Affidavit of Marriage Relationship to Accompany I-130 or I-751 Application or Petition to the Immigration and Naturalization Service
What this document covers
The Affidavit of Marriage Relationship is a legal document used to support an I-130 or I-751 application petition to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). This affidavit is essential for verifying the legitimacy of a marriage, especially in immigration cases where the relationship's authenticity may be questioned. Unlike other forms, this affidavit specifically requires testimony from individuals who have personal knowledge of the marriage, helping to establish its bona fide nature.
Form components explained
- Affiant's full name and address.
- Date and place of birth of the affiant.
- Relationship of the affiant to the married petitioners.
- Details on how the affiant knows the petitioners and their marriage.
- Statement about the continuous cohabitation of the petitioners.
- Affiant's signature and notary public acknowledgment.
Common use cases
This form should be used when applying for a marriage-based immigration benefit, such as the I-130 or I-751 petition. It is particularly necessary when additional evidence of the marriage's validity is needed to satisfy immigration requirements. If you are a petitioner seeking to confirm the authenticity of your marriage for these applications, this affidavit is key to supporting your case.
Who should use this form
- Petitioners applying for an I-130 or I-751 visa based on marriage.
- Individuals seeking to provide evidence of a legitimate marital relationship for immigration purposes.
- Third parties who can provide personal knowledge about the marriage, such as friends, family, or community members.
Instructions for completing this form
- Identify the affiant and fill in their full name and address.
- Enter the affiant's date and place of birth.
- State the relationship of the affiant with the petitioners.
- Provide detailed information explaining how the affiant knows the petitioners and their marriage.
- Confirm the period the petitioners have lived together and their public representation as a married couple.
- Have the affiant sign the affidavit in the presence of a notary public.
Does this form need to be notarized?
This form needs to be notarized to ensure legal validity. US Legal Forms provides secure online notarization powered by Notarize, allowing you to complete the process through a verified video call, available anytime.
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Make edits, fill in missing information, and update formatting in US Legal Forms—just like you would in MS Word.
Download a copy, print it, send it by email, or mail it via USPS—whatever works best for your next step.
Sign and collect signatures with our SignNow integration. Send to multiple recipients, set reminders, and more. Go Premium to unlock E-Sign.
If this form requires notarization, complete it online through a secure video call—no need to meet a notary in person or wait for an appointment.
We protect your documents and personal data by following strict security and privacy standards.
Typical mistakes to avoid
- Failing to include the required personal information of the affiant.
- Not providing sufficient detail about the relationship and knowledge of the marriage.
- Leaving out the notary public signature and seal, rendering the affidavit invalid.
- Using vague language that does not clearly establish the affiant's knowledge of the marriage.
Benefits of completing this form online
- Convenience of filling out the form from anywhere and at any time.
- Ability to easily edit and review the form before finalizing it.
- Access to templates that have been legally vetted by licensed attorneys.
- Secure storage of documents for future reference and retrieval.
Quick recap
- This affidavit supports immigration petitions by confirming the validity of a marriage.
- It requires detailed personal testimony from witnesses who know the couple.
- The affidavit must be notarized for it to be legally accepted.
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FAQ
Household bills in both names. mail or emails addressed to you both. documents that show joint responsibility for children. documents that prove your living arrangements.
Title the affidavit. First, you'll need to title your affidavit. Craft a statement of identity. The very next section of your affidavit is what's known as a statement of identity. Write a statement of truth. State the facts. Reiterate your statement of truth. Sign and notarize.
Who Qualifies for a Family-Based Visa. Once you're married, you'll need to submit taxes together. Proof of Shared Living. Proving that you live together is another great signal that your marriage is real. Joint Bank Accounts. Insurance. Joint Utility Bills. Affidavits from Family & Friends. Photographs. Social Media Posts.
Your relationship to the couple. A description of how the relationship started and how you became aware of the relationship. A statement that, in your judgement, the couple is in a real, ongoing, genuine relationship based on your experience and knowledge.
The letter does not need to be notarized, but it is important to include a sworn statement that states, I swear, under penalty of perjury, that the foregoing is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. The petitioner should understand that an affidavit is only supporting evidence.
When and how do I file the affidavit of support? You do not need to file it with your I-130 petition. When the person reaches the front of the line to immigrate based on your I-130 petition, he or she will have to submit the affidavit of support with an application for an immigrant visa or permanent residence.
Full name and address of affiant. Date and place of birth. Relationship to I-130 petitioner and spouse. An account of your relationship explaining: How you met the couple. Time frame you have known the couple. Give a sense of the frequency (i.e. frequently socialize) Date and signature.
How to write the letter. The write must start the letter with your name and address; the date of writing the letter follows. If you know the address of the recipient, include it in this section or use the words To whom it may concern. After the recipient address, include the appropriate salutation.
The documents may include, but aren't limited to, the following examples: Birth certificate(s) of child(ren) born to the marriage. Lease or mortgage contracts showing joint occupancy and/or ownership of your communal residence. Financial records showing joint ownership of assets and joint responsibility for liabilities.
