Evidence of Bona Fide Marriage

[Rachel D 3]

Hi there! 

 

Quick about us: Now husband entered US on B1/B2 visa in November 2020 with intent to stay through January 2021. We decided that due to the longevity of our relationship (since 2017) and uncertainty around COVID we would marry. Married 2/21/21 in small family affair. I am a US Citizen, husband is Indian. 

 

The question: As I am pulling together our documents particularly for our evidence of a bona fide marriage, is there any worth in including text logs, trip documentation, and photos going back to when we began dating in 2017 or are they truly only looking for immediate proof? Currently I have our marriage license, contracts from our venue & photographer, email chain with our officiant, photos of the day along with invitation, proof of spouse as beneficiary on life insurance, spouse added as occupant on lease, and we just opened a joint checking account. We have been on numerous trips together or to see one another since we met and I can pull all of that information, but just looking for input here! 

 

Thank you for any advice! 

[Rocio0010 5,635]

I would include the documentation for the trip.

[alv&josh 34]

I would say to get as much information as you can will be better. Especially proof that you two live in the same place could help too, bank statements with both names, the trips that you were together showing you were on the same plane, letters or conversations between you two, library cards, anything that shows his name on your house would help too. Good luck

[AlluringSoul 185]

Agree with comments here. I pulled everything in the folders, organized by receipts, trips, etc. I think when my interviewer saw how many bags I have of stuff, he gave up lol!

 

The most important that they ask for is anything joint, so taxes filed as a married couple, lease (I didn't have one but my landlord signed a letter saying we live at our address), joint bank account (statements, letter from the bank saying when you opened the account), joint health insurance (I called the insurance company to send me a letter stating that I am the dependent on the account), phone bills, cable bills etc. Whatever had our names on it, I printed it lol.

 

My second folder was all about the extra stuff so trips we took + pictures to go with them, some receipts and that was pretty much it. 

 

At my interview, I think the only thing he took was the transcripts of taxes (you can request those at the IRS site), letter from landlord (I forced him to take it actually hahah) and 1 picture from our ceremony.

 

Good luck!

Edited March 14, 2021 by AlluringSoul

[Verrou 1,962]

a bit of topic. doing AOS now, i'm the beneficiary and husband is the petition and he is USC. both of us working and my husband actually is my dependent on health insurance LOL, the deduction is 50% less on mine haha. question is : how hard to get letter from the health insurance to show that he's my dependent ? @AlluringSoul

[JKLSemicolon 423]

2 hours ago, Misscloud said:

a bit of topic. doing AOS now, i'm the beneficiary and husband is the petition and he is USC. both of us working and my husband actually is my dependent on health insurance LOL, the deduction is 50% less on mine haha. question is : how hard to get letter from the health insurance to show that he's my dependent ? @AlluringSoul

Call the number on the back of your health insurance card and tell them you need a verification letter that shows who is covered by the plan and the dates of coverage. This is a common request and they should already have a template for it.