Been with my spouse for almost 30 years....what to submit

[DovePatrick 0]

I have been in a relationship with my spouse for almost 30 years. When gay marriage became legal in the USA, we got married in Massachusetts. Before that, in 2008, we got a civil union from the state of Vermont. We never really wanted to live in the USA. We have been living in Brazil for most of our time together. Now that my parents are getting older, we want to move to the USA to take care of them, maybe in  the next 5 years. . I have always maintained a US residence, using my paren't's address. I have always filed taxes. My spouse and I have years of financial documents that prove our mingling of finances, that prove we made financial decisions as a married couple.  I have a sponsor in the USA. 

 

My question is mainly about submitting photos that prove that we have been a couple. Should we send photos from every year we have been together?  Should we submit copies of personal letters, whatsapp exchanges throughout the years? How much "top loading" should we do with our application? We got married in a civil service and we didn't have a reception. So we don't really  have wedding photos. Will not having those kind of photos affect our application? 

 

Any advice you could give in the case of a couple who have been together for  a long time would be much appreciated. 

[Crazy Cat 41,886]

I would not include more than 6 or 8 photos.  Concentrate on QUALTY evidence, not quantity.  You don't have to have wedding photos.  Documents showing mingled finances and other legal documents obtained since marriage (to demonstrate a life together) is great evidence.  Good luck.

[Chancy 6,241]

30 minutes ago, DovePatrick said:

We have been living in Brazil for most of our time together.

 

Your strongest evidence would be official documents showing your life together in Brazil, such as property titles or lease documents with both your names, government IDs listing the same address, bank statements of your joint accounts.  Photos would be secondary evidence.  No need for too many.  Around 20 or less should be enough.  Submit a mix of photos from across the years of your relationship, along with pictures together with family and friends.  Don't bother with the personal letters and whatsapp exchanges.  Those are weak evidence.  Focus more on evidence of time spent together in person.

 

[Boiler 45,525]

I do not see anything to suggest you will have a problem. Seems a straightforward case.

[Crazy Cat 41,886]

27 minutes ago, Boiler said:

I do not see anything to suggest you will have a problem. Seems a straightforward case.

Agree.  I should have said that.  This looks like a solid case. 

[Steve & Erma 36]

Less is more. Like the others said give them your strongest pieces of evidence to show your relationship. The more evidence you give them the more they have to go through as the agent has to look at everything you send in which increases the time they have to review your case. I wish I had realized this before I sent in some of the things I did.

[Dave Knapp 47]

19 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

Agree.  I should have said that.  This looks like a solid case. 

I'm not saying the relationship issue is a problem, but if the OP has been residing outside the US for 15 years, won't Proof of Domicile raise a few eyebrows? 

[Crazy Cat 41,886]

2 hours ago, Dave Knapp said:

I'm not saying the relationship issue is a problem, but if the OP has been residing outside the US for 15 years, won't Proof of Domicile raise a few eyebrows? 

The OP was concerned about providing evidence of a bona fide relationship.  It seems he has been maintaining a residence in the US.  He has to show evidence of INTENT to re-establish domicile.  I don't think it will be an issue.  

Edited October 29, 2022 by Crazy Cat

[Crazy Cat 41,886]

@DovePatrick, please do not post duplicate questions.