affidavits of bona fide marriage

[ophir86 0]

Hi

Should the affidavits be notarized/signed?

Should we have 1 affidavit by me and my wife?

How many affidavits should we include?

Thanks!

Ophir

[JohnR! 5,495]

Hi

Should the affidavits be notarized/signed?

Should we have 1 affidavit by me and my wife?

How many affidavits should we include?

Thanks!

Ophir

The affidavits don't need to be notarized. There is no minimum of maximum number of documents either, but it would behoove you to have a cross section of your circle and have them drawn by friends, neighbors, coworkers and family as well.

You and your wife do not need to sign one.

Good luck!

Edited July 15, 2013 by Gegel

[GeorgiaPeach 2]

When I filed DCF in London, I received an RFE for affidavits, and they specifically asked for 3 from friends/family and one from myself detailing how I met my husband and our relationship from then until current. Everyone was also required to write something to the effect of, "Under penalty of perjury of the USA, I hereby declare the following to be true and correct..." at the end of their letter.

[lost_at_sea 995]

When I filed DCF in London, I received an RFE for affidavits, and they specifically asked for 3 from friends/family and one from myself detailing how I met my husband and our relationship from then until current. Everyone was also required to write something to the effect of, "Under penalty of perjury of the USA, I hereby declare the following to be true and correct..." at the end of their letter.

Do you know why they RFEd you for that? That's quite unusual for London, going by the reviews.

[GeorgiaPeach 2]

Do you know why they RFEd you for that? That's quite unusual for London, going by the reviews.

No clue. Perhaps they requested for it from the beginning and I missed it? I read somewhere on the forum that if you've been married less than two years, and therefore getting the CR1, that asking for affidavits is more regular than if you were in the IR1 category. It was the only RFE we received throughout the process (that same RFE also required a copy of our marriage licence....which I thought was unusual, as I sent the original marriage certificate), and it was smooth sailing after that.

[lost_at_sea 995]

No clue. Perhaps they requested for it from the beginning and I missed it? I read somewhere on the forum that if you've been married less than two years, and therefore getting the CR1, that asking for affidavits is more regular than if you were in the IR1 category. It was the only RFE we received throughout the process (that same RFE also required a copy of our marriage licence....which I thought was unusual, as I sent the original marriage certificate), and it was smooth sailing after that.

Oh. Huh. Well, that's stressed me out thoroughly. You're the first person I've come across who's been RFEd for that in London who has actually been living together (the other I saw, they'd only met once and married on that occasion - so I can see why that looked dodgy). I've never seen it in a requirements list - certainly not for DCF. Ugh. Now I'm super worried about tomorrow again.

Was that RFE at the interview, or the I-130 petition stage?

Edited July 15, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[GeorgiaPeach 2]

Oh. Huh. Well, that's stressed me out thoroughly. You're the first person I've come across who's been RFEd for that in London who has actually been living together (the other I saw, they'd only met once and married on that occasion - so I can see why that looked dodgy). I've never seen it in a requirements list - certainly not for DCF. Ugh. Now I'm super worried about tomorrow again.

Was that RFE at the interview, or the I-130 petition stage?

Don't let it worry you! The RFE was at the I130 stage, so if you're already going for your interview, you need not stress! I have no idea why we were RFE'd - nothing unusual about our relationship - we did the long distance thing for a while but had been married and living together for over a year in Scotland when we applied. It stressed me out at first, but I was able to get all the affidavits and copy of marriage license (not all states do marriage licenses btw...) and mail them all back within about 1-1.5 weeks.

[lost_at_sea 995]

Don't let it worry you! The RFE was at the I130 stage, so if you're already going for your interview, you need not stress! I have no idea why we were RFE'd - nothing unusual about our relationship - we did the long distance thing for a while but had been married and living together for over a year in Scotland when we applied. It stressed me out at first, but I was able to get all the affidavits and copy of marriage license (not all states do marriage licenses btw...) and mail them all back within about 1-1.5 weeks.

Erg. I'm just worried because obviously us DCFers get to skip sending in relationship evidence with our I-130s with London. But that's what you did too... so maybe it's random? Or there was a flag there that neither of us can identify that I don't have?

[GeorgiaPeach 2]

Erg. I'm just worried because obviously us DCFers get to skip sending in relationship evidence with our I-130s with London. But that's what you did too... so maybe it's random? Or there was a flag there that neither of us can identify that I don't have?

Honestly, they're not going to RFE you for affidavits at the interview. I truly think that's something they would want in the beginning to verify whether they believe it is a genuine marriage. Getting past the I130 stage indicates that they deem you eligible to apply (meaning your relationship seems legit). Apparently, mine didn't seem so, lol, but like I said, it was very smooth sailing the rest of the way. At the interview tomorrow (I see your timeline now), you're just going to have to hand over your financial docs (I864/I864A, tax records), DS230 Part II, etc. They will likely ask you guys a few questions to verify what they already know, or ask questions to better understand the relationship, but all long as all your paperwork is in order and the finances are right to support your spouse, you really should not have any issues. In my case, I had written the affidavit about out relationship that they requested, and they were asking hubby questions to verify what I had said. They also asked him about a previous J1 visa he had to come to the states when we were dating. But truly, it wasn't that bad. It's intimidating and scary b/c it means so so much to you, but as long as you have a legit relationship and you have the finances to support your spouse and all other paperwork is in order, you'll be fine!

[lost_at_sea 995]

Honestly, they're not going to RFE you for affidavits at the interview. I truly think that's something they would want in the beginning to verify whether they believe it is a genuine marriage. Getting past the I130 stage indicates that they deem you eligible to apply (meaning your relationship seems legit). Apparently, mine didn't seem so, lol, but like I said, it was very smooth sailing the rest of the way. At the interview tomorrow (I see your timeline now), you're just going to have to hand over your financial docs (I864/I864A, tax records), DS230 Part II, etc. They will likely ask you guys a few questions to verify what they already know, or ask questions to better understand the relationship, but all long as all your paperwork is in order and the finances are right to support your spouse, you really should not have any issues. In my case, I had written the affidavit about out relationship that they requested, and they were asking hubby questions to verify what I had said. They also asked him about a previous J1 visa he had to come to the states when we were dating. But truly, it wasn't that bad. It's intimidating and scary b/c it means so so much to you, but as long as you have a legit relationship and you have the finances to support your spouse and all other paperwork is in order, you'll be fine!

Ok. Well. It's too late now, anyway, so I'll just have to see how it goes tomorrow.

Thanks for explaining. I appreciate it.

[GeorgiaPeach 2]

Go get some sleep, it's late there!

Edited July 15, 2013 by GeorgiaPeach