Cover Letter - need advice, large age difference?

[wannabe_texan 0]

Define large age difference?

I would not call attention to this... I would only deal with it if the AO made an issue....

Ok - that was my first inclination also. I worried about it before our AOS interview, but it didn't even come up then. I think that's because when people see us as a couple its not so obvious.

25 years difference.

The age difference is no big deal. Mine was 20 years, and it was never an issue although my wife looks much younger than her years, it does turn heads though. Don't do USCIS work for them, no cover letter, and about the DWI is your hubby the one seeking permanent resident status? If so you should include so that you appear to be honest beyond a fault. If you don't divulge and it becomes an issue, may raise red flags. If he is the USC no problem.

Thanks NoOne and JSouthwick for sharing your situations - glad to hear about other couples with similar difference.

Hubby is the USC with the DWI - so do you think I should include it or not?

Edited June 9, 2008 by wannabe_texan

[motu 6]

Age difference can be a big issue if he is 93 and you are 25 - like it was for Ana Nicole and she had to fight till she died to get her share of the inheritance. For residency purposes if they see you two and it seems you two have a 'normal' relationship then the age won't matter. You better start transferring assets in your name to avoid legal issues later on! Just kidding. good Luck

[payxibka 10,047]

Does it add value to the application or simply "noise"?

[Okiebollweevil 0]

Define large age difference?

I would not call attention to this... I would only deal with it if the AO made an issue....

Ok - that was my first inclination also. I worried about it before our AOS interview, but it didn't even come up then. I think that's because when people see us as a couple its not so obvious.

25 years difference.

The age difference is no big deal. Mine was 20 years, and it was never an issue although my wife looks much younger than her years, it does turn heads though. Don't do USCIS work for them, no cover letter, and about the DWI is your hubby the one seeking permanent resident status? If so you should include so that you appear to be honest beyond a fault. If you don't divulge and it becomes an issue, may raise red flags. If he is the USC no problem.

Thanks NoOne and JSouthwick for sharing your situations - glad to hear about other couples with similar difference.

Hubby is the USC with the DWI - so do you think I should include it or not?

This came out of another post on the N-400 application for citizenship, hope it will be instructive. The person who wrote this was in an interview with a USCIS officer and the questions are directed to the applicant for citizenship, not the USC.

"She told me that as long as the tickets weren't for DUI or reckless driving, it didn't really matter and she wrote something across the three tickets I had filled in on the form (probably to that affect). She explained to her trainee that some people put tickets because the question asks if they ever were cited and that since a ticket is a citation they put it. She said some people didn't put tickets down and that was find too (if it wasn't for DUI or reckless driving)." From this recollection of the conversation between the applicant and the USCIS interviewer, it seems that the DWI, tickets, criminal behavior etc. is directed to the applicant not their USC spouse. I would not include it if I was the applicant and it wasn't me who received the ticket.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I would hold off on including the DUI information too, unless you receive an NOA for additional evidence. Then, showing you are the one who signed for him, it can act as additional evidence of financial interconnection. Instead of making reference to the age difference in a cover letter, why not show some photographs of the two of you together obviously looking like a couple and the age difference not apparent? A picture can be worth a thousand words, as they say.

Good luck.

Edited June 9, 2008 by Kathryn41

[wannabe_texan 0]

Thanks for all the great replies - really appreciated!!! This is such a great community!!

Yes, we're definitely including pics of us...

Ok I'm breathing a bit easier now - thanks guys (F)

[SnowXTC 1]

You are the applicant and they only need to know about you. I like what Kathryn41 said about using it to show a financial interconnection. But only at an interview or in response to an RFE.

Could you please post a link to the Adjudicators Manual?? I probably should not read it, but then again.

Thanx so much and good luck. We file June 30.

[wannabe_texan 0]

Thanks, yes I decided not to use that stuff for the initial app after all the advice, and I didn't do a cover letter in the end, just used the tabs and section pages, and I think it should all be self explanatory. Anyway it went off in the mail carrier's hands about 30mins ago so now the waiting begins...

Field Adjudicator's Manual may be found here: USCIS link.