Documents to Prove Marriage

This is a list of the documents we believe can help establish the legitimacy of a marital relationship. You will not have many of these items, especially if the immigrant spouse does not have a social security number yet. We recommend that clients gather as much proof of marriage as possible prior to submitting the case to USCIS and that they bring updated proof of marriage to the interview with USCIS or the US consulate abroad.

  • All jointly filed tax returns, or separately filed returns showing that you were married or that list one of you (or a stepchild) as a dependent
  • All documents showing that you have traveled together, including plane tickets, bus tickets, and receipts from travel (e.g., receipts of online plane ticket purchases, hotel purchases, etc.)
  • Emails sent to each other over a period of time (just a few)
  • Old Facebook posts showing that you have been in a relationship (just a few)
  • All receipts showing payments made by one of you for the benefit of the other, children, or stepchildren of the marriage
  • Employment documents indicating that you are married and/or that you spouse has received or receives benefits from your employer or past employer
  • Health insurance documentation showing that you are both on the same health insurance policy
  • Life insurance documentation showing that your spouse (or stepchild) is the beneficiary
  • All financial documents showing joint ownership or that one of you is the beneficiary of the other’s account (e.g., money market accounts, stocks, 401k, retirement plans, etc.)
  • Auto insurance documentation showing that you are both on the same policy
  • Documentation showing that your vehicles have been registered at the same address (over time if possible)
  • Car titles with both of your names
  • Loan documentation where you are co-signers on the same loan
  • Joint mortgage or rental agreements
  • Utility bills with both of your names, or if separate names, addressed to the same address (over a period of time if possible)
  • Processed envelopes addressed to each of you separately at the same address (over time if possible)
  • Telephone records / text records showing calls or texts between each of you (please include bills or other documentation showing ownership of the telephone numbers referenced)
  • Documentation showing that you have the same memberships (e.g., gym memberships)
  • Documentation showing that you share the same hobbies or interests
  • Birth certificates with both of you listed as the parent of the same child
  • Adoption documentation showing the formal adoption of stepchildren
  • Photographs of you both over time, at different locations and with family and friends (one photo for each location or event)
  • Documentation of your wedding, including invoices, proofs of purchase, invitations, photographs, registry information, long distance travel of relatives, etcetera
  • Joint bank account documentation, including up to 6 months of statements showing direct deposits from work if applicable and joint use of the account with individual check cards (please include a copy of the front and back of each check card referenced)
  • Credit card account documentation if both of you are authorized users, showing purchases by each of your separate cards over time for up to 6 months (please include a copy of the front and back of each card referenced)
  • Medical documentation showing that you are married
  • Letters from doctors, teachers, pastors or church leaders, counselors, landlords, family and friends attesting to the validity of your marriage (letters should be in business letter format, with details of the marriage and notarized if possible)

Clients and prospective clients with questions about proving the legitimacy of the marriage are invited to contact us.