Which evidence to include for I-130 long distance

[jma132 1]

Hello,

 

I want to know which evidence to include in our I-130.

 

Context:

- We met back in high school around 2012 in the Dominican Republic

- We started talking again around 2017 (I was already in the US at the time)

- We dated long distance from 2018 until 2024 (we still have chats from 2020 to 2024 as well as gift receipts from both of us).

- In 2024, we decided this was not working out due to the distance. She later started another relationship and I also went my way.

- In March 2025, she applied for a B2 tourist visa. At that time, we were not dating.

- Around June 2025, her relationship ended and around July 2025 we reconnected.

- In September 2025, she decided to visit for 1.5 weeks. This was our first time seeing each other again in person since 2012. We engaged that same month. She returned to the DR.

- April 2026 we married in the US and she returned shortly after.

 

Me: US citizen

Her: Dominican citizen

 

Open questions:

1. Do we need joint finances at this point? I am planning on including her as a beneficiary of my life insurance and 401k. Should we open a bank account?

 

2. She is worried about the breakup and reconnection. She is suggesting we scrap all the info prior to 2025 and start from there (meaning way less evidence). My point of view is that life changes and excluding all previous evidence will hurt the case more.

 

3. In her US visa application she put her previous non legal partner as common-law partner. In the Dominican Republic, common-law is not a legal status. Her concern is that USCIS might scrutinize that and ask why she visited me. In my opinion, I don't think that will get scrutinize. They might ask to clarify the common-law status and we can clarify that it is not a legal status and provide evidence.

 

Thanks in advance!

[Boiler 48,986]

It has been a while but my recollection is that the DS 160 asks for marital status, no question about common law.

[jma132 1]

11 minutes ago, Boiler said:

It has been a while but my recollection is that the DS 160 asks for marital status, no question about common law.

In marital status there is an option for "common law marriage". In our country common law marriage is not a legal status as you are still considered single legally.

[pushbrk 14,530]

5 hours ago, jma132 said:

Hello,

 

I want to know which evidence to include in our I-130.

 

Context:

- We met back in high school around 2012 in the Dominican Republic

- We started talking again around 2017 (I was already in the US at the time)

- We dated long distance from 2018 until 2024 (we still have chats from 2020 to 2024 as well as gift receipts from both of us).

- In 2024, we decided this was not working out due to the distance. She later started another relationship and I also went my way.

- In March 2025, she applied for a B2 tourist visa. At that time, we were not dating.

- Around June 2025, her relationship ended and around July 2025 we reconnected.

- In September 2025, she decided to visit for 1.5 weeks. This was our first time seeing each other again in person since 2012. We engaged that same month. She returned to the DR.

- April 2026 we married in the US and she returned shortly after.

 

Me: US citizen

Her: Dominican citizen

 

Open questions:

1. Do we need joint finances at this point? I am planning on including her as a beneficiary of my life insurance and 401k. Should we open a bank account?

 

2. She is worried about the breakup and reconnection. She is suggesting we scrap all the info prior to 2025 and start from there (meaning way less evidence). My point of view is that life changes and excluding all previous evidence will hurt the case more.

 

3. In her US visa application she put her previous non legal partner as common-law partner. In the Dominican Republic, common-law is not a legal status. Her concern is that USCIS might scrutinize that and ask why she visited me. In my opinion, I don't think that will get scrutinize. They might ask to clarify the common-law status and we can clarify that it is not a legal status and provide evidence.

 

Thanks in advance!

1.  No

2.  She's right. Scrap all evidence before your in person time in 2025

3.  Only if previous relationship is asked about would it need to be explained, in very simple direct terms.

 

 

[Crazy Cat 46,600]

5 hours ago, jma132 said:

In marital status there is an option for "common law marriage". In our country common law marriage is not a legal status as you are still considered single legally.

That could be an issue.  There have been multiple many cases where USCIS and/or the Consulate asked for a dissolution document if an applicant has stated they were married on a B2 visa application.  It might or might not come up.  Just be aware that it has happened, and do what you can to prepare just in case.

Edited 9 hours ago by Crazy Cat

[jma132 1]

38 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

That could be an issue.  There have been multiple many cases where USCIS and/or the Consulate asked for a dissolution document if an applicant has stated they were married on a B2 visa application.  It might or might not come up.  Just be aware that it has happened, and do what you can to prepare just in case.

We have documentation that she was in fact not married at that time and has never been until now. We have that document + a statement (which we will bring up only if asked).

 

The problem is the different interpretation of common law marriage in other countries. While in the US it is a legal status, in the DR it is not.

[jma132 1]

53 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

1.  No

2.  She's right. Scrap all evidence before your in person time in 2025

3.  Only if previous relationship is asked about would it need to be explained, in very simple direct terms.

 

 

2. May I ask why? If we scrap all evidence then the relationship sounds new and rushed. It will sound as if we started talking in September 2025 and that same month we engaged. Her visit was less than 2 weeks and a few months later we married. It has its pros and cons too

[Crazy Cat 46,600]

13 minutes ago, jma132 said:

We have documentation that she was in fact not married at that time

Good luck.  It is much easier to prove a person was married than to prove a person was never married...anywhere.  Hopefully, USCIS will know that there is no such legal status in her home country.   Hopefully, your immigration journey will be smooth and easy.

Edited 9 hours ago by Crazy Cat

[jma132 1]

2 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Good luck.  It is much easier to prove a person was married than to prove a person was never married...anywhere.  Hopefully, USCIS will know that there is no such legal status in her home country. 

Yeah, I am expecting a RFE due to that. I have seen cases from my country in the same situation which were asked for more evidence such as "divorce certification". They were sorted out. Fingers crossed