Evidence of a Bonifide Marriage

[mrathell 0]

Hello everyone, regarding the I-130 Evidence of a Bonifide Marriage, is there a specific format for the 'sworn affidavits', standard form or official form that we should use?:

#5 Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties having personal knowledge of the bona fides of the marital relationship (Each affidavit must contain the full name and address, date and place of birth of the person making the affidavit, his or her relationship to the petitioner of beneficiary, if any, and complete information and details explaining how the person acquired his or herknowledge of your marriage); or

Does it need to be notorized?

Does it matter what country they are from?

[Beth/ Paris Heart 2]

Hello everyone, regarding the I-130 Evidence of a Bonifide Marriage, is there a specific format for the 'sworn affidavits', standard form or official form that we should use?:

#5 Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties having personal knowledge of the bona fides of the marital relationship (Each affidavit must contain the full name and address, date and place of birth of the person making the affidavit, his or her relationship to the petitioner of beneficiary, if any, and complete information and details explaining how the person acquired his or herknowledge of your marriage); or

Does it need to be notorized?

Does it matter what country they are from?

I think in the forms section there is a example forms copy. They need to be notarized, does not matter what country they are from.

[pushbrk 12,822]

Hello everyone, regarding the I-130 Evidence of a Bonifide Marriage, is there a specific format for the 'sworn affidavits', standard form or official form that we should use?:

#5 Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties having personal knowledge of the bona fides of the marital relationship (Each affidavit must contain the full name and address, date and place of birth of the person making the affidavit, his or her relationship to the petitioner of beneficiary, if any, and complete information and details explaining how the person acquired his or herknowledge of your marriage); or

Does it need to be notorized?

Does it matter what country they are from?

I think in the forms section there is a example forms copy. They need to be notarized, does not matter what country they are from.

1. There is no requirment for any affidavits at all.

2. There is no indication that notarization is requested or required but it won't hurt.

3. These are the instructions in full. The format doesn't matter as long as the information is all there. Please note that any such affidavits are intended to focus on the relationship between the couple, not simply attest that a wedding took place.

Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties having personal knowledge of the bona fides of the marital relationship. (Each affidavit must contain the full name and address, date and place of birth of the person making the affidavit, his or her relationship to the petitioner of beneficiary, if any, and complete information and details explaining how the person acquired his or her knowledge of your marriage)

[Bocajr27 3]

Hello everyone, regarding the I-130 Evidence of a Bonifide Marriage, is there a specific format for the 'sworn affidavits', standard form or official form that we should use?:

#5 Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties having personal knowledge of the bona fides of the marital relationship (Each affidavit must contain the full name and address, date and place of birth of the person making the affidavit, his or her relationship to the petitioner of beneficiary, if any, and complete information and details explaining how the person acquired his or herknowledge of your marriage); or

Does it need to be notorized?

Does it matter what country they are from?

I think in the forms section there is a example forms copy. They need to be notarized, does not matter what country they are from.

1. There is no requirment for any affidavits at all.

2. There is no indication that notarization is requested or required but it won't hurt.

3. These are the instructions in full. The format doesn't matter as long as the information is all there. Please note that any such affidavits are intended to focus on the relationship between the couple, not simply attest that a wedding took place.

Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties having personal knowledge of the bona fides of the marital relationship. (Each affidavit must contain the full name and address, date and place of birth of the person making the affidavit, his or her relationship to the petitioner of beneficiary, if any, and complete information and details explaining how the person acquired his or her knowledge of your marriage)

For the affidavit to be considered legitamite it needs to Notarized. Please make sure to have the person who is filling out the Affidavit put personal information as to how they know you and your spouce. This helps USCIS determine if the Marriage is a Bona Fide one. If you need a copy of the form, e-mail me and I'll be happy to send it to you.

[Mononoke28 134]

No, nothing of the sort needs to be notarized. In fact all you need as evidence for filing is a copy of your marriage certificate but if you choose to send more evidence then a simple, signed affidavit from friends and/or family members is all you need. I sent one from my mom and one from my sister with our I-130 and we were approved within 3 months.

Here are the ones we used and again, they do not have to be notarized.

Diana

Affidavit_Example_1.doc

Affidavit_Example_2.doc

[pushbrk 12,822]

Hello everyone, regarding the I-130 Evidence of a Bonifide Marriage, is there a specific format for the 'sworn affidavits', standard form or official form that we should use?:

#5 Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties having personal knowledge of the bona fides of the marital relationship (Each affidavit must contain the full name and address, date and place of birth of the person making the affidavit, his or her relationship to the petitioner of beneficiary, if any, and complete information and details explaining how the person acquired his or herknowledge of your marriage); or

Does it need to be notorized?

Does it matter what country they are from?

I think in the forms section there is a example forms copy. They need to be notarized, does not matter what country they are from.

1. There is no requirment for any affidavits at all.

2. There is no indication that notarization is requested or required but it won't hurt.

3. These are the instructions in full. The format doesn't matter as long as the information is all there. Please note that any such affidavits are intended to focus on the relationship between the couple, not simply attest that a wedding took place.

Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties having personal knowledge of the bona fides of the marital relationship. (Each affidavit must contain the full name and address, date and place of birth of the person making the affidavit, his or her relationship to the petitioner of beneficiary, if any, and complete information and details explaining how the person acquired his or her knowledge of your marriage)

For the affidavit to be considered legitamite it needs to Notarized. Please make sure to have the person who is filling out the Affidavit put personal information as to how they know you and your spouce. This helps USCIS determine if the Marriage is a Bona Fide one. If you need a copy of the form, e-mail me and I'll be happy to send it to you.

Again, there is no official form for such affidavits and no requirement to submit them at all, much less any requirment for them to be notarized.

[mrathell 0]

Question: would it do any good if we attached a photo with the person giving the affidavit and us as a couple together to the affidavit? We have quite a documented history and it seems like such a shame not to be able to prove ourselves that way too.

On the same note, are photoes even considered any type of proof of an ongoing bona fide relationship, affidavit or not?

[pushbrk 12,822]

Question: would it do any good if we attached a photo with the person giving the affidavit and us as a couple together to the affidavit? We have quite a documented history and it seems like such a shame not to be able to prove ourselves that way too.

On the same note, are photoes even considered any type of proof of an ongoing bona fide relationship, affidavit or not?

Photos are perfectly good evidence of a bona fide ongoing relationship. Why not just include the photo printed on plain paper with a caption indicating the names and relationship and skip the affidavit altogether. They aren't needed for the visa process.

[mrathell 0]

We are doing the DCF from China, and proof of bona fide marriage was mentioned in the instructions that were sent along with the I-130 application, affidavits were mentioned in the instructions, photos were not, that prompted our last question regarding photos. Not sure if it's different from filing from the US.

Any advice and shared experience would be appreciated.

We're going to call the Guangzhou consular offices tomorrow to inquire in detail what paperwork needs notarization, we'll post on here when we have more info from them.

[hellINTIM 9]

No, nothing of the sort needs to be notarized. In fact all you need as evidence for filing is a copy of your marriage certificate but if you choose to send more evidence then a simple, signed affidavit from friends and/or family members is all you need. I sent one from my mom and one from my sister with our I-130 and we were approved within 3 months.

Here are the ones we used and again, they do not have to be notarized.

Diana

they need this?

[pushbrk 12,822]

We are doing the DCF from China, and proof of bona fide marriage was mentioned in the instructions that were sent along with the I-130 application, affidavits were mentioned in the instructions, photos were not, that prompted our last question regarding photos. Not sure if it's different from filing from the US.

Any advice and shared experience would be appreciated.

We're going to call the Guangzhou consular offices tomorrow to inquire in detail what paperwork needs notarization, we'll post on here when we have more info from them.

Then it would have been helpful if you'd indicated DCF in your profile and posted in the DCF forum. Pictures fall under the "any other evidence" category. The whole list that comes after the words "in addition to the required documents...." is by definition, "not required". Only documents not in English need "Notarial Translations". To notarize an affidavit would require a US Notary or the Notary services of a US Consulate. Your most compelling "in addition to the required" evidence will be evidence you live at the same address in China. Nothing more is needed. Skip the affidavits.

[Mononoke28 134]

No, nothing of the sort needs to be notarized. In fact all you need as evidence for filing is a copy of your marriage certificate but if you choose to send more evidence then a simple, signed affidavit from friends and/or family members is all you need. I sent one from my mom and one from my sister with our I-130 and we were approved within 3 months.

Here are the ones we used and again, they do not have to be notarized.

Diana

they need this?

Yes they do, but some people only send a copy of their marriage certificate and that's enough. Others send more just in case.

Diana

[AkikoA 0]

Joint Bank account count?

[pushbrk 12,822]

Joint Bank account count?

Of course. Did you not see exactly that listed in the I-130 instructions? READ the instructions. Interpret them literally.

[Dakine 26]

Since you are doing a DCF your main concern is establishing domicile in the US. Also having reason not to have filed taxes if that applies.

Normally people that do DCF need a cosponsor also.