I-130 affidavits / support letters from parents

[harden4mvp 3]

I am about to file i-130 for my wife who resides outside the U.S. Both of us are from China.

 

We plan to submit affidavits to support the petition, and already got affidavits from common friends in the US who have direct knowledge and able to provide many details. 

 

For parents, we each met the other's parents once. They were not present in the civil ceremony here, but per Chinese culture we'll have a bigger wedding reception in China later this year.  Thus my question is -- Is it necessary to obtain letters from parents at this point?

 

If we do need parents to write, it'd need to be translated and notarized I assume, as those documents will be produced in China and originally in Chinese. That could take some time... 

 

Hope folks with similar experience can share some insights! Thanks in advance!! 

Edited January 11, 2020 by harden4mvp

[Just Paul 4,594]

Affidavits and letters are the worst proof of a relationship that you can submit.  

 

Using passport / visa stamps, boarding passes, and showing expenses are far better proof.  Comingling of assets and having life insurance listing each other as beneficiaries are also better than having affidavits.

[geowrian 22,337]

Ever hear of somebody submitting an affidavit in their packet claiming that the marriage was not bona fide? I haven't. Well...I'm sure somebody has at one point mistakenly. 😆

Focus on other items first. Time spent together is primary. Financial commingling - if any - is great as well. This is not just limited to things like bank accounts, but being beneficiaries on insurance policies and accounts, being able to make medical decisions, etc. are good as well.

Then things like chats, photos, etc. are fine.

 

If you want to send one anyway...

Notarization is not required. Translation if they are not in English is required. Anybody fluent in both languages can do it. See here:

 

The parental ones seem weak IMO - you only met once. There's likely no way they have any meaningful direct knowledge of how the relationship developed.

The friends may or may not be more useful if they have direct knowledge of the evololution of the relationship. For instance, noting that they met on mm/dd/yyyy at xyz for [whatever purpose]. A number of those + evidence of having done those things on those dates and at those places puts together a more clear picture IMHO.

The other evidences of what is stated are the key part. Anybody can write a letter saying they know you and your spouse...sometimes for a few dollars.

 

That said, don't expect the CO to read them. They may or may not, but they will likely focus on the other items and not "fluff".

[Duke & Marie 1,389]

2 hours ago, Paul & Mary said:

Affidavits and letters are the worst proof of a relationship that you can submit.  

 

Using passport / visa stamps, boarding passes, and showing expenses are far better proof.  Comingling of assets and having life insurance listing each other as beneficiaries are also better than having affidavits.

I’d have to say if your thin on other forms of evidence then affidavits of support do help.. but only if they have physically met you and have knowledge of the relationship  

 

Without any offence, it would be somewhat nice if we remember that in the majority of cases spouses who reside overseas from each other keep the majority of their finances sperate, generally because it’s easier to do so when maintaining multiple dwellings oceans apart... secondly there are usually issues with combating exchange rates and banking and insurance institutions who don’t permit much of these merger type activities to happen when spouses are not residents of said countries.. same same when it comes to emergency contacts or nominated person to make medical decisions.. 

 

I know this from personal experience, our package was very light on evidence. it basically consisted of a marriage certificate, a few photographs of us together (12) inc wedding and 2 affidavits of support one from my husbands daughter (who was residing with me at the time in Aus) and one from his step mom (a USC that I’d met once over lunch)... other than that, I wrote down dates of all our travel to see each other 7 in total and a copy my I94 as supporting evidence.. 

 

if Affidavits of support is all you have then you need to use them.. we had our i130 approved without RFE.. and are currently waiting on DQ at NVC. 

 

 

Edited January 11, 2020 by Duke & Marie