Documents to collect in advance for the DCF

[Vale 0]

Hi to everyone, I'm Valentina from Italy.

Andy (from California) and I are starting the procedure for the DCF.

He has been living in italy since September 1st and he has a regular 5-year visa here thanks to our relationship.

 

My question for now is: which documents can we prepare in advance?

 

His parents are visiting italy in a couple of weeks and we will have the chance to get some documents from the US when they come.

[Jorge V 195]

Definitely have his parents get a few certified copies of his birth certificate. The first step should only require photocopies but you'll definitely need originals for the consular section. It's good to have a several certified copies on hand just in case.

 

You can also have them sign letters in support of your bona fide marriage. Most users here agree that these letters have little to no impact, but it should only take a few minutes to have them sign something and it definitely won't hurt your case.

 

If you plan on using your spouse's parents as sponsors on the I-864 it might be a good idea to get them to fill it out now. You won't need the I-864 until the consular phase of the process but it'd be good to have signed copies on hand if needed.

 

Also, any sort of documents that your husband may need. Things like financial documents that can't be obtained online, utility bills or other evidence showing your husbands intent to establish domicile in the US, etc.

[Vale 0]

Thanks a lot for your advice!

What about police documents? Did they require specific ones?

[Jorge V 195]

Police certificates should only be required for the beneficiary (you), at least that's how it was for my application and others I have seen. 

[Vale 0]

Thanks  a lot!

We already have to start the process, in italy we have a registered "accordo di convivenza" that started one year ago.

Now we have all the papers for the civil marriage, we are gonna do that in less than a month.

Can we just do a private signature in the city all without the cerimony or are they gonna ask about pictures of the day?

As I sayd, we already have a contract in Italy, we are gonna change it with a civil marriage only for the visa..

 

Thanks in advance

[Jorge V 195]

You do not need to do a fancy ceremony, a simple civil marriage where the couple signs the marriage license is fine. The USCIS only cares if the marriage is legal where it occurred. So as long as your marriage is considered legal in Italy then you're ok.

 

As far as pictures, USCIS does not ask for any specific evidence, only that the evidence that you do submit show that the marriage occurred in good faith and not for the purposes of immigration fraud. If you have a small signing ceremony you can take a few pictures and mail those in. If you do not take any pictures that's ok too, just keep in mind that they'll require alternate supporting evidence such as joint bank accounts, proof of cohabitation (a lease with both names on it), facebook/text messages, other photos from your relationship, evidence of trips you took together or trips to visit one another, etc. What you submit can be anything that supports your bona fide marriage.