Bona Fide

[Pecker 17]

Hey good people,

So I recently mailed my application for AOS, my wife is the citizen and I came here with a F-1 from Brazil.

Because we're both very young and still building all lives together we don't really had any "hard evidence" of bona fide, like Mortgage Statements, or Leases in our names.

The only thing we had to prove our relationship were our photos, which we sent about 50 (is that too much, too little?), part of it BTW taken in a trip to California, in which her dad came with us and he is in some of the pics, so I guess thats a plus, right? Also I printed out our "Facebook Friendship Timeline", that was about 40 pages, and for last copies of exchanged poems we wrote for each other. So only those 3 things, is that going to be enough, or would I have any problems? Has anyone been thru something like that?

Thanks in advance.

Edited July 22, 2014 by Gregory.Peck

[subwayguy 100]

Affidavit affidavit and affidavit

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from Fam.-based AOS to WST-based AOS Forum~

~Adjusting from student visa~

[NancyNguyen 1,658]

All secondary evidences, you need commingling finances, banks lease bills insurance... Pictures, poems, facebook? I don't think so. If you don't have any means to build a family, how to live? Asking pocket money from mom?

[Mariam&Smith 45]

All secondary evidences, you need commingling finances, banks lease bills insurance... Pictures, poems, facebook? I don't think so. If you don't have any means to build a family, how to live? Asking pocket money from mom?

Ditto to Nancy, no offend given but you need to work on communal evidences like banks, bills, and insurances. We are talking about immigration laws, not showing how you love each other with love poems and FB chat.

If you don't have much, they will understand because you're new married couple. But nothing at all... Good luck.

[greenalien 3]

Hey good people,

So I recently mailed my application for AOS, my wife is the citizen and I came here with a F-1 from Brazil.

Because we're both very young and still building all lives together we don't really had any "hard evidence" of bona fide, like Mortgage Statements, or Leases in our names.

The only thing we had to prove our relationship were our photos, which we sent about 50 (is that too much, too little?), part of it BTW taken in a trip to California, in which her dad came with us and he is in some of the pics, so I guess thats a plus, right? Also I printed out our "Facebook Friendship Timeline", that was about 40 pages, and for last copies of exchanged poems we wrote for each other. So only those 3 things, is that going to be enough, or would I have any problems? Has anyone been thru something like that?

Thanks in advance.

who pays the utilities? does her credit card/bank statement have a transaction for a communal item (e.g. utilities, rent, car expenses)? we didn't have a shared bank account, but both our bank statements had utilies/internet/rent coming out of it, so the IO let it go.

sure the pictures do count for something, but you need to show some form of financial co-mingling, whether it's in the form of a shared car/house/bank account/credit card account.

[Pecker 17]

-double post- See down there \/

Edited July 22, 2014 by Gregory.Peck

[Pecker 17]

Affidavit affidavit and affidavit

All secondary evidences, you need commingling finances, banks lease bills insurance... Pictures, poems, facebook? I don't think so. If you don't have any means to build a family, how to live? Asking pocket money from mom?

Ditto to Nancy, no offend given but you need to work on communal evidences like banks, bills, and insurances. We are talking about immigration laws, not showing how you love each other with love poems and FB chat.

If you don't have much, they will understand because you're new married couple. But nothing at all... Good luck.

who pays the utilities? does her credit card/bank statement have a transaction for a communal item (e.g. utilities, rent, car expenses)? we didn't have a shared bank account, but both our bank statements had utilies/internet/rent coming out of it, so the IO let it go.

sure the pictures do count for something, but you need to show some form of financial co-mingling, whether it's in the form of a shared car/house/bank account/credit card account.

Ok, here's a little of backstory;

We used to live together on our own and have leases on our name and all, foe a little while, but then this happened; [ALERT: Drama ahead]

Her mom cheated on her dad and moved down to FL after a 25+ years marriage and are now going thru divorce. He didn't handle that well and had a breakdown. He insisted that we would move back in with him since he was about to slice his wrists from the depression. I didn't mind because it's a big house and we have our own "in-law" kinda of apartment and also I figured it would actually look good as a bona fide showing that we all live together( I don't think people doing marriage scams tell their parents about it, right?)

So all the bills are in his name, he makes about 500k a year with his own Contracting company (he's gonna be my co-sponsor btw), although we still pay a rent because I would feel weird if I didn't.

I thought the financial parts of the bona fide wouldn't be that important, just because we can prove that despite the we have a true relationship going on, and isn't that what really matters? That it is real? Marriage is not a business.

And about the affidavit, I totally oversaw those, is it too late to send them? Could I send them with the I-485 once I get the NOA from the I-130?

Thanks guys.

[christophec 16]

- Have him make a statement saying you two have been paying rent for that amount of time.

- You can also make a short essay explaining your journey

- Go ahead and open a joint account together, by the time of the interview you'll have history and statement to show.

- Affidavits

[kooliz 0]

Yeah, I'm just going to echo everyone here because my wife and I didn't have anything joint/mortgage/health insurance etc. but we got about 10 affidavits from family and friends which counts for a lot. Accountability basically and validation is what they want.

[christophec 16]

don't send to much affidavit as everybody can make those up, just send 2 or 3. bring the rest to the interview

[Pecker 17]

- Have him make a statement saying you two have been paying rent for that amount of time.

- You can also make a short essay explaining your journey

- Go ahead and open a joint account together, by the time of the interview you'll have history and statement to show.

- Affidavits

Yeah, I'm just going to echo everyone here because my wife and I didn't have anything joint/mortgage/health insurance etc. but we got about 10 affidavits from family and friends which counts for a lot. Accountability basically and validation is what they want.

Thanks guys,

We actually opened a joint savings today, and we can get a couple of affidavits, but now in my case I already sent the I-130, should I wait and send it with the I-485, or send it right away before they finish reviewing my petition?

Edited July 22, 2014 by Gregory.Peck

[kooliz 0]

don't send to much affidavit as everybody can make those up, just send 2 or 3. bring the rest to the interview

Sorry, I failed to mention that all of them were notarized by lawyers, banks etc.

Thanks guys,

We actually opened a joint savings today, and we can get a couple of affidavits, but now in my case I already sent the I-130, should I wait and send it with the I-485, or send it right away before they finish reviewing my petition?

I'm not sure about the window for concurrent filing of both I-130 and I-485, I would definitely call the USCIS hotline and see what they say. It's the most accurate answer you will get. Either way, get the affidavits and save them. Doesn't hurt to have too many.

[NancyNguyen 1,658]

Thanks guys,

We actually opened a joint savings today, and we can get a couple of affidavits, but now in my case I already sent the I-130, should I wait and send it with the I-485, or send it right away before they finish reviewing my petition?

I-130 takes up to 6 months for approval, and then you have to wait for I-485 which are around 3 months for an interview appointment (without RFE of course.) You can send I-485 now, remember to included I-130's NOA, they will speed up your AOS process.

Yes a few months of joint life is enough for AOS interview, gather whatever you can. IO will understand because your family life just starts. Car title, car insurance, driver licenses... are easiest things to get. Your in-law can write your affidavit of communal residence and states most of utilities bills are in his name. Old lease with both your name will help too. Good luck.

[Ian H. 207]

In my experience, when you don't have plenty of documentation of the bona fides, they have other means. The interview for example, will be more intense and a home visit may be possible. They will ask you all sorts of questions. The I130 usually gets approved with little evidence, the actual interview is always the big deal. You have to explain your situation. This is what I hate about the immigration process, yes I know there is fraud, but they make it more complicated at the same time for legitimate couples. There are plenty of people whom are married, live with their parents, don't pay bills, etc. However try to have as much documentation as you can. Open up a joint bank account and pay bills with it even cell phone bills. File taxes together even if claimed as dependents, those are a big deal. Open a up a joint credit card as well if possible. The affidavits help especially if from your parents and friends or neighbors that know you live together and can testify to your situation. The pictures of your and her parents together and with both of you help a lot as well.