Notarizing Affidavits of Support (i-130) when other evidence is thin

[coip 1]

I've read most of the existing threads asking if one should get their third-party affidavits of support for the i-130 applicaiton notarized or not. Most responses said they don't need to be notarized, particularly because affidavits aren't that important unless other evidence of a bonafide marriage is thin. Well, we're a little thin: we don't cohabitate, and we live in a country that doesn't allow for joint ownership of property--including joint bank accounts. So, all we've got, really, are photo evidence and third-party affidavits. In this case, is it necessary to get the affidavits notarized? We live in a country where notaries aren't really that common and will only notarize our "foreign language" document for a very steep price (about $225, which is hard to swallow considering you can get it done for free in the USA).

[MedRoni 161]

I've read most of the existing threads asking if one should get their third-party affidavits of support for the i-130 application notarized or not. Most responses said they don't need to be notarized, particularly because affidavits aren't that important unless other evidence of a bonafide marriage is thin. Well, we're a little thin: we don't cohabitate, and we live in a country that doesn't allow for joint ownership of property--including joint bank accounts. So, all we've got, really, are photo evidence and third-party affidavits. In this case, is it necessary to get the affidavits notarized? We live in a country where notaries aren't really that common and will only notarize our "foreign language" document for a very steep price (about $225, which is hard to swallow considering you can get it done for free in the USA).

Many people have given various opinions here in the past regarding your question. To me the question is - how important is it to you?

For us- we spared no expense for any part of the process. This was the single most important thing to me was getting my husband here so I wanted everything as smooth as possible.

We got ours notarized, yes even from his country. Did it help? I don't know. Did it hurt? No. So was it worth what it cost for us? Definitely.

[Ryan H 3,812]

You have photo evidence? What else do you have that is not listed on the form instructions but would be acceptable for submission and consideration? Have you gone on trips together? If so, do you have copies of boarding passes and receipts from such trips?

To paraphrase pushbrk, evidence of time spent together in person is your strongest evidence.

[sunflower123 6]

I've read most of the existing threads asking if one should get their third-party affidavits of support for the i-130 applicaiton notarized or not. Most responses said they don't need to be notarized, particularly because affidavits aren't that important unless other evidence of a bonafide marriage is thin. Well, we're a little thin: we don't cohabitate, and we live in a country that doesn't allow for joint ownership of property--including joint bank accounts. So, all we've got, really, are photo evidence and third-party affidavits. In this case, is it necessary to get the affidavits notarized? We live in a country where notaries aren't really that common and will only notarize our "foreign language" document for a very steep price (about $225, which is hard to swallow considering you can get it done for free in the USA).

Hello!! Which country is the beneficiary from? maybe some other VJ members from the same country here can help you!

About your question,I agree with MedRoni.

I think is up to you if you wanna get them notarized or not,considering the other evidences that you have.

I know that is pricey to get an affidavit notarized (we paid $220 aprox), in general that services are not cheap, but in our case we decided to play safe and go for notarized. Notary only accepted the affidavit in Spanish, but he told us that after he stamped his signature and hologram, we could take it to a translator, which is what we did.

Indeed, it's an extra expense (like another $100USD) that maybe we didnt considered, but we think it will be worth it! the most important thing for us is to be reunited and stay together forever so we wanted to send out as many evidence as we had in that moment, maybe it's unlikely to get a RFE.

As you mentioned that you don't have joint properties (we are in the same boat...), maybe you can also add pictures of you together with family and friends, if you have travelled together inside the country maybe some boarding passes will come handy (we even used bus tickets that we got under our names), maybe hotel recepits, letters addressed to you both...etc

GOOD LUCK!!

[coip 1]

She is from Japan.

Yes, we will be including photos from trips together (both inside Japan and to the U.S.), showing how our passport stamps indicate we were in the U.S. at the same overlapping period (and then showing pictures from the trip).

But, with no joint ownership of property or finances, coupled with no cohabitation, we are worried about our application. So, we're doing the third-party affidavits. One my sister did in the U.S. (for free!) and mailed to us. The other her sister is doing, but again the quote is $225 and requires her to take a day off of work. So, we were wondering if, instead of a notary, we could just have a witness sign instead, verifying that she signed it. Would that be enough?

Other than that, we'll also be submitting documents showing she legally changed her surname to mine in Japan (which is a time-consuming process in itself) as evidence that she is committed to our relationship by changing her identity in her home country as well. We're not sure if this will help, but it can't hurt, right?

[sunflower123 6]

She is from Japan.

Yes, we will be including photos from trips together (both inside Japan and to the U.S.), showing how our passport stamps indicate we were in the U.S. at the same overlapping period (and then showing pictures from the trip).

But, with no joint ownership of property or finances, coupled with no cohabitation, we are worried about our application. So, we're doing the third-party affidavits. One my sister did in the U.S. (for free!) and mailed to us. The other her sister is doing, but again the quote is $225 and requires her to take a day off of work. So, we were wondering if, instead of a notary, we could just have a witness sign instead, verifying that she signed it. Would that be enough?

Other than that, we'll also be submitting documents showing she legally changed her surname to mine in Japan (which is a time-consuming process in itself) as evidence that she is committed to our relationship by changing her identity in her home country as well. We're not sure if this will help, but it can't hurt, right?

Oh, so she is from Japan Is there any VJmember from Japan here????

Yeah, you will see that many of us (VJ members) don't have either joint properties ownership, in these cases it's better to send all the evidence we have, no matter how small "impact" it may have, to make it up for the other suggestions of evidence we don't have.

I think it's a great idea that you send the pictures, passport stamps, the third-party affidavits from your sisters....here I think it may work the letter even if it's not notarized, but anyway attach the one that it is (we have sent notarized affidavits from people in Mexico and the ones from people is USA were not notarized...we didn't get NOA2 yet, but hopefully it won't be a problem), of course if you have done the paperwork to change her last name, SEND IT , it won't hurt to send a little extra.

The idea is to send all what you have, sometimes is better to send more and that package looks thick than getting a RFE because the evidence was not enough.

Good luck!!!

[sba.rsa 10]

I've read most of the existing threads asking if one should get their third-party affidavits of support for the i-130 applicaiton notarized or not. Most responses said they don't need to be notarized, particularly because affidavits aren't that important unless other evidence of a bonafide marriage is thin. Well, we're a little thin: we don't cohabitate, and we live in a country that doesn't allow for joint ownership of property--including joint bank accounts. So, all we've got, really, are photo evidence and third-party affidavits. In this case, is it necessary to get the affidavits notarized? We live in a country where notaries aren't really that common and will only notarize our "foreign language" document for a very steep price (about $225, which is hard to swallow considering you can get it done for free in the USA).

I'm paranoid - I made sure all our marriage affidavits (to state under penalty of law that our marriage is bona fide) was notarized. And I had my husband courier those notarized marriage affidavits all the way from India. You have no idea how much I had to convince him this was necessary and would make me a happy wife :-)

So yes, notarize your third-party affidavits of support. If you feel something in your gut, go with it!!!!!

[coip 1]

Since one of the affidavits are notarized, I'm just going to have a witness sign the other one in place of a notary. I hope that'll suffice.