Bona fide proof for an I-130 filing for CR1

[Zeeg 0]

Hey everybody.

 

We are currently doing an online filing of I-130 for CR-1 visa, and wanted to ask for advise regarding the bone fide evidence for your marriage, and the best format to present them. Me (beneficiary) and my wife (US citizen) been together since 2019. I've studied in the US on the F1 visa and then worked on the Post-completion OPT. We didn't officially lived together, as I already was leasing some place with a colleagues from work, but I stayed at her place a bunch, so we don't have any utility bills, nor did we have a bank account together, or payed any bills, cos we were dating at that time.

 

I left US about a year ago when my OPT expired, and we were planning to get married in Europe. But cos of covid, travel restrictions and the bureaucracy we decided to do it in US and I traveled there a month ago for the ceremony and the honeymoon.

 

The proofs I can provide:

-My already expired passport that had a US visa, and the Employment authorization OPT card (also expired)

-My I-94 proving that I was in the US for 5 years, that also shows that I've recently been in the US for the wedding

-Our marriage certificate

-My leasing contract (I guess to prove that we lived in the same city, but again, she's not on it)

-My work contract (for the same reason as my leasing one, I can also include some pay-slips but not sure its necessary)

-A bunch of photos of us together with the description of our relationship timeline, showing us at the parties, family events, camping trips and such.

 

I can ask for some of our friends do write a statement on their part, but I heard that it's not a particularly valid proof, and is not worth including.

 

My questions is, what of those proofs are the best to include or to leave out?

Is it bad that we don't have financial assets together yet (we only been married for a month and I'm currently in a different country)?

What the best way to present those proofs? I was thinking of making a PDF file with the story of our relationship, and pictures in the middle like a PowerPoint presentation. And then in the end of it, to put pictures of the above documents in that exact same file. OR To write that same statement, with pictures and such, but in the end of it, make a list of the documents that I mention above and attach them as the separate files.

 

Thank you for the help.

 

 

[Devarj 45]

I created a timeline booklet (from the day we met to present) with supporting documents and photos much like a love story. It worked for us.

I try to answer every event with WHO, WHAT, WHEN, HOW, WHY.

[Zeeg 0]

On 12/14/2021 at 3:22 AM, Devarj said:

I created a timeline booklet (from the day we met to present) with supporting documents and photos much like a love story. It worked for us.

I try to answer every event with WHO, WHAT, WHEN, HOW, WHY.

Did you file it online and put everything in the same file?

Cos putting my passport and lease in he middle of the story with photos doesn't look too pretty, so I was thinking of either putting them in the end of the PDF with the story and photos. OR indicating at the end of the description of our relationship, that there are additional files (list them) attached separately. Ans then attach the lease, my old I-94 and other docs.

[pushbrk 12,876]

On 12/14/2021 at 4:08 AM, Zeeg said:

Hey everybody.

 

We are currently doing an online filing of I-130 for CR-1 visa, and wanted to ask for advise regarding the bone fide evidence for your marriage, and the best format to present them. Me (beneficiary) and my wife (US citizen) been together since 2019. I've studied in the US on the F1 visa and then worked on the Post-completion OPT. We didn't officially lived together, as I already was leasing some place with a colleagues from work, but I stayed at her place a bunch, so we don't have any utility bills, nor did we have a bank account together, or payed any bills, cos we were dating at that time.

 

I left US about a year ago when my OPT expired, and we were planning to get married in Europe. But cos of covid, travel restrictions and the bureaucracy we decided to do it in US and I traveled there a month ago for the ceremony and the honeymoon.

 

The proofs I can provide:

-My already expired passport that had a US visa, and the Employment authorization OPT card (also expired)

-My I-94 proving that I was in the US for 5 years, that also shows that I've recently been in the US for the wedding

-Our marriage certificate

-My leasing contract (I guess to prove that we lived in the same city, but again, she's not on it)

-My work contract (for the same reason as my leasing one, I can also include some pay-slips but not sure its necessary)

-A bunch of photos of us together with the description of our relationship timeline, showing us at the parties, family events, camping trips and such.

 

I can ask for some of our friends do write a statement on their part, but I heard that it's not a particularly valid proof, and is not worth including.

 

My questions is, what of those proofs are the best to include or to leave out?

Is it bad that we don't have financial assets together yet (we only been married for a month and I'm currently in a different country)?

What the best way to present those proofs? I was thinking of making a PDF file with the story of our relationship, and pictures in the middle like a PowerPoint presentation. And then in the end of it, to put pictures of the above documents in that exact same file. OR To write that same statement, with pictures and such, but in the end of it, make a list of the documents that I mention above and attach them as the separate files.

 

Thank you for the help.

 

 

That you were both living in the same area for an extended time will do nicely.  This you show with passport stamps in addition to the address history on forms.  Upload a few photos together and relax.  Nothing elaborate is needed, despite what others have unnecessarily done.

[Devarj 45]

On 12/15/2021 at 1:12 PM, Zeeg said:

Did you file it online and put everything in the same file?

Cos putting my passport and lease in he middle of the story with photos doesn't look too pretty, so I was thinking of either putting them in the end of the PDF with the story and photos. OR indicating at the end of the description of our relationship, that there are additional files (list them) attached separately. Ans then attach the lease, my old I-94 and other docs.

I attached additional files