Form I-130

[Purple Viper 0]

Hey again. I have one more question regarding Form I-130. For evidence of a bona fide marriage I don't have much proof available to me. My wife and I got married last month. I will be adding her to my bank account some time this week so I'll have that to send. I will also be sending pictures and affidavits. Should I also send copies of receipt tickets of trips we both took to visit one another for the past year? What else would you recommend sending? I have letters and e-mails etc but I don't think those really matter since she's currently in the US and we are sending Forms I-130 and I-485 together. Correct me if I'm wrong...

[chimcham 18]

Hey again. I have one more question regarding Form I-130. For evidence of a bona fide marriage I don't have much proof available to me. My wife and I got married last month. I will be adding her to my bank account some time this week so I'll have that to send. I will also be sending pictures and affidavits. Should I also send copies of receipt tickets of trips we both took to visit one another for the past year? What else would you recommend sending? I have letters and e-mails etc but I don't think those really matter since she's currently in the US and we are sending Forms I-130 and I-485 together. Correct me if I'm wrong...

I think evidence of an "on going" relationship should help. I literally added my husband to that stuff in the last month too...I'm holding onto the emails and flight itineraries for the interview....do you have a lease?

[chimcham 18]

I think evidence of an "on going" relationship should help. I literally added my husband to that stuff in the last month too...I'm holding onto the emails and flight itineraries for the interview....do you have a lease?

OH! and what about cards addressed to the two of you? I just thought of that myself....I may include the cards that his parents and sister gave us at our small ceremony....

[Purple Viper 0]

Yeah ... It'd make more sense to show them emails and letters at the Interview. I just wish I had more 'good proof' to send. I don't have a lease because I'm currently living with my mom to save on money. We do help with bills and such but they are all under her name. She will be mentioning how we help out in her affidavit ... Not sure if she should write a separate letter explaining how my wife and I have been helping out with finances. Suggestions would be nice Going to bed now though ... I'm tired *yawn* lol night night. I'll be back tomorrow.

[Purple Viper 0]

Good idea about the cards. I was thinking about that too. Would you make a copy of the envelope with your name and address on it only or would you also include a copy of the card itself and what it says inside?

[chimcham 18]

Good idea about the cards. I was thinking about that too. Would you make a copy of the envelope with your name and address on it only or would you also include a copy of the card itself and what it says inside?

Hi Again!

Are both your names on the envelope? Then I would include that too. Can't hurt! I would send photocopies...

Edited March 20, 2012 by chimcham

[Purple Viper 0]

Good afternoon! We do have a couple I think with both our names on it but most of them are individually sent to us. (i.e. one envelope with her name and address and another one with my information) We mostly got packages from my wife's family (boxes) so those are kinda useless I'd presume. I'll figure something out. I might need to go to the store and buy myself a scanner - Might make life easier.

[chimcham 18]

Good afternoon! We do have a couple I think with both our names on it but most of them are individually sent to us. (i.e. one envelope with her name and address and another one with my information) We mostly got packages from my wife's family (boxes) so those are kinda useless I'd presume. I'll figure something out. I might need to go to the store and buy myself a scanner - Might make life easier.

I don't think you will run into too much trouble. Just do the best you can. You have been together so definitely do a photo montage of some sort so they can see how the relatinoship progressed. Do you have photos of the wedding too?

[Purple Viper 0]

Oh yeah. We have plenty of pictures. That's already all set. I added a few pictures of our wedding day as well as pictures we took throughout our relationship (before the wedding). We have no pictures of us after the wedding so I hope that's no big deal.

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

There is no need to prove "Bone fide Marriage" or "On Going Relationship" at the I-130 Petition Stage.

All you need to prove is that there is a Petition-able Relationship, in this case Marriage. There is on single piece of paper that will prove this, a copy of your Marriage Certificate.

"On Going Relationship" is generally proven at interview time for Fiancee Visas but is irrelevant to the Spousal Visa process.

"Bone Fide Marriage" if questioned will be proven also at the interview at the US Embassy.

[Purple Viper 0]

Bob 4 Anna: Are you sure of this because the instructions for Form I-130 say to include proof of a bona fide marriage. Even the instructions on this site say evidence is needed.

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

Bob 4 Anna: Are you sure of this because the instructions for Form I-130 say to include proof of a bona fide marriage. Even the instructions on this site say evidence is needed.

For the I-130 the big proof is the Marriage Certificate. Especially if the marriage is new. I doesn't hurt to include more but at this point you don't need to "front load" unless you're going through one of the tough consulates.

It's the Embassy CO who might want to see more solid Bona fides and if you have to ROC then at that point you should definitely have plenty of evidence of Co-mingling finances & cohabitation. For a vast majority of I-130s the US Citizen doesn't live with their alien spouse so you're going to be light on the Bona fides until they land in the US anyway.

I'd never tell someone don't include evidence if you have it readily at hand but I will say don't worry too much if you don't have a lot of "bona fides" just focus on proving there is a legal marriage and of course the only real evidence of that is the Marriage Certificate (or equivalent in the country of marriage).

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

For the I-130 the big proof is the Marriage Certificate. Especially if the marriage is new. I doesn't hurt to include more but at this point you don't need to "front load" unless you're going through one of the tough consulates.

It's the Embassy CO who might want to see more solid Bona fides and if you have to ROC then at that point you should definitely have plenty of evidence of Co-mingling finances & cohabitation. For a vast majority of I-130s the US Citizen doesn't live with their alien spouse so you're going to be light on the Bona fides until they land in the US anyway.

I'd never tell someone don't include evidence if you have it readily at hand but I will say don't worry too much if you don't have a lot of "bona fides" just focus on proving there is a legal marriage and of course the only real evidence of that is the Marriage Certificate (or equivalent in the country of marriage).

Bob - with all due respect, these people are filing concurrent I-130/I-485 applications from within the US. The I-130 instructions specifically say that you should include at least one piece of evidence of a bona fide marriage besides the marriage certificate.

These people are not going to an embassy, no tough consulate. These people already live with their spouses. There is no petition stage - they are filing a concurrent case.

The I-130 instructions say you should include evidence of a bona fide marriage.

Canadian guys - I wouldn't go too crazy with cards and other very weak evidence. Include what you have on the list in the I-130 instructions. Good luck.