I-130: Proving Your Good Faith Marriage To USCIS

When a U.S. citizen or permanent resident files an I-130 for a spouse, the government checks closely for fraud. You need to show that love, not paperwork, builds the relationship. The sooner you prove your genuine intentions, the stronger your case becomes. USCIS doesn’t take chances when it comes to fraudulent marriages.

Read on to know how immigration defines real marriages, what proof you need, and how to prepare for interviews. It also discusses how Lozano Law Firm supports couples. Its team helps you understand what to expect and how to move forward with clarity and confidence.

Factors That Count As A Bona Fide Marriage

From the start, a bona fide marriage is one where both spouses intend to share a life, not just get legal benefits. USCIS pays close attention to how the relationship began and whether there was a real commitment. They review not just paperwork but personal history. Timing, cohabitation, and interaction all matter.

Living together is not required by law, but it can be helpful. Couples who live separately for long periods without explanation may raise concerns. USCIS understands that life can be complex, but any gap in the relationship timeline should be documented and supported. Transparency is more valuable than perfection.

Marriage fraud isn’t always about money—sometimes it’s pressure from family, desperation, or bad advice. However, USCIS treats all fraud equally, and the consequences are long-lasting. Denials are just the beginning. Immigration bars, removal proceedings, or criminal charges may follow and can affect your future immigration eligibility.

The process becomes easier when a couple presents their relationship honestly and consistently. USCIS looks for sincerity, not perfection. Next, review the evidence that shows your relationship is more than just a legal formality.

Key Evidence To Prove Your Marriage Is Real

When USCIS evaluates your marriage, they don’t want a love story; they want documentation. Everyday life leaves a paper trail, and that’s what makes a petition believable. Strong evidence is consistent, layered, and covers different periods and aspects of your relationship.

Financial Connections

USCIS wants to see that you’ve combined your finances or at least planned to do so. That can mean bank accounts under both names, shared credit cards, or co-signed car loans. These aren’t flashy—they’re practical signs of partnership. A pattern of shared spending is what counts.

Couples often overlook taxes, but they carry a lot of weight. Filing jointly as “married” on your federal return shows recognition of the relationship in a formal setting. If you haven’t filed jointly, a letter from your accountant or an explanation may help clarify why.

Sometimes, couples choose not to combine their finances for personal reasons. If that’s your case, include a brief written explanation with your petition. Supplement your file with other evidence to show you still function as a household, even if you keep money matters separate.

Living Together

Proof of living together is critical—even if you’re only renting. A lease or mortgage in both names is strong evidence, especially if it’s been in place for a while. If only one of you is on the lease, showing rent payments or letters from the landlord helps.

Utility bills—like water, electricity, or internet—offer monthly confirmation that both of you live under one roof. Even if you don’t have bills in both names, multiple pieces of mail addressed to each of you at the same address can support the claim.

Receipts from shared deliveries, online orders, or registered mail to the same place over time can add more depth. It’s not just about proving residency but also about showing your lives overlap daily.

Social & Emotional Proof

Photos are easy to gather, but also easy to get wrong. Include pictures from different seasons, events, and places. A dozen selfies in one day won’t help much. Instead, show variety—family gatherings, road trips, birthdays, holidays, and simple moments at home.

Texts, emails, and call logs prove an ongoing relationship. You don’t need thousands, just enough to show regular contact. Choose snapshots from different years or big life moments. Travel itineraries—especially visits to each other before marriage—also show commitment and continuity.

Statements from people who know both of you add a human layer. Affidavits should be detailed, dated, and signed. Friends, coworkers, and family members who’ve seen your relationship develop make the best sources. Their stories can tie all your other evidence together.

Family Ties

If you have children together, USCIS sees that as compelling. Birth certificates listing both parents establish biological or legal ties. Even pregnancy records or baby shower invites can help show planning and preparation as a couple.

School documents, medical forms, or daycare applications that list both spouses reinforce active co-parenting. These records help create a picture of your shared responsibilities. If you’re raising children from a prior relationship together, that still counts—just explain the dynamic.

Integration into each other’s extended family is another meaningful sign. Wedding invitations, family trip photos, or texts from in-laws can help. Show how your lives aren’t just joined on paper but woven into each other’s communities.

Now that you understand how to gather proof, learn how to prepare for the next big step—the USCIS interview.

Ways To Prepare For The USCIS Interview

The USCIS interview is often the most nerve-wracking part of the I-130 process. But with preparation, it doesn’t have to be. The officer aims to confirm your marriage is real, not to trick or trap you. Confidence and honesty go a long way.

What To Expect

Interviews are usually at the local USCIS office. You’ll check in, sit with the officer, and verify your identity. The officer will have your file, but they’ll want to hear your story directly. They observe not just answers but how you respond as a couple.

Questions start with simple facts—how you met, where you live, what your wedding was like. But they can also touch on your routines, arguments, or quirks. The goal is to see if your stories line up naturally and consistently.

Typical Questions

Expect questions about daily life—who wakes up first, cooks, and pays which bills. Officers might ask what color your bedroom walls are or which side of the bed your spouse sleeps on. It may feel odd, but it helps USCIS gauge authenticity.

They also ask about shared experiences. Where did you go for your honeymoon? How did you celebrate your anniversary? Who planned your last vacation? They want to know you’re genuinely sharing your lives, not just saying you are.

Smart Preparation

Go over your timeline together—how you met, where you’ve lived, and significant life events. Don’t script answers, but discuss the details. That way, when officers ask, your answers will sound natural. Stay calm if your stories differ slightly—USCIS doesn’t expect you to be a robot.

If you’re nervous, consider practicing with someone outside the relationship. A third party can spot gaps or confusion that you may overlook. And remember: if you don’t know or forget something, be honest. It’s better than guessing and being wrong.

If your interview doesn’t satisfy the officer’s concerns, they may refer you for another step: the Stokes interview. That’s a more detailed review, and it helps to understand what that involves.

USCIS Conducts Stokes Interview To Double-Check

The Stokes interview is the government’s way of double-checking when things don’t quite add up. It’s not a punishment, but it is serious. Officers will question you and your spouse separately and compare your answers. Accuracy and memory count here.

Questions cover everything from how you organize your home to who picked the last restaurant you visited. The officer will listen for contradictions. Even a slight mismatch, like mixing up the color of a toothbrush, can become a problem if there are several of them.

That’s why having a lawyer is so helpful. They sit in during the interview, keep notes, and protect your rights. If something feels unfair or confusing, they step in. They ensure the process stays fair and focused on facts.

If you’re facing a Stokes interview, don’t go in cold. Preparation and legal support can make the difference between approval and denial. Lozano Law Firm guides couples through this challenging step with care and attention.

Lozano Law Firm, Your Immigration Ally

At Lozano Law Firm, we do immigration law every single day. We’ve helped countless couples create strong and convincing I-130 petitions. We know what USCIS wants to see and how to present it clearly and effectively.

We start by helping you organize your documents. That includes financial records, living arrangements, and social proof. We’ll tell you what’s missing, what to strengthen, and how to present everything wholly and naturally.

Our team doesn’t stop at paperwork. We prepare you for interviews with mock sessions that mimic real questions. We coach you on how to stay calm, handle memory lapses, and what to do if the officer pushes back on something.

If things escalate to a Stokes interview, we’ll be with you. We understand the local USCIS office and how it operates. That experience matters when every detail of your case is under review. We won’t let you face it alone.

Proving a genuine marriage takes more than love—it takes preparation, documentation, and straightforward answers. USCIS wants to see how you live, not just how you feel. Substantial evidence and smart strategy are the right tools. When your future depends on approval, every detail counts.

At Lozano Law Firm, we walk you through each step—preparing documents, coaching for interviews, and standing by you when it matters most. We treat your case with care because we know what’s at stake. Let us help protect your family and your future.