Evidence of a Bonifide Marriage

[Inochi 0]

Hi all and wish good luck to those that have applyed for 1-130 already!

 

I got a question after reading the link http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1 about Step-by-Step Guide on How to File for a IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa

Regarding the Evidence of a Bonifide Marriage, since my US husband and I are not living together right now, we basically do not have anything under both our names. We have only the marrige certificate and proof we have seen each other twice with photos and airplane tickets. I was reading about this point below in the list:

 

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 makingthe affidavit, his or her relationship to the petitioner ofbeneficiary, if any, and complete information and detailsexplaining how the person acquired his or herknowledge of your marriage);   and wondering is there a form he has to be filled up for that, or how does it go with the affidavits? Anyone that has done this or knows about it and can give me advise, will be highly appreciated!  thanks in advance!

 

[agripa 100]

I used the following basic format:

 

Quote

AFFIDAVIT OF [NAME] (person who make statement)

[NAME] (person who makes statement) being duly sworn, deposes and says: 

I am making this affirmation in connection with bona fide marriage between [NAME] Applicant, and [NAME], Beneficiary 
The contents of the affirmation are based on my own knowledge and are true. 
2. I was born on [DATE] in [TOWN, COUNTY, COUNTRY]. 
3. My address is [TOWN, COUNTY, COUNTRY]. 
4. [NAME], the beneficiary, is my daughter. 
5. [WHEN THRID PARTY FIRST MET / BECAMAE AWARE OF RELATIONSHIP OF PETITIONER AND BENEFICARY] 
6. I was a witness at [NAMES] wedding on [DATE]. 
7. I have personal knowledge of the bona fide of [NAMES] relationship. Their marriage is genuine. 
 

For point 7 and onwards you should expand and give a lot of details. Talk about how and when they got to know you and how they know how much you guys love each other. At the end they should sign and date the affidavit. If you'd like you can also get it notarized at a public notary, but this isn't necessary.

 

I should point out, however, that affidavits are generally considered the weakest form of evidence. In general, the following is a list of best to worst types of evidence:

1. Proof that you've lived together (many couples don't have this, so it's okay).
2. Proof that you've seen each other.
3. Proof of financial co-mingling.
4. Proof of a wedding ceremony and honeymoon.
5. Proof of ongoing communication (chat logs, skype logs, phone call logs, etc.).
6. Sworn affidavit.

My wife and I have never lived together, but we were able to get evidence of finanical co-mingling by adding her as a beneficiary to my bank accounts and brokerage accounts. Good luck!

 

 

[Inochi 0]

4 minutes ago, agripa said:

 

I should point out, however, that affidavits are generally considered the weakest form of evidence. In general, the following is a list of best to worst types of evidence:

1. Proof that you've lived together (many couples don't have this, so it's okay).
2. Proof that you've seen each other.
3. Proof of financial co-mingling.
4. Proof of a wedding ceremony and honeymoon.
5. Proof of ongoing communication (chat logs, skype logs, phone call logs, etc.).
6. Sworn affidavit.

 

 

From all above evidence, we didn't have a wedding ceremony, was very private, we didn't have a honeymoon, we do have met, and have chat logs etc. As fas as the financial co-mingling we will see if we can do that even if we are not living together. So that is  why I am worried that it will be a poor case  

[agripa 100]

23 minutes ago, Inochi said:

we didn't have a wedding ceremony, was very private, we didn't have a honeymoon

You have nothing from your wedding? No photographs? No receipts? No invitations? Nothing??

 

23 minutes ago, Inochi said:

As fas as the financial co-mingling we will see if we can do that even if we are not living togethe

My wife and I have never lived together, but I was able to put the following together --

1. Added her as a beneficiary to my bank account.
2. Added her as a beneficiary to my brokerage account.
3. We bought life insurance and added each other as beneficiary.
4. I added her to my work health insurance plan.
5. We opened a new joint bank account back in India.
6. I added her a cardholder to my credit card.

You should also consider adding photographs from throughout your relationship. Don't worry too much if you can't get everything I've outlined above. But I would really try to get some proof of your wedding ceremony. It doesn't matter if the ceremony is small, but it'd be good to show something.

[Inochi 0]

14 minutes ago, agripa said:

You have nothing from your wedding? No photographs? No receipts? No invitations? Nothing??

 

My wife and I have never lived together, but I was able to put the following together --

1. Added her as a beneficiary to my bank account.
2. Added her as a beneficiary to my brokerage account.
3. We bought life insurance and added each other as beneficiary.
4. I added her to my work health insurance plan.
5. We opened a new joint bank account back in India.
6. I added her a cardholder to my credit card.

You should also consider adding photographs from throughout your relationship. Don't worry too much if you can't get everything I've outlined above. But I would really try to get some proof of your wedding ceremony. It doesn't matter if the ceremony is small, but it'd be good to show something.

We have one picture but we both look very casual and a pic that shows our wedding bands that he bought on our fingers. No invitations we couldn't afford anything at that time. That's all. Other than that some pics when I visited him and of course when he did a year ago before the marriage 

Edited April 24, 2017 by Inochi

[agripa 100]

1 minute ago, Inochi said:

We have one picture but we both look very casual and a pic that shows our wedding bands that he bought on our fingers. No invitations we couldn't afford anything at that time. That's all. Other than that sines pics when I visited him and of course when he did a year ago before the marriage 

Try to include what you can. But at the end of the day, you have to submit whatever you have! Best of luck!

[Inochi 0]

Just now, agripa said:

Try to include what you can. But at the end of the day, you have to submit whatever you have! Best of luck!

Thank you!!!!!

[Thesmiths2016 117]

14 hours ago, Inochi said:

We have one picture but we both look very casual and a pic that shows our wedding bands that he bought on our fingers. No invitations we couldn't afford anything at that time. That's all. Other than that some pics when I visited him and of course when he did a year ago before the marriage 

it sounds like you will DEFINITELY need affidavits to support your case.  Do you have anything showing support from family of your intent to marry, emails when you told them about your wedding etc?  Can you get a letter/affidavit from the person who married you in the ceremony?  Do you have receipts from buying the wedding rings?  Emails from booking the wedding etc?  From what you've said it doesn't sound like an overly convincing case .... but you can certainly provide all you can and hopefully they feel it is snough. Good luck!

[Inochi 0]

21 minutes ago, Thesmiths2016 said:

it sounds like you will DEFINITELY need affidavits to support your case.  Do you have anything showing support from family of your intent to marry, emails when you told them about your wedding etc?  Can you get a letter/affidavit from the person who married you in the ceremony?  Do you have receipts from buying the wedding rings?  Emails from booking the wedding etc?  From what you've said it doesn't sound like an overly convincing case .... but you can certainly provide all you can and hopefully they feel it is snough. Good luck!

When i visited him we didn't had any plans to marry. We did it the last minute. His father is a priest so once we got the license we went back to the house and he married us. We got one picture and next day we got the rings. We aware dating a year prior, but due to lack of money we didn't had arrangements. Yeah his father can definitely support and his mother. I have no family here in Greece. We'll see what we will do we will try to get anything we can and whatever happens happens. 

Overall its not that fair the whole process for honest couples that just want a further together. Sometimes I hate it. Anyways thank you for your help! Good luck to all

[Thesmiths2016 117]

2 minutes ago, Inochi said:

When i visited him we didn't had any plans to marry. We did it the last minute. His father is a priest so once we got the license we went back to the house and he married us. We got one picture and next day we got the rings. We aware dating a year prior, but due to lack of money we didn't had arrangements. Yeah his father can definitely support and his mother. I have no family here in Greece. We'll see what we will do we will try to get anything we can and whatever happens happens. 

Overall its not that fair the whole process for honest couples that just want a further together. Sometimes I hate it. Anyways thank you for your help! Good luck to all

Oh that is so awesome that his dad got to be the one to marry you both, that's really special.  It also does show family support in more than one way :-)  That's very helpful too.  His father can speak in the letter about his support of the marriage, his belief in the authenticity of the relationship and so on.  All you can do is collect all you can. I would suggest also writing a letter outlining your relationship story ... sort of a narrative of how and when you met, how the relationship progressed to getting married, and so on.  Including why you don't live together but can't wait to start your life together properly. Don't write it as a defensive "proving yourself" letter, write it as a story as if you're excited to tell them about the love of your life and your story.  
In the meantime, keep having conversations, keep chat logs, and so on.  Keep collecting collecting collecting ... maybe send each other postcards or letters you can provide too?

[mallafri76 1,012]

Don't bother with the affidavits, they carry little to no weight. How many visits have you had? Focus on sending proof of those visits, such as boarding cards or passport stamps.

 

Send pictures of you together and pictures of you and family, especially if you have pictures of anyone in your family meeting his and vice versa.

 

Send phone records, chat logs and selection of emails. 

[Inochi 0]

24 minutes ago, mallafri76 said:

Don't bother with the affidavits, they carry little to no weight. How many visits have you had? Focus on sending proof of those visits, such as boarding cards or passport stamps.

 

Send pictures of you together and pictures of you and family, especially if you have pictures of anyone in your family meeting his and vice versa.

 

Send phone records, chat logs and selection of emails. 

We got flight booking emails and pakyments for the flights from banks I got my passport stamp when I go there, my return tickets he has the same. We have pics together when he was here last September and when I got there in march. We have tons of emails when we first met online from penpal in Reddit, physical love letters pics of sending gifts by mail. Chat logs in skype viber calls we talk every single day since we met. We don't have pics with family only the 2 of us. A couple of videos. 

I will get what I can and all this I'll have to have with me when the interview will take place in my country or does he have to send all that along with the i130?

 

[JFH 12,191]

Send as much as you can with the I-130. Throw everything you can think of into that envelope. 

 

My family have never met my husband. His parents are dead. So we have no photos of us with family members. Our wedding ceremony lasted 8 minutes and we had no guests, no invitations, no reception and no honeymoon. Just us, the officiant and the two witnesses required by law. We have never lived together. 

 

I sent a print out of my I-94 record from the DHS website, photos of us, some emails, cards, messages we have sent each other, we added each other as a beneficiary on our pensions at work, I also sent a copy of my hospital report where the surgeon wrote "I spoke to her husband on the phone and explained the procedure to him" and also a police report from s minor car accident we were in where the officer wrote "Mr. H. and his wife were leaving the parking lot at ...". I also included cards sent to both of us as a couple and also where people had made reference to us. For example a birthday card from an aunt that said "happy birthday! Have a safe flight and enjoy your time with F next week!" 

[Inochi 0]

2 minutes ago, JFH said:

Send as much as you can with the I-130. Throw everything you can think of into that envelope. 

 

My family have never met my husband. His parents are dead. So we have no photos of us with family members. Our wedding ceremony lasted 8 minutes and we had no guests, no invitations, no reception and no honeymoon. Just us, the officiant and the two witnesses required by law. We have never lived together. 

 

I sent a print out of my I-94 record from the DHS website, photos of us, some emails, cards, messages we have sent each other, we added each other as a beneficiary on our pensions at work, I also sent a copy of my hospital report where the surgeon wrote "I spoke to her husband on the phone and explained the procedure to him" and also a police report from s minor car accident we were in where the officer wrote "Mr. H. and his wife were leaving the parking lot at ...". I also included cards sent to both of us as a couple and also where people had made reference to us. For example a birthday card from an aunt that said "happy birthday! Have a safe flight and enjoy your time with F next week!" 

He will complete the i130 so he has to print all these things for evidence as well? That's where I'm confused. Except the forms needed what else he has to put in? Do you have an update list? I will soon have my birth certificate and I'll translate it in English, also he will soon get back our marriage certificate too. Photocopy of our passports what else?