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Bona Fide Marriage Evidence Checklist

A simple checklist of the proof USCIS lists for a real (“bona fide”) marriage on Form I-130, and how to organize what you have.

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Make your relationship photos easy to review

Choose genuine photos from different points in your relationship, put them in date order and add short, accurate captions. A printable album can help organize that part of your evidence. It is not a substitute for the other records your case needs.

  • Use dates, places and names you can support. Do not invent a missing detail.
  • Follow your form instructions or interview notice. USCIS does not set one universal number of relationship photos.
  • Preview the pages before paying. Using an album tool does not improve your legal eligibility or guarantee approval.

What “bona fide marriage” means

“Bona fide” means real. USCIS wants proof that you married to build a life together, not only to get a green card. The I-130 instructions give examples of proof. You do not need every item. Send what is true and fits your situation.

Examples USCIS lists

  • Proof that you own property together.
  • A lease that shows you live together.
  • Proof that you share money, like a joint bank account.
  • Birth certificates of children born to you both.
  • Sworn letters (affidavits) from people who know you as a couple.
  • Any other records that show your married life.

How to organize what you have

  • Group records by type, like “home” or “money”.
  • Use complete copies that are easy to read, and note the dates each record covers.
  • Put photos in their own clearly labeled section.
  • Never make up documents or facts.

Where photos fit

Photos are one kind of support. The I-130 instructions do not set a photo number or a caption format. Use short captions with what was happening, the date, the place and who is in the photo.

Frequently asked questions

What is the strongest proof of a real marriage?

USCIS does not rank proof. Its examples include owning property together, a shared lease, shared money, children born to you both and letters from people who know you. True records that show your real shared life are what matter.

Can letters from friends prove a real marriage?

Sworn letters (affidavits) from people who know you as a couple are one of USCIS’s examples. They are usually sent together with other documents.

Build your USCIS marriage photo album

Organize your relationship photos into a clear, printable PDF. Add accurate dates and captions. Preview free, then pay to save. Your files stay on your device.

Build my marriage photo album

Official references

Case Album is independent software, not affiliated with USCIS. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Read our editorial standards.

How to Organize I-130 Photo EvidenceA simple way to organize your marriage photos for Form I-130: pick good photos, put them in date order and add a short caption to each one.How Many Photos for a Marriage Green Card?USCIS sets no number. How to choose photos that show your life together over time, caption them and put them in one PDF.I-130 Spouse Checklist: Evidence and Documents to SubmitWhat to send with Form I-130 for your spouse, plus Form I-485 if your spouse is in the U.S.: civil documents, photos, Form I-130A and proof of a real marriage.How to Write a Relationship Timeline for USCISA relationship timeline is optional. Here is a simple one-page format with examples, if you want to add one to your marriage or fiancé(e) case.Marriage Green Card Interview: What to Bring (Full List)The full list of what couples bring to a marriage green card interview: 128 documents, from IDs and civil records to joint bank, lease, insurance and Costco cards.Marriage Green Card RFE After the Interview: What Documents to SubmitGot a marriage RFE after your green card interview, or before it? Why it happens, what to send for each request, what to leave out and how to organize it.