# Anybody have any experience with immigration? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 19, 2006, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-have-any-experience-with-immigration/384850 "2006-12-19T23:48:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-have-any-experience-with-immigration/384850/1 "2006-12-19T23:48:09Z")
My wife is filing forms for immigration. One of the forms asks for affidavit from people that have personal knowledge of our relationship. At the end of this, it says that affidavits must be supported by other types of evidence listed above. What other types of evidence? > [@](#): > > Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by at least two people who have known both of you since your conditional residence was granted and have personal knowledge of your marriage and relationship. (Such persons may be required to testify before an immigration officer as to the information contained in the affidavit.) The original affidavit must be submitted and also contain the following information regarding the person making the affidavit: his or her full name and address; date and place of birth; relationship to you or your spouse, if any; and full information and complete details explaining how the person acquired his or her knowledge. Affidavits must be supported by other types of evidence listed above. Anybody with experience with this? ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-have-any-experience-with-immigration/384850/2 "2006-12-19T23:58:43Z")
[Bona fide marriage documentation](http://www.immihelp.com/greencard/bona-fide-marriage-documentation.html). ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-have-any-experience-with-immigration/384850/3 "2006-12-20T00:00:44Z")
[QUOTE=Christopher] My wife is filing forms for immigration. One of the forms asks for affidavit from people that have personal knowledge of our relationship. At the end of this, it says that affidavits must be supported by other types of evidence listed above. What other types of evidence? Anybody with experience with this? [/QUOTE] I do not practice immigration law, have no expertise in the area, and nothing here should be considered to be reliable legal advice. That said, you may find this useful: > **[Bona fide marriage documentation for marriage based green card or immigration](https://www.immihelp.com/bona-fide-marriage-documentation-for-us-immigration/)** > > Bona fide marriage documentation for marriage based green card or immigration ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-have-any-experience-with-immigration/384850/4 "2006-12-20T00:01:54Z")
Damn. The disclaimer got me. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-have-any-experience-with-immigration/384850/5 "2006-12-20T00:36:58Z")
I see, I think they want letters or pictures or something confirming we have a relationship with the person who writes the affidavit. The forms are really confusing because listed above the paragraph are things like birth certificate, morgage contract and financial records. Clearly not something we can ask of a freind. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-have-any-experience-with-immigration/384850/6 "2006-12-20T00:42:46Z")
Are those affidavits required or suggested? I went through that not too long ago and didn’t need any. Don’t go too crazy with all the funky proofs. All it really takes is insurance policies with each other as beneficiaries (specially if they are issued by your employer), shared credit cards and bank accounts. What really made it easy for us was that we had kids. If you have them, those birth certificates with both your names are all it takes (we had to take our 2-weeks old baby to one of the interviews, the lady just made us sign and sent us home) All the rest of the stuff looks too desperate. Those guys really spot fakes from the real thing at first glance. If they are happy with how you look, they don’t give you grief. Just my personal experience ---
**Author:** ![Spiny\_Norman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Spiny\_Norman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiny_Norman)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-have-any-experience-with-immigration/384850/7 "2006-12-20T00:56:28Z")
[QUOTE=Christopher] My wife is filing forms for immigration. One of the forms asks for affidavit from people that have personal knowledge of our relationship. At the end of this, it says that affidavits must be supported by other types of evidence listed above. What other types of evidence? Anybody with experience with this? [/QUOTE] I think I have. From your description, you’re trying to remove the conditional status of your wife’s permanent residence permit after two years of marriage, am I more or less right ? Disclaimer: I am not a lwayer and you’re not my client and I may not know the current rules and anyone taking my advice on anything should have their head examined by a licensed professional. That being said: As I interpreted the USCISese in that sentence, they’re stressing that you need two sorts of supporting documentation: [ol] [li]Birth certificates and mortgages and bankbooks and utility bills and holiday snapshots of the two of you, as evidence of your marriage being bona fide.[/li][li]Signed affidavits living up to the specifications as regards name, SSN etc.[/li][/ol] There should be no need to add any supporting documentation to prove that you know the people who wrote your affidavits. Anyhoo, that’s how we handled it - we didn’t even get called to an interview, I just got a new Green Card in the mail. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Neptunian\_Slug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce7236/32.png) [@Neptunian\_Slug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neptunian_Slug)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-have-any-experience-with-immigration/384850/8 "2006-12-20T01:47:23Z")
[QUOTE=Christopher] My wife is filing forms for immigration. One of the forms asks for affidavit from people that have personal knowledge of our relationship. At the end of this, it says that affidavits must be supported by other types of evidence listed above. What other types of evidence? Anybody with experience with this? [/QUOTE] I don’t know how much this has changed since 2000 with 9/11 and all. But Mrs. Slug and I sent in copies of a lease with our names on it, bank/brokerage statements with our names, copies of our pay stubs showing that we have the same address and all of our tax forms since we had been married. We didn’t do the pictures or anything since it seemed too hokey. I just can’t believe that Uncle Sam gives them any weight. We sent affidavits and had them notarized. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-have-any-experience-with-immigration/384850/9 "2006-12-20T02:31:39Z")
Thank you for your replies. I am aware that this is not a good place to get legal advice. We have a lawyer that we talk to occassionally. We are a particularly odd situation in that while I finish school, she has been living half way across the country. As a result we are absolutely doing everything we can to get our things in order to prove that we are for real. Any experience would probably be valuable. > [@](#): > > I think I have. From your description, you’re trying to remove the conditional status of your wife’s permanent residence permit after two years of marriage, am I more or less right ? Bingo ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-have-any-experience-with-immigration/384850/10 "2006-12-20T08:40:54Z")
[QUOTE=Christopher] I see, I think they want letters or pictures or something confirming we have a relationship with the person who writes the affidavit. The forms are really confusing because listed above the paragraph are things like birth certificate, morgage contract and financial records. Clearly not something we can ask of a freind. [/QUOTE] That’s not something you asak your friend for. But if you do have a mortgage together, or a bank account together, that is further proof that you have a relationship. It’s _your_ mortgage, not your friend’s, that they’re asking about. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-have-any-experience-with-immigration/384850/11 "2006-12-20T13:18:09Z")
Yes, I went through the process about 5 years ago. I was in the US on a temporary employment visa, entered the Greeen Card Lottery and won, and needed to document that my wife and I were married so that she too could get a green card. The fact that we could document that we had been married about 25 years probably helped. In addition, she already had a US visa derivative to my employment visa, so the US had already accepted that we were married. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-have-any-experience-with-immigration/384850/12 "2006-12-20T16:01:21Z")
IANAIL. However, I did just go through this. We were told to get at least ten affadavits from people who knew us as a couple. In each, the person should, clearly and succinctly, give _specific_ examples of why they think you are a legitimate married couple. “When I went to have dinner at their house on September 14, 2005, I could see that they were sharing everything. When MAN spilled his coffee on the floor, WOMAN scolded him just like spouses tend to do. Also, whenever I need to reach MAN urgently, I call WOMAN because MAN doesn’t listen to his phone messages more tahn once a week, whereas I know that WOMAN will pass on the message to him within an hour.” That kind of stuff. Hope it helps. ---
**Author:** ![Spiny\_Norman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Spiny\_Norman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiny_Norman)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-have-any-experience-with-immigration/384850/13 "2006-12-20T21:46:27Z")
[QUOTE=JKellyMap] IANAIL. However, I did just go through this. We were told to get at least ten affadavits from people who knew us as a couple. In each, the person should, clearly and succinctly, give _specific_ examples of why they think you are a legitimate married couple. “When I went to have dinner at their house on September 14, 2005, I could see that they were sharing everything. When MAN spilled his coffee on the floor, WOMAN scolded him just like spouses tend to do. Also, whenever I need to reach MAN urgently, I call WOMAN because MAN doesn’t listen to his phone messages more tahn once a week, whereas I know that WOMAN will pass on the message to him within an hour.” [/QUOTE] That’s pretty wild - I think we forwarded two or three affidavits, and they were nowhere as specific as that. I guess it’s better to err on the side of caution, but still… To return to the OP: The affidavits stand on their own - if they’re done by the USCIS’ specs, no supporting documentation is needed to prove the relationship to those who wrote them. Add your other documentation that pertains to your marriage (account statements, insurance papers etc.) to the affidavits and you should be good. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-have-any-experience-with-immigration/384850/14 "2006-12-20T22:10:24Z")
We didn’t even have to interview for the removal of conditional status. I can add nothing to this thread which hasn’t been said by others; I will instead give you a conspiratorial eye-roll and sigh and say ‘Man it sucks dealing with them’. Good luck to you.