Evidence of Marriage question

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Right! There is little anecdotal experience with newlywed I-130 approvals since the printing of the new form. However, we certainly have a lack of anecdotal evidence of RFE's from newlywed filers that I find telling.

My husband and I got an RFE for not enclosing any "evidence" with our I-130, having married just over two weeks before that date. Although we're doing DCF, I hope our experience is of some use.

We filed on 15 January, several days after the new I-130 came out. Unfortunately, I had downloaded the forms from the London Embassy website, which were out of date and didn't mention the new requirement for evidence beyond our marriage certificate and the usual bumpf you have to send off (divorce decree, passport copy, etc). Anyway, I got an RFE which asked for the items you mentioned above showing we have an ongoing relationship and specifically asking for three affidavits from friends/family attesting to our relationship's validity. I also was asked to draft a note on how my husband and I met and married, and when my relationship with my former husband ended (as opposed to the time of divorce). I ended up including the following:

• Pictures of us (17, I think) at our wedding and with our families at other times, both over here in the UK and in the US
  
• Bills, bank statements, motorcycle insurance, council tax documents, NHS medical cards in our names showing the same address for us both (NOTE: we have NO community property -- my husband is not on my lease and we have no joint bank account but this was overcome by showing we have bills registered at the same address. He had only moved in with me 4 months before so none of the semi-annual or annual bills showed the joint names yet)
  
• Three affidavits from my work colleagues who know the both of us (NOTE: none of these were notarised, but I did have the signatures attested by my company's in-house lawyer).
  

I returned everything ASAP -- it was back at the Embassy two days after I received the RFE. We received our NOA2 only two days after that, so I assumed it was less to do with our case having any issues and more with a new box to tick. I know our case was slightly simplified by the fact that we live together, but I think Yodrak's point about the same sort of anecdotal evidence K-1s give is right on the money, as well as Mary G's examples. What you give is up to your specific circumstances.

[pushbrk 13,044]

Right! There is little anecdotal experience with newlywed I-130 approvals since the printing of the new form. However, we certainly have a lack of anecdotal evidence of RFE's from newlywed filers that I find telling.

My husband and I got an RFE for not enclosing any "evidence" with our I-130, having married just over two weeks before that date. Although we're doing DCF, I hope our experience is of some use.

We filed on 15 January, several days after the new I-130 came out. Unfortunately, I had downloaded the forms from the London Embassy website, which were out of date and didn't mention the new requirement for evidence beyond our marriage certificate and the usual bumpf you have to send off (divorce decree, passport copy, etc). Anyway, I got an RFE which asked for the items you mentioned above showing we have an ongoing relationship and specifically asking for three affidavits from friends/family attesting to our relationship's validity. I also was asked to draft a note on how my husband and I met and married, and when my relationship with my former husband ended (as opposed to the time of divorce). I ended up including the following:

• Pictures of us (17, I think) at our wedding and with our families at other times, both over here in the UK and in the US
  
• Bills, bank statements, motorcycle insurance, council tax documents, NHS medical cards in our names showing the same address for us both (NOTE: we have NO community property -- my husband is not on my lease and we have no joint bank account but this was overcome by showing we have bills registered at the same address. He had only moved in with me 4 months before so none of the semi-annual or annual bills showed the joint names yet)
  
• Three affidavits from my work colleagues who know the both of us (NOTE: none of these were notarised, but I did have the signatures attested by my company's in-house lawyer).
  

I returned everything ASAP -- it was back at the Embassy two days after I received the RFE. We received our NOA2 only two days after that, so I assumed it was less to do with our case having any issues and more with a new box to tick. I know our case was slightly simplified by the fact that we live together, but I think Yodrak's point about the same sort of anecdotal evidence K-1s give is right on the money, as well as Mary G's examples. What you give is up to your specific circumstances.

I do find that interesting. On the other hand, you filed DCF, so you were living together as a married couple as well as 4 months prior. Nothing you provided, except the affidavits could have been provided by most newlyweds living apart, it separate countries. Thanks for sharing. Maybe we'll get some other experiences soon.

[RRDirks 0]

Thanks a lot everyone, I will let you know how it turns out.