Major RFE Received

[lovedolphins 0]

Hi all,

The letter I was waiting for finally arrived from USCIS.

Was really hoping it was a 10-year extension of the Green Card. Instead, it was a major RFE, requesting the following:

• Your Federal Tax Return transcripts, as printed by the I.R.S. for the last two years

• Actual bank statements for the past twelve months, indicating you and your spouse as joint account holders. Each statement must show the account balance and transaction history.

• Health insurance claim statements indicating you and your spouse as co-dependants

• Utility bills

• Property warranty and mortgage deeds of your current residence indicating they were recorded not just notarized with your local or state government

• Mortgage loan statements and property tax documents of your current residence

We must submit all documents as requested within 12 weeks of the date of this letter, or our application will be considered abandoned.

Is this bad? We have to now contact the IRS, go down to the Deeds Office, contact the bank, etc.

And, we submitted A LOT of information in our original package. This is devastating.

[JenT 0]

What exactly did you submit, then, if not those documents?????

[diadromous mermaid 36]

Hi all,

The letter I was waiting for finally arrived from USCIS.

Was really hoping it was a 10-year extension of the Green Card. Instead, it was a major RFE, requesting the following:

• Your Federal Tax Return transcripts, as printed by the I.R.S. for the last two years

• Actual bank statements for the past twelve months, indicating you and your spouse as joint account holders. Each statement must show the account balance and transaction history.

• Health insurance claim statements indicating you and your spouse as co-dependants

• Utility bills

• Property warranty and mortgage deeds of your current residence indicating they were recorded not just notarized with your local or state government

• Mortgage loan statements and property tax documents of your current residence

We must submit all documents as requested within 12 weeks of the date of this letter, or our application will be considered abandoned.

Is this bad? We have to now contact the IRS, go down to the Deeds Office, contact the bank, etc.

And, we submitted A LOT of information in our original package. This is devastating.

If your timeline is correct, your application to remove conditions is nearing 12 months. I'd simply look at this is a way to potentially speed up the process. Chances are if you can supply the documentation they are looking for (for the last 12 month period, principally, it seems) then it might mean the application will be approved without an interview.

[annelizabeth 1]

Well, although it is a bit of a shock, at least you know that they haven't lost your application. Getting the tax transcripts is easy to do - you can even order them over the phone. Do they specifically ask for ALL of that to be submitted or does it just request extra evidence which MAY include ....... blah blah?

I know someone else who has posted recently got approved almost immediately they sent in the RFE stuff, so this could be good. Chin up!

[ForeverAmen 0]

What exactly did you submit, then, if not those documents?????

I was wondering the same thing.

[Minya's wife 24]

The OP's timeline shows that they filed for Removal of Conditions almost a year ago in Feb. 07. It could be that, even though they submitted some of the same stuff originally, a USCIS adjudicator just got to work on the case and issued an RFE for additional information to 'update' the filing as its been almost a year since the original petition was submitted.

OP, I wouldn't stress too much at this point. Call the IRS, request your tax transcripts and gather the other evidence requested and submit it ASAP. Maybe once you do send the additional evidence they'll approve your removal of conditions without an interview.

good luck,

-P

[*JG* 2]

What exactly did you submit, then, if not those documents?????

That was my thought exactly. What else is left if not those?

[lovedolphins 0]

I have to say something:

You guys are the best!

I am in tears, and really appreciate the support of VJ.

Thank you...

Now to answer some of your questions:

This is the evidence we originally submitted:

- joint bank statements (with balances "blacked out" for privacy)

- joint life insurance

- lots of photos

- letters from family

- investments showing my husband as beneficiary

- other stuff I can't recall as I am so upset.

[spi9959 1]

There has been at least one post here on "Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion" stating that a "smattering" of evidence for certain time periods should be sufficient and that there is no need to send bank statements for every month. It seems to me that what the RFE is asking you to provide is a bit more than a "smattering" of evidence, e.g. *every* bank statement for the past 12 months! The moral of this story, I believe, is to not take a chance sending a "smattering" of information and to initially send as much relevant information as possible to buttress your case ... to decrease the probability of getting an RFE. If you're interested in avoiding RFEs and time delays, and who here is not, initially send them as much relevant information as you can.

[lovedolphins 0]

But who would guess that they would require 12 months bank statements?

And, isn't your bank balances confidential information?

Anyway, we are moving on it right away...

[*JG* 2]

I think they are requiring all that because not enough evidence was originally sent in.

We lift conditions later this year and I'm only sending in one bank statement per quarter, plus a whole lot of other things.

[mawilson 2,133]

• Actual bank statements for the past twelve months, indicating you and your spouse as joint account holders. Each statement must show the account balance and transaction history.

Looks like they weren't too happy with the blacked-out balances and want to see the originals.

[Minya's wife 24]

Hi all,

The letter I was waiting for finally arrived from USCIS.

Was really hoping it was a 10-year extension of the Green Card. Instead, it was a major RFE, requesting the following:

• Your Federal Tax Return transcripts, as printed by the I.R.S. for the last two years

• Actual bank statements for the past twelve months, indicating you and your spouse as joint account holders. Each statement must show the account balance and transaction history.

• Health insurance claim statements indicating you and your spouse as co-dependants

• Utility bills

• Property warranty and mortgage deeds of your current residence indicating they were recorded not just notarized with your local or state government

• Mortgage loan statements and property tax documents of your current residence

For some reason, the initial evidence you submitted is not now convincing enough. I think they issued this RFE for one of two reasons, your initial evidence submission did not convince them of the 'ongoing'-ness of your marriage.....or simply that they want updated information, given that some time has passed since you submitted your petition.

It may take a little time, but what they're requesting can be obtained. Hopefully you'll get this submitted and have your 10yr greencard in hand soon!

Good luck,

-P

[spi9959 1]

But who would guess that they would require 12 months bank statements?

And, isn't your bank balances confidential information?

Anyway, we are moving on it right away..

Well, I'll tell you this: based upon what they are asking of you in the RFE, others reading this forum submitting information will not likely be giving them a "smattering" of bank statements anymore, if they can help it. Why wait for possible RFEs? Accumulate a lot of information in regard to the categories of information they ask for including each and every monthly bill, account statement, etc. And, no, bank statements aren't confidential when it comes to USCIS.

I do wish you the best of luck and I'm sure you'll be fine. I think all of us may have learned a lesson from your experience.

[Spiderette 0]

But who would guess that they would require 12 months bank statements?

And, isn't your bank balances confidential information?

Anyway, we are moving on it right away...

I don't think anything is considered off-limits to immigration... they could pretty much ask for anything and we would be required to send it sad but true

Good luck to you... and I agree with the above, keep your head up, gather the info and hopefully your app will be approved shortly after they receive everything.