How much is enough

[Dave&Judy 3]

Wondering how much evidences/documents are sufficient/appropriate to provide with AOS package?

We got married couple of months back but we are living together for over 2 years. Hence, have joint accounts like bank, credit cards, Utilities, leases etc for over 2 years.

Now, these bank & credit card statements, utility bills we get every month. So, how many i should send with the package?

Also, how many letters (joint & solo) should i send?

Same with photos. We have ton of photos together.How many, and what kind of photos will be good to send along with package?

Kind of confused

Idea is to use all these evidences wisely. I understand that 'more is not always good'

Good luck to all members !!

[Xanax 349]

I would just send a few; recent ones and some from when you were first married.

This goes for everything in my opinion.

In terms of what kind of photos, hmm, ones together, ones with family as well.

--

The above is all we sent, a few bills, a few photos, marriage cert and stuff was in the package.

[ibee 7]

For credit and debit cards we just sent the fist page Of accoutagreement that has our names and address. No bills. I think to prove the 2 yrs living together give them a really old one and a recent one. We sent about 10 pics with the aOS. Totally forgot to show our photo album at the interview!!!!!!!! But we sent as many originals as possible. Think that helped a lot.. GOOD LUCK! make sure you've got an exact copy of what you send them

[DandT14 272]

This might sound weird, but I didn't want to send a whole lot with our application, because I didn't want to be left with nothing for the interview.

I sent a joint lease and a few other joint things and saved the pictures for the interview.

It probably doesn't really matter though. I just didn't want to walk into the interview empty handed!

[Xanax 349]

They have your file at the interview - silly

And you can always send a photocopy or photocopy said item for the interview

[Dave&Judy 3]

They have your file at the interview - silly

And you can always send a photocopy or photocopy said item for the interview

Thanks for your valuable thoughts !

We shifted to new house after the old lease expired about 4 months ago. Do you think its better to organize all these

docs 'address' wise or just put all of them in the envelope...or may be organize all docs just

year wise (putting tabs or something)

What u say

Also, for photos what you guys did? You made 2-3 albums or photo book something (would be nice i guess)?

Cheers

[Xanax 349]

I am no expert , but I would probably order my documents by year and in regards to the photos, we just have 20 or so from different times / events and labeled them as such.

I think albums would be overkill, realistically do you seem them saying, OK Christmas 08' album now , Let me see something from September 07' etc?

Of course you can take as much as you like and being extra prepared is never bad, but I often read here "They never even looked at X document" "They didn't care about my photos from X".

[DandT14 272]

They have your file at the interview - silly

And you can always send a photocopy or photocopy said item for the interview

I know they have the file at the interview! I wanted to have additional items to bring to the interview. The way I see it, that's where the decision is really made, so I wanted to be able to lay a bunch of stuff on the interviewer that he hadn't seen before.

Also, I only sent things that were self-explanatory. Like a joint bank account, and I highlighted both names. Things like pictures, I saved for the interview so I could sit there and say who was who and where we were.

[Xanax 349]

I know they have the file at the interview! I wanted to have additional items to bring to the interview. The way I see it, that's where the decision is really made, so I wanted to be able to lay a bunch of stuff on the interviewer that he hadn't seen before.

Also, I only sent things that were self-explanatory. Like a joint bank account, and I highlighted both names. Things like pictures, I saved for the interview so I could sit there and say who was who and where we were.

I understand

[ibee 7]

I know they have the file at the interview! I wanted to have additional items to bring to the interview. The way I see it, that's where the decision is really made, so I wanted to be able to lay a bunch of stuff on the interviewer that he hadn't seen before.

Also, I only sent things that were self-explanatory. Like a joint bank account, and I highlighted both names. Things like pictures, I saved for the interview so I could sit there and say who was who and where we were.

I like the idea of only sending self explanatory documents, I am all for making things easy for them from the start!

BUT, my opinion is that most of the decision is made BEFORE the interview. At least for us, the IO told us straight away what documents she has, asked if we have anything new (we did, new bank accounts and car insurance) and from then on was mostly focused on proving our identities (checking signatures, asking about work and all that). They review your ENTIRE file before you walk in and have a good idea about you. From then on, I feel like, it's just about confirming their decision.

[DandT14 272]

I like the idea of only sending self explanatory documents, I am all for making things easy for them from the start!

BUT, my opinion is that most of the decision is made BEFORE the interview. At least for us, the IO told us straight away what documents she has, asked if we have anything new (we did, new bank accounts and car insurance) and from then on was mostly focused on proving our identities (checking signatures, asking about work and all that). They review your ENTIRE file before you walk in and have a good idea about you. From then on, I feel like, it's just about confirming their decision.

My interviewer acted as though he had no clue what was in our file. He said he'd look at it after we left. I didn't really believe him though.

I agree that if you send strong enough evidence with your application, they will have made a tentative approval before you go in. But the interview is where you "seal the deal", if you know what I mean. I wanted to have "good" stuff to hand him while we were there face to face.

Anyway, it probably doesn't matter that much when they get the evidence as long as they get it. I just know I would have felt foolish if I walked into the interview with 2 pictures and a newspaper subscription.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Also, for photos what you guys did? You made 2-3 albums or photo book something (would be nice i guess)?

Gah, 2-3 albums? No way

If you read the I-130 instructions, it says to include at least "one piece" of evidence in the list they have there. Photos are not listed as a type of evidence they want at this stage. If you choose to send photos as a part of the "other evidence of a bona fide marriage" that is fine, but I would certainly not send a few albums! I would send no more than 10 photos. They really don't want to see "Us with the dog version 1" "Us with the dog version 2" "Us with the dog blurry" "Us with the dog in a bonnet." They get the idea...

My whole submission was about 1/4" thick. 2-3 photo albums would be around 3" thick by themselves!

[DandT14 272]

Gah, 2-3 albums? No way

If you read the I-130 instructions, it says to include at least "one piece" of evidence in the list they have there. Photos are not listed as a type of evidence they want at this stage. If you choose to send photos as a part of the "other evidence of a bona fide marriage" that is fine, but I would certainly not send a few albums! I would send no more than 10 photos. They really don't want to see "Us with the dog version 1" "Us with the dog version 2" "Us with the dog blurry" "Us with the dog in a bonnet." They get the idea...

My whole submission was about 1/4" thick. 2-3 photo albums would be around 3" thick by themselves!

That sums up half our pictures!

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

My interviewer acted as though he had no clue what was in our file. He said he'd look at it after we left. I didn't really believe him though.

I agree that if you send strong enough evidence with your application, they will have made a tentative approval before you go in. But the interview is where you "seal the deal", if you know what I mean. I wanted to have "good" stuff to hand him while we were there face to face.

Anyway, it probably doesn't matter that much when they get the evidence as long as they get it. I just know I would have felt foolish if I walked into the interview with 2 pictures and a newspaper subscription.

I like your newspaper subscription... That sure would have made the approval. LOL

Gah, 2-3 albums? No way

If you read the I-130 instructions, it says to include at least "one piece" of evidence in the list they have there. Photos are not listed as a type of evidence they want at this stage. If you choose to send photos as a part of the "other evidence of a bona fide marriage" that is fine, but I would certainly not send a few albums! I would send no more than 10 photos. They really don't want to see "Us with the dog version 1" "Us with the dog version 2" "Us with the dog blurry" "Us with the dog in a bonnet." They get the idea...

My whole submission was about 1/4" thick. 2-3 photo albums would be around 3" thick by themselves!

Did you get an instant approval for the "us with the dog blurry" photo? You guys are hilarious! Both you and the Canadian one! Good one, people!

[ibee 7]

LOL ! At least you're in the pictures ... We have over 1,400 pictures of the dog .. mostly by itself... HALF of our album is .. the dog...