How do you make an affidavit?

[Math Man 6]

I'm getting together the paperwork for a K-3 visa application for my wife, and I want to include some evidence that we have a bona fide marriage (as required in the I-130 instructions). We've only been married for a couple of weeks and have never lived together in the same country, so we don't have joint ownership of property, bank accounts, etc. Therefore, I thought I'd include two affidavits from my wife's parents, both of whom attended the wedding.

Here is my question: Is an affidavit simply a piece of paper on which each parent swears that they have knowledge of our marriage and that the marriage is "real" and legitmate? Does the affidavit have to be notarized? If anyone could shed some light on how to go about making an affidavit, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks,

Matt

[mosstoss 7]

I'm getting together the paperwork for a K-3 visa application for my wife, and I want to include some evidence that we have a bona fide marriage (as required in the I-130 instructions). We've only been married for a couple of weeks and have never lived together in the same country, so we don't have joint ownership of property, bank accounts, etc. Therefore, I thought I'd include two affidavits from my wife's parents, both of whom attended the wedding.

Here is my question: Is an affidavit simply a piece of paper on which each parent swears that they have knowledge of our marriage and that the marriage is "real" and legitmate? Does the affidavit have to be notarized? If anyone could shed some light on how to go about making an affidavit, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks,

Matt

Yes, the affidavit is basically a statement saying they have knowledge of the marriage and how they obtained the knowledge (e.g. I witnessed the marriage). Make sure the requirements are in there, e.g. the preparers relation to either the petitioner (you the US Citizen) or the beneficiary (your wife), their DOB and place of birth etc etc. The requirements are listed in the I-130 instructions.

I would expect the affidavits would need to be notarized.

[YuAndDan 153]

Yes, but keep in mind USCIS and Consulate know that a couple married for a short time wont have evidence of bona fide marital relationship, you only need to provide the same level of info as the K-1 at the interview, (Emails, Chat logs, Phone record, etc...).

But yes affidavits is just as you said, you can use the sample letter of support listed under I-751 in the example forms as a template on how to write a letter.

http://www.visajourney.com/examples/I-751_support.doc

[Mononoke28 135]

All I used for our I-130 was our marriage certificate with translation and two affidavits from my mom and my sister. That's all. I took all other evidence to the interview.

I have the samples of the affidavits if you want to see them. Just PM your e-mail address and I can send them to you.

Diana

[YGandMAT 0]

I'm getting together the paperwork for a K-3 visa application for my wife, and I want to include some evidence that we have a bona fide marriage (as required in the I-130 instructions). We've only been married for a couple of weeks and have never lived together in the same country, so we don't have joint ownership of property, bank accounts, etc. Therefore, I thought I'd include two affidavits from my wife's parents, both of whom attended the wedding.

Here is my question: Is an affidavit simply a piece of paper on which each parent swears that they have knowledge of our marriage and that the marriage is "real" and legitmate? Does the affidavit have to be notarized? If anyone could shed some light on how to go about making an affidavit, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks,

Matt

Hello there,

All sent sent as evidence was our marriage certificate (translated) and a copy of our honeymoon itinerary (which included both of our names in the hotel and flight reservation). Our cases were approved with no problems.

[Jasman0717 9]

I would expect the affidavits would need to be notarized.

Yep

[Math Man 6]

Thanks to everyone for their helpful replies. I have one more question. I was the only one from my family to attend the civil wedding in Mexico this past November. (A bunch of my family members WILL be coming to Mexico to attend the Catholic wedding in May.) Because of this, the affidavits I submit for the I-130 will necessarily come from Mexican citizens who did attend the wedding (namely, my wife's parents). I assume it's OK that the affidavits are not from U.S. citizens--correct?

[edp333 9]

Thanks to everyone for their helpful replies. I have one more question. I was the only one from my family to attend the civil wedding in Mexico this past November. (A bunch of my family members WILL be coming to Mexico to attend the Catholic wedding in May.) Because of this, the affidavits I submit for the I-130 will necessarily come from Mexican citizens who did attend the wedding (namely, my wife's parents). I assume it's OK that the affidavits are not from U.S. citizens--correct?

That is correct. I used my brother-in-law and a ninang for the affidavit.

[Imua 0]

For those of you who submitted affidavits from non-English speakers, did you write the affidavit yourself and ask them to sign it or did they write it in their native language and then you had it translated?

Also, for the affidavits to be notarized, does the person who wrote and signed tha affidavit need to be there at the time when it is notarized? For example, I am thinking of submitting an affidavit from my mom whom I am visiting in California for the holidays - can I get the affidavit from her and have it notarized when I come back to New York?

I am thinking of submitting affidavits from my mom and my roommate/'brother' who will most likely be living with us when Govi arrives, he has greater knowledge of our relationship than anyone else. These I will submit with the I-130. Also, when I go to Nepal before the interview I will get an affidavit from my inlaws which Govi can submit along with the other evidence.

Edited December 16, 2007 by Pattu Rani

[Math Man 6]

Pattu Rani,

Regarding the language issue, I'm planning on having my wife's parents write the affidavits in Spanish and then get them notarized in Mexico. I'll then hire a translator here and have them translated into English. Because my wife's parents don't speak English, I figured it might look a little fishy if I submitted English affidavits from them. My plan involves a little more hassle, but I don't want to take the risk.

Matt