I-130 Relationship Evidence Checklist

Preparing relationship evidence for an I-130 petition can feel overwhelming.

Many applicants are unsure what to include, how much evidence is needed, and how to organize everything clearly.

This checklist summarizes commonly used types of relationship evidence based on publicly available guidance and typical applicant practices.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provides official instructions for Form I-130 on their website.

Official guidance: USCIS Form I-130 (uscis.gov)

Quick Checklist

Most applicants include a combination of the following:

• Photos together
• Travel records
• Communication history
• Proof of shared life (financial or residential)
• Statements or supporting documents

Not every case includes all items — the goal is to show a genuine and ongoing relationship.

1. Photos Together

Photos are one of the most commonly included types of evidence.

Many applicants include:

• Photos from different time periods
• Trips and shared activities
• Holidays and events
• Photos with friends and family

A smaller number of well-chosen photos is usually more effective than a large number of similar images.

See also: How many photos for I-130

2. Travel Records

Travel documents can help show time spent together.

Examples include:

• Flight tickets
• Boarding passes
• Hotel bookings
• Travel itineraries

These can provide additional context when paired with photos.

3. Communication History

Some applicants include records of ongoing communication, such as:

• Chat screenshots
• Call logs
• Emails

It is common to include a small sample rather than full message histories.

4. Proof of Shared Life

Documents showing shared responsibilities or living arrangements may include:

• Joint bank accounts
• Lease or rental agreements
• Utility bills
• Insurance policies

Not all applicants will have these documents, depending on their situation.

5. Milestones and Events

Important relationship milestones can help show how the relationship developed.

Examples:

• Engagement
• Wedding
• Moving in together
• Visits to each other's families

How to Organize Your Evidence

Many applicants organize their evidence into a timeline format, such as:

• Year or date-based sections
• Each section includes photos + supporting documents
• Short captions explaining context

This approach can make your evidence easier to review.

See: How to organize relationship evidence

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Including too many repetitive photos
• Missing dates or descriptions
• Uploading unorganized files
• Mixing unrelated documents together

Clarity and structure are usually more helpful than volume.

Creating a Clear Evidence Document

Manually organizing photos and documents into a clean format can take time.

Some applicants choose to:

• Sort photos by date
• Group evidence into events
• Create a structured PDF timeline

TimelineDoc can help you turn your photos into a clean timeline-style document.