RFE--BANK STATEMENTS

[Emmamama 2]

Hi everyone,

I am gathering our documents to send in for the RFE my husband and I received a few weeks ago. Basically the RFE is for more joint financial records (and birth certificates for children we don't have).

The extra evidence they are asking for includes: "Copies of bank statements that reflects joint savings and /or checking accounts to include the transaction pages for each bank statement provided for 2010, 2011, 2012." Does this mean to send in every bank statement from every month in these 3 years? The average bank statement that we have per month is 10 pages, so I'm wondering if this is excessive...?

Thanks!!

[And_Sam 44]

Hi everyone,

I am gathering our documents to send in for the RFE my husband and I received a few weeks ago. Basically the RFE is for more joint financial records (and birth certificates for children we don't have).

The extra evidence they are asking for includes: "Copies of bank statements that reflects joint savings and /or checking accounts to include the transaction pages for each bank statement provided for 2010, 2011, 2012." Does this mean to send in every bank statement from every month in these 3 years? The average bank statement that we have per month is 10 pages, so I'm wondering if this is excessive...?

Thanks!!

We had a RFE too for my husband's ROC, on our letter it stated any bank statement from the date of marriage to present so I sent in ALL the pages from the month we got married until the month we mailed the information in. I highlighted and put arrow stickers on pages showing where he was added to the accounts, when he started getting direct deposit for his paychecks and paying for different things. We have alot of pages each month too, the RFE response was 2 inches thick when we submitted it in.

[Emmamama 2]

We had a RFE too for my husband's ROC, on our letter it stated any bank statement from the date of marriage to present so I sent in ALL the pages from the month we got married until the month we mailed the information in. I highlighted and put arrow stickers on pages showing where he was added to the accounts, when he started getting direct deposit for his paychecks and paying for different things. We have alot of pages each month too, the RFE response was 2 inches thick when we submitted it in.

GREAT ADVICE! I am also going to send in every single thing related to our taxes...

[Navyk 78]

GREAT ADVICE! I am also going to send in every single thing related to our taxes...

I guess you mean Bank Statements, right!

[Emmamama 2]

NO. I meant everything related to our taxes, like I said. That was a new thought. The RFE also asks for tax transcripts, which is also going to be lots and lots of pages and I was saying I would also send in ALL because I also thought it was excessive amount, as I thought was the case with the ten pages per month bank statements.

[Navyk 78]

NO. I meant everything related to our taxes, like I said. That was a new thought. The RFE also asks for tax transcripts, which is also going to be lots and lots of pages and I was saying I would also send in ALL because I also thought it was excessive amount, as I thought was the case with the ten pages per month bank statements.

Since your is a RFE, it is good strategy.

I plan just to send 3 or 4 bank statements - one when the account was made joint, latest one and 2 in between (4 covering the full period should be good enough) and of course IRS Joint Tax Transcripts for 2011 & 2012 (USCIS prefers IRS Tax Transcripts).

[Audy_Rob 26]

NO. I meant everything related to our taxes, like I said. That was a new thought. The RFE also asks for tax transcripts, which is also going to be lots and lots of pages and I was saying I would also send in ALL because I also thought it was excessive amount, as I thought was the case with the ten pages per month bank statements.

Hi Emma.

There are two types of Tax Transcripts. You can order them online, by telephone or in person. I ordered them on-line and received them in less than a week.

The transcripts can be short (2 pages) a cover letter and a listing of only the most important information. The other will be many pages, up to 10 pages depending on the complexity of the return.

1) Long one

Tax Return Transcript provides most

line items from your original return.

2) Short one

Tax Account Transcript provides

basic info, including marital status,

type of return filed, AGI, taxable income, and later adjustments, if any

The short one works well as it will list the filer's names and filing status and that is all you need. See weblink below.

http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Order-a-Transcript

Good luck.

[HappyKnappy 30]

You can be pretty convincing with half of the stack of statements, just make sure you space them out, give it continuity through out the last few years, if you will. Send the first month, skip two, send the month after that, etc. Or you can be iron-clad and send em all. They wanted evidence, they will get it!

[Emmamama 2]

Fantastic. Thanks for the awesome and detailed answer. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT!

Hi Emma.

There are two types of Tax Transcripts. You can order them online, by telephone or in person. I ordered them on-line and received them in less than a week.

The transcripts can be short (2 pages) a cover letter and a listing of only the most important information. The other will be many pages, up to 10 pages depending on the complexity of the return.

1) Long one

Tax Return Transcript provides most

line items from your original return.

2) Short one

Tax Account Transcript provides

basic info, including marital status,

type of return filed, AGI, taxable income, and later adjustments, if any

The short one works well as it will list the filer's names and filing status and that is all you need. See weblink below.

http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Order-a-Transcript

Good luck.

LET THEM READ ALL OF THE 5,000, 000 PAGES!! haha...

You can be pretty convincing with half of the stack of statements, just make sure you space them out, give it continuity through out the last few years, if you will. Send the first month, skip two, send the month after that, etc. Or you can be iron-clad and send em all. They wanted evidence, they will get it!

[And_Sam 44]

Just a FYI, after the RFE we also had an interview with the IO at the immigration office. Not only did they have all the paperwork from the original ROC we filed in 2/2012, they had all the paperwork we sent in for the RFE in 11/2012. The interview I printed out the continuation of the months from the RFE til interview that they took AND luckily we had done our 2012 taxes that they made copies of along with more photographs.

They are serious about wanting the full thing!

[Maleman 5]

Outside of not having a full set of bank statements, did you have other pertinent documents such as certified home mortgage, newly purchased vehicle information, joint health benefit and beneficiary information, etc?

[otta 7]

For my RFE (also asking about commingling of finances throughout marriage), I sent 1 statement per quarter and it was fine. I don't think it's necessary to send in statements from every single month.

[Navyk 78]

For my RFE (also asking about commingling of finances throughout marriage), I sent 1 statement per quarter and it was fine. I don't think it's necessary to send in statements from every single month.

I agree with this conclusion, as it makes sense to just send a few account statements covering the full period - one per quater is a good strategy.

The strategy needs to cover the full period - according to me, sending one full one in the month the account was made joint and one full latest one is the minimum statement sending strategy, but I like the one per quater/ half-year better.

[And_Sam 44]

Outside of not having a full set of bank statements, did you have other pertinent documents such as certified home mortgage, newly purchased vehicle information, joint health benefit and beneficiary information, etc?

yes, yes, and yes. that was all submitted with the original ROC paperwork. I submitted a car title, registration and proof of insurance on 2 cars, copies of health insurance and beneficiary data too. On the RFE they wanted proof that the insurances were paid up to date and active so we sent in both paycheck stubs showing that life, medical and dental was deducted out of each paychecks, a certified letter from our banks showing all the checking/savings/credit card accounts were active. On the RFE they requested evidence that my husband was connected to my 16 year old son from my previous marriage. They suggested for my husband to apply to adopt my son. I thought are you kidding??? Why pay that money just for 2 years before he is 18? Plus my son doesn't want to be adopted! So we sent in paperwork showing that my husband is on the emergency contact for my son and also listed as an adult who can authorize medical care for my son.

At the meeting I brought in the quit claim deed for the house that was filed for the house because I couldn't get my husband on the mortgage unless it was refinanced and that wasn't happening.

After talking to several people, even one whose family members are from MENA, nobody has had the experience or even HALF the evidence that we have. So who knows what triggered why we were pulled for an interview. Just wish it was quicker hearing a response to the interview.

[Navyk 78]

yes, yes, and yes. that was all submitted with the original ROC paperwork. I submitted a car title, registration and proof of insurance on 2 cars, copies of health insurance and beneficiary data too. On the RFE they wanted proof that the insurances were paid up to date and active so we sent in both paycheck stubs showing that life, medical and dental was deducted out of each paychecks, a certified letter from our banks showing all the checking/savings/credit card accounts were active. On the RFE they requested evidence that my husband was connected to my 16 year old son from my previous marriage. They suggested for my husband to apply to adopt my son. I thought are you kidding??? Why pay that money just for 2 years before he is 18? Plus my son doesn't want to be adopted! So we sent in paperwork showing that my husband is on the emergency contact for my son and also listed as an adult who can authorize medical care for my son.

At the meeting I brought in the quit claim deed for the house that was filed for the house because I couldn't get my husband on the mortgage unless it was refinanced and that wasn't happening.

After talking to several people, even one whose family members are from MENA, nobody has had the experience or even HALF the evidence that we have. So who knows what triggered why we were pulled for an interview. Just wish it was quicker hearing a response to the interview.

Thanks for sharing - I guess a lot depends on the one who is reviewing the application and also on the individual case. But it still beats me why they wanted evidence of your husband connecting with your son from previous marraige.

Lesson to learn - critically review each evidence and try to enclose any supporting details/ evidence that can be thought of - like in your case a Joint Vehicle Insurance coverage that is expected to show the current coverage.