Evidence submitted during filing

[Count MeIn]

Hello Everyone!
First of all thank you everyone for sharing their experiences and helping everyone and each other. I have not yet seen a gude for what to send during filing. What evidence(front loading) should be provided? I know it was suggested to provide ALL during filing of I-130 which may delay filing before enough evidence is gathered. Also how much is too much keeping in mind to make it easy for the officer processing the applications? I see a lot of experiences about the evidence shared during interview but not during filing. Any insights into this would be very helpful and much appreciated. Thank you!

[Enub4]

I'm EB so I don't have experience with the marriage-based application, but I think this thread may help you:

https://www.immihelp.com/forum/adjustment-of-status-i-485/178298-links-evidence-of-bona-fide-marriage-for-i-130-i-485-filing-interview-tips

If I had to do it, I would try to answer the question "can you tell me about your life with X since you met?", giving enough evidence for each part of the relationship. Enough is one or two photos/documents for each milestone in your relationship, how you meet, dates, travel, rent, mortgage, utilities, wedding, insurance, tax returns, children, expecting, etc.

Some people get mad when the cable company or the electric company can't or won't put both names on the monthly statement, for me, I don't think most of the families have those statements with both names, so I wouldn't go asking every company to put both our names on those (but you are free to try). I would focus on bank accounts, tax, car loan, lease, mortgage, health insurance, even a will or other documents.

Good luck.

[bobm445]

This is the checklist we went with. No RFIEs were sent to us.

1. Copy of petitioner’s (BOB) Certificate of Birth and U.S. passport's biographic page.

2. Copy of beneficiary's (NAYDA) Final Judgment of Divorce from his previous spouse.
3. Copy of petitioner and alien beneficiary’s Certificate of Marriage.
4. Copy of petitioner and beneficiary’s apartment lease contract/showing petitioner and
beneficiary as joint lessees if applicable.
If you own a house, proof that you owned the property together.
5. Copy of bank Statement showing petitioner and beneficiary as as joint account
holders.
6. Copy of life insurance with Petitioner as the insured or beneficiary and NAYDA as the
insured or beneficiary.
7. Copy of joint health insurance account statement.
8. Copy of joint car insurance cards or statements.
9. Copy of joint utility bills, phone or power statements or other joint property
documents.
10. Copies of wedding and non-wedding pictures of petitioner and alien beneficiary
together. If you vacation together, copy of airline tickets and hotel receipts showing
both of your names.
11. Copy of the Beneficiaries Birth Certificate.
12. Copy of alien applicant’s biographic page of her passport., US Visa and
I-94.
13. Petitioner employment certificate
14. Petitioner one month pay stubs.
15. Copies of the Petitioner Income Tax returns for 2017, 2016 and 2018.

16. Copies of Petitioner W’2 for the year 2017, 2016 and 2018.
17. Two (2) passport-size pictures of Petitioner.
18. Four (4) passport size pictures of beneficiary.
19. Form I-693 Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record of Alien applicant.
20. Copies of all documents received by beneficiary from the USCIS, IRS, Social Security or any other government agency.
21. Petitioner was previously married, copy of his Divorce Judgment.
22. Copy of Birth Certificate of children Together.



Please write a brief narrative on how you two met, started the relationship, proposed and got married. Include names of people who knew of your relationship, places and dates.

[Enub4]

bobm445 great information.

Can you share how many pictures did you send?
That may help someone thinking if they are sending enough or too much.

If I had to do it, I may send a couple of pictures per event on a letter page with a brief explanation on the same page. How you did it? just sent the picture-size copies or scanned into a letter page?

[tauraos]

I got no RFE I sent about 15-20 photos.. some from traveling, some from wedding some with friends and family.

[Henry Pan]

Hello everyone, I hope you all have a nice weekend! I need some advices, I got a RFE letter from USCIS and they want me to submit proof of the legal termination of the marriage of myself and my wife ex-husband. My first question is we still in marriage, why did they ask me for the legal termination? Could that be I made a mistake went fill out the application? My Second question is I did submit the legal termination of the marriage of my wife ex-husband‘s certificate when I submit the application? Should I write them a letter? Thank you in advance!!!

[bobm445]

I sent about 35-40 Pics. I also did a photo array in my binder for the interview. Officer took some pictures from the time we filed to the interview. They like to see pics but other evidence of a couple, Bills paperwork etc, says a lot more than they do. My officer said we were an easy case due to all that we had.

[Count MeIn]

Thank you all for the guidance! Special thanks to bobm445 for sharing his list of evidence submitted during filing. Are most of the table of content people post here, the documents people sent initially with a few added later?

[MayBaby]

Thank you all for the guidance! Special thanks to bobm445 for sharing his list of evidence submitted during filing. Are most of the table of content people post here, the documents people sent initially with a few added later?

i believe the table of contents shared on the tips thread is a mix - some sent during initial filing and some got documents ready before the interview. Based on my recent interview, the IO i had was appreciative that I front loaded my application and said it makes their job so much easier... I was approved on the spot!

Even though I prepared updated documents (bills, lease, pics) for the interview, the IO didn't care to take any updated documents from me nor looked at any of the 50+ pictures I brought to the interview (I brought original copies of pics I sent in initial submission and new photos). I presented my pictures in a relationship timeline-with a brief caption and date for each pic to show the longevity of my relationship - I believe that it also helped the IO see the authenticity of my marriage.

My interview took about 20 mins and the IO mentioned he didn't need any updated documents because he had everything he needed already. He only requested to see original copies of IDs (passports, birth cert, marriage cert) and asked for my sealed I-693 form). Oh the only document the IO glazed over was the "change of address" confirmation letter I received from USCIS since I had moved after submitting my application.

When you front load, it shows strength in your application and quite possibly leave less chance of a RFE. When you provide a table of contents, it guides the reviewing officer through your well organized submission. Remember, you are building a case to someone who has ZERO knowledge about your relationship. Granted, each case is different but I'm seeing a trend for those who front load that the interview is less intense..

I 10000000% recommend reading each link on the thread provided by Enub4 . I got familiar with all 20 links....that is definitely the first step. That thread was my guide to building my initial application and preparing for interview, since I didn't have legal/professional assistance. I believe the more documents you can show the better!

[Count MeIn]

i believe the table of contents shared on the tips thread is a mix - some sent during initial filing and some got documents ready before the interview. Based on my recent interview, the IO i had was appreciative that I front loaded my application and said it makes their job so much easier... I was approved on the spot!

Even though I prepared updated documents (bills, lease, pics) for the interview, the IO didn't care to take any updated documents from me nor looked at any of the 50+ pictures I brought to the interview (I brought original copies of pics I sent in initial submission and new photos). I presented my pictures in a relationship timeline-with a brief caption and date for each pic to show the longevity of my relationship - I believe that it also helped the IO see the authenticity of my marriage.

My interview took about 20 mins and the IO mentioned he didn't need any updated documents because he had everything he needed already. He only requested to see original copies of IDs (passports, birth cert, marriage cert) and asked for my sealed I-693 form). Oh the only document the IO glazed over was the "change of address" confirmation letter I received from USCIS since I had moved after submitting my application.

When you front load, it shows strength in your application and quite possibly leave less chance of a RFE. When you provide a table of contents, it guides the reviewing officer through your well organized submission. Remember, you are building a case to someone who has ZERO knowledge about your relationship. Granted, each case is different but I'm seeing a trend for those who front load that the interview is less intense..

I 10000000% recommend reading each link on the thread provided by Enub4 . I got familiar with all 20 links....that is definitely the first step. That thread was my guide to building my initial application and preparing for interview, since I didn't have legal/professional assistance. I believe the more documents you can show the better!

Thank you and congratulations!!! I went through the sticky thread but in most (almost all) of the experiences it wasn't clearly delineated what was submitted with aplication and what was extra evidence during interview. Waiting for your experience too since your process was a fast one!