My Packet (and what I'm leaving out of it)

[chelsea.and.john 0]

Ok guys, I'm assembling the packet for I-751 for my husband and this is the stuff I'm including.

1. Copy of Greencard

2. Copy of both driver's liscences showing same address.

3. Copy of lease's covering the past two years with both our names on them.

4. Copy of renter's insurance policy showing both names.

5. Copies of various utility bills in our separate names but to the same address, covering past two years.

6. Copies of bank statements in both our names, covering the past two years.

7. Print off of travel confirmation from Expedia showing both our names, proof of vacationing together.

8. Many photographs from travel, family photos, and one card with both our names on it.

9. Copies of our separate paycheques showing same address, covering the past two years.

10. Copies of his AR-11 address change confirmation and my receipt from USCIS for my address change.

11. Copy of church bulletin showing both our names with our new address.

12. Copy of health insurance cards showing both our names and a copy of a claim showing both names.

13. Copy of checks showing both our names with old address and new address.

Whew that's alot. I'm hoping it is enough. The one thing I haven't included is out tax returns. Does anyone think this will be a huge problem? Thanks!

[rebeccajo 14]

We included our tax returns. They like to see 'mingled assets' and filing a joint return is good proof of that.

We didn't send any photographs.

[chelsea.and.john 0]

Well the reason I haven't included the tax returns is because my dad (whom I love dearly) has always done my taxes for me, and used my maiden name every year. I didn't notice it until too late and even though I reminded him for this past year it happened again. So basically, I'm afraid they will find the fact that my maiden name is on my taxes suspicious. Just for info, my husband and I did file jointly, so his name is on there. What I'm really trying to decide is which is worse: Including my taxes that have my maiden name, or leaving the taxes out altogether? Any opinions?

[chelsea.and.john 0]

Someone please reply, I'm biting my nails here! Also, is my evidence excessive? lol

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Your package is a dream come true . . . except that the tax returns are a major component. You have a good reason for not having included them, but I believe when it comes to taxes, they want to see that you paid them during the past 2 years, even if you filed separately for a good reason.

[chelsea.and.john 0]

Your package is a dream come true . . .

Why thank you!

...except that the tax returns are a major component. You have a good reason for not having included them, but I believe when it comes to taxes, they want to see that you paid them during the past 2 years, even if you filed separately for a good reason.

We didn't file separately, we filed jointly. One thing is I did however sign them using this format (first name, maiden name, married name), so that it included the name on the paper and my married name. I'm gonna highlight the signature and my SS# so they can see the correct name and possibly type a short explanation as to why my maiden name appears on the taxes. This will hopefully suffice.

[featherB 1]

Your package is a dream come true . . .

Why thank you!

...except that the tax returns are a major component. You have a good reason for not having included them, but I believe when it comes to taxes, they want to see that you paid them during the past 2 years, even if you filed separately for a good reason.

We didn't file separately, we filed jointly. One thing is I did however sign them using this format (first name, maiden name, married name), so that it included the name on the paper and my married name. I'm gonna highlight the signature and my SS# so they can see the correct name and possibly type a short explanation as to why my maiden name appears on the taxes. This will hopefully suffice.

I'm no expert in this stuff at all, but I really wouldn't worry about the name thing. You filed taxes jointly, which definitely looks good to USCIS and shows commingling of your finances. And remember that plenty of women don't change their names after marriage, and are every bit as legitimately married as a woman who does. I understand it's natural to worry and over-think things, but... I think that may be what you are doing here, over-thinking. You aren't doing anything suspicious or "fishy", you have nothing to hide. I'd include the tax returns, because they're important evidence showing that you and your husband have mingled your lives, and I think you'd be doing yourselves a disservice NOT to include them.

That's just my take on it, though. See what others more expert than I have to say on the matter!

Editing to add that what you've done with your signature sounds good to me, regardless of what your Dad typed on the forms... and if it were me, I'd probably add a short explanation too, just to make myself feel better, regardless of whether the USCIS adjudicator will even notice! When I was putting together our package in May, I printed off some bank statements that we only receive online and noticed that they all still show our old address, despite the fact that the account is one we opened with the bank that is our mortgage-holder, when buying our house, for the specific purpose (required by them) of making our monthly mortgage payments from it. For some reason, despite the fact that the bank clearly knows our real address, the checking account that our mortgage payment comes from still had our old address showing on online statements. I doubt USCIS would be overly concerned, but I wrote a note to explain the fact that there are current (online) statements showing our previous address. Not the same situation, but... the note-writing made me feel better in case the person looking at our file happens to notice and think "huh??"

Edited August 9, 2009 by featherB

[mozplay 29]

List looks great.

Regarding your tax returns, lots of people don't change their maiden names legally but use their married name socially. I would include them as is.

[Anamaria2009 1]

Don't worry about the fact that you used maiden name for the IRS.

If you don't send it, they will ask for it so you will get an RFE. As long as is filed Jointly is good to go!

I don't see any reason for denial looking at your list.

[rebeccajo 14]

Don't worry about the fact that you used maiden name for the IRS.

If you don't send it, they will ask for it so you will get an RFE. As long as is filed Jointly is good to go!

I don't see any reason for denial looking at your list.

Why do you think she would get an RFE?

[chelsea.and.john 0]

Thanks so much people. I did change my name after marriage so thats not what it's about. Just the old name in the wrong place! I feel better about inclucing the tax returns now with a brief note, just for my peace of mind. Thank you!

[Anamaria2009 1]

Why do you think she would get an RFE?

-Because you are dealing with the Goverment, filing taxes is important in this country.

[lailaa 0]

I agree with Anamaria2009

You should include your JOINT taxes, otherwise you wil probably get an RFE asking for taxes, I believe It's one of the most important proof for uscis, Iam reading all the immigration related forums I've seen a lot of people getting RFE because of incorrect or missing tax documents,also I have never seen anyone approved without showing taxes joint or seperately filed.

As for the name thing, that's not important, I never changed my last name after marriage,I use my maiden name and that was never an issue for USCIS so far..

Please Include your joint taxes and if you want to feel more comfortable just attach a seperate sheet of paper behind tax return transcripts that explaining why on taxes you use your maiden name that it was a mistake,your father always filed for you blaa blaa blaa..

Except your missing taxes,Everything else in your file looks pretty good.

wishing you good luck on removalof condition process.

[rebeccajo 14]

I agree with Anamaria2009

You should include your JOINT taxes, otherwise you wil probably get an RFE asking for taxes, I believe It's one of the most important proof for uscis, Iam reading all the immigration related forums I've seen a lot of people getting RFE because of incorrect or missing tax documents,also I have never seen anyone approved without showing taxes joint or seperately filed.

As for the name thing, that's not important, I never changed my last name after marriage,I use my maiden name and that was never an issue for USCIS so far..

Please Include your joint taxes and if you want to feel more comfortable just attach a seperate sheet of paper behind tax return transcripts that explaining why on taxes you use your maiden name that it was a mistake,your father always filed for you blaa blaa blaa..

Except your missing taxes,Everything else in your file looks pretty good.

wishing you good luck on removalof condition process.

It's important to understand that you don't HAVE to provide tax returns for this step of the process.

There is no Affidavit of Support (I-864) required to remove the conditions of residency. The stories you have read of RFE's for tax returns were likely for some phase of residency where the I864 is required.

Providing copies of tax returns shows co-mingling of assets, so most of us send them in for that reason. But they aren't required.

Why do you think she would get an RFE?

-Because you are dealing with the Goverment, filing taxes is important in this country.

The IRS and USCIS don't share records.

[rabia1398 0]

I didn't change my name at marriage, so our tax returns (and all other documents) showed seperate last name. Immigration did not raise any question about that, I think they just want to see that you filed jointly and have joint accounts etc