Proof of bona fida marriage

[Elvis 0]

Hi

I read a lot of topics saying we need to send the proof of bona fida marriage

I sent with my I-130 only marriage certificate since they requested only that

I mean we can't own anything together since we don't live together

did I make mistake by not sending them photos from marriage ceremony, DVD and all receipts

or that is something what she should bring with her to the interview

[RandyandRina 2]

Other than the marriage certificate, i kept of all the emails, letters from snail mail, pics, receipts, joint bank accounts, medical coverage. You can also ask good friends and family members to write an affidavit sworn to or affirmed having personal knowledge that the marital relatrionship is bona fide. If you share a child together, you can submit the child's birth certificate as well.

[Nutty 2]

Hi

I read a lot of topics saying we need to send the proof of bona fida marriage

I sent with my I-130 only marriage certificate since they requested only that

I mean we can't own anything together since we don't live together

did I make mistake by not sending them photos from marriage ceremony, DVD and all receipts

or that is something what she should bring with her to the interview

I don't think you made a mistake at all. I read somewhere on the instructions and also posted a link on another post in this forum that the NVC DOES NOT WANT UNSOLICITATED DOCUMENTS during the I-130 and DS-230 stages. That means give them what they request and only what they request for each form. Nothing more.

It is because they do lose documents and it slows the processing down if they have extra documents to wade through.

[trailmix 77]

I think you did the right thing. For the I-130 for the spouse it asks you for the marriage certificate, the passport type photos and the G-325A. Which I assume you submitted as well.

That is what they ask for, that is what you sent, so you did the right thing. If they want more proof of your relationship they will ask you for it.

Good luck!

[RandyandRina 2]

Their negligence is intolerable, therefore, i strongly believe that at this point and stage of the process, whatever we send them should not be considered as "unsolicited". We, the people, sends them original documents and other proofs or evidence to establish that what we write on each questions are valid and true. If we are held accountable for providing them true information, then we should hold them accountable too for making sure they collect and file our documents with extra care. It's not just the process that they are delaying, but peoples lives as well...there's no excuse for that.

Just my 2 cents...

Edited October 8, 2007 by RandyandRina

[pushbrk 13,109]

I think you did the right thing. For the I-130 for the spouse it asks you for the marriage certificate, the passport type photos and the G-325A. Which I assume you submitted as well.

That is what they ask for, that is what you sent, so you did the right thing. If they want more proof of your relationship they will ask you for it.

Good luck!

Personally, I think the OP sent enough, because they've never lived together. However, the new I-130 does say the petitioner "Should include one or more..." of a list of additional evidence of bona fides, that the old I-130 did not.

Check it out.

[trailmix 77]

Personally, I think the OP sent enough, because they've never lived together. However, the new I-130 does say the petitioner "Should include one or more..." of a list of additional evidence of bona fides, that the old I-130 did not.

Check it out.

Edited October 8, 2007 by trailmix

[trailmix 77]

Personally, I think the OP sent enough, because they've never lived together. However, the new I-130 does say the petitioner "Should include one or more..." of a list of additional evidence of bona fides, that the old I-130 did not.

Check it out.

Pushbrk is of course right and I was again looking at the old form, however I have now had a bit more coffee.

Elvis, since you have now sent the form and have a window of time where you can start to accumulate more evidence of your relationship, you should probably take advantage of it - they may not ask for more proof - but they might, if not now then further along in the process.

There is a thread here - if you read down a bit you will see there is discussion of opening a joint bank account with your spouse and having your spouses name put on bills etc - just some things you might want to look at doing.

[Elvis 0]

thank you guys for replying fast

I have enough evidence for later I guess for interview

right now they don't ask for anything and like all of you say don't send until they ask

-I got over 300 pictures

-receipt from marriage party (over 100 people)

-dvd ( 3 hours)

-I went to Bosnia 3 times before we got married ( I saved flying tickets)

-Honey moon in Alanya Turkey ( receipt and flying tickets)

-phone bills, money that I send to her to buy wedding groom

-Renting the car

-I am planning to visit her again for new years eve

With this evidence I guess I am ready for attack hehe

[Nutty 2]

thank you guys for replying fast

I have enough evidence for later I guess for interview

right now they don't ask for anything and like all of you say don't send until they ask

-I got over 300 pictures

-receipt from marriage party (over 100 people)

-dvd ( 3 hours)

-I went to Bosnia 3 times before we got married ( I saved flying tickets)

-Honey moon in Alanya Turkey ( receipt and flying tickets)

-phone bills, money that I send to her to buy wedding groom

-Renting the car

-I am planning to visit her again for new years eve

With this evidence I guess I am ready for attack hehe

I pulled this from MurthyDotCom. It's another forum.

Do Not Send in Unsolicited Documents Additional documentation should not be sent until requested by the NVC. Because operations at the NVC are highly automated, items (such as fee payment, affidavit of support and other forms) that are received before a request has been issued tend to complicate processing and delay the respective cases. We note that the same appears to be true of processing at USCIS Service Centers – it is generally best to not send additional information until requested.

[pushbrk 13,109]

thank you guys for replying fast

I have enough evidence for later I guess for interview

right now they don't ask for anything and like all of you say don't send until they ask

-I got over 300 pictures

-receipt from marriage party (over 100 people)

-dvd ( 3 hours)

-I went to Bosnia 3 times before we got married ( I saved flying tickets)

-Honey moon in Alanya Turkey ( receipt and flying tickets)

-phone bills, money that I send to her to buy wedding groom

-Renting the car

-I am planning to visit her again for new years eve

With this evidence I guess I am ready for attack hehe

I pulled this from MurthyDotCom. It's another forum.

Do Not Send in Unsolicited Documents Additional documentation should not be sent until requested by the NVC. Because operations at the NVC are highly automated, items (such as fee payment, affidavit of support and other forms) that are received before a request has been issued tend to complicate processing and delay the respective cases. We note that the same appears to be true of processing at USCIS Service Centers – it is generally best to not send additional information until requested.

That's all well and good but the context is USCIS, not NVC. Two completely different agencies of the government.

[trailmix 77]

That's all well and good but the context is USCIS, not NVC. Two completely different agencies of the government.

So true.

This thread seems to be going off the rails a bit - however you might want to review the remarks pushbrk has made.

A few points that I think will clarify this a bit:

- USCIS is not NVC.

- Elvis, you say "I have enough evidence for later I guess for interview right now they don't ask for anything and like all of you say don't send until they ask"

Not true: On the I-130, after it mentions about required proof with marriage certificate etc it states:

NOTE: In addition to the required documentation listed in

1) through 4) above, you should submit one or more of the

following types of documentation that may evidence that

bona fides of your marriage:

1) Documentation showing joint ownership or property; or

2) A lease showing joint tenancy of a common residence; or

3) Documentation showing co-mingling of financial resources; or

4) Birth certificate(s) of child(ren) born to you, the petitioner,

and your spouse together; or

5) Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties having

personal knowledge of the bona fides of the marital

relationship (Each affidavit must contain the full name and

address, date and place of birth of the person making the

affidavit, his or her relationship to the petitioner of

beneficiary, if any, and complete information and details

explaining how the person acquired his or her knowledge of

your marriage); or

6) Any other relevant documentation to establish that there is an

ongoing marital union.

Now you have already sent in your paperwork, so you will just have to wait and see if USCIS requests more from you - which is why I suggested that you take this processing time to gather some of that evidence, in case they ask for more from you.

I have had 2 cups of coffee now, please disregard my post from earlier this morning as I was looking at the old version of the I-130.

Edited October 8, 2007 by trailmix

[Elvis 0]

we just got married

how can I have any of evidence that they are asking?

No children no joint property

no common residency ( she is in Bosnia and i am in USA)

but I have plenty of evidence that we got married legally

my parents were present they flow from USA to Bosnia to be at marriage , my brother also

I don't know what they expect from us

to live together for 2 years in Bosnia and then to apply for a visa or what??????????????

[trailmix 77]

we just got married

how can I have any of evidence that they are asking?

No children no joint property

no common residency ( she is in Bosnia and i am in USA)

but I have plenty of evidence that we got married legally

my parents were present they flow from USA to Bosnia to be at marriage , my brother also

I don't know what they expect from us

to live together for 2 years in Bosnia and then to apply for a visa or what??????????????

These are just suggestions that they are making, however, what you could have - even though you are just married:

- A joint U.S. bank account (= co-mingling of financial resources)

- Her listed as a beneficiary on your insurance or you listed on hers

- Affidavits from other people

They also mention other evidence, which could be secondary evidence like phone bills, pictures etc.

I know to you it might sound unreasonable, but they don't have to be reasonable. The onus is on you to prove the relationship, not on them to make it easy

[wmw 0]

Should he wait for an RFE (or possible denial since he used an outdated form), or should he go ahead and send in the missing information with a letter asking it to be added to his file?