Enough evidence for i-130 form

[Bibi94 0]

So, im actually an F-1 student, and recently got married, 3 months ago. My husband is 24 years old, and Im 22. We started the process like 1 month ago. We have the marriage certificate, and a ton of pictures since we've been dating. We are trying to find proof of our marriage, but since we are young, we can't really have that much of evidence. We made our plans and planned to get a car together in 4months. I've already moved in with him, since January, but the lease is under his name and his uncle who is his roommate. And since im a student, and don't have any income for now, he can't put my name on the leasing papers. 

We are about to open a joint account, and I was wonder If it will be okay? Because I'm trying to avoid any refusal. I can also get affidavits for our parents showing that our marriage is real. So I really need advice about the joint account. And if there is a minimum holding day or minimum amount. We have tons on pictures, facebook publcations, instagram, everything. But since we are very young, we don't have that much related to income and money.

thank you

[Starkilla09 366]

Most people who file initially especially K-1 visa holders have scanty evidence at the start. You'll have an opportunity to bring more later. It's a good idea that you're planning on opening a joint bank account together. Commingling of financial evidence is the most important to show bona fide marriage evidence. Use this as well as other evidence such pictures and the affidavit to send initially. Once you get your EAD (employment authorization document) usually within 60-90 days, get an joint lease in an apartment, joint bills such as electricity, internet, cable, credit card, phone, joint insurance liabilities such as car, health, life etc. Carry these on the day of your interview months down the road. Don't despair you can't be denied straight out like that, you'll be sent an RFE for more evidence if need be and you'll also have an interview to attend with your spouse.

Edited April 30, 2017 by Starkilla09

[cyanmavi 101]

No need to worry about the joint bank account. Do you have a SSN? Most banks require it but there are some that don't (I heard Bank of America does not require it). Also your USC husband's SSN could suffice. Minimum deposit in the account etc. depends on the bank and feel free to shop around for the best deal.

You can also sign medical powers of attorney and wills naming each other as beneficiary.

[Bibi94 0]

26 minutes ago, cyanmavi said:

No need to worry about the joint bank account. Do you have a SSN? Most banks require it but there are some that don't (I heard Bank of America does not require it). Also your USC husband's SSN could suffice. Minimum deposit in the account etc. depends on the bank and feel free to shop around for the best deal.

You can also sign medical powers of attorney and wills naming each other as beneficiary.

I do have a SSN because I was working on campus for a year, but stopped to focus on my classes. I have bank account, credit card. My concern is for example if I go to the bank with my husband let's say tomorrow and open a joint account, make a 2000$ deposit, get a verification letter where all these information about when the account was opened and how much is inside, will it be enough as an evidence to include in the I-130 form? Cuz we only have the marriage certificate, this future joint account, pictures, and affidavits from our parents. Thank youuu😊

[Bibi94 0]

38 minutes ago, Starkilla09 said:

Most people who file initially especially K-1 visa holders have scanty evidence at the start. You'll have an opportunity to bring more later. It's a good idea that you're planning on opening a joint bank account together. Commingling of financial evidence is the most important to show bona fide marriage evidence. Use this as well as other evidence such pictures and the affidavit to send initially. Once you get your EAD (employment authorization document) usually within 60-90 days, get an joint lease in an apartment, joint bills such as electricity, internet, cable, credit card, phone, joint insurance liabilities such as car, health, life etc. Carry these on the day of your interview months down the road. Don't despair you can't be denied straight out like that, you'll be sent an RFE for more evidence if need be and you'll also have an interview to attend with your spouse.

Thank you for this quick response. So there won't be any problem in submitting much more evidence later? Because we will get the car together, I will move to his phone line and get health insurance and all this stuff once I start working. But his lease expires next april,(2018)

[cyanmavi 101]

11 minutes ago, Bibi94 said:

I do have a SSN because I was working on campus for a year, but stopped to focus on my classes. I have bank account, credit card. My concern is for example if I go to the bank with my husband let's say tomorrow and open a joint account, make a 2000$ deposit, get a verification letter where all these information about when the account was opened and how much is inside, will it be enough as an evidence to include in the I-130 form? Cuz we only have the marriage certificate, this future joint account, pictures, and affidavits from our parents. Thank youuu😊

It is a good first step. This initial opening of the account will be all you have and it should be fine. You can only provide what you have. Most people, including me, do not have a joint account yet when they first apply for AOS.

Make sure to use the account for some shared expenses regularly so you can later on show activity on the account and use it as proof for ROC, too.

[Bibi94 0]

3 minutes ago, cyanmavi said:

It is a good first step. This initial opening of the account will be all you have and it should be fine. You can only provide what you have. Most people, including me, do not have a joint account yet when they first apply for AOS.

Make sure to use the account for some shared expenses regularly so you can later on show activity on the account and use it as proof for ROC, too.

Oh thanks Lord! I was really stressing about that. What did you have at first as an evidence? 

[cyanmavi 101]

I came with a K-1 and filed AOS two weeks after getting married. If the marriage is new, they do not expect much, most people send in just the marriage certificate as proof and get approved and I believe I could get away with that.

But then I am an over-thinker and over-preparer and I want an easy process, so I sent in wedding day photos, photos of us celebrating filing the marriage license at a restaurant (right by the city hall, with the restaurant name visible), thank you card from friends whose baby shower we attended addressed to both of us, bank letters to our address from when I opened a checking account and Amazon household page showing us sharing Prime benefits. It is probably not that significant and very little compared what they expect at ROC, but I have peace of mind this way.