Rfe advice - complicated situation

[kitj 0]

Hello Vjers,

We received a rfe last week asking for two specific things. The first one is the petitioner spouse's driver license and the second is proof of joint finances. There's also a list of items on the notice to prove that we have a real marriage but the main request is finances and the driver's license. To make things easier to read/understand (for you Vjers) I'm gonna number everything and do the best explanation I can possibly make.

1. Husband's driver's license: we moved last year from his parents' place and we forgot to report our new address to the DMV. Long story short, I got a ticket for not doing it so and ended up changing my address online and months later I got a new DL with the new address. My husband never changed the old address and kept his license that way. Now we don't know how to explain this or what to do.

2. Joint finances: the complicated part

a) we have a joint bank account since before applying for AOS and we can provide all of the statements from the time of our wedding until today. We don't have many expenses recorded on the account because in part my father in law provided us everything when we lived with him and even after we moved he continued to give us money when we were tight. The other problem we have is that I kept a personal account and couple of times I paid the bills from it because we didn't have enough money on the joint account. I paid the rent out my account one time but that was it. Not anymore. We're doing way better now and we pay rent and utilities from that account.

What would be the best way to explain the times I used my account and not the joint one? What if I add my husband to this personal account? Would it raise another red flag?

b) stupid little thing: we didn't get a new checkbook with both our names on them and the new address in them. We use a checkbook with my husband's name and my in laws address. I know it's the worst mistake ever and a super red flag for sure but is there anything we can do? We were planning on submitting copies of those checks to prove we pay for our rent but now it sounds bad.

c) tax returns: it's the only thing that it doesn't involve mistakes. We have them and we're planning on getting official transcripts this time.

d) bills: only one name in them and it's impossible to put my name in them. The only thing would be to put me as an authorized user of the bill accounts but that means nothing I think.

e) car insurance, car title, car itself: it's all provided by my in laws and we are not anywhere on these documents. We only drive it and put gas in it.

f) health insurance: my father in law has paid for my husband's health care for years and we even tried to add me to the policy but it was too expensive and they wouldn't cover my condition. We have documentation to prove we tried. I recently signed up for Obamacare( for myself) and I could try to add him but I don't know if it would be a good idea. His plan is a really good deal.

g) monetary gifts made to us: would it be a good idea to send copies of checks that family and friends wrote to us? What about furniture and appliances?

h) airline tickets: we went abroad after AOS and we paid from the joint account for the tickets. They have that already. We're actually planning another abroad trip in the fall and we've been looking at tickets. Would it be good to include the purchase of these new tickets or would it look fishy and desperate?

I) stocks: we don't have any but what if we buy stocks now in both our names?

OTHER THINGS WE COULD SUBMIT........

3. Include an affidavit from my in laws explaining their involvement with us. What else could we include or how could they help us?

4. We're getting a kitten and we were wondering if we could get the pet hospital's bills in both our names as well as any prescriptions for her.

5. Maybe a statement from our landlord explaining we reside in the apt since last year. I don't know if it helps.

6. More photographs?

7. documents that show our address such as his college loans, the insurance correspondence, invitations...

I'm sorry for the length of my post and I appreciate in advance your suggestions.

Thanks for reading.

[Marco&Bettina 502]

You know what would be awesome? If you had a Timeline.

[sms78 18]

It seems your father in law helped you guys a lot finantially, but you didn't include a letter from him???? Oh boy. Please include a letter from him this time. Make sure to notarize it!

[flora01 37]

List all docs you submitted initially when applied for ROC so that somebody could guide you properly.

What about joint present lease docs?

Edited May 3, 2014 by flora01

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Have him update his DL to your current address and send a copy of his DL with the correct address on it.

Provide documentation of your joint account from the beginning until now. Show statements that have deposits coming in from you both and the bills being paid from it. Highlight important things you want them to notice. No other joint accounts? Credit cards, joint or added as authorized users?

Affidavit from in-laws, since they are witness to your valid marriage and can state that used to reside with them and a lot of your bills are covered by them as well.

Yes to the joint lease/letter from your landlord.

Yes to showing you took a trip together.

Yes to showing other documentation that states you both share the same address.

Yes to the IRS tax transcripts

Yes to mail address to you both from friends and family.

Creating proof now, after the RFE, is not very helpful. They know you only did it because of the RFE. They want to see proof of your valid marriage that spans the length of your marriage from the time you wed until the time your filed for ROC.

[kitj 0]

Thanks for replying! Sorry I haven't kept up with the post. I'll go user by user.

marco&bettina: I sent my package on Dec 19, received the biometrics appointment notice the next week, had the bio done on Jan 21 and the RFE arrived in the 25th of April.

sms78: we'll include a statement from him with supporting docs

flora01: this is what we sent

Copy of 2012 federal and state tax return filed jointly.

Copy of bank statements of a joint bank account for the last four months.

Copy of signed lease agreement showing the conditional resident as an occupant and

the American citizen as a renter.

Copy of property rules showing names and signatures of both spouses.

Copy of airline reservations/e­ticket information of an international trip.

Sixteen photographs including short description and dates.

Copy of the gas company account information showing the American citizen as the

account holder and the conditional resident as the spouse of the account holder.

KayDeeCee: my husband can get an address change card at the dmv but I'm concerned it will raise a red flag because it's late now to report the new address. I'm thinking of submitting a copy of the address change notice we got from uscis when we first moved along with a copy of his license as it is right now.

I'm thinking of signing a new lease since we'll be paying extra money for having a pet and it will be good to show my name as a renter. Does this sound like a good idea?

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Yes, but you also want the landlord to provide a statement that you have already been living there together, before signing the new lease jointly.

[milimelo 4,467]

Where's the tax return from 2011? Also, 2013 needs to be included as well.

[kitj 0]

I just checked my case status on uscis.gov and it says "on July 7, 2014 we ordered production of your new card". We're thrilled . Thank you all for your advice and comments.

[Darnell 8,478]

to the OP -

for items 1 and 2 -

write up letters of attestation on each thing. sure - it's going to be a pile of letters of attestation, but it is what it is.