No bona fide proof except pictures

[cmazara]

Hi all,

Was searching but couldn't find anything near close related to my case.

Well, I have more than 2 years of marriage, but since I live in our home country and she was in the states, we don't have any joint bills, or irs, or nothing with our name, since I didn't have a ssn might as well get the green card and then start joining bills and tax etc. I did come to the states to visit her throughout the years and she always goes to my country every year with her family. Since no ssn I don't like missing information while opening a bank account or bills, so might as well wait after the interview.

Interview is a month away and I'm really worried since we just have a couple of pictures throughout the years and our marriage certificate from 2018. Everything I'm researching have joint bills of some sort.
Living in her parents house in the mean time, we were waiting for the ead so I can find a job and move out with her. Covid lock since last year and couldnt work without the ead, it's been a crazy year with the economy hits so that doesnt help.

any suggestions or examples or interviews without bona fide proofs?

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

cmazara Hi, have you looked through this thread? https://www.immihelp.com/forum/adjus...e11#post760990

There are many ways to show evidence of Bona Fide Marriage. You just have to get creative. You probably have more evidence than you realize you have. Examples are:

1. You may ask your in-laws to provide you with a notarized affidavit that details the fact that you and your spouse have been living with them since xx/xx/xx. The power of this is in the details. Have them mention specific dates. If you went to a restaurant, or made a purchase, show the receipt + picture of the occasion.

2. Prepare a detailed timeline of your relationship and give USCIS and insight to how your relationship works. Back it up with pictures, receipts and boarding passes. Explain to USCIS how you met and how the relationship evolved. (I read a case of a couple who had been together for 7 years and married for 6. The Officer asked them to draft a timeline of their relationship on the spot.)

3. If your US Citizen spouse is working, she could add you as her emergency contact at work. You would print that page and bring it to the interview.

4. Your spouse could add you to their credit cards as an authorized user.

5. Your spouse may be able to add you to their checking account. If you try to do it online, the bank will require a SSN. However, if you go to the branch, they will be able to add you manually. You just need your unexpired passport.

6. This one carries a lot of weight. Health Care Directives or Power of Attorneys. If you prepare these forms, you would designate each other to make health care decisions in case either one of you is not able to do so. This tells USCIS that you trust each other with your lives. The forms are very easy to prepare. There are templates online that are specific to each US state. The link I shared with you has a link to Health Care Directive templates.

8. I would also gather notarized affidavits of people who know you both as a married couple and that can attest to the fact that you are a true marriage. Again, details, dates, receipts, pictures are key for affidavits. I recommend that you get them notarized because that tells USCIS that the person actually wrote that document. It carries more weight than a sworn affidavit. (When you get something notarized, the notary public has to check your ID. You can do this for very little money at UPS stores. I would call first and ask if they have a notary public on duty.)

9. Bring any mail that you may have received at your current address.

I am not saying that you will have a hard time. It really depends upon who your officer is and how senior they are. A newer officer may rely more on the evidence that you present. A more seasoned and experienced officer may be more prone to exercising judgment without asking for much evidence.

There is a good chance that the officer will interview you first and they may interview the US Citizen Spouse second. This does not mean they are separating you. People often times confuse this with a Stokes Interview. It is not. Just take it in strides. It may feel like they are drilling you. Do not get defensive under any circumstances.

Be very familiar with the contents of your I-130, I-485 and any other form you submitted. They likely want to see updated paystubs from whoever served as your financial sponsor on the I-864.

They are definitely going to ask you for joint tax returns, car insurance. Have you tried getting a driver's license?

Expect some scrutiny. You have been married longer than 2 years. Therefore, this means USCIS would have to grant you an unconditional green card that is valid for 10 years. I've seen this go in two ways. Sometimes there is a lot of scrutiny but sometimes they will just hand it to you. All I am saying is - be prepared.

Best,

USCFFS

[cmazara]

Thanks for your reply.

4 and 5. Wouldn't it seem weird that before a month to the interview I got added to her bank accounts? for me that would raise some questions.

8. so how does this work? you mean details, dates, receipts, pictures of the affidavit with us?

I could make the timeline and have a bunch of random pictures throughout the years, but no license driver as I just received my ead card or haven't been working because of this, also I think on her tax returns she is as a single person. We never talk about it since I was living abroad.

cmazara Hi, have you looked through this thread? https://www.immihelp.com/forum/adjus...e11#post760990

Best,

USCFFS

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

You're welcome. Here is a case somewhat similar to yours. User Tokich https://www.immihelp.com/forum/adjus...e51#post761406
They've been together for 7 years and married for 6 years. Keep in mind that everyone's experience is different. It really comes down to the Officer you get and your nerves in these situations.

4 and 5. Up to you. I think that it shows the intent establishing joint finances rather than not even trying, and showing up to explain why you do not have anything.
8. Affidavits - sworn or notarized - are not heavy on the "weight scale" of Bona Fide Marriage evidence. Let's start there. But if you do have to resort to them, then the affidavit should contain as much detail as possible. (You can google examples of affidavits.)

I recommend "connecting" pictures to receipts. Receipts place you at a time and space. Say you two went on a road trip to a water park, stayed at a hotel, took some pictures and had dinner there. I would pair receipts and pictures to show that you were there. So when you put together your timeline, connect it to pictures, receipts, passport stamps, email messages. That will help the officer make sense of what your timeline shows and by preponderance of evidence they will likely approve you.

Again, USCIS would rather see a joint checking account, joint savings, health insurance. But if you do not have those, then you have to get creative. You want to make it easier for the officer to approve you.

You want to show that you have been getting mail at that address. I would gather any piece of mail that you have received at that address. All the receipts that you received from USCIS are in fact evidence of receiving mail at your current address. I would sign up for USPS Informed Delivery and print the emails that you will get from that. It will show a preview/images of the mail that you receive. You can't do this retroactively. Thus, the sooner you do this the better.

I would even go to the Social Security Administration and apply for a SSN. Even if you do not receive by the time the interview comes, you will likely get some sort of receipt when you apply for it.

I would also apply for a driver's license or at least a state ID. You and your spouse should have the same address on it.

Very important - her tax returns cannot be "filing as single". If you are married, you file as either married filing jointly or married filing separately. I think those are your two options. You would need to correct them. You may need to google search how it all works when one spouse lives abroad, etc. (That I do not know).

Anyway, that's all I have. Hope it's helpful. Best wishes on your journey.

USCFSS