Evidence of bona fide marriage - what is accepted?

[Hay_Jane 1]

You guys are being so helpful! Never could had got this package together without everyone's help on this the last week.

I've just finished my cover letter by taking bits and pieces from other people. I think I've done pretty good, I will attach it for any advice or comments:

[Hay_Jane 1]

Please find enclosed Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative (Spouse), Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization, Form G-1145 E-notification of Application/Petition acceptance and supporting documents as follows:

Nature of submission: I-130 Petition for Alien Relative (Spouse).

I-130 Petition for Alien Relative

Petitioner: James XX

Beneficiary: Hayley XX

Form G-1145 E-notification of Application/Petition Acceptance

Personal cheque in the amount of $420 for I-130 payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative

Copy of all pages of US Citizens passport

Copy of US Citizens permanent residency Driving License

Copy of beneficiarys birth certificate

Copy of beneficiarys British Passport Biographical page

Copy of certified marriage certificate

Copy of US Citizens certified divorce documents

Copy of ESTA application

Copy of Visa stamp

Copy of online plane ticket

Form G-325A filled out by US Citizen

One (1) passport style photo of US Citizen

Form G-325A filled out by beneficiary

One (1) passport style photo of beneficiary

Evidence of bona-fide marriage

o Photographs of relationship timeline

o Affidavits from beneficiarys Father and US Citizens friend

I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

Petitioner: James XX

Beneficiary: Hayley XX

Form G-1145 E-notification of Application/Petition Acceptance

Personal cheque in the amount of $1,070 for I-485 and Biometric fee payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

Copy of beneficiarys British Passport Biographical page

Copy of Visa stamp

Copy of ESTA application

Copy of beneficiarys birth certificate

Copy of certified marriage certificate

Copy of US Citizens certified divorce documents

Two (2) passport style photos of beneficiary

Form G-325A filled out by beneficiary

Form I-693 Medical Examination of Aliens Seeking Adjustment of Status -Completed by a Civil Surgeon, sealed in an envelope)

Form I-864 Affidavit of Support

o Copy of US Citizens letter of employment

o Copy of 2013, 2012 and 2011 tax records of U.S Citizen

I-765 Application for Employment Authorization

Petitioner: James XX

Beneficiary: Hayley XX

Form G-1145 E-notification of Application/Petition Acceptance

Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization

Two (2) passport style photos of beneficiary

Copy of beneficiarys British Passport Biographical page

Copy of Visa stamp

Copy of ESTA application

Copies of documents submitted are exact photocopies of unaltered documents and we understand that we may be required to submit original documents to an Immigration or Consular Officer at a later date.

Yours sincerely,

James X X Hayley X X

Edited March 6, 2014 by Hay_Jane

[blk 87]

Hi ya Hay_Jane, if you can pop a copy of your I-94 other than that it all looks good.

Brian

[Jeremy12095 8]

If you wish to open a bank account with out a SSN you can do simply by showing a valid foreign passport and presenting form W-8BEN. The banks normally will not just open up an account with out a joint account holder with a valid ssn. As per the proof of bona fide marriage they look for legitimate evidence that you are in a good faith marriage and have co-mingling of the finances. A lot of utility companies will not list a spouse at least here in NY, they only have an option for 1 social security number but on the mailing address they can add a second name on the address 1 line and on address 2 line they put the normal address. Other than that I have some things in my name and some things are in my wife's name. There shouldn't be any question when the cable/internet bill is in my name and the power is in her name. It proves that we both live under the same house. The biggest thing would be joint taxes and joint bank accounts that shows the immigration officer that you guys manage your finances together.

[David & Diana R 1,005]

Hi,

So on the USCIS website it says the following are acceptable as proof of a bona fide marriage:

1. Documentation showing joint ownership or property; or

2. A lease showing joint tenancy of a common residence; or

3. Documentation showing co-mingling of financialresources; or

4. Birth certificate(s) of child(ren) born to you, thepetitioner, and your spouse together; or

5. Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties havingpersonal knowledge of the bona fides of the maritalrelationship (Each affidavit must contain the full nameand address, date and place of birth of the person making the affidavit, his or her relationship to the petitioner ofbeneficiary, if any, and complete information and details explaining how the person acquired his or herknowledge of your marriage); or

6. Any other relevant documentation to establish that thereis an ongoing marital union.

To get to them point, I'm not on any of my husbands utility bills, we have no children, the mortgage is solely in his name... The only evidence I have are hundreds of pictures from the last 4 years, a dozen flight tickets to and from America, countless personal emails and if it comes to it there are definitely friends and family who will validate our marriage and relationship.

Can someone please suggest what I should include? From reading other posts I know this is a tricky topic because you want to include enough that it is clearly a genuine relationship but you also don't want to give away more than necessary because if anything is needed we can bring it to our interview.

Thanks,

Hayley

This is not a "tricky topic". Have your husband add your name to the electric bill, gas bill, any other utility bills, credit cards (as a joint owner, not just an additional card), go to the bank and set up a joint savings account and checking account. Have him add you to the car title as joint owner. These things are all easy. Not sure why he would be reluctant to do these things. Is he? It's really easy to do these things.

Good luck

[aussie_jason 195]

Why do people go to such extremes to prove their marriage is bona fide? Just do regular couple things and you will be fine, you may have to go a bit beyond what a modern married couple would normally do for the Removal Of Conditions stage but for Adjustment Of Status you really don't need that much.

[Jeremy12095 8]

Why do people go to such extremes to prove their marriage is bona fide? Just do regular couple things and you will be fine, you may have to go a bit beyond what a modern married couple would normally do for the Removal Of Conditions stage but for Adjustment Of Status you really don't need that much.

I don't know about you man but I don't think being joint owners of accounts etc is nothing more than normal. When you are married you both share finances and assume joint responsibility over bills and accounts. I have my cars registered in both of our names so she is covered under the insurance, she is listed as a beneficiary on the little life insurance thingy from work. she's listed where ever she can be listed. That is just stuff normal married people do regardless of its a USC to USC or USC to non usc... Heck we even have joint checking accounts where both of our money gets deposited and I get to sneak in Chinese for lunch once in a while because she doesn't know how to use the app but she yells at me when she sees the statement .

Sometimes its easier having things in both names or added your spouse as a joint owner or what ever..

[aussie_jason 195]

I don't know about you man but I don't think being joint owners of accounts etc is nothing more than normal. When you are married you both share finances and assume joint responsibility over bills and accounts. I have my cars registered in both of our names so she is covered under the insurance, she is listed as a beneficiary on the little life insurance thingy from work. she's listed where ever she can be listed. That is just stuff normal married people do regardless of its a USC to USC or USC to non usc... Heck we even have joint checking accounts where both of our money gets deposited and I get to sneak in Chinese for lunch once in a while because she doesn't know how to use the app but she yells at me when she sees the statement .

Sometimes its easier having things in both names or added your spouse as a joint owner or what ever..

Yes, but all of your finances don't magically become joint overnight once you are married, nor is there any real need for everything under the sun to be joint.

[David & Diana R 1,005]

Why do people go to such extremes to prove their marriage is bona fide? Just do regular couple things and you will be fine, you may have to go a bit beyond what a modern married couple would normally do for the Removal Of Conditions stage but for Adjustment Of Status you really don't need that much.

Yeah, if you read her post you would see that it appears that they hold nothing jointly. So for some reason her husband is reluctant to add her to accounts like any "Modern married couple would normally do."

Yes, but all of your finances don't magically become joint overnight once you are married, nor is there any real need for everything under the sun to be joint.

Of course their finances don't become "magically joint overnight." This is where her husband needs to do a little foot work and make those accounts joint, or at least some of them. If you read her posts you would see he has apparently avoided adding her to anything. This will be a real problem when they go in to adjust. In your own words, what "modern married couples" do has not been done. Perhaps the husband is hesitant to add her to "HIS" accounts?

[Hay_Jane 1]

Yeah, if you read her post you would see that it appears that they hold nothing jointly. So for some reason her husband is reluctant to add her to accounts like any "Modern married couple would normally do."

Of course their finances don't become "magically joint overnight." This is where her husband needs to do a little foot work and make those accounts joint, or at least some of them. If you read her posts you would see he has apparently avoided adding her to anything. This will be a real problem when they go in to adjust. In your own words, what "modern married couples" do has not been done. Perhaps the husband is hesitant to add her to "HIS" accounts?

David & Zolia - My husband isn't reluctant at all. He is an area manager for a very well known bank and has been for over 10 years, he knows everything there is to know about banking. And opening an account with a foreign spouse with no social security number is something he has never come across. I really, really do not appreciate the tone of which your last message sounds and suggesting that he is hesitant to add myself to his accounts.

Every single story on Visa Journey is different and the idea of this webpage is to give fellow immigrants advice and encouragement, and I can honestly say that what you wrote couldn't be further from that goal.

I normally wouldn't feel the need to respond to something I have no need to defend, and I'm sure by the person you sound like you are, you're going to be quick to tell me that I must have underlying issues with my husband and our marriage. However, I am very defensive over people passing judgement whether it be my case or anyone else's, when they know nothing about it.

Edited March 11, 2014 by Hay_Jane

[David & Diana R 1,005]

Hi,

So on the USCIS website it says the following are acceptable as proof of a bona fide marriage:

1. Documentation showing joint ownership or property; or

2. A lease showing joint tenancy of a common residence; or

3. Documentation showing co-mingling of financialresources; or

4. Birth certificate(s) of child(ren) born to you, thepetitioner, and your spouse together; or

5. Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties havingpersonal knowledge of the bona fides of the maritalrelationship (Each affidavit must contain the full nameand address, date and place of birth of the person making the affidavit, his or her relationship to the petitioner ofbeneficiary, if any, and complete information and details explaining how the person acquired his or herknowledge of your marriage); or

6. Any other relevant documentation to establish that thereis an ongoing marital union.

1.) To get to them point, I'm not on any of my husbands utility bills, we have no children, the mortgage is solely in his name... The only evidence I have are hundreds of pictures from the last 4 years, a dozen flight tickets to and from America, countless personal emails and if it comes to it there are definitely friends and family who will validate our marriage and relationship.

2.) Can someone please suggest what I should include? From reading other posts I know this is 3.) a tricky topic because you want to include enough that it is clearly a genuine relationship but you also don't want to give away more than necessary because if anything is needed we can bring it to our interview.

Thanks,

Hayley

David & Zolia - 4.) My husband isn't reluctant at all. He is an area manager for a very well known bank and has been for over 10 years, he knows everything there is to know about banking. And opening an account with a foreign spouse with no social security number is something he has never come across. I really, really do not appreciate the tone of which your last message sounds and suggesting that he is hesitant to add myself to his accounts.

Every single story on Visa Journey is different and the idea of this webpage is to give fellow immigrants advice and encouragement, and I can honestly say that what you wrote couldn't be further from that goal.

I normally wouldn't feel the need to respond to something I have no need to defend, and I'm sure by the person you sound like you are, you're going to be quick to tell me that I must have underlying issues with my husband and our marriage. However, 5.) I am very defensive over people passing judgement whether it be my case or anyone else's, when they know nothing about it.

1.) To get to them point, I'm not on any of my husbands utility bills Very simple solution: Have him add you to the utility bills as a responsible party, could not be much easier than that. Electric, gad, sewer, water, VERY EASY. Add you to his credit cards as additional responsible party. I did all of these things for my spouse and it just took a few hours, one afternoon. No social security number needed.

2.) Can someone please suggest what I should include? I did that already and you got angry. Are you hearing what you don't want to hear?

3.) a tricky topic It's not tricky at all. Why is it that your husband has not added you to ANYTHING? Just seems strange becuase that's what "Normal married couples do" all the time, especially those that are going to be doing ROC or AOS.

4.) My husband isn't reluctant at all. Then why after your being in this country since April 2013 has he not added you to any accounts? This is according to you.

5.) I am very defensive over people passing judgement whether it be my case or anyone else's, when they know nothing about it. What is there to be defensive about? You asked for help and I made several suggestions for you. You ignored that and posted this long complaint and suggested that I was "passing judgement" of your husband. I did not judge your husband or anyone else. As far a "knowing nothoing about it" you are wrong. I know about the questions you asked and answered you but apparently I did not give you the answers you wanted.

You will be happy to know that I am unsubscribing to this thread now. Post whatever you want, I won't see it. I'm gone!

Good Bye