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“It is not uncommon for the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) to deny the petition for family sponsorship due to lack of proof of relationship. When you are applying to adjust your status in the US based on your marriage, you are required to prove that your marriage is ‘bona fide’, meaning that your marriage was for love and not solely to receive immigration benefits through marriage to a US citizen.”
It is not uncommon for the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) to deny the petition for family sponsorship due to lack of proof of relationship. When you are applying to adjust your status in the US based on your marriage, you are required to prove that your marriage is ‘bona fide’, meaning that your marriage was for love and not solely to receive immigration benefits through marriage to a US citizen.
The burden of proof is on the applicant to provide enough evidence that supports the validity of their marriage. Lack of documentation can lead to denial and even USCIS officials suspecting the validity of your marriage which can lead to severe consequences. If you are suspected of fraud, then your case will be referred for an immigration hearing. They may also start removal proceedings against you.
Therefore, to avoid all of this, it is best to know what type of documents you can provide to prove that your marriage is bona fide.
What Type of Documents Must be Provided to Prove That the Marriage is Bona Fide?
Evidence of Cohabitation
As a married couple, you and your spouse are expected to be living together. Several documents can support your cohabitation, for example, joint lease agreements, property deeds, utility bills, etc. If you are living apart for a genuine reason like one of you is in school and therefore must live close to campus, then proof of the same can be provided.
In any case, if you are living separately, then concrete proof must be provided that it does not have anything to do with your marriage not being valid.
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Evidence of Joint Finances
Married couples usually share expenses since they are living together. Therefore, you can provide evidence of your commingled finances in the form of joint bank statements, and joint payments for food, rent, groceries, and other regular household expenses, etc.
Evidence of Joint Ownership of Assets
It is normal for married couples to buy assets together. Therefore, you can provide documentation for any such jointly owned assets like real estate, automobiles, stocks or bonds, etc.
Other Joint Documents
There are several types of documents that a married couple can provide that will give testament to the validity of their marriage. This includes life insurance policy documents, health or car insurance or joint membership in clubs or gyms, etc.
Photographs
These days it is so much easier to click and save photographs of time spent together. As a married couple, you will be expected to have many pictures together doing different things. These photographs can serve as proof to show that your marriage is legitimate.
Trips
Finally, you can also provide proof of trips taken together and other fun activities that you might have participated in together. This will serve as proof that your marriage is bona fide.