Need help - RFE

[mrc 0]

Ok...here's our situation. We filed for removal of conditions in September. Late in December, we received an RFE. Looking back, perhaps our package was a bit minimal. I followed the directions, included two affidavits, copies (my copies) of 07 and 08 joint tax returns (not complete), last two joint leases (not complete...just the front page showing we are on the least jointly), pictures from various weddings, family events, reunions, etc, a couple bank statements and some other stuff.

So, here's the deal. Susie and I have been married since March 07. Our relationship is legit. I have been in the Air Force for nearly 20 years. I moved into our apartment about three months before she arrived, so all of our utilities are in my name. I did not have the hindsight to put them in both of our names, so I do not have bills in both of our names. It wasn't something I thought about. We just paid the bills and didn't think anything about them. Needless to say, I don't have joint utility bills to use as evidence.

Since I submitted the initial evidence, we did renew our lease, so I have a third lease to send. This time I made copies of the whole lease and I had the leasing office type up a letter stating that they are official copies and that we have been tenants for over three years. So, I'll include that in the package. I also contacted the IRS for OFFICIAL transcripts of our 07/08 joint tax returns (the original instructions didn't say anything about official copies but the RFE said include official copies, which I have now). These will be included.

I have vet bills (many) which I will include for both of our dogs which are in both of our names. I also have made a copy of our military ID cards (front and back) that lists Susie as my spouse. I also went to my personnel section and had them print out a copy of when she was entered into the system (right after we were married) and they gave me a copy of a print out of my life insurance that lists her as beneficiary and the eligibility date (March 07), which is another good thing.

Outside of that, we don't have joint bank accounts for the ENTIRE time. We only recently added joint bank accounts. I had an old account that I always used JUST to pay bills. I added her to it this past July. We still only use it to pay bills. She made her own money and saved it, which was good and I supported that and we recently updated it to add me back around the same time. So, they weren't accounts held jointly the entire time. I know this isn't going to help our case in their eyes, but I can't do anything about this. It certainly wasn't something we did to be sneaky. It just worked out that way.

Both vehicles are in my name because I get a military exemption. If her car was in my name, we would pay more money for registration (approx 100 more a year) for the vehicle. I included our vehicle insurance card with our original package, so I can't include that this time. Her name is on the insurance policy.

I do plan on submitting a copy of her state driver's license that shows her address and submit a copy of my Record of Emergency Data, which lists her as my spouse and emergency contact in the event of my death. It also lists her as the beneficiary for a "death gratuity" if I die. Additionally, I plan to type up a letter, outlining basically what I have stated here about the utility bills and having it notarized.

I know this is a little long-winded, but before I continue, is there anything else that you guys can think of that I can include that may help? I can't resubmit stuff that has been included before, but I am included stuff that was incomplete. Obviously, we are nervous and I know we have no right to be because we're not hiding anything. It's just that I don't have a lot of "joint" documents that others seem to have. I may have been remiss not to save a lot of things or connect all the dots for the past two and a half years, but surely someone should be able to see through that.

Help?

Edited January 8, 2010 by mrc

[wasabi 4]

I'm not real familiar with this step of the process but given your lengthy military service it seems a senator would leap at the chance to help you. If you continue to have problems maybe you should contact one of them.

[dale_trisha 3]

You did not say what the RFE was for. If it is for additional documentation on the ongoing relationship it looks like your approach should go well.

[second stage 14]

Late in December, we received an RFE. Looking back, perhaps our package was a bit minimal. I followed the directions, included two affidavits, copies (my copies) of 07 and 08 joint tax returns (not complete)

I also contacted the IRS for OFFICIAL transcripts of our 07/08 joint tax returns (the original instructions didn't say anything about official copies but the RFE said include official copies, which I have now). These will be included.

What does the RFE state?

You mentioned you submitted incomplete joint tax returns. How was it incomplete? did you just submit few pages instead of all??

I think if you submit the tax transcripts along with supporting documents you should be fine.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

I sent very little: no lease/mortgage, no bank statements, no affidavits.

I think what triggered your RFE is the incomplete tax returns. You are now going completely overboard. What you should do, and what I did as well, is writing a cover letter stating in 2 or 3 paragraphs who you guys are (so that the I.O. has an idea) and listing the documents included with your application. The RFE is inconvenient, but not a big deal, really.

Edited January 8, 2010 by Just Bob

[Zen Den 18]

Ok...here's our situation. We filed for removal of conditions in September. Late in December, we received an RFE. Looking back, perhaps our package was a bit minimal. I followed the directions, included two affidavits, copies (my copies) of 07 and 08 joint tax returns (not complete), last two joint leases (not complete...just the front page showing we are on the least jointly), pictures from various weddings, family events, reunions, etc, a couple bank statements and some other stuff.

So, here's the deal. Susie and I have been married since March 07. Our relationship is legit. I have been in the Air Force for nearly 20 years. I moved into our apartment about three months before she arrived, so all of our utilities are in my name. I did not have the hindsight to put them in both of our names, so I do not have bills in both of our names. It wasn't something I thought about. We just paid the bills and didn't think anything about them. Needless to say, I don't have joint utility bills to use as evidence.

Since I submitted the initial evidence, we did renew our lease, so I have a third lease to send. This time I made copies of the whole lease and I had the leasing office type up a letter stating that they are official copies and that we have been tenants for over three years. So, I'll include that in the package. I also contacted the IRS for OFFICIAL transcripts of our 07/08 joint tax returns (the original instructions didn't say anything about official copies but the RFE said include official copies, which I have now). These will be included.

I have vet bills (many) which I will include for both of our dogs which are in both of our names. I also have made a copy of our military ID cards (front and back) that lists Susie as my spouse. I also went to my personnel section and had them print out a copy of when she was entered into the system (right after we were married) and they gave me a copy of a print out of my life insurance that lists her as beneficiary and the eligibility date (March 07), which is another good thing.

Outside of that, we don't have joint bank accounts for the ENTIRE time. We only recently added joint bank accounts. I had an old account that I always used JUST to pay bills. I added her to it this past July. We still only use it to pay bills. She made her own money and saved it, which was good and I supported that and we recently updated it to add me back around the same time. So, they weren't accounts held jointly the entire time. I know this isn't going to help our case in their eyes, but I can't do anything about this. It certainly wasn't something we did to be sneaky. It just worked out that way.

Both vehicles are in my name because I get a military exemption. If her car was in my name, we would pay more money for registration (approx 100 more a year) for the vehicle. I included our vehicle insurance card with our original package, so I can't include that this time. Her name is on the insurance policy.

I do plan on submitting a copy of her state driver's license that shows her address and submit a copy of my Record of Emergency Data, which lists her as my spouse and emergency contact in the event of my death. It also lists her as the beneficiary for a "death gratuity" if I die. Additionally, I plan to type up a letter, outlining basically what I have stated here about the utility bills and having it notarized.

I know this is a little long-winded, but before I continue, is there anything else that you guys can think of that I can include that may help? I can't resubmit stuff that has been included before, but I am included stuff that was incomplete. Obviously, we are nervous and I know we have no right to be because we're not hiding anything. It's just that I don't have a lot of "joint" documents that others seem to have. I may have been remiss not to save a lot of things or connect all the dots for the past two and a half years, but surely someone should be able to see through that.

Help?

if the RFE is for the incomplete income tax forms, then those are the only docs you need to resubmit, or explain if you can't submit complete forms.

although you can add proofs of your still viable marriage, like opening new joint accounts, it's not really necessary unless the RFE states that you need to also

[mrc 0]

Thanks for the responses.

Here's what the RFE states:

"a review of the evidence submitted (lists all of my submitted info here) does not establish that the marriage between you and your spouse was entered into "good faith". Therefore, you are requested to comply with the following:

Submit copies of documents indicating that the marriage upon which you were granted conditional status was entered into "good faith" and was not for the purpose of circumventing immigration laws. These documents should demonstrate the circumstances of the relationship from the date of the marriage to the present date. Examples include, but are not limited to:

Then it talks about all the examples including all that other non-sense abut financial records, joint records, etc.

This is why I am a little worried. So while someone mentioned they submitted less than me, it seems they may have gotten someone evaluating their case that had a better day than our evaluator. Who knows? There is no guidance exactly what to submit and I thought I submitted what they asked for the first time and we know that wasn't right.

So, I'd rather have more than enough than not enough...that's my logic, at least. With that in mind, any more thoughts? It seems like a letter is a good idea?

Thanks!