I-130 Guide

[Paul & Ilona 0]

I'm getting ready to file my I-130 for myself (in Canada) with my husband (in USA). We read the guide that says along with the actual forms, you should send them proof of financial minglings. So far I have 3 bits of financial-mingling proof:

1. His name on my CDN bank statement

2. He appears as a cardholder on my Visa credit account and...

3. Credit card statement print-out containing many, many charges in US dollars for things like his car repairs, cell phone bills, gas fill-ups to come visit me, restaurants etc.

Tell me, is this good enough financial proof? We don't own any property together, including kids, so we don't have that type of evidence either. I don't want any RAF's or whatever coming to him looking for more evidence and delaying the processing of my application.

***

The list goes on to say that you can send "Any other relevant documentation to establish that there is an ongoing marital union."

What can that include? Is this where I'm supposed to ham it up with things like photos, birthday cards, mushy letters, AOL Instant Messenger transcripts, receipts for the ring, etc? Is that considered "Documentation", or even neccessary at all at that point?

Any clues?

[samaci 0]

We filed the I-130 (my husband petitioned for me), and I don't remember them asking for any proof. Weird. I would think your marriage certificate would be proof enough. But yes, all those things mentioned as proof would be good enough. We never showed any kind of proof, only sent in the marriage cert. And to this day, we still don't have any accounts together.

[djc 0]

We sent a marriage certificate, that's it

[Misty1979 0]

Generally for Canadians, you don't really need to provide proof of financial minglings, since Canada isn't a "high fraud" country. The only time they usually want proof of shared finances is if you are from a country where the percentages of potential immigrants using a US spouse as a means to obtain a green card are higher.

[trailmix 77]

The reason none of us had to send additional proof is because the I-130 application was only changed in like...March/April of this year, to include 'proof' of your relationship.

You are certainly on the right track Paul & Ilona - good financials there. Just to seal the deal I would include some of the secondary proof you mentioned, a few photos, maybe a copy of a few cards or letters, ideally you have a few boarding passes from visits back and forth?

You mention gas receipts, so maybe you guys haven't flown back and forth. In that case I would post a note with each receipt that you travelled by land and these are receipts for the gas for the trips and note the dates of the trips.

Edited December 4, 2007 by trailmix

[Paul & Ilona 0]

Excellent replies folks!

My wife neglected to mention that I named her as the sole beneficiary of my stock portfolio, and we can include that in the packet of supporting docs. That oughta impress the CIS a bit.

Also, yes, we've (meaning me) primarily travelled to see each other by car. It's a 9 hour drive from my Ohio town to Ottawa, so we should have ample evidence of fillups.

Man, I hope we don't get an RFA for instant message transcripts...

[trailmix 77]

Excellent replies folks!

My wife neglected to mention that I named her as the sole beneficiary of my stock portfolio, and we can include that in the packet of supporting docs. That oughta impress the CIS a bit.

Also, yes, we've (meaning me) primarily travelled to see each other by car. It's a 9 hour drive from my Ohio town to Ottawa, so we should have ample evidence of fillups.

Man, I hope we don't get an RFA for instant message transcripts...

Well you could always send some if it would make your more comfortable - I see it as a huge invasion of privacy - but that's me

What visa are you applying for K3 or CR/IR1?

Oh and just so you know - it's an RFE (request for evidence)

And you might want to check this out - conversation with a former USCIS adjudicator, he addresses the whole - sending tons of evidence with your I-130 - it's about 2/3rds of the way down the page - entitled "DOES SIZE MATTER? (Proof of relationship)".

Edited December 4, 2007 by trailmix

[Delicia 1]

I submitted a copy of a joint savings account and our last lease for an apartment in Toronto (just as proof of being married and actually living together). I am hopeful that the IR-1 process doesn't dig into the 'bonafide relationship' ####### too much, I mean, how long does a couple have to be married to get away from that stuff??

[Paul & Ilona 0]

conversation with a former USCIS adjudicator[/url], he addresses the whole - sending tons of evidence with your I-130 - it's about 2/3rds of the way down the page - entitled "DOES SIZE MATTER? (Proof of relationship)".

Wow. That was perfect. Thanks.