Pre-Marriage Evidence

[sachinky 465]

I have a general question. My husband and I met in college and dated through junior and senior year. We literally spent every minute together from dawn till dusk -- sleeping over in each other's dorms, writing papers together, eating at diners at 3AM, partying on the weekends, eating terrible dining hall food, you know, the college drill -- but didn't think to document it since obviously we had no idea we'd end up married.

I didn't think to save movie tickets or dinner tabs or hotel/gift receipts (I think I have a few somewhere but those are sitting in the pocket of some winter coat in some suitcase in some remote storage unit in MI). But I'm guessing me walking into the USEM with a DVD of The Dark Knight as proof of Christmas presents (romantic, innit?) exchanged with hubby (then boyfriend) isn't really going to get me very far.

Now what would you suggest we use for pre-marriage part of our relationship? Should I print out chat logs from early 2008? We have pictures, chat-logs and support affidavits from friends and parents for evidence. It's not the post-marriage bit but the pre-marriage bit that I'm wondering about. Obviously, I started saving up on stuff since we actually decided we were going to get married. Considering we lived in dorms, ten minutes apart, I don't really have hard proof such as passport stamps/tickets/boarding pass or letter mailed to each other, etc.

What would you guys suggest? Should I even be concerned about this?

Thanks for reading and replying. Any advice is welcome.

Edited November 12, 2009 by sachinky

[Darnell 8,479]

Are you writing an evolution of relationship letter?

what's it look like, so far ?

You got some good advice a few days ago, from pushbrk, as i recall, but in 'that thread' you have enough fodder to make at least 4 paragraphs in an evolution of relationship letter.

[Starlight95 1]

I think pictures of your wedding is suffice, and even letters you have. I mean you can technically add everything, the more the better. But, you have more then everything that establishes evidence of your relationship. They usually will not even look at all the pictures. So, a couple would be fine, and a few bits of other evidence is sufficent. It's really up to you.

[k.loveh 0]

I have a general question. My husband and I met in college and dated through junior and senior year. We literally spent every minute together from dawn till dusk -- sleeping over in each other's dorms, writing papers together, eating at diners at 3AM, partying on the weekends, eating terrible dining hall food, you know, the college drill -- but didn't think to document it since obviously we had no idea we'd end up married.

I didn't think to save movie tickets or dinner tabs or hotel/gift receipts (I think I have a few somewhere but those are sitting in the pocket of some winter coat in some suitcase in some remote storage unit in MI). But I'm guessing me walking into the USEM with a DVD of The Dark Knight as proof of Christmas presents (romantic, innit?) exchanged with hubby (then boyfriend) isn't really going to get me very far.

Now what would you suggest we use for pre-marriage part of our relationship? Should I print out chat logs from early 2008? We have pictures, chat-logs and support affidavits from friends and parents for evidence. It's not the post-marriage bit but the pre-marriage bit that I'm wondering about. Obviously, I started saving up on stuff since we actually decided we were going to get married. Considering we lived in dorms, ten minutes apart, I don't really have hard proof such as passport stamps/tickets/boarding pass or letter mailed to each other, etc.

What would you guys suggest? Should I even be concerned about this?

Thanks for reading and replying. Any advice is welcome.

Wouldn't it still be considered hard proof that you went to the same college? I would think this is a good replacement of the lack of boarding passes and visa entry/exit stamps.

Chat logs and photo's are good too, even if the CO's doesn't look at them, just that you have them would be good enough and of course cell phone records as well. You still called each other right?

[sachinky 465]

Ok, I don't have an evolution of relationship letter. More like an affidavit by my husband (and one from me) stating name, date of birth, place of birth, permanent address etc and then chronicling out the course of our relationship -- is that what you're speaking of? Is there a sample you could point me towards? I'll get started on it this weekend then. I assume you mean the paragraph I wrote out for Pushbrk summarizing our relationship?

I have pictures and chat logs from the beginning of our relationship (as well as everything I've got since we got married). I'll include some of that

as well into the evidence pile. We had a close contact/live relationship (whatever you wanna call it) as opposed to a LDR or a virtual online relationship so I don't have much in terms of boarding passes/tickets or letters written to one another. We just did a lot of stuff normal everyday couples do.

I can get his phone records. My US number is a prepaid I refill every month so no way to retrieve call records unless I can show them the call logs. I do have a lovely picture of us smiling proudly in our graduation gowns! That should be enough proof that we went to the same college. Should I get college transcripts etc? Am I over-thinking this stuff? I want to be over-prepared than underprepared.

Edited November 12, 2009 by sachinky

[Darnell 8,479]

an EOR is usually submitted on initial I-130 submittal.

Some people make an UPDATED ONE to submit on interview day.

I get a strong feeling that you did NOT submit one with the initial I-130 submittal.

But...

I use the generic 'you' here - to actually mean YOUR HUSBAND.

YOUR HUSBAND should be doing an EOR letter, not you.

I know yer driving the paperwork, etc etc, but - this should be something that HE signs (and not you ) but can surely use some of YOUR wording.

Good Luck !

[sachinky 465]

No, you're correct -- we didn't submit an EOR with our initial petition. But I shall ask him to write one for the interview.

My mother and his dad wrote support affidavits that covered some basic points like I mentioned -- where we met, how long we dated, when we got engaged, where/when we got married etc. so I didn't think to add one.

This is just another wondering question: is it possible to send additional stuff after the I130 has been sumitted or do they disregard it?

[Darnell 8,479]

This is just another wondering question: is it possible to send additional stuff after the I130 has been sumitted or do they disregard it?

No. The best you can do is to make 'another pack' for interview day. But even then, on interview day, the VO won't have time to SEE IT ALL.

But back to that 'marriage stuff'

A carefully worded/crafted EOR will explain everything. Try to keep it under 2 pages, short, and be specific on dates.

Here's my rolling brain cells -

I met this amazing woman on campus, we became lovers on october 11, 2007. We spent almost all of our free time together until we got married on March 11th, 2009. We stayed together for a month after our marriage, then she went back to India. I spent a month with her at her parents' house in June, 2009.

----

Now expand on that, and be date specific. Write it as if it's HIS VOICE, not yours...

Seriously, reread yer other topic , pushbrk gave you da gospel.

----

As to other stuff - hei - include as many originals of receipts as you can, for the interview day. Lots of Photos (not in a THICK BOOK, but in 20 page A4 glassine binders (you can get them at any copy shop in your neighborhood ) with the vinyl covers. This type of binder fits EASILY under the window at the IV unit, and bends enough to get through the curvy bits at the window. Anything with more pages - you'll be pulling out photos and wasting time.

Remember to review the I-130 instructions on 'evidence' - if it doesn't match the requirements list, don't include it !!! (no stuffed animals from him, on interview day, but a receipt showing that he bought it, and a photo of you holding it, you get the idea, yes? )

He should start thinking about getting joint names on his utilities, even if he lives at home , then supplying copies of the invoices to you for interview day.

Good Luck !! Stop spinning, slow down, and FOCUS !!! You'll be fine !!! Young Love from College is Grand !! Yer gonna make a VO smile a LOT !

Edited November 13, 2009 by Darnell

[sachinky 465]

Haha, thanks for your help/advice! I'll keep your tips in mind, although I can't seem to find Pushbrk's gospel. All I remember is that he said I should have a water tight case regarding my joint sponsor and then I wrote a paragraph and he said, in his opinion it should be fine if I said the same thing with confidence -- that our joint sponsor would be a non-issue. Which was comforting.

I have receipts from our wedding night stay at the Taj and our one-day quickie honeymoon before he had to leave. I'll use those.