How to Prove a Bona Fide Relationship for Marriage-Based Visa

To get a green card through marriage, a couple must prove they have a bona fide relationship. Due to the high volume of illegal migrants that come to the US, officials want to make sure that marriage visas are issued only to people who have genuine ties with those who file a petition on their behalf. In other words, the petitioner and beneficiary must prove that they're not faking a relationship just so the latter could get a US visa

There are several types of marriage visas. A K-1 Visa is a non-immigrant visa issued to a fiance or fiancee of a US citizen so that they may enter and get married on US soil. A CR-1 or IR-1 Visa is an immigrant visa which grants legal permanent residence (the green card) to the holder when he or she enters the country. A K-3 Visa is another non-immigrant visa that lets the spouse enter the US while awaiting their immigrant visa.

No matter what type of visa you apply for, you must give proof of a bona fide relationship. Evidence of real love between you is key to a successful petition.

DOCUMENTING YOUR RELATIONSHIP.

 

Start as soon as possible.

Many couples think of gathering evidence for a marriage visa only when it's time to file the petition. This is a mistake. You want to document your relationship from the start.

 

Use various methods of communication.
 

Don't limit youselves to just e-mail and chat. These are weak evidences since they are free. Send each other postcards, greeting cards and snail mail. Make overseas calls or, if that's too expensive, send text messages.

Obtain printouts of your correspondences.
 

When printing e-mails and chat records, try to print from within the original environment as much as possible. This preserves the formatting. Include URLs, date stamps and page titles. When printing web mail, you can configure your browser to include this info in the header and footer.

Most web-based e-mail have an option like "Print" or "Print-friendly." Click on them to get a printer-friendly version of the e-mails you want to print.

 

Obtain phone records.

 

You can get phone bill records if you have a postpaid phone account. Check your account online- you may be able to prin them from there. If so, print your records regularly since your provider may delete old records after some time. Otherwise contact their customer support and ask how you can get phone records.

Take your time getting to know each other.
 

Don't be in a hurry to file a marriage visa petition. When a couple applies for a visa after knowing each other for just a few months, it casts doubt over their relationship. So take the time to get acquainted with each other. Spend as much time as possible together. The older your friendship or courtship, the more convincing you appear.

Save receipts, passports with travel stamps, ATM withdrawal slips, boarding passes and other proofs of travel.

Documentary evidences such as these are as strong as photos, if not stronger. The dates on these must be consistent with the timeline you give in your cover letter later on. Make photocopies of these documents just in case they get lost.

 

Obtain proofs of financial involvement.
 

Money transfers and joint bank account statements are strong indications of a relationship. But don't overdo this since neither of you wants to appear like a "sugar mommy" or "sugar daddy" of the other.

Take pictures of you together when you visit.

Pictures really do speak louder than words when it comes to fiance and marriage visas. When you visit your fiancee or spouse, bring your camera and take pictures of yourselves. Make sure you look happy and in love in them.

 

When you visit with his or her family, do the same. If possible, use a background or prop that suggests when the images were taken. (For example, an annual religious procession, a newspaper, etc.) Take hundreds of photos.

Make as many visits as you can afford.
 

The more visits you make, the less rushed you appear. It suggests you took time deciding if you would get married or not. Just saying "It was love at first sight" has been known to work (I've sene cases like this), but if you want to play safe, wait a bit longer. Save money and make more trips to your partner's country.

 

Get married and live together if possible.
 

Nothing can prove a bona fide relationship more than living together, paying bills together and maybe even having children. While it's not possible for many, it sure would help if you could do it. Proofs of cohabiting would include bills and letters - some in the petitioner's name, others in the beneficiary's name - showing you share the same address. If possible, get both your names on the lease contract.

MAKING YOUR RELATIONSHIP KNOWN.
 

Meet each other's relatives, or at least be acquainted with them.
 

When your families know about your relationship, it makes it look genuine. Meeting in person is ideal. But if this isn't possible, make phone calls, chat, send e-mail and holiday cards. No need to send gifts as that can be misinterpreted.

Make your presence felt among friends, neighbors, etc.

Introduce yourselves to each other's friends. If needed, they can make sworn affidavits stating they know of your relationship. In the absence of friends, get acquainted with neighbors, hotel staff (if you go on a honeymoon or vacation) and even hospital staff.

 

ORGANIZING AND PRESENTING YOUR EVIDENCES.

 

Gather your evidences according to strength and importance.
 

Now it's time to organize the proofs of your relationship. You aren't going to use all of your documentation. Instead you will pick the best of them to bring to the interview at the US Embassy.

 

The most important types of evidence are: photos, travel records, joint bank statements, marriage certificate, birth certificates of children born to you and proof of living together. Next are phone records, gifts, cards, receipts and letters from friends and family. Last are e-mail and chats.

Organize your evidences.

 

Get a document bag or folder. File your proofs neatly in it. The beneficiary must bring this to the interview along with his or her medical report and appointment letter.

 

Your documents must be so arranged that the beneficiary can quickly retrieve whatever the consul (interviewing officer) will ask for.

Present your evidences.

 

During the interview at the US embassy, the beneficiary will sign form DS-230 part 2; his or her fingerprints and picture will also be taken. The consul will go over the proofs of relationship while asking questions.

 

It helps if the beneficiary stays calm and focused. Answer simply. Be ready to answer questions about the proofs, such as "When was this picture taken? Who took it?" and so on.

 

Finish the interview.

 

If all goes well, the beneficiary will be granted a US visa. Sometimes though, the consul may ask for more evidence. Pay attention to his or her instructions.

 

Bring what's required for a second interview. If you find you cannot overcome the issues raised by the consul, you may want to hire an immigration lawyer.

 

 

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