DCF New Delhi / Mumbai, India

[AnonIndia 58]

Hey @Kuneesa We received a notice of additional processing requirements today in the mail. It says to provide evidence to establish our marriage is bonafide by submitting wedding pictures of the ceremony and wedding receptions with family and friends and the wedding invitations. It says we may also include joint bank accounts, joint leases, joint mortgage, insurance policies, cancelled checks, joint bills, income tax returns, affidavits from the beneficiary's family, photos. We got married at the Sub Registrar's Office at the area of evidence with 3 of our friends as witnesses. We did not have a big ceremony or a reception and no wedding invitations were passed out. We married this way only because we had no approval from the beneficiary's family.  Our bank the ICICI Bank also said we cannot have a joint bank account even though we are married because they are not allowed to make a joint bank account with an Indian national and a foreign national. The only evidence we can send back is the new joint lease on our rented house we have since June 6th 2019 and a letter explaining our situation in detail. Maybe a letter from the bank saying why they can't let us have a joint bank account if that is possible to get. Would that be sufficient along with some additional photos to satisfy the field office director? We have plenty of proof as evident from the Indian visa paperwork that we have been living under the same roof for over 11 months now. 

[Kuneesa 92]

On 7/5/2019 at 10:13 AM, AnonIndia said:

Hey @Kuneesa We received a notice of additional processing requirements today in the mail. It says to provide evidence to establish our marriage is bonafide by submitting wedding pictures of the ceremony and wedding receptions with family and friends and the wedding invitations. It says we may also include joint bank accounts, joint leases, joint mortgage, insurance policies, cancelled checks, joint bills, income tax returns, affidavits from the beneficiary's family, photos. We got married at the Sub Registrar's Office at the area of evidence with 3 of our friends as witnesses. We did not have a big ceremony or a reception and no wedding invitations were passed out. We married this way only because we had no approval from the beneficiary's family.  Our bank the ICICI Bank also said we cannot have a joint bank account even though we are married because they are not allowed to make a joint bank account with an Indian national and a foreign national. The only evidence we can send back is the new joint lease on our rented house we have since June 6th 2019 and a letter explaining our situation in detail. Maybe a letter from the bank saying why they can't let us have a joint bank account if that is possible to get. Would that be sufficient along with some additional photos to satisfy the field office director? We have plenty of proof as evident from the Indian visa paperwork that we have been living under the same roof for over 11 months now. 

Hey! Sorry for the late reply but here are some thoughts..

They need more proof that you guys are married and you have a life together as a husband & wife. Ultimately, the burden of proof is on you. So here are some suggestions: 
1.) Bank account should be super easy. I don't know why your bank says that they can't open one for you together/add your spouse to your account and make it a joint account, this you can do in a day or less. They can't deny you opening of a joint account once you're married and produce your marriage certificate. That too a registered one from the court. If one bank doesn't do it, go to another bank (HDFC is pretty good with this, esp. bigger branches where they deal with foreigners and do paperwork of that sort) and you should be able to do that easily. 

2.) Get affidavits from family & people who know that you both and know that you are married. Not the best proof, but now that you're dealing with a RFE you need to do this. 

3.) Get a lease in both of your name. Super easy if you have a friend/relative who own their own place. Just go to a notary and get a lease made. Should not take you more than a hour and a couple hundred bucks to do this. 

4.) Getting joint insurance policy should be easy enough. Couple thousand at most but it'll be worth it for the evidence. 

5.) Get as many chat logs/phone logs/sms/whatsapp etc logs that prove that you two have a life together and are living together and submit those at evidence. 

6.) More photos of both of you in different places, with different people, friends, family, different times etc. As much as you can. 

7.) Write a letter explaining your situation but also submit as much evidence with it as you can. Again, the burden of proving the authenticity of your relationship is on you and you alone. As much evidence as you can collect, it'll be good for you in the longer run too. 

Hope this helps. If you need anything else, let me know. Good luck & hope this goes well for you!