Evidence of bona fide marriage

[Laure&Colin 558]

Hi everyone!

After endless discussion, hesitation and brainstorming with friends, we are taking the IR-1 path. It seems the most adapted to our situation, since we both live in France right now, and Colin will only move back to the USA in January. So we are going to get married very soon, and basically file the I-130F just after the wedding.

I'm wondering about the evidence of bona fide, since we'll only be married for a few days when we send the file... So I was thinking that prooving that we've been in a relationship for 2 years and have lived together for 1.5 years would be the right thing to do, am I correct? I'm also a little confused about the primary/secondary evidence, what does that mean?

We don't have a lot of the evidence listed on the instruction file for I-130F form (my name's not on the rental contract since I moved into his appartment, we don't have children or common property), so we were thinking of opening a joint bank account, for the financial part.

Then we've got a couple bills for utilities addressed to both our names, and a medical insurance bill showing that we signed for a family contract. (pre-marriage)

I was also thinking of including a bunch of photos covering 2009 to 2011 in different places, with family when possible, together with photos of the coming wedding

And we started asking people, family and friends, if they could write letters stating that they have known us as a couple for more than 2 years. Plus letters from witnesses of the wedding ceremony, including both our mothers.

Am I on the right track here? What else would you recommend??

[A16!!24A 5]

Hello,

you are on the right track, prepare pictures, they want to see you guys with family and friends, and also, make copies of the bills, i dont know if you guys have email convos, or skype, but anything that shows you guys have been in a relationship over that course of time. Good luck

[Laure&Colin 558]

Hello,

you are on the right track, prepare pictures, they want to see you guys with family and friends, and also, make copies of the bills, i dont know if you guys have email convos, or skype, but anything that shows you guys have been in a relationship over that course of time. Good luck

Thanks for your answer!

Oh yeah we do have a lot of e-mail litterature . I was trying to focus more on proof that we live together but I can do that too!

[Ryan H 3,812]

we are taking the IR-1 path.

FYI, you will be on the CR-1 path, IR-1 is when a couple has been married for 2 years or more.

[Laure&Colin 558]

FYI, you will be on the CR-1 path, IR-1 is when a couple has been married for 2 years or more.

Oh, ok I didn't know that!

[Laure&Colin 558]

Hi there!

I just realized that the instructions for I-130F specified that you should include "sworn or affirmed affidavits" of the bona fide marriage. What are the legal meanings of sworn and affirmed? Does that mean the affidavits HAVE to be notarized or legalized or something like that?

We were just thinking of asking family/friends who have been witnesses of our relationship for more than 2 years to write letters, including of course all info requested by USCIS (name, address, date and place of birth....).

Any clarification will be greatly appreciated

[jv323 3]

Hi there!

I just realized that the instructions for I-130F specified that you should include "sworn or affirmed affidavits" of the bona fide marriage. What are the legal meanings of sworn and affirmed? Does that mean the affidavits HAVE to be notarized or legalized or something like that?

We were just thinking of asking family/friends who have been witnesses of our relationship for more than 2 years to write letters, including of course all info requested by USCIS (name, address, date and place of birth....).

Any clarification will be greatly appreciated

It would probably be best if you had them notarized, I was going to do that, but USCIS didn't request any Supporting Evidence from me. Maybe it was because my husband (beneficiary) is living in Mexico and has never been in U.S. I didn't even send any affidavits or pictures along with the I-130.But I did have some evidence in hand just in case I got and RFE.

[Ryan H 3,812]

I just realized that the instructions for I-130F specified that you should include "sworn or affirmed affidavits" of the bona fide marriage. What are the legal meanings of sworn and affirmed? Does that mean the affidavits HAVE to be notarized or legalized or something like that?

We were just thinking of asking family/friends who have been witnesses of our relationship for more than 2 years to write letters, including of course all info requested by USCIS (name, address, date and place of birth....).

Any clarification will be greatly appreciated

I would say for piece of mind, the people who write the statements for your petition should have them notarized.

[A16!!24A 5]

Hi there!

I just realized that the instructions for I-130F specified that you should include "sworn or affirmed affidavits" of the bona fide marriage. What are the legal meanings of sworn and affirmed? Does that mean the affidavits HAVE to be notarized or legalized or something like that?

We were just thinking of asking family/friends who have been witnesses of our relationship for more than 2 years to write letters, including of course all info requested by USCIS (name, address, date and place of birth....).

Any clarification will be greatly appreciated

If you are having any of the affidavits translated from French to English, use this certification:

Hello,

Use this for your translations, but have a friend certify it, not a family member,

Certification by Translator

I [typed name], certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and ________ languages, and that the above/attached document is an accurate translation of the document attached entitled ______________________________.

Signature_________________________________

Date Typed Name

Address

**** the certification does not need to be notorized, but just your original statements need to be ******* and dont have a family member certify the translatin, a USCIS officer told me when i asked..... bon chance