RFE That makes no sense

[riuthamus 7]

You are not the only person on this forum who is or has been military. That's why there's a military forum... so there are other military members who have been able to conform with the requirements. You're not asking "the government" you're effectively asking HR. You don't write "the US Government" you ask your CO about it. It's possible to get one (or someone here will know of an alternative) and you need to try because this is AOS... If you do NOT successfully reply to this RFIE it will be denied and you will need to either appeal or re-file. Refiling means paying the fees, getting a medical etc, all over again.

Indeed, not sure why your post seems to be hostile. Your tone suggests you are upset or something. I am simply saying logical things here. A letter from the employer suggests just that a letter from the USN stating my service of employment. Having been dinged for far less of a Symantec term I am just attempting to clarify this. As for the military part of the forum, I can hit that up as well but this was my first stop as this is associated with my AOS. I did consult other military people and they said they ONLY submitted their LES. People who just went through this process less than 5 months ago who I work with told me this. So while I understand the importance of this I am not sure why you seem hostile. Thank you for the detailed information and guidance and I will be sure to get all the info I can. We have an infopass appointment and I have legal that will be going over these documents with my wife.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Indeed, not sure why your post seems to be hostile. Your tone suggests you are upset or something. I am simply saying logical things here. A letter from the employer suggests just that a letter from the USN stating my service of employment. Having been dinged for far less of a Symantec term I am just attempting to clarify this. As for the military part of the forum, I can hit that up as well but this was my first stop as this is associated with my AOS. I did consult other military people and they said they ONLY submitted their LES. People who just went through this process less than 5 months ago who I work with told me this. So while I understand the importance of this I am not sure why you seem hostile. Thank you for the detailed information and guidance and I will be sure to get all the info I can. We have an infopass appointment and I have legal that will be going over these documents with my wife.

Well "i cant write the US government and ask for a letter of employment. I am in the United States Navy and thats what an LES shows" is extremely arrogant sounding (like you stood up all tall and puffed out your chest and expect special treatment - could just be how I read into it), but really I was just impressing upon you how important it is that you reply successfully, how you're not the only one in the military and how others have been successful so there's got to be something that will work.

If you hadn't been RFE'd I would say the LES's would have been fine, but now the risk is too great to "assume" they're all you can get. You should at least ask about it, and if it's definitely a no then include a letter stating you attempted to get a letter from employer but it's not possible, here are contact details, and enclosed are "leave and earnings statements" (don't use shorthand) which prove your income to be at XXX annually. Even write the damn letter yourself, and ask for someone in your CO's office to sign it, or stamp it, or something, if possible.

I would suggest you post a topic in that forum asking whether anyone there got a letter from employer, and how, and if not, what they did instead. Specifically for your branch.

Good luck!

[riuthamus 7]

Well "i cant write the US government and ask for a letter of employment. I am in the United States Navy and thats what an LES shows" is extremely arrogant sounding (like you stood up all tall and puffed out your chest and expect special treatment - could just be how I read into it), but really I was just impressing upon you how important it is that you reply successfully, how you're not the only one in the military and how others have been successful so there's got to be something that will work.

If you hadn't been RFE'd I would say the LES's would have been fine, but now the risk is too great to "assume" they're all you can get. You should at least ask about it, and if it's definitely a no then include a letter stating you attempted to get a letter from employer but it's not possible, here are contact details, and enclosed are "leave and earnings statements" (don't use shorthand) which prove your income to be at XXX annually. Even write the damn letter yourself, and ask for someone in your CO's office to sign it, or stamp it, or something, if possible.

I would suggest you post a topic in that forum asking whether anyone there got a letter from employer, and how, and if not, what they did instead. Specifically for your branch.

Good luck!

Eh... pretty sure that was you thinking something that I was not saying. The joy of the internet and being unable to read somebodies tone from it. I was making a haphazardly joke... While some people you may know try to use whatever they can an excuse to get out of duties and responsibilities I certainly can speak for myself that I do not. You don't know this but its the internet... give me the benefit of the doubt here. Anyway, we will gain nothing going down this road. I very much appreciate your help and your desire to post detailed information. I have taken your suggestion and posted in the military section. I wish you the best and thank you again for your concern with this matter.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Eh... pretty sure that was you thinking something that I was not saying. The joy of the internet and being unable to read somebodies tone from it. I was making a haphazardly joke... While some people you may know try to use whatever they can an excuse to get out of duties and responsibilities I certainly can speak for myself that I do not. You don't know this but its the internet... give me the benefit of the doubt here. Anyway, we will gain nothing going down this road. I very much appreciate your help and your desire to post detailed information. I have taken your suggestion and posted in the military section. I wish you the best and thank you again for your concern with this matter.

I will PM you to explain my reaction

[Mogambi 96]

It's interesting that it's a request for INITIAL evidence as someone pointed out. I don't know much about exactly what they are asking for, but it certainly seems like they didn't get your return and paperwork. Most people seem to send in tax transcripts. Do you have some sort of person in the Navy in charge of paperwork and stuff you could ask? There must be some official form of 'employment' that the Navy can issue you, this must happen all the time, buying a house for instance, you'd need something like that. There must be a way.

[riuthamus 7]

When you buy a house you just have to send them LES statements as that proves you are employed. Although, if you are getting out soon you need to submit a statement for your intent to re-enlist. ( i know cause I am looking to buy a house as well ) The lady said that she thinks they could have lost our package ( the one that I talked to on the phone ) which is so odd because they got our money and they even sent my wife a notice of her bio-metrics appointment. So... i dont know. We got that part first and we were all excited thinking we did it right the first time. Guess not!

[carton025 38]

This may or may not have happened to you but... I have heard of the USCIS requesting documents that have already been submitted. Why they do this, to be honest I don't know. But, as another posted has stated they may have lost the requested documents. All you can really do is resubmit the documents again. Just double check to make sure you have included everything asked for. Personally, I wouldn't include any documentation not asked me - that might confuse them.

Best of luck!

[MIBEN 83]

You get a letter of employment from your commander, I wrote these for my Soldiers all the time for VA loans and immigration documents. Just give the commander or the admin personnel everything that is on the information request or they can confirm by looking unit commanders finance report. The commander is just confirming that you are indeed serving on active duty and make sure you include your Termination of service date or if on indefinite duty state so. You can also include a copy of your DEERS form to prove you added your wife to your military records as a dependent.

The letter of employment is printed on an official Department of the Navy letterhead and coming from your commander is more official.

Good luck

MAJ H.

Edited February 22, 2013 by MIBEN

[riuthamus 7]

Thanks MAJ H., and thanks to the rest of you for the help. I will ensure I get all of this taken care of.

[-=Mai and Timmy=- 12]

just send the required docs soon and wait for noa2 :0 goodluck u guyys can do that

[EAS 45]

You get a letter of employment from your commander, I wrote these for my Soldiers all the time for VA loans and immigration documents. Just give the commander or the admin personnel everything that is on the information request or they can confirm by looking unit commanders finance report. The commander is just confirming that you are indeed serving on active duty and make sure you include your Termination of service date or if on indefinite duty state so. You can also include a copy of your DEERS form to prove you added your wife to your military records as a dependent.

The letter of employment is printed on an official Department of the Navy letterhead and coming from your commander is more official.

Good luck

MAJ H.

This is the correct process for getting the letter. The CO should not have a problem with signing such a letter. While the LES may show all of the information it doesn't hurt to submit the signed letter on official unit stationary re-stating the requested information. It really is a very low cost insurance policy to help things go more smoothly.

[riuthamus 7]

Sounds good! again thanks

[dukeandduchess 141]

Make sure all of the tax returns you submit are the IRS transcripts. We did not submit the IRS transcripts and got an RFE - I think we solved it by submitting the IRS transcripts but our case has been sitting there for 6 months so I'm not sure. As for the other questions I don't know. Good luck though!

[spn1025 38]

Does military get an SF-50? I'm a navy civilian. I used my most current SF-50 instead of an employment letter, and had no problem.

[bigdog 376]

The USCIS and the military have help lines and assistance. http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=7d1f8430256b3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=7d1f8430256b3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD

Military Help Line

USCIS has established a toll-free military help line, 1-877-CIS-4MIL (1-877-247-4645), exclusively for members of the military and their families. USCIS customer service specialists are available to answer calls Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. (CST), excluding federal holidays.

After-hours callers will receive an email address that they can use to contact USCIS for assistance. Callers will receive assistance with immigration-related information, such as:

• Tracking their Form N-400, Application for Naturalization.
• Notifying USCIS of a new mailing address or duty station.
• Checking the status of any other application or petition.
• Bringing a spouse, fiancé, or adopted child to the United States.
• Obtaining posthumous citizenship for a deceased member of the U.S. Armed Forces.
• Submitting an application for expedited processing.

Members of the U.S. armed forces and their families stationed in the United States or overseas may access the help line using the toll-free number through their base telephone operator or using the Defense Switched Network (DSN).

Operators will ask members of the general public to call our main customer service line available under the "Contact Us" link to the right.