Proving a Bona Fide relationship, and how to pay filing fees

[Rebecca W. 0]

My Japanese-national spouse and I currently both live in Japan.

Is this acceptable proof of our "bona fide" relationship?

A document from the city office in Japan (also translated into English) that shows the address he has on file as his "official" address in Japan is the same as my document from the city office that shows my "official" address in Japan.

Also, I have to pay the $420 filing fee, but I have no idea how to do it from Japan, as the check needs to be drawn on a US bank. Can I get an international money order from the post office in Japan? The only other idea I have is to have my father send me a personal check made out to USCIS, and then send it on, but that will cause me significant delay.

[bigdog 377]

http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/visa/tvisa-ivi130check.html and www.uscis.gov/.../uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f... Good Luck.

[Rebecca W. 0]

http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/visa/tvisa-ivi130check.html and www.uscis.gov/.../uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f... Good Luck.

I don't think visa fees can be paid at the embassy in Tokyo, because you need an appointment to enter the embassy, and there are no longer appointments for I-130 visa petitions.

[Laure&Colin 558]

My Japanese-national spouse and I currently both live in Japan.

Is this acceptable proof of our "bona fide" relationship?

A document from the city office in Japan (also translated into English) that shows the address he has on file as his "official" address in Japan is the same as my document from the city office that shows my "official" address in Japan.

Also, I have to pay the $420 filing fee, but I have no idea how to do it from Japan, as the check needs to be drawn on a US bank. Can I get an international money order from the post office in Japan? The only other idea I have is to have my father send me a personal check made out to USCIS, and then send it on, but that will cause me significant delay.

We did that for the check: his mom sent him a check and we put it in the file we assembled for I-130. She sent it via UPS so it took 2 days, and it was cheaper than I thought.

For the proof of bona fide relationship, this is certainly a strong evidence but it may not be enough. Don't hesitate to send out a little more than that.

In the same situation (living together in France) we sent a few photos, among them wedding pictures, affidavits from his mom and brother, utility bills sent to both our names (ie Laure X and Colin Y) (the marriage certificate was giving the same address for both of us too), a copy of his residency certificate in France, copies of boarding passes showing we travelled together for vacation, an invoice for a joint medical insurance, and a joint bank account statement, as well as a letter explaining our situation.

Everything was organised and put in the order it was mentionned on the cover letter, and I used colored tabs to make it easy to go through. In the end it was about half a pound.

[Rebecca W. 0]

We did that for the check: his mom sent him a check and we put it in the file we assembled for I-130. She sent it via UPS so it took 2 days, and it was cheaper than I thought.

For the proof of bona fide relationship, this is certainly a strong evidence but it may not be enough. Don't hesitate to send out a little more than that.

In the same situation (living together in France) we sent a few photos, among them wedding pictures, affidavits from his mom and brother, utility bills sent to both our names (ie Laure X and Colin Y) (the marriage certificate was giving the same address for both of us too), a copy of his residency certificate in France, copies of boarding passes showing we travelled together for vacation, an invoice for a joint medical insurance, and a joint bank account statement, as well as a letter explaining our situation.

Everything was organised and put in the order it was mentionned on the cover letter, and I used colored tabs to make it easy to go through. In the end it was about half a pound.

Thank you thank you thank you for this info! I have plenty of photos, but I have nothing that really links us together financially (yet). The lease is in my name, as I've lived here before we were engaged. All the bills are in my name as well. Would plenty of photos and copies of our registration with city hall as living together be enough, although we have no financial proof?

[Laure&Colin 558]

Thank you thank you thank you for this info! I have plenty of photos, but I have nothing that really links us together financially (yet). The lease is in my name, as I've lived here before we were engaged. All the bills are in my name as well. Would plenty of photos and copies of our registration with city hall as living together be enough, although we have no financial proof?

I don't know really! Consider having family or friends make affidavits. Give other strong evidence since the financial link cannot be proven.

[Gaijinsan 3]

My Japanese-national spouse and I currently both live in Japan.

Is this acceptable proof of our "bona fide" relationship?

A document from the city office in Japan (also translated into English) that shows the address he has on file as his "official" address in Japan is the same as my document from the city office that shows my "official" address in Japan.

Hi Rebecca. Let me share my experience, but with the caveat that it may not be of much/any use to you as (a) I filed the I-130 in Tokyo back when DCF was still available in Japan and (b) we have been married for nearly 10 years.

With my petition, I presented nothing more than my wife's koseki (and an English translation), which also reflects our marriage. I also had to submit our sons' CRBAs, but that was a specifically requested item (birth certificates for all of the beneficiary's children) rather than as proof of a bona fide marriage per se. The gentlemen at the embassy did ask a few perfunctory questions about our marriage and did ask where my wife was (she didn't come along that day, as she was at home watching our little one). In any case, there was no problem at all. Again, however, since USCIS will be looking at this rather than someone at the Tokyo embassy, your experience could be quite different.

Regarding forms of proof of a bona fide marriage, I do understand how this is not the easiest thing in Japan with its lack of joint bank accounts and (Japanese) joint tax returns. Some suggestions:

- Copies of your health insurance cards if one of you is insured as the other's dependent

- Mobile telephone bill from Docomo, Softbank, AU if both of your numbers are on the same bill

- Copy of New Year's card (did you and your husband send out nengajo this year?)

- Did you file a joint US tax return with your husband listed as a nonresident alien spouse?

The ward/city office document you describe would certainly not hurt.

Also, I have to pay the $420 filing fee, but I have no idea how to do it from Japan, as the check needs to be drawn on a US bank. Can I get an international money order from the post office in Japan? The only other idea I have is to have my father send me a personal check made out to USCIS, and then send it on, but that will cause me significant delay.

Sorry, not sure. With DCF I just paid at the embassy...

Edited January 7, 2012 by Gaijinsan