Cdn sponsoring US spouse, do we need proof of relationship?

[CDNwifey]

Been together since 1999, married 2001, have 3 kids, always lived together & filed US taxes jointly. Do we need to submit photos/emails/phone records/bank statements as proof of our relationship or will the assume it's legit because of the length of it?

 

[brucem]

Been together since 1999, married 2001, have 3 kids, always lived together & filed US taxes jointly. Do we need to submit photos/emails/phone records/bank statements as proof of our relationship or will the assume it's legit because of the length of it?

I'm afraid nobody is exempt from providing proof of relationship....so yes you will have to submit some/all of the above. However, my philosophy was quality over quantity so I wouldn't go crazy with the evidence. Unfortunately there is no hard or fast rule, some people have received PR and submitted only a few photos/documents while others send in hundreds.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Been together since 1999, married 2001, have 3 kids, always lived together & filed US taxes jointly. Do we need to submit photos/emails/phone records/bank statements as proof of our relationship or will the assume it's legit because of the length of it?

Your burden of proof is VERY low, so don't stress about it. Don't bother with emails/phone records/chats/etc., as there's no need to include that kind of stuff when you have always lived together. For the photos, many people have only submitted 10-20 photos without issue. I would include a few wedding pics and a few family pics from each year. If you have joint bank statements or joint tax statements, it would be good to include a few.

 

[Amalthea]

Been together since 1999, married 2001, have 3 kids, always lived together & filed US taxes jointly. Do we need to submit photos/emails/phone records/bank statements as proof of our relationship or will the assume it's legit because of the length of it?

They will not just assume your relationship is legit because you have kids or the length of your relationship. No one is exempt from providing evidence of an ongoing and legitimate relationship. However, the burden of proof from the US is lower than other visa offices. Send in stuff that shows the development of your relationship, over the years. We had over 150,000 messages so we just chose the ones that showed the development of our relationship, when we decided to get married, etc. One chat from every month or two. Pics from the span of your relationship. Joint bank accounts, leases, car ownership, etc. No need to go overboard, just show that you really have been together as a real couple that long.