RFE Update: Bona Fide Marriage
Hi everyone. I recently received an RFE on my VAWA case asking for additional proof that my marriage was entered into in good faith, and I wanted to see what kinds of evidence other people submitted in similar situations.
One thing that seems to be causing confusion is our living situation. When we got married, we were young and both in college. We had already signed our leases before we got married because student apartments usually require signing a year in advance. During our marriage, we still lived together — first in my apartment for one school year, then in his apartment the following year — but the leases themselves were signed before we were married, so they don’t perfectly reflect the timeline.
USCIS acknowledged that I already submitted:
- My personal affidavit
- Bank statements
- Health insurance cards
- Taxes
- Photographs
But they’re asking for more “clear and convincing” evidence of a bona fide marriage because I married while removal proceedings were pending. I had been in removal since I was 12 years old, in 2009, but it was also Withholding of Removal- so I wasn't thinking I was leaving the United States anytime soon.
I’m planning on submitting:
- Affidavits from friends/family
- More photos and timelines
- Proof we lived together during college
- Messages/emails
- Evidence of shared daily life and relationship history
For people who went through this kind of RFE, especially VAWA or marriage-during-proceedings cases:
What evidence helped the most?
Did affidavits carry much weight?
Did anyone else have the issue where leases didn’t perfectly line up because they were signed before marriage?
Thank you.