What sort of evidence of marriage should we or do we need to bring to a naturalization interview?

[worrywart2013 2]

Married 11 years, Wife is GC was issued in 2004. N-400 filed on the basis of marriage to a USC for at least 3 years, mailed August, biometric next week.

When she/we are called in for her naturalization interview what should we bring?

- No rent/mortgage; live with my parents. More my mother as my father is a long haul drive and gone 3 to 4 weeks at a time. We stay with her for safety and health (her) reasons. We use her cars, since it's just cheaper that way. Mom's going to write out a statement to that effect for us to take with us.

- See above, no utility bills in our names.

We do have: Joint checking, joint taxes (event though she's the only working at the moment, we always filed joint), I'm on her insurance, I'm on her retirement as the main beneficiary, medical releases giving me access to all her medical records, joint credit cards, joint bankruptcy discharged (which I don't want to get into if we don't need to), two kids (10 & 3), school registrations for the oldest, call logs of texting back and forth in the day, photos, .

I'm thinking just about any of that should be enough to prove a valid marriage. Hell, I'd think the 11 years of marriage and 2 kids would be enough

[Charro 17]

Hi i am no expert but If she has been a GC holder since 2004 wouldn't it be less involved / less paper work etc if she filed based on the 5 yr residency category ? She doesn't have to file under the "married to a US citizen " category .

[worrywart2013 2]

We thought she had to, so we filed under the marriage to USC. We basically ticked the box that seemed the most specific to us. If we get denied or have to refile, now we know. But the best outcome is to get through our original filing.

[Jamericanlove 31]

  On 9/8/2013 at 12:10 PM, AmerCan said:

We thought she had to, so we filed under the marriage to USC. We basically ticked the box that seemed the most specific to us. If we get denied or have to refile, now we know. But the best outcome is to get through our original filing.

What you have sounds like enough...especially after 11 years of marriage. I've seen on here that sometimes the IO will cross out the 3 years and do the application based on 5 years at the interview if eligable to make everything easier. I wouldn't be surprised if that happens in your wife's case as well. Either way I'm pretty sure you're ok.

[worrywart2013 2]

  On 9/8/2013 at 12:21 PM, Jamericanlove said:

What you have sounds like enough...especially after 11 years of marriage. I've seen on here that sometimes the IO will cross out the 3 years and do the application based on 5 years at the interview if eligable to make everything easier. I wouldn't be surprised if that happens in your wife's case as well. Either way I'm pretty sure you're ok.

Problem with that is we only sent in three year of tax transcripts only only have 4 total, or would she not need 5 years worth of returns? We lost a bunch of paperwork when our storage unit got wet.

[Jamericanlove 31]

  On 9/8/2013 at 5:49 PM, AmerCan said:

Problem with that is we only sent in three year of tax transcripts only only have 4 total, or would she not need 5 years worth of returns? We lost a bunch of paperwork when our storage unit got wet.

Go to your local IRS office and request the ones you're missing. Will take 10-15 minutes tops. Bring them along with you to the interview.

[worrywart2013 2]

  On 9/8/2013 at 6:07 PM, Jamericanlove said:

Go to your local IRS office and request the ones you're missing. Will take 10-15 minutes tops. Bring them along with you to the interview.

They can only go back 4 years on transcripts, is what I was told.

Edit: Looks I might be able to us form 4506-T to get the transcripts.

Edited September 8, 2013 by AmerCan

[Jamericanlove 31]

  On 9/8/2013 at 6:16 PM, AmerCan said:

They can only go back 4 years on transcripts, is what I was told.

Edit: Looks I might be able to us form 4506-T to get the transcripts.

I was about to suggest that. You can also request your account transcripts which I understand are available for the previous 10 years. Otherwise just stick with the 3 year option and stand behind your evidence......or, go with the 5 year option, bring the extra transcript you have with you to the interview and explain why the 5th one is missing. I think the USCIS is more understanding than most give them credit for, as long as you explain you situation concisely and clearly.

Either way it will all work out.

[worrywart2013 2]

I'm going to go ahead and send in the 4506-Ts in for 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 (the missing years since she got her GC).

How detail does USCIS go over the transcripts? Is it a line item review--question each and every deduction and schedule, that sort-- or simply a quick once over to verify residency, joint filing, and that you've been filing?

Edited September 8, 2013 by AmerCan

[Jamericanlove 31]

  On 9/8/2013 at 6:37 PM, AmerCan said:

I'm going to go ahead and send in the 4506-Ts in for 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 (the missing years since she got her GC).

How detail does USCIS go over the transcripts? Is it a line item review--question each and every deduction and schedule, that sort-- or simply a quick once over to verify residency, joint filing, and that you've been filing?

It's hard to say and mostly depends on the IO you get. Bring what you can get your hands on and be prepared for anything.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

My interview they didn't look through anything about our relationship. She checked my passports for travel, verified my name, asked me the questions off the form, the ones for the english stuff, the civil stuff, and that was it.

It was not about our relationship at all. I do know of some people asked for bank statements etc but that hasn't been the majority experience. I took everything we had ever sent/received and she didn't want to see anything.

My husband waited outside (he isn't included in the process) and I was done in 20 mins or less.

[Hedi 24]

My husband's experience was very similar to Vanessa's. He was only asked to show his green card, his passport and driver's license at his interview. He took a binder of documentation to the interview, but he was not asked for anything, except what I just mentioned. I wasn't even able to go with him that day, due to my work. My husband said the interview took all of 15 minutes, from start to finish. He waited longer for his turn and for getting his oath letter.

[BigDaddy28 228]

  On 9/8/2013 at 11:48 AM, AmerCan said:

Married 11 years, Wife is GC was issued in 2004. N-400 filed on the basis of marriage to a USC for at least 3 years, mailed August, biometric next week.

When she/we are called in for her naturalization interview what should we bring?

- No rent/mortgage; live with my parents. More my mother as my father is a long haul drive and gone 3 to 4 weeks at a time. We stay with her for safety and health (her) reasons. We use her cars, since it's just cheaper that way. Mom's going to write out a statement to that effect for us to take with us.

- See above, no utility bills in our names.

We do have: Joint checking, joint taxes (event though she's the only working at the moment, we always filed joint), I'm on her insurance, I'm on her retirement as the main beneficiary, medical releases giving me access to all her medical records, joint credit cards, joint bankruptcy discharged (which I don't want to get into if we don't need to), two kids (10 & 3), school registrations for the oldest, call logs of texting back and forth in the day, photos, .

I'm thinking just about any of that should be enough to prove a valid marriage. Hell, I'd think the 11 years of marriage and 2 kids would be enough

To be honest I think going through the 3 years route is unnecessary in your route lol, 5 years rule is a lot better in your case. File based on that (5 years) and for your interview take a little proof such as: kids birth certificate, uitlity bills, bank statements... I mean I don't see how could the officer question an 11 year marriage. If it was 1 year or something yes but you got a good backup there.

[worrywart2013 2]

Faxed up the forms to get the extra 5 years of returns; so that'll cover the taxes from the year my wife got her GC up to what we already have.

Called our old bank and were able to get the statements from our old account from 2010 till when we closed it. So the only "gap" is when we switched banks and we didn't immediately add my wife to the new account but her paycheck was still going into it--not to worried on that one, push comes to shove we can use our Chapt. 7 paperwork.