N-400: RFE for bona fide marriage AFTER interview?

[danskim 0]

My wife and I sent in our N-400 in February 2014. We had our interview in August, and we were told by the IO that it would take about 30 more days to make a decision. Finally, we received a letter yesterday which contained an RFE for bona fide marriage. Is this normal? I thought they would have asked before or during the interview about this.

The evidence is the same as anyone applying for an immigration visa, correct?

We don't have a joint checking account right now because we've never felt the need to. Is it a good idea to open one now and submit it as evidence?

And although we don't have any children yet, my wife is pregnant with our first child. I've read some mixed things about getting a doctor's note confirming the pregnancy.

Edited December 13, 2014 by danskim

[Gosia & Tito 199]

My wife and I sent in our N-400 in February 2014. We had our interview in August, and we were told by the IO that it would take about 30 more days to make a decision. Finally, we received a letter yesterday which contained an RFE for bona fide marriage. Is this normal? I thought they would have asked before or during the interview about this.

The evidence is the same as anyone applying for an immigration visa, correct?

We don't have a joint checking account right now because we've never felt the need to. Is it a good idea to open one now and submit it as evidence?

And although we don't have any children yet, my wife is pregnant with our first child. I've read some mixed things about getting a doctor's note confirming the pregnancy.

A bonafide marriage can be "proven" iin various ways, commingling of finances is one of the most common and strong. Joint accounts, joint title to property, health care dependency of one to the other, loans in both your names, etc are common. CHildren is another one. Less strong are trips together, affidavits from people who know you, etc.

If you don't have a joint account, I'd open one, though is a bit late: it would show as if it was open to reply to the RFE. Do you have some of the other financial documentation?

A note confirming pregnancy would help, but realize that pregnancy of a woman does not prove you are the father/husband, necesarily.

It is not so "normal" (but not totally uncommon) that a RFE asks for proof; what has trigger that is that little or no sufficient documentation was provided in the original petition.

[DC85 113]

opening a joint account now is worthless in my opinion. Try to gather anything, joint bills, affidavit or anything has both of your names on it.

[danskim 0]

Ok, thanks for your opinions. I'll just gather everything else.

[Shelly11 14]

I would include your wife's pregnancy including an ultra sound picture. I think that is very good evidence of a bon a fide marraige