How to Prove Bonifide Marriage?

[thinpea 32]

Hello, 

Me and my husband have started looking into the requirements to submit the I-130 form. In order to submit it we need to provide proof of a bonafide marriage. We have been unable to create a joint bank account or add me as an authorized user on his accounts because I do not have a SSN. Is there any way to get around this or prove the marriage bonafide in a different way? 

[Crazy Cat 39,565]

The best evidence you can provide is your marriage certificate along with evidence of time spent together.  

[AnnaCa 63]

47 minutes ago, thinpea said:

Hello, 

Me and my husband have started looking into the requirements to submit the I-130 form. In order to submit it we need to provide proof of a bonafide marriage. We have been unable to create a joint bank account or add me as an authorized user on his accounts because I do not have a SSN. Is there any way to get around this or prove the marriage bonafide in a different way? 

We sent pictures of us together, pictures of us with friends and family, plane tickets from when we have gone places together and pictures of cards/letters we have sent each other - and we were approved.

Proof of a bonafida marriage is more than just bank accounts and credit cards

[powerpuff 5,970]

~ Topic moved from IR1/CR1 Progress Reports to Process ~

[RebeccaG 8]

2 hours ago, thinpea said:

Hello, 

Me and my husband have started looking into the requirements to submit the I-130 form. In order to submit it we need to provide proof of a bonafide marriage. We have been unable to create a joint bank account or add me as an authorized user on his accounts because I do not have a SSN. Is there any way to get around this or prove the marriage bonafide in a different way? 

Are you in USA or canada?

 

[randy32 165]

The first thing I would tell you is don't try to create or force items that are not possible or doesn't make sense because you are in 2 different countries.

It will give you more problems and headache than it is worth. Joint accounts, leases, sometimes even insurance, are difficult without SSN.

 

Go over the list of evidence and provide each one to the fullest and you will be fine.

 

As mentioned, time together, marriage certificate. Strong start.

If you want to go for joint accounts, get added as an authorized user (some credit cards allow this without SSN), filling tax together. They first time will have to be done via paper and is a pain.

 

However you go, don't try to force things that are not there because you are in 2 different countries.

[mam521 1,776]

First, if you're married, has he filed taxes in the US?  If so, has he filed as married and received an ITIN for you?  That would be one way if you're concerned.  Better evidence is you putting each other as beneficiaries on long term investments like pension and life insurance plans.  Regardless, he'll need to have filed his taxes in the USA for at least the last 3 years.  

 

There are other ways to prove bonafide marriage as others have stated.  Trips including passport stamps and boarding passes, photos together and photos showing you've met each other's families, co-owned property...many things.  I know, you're probably thinking isn't this obvious?  But, there are many high fraud cases mainly from certain countries that result in you having to do more work.  

 

Good luck!

[RebeccaG 8]

On 3/7/2022 at 1:38 PM, thinpea said:

Hello, 

Me and my husband have started looking into the requirements to submit the I-130 form. In order to submit it we need to provide proof of a bonafide marriage. We have been unable to create a joint bank account or add me as an authorized user on his accounts because I do not have a SSN. Is there any way to get around this or prove the marriage bonafide in a different way? 

Your spouse can get a cheap life insurance, a will, a 401k if available, employee contact information, listing you as beneficiary/primary contact, and pictures of the wedding (if you didn't have a party, you still need pictures of the ceremony).

 

Have pictures at gatherings with family and friends and from trips if you dont travel a lot you can go to daytrips to cities near where you live.

 

The lawyers recommend at leat 10 pages of pictures wit 4or6 pictures per page.

 

You can also have two/three affidavit of witnesses. If you dont live together have one page of wire transfers, videocalls, phone logs, a travel international history report from i94 website, and the us citizen can use the debit card in your country to show international transaction while you both are there, 

 

You can watch youtube videos. Here are some examples 

 

 

 

[pushbrk 12,221]

There really is no reason to contrive evidence.  Concentrate on evidence of time spent together in person.  Neither USCIS or Consular Officers expect joint bank accounts for couples who haven't lived in the same country yet.

 

You are seeing a list of possible types of evidence.  Read what comes before the list carefully, and you will see the words "In addition to the required..." , "should" and "one or more...."

 

In long distance relationships, most evidence is from "other".

[powerpuff 5,970]

1 hour ago, Ctavarez90 said:

 

Edited March 13, 2022 by powerpuff

[llcoolwil 99]

We don't have a joint bank account or anything like that either. We just submitted pictures of us together and pictures with friends and family. We also got a handful of our friends and family members to write letters to confirm the relationship and such.

 

We only just applied on March 2 so I can't tell you if it was good enough yet but that's what we provided  

Edited March 13, 2022 by llcoolwil