I-751 filing question

[Blablabla1212 1]

Hi everyone,

I am in the process of gathering all the paperwork. I need answers from people who have filed and did not have any RFE, as I want to avoid if I can. For the bank statements and utilities, did you send all the pages for them or just the 1st page? Like the cell phone bill, that is like 40 pages for each month!! That will make the folder really thick pretty fast? How many did you send?I know that I will need all for the bank statements from day of 1st day of marriage or when the green card was approved? My green card took a year and a half to get approved ( due to ####### name check)....do I still send the ones older then the day the green card was approved? What of the utilities ? Did you send all the months as well, we are talking about over 1000 pages over the past 2 years....How did you guys fit all that stuff in the ACCO fasteners (metal thing), found only 2 inch thick ones at the stores and i don't think that is enough room....anyone know where i can get a thicker ACCO?

I am stressed out, as I had all the paperwork punched from the side in a thick binder and now I have to take them out and punch them from the top/find a good ACCO Fastner that will fit all this paperwork......

Thanks for helping out!

[TracyTN 237]

Bank statements - I sent all pages. Utilities - I only sent the relevant pages (showing what is owed and the name/addressee). I sent bank statements from the time my husband got on my bank accounts (prior to him having a green card), a few in the middle of our marriage and a few recent ones. Utilities - I think I sent more recent ones of those (both in my name and in his).

I'm not sure why you can't find bigger Acco fasteners. I just bought mine at Office Max. Just try another office supply store or Google it - you should be able to order some online.

You don't HAVE to use the Acco fasteners by the way. In fact, if you've already hole punched all the papers in the side, I'm not sure I'd bother. Yes, USCIS will assemble it from a top hole punch but I'd let them do it. There's really no sense in stressing over how it is organized. I've yet to see a case denied or RFE'd because of how it was put together.

[Rings 10]

I sent all the copies of bank statements to prove we have shared the account for a long time. I also set int a letter from the bank saying when we opened the account and that it is still currently active. I used a 3 ring binder with plastic sleves. I have sent in all my petitions the same way and never had any problems. As for the ultility bills, well I just sent them the page that had both our names on the account to prove it was in both our names and that was all. They don't care who you are calling and won't look at the 40 page phone bill. Just send them the part that has both your names on the account and you should be fine.

[Otto 83]

I can't imagine what good sending complete (multi-page) bank statements or utility bills (such as a cellular bill) would do. The top page should be enough since nothing changes as you turn the pages, its just more of the same (unless you're trying to prove something other than a co-mingling of funds and/or a common address). I probably would bring them to an interview, if one were scheduled (knock-on-wood).

The only thing we sent multi-pages of was the Tax Return. We did however select a couple of these types of items from several points in time to (perhaps) show some consistency (kind of a beginning, middle and current) when possible.

[ichi 0]

We included all the pages, going back 2 years, of everything that we had. Everything. If it was something, like a new credit card that we had for less than the 2 years, we included every statement that we had accrued until our application date.

We put it all (4+ lbs worth) in a three-ring binder with plastic sleeves and dividers - don't stress about changing to the ACCO thing. I stressed about that too, but ultimately decided to just file it as I had already arranged it, and it worked out just fine!!

I'm all for the more evidence the better. We over prepared both times (for the AOS and the ROC) and both times, it paid off quite well.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

You need professional help!

I sent about 18 pages total, including cover page, copy of GC, tax returns, etc.

It's not about having the biggest package (unless you are trying to get into the porn business); it's about giving them SOMETHING that shows that you are still married and living together. If you are, and if you do, the I-751 is just a formality and nothing to get out of shape about.

However, if your marriage is a sham, better get lots of paperwork together, including plenty of affidavits.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Same commenst as Otto and Karen

I just filed and it sounds like overkill to send every page of your bills - they don't care how much you owe or want to page through 50 opges of cell phone activity.

For bills - I did the first page and then....only the front section that is about a thrid of the bill (when they fold it up in the envelope and display my address) and that way I could fit several on a page. Also - why would you send everything form the last 2 years....make a selection, 1 from every 4-5 months is likely fine...as long as it shows you continue to live at the same address, you know?

Now - granted they could RFE me....but for what ?

Sorry - but I don't think theyr'e dying for you to send a book (or a binder) but to each his own.

Edited December 2, 2009 by Udella&Wiz

[ichi 0]

Perhaps because my spouse and I don't have alot of 'stuff' to show - we don't own a home, property, and have few bills in general - it worked out to our benefit to oversupply the documentation we could provide to show co-mingling. And, imo, supplying the most recent bills don't really prove much. If I were reviewing such a file, I'd be incline to send out an RFE in such a situation. Why? Someone could easily just 'add' someone to an account for show for it. So, with that in mind, we wanted to show that from the date of the Conditional Residency being granted, every aspect of our lives has been intertwined.

In any event, the excessive paperwork didn't hurt us at all, was easy enough to assemble and certainly didn't slow USCIS down any!

I'm not saying it's the best way, I'm no expert, but just looking at our particular situation, I'm happy with the outcome and wouldn't hesitate to suggest others applying for ROC send in as much 2-year history as possible.