I-130 Guide

[Paul & Ilona 0]

I'm getting ready to file my I-130 for myself (in Canada) with my husband (in USA). We read the guide that says along with the actual forms, you should send them proof of financial minglings. So far I have 3 bits of financial-mingling proof:

1. His name on my CDN bank statement

2. He's appears as a cardholder on my Visa credit account and...

3. Credit card statement print-out containing many, many charges in US dollars for things like his car repairs, cell phone bills, gas fill-ups to come visit me, restaurants etc.

Tell me, is this good enough financial proof? I don't want any RAF's or whatever coming to him looking for more evidence and delaying the processing of my application.

***

The list goes on to say that you can send "Any other relevant documentation to establish that there is an ongoing marital union."

What can that include? Is this where I'm supposed to send things like photos, birthday cards, mushy letters, AOL Instant Messenger transcripts, receipts for the ring, etc? Is that considered "Documentation", or just not neccessary at that point?

Any clues?

Edited December 4, 2007 by Paul & Ilona

[rjp44 1]

I'm getting ready to file my I-130 for myself (in Canada) with my husband (in USA). We read the guide that says along with the actual forms, you should send them proof of financial minglings. So far I have 3 bits of financial-mingling proof:

1. His name on my CDN bank statement

2. He's appears as a cardholder on my Visa credit account and...

3. Credit card statement print-out containing many, many charges in US dollars for things like his car repairs, cell phone bills, gas fill-ups to come visit me, restaurants etc.

Tell me, is this good enough financial proof? I don't want any RAF's or whatever coming to him looking for more evidence and delaying the processing of my application.

***

The list goes on to say that you can send "Any other relevant documentation to establish that there is an ongoing marital union."

What can that include? Is this where I'm supposed to send things like photos, birthday cards, mushy letters, AOL Instant Messenger transcripts, receipts for the ring, etc? Is that considered "Documentation", or just not neccessary at that point?

Any clues?

That looks like plenty of proof at this point. With the I-130 I only sent in proof of our joint bank account and 4-5 picutes along with the required paperwork. From my understanding, this is looked at more closely during the interview. It sounds like you are well prepared for that as well with all the financial records, correspondence and pictures together.

[Imua 0]

I cannot include any financial information and the like because we had to separate shortly after our wedding -he is in Nepal and I am in the US so we cannot open a joint bank account. About the only thing I think I can do on my end here is add him as beneficiary to my life insurance policy - hope this is better than nothing. I've read here that they don't ask for stuff like that from newlyweds since we are not able to provide it - I could show some wedding photos, photos with family etc. - at this point should I include them or is that better to do towards the interview stage?

I guess I could include stuff like the hotel receipt from our wedding night , ATM slips from KTM, boarding passes, etc. but I thought this was more for the K-1 - should I include them?

Edited December 4, 2007 by Pattu Rani

[LadyJane 1]

We were in the same situation-my husband left the US shortly after our wedding. We did as much as we could in terms of adding his name onto bank account, apartment lease etc.

I think it's important to show evidence of a bona fide relationship in the I-130 for a married couple, but remember to not overload the application. Representative samples are good, they worked for us. So, 2 months of representative phone bills, representative instant messenger chats etc.

In our I-130, we sent a page with a few wedding pictures, a photocopy of our receipt for the marriage license fee, the rings, and the (albeit very informal) reception brunch.

A page of 4-5 pictures with the two of you together is nice too, and if you have some with the two of you with your family members, I think that's a nice way of showing a bona fide relationship.

[Imua 0]

Thanks - I posted a new topic to see if anyone else would chime in with similar circumstances but this is helpful - we had a very low-key reception with only family but I think I will include maybe 8 photos showing wedding, engagement party and family pics - I could include hotel/restaurant receipts but I don't know if that would prove anything - what about stuff like Western Union receipts, labels from packages he sent me or chat/email records? We haven't been phoning too much because the connection is always so bad and it's expensive but I am opening a Pingo account so between now and the interview I can show a phone record.