My attorney says there is no instruction on the NVC website that permits us to submit extra documents.

[mrSoft 0]

Learned a lot from VJ.

We were married for about a month when we sent in the I-130 application.

Our proof of bonafide marriage was from that month.

Fast forward 6 months. We have been approved.

The USCIS has forwarded our case to the NVC.

Our Ghanaian consulate has a reputation of deciding cases before the interview date.

Their decision is based on what the NVC forwards to them. As it stands now, we have proof that is from only one month.

We know it is strategic for us to submit our proof of a bona-fide marriage for the past 6months to the NVC. The NVC will forward it to the consulate. The consulate here will have much more evidence when they make their decision.

Here is the question: Our attorney says that the NVC instructions does not include anything about proof of bona fide marriage, so we cannot submit it. Please help. How to convince our attorney. Any links to the NVC instructions about proof of bona fide marriage are welcome. Thanks.

[Morganalmonshid94 84]

There is no convincing them and there is no links stating you can send extra proof of the bonafide relationship because they send you a list of exactly what they want nothing more nothing less and you have to check a checklist on what is in your file you are sending to them . Nothing which is extra proof .

[MrsBonsu 138]

I don't know how to put the link, but the site is www.travelstate.gov

[j&ana 363]

while there is requirement for additional proof of marriage at the NVC A lot of members on here have sent more proof in. Your lawyer is working for you, not the other way around you need to put your foot down and tell your lawyer that is what you want him to do

[aleful 1,905]

hi

NVC doesn't make any decision on approval or denial of visa, it's the officer at the Consulate/ Embassy where you will have your interview who will make the decision, they collect the documents,

Edited May 5, 2015 by aleful

[Shauna&Wael 211]

Only give the NVC what they specifically ask for. You can bring the additional proof of a bona fide marriage at the interview at the embassy. The embassy can't make the decision until you've had the interview. Your attorney is right.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

The VJ term "sideloading" is including more relationship evidence with the DS-230 IV package sent to the NVC and yes you should do so.

Forget the attorney and do it yourself if he doesn't want to do it.

Point of sideloading at NVC for high fraud countries is that the CO will have seen the evidence long before the beneficiary steps in for the interview

and often makes up his mind to deny/approve before the interview......especially if the petition was not "frontloaded."

CO's often refuse to look at the evidence brought in to the interview when they have already decided to deny based on what they have

seen already.

[Shauna&Wael 211]

Is it legal for them to make the decision before the interview has been conducted? sounds like some CO's are grouchy and just don't want to accept evidence given at the time of the interview. can't you ask for their supervisor?

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Co's have been given so much discretionary authority that ' the law ' can be widely interpreted and talking to the chief consul will be fruitless. They are to have factual evidence when refusing a visa and not to merely re adjudicate a petition on suspicion and assumption but it happens. Therefore side loading is done in high fraud countries to not fall under the denied " for immigration benefits only " blanket reason. Don't stuff a petition with junk but submit quality relationship evidence and make sure you have lots of visits.

[Shauna&Wael 211]

That makes me nervous about my own case. Isn't Tunisia also a high fraud country? I was considering sending in supplementary relationship evidence in my packets to the NVC but I was advised against doing so and to only send them what they asked for. I was hoping my husband could bring it with him to the interview and be ready if it was asked for. What do you think?

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

That makes me nervous about my own case. Isn't Tunisia also a high fraud country? I was considering sending in supplementary relationship evidence in my packets to the NVC but I was advised against doing so and to only send them what they asked for. I was hoping my husband could bring it with him to the interview and be ready if it was asked for. What do you think?

Yes, Tunesia is somewhat high fraud but I can't answer that question as to what is best for you to do.

I always say it can't hurt to sideload to NVC, either it will help or not but it can not hurt your case. Many do so !

I would ask in your regional forum and search the threads of interview outcomes and also read the embassy review tab for your country.

If people are reporting that the evidence they brought to the interview was always looked at then I would not worry too much.

If they say the CO refused to look at evidence brought to the interview and the visa was refused, then I definitely would sideload.

Just dive into the pattern that will show itself for your consulate and prepare accordingly.

[novedsac 355]

Your attorney works for you. If your attorney cannot convince you otherwise, then your attorney should do as you instruct them as long as it is not an unethical request.

If you feel additional information is necessary to submit at this time, then your attorney should do so. If not, submit it yourself or find another attorney.

Some attorneys have over-inflated egos and they often forget who is the boss ... you are, as you're paying the bills. Get back into your driver's seat.

[Shauna&Wael 211]

Yes, Tunesia is somewhat high fraud but I can't answer that question as to what is best for you to do.

I always say it can't hurt to sideload to NVC, either it will help or not but it can not hurt your case. Many do so !

I would ask in your regional forum and search the threads of interview outcomes and also read the embassy review tab for your country.

If people are reporting that the evidence they brought to the interview was always looked at then I would not worry too much.

If they say the CO refused to look at evidence brought to the interview and the visa was refused, then I definitely would sideload.

Just dive into the pattern that will show itself for your consulate and prepare accordingly.

The problem is I've already sent the packets to the NVC. So would it be pointless and confusing to send them more stuff at this point? Is my only option bringing it to the interview at this point?

[bpierce 24]

The VJ term "sideloading" is including more relationship evidence with the DS-230 IV package sent to the NVC and yes you should do so.

Forget the attorney and do it yourself if he doesn't want to do it.

Point of sideloading at NVC for high fraud countries is that the CO will have seen the evidence long before the beneficiary steps in for the interview

and often makes up his mind to deny/approve before the interview......especially if the petition was not "frontloaded."

CO's often refuse to look at the evidence brought in to the interview when they have already decided to deny based on what they have

seen already.

This is exactly Right. This is what we tried to do(side load)at the N.V.C., and yet I found out later after the Interview that USCIS did not send all the evidence to the N.V.C to forward to the Embassy. I had to submit more after the Interview.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

The problem is I've already sent the packets to the NVC. So would it be pointless and confusing to send them more stuff at this point? Is my only option bringing it to the interview at this point?

I probably would just bring it to the interview at this point after you already submitted the packets unless you feel you have very little evidence that

you submitted to USCIS. What relationship evidence did you send with petition initially ?