BONA FIDE MARRIAGE - How much pre-marriage proof should we submit?

[OhSusannah 0]

I am U.S. citizen, married for 16 years to my husband, a UK citizen.  We reside in UK together since 2011.  We married in 2009 and I applied for a UK spouse visa, moving to UK to join him in 2011.  

 

We had an online relationship for two years and when we finally met in person, we each knew the relationship was the real deal, and we married in a private beach ceremony two weeks later.  Yes, it was a whirlwind romance, but after two years of constant communication, all that we needed to know was whether there was any real-life chemistry.  We were middle-aged and had each been married and divorced once before.  

 

Sixteen years later, I'd do it all again exactly the same way.  

 

SO, my question is as follows:  As I gather documents to prove bona fide marriage, I wonder how much I should concentrate on the PRE-MEETING and PRE-MARRIAGE relationship?  I know that I need to prove we have intertwined our lives and finances, live together as a couple, etc., but how much do I need to provide in the way of proof of the relationship being genuine *prior* to our first meeting and quick marriage? 

 

I actually hadn't planned on providing much proof at all of the pre-wedding relationship, since we live together, own a home, share finances, and are homebodies who still do everything together.  

 

Then I read that I should provide as much proof as absolutely possible, to include relationship documentation prior to the marriage, especially since we married only two weeks after meeting in person.  Do they really still need all of our old Skype transcripts, emails, chats, wedding cards, etc?  I want to give them all they might need in the way of evidence, but don't want to be ridiculous.  Clearly, my husband did not marry me for a green card.  In fact, we were going to grow old in the UK, but my mother is getting older and I have grandchildren now, and we just feel the pull to move to the U.S. to be closer to my family.  

 

Any advice on this?  Do I go through packed-away boxes and find old "proof of relationship" from BEFORE our 2009 wedding?  All the stuff we submitted for my UK visa, to prove a "real" relationship?

 

Any assistance, experience or advice appreciated.  

[Reynal2m 12]

19 minutes ago, OhSusannah said:

I am U.S. citizen, married for 16 years to my husband, a UK citizen.  We reside in UK together since 2011.  We married in 2009 and I applied for a UK spouse visa, moving to UK to join him in 2011.  

 

We had an online relationship for two years and when we finally met in person, we each knew the relationship was the real deal, and we married in a private beach ceremony two weeks later.  Yes, it was a whirlwind romance, but after two years of constant communication, all that we needed to know was whether there was any real-life chemistry.  We were middle-aged and had each been married and divorced once before.  

 

Sixteen years later, I'd do it all again exactly the same way.  

 

SO, my question is as follows:  As I gather documents to prove bona fide marriage, I wonder how much I should concentrate on the PRE-MEETING and PRE-MARRIAGE relationship?  I know that I need to prove we have intertwined our lives and finances, live together as a couple, etc., but how much do I need to provide in the way of proof of the relationship being genuine *prior* to our first meeting and quick marriage? 

 

I actually hadn't planned on providing much proof at all of the pre-wedding relationship, since we live together, own a home, share finances, and are homebodies who still do everything together.  

 

Then I read that I should provide as much proof as absolutely possible, to include relationship documentation prior to the marriage, especially since we married only two weeks after meeting in person.  Do they really still need all of our old Skype transcripts, emails, chats, wedding cards, etc?  I want to give them all they might need in the way of evidence, but don't want to be ridiculous.  Clearly, my husband did not marry me for a green card.  In fact, we were going to grow old in the UK, but my mother is getting older and I have grandchildren now, and we just feel the pull to move to the U.S. to be closer to my family.  

 

Any advice on this?  Do I go through packed-away boxes and find old "proof of relationship" from BEFORE our 2009 wedding?  All the stuff we submitted for my UK visa, to prove a "real" relationship?

 

Any assistance, experience or advice appreciated.  

Given that you’ve lived together for over a decade, own property, and share finances, you already have solid evidence of a bona fide marriage. However, since you married quickly after your first in-person meeting, it’s wise to include some pre-marriage relationship proof to preempt any concerns.

How Much Pre-Marriage Proof to Include?

U.S. immigration authorities (such as USCIS for a spousal visa or green card application) generally prioritize evidence of an ongoing, shared life over time, rather than just the relationship’s origins. However, in cases where a couple married soon after meeting in person, officers might scrutinize whether the relationship was genuine before marriage. Since your marriage followed two years of online communication, it would be beneficial to provide at least some proof of that period.

What Pre-Marriage Proof Should You Include?

You don’t need to overwhelm them with every old email or chat log, but consider submitting:

• A few key emails or chat logs (screenshots or excerpts showing meaningful communication, not every single message).

• A timeline of your relationship (outlining when you met online, started dating, first met in person, and married).

• Photos from your wedding and first meeting (if available).

• Affidavits from friends/family who knew about your relationship before marriage.

• Any travel records or tickets showing visits or plans related to meeting.

If you already submitted a lot of this for your UK visa, you might be able to reuse some of it.

Main Focus: Post-Marriage Evidence

Since you've been married for 16 years and living together since 2011, the most important evidence will be:

• Joint financial documents (bank statements, mortgage/deeds, insurance policies, tax returns).

• Proof of cohabitation (lease/mortgage, utility bills, ID cards with the same address).

• Photos together over the years (including with family/friends, at holidays, events, etc.).

• Correspondence addressed to both of you.

• Any travel records or documents showing a life built together.

Do You Need to Dig Up Old Documents?

Not necessarily. If you can provide a solid summary and a few key pieces of pre-marriage proof, your long-term marriage and shared life will carry more weight. Immigration officers want to see the full picture of your relationship, but they understand that couples don’t always keep records from years ago.

[OhSusannah 0]

Thank you, this is very, very helpful! 

[pushbrk 13,311]

I concur.  Simple conclusive evidence of your more than a decade living together and comingled finances is plenty.