eddfsf

Great stuff! But I can then get statements from family or friends?

optomisticgirl

Yes, but they must attest not to your relationship in general but to the fact they have witnessed you MARRIED. Or at least that's what my husband and I were told.

eddfsf

Oh, and here is the JOP in Houston saying I did not need witnesses - well we were taking people along so that is not a problem - but good to know!

optomisticgirl

Not witnesses to the WEDDING but witnesses to continued married life. Again, that is our speculation and could be because we've been apart for 7 months since we were married.

eddfsf

Oh, I see what you mean... wow 7 months, that is tough - but we have been making this work for the pas 3 years. If we can get through this final challenge then we are set for life!

ian-mstm

Affidavits are not required. However, if you choose to use them, they can be from anyone who can attest to your life as a married couple (= in social circumstances, you present yourself to others as a married couple).

Ian

eddfsf

Ian, are you sure? http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-130instr.pdf on page 3 says you have to supply one of the following documents...

I cannot offer any of the others as we do not share accounts, or own a house together - so wouldn't this be my only option?

civilservant

We asked an identical question.

See this thread

:http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=756998

ian-mstm

Yes.


No, it doesn't. It says you "should" (= not must), and the word "or" appears at the end of each section. So, if you want to include affidavits you can, but they are still not required even if you have no other evidence.

By the way, it's quite common for newlyweds to not have any evidence of an ongoing marital relationship when filing the I-130.

Ian

eddfsf

Thank-you Ian, understanding these terms is no easy task!

eddfsf

Will be reading through this tonight!

jeffreyhy

Note that "one of the following documents" is "Any other relevant documentation to establish that there is an ongoing marital union."

Most married couples' lives involve more than just joint bank accounts or owning a house together. But, if your married life is utterly devoid of mutual activity, then yes affidavits seem to be your only option. But in such a situation what is there that an affiant can attest to that you cannot document yourself?

Regards, JEff

eddfsf

Maybe I am looking into this too deeply Jeff? Of course I have proof of our relationship across the past 3 years, and once we are married we will be filing our I-130 shortly thereafter so there is no way to prove existence of "ongoing" marriage as it has only just happened.

Noorah101

You don't have to file the I-130 the day you get married (in fact in some cases it takes up to a week or so to get the certified copy of the marriage certificate, anyway).

So you wait a week or two after getting married, so that you CAN collect a bit of evidence of your new joint life together. Open a joint bank account, put your name on her bank account, get your name added to the lease or whatever, get your name added to her health insurance, get your name added as beneficiary on any assets she has, each do a will and show the other as beneficiary, get your name added to her utility bills, joint Costco together, join a gym together, the list goes on and on. After a couple of weeks, you should have some paper proof that you have a joint life together, then you can file the I-130. And yes, you can do ALL those things without a SSN.

If you don't want to do any of the above, then during the week or two after the wedding, spend time with family and friends as a married couple, and then have them write the affidavits, where they can state specific things you all did together.

Rene

jeffreyhy

I think you are, yes. I understand your situation, and USCIS will as well. I also filed my I-130 promptly after marriage, it's a common situation.

Note that your closing comment applies to affidavits by others as well as to yourself.

Regards, JEff