Evidence of relationship

[ThePeck 0]

It seems this might be hard for me to prove. Albeit doesn't seem so but evidence imo seems hard to get.

 

I have of course our marriage license but wondering about proof that it's bona fide and a long relationship. I have pictures, no time/date stamp via apples iCloud. No chat logs since she can't write english, most are all voice message from the iMessage app. Facebook you can see how long we've been "friends" there plus pictures.

 

My concern is how to prove these are genuine. It seems everything I have "can" be faked so I don't know if they would even like to see this stuff.

 

The only thing I can do is provide signed letter from some friends in Cambodia as well as well my parents can do one also.

 

I've seen people talking about chat logs and pictures but doesn't seem substantial to me. Or am I over thinking it?

[Maryland 13]

This can be tricky. There is no 1 correct answer. Just gather as much information as you can. Make sure you have visited her and have proof of that.

[Thesmiths2016 117]

You say there's no chat logs as she can't speak english but surely you've communicated in writing in your own language?  You could provide a copy of this with an english translation perhaps?
Are you living together in cambodia or are you in separate countries?  Have you lived together during your relationship?  Did you have friend and family at your wedding and if so are there pictures? If you can advise more about your situation and these questions perhaps we can suggest evidence you can use

[ThePeck 0]

44 minutes ago, Maryland said:

This can be tricky. There is no 1 correct answer. Just gather as much information as you can. Make sure you have visited her and have proof of that.

 

2 minutes ago, Thesmiths2016 said:

You say there's no chat logs as she can't speak english but surely you've communicated in writing in your own language?  You could provide a copy of this with an english translation perhaps?
Are you living together in cambodia or are you in separate countries?  Have you lived together during your relationship?  Did you have friend and family at your wedding and if so are there pictures? If you can advise more about your situation and these questions perhaps we can suggest evidence you can use

Well actually I do live in Cambodia, except I travel out for work. So I can show my last 7 years of visa's and entry/exit stamps. Which of course covers our entire relationship.

 

@Thesmiths2016 actually I said she can't write English. Her spoken English isn't great but we've gotten by and plus we speak half and half. So I speak English with Khmer words thrown in there for her to better understand.

 

Also actually we do have 2 denied tourist visa's which I did and have my name on it. Which were both November times 2015 & 2016. We had tried again after we were married since I thought with my passport proving I'm never back home and being married it's show I provide her support and we/her don't intend to stay in the US.

 

Of course the're are pictures of the wedding, unfortunately no family because no one could come just friends, one Aussie friend who now lives there and married to her older sister. Plus her other sister is married to a Italian who comes every 3 months and stays for 3 months. So I thought they both could write letters testifying that we're a bona fide marriage/relationship. Including my parents and brother who have both known about her and seen pictures of us since a few months after we meet.

 

As I said I may be over thinking this and it's fine. I just keep looking at what I can provide and I feel it could be viewed as, "how can you prove any of this is real? Could be a complete fabrication". I find it crazy since I do construction work for the Dept of State and Navy I still can't seem to get this done easier lol. I literally designed the fire protection system for the apartment housing that the Embassy in Phnom Penh uses to house it's Consular Officers and I know the GSO (General Services Officer) and FM (Facility Maintenance) there. Of course the IV is different from a NIV but still before when I was trying to get her a tourist visa for her it was not going to happen.

[ASMS 86]

You are not over thinking about this, the evidence really matters, and I'll suggest to both of you to start having proof of written communication, because it will still help to show "ongoing relationship" for the moment of the interview, since you will need to keep showing evidence till that moment.

 

You can for sure get the affidavits letters from friends and family, but they are not strong evidence of bona fide marriage.

 

You mentioned you have around 7 years living there? were you living together? can you provide evidence of that?

like documentation showing joint ownership or property, a lease showing joint tenancy of a common residence.

If you can, it will be really good.

Also, co-mingling of financial, or she as the beneficiary of your life insurance.

[ThePeck 0]

7 hours ago, ASMS said:

You are not over thinking about this, the evidence really matters, and I'll suggest to both of you to start having proof of written communication, because it will still help to show "ongoing relationship" for the moment of the interview, since you will need to keep showing evidence till that moment.

 

You can for sure get the affidavits letters from friends and family, but they are not strong evidence of bona fide marriage.

 

You mentioned you have around 7 years living there? were you living together? can you provide evidence of that?

like documentation showing joint ownership or property, a lease showing joint tenancy of a common residence.

If you can, it will be really good.

Also, co-mingling of financial, or she as the beneficiary of your life insurance.

That's what I was thinking that the affidavits don't count for much.

 

Living together, no I don't have proof of it. The leases generally don't have expats on it if you're with a local. Actually this place we rent now, there is no lease.

 

We own land but it's under her name. No way a expat can own land unless it's through a corporation that's 51% local owned.

 

As far as a bank account, I can't have one unless I have a work permit/book which I don't have since I don't work in Cambodia. Also I can't be a joint partner on hers because of the same fact. I tried to add her to my bank account but she has to go into the branch back in the states and provide identification. Which she has been denied tourist visa's so that's a no go.

 

If you know about us government clearance, I did put her on my SF-86 which list her as a foreign national that I have a close relationship with. I have a copy of my e-QIP paperwork that was submitted. Don't know if they would even know about it, even though they have to do this same SF-86 prior to being a Foreign Service Officer. Luckily this paperwork is back from 2015. Also lists her mother and father.

 

Otherwise I don't know how to start tracking a written communication since she can't write Khmer either. She speaks it of course but she never learned to write it. And as I explained before she also can't write English.

[ASMS 86]

9 minutes ago, ThePeck said:

As far as a bank account, I can't have one unless I have a work permit/book which I don't have since I don't work in Cambodia. Also I can't be a joint partner on hers because of the same fact. I tried to add her to my bank account but she has to go into the branch back in the states and provide identification. Which she has been denied tourist visa's so that's a no go.

What about going to a nearby country that both are able to open joint bank accounts?

Is what we did in one of our trips since I wasn't able to go to USA so he wouldn't be able to add me to he's bank accounts, and I don't allow him to come to Venezuelan because of the critical levels of insecurity. So we decided to open one in another country.

 

Your situation then is a little complicated then. Some people don't provide proof of communication, and they are lucky to never been asked for it, but I guess they have other strong documents as evidence.

[ThePeck 0]

12 hours ago, ASMS said:

What about going to a nearby country that both are able to open joint bank accounts?

Is what we did in one of our trips since I wasn't able to go to USA so he wouldn't be able to add me to he's bank accounts, and I don't allow him to come to Venezuelan because of the critical levels of insecurity. So we decided to open one in another country.

 

Your situation then is a little complicated then. Some people don't provide proof of communication, and they are lucky to never been asked for it, but I guess they have other strong documents as evidence.

 

I'd have to check either Thailand or Vietnam. I don't think either would allow this since neither of us have residency, work or other ties to the country. It would have to be some sort of investment account and no idea what amount of money we'd need to invest. Not saying it can't be done or I won't look into it.

 

One think I found out is that I do still have our chat log via Facebook. Before I got her the iPhone she had a Galaxy and she used to send pictures and such via Facebook, now there still isn't any actual text conversations but it shows she's sent me smiley emoticons, voice messages and called me on there. Several YouTube links for me to download the songs so I can add them to her phone and such and plenty of pictures. 

 

Plus I don't know if I can print something out but she's on my Apple Family Sharing account and she can buy things using my credit card.

 

I think this should be enough. What do you think?

[ASMS 86]

2 hours ago, ThePeck said:

I'd have to check either Thailand or Vietnam. I don't think either would allow this since neither of us have residency, work or other ties to the country. It would have to be some sort of investment account and no idea what amount of money we'd need to invest. Not saying it can't be done or I won't look into it.

For some countries the residence or work permit is not necessary to open bank accounts, is also about the policy of each bank. We didn't have residence or work permits for Costa Rica, my husband just send mails to banks asking for requeriments when only holding visitors visa. Usually they will ask to both of you proof of income, other banks accounts, passports, and in the case specific of Banks in Costa Rica, was physical presence in the country for over 24 hours. The asked for $500 of deposit, just make sure to keep using that account (regular deposits and withdrawals).

So just contact them to see which one can work for you.

 

2 hours ago, ThePeck said:

One think I found out is that I do still have our chat log via Facebook. Before I got her the iPhone she had a Galaxy and she used to send pictures and such via Facebook, now there still isn't any actual text conversations but it shows she's sent me smiley emoticons, voice messages and called me on there. Several YouTube links for me to download the songs so I can add them to her phone and such and plenty of pictures. 

 

Plus I don't know if I can print something out but she's on my Apple Family Sharing account and she can buy things using my credit card.

Use the Facebook chat if it shows real communication, since I think only emoticons, voice messages or links won't be enough. Add all the call logs that you have.

I know linguistic barriers may be hard sometimes, but take in count that if she makes an effort to write in English it would not just provide sufficient proof of communication till the moment of the interview, but also showing that cultural barriers between both are not that big. At the end she is going to live in US. with you, so she must be able to write English too.

 

Think harder about ways to prove that both have been living together.

 

What about your taxes? I know you currently live outside of US. but you still pay your taxes? change your status showing the filing status as married (filing separately since she is overseas).

 

[bcking 3,157]

You have been together for 7 years. In that time what have you done together? Do you have any written proof of trips together, visits to places (Tickets to something), and then a photo that matches that trip/visit? 

 

Say you went to Bangkok for a weekend. Do you have the flight info saved in your email, and do you also have a photo of you two in Bangkok? You can link those two together.

 

Whatever evidence you do get, I suggest writing a detailed cover letter where you reference each piece of evidence in text, rather than just one big list. It will help them focus in on what you have. Like a briefly chronology that references specific objective evidence.

 

Just because affidavits don't "mean much", I would still include them. Particularly if they can be matched up with photos of you two with the person who wrote it. Like an affidavit from someone who you've know for the last 7 years and can attest to where/when you met or something. Then if there is a photo of the three of you, include that. I know it is silly but also try to pick people who are the most "professional", and also if possible US Citizens. A friend who is a doctor, a lawyer, an accountant. Holds a profession. They are more "traditional" people who provide affidavits. When they write the letter they can include their title.

 

As for video/text - Obviously you can't do text conversations. Are you now together or now apart? If you are now apart, start using skype on a PC/Mac (not tablet) and you can use "skypelogviewer" to download a log of all the calls (and it should also show the times of each call). The program doesn't work on a tablet.

 

As for the places you lived - Would you be able to contact any of the landlords and ask for something written stating you both lived there together for X period? If it is written in Khmer, then get it translated.