The beginning of a long journey - F1 Visa to GC

[Ingrid08 0]

Hello all,

Thank in advace for all your help. Here is my story. I appericate any suggestions.

Phase I of our relationship - I came to US from India in Jan' 2006 for Masters degree at which point I lived at student housing close to the university. In August' 2006 I met the person who became the 'love of my life' at a local bar. He is american. We started dating officially in January' 2007. He lived 20 mits away from my university. I continued to stay at my student housing till August' 2008. Then, I kept my apartment for another six months while I spent more time at his house. In April' 2009, and just before I graduate with masters degree, I moved in with him. He already owned a house. From the period of 2007 to 2009 - I have phone bills, gift recepits, emails, photographs (This is the dating period, we saw each other on the weekends for a year and half, then spent six months living together while I kept my apartment, then moved in).

Phase II - In August 2009, I found a full time job and worked on OPT. We were living together. But I didn't change the address of my drivers license. But all my bills came to the address (his house). In Oct' 2009 I brought myself a car. He cosigned for the loan and added me to his auto insurance (Which continues to date). In 2010, I jointed a PHD program. He is listed as my emergency contact and financial sponsor on all my university documents. In 2010, He jointed a different job and added me as dependent to his life insurance; as a domestic partner to his employment records and along with adding me to his health insurance. We got engaged in Dec' 2010. For this period - I have proof of car insurance, his name on my car (but I make the my own car payments), university documents (I pay my own fees), health insurance cards, photographs, greeting cards, gift recepits,emails, text messages, pictures from vacation, his office documents that show me as domestic partner as proof.

Phase III - We stayed engaged for two and half years and lived together thru this period (lived together for total of four years). I wanted to finish my classes before we had a wedding. In Jan' 2012, I took a small student loan, his name is on it. I have alraedy started paying off this loan. For this period - everybody and anybody that knows us know we lived together or have been living togeather for four years. We share a joint costco membership, gym membership, listed at the Vets office as owners of our dog (He had a dog when we met, she was 10 years old when started dating, I was and have been on the vets list for emergency contact for the dog. The dog passed away at age 16.5, we had to make the decision together, we later adopted another dog together). We are listed as each others emergency contact on all doctors visits. Apart from the student loan, and other documents mentioned during the I and II phase of our relationship, I have letters received from his family to me, photographs with his family. I grew up as an orphan and I do not have a family of my own. I have both my parents death certificates. Both of us have our birth certificates, each of our divorce papers, passports. Neither of us have any kids. We tried to have kids, but were told that it was not possible due to medical reasons. I will be 38 this year and he will turn 50.

My Indian visa expired in August' 2010. But my I-20 is valid till I compete my phd. I plan to graduate in May' 2014 and continue to work within my field (Geratrics/Mental Health).I have been in my field of work for nearly 15 years. He works for a large corporation, in middle management.

Phase IV - We plan to get married in our backyard in May' 2013. I am not a big wedding person but I sure am a sentimentalist. We got engaged at our home and it feels right to get married at home. We never bothered to add my name to the mortage of the house (which he has owned for more than 12 years). We did not add my name to the utilities (gas, phone, electric, his car) and do not have joint bank accounts or joint tax returns. We have been together for a total of 6.5 years, lived together for 4 (engaged for 2.5 years of the 4). We plan to apply for my AOS etc., soon after wedding. I will be taking his last name after marriage. I do have a SSI number and drivers license and will do the rounds to change my name on all my documents after wedding.

My question is: How important are joint tax returns, joint bank account, joint utilities? I have other documents that show the progression of our relationship, but filed for taxes for the last six years as 'single', because we were not married, he pays for the household bills as I am still a grad student, and we never really felt a need for joint bank account. I contribute to the household financially, but we just never bothered to put my name of utilities. We brought a new TV, furniture, washing machine, new heating system, repaired the roof etc., in this period. But the recepits are all in his name as he paid for them. Will this be a major issue? I can sustain myself financially but, I am not at the stage of life where I can make equal financial contribution to the household.

Again, thank you so much for all your help. (PS: I did schedule a meeting with an immigraiton lawyer for next week, but I'd rather gather as much information as possible from various resources). Thank you.