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Relationship Evidence

Evidence used to show a qualifying or bona fide relationship between people in the case.

Family-based couples, some derivative family cases, and some lifecycle filings use it when the relationship itself is part of eligibility or credibility.

Editorially reviewed:

This date reflects the page copy review, not a live government update.

Category: Financial sponsorship documentsUse case: Relationship and family recordsScope: Case-specific

Also searched as

bona fide relationship evidence

What this is

Evidence used to show a qualifying or bona fide relationship between people in the case.

Case-specific: Whether this document matters depends on category, facts, or relationship to the case.

Who usually needs it

Family-based couples, some derivative family cases, and some lifecycle filings use it when the relationship itself is part of eligibility or credibility.

When it usually appears

Usually during family-based petitioning, relationship-sensitive interviews, or removal-of-conditions filings.

What changes by process, path, or post

The exact evidence depends on what relationship is being proven and whether the stage is checking legal relationship, bona fides, or ongoing shared life.

Common format or evidence traps

  • Treating one strong record as enough when the stage expects a fuller pattern of shared-life evidence.
  • Using relationship evidence to substitute for required civil records.

Relationship evidence · Beneficiary · Petitioner

Examples from current exact-support flows

Coverage posture: Current public exact-support flows attach only one direct example to this document. Treat that example as narrow context, not as proof that the document only matters in that one scenario.

  • Usually needed

    Bring evidence of the bona fide relationship between petitioner and beneficiary that forms the basis of the family petition. (Sources: DOS NVC consular processing guidance, DOS civil documents)

    Shown when: scope.green_card_path: family-based · scope.processing_context: consular-processing

This page explains when this document usually matters. Your checklist and the official instructions still control current requirements.

Recheck the live official source before filing, traveling, paying fees, or relying on post-specific instructions.

Sources used on this page

  • Step 5: Collect Financial Documents and Other Civil Documents (DOS)
    Official source

    U.S. Department of StateSource checked

    Why this source is here: DOS guidance on civil document collection, originals vs copies, and document preparation. Source IDs S03/S04 in research pack.

  • Step 6: Complete Online Application and Submit Documents (DOS)
    Official source

    U.S. Department of StateSource checked

    Why this source is here: DOS guidance on document submission to NVC and what to bring as originals to the interview. Source IDs S05/S06/S07/S08 in research pack.

  • Ciudad Juarez Consulate: Immigrant Visa Information (English)
    Official sourcePost-specific

    U.S. Embassy & Consulates in MexicoSource checked

    Why this source is here: Post-specific guidance for Ciudad Juarez immigrant visa interviews. Bilingual CDJ checklist (A01 in research pack). Source ID S17.

  • Maintained Source Policy
    Project policy

    GreenCardGuide repositorySource checked

    Why this source is here: Project governance reference for how canonical source-backed content should be maintained.