British Expats - Sample CSC RFE on I-130

Courtesy of my friend Marc Ellis in HCM City:

Indicate how the petitioner met the beneficiary. If a friend or relative arranged the meeting, provide the name of the individual who did the matchmaking and their current contact information. Also provide a statement from that individual indicating how they knew the petitioner and the beneficiary. If the petitioner was paid by the matchmaker, indicate how much money was exchanged.

If the petitioner claims they met on an online dating website, the petitioner must submit his/her credit card statements that show the online dating agency billed him/her for the membership. Further, the beneficiary must submit their proof of payment for membership of the same online dating service. Online dating services are not free. If the petitioner and/or beneficiary claim they no longer possess the old credit card statements, they must obtain them from the credit card companies.

If the petitioner claims they met in an online chat room, the petitioner must indicate the chat room. Additionally, if the chat room was hosted by a United States website, please explain the circumstances that led the beneficiary to enter into this English chat room.

Courtship:

Provide copies of correspondence (letters, cards, emails, telephone bills etc.) to establish that the petitioner and beneficiary were in contact before the petitioner’s trip abroad when they were married. Bear in mind that phone cards are not verifiable. However, if the petitioner used an online long-distance company, such as onesuite.com,dialnopin.com, etc., he/she must submit verification of the account ownership as well as printouts of all the calls placed.

Relationship:

Provide copies of correspondence (letters, cards, email, telephone bills etc), to establish that the petitioner and the beneficiary have maintained a relationship since their meeting. As mentioned above, phone cards are not verifiable. However, if the petitioner used an online long-distance company, such asonesuite.com, dialnopin.com, etc., he/she must submit verification of the account ownership as well as printouts of all the calls placed.

Does the petitioner speak the beneficiary’s native language? If so, how did he/she learn it? If it was studied in school, provide the school transcripts indicating such. Does the beneficiary speak English. If so, when did she learn it? If it was */studied in school, provide certified school transcripts.

Travel for wedding:
Submit evidence of the trip abroad when the petitioner married. Such evidence indicate the date, month, year of travel. If the petitioner traveled abroad for less than seven days total, from the date of departure to the date of arrival back to the US, explain why the visit was so short.

Submit a statement from petitioner’s employer indicating that they authorized the petitioner’s absence from work during the time indicated above. The employer must indicate on his statement the petitioner’s current employment status the wage the petitioner was earning at the time of the vacation, as well as the current wage. If the petitioner currently has a new employer, the petitioner must still provide the above information from the individual who was the employer at the time the petitioner traveled abroad. This statement must indicate the employer’s name and business phone number.

Provide proof that the Petitioner paid for the ticket. This evidence must come from the petitioner’s credit card statement, or any other verifiable document. If the petitioner used cash to purchase the ticket, please explain why (s) he used such a large amount of cash for the purchase of the ticket. Also, the origin of funds must be shown for all cash ticket purchased. If the petitioner did not pay for the airline ticket, Who did. Provide a notarized statement from the individual indicating why they paid for the petitioner’s airline ticket.

Provide the petitioner’s checking and saving account statement from the two months immediately prior to each flight aboard AND the two months immediately after each flight.

Submit receipts from the hotel where the petitioner stayed while overseas. Also, submit the credit card statements reflecting the payment for the lodging. If the petitioner did not pay for the lodging, who did? Provide a notarized statement from the individual indicating why they paid for the petitioner’s lodging.

Provide the names, addresses and current phone numbers of the individual(s) who accompanied the petitioner on the flight aboard. If the petitioner traveled alone, (s) he must indicate such.

Travel for visits:

Provide the petitioner’s passport pages reflecting all trips overseas to visit the beneficiary. Also submit photos to establish that the petitioner actually visited the beneficiary during all the trips abroad. Further, submit evidence that shows the petitioner paid for the airfare (see previous item).

Wedding:

Submit photos of the wedding celebration that show family and friends in attendance. If the beneficiary’s parents did not attend the celebration, please submit notarized statements from them indiciating why they couldn’t attend. If the beneficiary’s siblings did not attend the celebration, please submit natarized statements from both them indicating why they couldn’t attend the wedding. If tehre was no wedding celebration indicate why this significant event was no celebrated.

Submit a copy of the wedding announcement that was sent to the friends and relatives.

Submit the petitioner’s credit card statement that shows the purchase of the wedding ring. The petitioner must also indicate the name of the store, along with its address & phone number. If the ring has not been purchased yet, please indicate why.

Where did the petitioner and beneficiary spend their honeymoon? Submit photos taken during the petitioner’s honeymoon. If no photos were taken, please indicate why no photos were taken during the honeymoon. If there was no honeymoon, please provide an explanation.

Children born to the marriage:

Submit copies of the civilly registered birth certificates for all children bornh to the petitioner’s and beneficiary’s marriage.

Petitioner and beneficiary’s other children:

Submit copies of the civilly registered birth certificate for all the petitioner’s biological children and all the beneficiary’s biological children (the ones who weren’t born to the petitioner and beneficiary’s marriage).

Petitioner’s parents:

Provide a sworn statement from the petitioner’s mother & father where they indicate their knowledge of the petitioner’s marriage. They must indicate when they became aware of petitioner’s relationship. In addition, provide both parents complete names & dates of birth. Also provide their current address(es) and phone number(s). If either has passed away, provide a civilly registered death certificate reflecting the death.

Relatives in the US:

Provide the names, addresses and phone numbers of all relatives living in the US. Also include how each person is related to the petitioner (including in-laws). (all relatives of who?)

Preparer:

If someone other than the petitioner prepared the petition, the petitioner must provide the name of the person who prepared the petition and their business address and phone number. If the preparer of the petition is a member of the State Bar of California, please indicate the membership number. If (s)he is a member of a different’s state’s bar, the state and bar number must be indicated.

Other Evidence:

· Property deeds showing both names as co-owners
· Remittances such as money and wire transfers (the originator of the moneys deposited or wired must be clearly shown and verifiable by name with full address and phone/fax numbers).
· Documents from government entitlement programs showing both names.
· Insurance plans showing each other as co-beneficiaries.
· Statements from bank accounts in both names and/or
· An assortment of photographs of the petitioner with the beneficiary spanning their entire relationship (courtship and post-marital)

Any other evidence that will help USCIS determine the petitioner and beneficiary have a bona fide marital relationship. The evidence should include documents showing both the co-mingling of money as well as documentary evidence of living together. Please note the evidence submitted should span the entire course of the relationship. (courtship and post-marital).

Important: All the submitted evidence must be verifiable. As such, current names, addresses and phone numbers must be provided where requested.