I-130 Re: Proof of Relationship

[YpsiFella 20]

Hi,

I am curious to note that lots of folks are sending in proof of relationship (photos, joint bank account statements, etc) with the I-130. My wife and I are about to file and we have been married for over nine years. Is it necessary to send that stuff with the I-130? This is our second time around and we didn't even send anything like in our first I-130 application several years ago. We had it all ready with the NVC stuff though.

Thanks.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

it says to send it in the I-130 instructions, so yes.

[speedwell 224]

it says to send it in the I-130 instructions, so yes.

It says you "should" include supporting documentation. We didn't because we were newlyweds, didn't really have anything, and thought it would just complicate matters. Now we are expecting to receive an RFE and will be plenty surprised if we don't. After 9 years of marriage you likely have something to show. Show it.

[Darnell 8,478]

you should have a pile already.

here's what i was able to generate a month after arriving back in the USA:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=218775&st=0&p=3324240&hl=Rusticentry3324240

and note, 4 years later, when we got around to filing, we included everything.

Why? cause it's Guangzhou IV and they be b@stards on this stuff.

Don't be lazy, take a week to generate yer stuff and submit it with the I-130.

Yes, I do mean - FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS !

and Good Luck !

[speedwell 224]

you should have a pile already.

here's what i was able to generate a month after arriving back in the USA: <snip>

Don't be lazy, take a week to generate yer stuff and submit it with the I-130.

Yes, I do mean - FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS !

and Good Luck !

Yeah, we had never lived together in the US; we stayed together for a few months while I was in the UK before and after the wedding; I filed the I-130 a week after I arrived alone back home in the US. We couldn't get a joint lease or a joint bank account until he arrived for a visit. We're ready for an RFE though. It is easier for people married for years but I hear the USCIS is understanding about newlyweds. I hope anyway.

Edited January 9, 2013 by speedwell

[ndu26 114]

Yeah, we had never lived together in the US; we stayed together for a few months while I was in the UK before and after the wedding; I filed the I-130 a week after I arrived alone back home in the US. We couldn't get a joint lease or a joint bank account until he arrived for a visit. We're ready for an RFE though. It is easier for people married for years but I hear the USCIS is understanding about newlyweds. I hope anyway.

we did not have much also as we met very late in 2011 and I only visited once( for 10days) before our wedding (which took place on my 2nd trip). we lived together for only one month after our wedding and we sent out the application about ONE WEEK after our wedding. we dnt have standard lease in Nigeria so we just asked our landlord to writeus a letter onhis company letterhead(he is an engineer) verifying we( Mr and Mrs ....) are renting with him. we also got three family members ( my mom, my Sis and his sis ) to write sworn affidavits about our relationship, then we added wedding pics and about three pics we had taken on my first trip.

At NVC stage though , I plan to do a lot of frontloading because my consulate could be very tough. we have a pile of phone logs but not much on FB, skype etc logs.

....so yes do what you can to put your best foot forward.

[YpsiFella 20]

we did not have much also as we met very late in 2011 and I only visited once( for 10days) before our wedding (which took place on my 2nd trip). we lived together for only one month after our wedding and we sent out the application about ONE WEEK after our wedding. we dnt have standard lease in Nigeria so we just asked our landlord to writeus a letter onhis company letterhead(he is an engineer) verifying we( Mr and Mrs ....) are renting with him. we also got three family members ( my mom, my Sis and his sis ) to write sworn affidavits about our relationship, then we added wedding pics and about three pics we had taken on my first trip.

At NVC stage though , I plan to do a lot of frontloading because my consulate could be very tough. we have a pile of phone logs but not much on FB, skype etc logs.

....so yes do what you can to put your best foot forward.

Thanks for the feedback - I will definitely include a few things - house assessments, bank records (just a month here and there across the years), current bank account printout. I had a green card before so i would have thought it unimportant - thanks for the help. No sense being RFE'd for something I can easily provide.