Question on the Bonafides of a marriage

[miked97 0]

I have a question regarding the filing of the I-130. If the marriage is new, and there are no real bonafides yet, is there anything I can include with the I-130 packet?

I just returned from Poland from our wedding, and am putting together the packet which I want to mail ASAP. Any help will be greatly appreciated..

Thanks in advance,

Mike D

[atsleumas 3]

I have a question regarding the filing of the I-130. If the marriage is new, and there are no real bonafides yet, is there anything I can include with the I-130 packet?

I just returned from Poland from our wedding, and am putting together the packet which I want to mail ASAP. Any help will be greatly appreciated..

Thanks in advance,

Mike D

I sent copy of our marriage certificate and two sworn affidavits from my maid of honor and my mother who both can attest to the validity of our relationship. Also a couple pictures from the wedding and a picture of us together. I had a lawyer friend draft up the affidavit and would be happy to send you the example of what was sent.

[Chris Me lil D 17]

I have a question regarding the filing of the I-130. If the marriage is new, and there are no real bonafides yet, is there anything I can include with the I-130 packet?

I just returned from Poland from our wedding, and am putting together the packet which I want to mail ASAP. Any help will be greatly appreciated..

Thanks in advance,

Mike D

We sent tons of copies of pictures (4 pictures copied to an A4 format sheet with an explanation for each one when and where it was taken and who's on the picture), letters from USC family and friends stating they are aware of our relationship and marriage, copies of cell phone invoices showing calls between us, copies of e-mails, skype chat/call history, copies of me (the beneficiary) receiving bills at the US address of my husband while living together, and we ended up with two big packages (the orange envelope that says do not open - the one USEM gives you after the interview and that beneficiary is supposed to give to US immigration officers when entering the country). It was all ok and it worked for us. Good luck in your visa journey

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

Add your new spouse to your US Bank Accounts, yes it can be done without them having a SSN!

Also, be sure to add them as beneficiary to your 401(k) as this in now required by law.

Finally add them as beneficiary to your Life Insurance. You can even get the spouse a small ( > $50,000) Life Insurance Policy with you listed as primary beneficiary.

You can include copies of the bank statements in both names, the forms used to add beneficiary to 401(k) and Life Insurance as weel as getting something from the 401(k) Plan Manager and Life Insurance Company stating the spouse is primary beneficiary.

All of these demonstrate co-mingling of financial affairs.

[ChinaQuest52 0]

Add your new spouse to your US Bank Accounts, yes it can be done without them having a SSN!

Also, be sure to add them as beneficiary to your 401(k) as this in now required by law.

Finally add them as beneficiary to your Life Insurance. You can even get the spouse a small ( > $50,000) Life Insurance Policy with you listed as primary beneficiary.

You can include copies of the bank statements in both names, the forms used to add beneficiary to 401(k) and Life Insurance as weel as getting something from the 401(k) Plan Manager and Life Insurance Company stating the spouse is primary beneficiary.

All of these demonstrate co-mingling of financial affairs.

How did you get your spouse added to your bank account? I tried 4 different banks and all denied my request. I have added my wife as the beneficiary to my IRA and added her to credit cards etc. However the rest has been a dead-end thus far...

Thanks,

Tom&Jialian

[christeen 966]

Add your new spouse to your US Bank Accounts, yes it can be done without them having a SSN!

Also, be sure to add them as beneficiary to your 401(k) as this in now required by law.

Finally add them as beneficiary to your Life Insurance. You can even get the spouse a small ( > $50,000) Life Insurance Policy with you listed as primary beneficiary.

You can include copies of the bank statements in both names, the forms used to add beneficiary to 401(k) and Life Insurance as weel as getting something from the 401(k) Plan Manager and Life Insurance Company stating the spouse is primary beneficiary.

All of these demonstrate co-mingling of financial affairs.

How did you get your spouse added to your bank account? I tried 4 different banks and all denied my request. I have added my wife as the beneficiary to my IRA and added her to credit cards etc. However the rest has been a dead-end thus far...

Thanks,

Tom&Jialian

I agree, I have been married for over 6 years and could not get him added the bank accounts because of 9-11 laws without a SSN... But I put him on a small 10k policy I pay 2.50 a month for....

[Bern. 3]

We just sent tons of wedding photos and photos from before we were married. And we sent copies of various e-mails dating back from the beginning of our relationship to present day. We were finee! n_n But they don't expect everyone to have a joint bank account or anything, due to some SSN policies.

[miked97 0]

I have a question regarding the filing of the I-130. If the marriage is new, and there are no real bonafides yet, is there anything I can include with the I-130 packet?

I just returned from Poland from our wedding, and am putting together the packet which I want to mail ASAP. Any help will be greatly appreciated..

Thanks in advance,

Mike D

I sent copy of our marriage certificate and two sworn affidavits from my maid of honor and my mother who both can attest to the validity of our relationship. Also a couple pictures from the wedding and a picture of us together. I had a lawyer friend draft up the affidavit and would be happy to send you the example of what was sent.

That would be great if you can send me an example, cause i'm not quite sure how to word it.

I would really appreciate it...

Mike

[OBX 51]

All we sent in addition to our marriage certificate was 3 notarized affidavits (two family members and one family friend.) The affidavits simply stated how long they had known us as a couple along with a few details of our relationship. We saved all other evidence (photos, emails, telephone records etc. for the interview) none of which they asked for BTW. Good luck.

[redmen99 1]

Along with a copy of our marriage license application, copy of marriage licence and his divorce decree, I sent affidavits of 2 friends who were at our wedding and who we saw on a regular basis during our relationship, I sent an affidavit from me about how we met and how the relationship progressed. I also sent pictures of us at different places during the 2 years we dated and gave explanations, copies of ticket stubs of events we went to together (concerts, sporting events, etc.) boarding passes of flights or flight record receipts. I also sent copies of a few wedding pictures including a group shot of us and everyone who was there.

I used the affidavits that are on the Wiki here: http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Affidavit

Best of luck with your Journey!

Danielle

[FinnLove 0]

Basically, send everything you can! Just don't do a photo book-they sent mine back! And as you can see, I'm not approved yet...

I was unsuccessful in getting my hubby on my bank accounts. It wouldn't fly without an SSN.

I did put him as beneficiary on everything at work-but I don't know how it's the law to put them on a 401K. You can put anyone you want!

Good luck!

[lindal24 1]

i did notorized statements from family and friends who knew us and our relationship...

[Darnell 8,478]

Are you just off the plane? Can you wait a few weeks? Do some of the stuff in my list below???

Here's something I wrote up on a blog over at http://www.chinafamilyvisa.com/

So - you've married your Chinese lass, and you're filing an I-130.

IMO, you need to front-load your initial petition filing with as much

relationship evidence as you can - as the USCIS people will see this evidence, the evidence gets bundled up at NVC and sent to GUZ, and the GUZ personnel SEE this relationship evidence prior to interview day.

Personally, I can't imagine WHY one would not 'front-load' the relationship evidence. If you're using a lawyer and ask about this - and they have NO CLUE - then it's a red flag about that lawyer's 'current knowledge' on the I-130.

I had used the instructions from the I-130 - which contain this:

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 or beneficiary, if any, and complete information and details explaining how the person acquired his or herknowledge of your marriage); or

6. Any other relevant documentation to establish that there is an ongoing marital union.

So that was my basis of info.

For me, I redid the lease on The Rustic Cracker Farm™ for both of our names, got all the utilities in both of our names. When I tried to get a joint bank account in the USA - I found it d@mned near impossible because of the Patriot Act. Others have been able to do it, though; seems to depend on your personal relationship with your banker OR that bank's ability and willingness to handle a signature card from yer lass.

I got her a paypal debit card in her name, tied into my paypal business account.

I had her added in as a beneficiary on any 'Payable On Death' Instructions for various accounts.

I have a photo stack, about 80 photos, in a glassine portfolio (20 sheets, so is 40 viewable sheets, 20 of wedding photos, 60 of us and her family). It's about 1/2 inch thick.

I have all the phone logs going back to day 0, in the form of telephone bills - That stack is about 3 inches thick now.

I printed out a chat log history and the chat logs - I pared it back to 2 inches o chat logs, the history file was about 22 pages. (single line per day)

I had 10 affadavits prepared, 5 by her friends in Wuhan, 5 by my friends in Houston.

I made color scans and color printouts of my passport, then took it in to my bank who notarized each set for free.

Of course, I've kept all the receipts of all money transfers, copies of these were included as well.

Anyway, that's my stuff, feel free to use it as any example.

[FinnLove 0]

Darnell, can you please fill in your timeline?

You sent a 1/2 inch photo book? I'm jealous! They sent my super skinny photo book back to me.

[M -and- A 3]

I sent 3 signed, notarized affidavits (1 from each of my parents, 1 from myself) and 5 pictures of us together spanning a few years, and my petition was approved promptly. It may depend on the local consulate, but from monitoring these boards I've seen plenty of examples of applications being approved with very little supporting evidence of financial co-mingling. I interpret the USCIS requirements as "show co-minging of finances -OR- provide affidavits."