How to Build a Strong “Bona Fide Marriage” Evidence Packet

When you apply for a green card through marriage, one of the most important questions immigration officials must answer is simple: Is this marriage real?

In immigration terms, a real marriage is called a bona fide marriage. Proving that your marriage is bona fide is not about submitting one perfect document or checking off a single requirement. Instead, it’s about showing a clear, believable story of two people who are building a life together as a married couple.

This guide explains what a bona fide marriage means, how U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) evaluates marriage evidence, which types of documents matter most, and how to organize everything into a strong, easy-to-understand evidence packet.

Please note: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed immigration attorney.

What Does “Bona Fide Marriage” Mean?

A bona fide marriage is a marriage entered into in good faith, with the genuine intention to live together as spouses and build a shared life. It is not a marriage entered into solely to obtain an immigration benefit.

USCIS does not expect couples to live identical lives or follow a specific formula. Every marriage looks different. Instead, officers look for reasonable proof that your relationship is genuine, ongoing, and consistent with how married couples typically live and make decisions together.

This is why a marriage certificate alone is not enough. While it proves that you are legally married, it does not show how you live your life as a couple. USCIS requires additional evidence that demonstrates shared responsibilities, emotional commitment, and long-term intent.

Source: https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-g-chapter-2

How USCIS Evaluates Marriage Evidence

USCIS reviews marriage evidence using a flexible but structured approach. Officers are trained to look at the big picture, rather than focusing on any single document in isolation.

The Legal Standard: “Preponderance of the Evidence”

Marriage-based green card cases are evaluated under a standard called preponderance of the evidence. This means your evidence must show that it is more likely than not that your marriage is real.

You do not need to prove your relationship beyond all doubt. Instead, USCIS looks for enough credible and consistent evidence that, when considered together, supports the conclusion that your marriage is genuine.

Source: https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-1-part-e-chapter-6

Your Evidence Is Reviewed Under the “Totality of the Circumstances” Presented

Once USCIS confirms that you submitted qualifying evidence, the officer reviews all documents together. This means that USCIS is reviewing your case under the totality of the circumstances presented by your evidence.

During their review, officers consider questions such as:

• Do the documents tell a consistent story?
• Do names, dates, and addresses align across records?
• Does the evidence show the relationship developed over time?
• Does the marriage appear integrated into everyday life?

Strong cases typically include evidence from multiple areas of life, rather than relying heavily on just one category. This means that officers are looking not only for quantity, but also for high quality pieces of evidence that demonstrate the bona fide nature of your relationship.

Source: https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-g-chapter-2

Core Evidence That Forms the Foundation of Your Packet

Marriage Certificate

Your official marriage certificate establishes the legal relationship between you and your spouse and is required in all marriage-based cases. While essential, it serves only as the starting point of your evidence packet, not the deciding factor.

Joint Financial Evidence

Shared finances are one of the strongest indicators of a bona fide marriage because they show trust, cooperation, and long-term planning. They also demonstrate that both spouses are financially connected in meaningful ways that demonstrate you are building a life together.

Common examples include:

• Joint bank account statements
• Joint credit card statements
• Health, auto, or life insurance policies listing both spouses
• Joint tax returns
• Property deeds or vehicle titles in both names

Even modest financial sharing can be helpful. USCIS understands that couples manage money differently, but some level of financial connection is generally expected in a real marriage.

Source: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/explore-my-options/evidence-of-relationship

Proof of Shared Residence

Most married couples live together, so USCIS expects to see evidence of a shared address whenever possible.

Helpful documents include:

• Lease or mortgage agreements listing both spouses
• Utility bills showing both names and the same address
• Government-issued IDs showing matching addresses

If you do not live together due to work, schooling, military service, or another valid reason, that does not automatically harm your chances of approval. However, if you do not have future plans to live together soon, your application may be treated with higher scrutiny. It can be helpful to clearly explain the situation and provide strong alternative proof that the relationship is ongoing and genuine.

Source: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/explore-my-options/evidence-of-relationship

Personal Evidence That Brings Your Story to Life

Photographs Over Time

Photos help officers see your relationship as a real, lived experience. When it comes to photos, timing and variety matter more than quantity.

Strong photo evidence includes:

• Photos from different stages and milestones of your relationship
• Images with family members or friends
• Photos from everyday life, not only special events

A smaller number of photos spread across months or years is usually more persuasive than many photos taken at the same time.

Source: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/explore-my-options/evidence-of-relationship

Joint Travel and Experiences

Travel records show shared planning and meaningful experiences together, especially when couples spend time outside the home or spend money on making meaningful memories together.

Examples include:

• Flight itineraries listing both names
• Hotel or rental reservations
• Travel insurance or tour bookings

These records help demonstrate both emotional connection and practical coordination within the relationship.

Letters of Support (Affidavits)

Affidavits are written statements from people who know you as a couple and can describe your relationship in their own words.

Strong affidavits typically explain:

• How the writer knows you
• How long they have known you
• Specific examples of your life together
• Why they believe your marriage is genuine

While affidavits can strengthen a case, USCIS generally does not consider them sufficient on their own. They are most effective when combined with financial, residential, and documentary evidence. To learn more about these affidavits and for suggestions around how to write them, check out our article here.

Source: https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-6-part-b-chapter-2

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Why Evidence Variety Matters

USCIS prefers varied evidence over repeated documents of the same type. For example, submitting many bank statements but no personal or residential evidence may raise questions about the overall picture of the marriage.

A strong packet usually includes a mix of:

• Official demographic records
• Financial documentation
• Proof of living arrangements
• Personal and social evidence
• Proof of time spent together

Together, these materials help tell a complete, believable story of a real marriage. As a general rule of thumb, it can be helpful to aim for approximately 8-15 different types of evidence. 

Source: https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-1-part-e-chapter-6

Organizing Your Evidence Packet Effectively

Clear organization helps USCIS officers review your case efficiently and reduces the chance of confusion or delays. 

Many applicants include:

• A short cover letter summarizing the evidence
• A table of contents
• Clearly labeled sections
• Documents arranged in chronological order
• Written explanations or dates accompanying certain documents

These strategies are technically not required by USCIS but can be helpful in telling your relationship “story” to USCIS. Don’t worry, SimpleCitizen’s software will help do all of this organizational work for you. 

Please remember that any document not in English must include a complete English translation with a signed certification from the translator. To learn more about providing translations, check out our article here. 

Additionally, remember that USCIS will keep whatever you send to them. Be sure to submit copies rather than originals, and always keep a complete copy for your records.

Source: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-guidance/translations

Common Mistakes That Lead to Delays or RFEs

Providing strong, varied evidence can help avoid being issued a Request for Evidence (RFE), which is essentially just a letter from USCIS requesting additional information. While common, RFE’s can add stress and delays to application processing so they are nice to avoid, when possible. 

Many applicants receive Requests for Evidence (RFEs) due to avoidable issues, such as:

• Relying on only one type of evidence
• Submitting documents with inconsistent dates or addresses
• Including vague or generic affidavits
• Failing to show the relationship over time
• Providing evidence that conflicts with the information provided in the application forms.
• Providing evidence that shows or implies illicit activity 

Careful document collection, organization, and review before filing can significantly reduce the risk of delays.

Source: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-guidance/how-to-avoid-common-mistakes

Final Takeaway

A bona fide marriage packet is not about proving that you exchanged vows and said “I do.” It is about proving a genuine relationship and a shared life. When your evidence shows consistency, variety, and a clear timeline, USCIS can more easily understand your marriage.

By focusing on the full story of your relationship and presenting it clearly, you give your application the strongest possible foundation.

How SimpleCitizen Can Help

Preparing a strong bona fide marriage evidence packet can feel overwhelming, especially if you are unfamiliar with USCIS expectations. SimpleCitizen helps guide couples step by step, making it easier to gather the right documents, organize evidence clearly, and avoid common mistakes.

We’re happy you’re here! If you’re ready to move forward with confidence, you can get started with SimpleCitizen today and take some of the stress out of your marriage-based green card application.

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