Freaking out!

[Faery 0]

Hello everyone! Just joined. I'm putting together my I-751 packet and I'm freaking out already. I don't think I have anywhere near enough "evidence." I would be very grateful for opinions from you guys. So far, apart from the I-751 form, cover letter and copies of GC & cheque, all I have is:

House Deed in joint name (this was done recently in september though, my husband added me as co-owner)

State & federal tax returns for 2009 & 2010

Copies of joint checking and saving accounts (only as far back as 6 months though)

Health insurance, my husband added me to his health insurance and I have medical bills with my name, address and member number but my name is not on the card as my husband is the subscriber. Is that a problem?

A couple of photos, one of us both at a family get-together with all his family.

Vet bills with both our name and address on.

I am getting affidavits from the in-laws.

I DON'T HAVE:

Any car stuff as I don't have a driver license.

Absolutely no other insurance.

No utility bills as my husband sees no need to add me to them as he pays the bills. He is very stubborn and thinks I am freaking out over nothing and because our marriage is genuine he thinks it will be no problem! I disagree and feel very angry he never added me to any utility bills despite me asking several times. Please help, am I screwed?

[mr and mrs 187]

no. you're not screwed, but i would be miffed as well. you must be the one filing all of the paperwork, yes? at least you have VJ to lend support!

joint tax returns are big. check. joint mortgage is big. check.

one thing to try to do is (the best you are able to) show evidence for the time that has elapsed since AOS was filed. it is fairly important to illustrate that you have been married and financially co-mingled for that period.

a couple of suggestions (and i am sure others will have more too):

things that establish that you have both lived at the same place (IDs with addresses, mail, etc)

request a document from the health insurers that lists you as a beneficiary of his insurance

hope that helps!

[villaspurs 65]

Hello everyone! Just joined. I'm putting together my I-751 packet and I'm freaking out already. I don't think I have anywhere near enough "evidence." I would be very grateful for opinions from you guys. So far, apart from the I-751 form, cover letter and copies of GC & cheque, all I have is:

House Deed in joint name (this was done recently in september though, my husband added me as co-owner)

State & federal tax returns for 2009 & 2010

Copies of joint checking and saving accounts (only as far back as 6 months though)

Health insurance, my husband added me to his health insurance and I have medical bills with my name, address and member number but my name is not on the card as my husband is the subscriber. Is that a problem?

A couple of photos, one of us both at a family get-together with all his family.

Vet bills with both our name and address on.

I am getting affidavits from the in-laws.

I DON'T HAVE:

Any car stuff as I don't have a driver license.

Absolutely no other insurance.

No utility bills as my husband sees no need to add me to them as he pays the bills. He is very stubborn and thinks I am freaking out over nothing and because our marriage is genuine he thinks it will be no problem! I disagree and feel very angry he never added me to any utility bills despite me asking several times. Please help, am I screwed?

Hi Faery--I don't think you are screwed at all. It's a much bigger deal to be joint owner of a house than on an electric bill, you have joint taxes, joint bank accounts... that's all great evidence of financial co-mingling. As far as the health insurance goes, I think it's typical for only the person who's primary on the policy to be listed on the cards (at least it is in my experience). Being able to show you used that insurance is excellent. I know you said you don't have a license, but do you have a state-issued ID? Sending photocopies of official documents with a shared address is supposed to be helpful as well!

One last piece of advice: try not to freak out too much about this. I got really worried when putting our packet together since we hadn't gotten around to putting my husband on our house, the cars were in my name, etc. (Granted, this was in part because we were overwhelmed with babies born in March 2010 and May 2011!). We were approved earlier this week and received his 10 year GC today! If you have a bona fide relationship you'll be fine, even if you do have to go to an interview. Good luck!!

[Faery 0]

Thank you sooooooooooo much Mr and mrs and villaspurs! I'm feeling a bit better now after having a massive crying fit and reading your replies I'll look into getting a document from the health insurance company though I think it might take too long! I want to send it all off next week, my GC expires on 26th January 2012 so my 90 day window began last week. I have plenty of medical bills I am including, I had an operation last year as I had an ectopic pregnancy and almost died. So with the stress of all that and other things, we didn't get around to putting much in joint name such as bills and like I said my husband doesn't think it's a big deal, and yes, I am the one doing all the paperwork

I do have state ID, I forgot to mention that and I have a couple of cards that people from the UK sent us with our names and address on the envelope. I hope that's enough! I really do not want to get selected for interview (but who does, lol) not only is it stressful but it's very costly for us too just to get there and involves plane flights. I wonder how many people they really do deport? I find it all very intimidating and yet we are a perfectly genuine couple!

Congrats on your GC villaspurs!

[jjbandero 39]

Hi Faery,

I was a bit nervous like you when I pulled together my package too, it just feels like an exam you haven't quite fully prepared for, at least to me anyway. VJ members' experiences helped calm my nerves and they checked my list, I think the fact that you used your husband's insurance is even better proof, because that means a third party (the insurer) acknowledged your validity as a member. You should clearly highlight the relevant insurance details from his program and your bills and perhaps if he has made co-payments to show them all together, that demonstrates that he is looking after you when you needed him. Also, you mentioned that there are no other insurances, but does your husband have any thing through work e.g. Disability insurance or a 401k program where he has named you as a beneficiary? Those are all examples of financial mingling.

All the best

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

You have more than enough. More to the point, you have class A evidence for every of the 3 pillars of the RoC: habitation, taxes, and finances. I'd call this a home run.

[Faery 0]

Hi Faery,

I was a bit nervous like you when I pulled together my package too, it just feels like an exam you haven't quite fully prepared for, at least to me anyway. VJ members' experiences helped calm my nerves and they checked my list, I think the fact that you used your husband's insurance is even better proof, because that means a third party (the insurer) acknowledged your validity as a member. You should clearly highlight the relevant insurance details from his program and your bills and perhaps if he has made co-payments to show them all together, that demonstrates that he is looking after you when you needed him. Also, you mentioned that there are no other insurances, but does your husband have any thing through work e.g. Disability insurance or a 401k program where he has named you as a beneficiary? Those are all examples of financial mingling.

All the best

Hi jj, yes it's so scary! I'm kicking myself for not having gotten around to things sooner! I've got a bunch of medical bills and I think it demonstrates I'm on the health insurance. We don't have anything else at all that's why I'm a bit freaked! I'm also getting an affidavit from our neighbor who I am friends with, she lives right door so i hope that helps.

Thank you Brother Hesekiel! I sure hope you are right! What about Costco cards? We got those in 2010 but I forgot to renew mine though, dummy that I am.

[Barca 10]

no worries and best of luck