Links: Evidence of bona fide marriage for I-130/I-485 filing & interview tips

[Eric_1]

Eric_1,

if I remember correctly, we called USCIS and escalated the call to a tier2. He did a lot of clicking and I think he volunteered the fact that the background checks were complete. How can you check? You could ask a tier2. A better question to ask is if your case is on the pick list for interviews. Their system is very manual.

Best,

USCFFS

Thank you very much for your response, USCFFS. I saw some posts on this forum that even after one's case was scheduled for an interview and the interview was complete, they would still have to wait for their background checks to be complete. Some even waited as long as 2 years. So I was wondering if they are practicing this, i.e., scheduling and doing an interview first before background checks are complete. Thanks and all the best,

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

Thank you very much for your response, USCFFS. I saw some posts on this forum that even after one's case was scheduled for an interview and the interview was complete, they would still have to wait for their background checks to be complete. Some even waited as long as 2 years. So I was wondering if they are practicing this, i.e., scheduling and doing an interview first before background checks are complete. Thanks and all the best,

Eric_1,

every officer is different and tends to do what their field office does. I guess I do not have an answer to your question. I can offer you some educated speculation, though along with some observations.
Their system is very manual. It’s not one system. Background checks run on 5 different systems, which are not linked to each other. It takes a human being to reconcile the results of each background check.
Background checks and interviews run on different factory lines. Some states have fast field offices. Some are fast because officers are efficient and some are fast because they have a low case load. Most background checks tend to resolve between 3 and 6 months. According to a Level 2 officer I talked to, they’re always running checks every 6 months or so to keep checks current.

Best wishes on your journey,

USCFFS

[sandeep.iiit]

I just found out this gem of a thread today. We filed my I-130 ONLINE in Jan 2020, and since then I had this troubling thought on the back of the mind:

We uploaded all the evidence that we could possibly think of, but the issue is that uploaded documents are listed in some random order on the website. There is no cover letter explaining the full history or to provide additional context to the submitted documents. There are no colorful tabs. I did name each of the documents clearly like "Lease from Dec 2018 - Dec 2019", "Lease from Dec 2019- Dec 2020", etc. All the photos that I uploaded I put the date in the file name, like "2013-xx-xx First Camping Trip in San Juan Islands", etc. So I tried, but I have this thought that this is not packaged as nicely as one could with a paper application.

I am curious, if anyone has any tips around how they structured their online filing documents?
I am thinking to go upload an additional document - a cover letter - 6 months after the original filing - so that I can provide context to the documents we submitted as evidence. Will this be viewed positively or negatively?

[Upnext1975]

Guys, I have a problem. I have an joint sponsor helping me to submit my AOS but is their any problem if he provide you with 3 YEARS TAX RETURN TRANSCRIPTS, PLUS 6 MONTH PAYSTUB, COPY OF W2s and 1040s but don’t have EMPLOYMENT LETTER ON HAND rn . Would this Affect my application of status?

[NYC/She]

Guys, I have a problem. I have an joint sponsor helping me to submit my AOS but is their any problem if he provide you with 3 YEARS TAX RETURN TRANSCRIPTS, PLUS 6 MONTH PAYSTUB, COPY OF W2s and 1040s but don’t have EMPLOYMENT LETTER ON HAND rn . Would this Affect my application of status?

3 Years tax It’s ok. USCIS accepted Transcript.
6 months paystub is ok. You do not need an employment letter.

[ktait]

I am the beneficiary (currently on an o1-b) and am filing an AOS this month for a GC as i married a USC a year ago. as like most of you, I / We are doing all the filing ourselves. Im a British citizen and holder of Australian P.R - My o1-b was prepared by a lawyer, as was my Australian P.R. I feel like im mostly on top of it, but I just have a few questions for everyone who has already been through this:

Do the passport style photos we submit need to be on any particular type of paper? I read somewhere that it must be glossy - is this the case?

Ive made notes directly on the supporting evidence (didnt think to use sticky notes) and have also highlighted sections. Will the direct notes cause issues?

Is it worth typing out a rough relationship timeline and adding it to the top of the pile of the supporting evidence (ie bank stats, photos, trip plans etc) ?

Our plan was to: put each set of forms in their own file / envelope, with a file / envelope of supporting documents underneath with cover notes on each file detailing its contents. I was also going to paper trip documents (flights / air bnbs etc) together with the photos from each trip. Is that a good idea? OR is it better to file all the photos together , then all the vacation things on another pile, then all the financial things in another pile etc ?

What supporting evidence did everyone else add for the i-864 other than 3yrs of tax returns? Both myself and my partner are self employed.

Thankyou so much! Im really nervous!

[Zaydon90]

Any update on your case. I’m in same boat and ran into your post

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

***Just reposting the list of resources for folks to find it soon after opening the thread***

These threads contain everything you need to file all the required evidence of bona fide marriage with your AOS package - as required by the I-130 instructions page 3/12.(See screenshot below). You will find very useful tips on how to stage your evidence for your initial filing and for your interview. Start with #1 and work your way through #16. All experiences I have selected for your review are valuable. All approaches are worth learning from.

Key points:
- The key is to first create a timeline of your relationship from the day you met. Evidence of bona fide marriage refers to your intentions to build a life together. Such evidence is not limited to your time as a married couple. It begins from the day you met or started dating.

- If you marry and file right away, it is key to submit evidence from the day you met to show the longevity of your relationship. You do not want USCIS thinking you met on Monday, married on Tuesday and then filed for your green card on Wednesday.

- List your evidence using full sentences. That is what I recommend. Because I value your time, as well as mine, I am sharing with you now that I will only critique Table of contents that follow that format; i.e., evidence listed using complete sentences.

- In the event that your case is adjudicated after your interview, and you are not present when they review your evidence, the Table of contents will provide full explanations to your Immigration Services Officer. There will not be any doubt of what your evidence is proof of. Remember that USCIS does not have to connect the dots for you.

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Link to Financial Power of attorney https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...089#post581089
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Link to Advance Health Care Directive

You do NOT want this to happen.
*The person you assign as proxy or advocate may also furnish you an affidavit corroborating that you named him/her as advocate on MM/DD/YY, and that they fully understand the terms of the Advance Health care directive.
You can also add more layers to this cabbage by distributing the Advance Health Care Directive to people who should be aware of it, even if they are not designated as advocates. Then those non-advocates may furnish an affidavit stating that on MM/DD/YY, you shared the AHCD with them and that they understand the terms. NOTE that you are not asking them to furnish an affidavit speaking to the bona fide nature of your marriage. However, that is not needed.
You will also have an easier time getting someone to agree to furnish such notarized affidavit if they do not have to speak to the nature of your marriage. It is also possible that people will have no second thoughts on the true nature of your marriage just by seeing the AHCD and they may volunteer to speak to the bona fide nature of your marriage.
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Link to Affidavit of residence
AVOID THIS SITUATION.
https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...-(I-751)/page3
This is an example of a Table of Contents for I-751 Application to Remove Conditions on Permanent Residence. https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...nent-Residence
That is the level of evidence they expect ? concrete. The longer you have been married, the more concrete evidence they expect. Start out with your right foot for your Adjustment of Status Petition.
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1. USCIS Field Office: Helena, MT
Thread by 4EVER https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...122#post581122
This table of content embodies ALL the recommendations and creative ways to stage evidence, that everyone has contributed. This is a tried and true method. 4EVER and spouse were approved on the spot.

Very important tip provided by 4EVER: Make it easier for the Officer to navigate your evidence. Fasten your Table of Contents on the left side of the folder, and fasten all the evidence on the right for easier cross-checking. So simple, yet genius.

Find 4EVER?s response to the RFE they received which requested their joint sponsor?s income tax returns. 4EVER and spouse submitted additional evidence of bona fide marriage with this RFE. Find the screenshot here https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...016#post582016 That shows that you may successfully piggy back additional evidence of bona fide marriage with a RFE, IF you have one, of course.
USCIS Field Office: Helena, MT

2. USCIS Field Office: San Bernardino, CA
Thread by Emerald 2020. https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...view-scheduled Her table of content is very complete. All elements are there. I strongly recommend using it as a guide.
Interview to be rescheduled.

3. USCIS Field Office: Charleston, SC
Table of Contents by use Passe. https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...357#post578357
This is an example to follow. If you read through it, you get the sense that the authors are just talking with you about their marriage. For our interview, I think I will use a mix between the table of Contents put together by Passe?s and Emerald 2020.
Each main evidence on Passe?s table of contents is basically a cabbage. As you read through each main evidence, It?s like you?re peeling layer after layer of evidence.
They were able to show evidence of their relationship since they met in 2012. It might take some digging folks, but it?s possible. You don?t want USCIS thinking you met on Monday, got married on Tuesday and filed for your green card on Wednesday.

4. USCIS Field Office: Anchorage, AK
This approach is worth taking a close look at. https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...958#post578958
And the Table of Contents is here. Just scroll down to find Tamarack?s entry. This is a good thread. Houston2016 gave very good advice, as well. https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...-the-Interview
USCIS Field Office ? Anchorage, AK

5. USCIS Field Office: Kansas City, MO

Thread by Tezza. https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...Complete/page2
04-10-18 - Priority date
07-10-18 ? Interview ? Approved on the spot
This case is remarkable because their interview was scheduled within 2 to 3 months.
Tezza did not have a lease, and presented several notarized affidavits of residence to prove that they lived with his wife?s parents. He also presented an Advanced health care directive. I highly recommend this document. USCIS takes it very seriously.
Bottom line is that they maximized the evidence they had available. They focused on evidence dating back to when they first met until the adjustment of status interview. (It?s sort of the way you would present evidence for a k-1 fiance visa)

6. Thread by Scifan https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...656#post564656
USCitizenFilingForSpouse's Table of Contents. Good discussions. Plenty of ideas to choose from to get creative.


7. Thread by jzgr24. https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...ocuments/page4
USCIS Field Office: Cleveland, OH
Approval on the spot. Marriage based AOS. B1/B2 visa. Interview scheduled promptly. Cleveland, OH., field office. Jzgr24 has impressive organization skills. Realized they had more evidence than they thought and put it all together in a matter of days. Insane.
Here you can find the Mega Table of Contents I used as a guide. *Must see.

8. USCIS Field Office: Chicago, IL
Thread by Herewecome & spouse. Approved on the spot. Amazing job with their Table of contents. They nailed this interview with an industrial grade nail gun. That's the best I can put it.
01-29-18 - PD
05-07-18 - Interview date
Concerns/Special circumstances: Did not include ALL evidence of bona fide marriage with AOS applications at the time of filing.

https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...ght=herewecome

9. USCIS Field Office: Oklahoma City, OK
Approved on the spot. Great advice provided. Adjusted from H1B visa.
https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...-Spot-Marriage
https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...570#post567570

10. Thread by Hotaru-Grace. https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...010#post576010
There is great advice here. Make it easy for the Immigration Services Officer to approve you. There is no such thing as overpreparing.

11. USCIS Field Office: Raleigh, NC
This thread was started by Mr.Diaz., who got approved 5 minutes after leaving the interview. DACA recipient. Marriage based AOS.
General tips from test driving the route to the field office to a primer on Table of contents.
https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...o-expect/page2
https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...ed-on-the-spot

12. Thread by Godobo. This worked out beautifully. Great Table of Contents.
https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...033#post581033

13. USCIS Field Office: Boston, MA
Thread by User_02_2018. Very detailed experience. There is no such thing as being over-prepared. Left no stone unturned.
https://www.immihelp.com/experience/....html#comments

14. USCIS Field Office: Boston, MA
Thread by Krittika Govil. Straightforward case but superb preparation. Approved on the spot. If you have not filed for AOS yet, this is a great thread for you to read. Krittika Govil provided a detailed timeline of her experience since her priority date. You will also find examples of Cover Letters for your I-130, I-485, I-765 & I-131 petitions.
https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...733#post582733

15. USCIS Field Office: Chicago, IL
Thread by chicago1978. https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...with-Interview
Case is pending as of 05/13/18. I expect a positive outcome here. This is a true marriage. Hands down. *Short engagement.

15. Thread by Helpmylife - Notice of Intent to Deny. https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...-to-Deny/page2
Case is pending as of 05/13/18.
Includes objective discussion on USCIS expectations. Your job vs. the ISO's job.

*Edit 07-11-18, just a few days ago, helpmylife informed the forum that the 10 year green card had been approved.
There is a lot to learn from helpmylife?s experience. Like I told him, it would all be fine, and it?s all fine now, but after having been in his shoes, I strongly recommend not leaving anything to chance.

16. USCIS Field Office: Atlanta, GA
Link to Kaylip?s Table of Contents. You will have to scroll down to find it. It?s within this thread but on an earlier page. https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...iew-tips/page4
This case is a good example of how to present your evidence if you do not commingle your finances. USCIS does prefer commingling. Kaylip did not commingle, and that IS FINE. You just have to get creative. And they did.