RFE as we don't know what else we can provide but we also don't want to overwhelm the officer reviewing our application.

 

 

Also, is there a guide on how we should place together? What else we should include? I have searched this forum but cannot find one? Does anyone have something they give me (please) that explains how to do a cover lettr, what order everything goes in, etc. - that would be so fantastic!

 

Anyways, thanks in advance for reading this! We hope to post the packet off within the next 5-7 days!

 

Zoe & Andrew and baby Addison 

 

Lol about 10x more than what we sent, and ours was approved... I’m sure that more than enough 😂

[zochu 255]

I sure hope so. We should have done this when he was active duty and just right after we got married in April 2018 but we didnt know where we wanted to live and now hes been in Australia for the last 10 months and doesnt want to live here haha

[Duke & Marie 1,389]

28 minutes ago, zochu said:

I sure hope so. We should have done this when he was active duty and just right after we got married in April 2018 but we didnt know where we wanted to live and now hes been in Australia for the last 10 months and doesnt want to live here haha

Lol my hubby is the same, he loves coming here on visits 😂 Aus wins hands down for both of us, but for now given our immigration system is so hard, long and expensive we picked there for now before retirement here in later years.