i-751: 1 or 2 Checks? Also, Evidence Questions!

[nyahkon 0]

Hello,

My wife and I are about to send in her i-751 and I have a few questions.

First, should we combine fees into one check or send two checks?

Second, we don't have a lot of photos. We both dislike our photos, so we purposely avoid them. Will this be a problem? We don't have wedding pictures, either, because we wed at a ward office in her country before moving to the States.

Third, bank statements. How much information needs to be on these? I can get them printed from the bank, but do I need all transaction history for the past two years? I also have a separate account I use for bills/etc. that isn't joint. Only one of our accounts is joint, and that account has only been set up for about 18 months.

So far, what we have is a summary of 2012's joint tax return, a bank statement from the last three months (it seems I need to add to this; see my question above), a copy of our apartment's lease with both of our names on it, copies of our joint car insurance, and several other things with our names on them.

We have separate medical insurance. Neither of us has a 401k or life insurance at the moment.

Looking for advice. Thanks!

[2ndMessiah 184]

After just coming through ROC and getting an RFE, here is my take on things.

One check (cheque?) is fine for fees.

Photos are not really considered primary evidence, more supporting. So yes if you have got a few send them but they dont really fly on their own.

As to evidence it appears they require it to span the period of your conditional green card.

So in the case of your joint bank account, get a letter from the bank stating when you opened the account and the names on the account. Get the bank to print of statements from say the month you opened the account, one a year later and your most recent one.

As for tax returns. It is easy to go online and order your tax transcripts for your joint tax returns for at least the last two years.

They wiill come in the mail in about a week.

You could send them copies of your last two or three years personal property tax bills.

The lease is good and so is the car insurance but can you find copies spanning the last few years.

Im sure you have read the info on this site as well.

Good luck and here is hoping you will get approved in about 6 to 7 months,

[lex_k 0]

i filed my application in march and i just got the approval...

i didnt send that many photos. probably around 8-10.

we have no wedding photos so we sent some pics with his fam and some vacation photos.. thats about it

Also, i sent a copy of our joint bank account info. i didnt not send any copies of bank statement.

Here are some other stuff i sent..

lease agreement in both of our names.

utility bill in both of our names

life insurance stating that im the beneficiary

joint tax return

medical insurance card

letters

affidavits

copies of record of pre marriage counseling we took together

thats all.

dont stress it, yall be alright

[nyahkon 0]

I appreciate both of your replies!

For the tax returns, we only have one that is joint, so we can send that. Should it include ALL pages, or just the summary showing our names, income claimed, money we got back, etc.? I filed for us on H&R Block.

Do things such as insurance cards still hold value if we have different insurance providers?

It's nearly two months into the three-month window, so we want to send everything in the next day or two.

Lastly, this may be written in the instructions, but should we send USPS, FedEx?

Thanks!

[2ndMessiah 184]

Tax transcripts from the fed gov is the preferred evidence, as I understand it.

I only sent in my most recent tax return, but I did also send all our personal property tax bills for the previous three years. They want to see you in joint debt withyour spouse .

I'm not exactly sure what two different insurance provider cards will prove. At best if they have your home address on them it may show cohabitation.

If time is running out to get your application in, send in what you have. It is more important to get the ROC process started. Once you have confirmation they have accepted the I751, spend the next few months gathering more evidence, and if you receive a request for evidence you are prepared.

Try not to get an RFE if you can help it. Currently it adds about 6 weeks more stress to your life

Good luck.

[2ndMessiah 184]

Opps just reread your post. If you are referring to car insurance, as long as the policies show both your names, I'm sure it doesn't matter if one year you are with state farm and the next with say Geiko.

Doesn't matter how you send the package, personal choice. Just make sure you can track delivery and keep a copy of that

Edited September 15, 2013 by 2ndMessiah

[lex_k 0]

if it doesnt have both of your names or have the same provider, i don't think they'll take it as a solid proof.

try to send EVERYTHING that is in both of yall names.

even the smallest thing !

Also, I sent a copy of engagement ring certificate is in my husband's name.

On top of that, I sent a copy of an affidavit he had to sign before we got married saying 'i acknowledge that fraud marriage is a crime, and this marriage is not a scam'

hope this helped!

Good luck!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

At minimum you should send in quarterly bank statements spanning the period of your marriage. Your evidence is rather thin, why do you only have one joint tax return? No health insurance, life insurance, 401K or anything? Joint credit cards?

Edited September 15, 2013 by Harpa Timsah

[nyahkon 0]

We moved back late 2011 and my wife had no income, so only I filed for 2011. Then we got established, got jobs, got a place to live, etc., and were ready to file jointly in 2012. Correct or not, that's why we only have one joint return.

Like I said, we have health insurance, but it's provided by our work, so we each have different health insurance.

I work at a small startup, so I don't have a 401k right now. My wife has life insurance with both of our names on it (through her work), so I'll get a copy of that.

Thanks for the replies. Going to gather every last piece of proof I DO have.

[nyahkon 0]

Also, do the bank statements need all transaction history each month, or is just the first 1-2 summary pages enough?

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

We moved back late 2011 and my wife had no income, so only I filed for 2011. Then we got established, got jobs, got a place to live, etc., and were ready to file jointly in 2012. Correct or not, that's why we only have one joint return.

Why would you do that? If you claim your wife as a person in your house you would get like $3K less tax liability. Possibly $3K in tax refund for you.

You claim children on taxes and they don't work.

To your other question, they like to see transactions, just to see that the account is used.

Edited September 15, 2013 by Harpa Timsah

[nyahkon 0]

All of my income that year was earned in another country; I had no fees/etc. Anyway, what's done is done.

Thanks for the reply about the bank statements.