S/O Evidence of a Bonafide Marriage

[Nikkiss08 1]

The recent evidence of a bonafide marriage questions have made me think about what we should send with our application.

My husband and I have been together 7.5 years and married for 3. We've owned a house together and have had joint bank accounts, phone bills, etc. for over 4 years. We have thousands of pictures and a ton of other documentation proving that this is a legitimate relationship.

Because we have so much joint information and evidence, I'm not sure what would be the most effective and appropriate things to send. Obviously, I don't want to send everything, but I want to send enough.

Is there an order of priority for what's best? How much is too much? Are affidavits from family members and friends more or less important than say the deed to our house?

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

On the I-130 instructions, it lists suggested evidence you should send with your package. I would study that list and note that photos is not on it at all. I think children is the first listed, joint mortgage/lease is the second. Generally affidavits are less important, but I think a well-written affidavit is worth a lot, and much more than one that says simply "I attest these people are married" which isn't worth much of anything. Best of luck!

[SimoAndYvette 0]

Hello! My husband and I found that the financial proof was better and proved more in every process so far. We alway include a chronological display of pictures and a couple letters from friends or family...but the tax returns, joint ownership of property and financial records were the proof that worked for us.

Good luck!

Yvette

The recent evidence of a bonafide marriage questions have made me think about what we should send with our application.

My husband and I have been together 7.5 years and married for 3. We've owned a house together and have had joint bank accounts, phone bills, etc. for over 4 years. We have thousands of pictures and a ton of other documentation proving that this is a legitimate relationship.

Because we have so much joint information and evidence, I'm not sure what would be the most effective and appropriate things to send. Obviously, I don't want to send everything, but I want to send enough.

Is there an order of priority for what's best? How much is too much? Are affidavits from family members and friends more or less important than say the deed to our house?

[Nikkiss08 1]

Thank you for the quick replies! The instructions list 5 things: Deed to property, joint lease, joint financial records, birth certificate of any children, affidavits from family/friends.

Seeing a lot of the other posters say "is 200 pictures too many" and "what about e-mails and phone and chat records" was making me nervous.

I think the deed to our home from 2007, Copy of bank records and beneficiary designations (life insurance, 401k, etc.), and a couple affidavits should be sufficient, no?

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Sounds good to me! Keep in mind that a lot of people are newlyweds, so they don't have any financial co-mingling so they are trying to show their relationship with photos. The people who are talking about chat logs and emails are probably fiance applicants. I think for being married 3 years, the evidence you suggest sounds perfect. Good luck.