General Question

[sshanna441 0]

Is a certified marriage certificate a suitable piece of evidence to prove a Bonifide marriage when submitting the I-130A? 

 

Thank you, 

[SusnOwen 160]

It's one of them.

[sshanna441 0]

Are there any other pieces that I need to include? 

[Just Paul 4,595]

3 minutes ago, sshanna441 said:

Is a certified marriage certificate a suitable piece of evidence to prove a Bonifide marriage when submitting the I-130A? 

 

Thank you, 

look at the checklist  https://www.uscis.gov/i-130

[sshanna441 0]

Thank you! I have that checklist. A marriage license just isn't listed under the Bona-fide marriage portion and we don't quite have a lease with both our names on yet. 

[Just Paul 4,595]

2 minutes ago, sshanna441 said:

Are there any other pieces that I need to include? 

since you are doing a concurrent filing you should get as much as you can.   Do wills, medical power of attorneys, have spouse add to life insurance, credit cards (as authorized user), so pics of time together since marriage.

[JeanneAdil 6,554]

5 minutes ago, sshanna441 said:

Thank you! I have that checklist. A marriage license just isn't listed under the Bona-fide marriage portion and we don't quite have a lease with both our names on yet. 

Marriage licence is only permission to marry 

that is why the marriage certificate (proof of the marriage ) is required

[geowrian 22,337]

A marriage certificate shows a (presumably) legal marriage and is required. It does not show a bona fide marriage. That's where all the other forms of evidence come into play.

[SusnOwen 160]

2 hours ago, sshanna441 said:

Thank you! I have that checklist. A marriage license just isn't listed under the Bona-fide marriage portion and we don't quite have a lease with both our names on yet. 

We sent pictures, bank account and credit card statements (I added my husband as an authorized user), a copy of the enrollment forms for his health insurance, and affidavits from friends.  At the point we filed, that was what we had.  Now, we have added him to the health, auto, and homeowners insurance, and have more pictures and other documentation.  We are at case ready to be scheduled to interview.  To be honest, (and just my opinion), I think people over emphasize having a lease in both names - I own my house and at some point in the near future we intend to put it on the market and buy a home closer to my work - So it's not worth the headache to try to add him to the mortgage right now, and go through all of that just to sell and do it all over again.

[Chancy 6,241]

32 minutes ago, SusnOwen said:

it's not worth the headache to try to add him to the mortgage right now, and go through all of that just to sell and do it all over again.

 

True!  My husband's bank says I can't be added to the mortgage unless we refinance.  But getting my name on that piece of evidence for immigration is not worth the financial implication of refinancing.

 

[US-UK 32]

I would never suggest to make personal property into joint property, or doing any transaction that triggers a tax issue without getting strategic tax advice, but it is technically possible to be on the deed without being named on the mortgage.

 

That said, if ever there was a time to refi a mortgage, this would seem to be it given current rates.

Edited September 22, 2020 by US-UK

[Orangesapples 1,954]

4 hours ago, US-UK said:

I would never suggest to make personal property into joint property, or doing any transaction that triggers a tax issue without getting strategic tax advice, but it is technically possible to be on the deed without being named on the mortgage.

 

That said, if ever there was a time to refi a mortgage, this would seem to be it given current rates.

I agree that refinancing right now is a great idea. The only issue I see with brand new immigrants is that they don't have a great credit score probably and mortgage companies use the lower credit score only if two people are applying for a mortgage together.