Evidence - letters from friends/family members vouching for our marriage

[hawaiiandreams 0]

Hi all,

I am going to have a few family members write letters about my marrige to my husband, vouching for our trips back and forth, meetings with him etc; I'm planning on taking these to our interview next week.

I know such a letter would need to be signed infront of and by a justice of the peace. Anyone got an ideas on the correct statement that should be on the letter? i.e. "I hereby certify that the above information is factual and correct".. (sign) or something to that effect?

Thanks for your help - had a look through the gallery but couldn't find any examples in there..

[pushbrk 13,073]

Hi all,

I am going to have a few family members write letters about my marrige to my husband, vouching for our trips back and forth, meetings with him etc; I'm planning on taking these to our interview next week.

I know such a letter would need to be signed infront of and by a justice of the peace. Anyone got an ideas on the correct statement that should be on the letter? i.e. "I hereby certify that the above information is factual and correct".. (sign) or something to that effect?

Thanks for your help - had a look through the gallery but couldn't find any examples in there..

Whoa! It is critical that you read carefully and interpret literally, when reading instructions. Any affidavits would be about your relationship, not your wedding/marriage. Passport stamps and boarding passes are far better evidence of visits than any affidavit. Nowhere in the instructions do you see a Justice of the Peace mentioned. The affidavits need to be "notarized".

All that said, I've seen no evidence that newlyweds who have never lived in the same country need anything more than a "Marriage Certificate". That list of optional "should submit one or more of..." appies to people who would actually have such things available because they've lived together and people have observed their relationship develop, first hand.

[hawaiiandreams 0]

Hello and thanks for the reply! I'm not sure what 'notarized' actually means..I assumed a JOP had to do this? if not, which other people are authorised to notarize documents?

But I feel much better knowing an affidavit is really not required. I have our marriage certificate as well as a truck load of itinerary's, flight stubs, email copies and photographs. Hopefully it's enough!

Thanks

Edited January 15, 2008 by hawaiiandreams

[pushbrk 13,073]

Hello and thanks for the reply! I'm not sure what 'notarized' actually means..I assumed a JOP had to do this? if not, which other people are authorised to notarize documents?

But I feel much better knowing an affidavit is really not required. I have our marriage certificate as well as a truck load of itinerary's, flight stubs, email copies and photographs. Hopefully it's enough!

Thanks

Documents are notarized by a "Notary Public". In the US, banks and insurance agencies usually offer notary services to their customers. Yellow pages, actual or online will get you a list if needed.

For Australia... http://www.notarylocator.com.au/

I think you'll find any JOP will have notary service available too but it's generally much easier to find a Notary than a JOP.

[Justin and Masako 0]

I was under the impression the affidavits didn't need to be notarized. Mine aren't, and they are about the wedding taking place. I have one from my parents and one from the minister that married us. Both were signed but neither were notarized.

[pushbrk 13,073]

I was under the impression the affidavits didn't need to be notarized. Mine aren't, and they are about the wedding taking place. I have one from my parents and one from the minister that married us. Both were signed but neither were notarized.

Right, no specific mention is made of notarization.

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 her knowledge of your marriage); or

However, from Wikipedia...

An affidavit is a formal sworn statement of fact, signed by the declarant (who is called the affiant or deponent) and witnessed (as to the veracity of the affiant's signature) by a taker of oaths, such as a notary public. The name is Medieval Latin for he has declared upon oath.

Or Webster online...

: a sworn statement in writing made especially under oath or on affirmation before an authorized magistrate or officer

Edited January 15, 2008 by pushbrk

[Justin and Masako 0]

pushbrk,

Interesting. Well I will just hope that since they didn't mention it needing to be notarized that they won't require them to be.

Thanks for the information.

[pushbrk 13,073]

pushbrk,

Interesting. Well I will just hope that since they didn't mention it needing to be notarized that they won't require them to be.

Thanks for the information.

Actually, they probably weren't needed at all but when they are, the safe bet is notarized AND about the relationship, not the wedding.

[LadyJane 1]

Like folks have said earlier, a marriage certificate speaks more to the relationship than an affidavit. But if you want to include one, this is what we did.

For our I-130 package, we included a notarized affidavit from our friend who stated that a) she knew us, B) she knew that me and husband were dating before we got married and c) she witnessed our wedding ceremony.

Simple and to the point. 5 sentences max!

We didn't prepare any new statements or affidavits for the interview. But rather, I sent my husband updated financial information (i.e. my 2007 W-2 and updated assets statements) because I noticed that the Montreal embassy was asking for that information during interviews.

Good luck!

[pushbrk 13,073]

Like folks have said earlier, a marriage certificate speaks more to the relationship than an affidavit. But if you want to include one, this is what we did.

Call it nitpicking or call it pedantic but a marriage certificate says nothing about the relationship. At just fulfills the requirement for evidence you are legally married. An affidavit from somebody who attended a wedding, can also say little about a bona fide ongoing relationship. I've seen no evidence that newlyweds who have never lived in the same country need any of listed "should include one or more...." items listed in the I-130 instructions.

I continually see people errantly interpreting "having personal knowledge of the bona fides of the marital relationship" as something like "attended our wedding". This is a gross misinterpretation that baffles me at least weekly.

[googles 0]

Like folks have said earlier, a marriage certificate speaks more to the relationship than an affidavit. But if you want to include one, this is what we did.

Call it nitpicking or call it pedantic but a marriage certificate says nothing about the relationship. At just fulfills the requirement for evidence you are legally married. An affidavit from somebody who attended a wedding, can also say little about a bona fide ongoing relationship. I've seen no evidence that newlyweds who have never lived in the same country need any of listed "should include one or more...." items listed in the I-130 instructions.

I continually see people errantly interpreting "having personal knowledge of the bona fides of the marital relationship" as something like "attended our wedding". This is a gross misinterpretation that baffles me at least weekly.

For my I-130 petition (I'm the American), I was having two of my family members who attended the wedding certify that they (1) saw the marriage and that they (2) expected the relationship to last. I don't have much evidence beyond that, other than photos of visits/wedding, travel and lodging receipts (my name only - I have no receipts with my spouse's name), and the wedding certificate, so I thought I really needed to have someone's testimony.

But since the affidavits I'm about to send don't really express much about the ongoing relationship other than the expectation that the relationship will last, I'm assuming now it's better not to send these at all.

Has anyone sent minimal evidence (certificate, photos maybe) but then were asked for more evidence and affidavits? Or is there truly no reason at all to send the affidavits?

Thanks

[Justin and Masako 0]

Like folks have said earlier, a marriage certificate speaks more to the relationship than an affidavit. But if you want to include one, this is what we did.

Call it nitpicking or call it pedantic but a marriage certificate says nothing about the relationship. At just fulfills the requirement for evidence you are legally married. An affidavit from somebody who attended a wedding, can also say little about a bona fide ongoing relationship. I've seen no evidence that newlyweds who have never lived in the same country need any of listed "should include one or more...." items listed in the I-130 instructions.

I continually see people errantly interpreting "having personal knowledge of the bona fides of the marital relationship" as something like "attended our wedding". This is a gross misinterpretation that baffles me at least weekly.

For my I-130 petition (I'm the American), I was having two of my family members who attended the wedding certify that they (1) saw the marriage and that they (2) expected the relationship to last. I don't have much evidence beyond that, other than photos of visits/wedding, travel and lodging receipts (my name only - I have no receipts with my spouse's name), and the wedding certificate, so I thought I really needed to have someone's testimony.

But since the affidavits I'm about to send don't really express much about the ongoing relationship other than the expectation that the relationship will last, I'm assuming now it's better not to send these at all.

Has anyone sent minimal evidence (certificate, photos maybe) but then were asked for more evidence and affidavits? Or is there truly no reason at all to send the affidavits?

Thanks

I would send them. If they (the USCIS) don't think they they are useful I would guess they just wont use them. I sent a lot of supporting evidence with, not just the affidavits. I sent photos of our trips together, emails, copies of letters and cards, a wedding picture, and copies of boarding passes and of the visas section of my passport that showed the Japan immigration stamps. My affidavits weren't notarized but even if they don't accept them there is plenty of other evidence. If they wanted them notarized they should have expressly stated so. Also they are of the wedding taking place not our relationship, the other evidence shows proof of relationship. Even then they will still ask for other evidence at the interview and for removal of conditions.

So I would send it. It may not help but I can't imagine how it could hurt.

Just my two cents,

[pushbrk 13,073]

Like folks have said earlier, a marriage certificate speaks more to the relationship than an affidavit. But if you want to include one, this is what we did.

Call it nitpicking or call it pedantic but a marriage certificate says nothing about the relationship. At just fulfills the requirement for evidence you are legally married. An affidavit from somebody who attended a wedding, can also say little about a bona fide ongoing relationship. I've seen no evidence that newlyweds who have never lived in the same country need any of listed "should include one or more...." items listed in the I-130 instructions.

I continually see people errantly interpreting "having personal knowledge of the bona fides of the marital relationship" as something like "attended our wedding". This is a gross misinterpretation that baffles me at least weekly.

For my I-130 petition (I'm the American), I was having two of my family members who attended the wedding certify that they (1) saw the marriage and that they (2) expected the relationship to last. I don't have much evidence beyond that, other than photos of visits/wedding, travel and lodging receipts (my name only - I have no receipts with my spouse's name), and the wedding certificate, so I thought I really needed to have someone's testimony.

But since the affidavits I'm about to send don't really express much about the ongoing relationship other than the expectation that the relationship will last, I'm assuming now it's better not to send these at all.

Has anyone sent minimal evidence (certificate, photos maybe) but then were asked for more evidence and affidavits? Or is there truly no reason at all to send the affidavits?

Thanks

If you have them, I don't see any harm in sending them.

Here's a whole thread on the subject of ignoring the additional evidence.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;#entry1045360

[brnidokiegurl 0]

in the original application it asks for evidence or proof of (marriage/relationshipetc) as owning property together, joint bank account or letters from 3rd party to show relationship/marriage, these we are also doing, they are from family and friends in morocco and are being translated today, states they must be signed dated, give address maybe even phone and birthday but are in instructins

[rjp44 1]

Like folks have said earlier, a marriage certificate speaks more to the relationship than an affidavit. But if you want to include one, this is what we did.

Call it nitpicking or call it pedantic but a marriage certificate says nothing about the relationship. At just fulfills the requirement for evidence you are legally married. An affidavit from somebody who attended a wedding, can also say little about a bona fide ongoing relationship. I've seen no evidence that newlyweds who have never lived in the same country need any of listed "should include one or more...." items listed in the I-130 instructions.

I continually see people errantly interpreting "having personal knowledge of the bona fides of the marital relationship" as something like "attended our wedding". This is a gross misinterpretation that baffles me at least weekly.

For my I-130 petition (I'm the American), I was having two of my family members who attended the wedding certify that they (1) saw the marriage and that they (2) expected the relationship to last. I don't have much evidence beyond that, other than photos of visits/wedding, travel and lodging receipts (my name only - I have no receipts with my spouse's name), and the wedding certificate, so I thought I really needed to have someone's testimony.

But since the affidavits I'm about to send don't really express much about the ongoing relationship other than the expectation that the relationship will last, I'm assuming now it's better not to send these at all.

Has anyone sent minimal evidence (certificate, photos maybe) but then were asked for more evidence and affidavits? Or is there truly no reason at all to send the affidavits?

Thanks

I would send them. If they (the USCIS) don't think they they are useful I would guess they just wont use them. I sent a lot of supporting evidence with, not just the affidavits. I sent photos of our trips together, emails, copies of letters and cards, a wedding picture, and copies of boarding passes and of the visas section of my passport that showed the Japan immigration stamps. My affidavits weren't notarized but even if they don't accept them there is plenty of other evidence. If they wanted them notarized they should have expressly stated so. Also they are of the wedding taking place not our relationship, the other evidence shows proof of relationship. Even then they will still ask for other evidence at the interview and for removal of conditions.

So I would send it. It may not help but I can't imagine how it could hurt.

Just my two cents,

I agree that statements aren't very useful in the case of a CR1. The rules that we have to follow mandates that we (the sponsor) return to the U.S. to file the petition, in most cases, they won't issue a visa to our wife to visit the U.S., so those rules are rather self defeating to maintaining a bonafide marriagte. We can show a relationhip through phone records, chat archives, snail mail, greeting cards, remittances, some pictures together in various locations, etc. Proof of a bona fide marriage would come after we've had a chance to establish both names on a mortgage or lease, joint back accounts in the U.S., beneficiaries on one another's life insurance policies. pictures of trip in the U.S. together, etc. The removal of conditions is the time to submit these things and any statements you might want to provide from others stating that they know you, you live together, you are involved in ____ together. I think these things would only be need at the embassy interview if the visa would be an IR-1