751 Evidence and other questions...

[RecentGuy 0]

Hey All,

My wife and I are preparing to mail off her 751 and I had a few quick questions regarding our evidence and how to present it and what not.

Details About Us:

- I'm a US citizen.

- Married 2 years (since June 2012)

- No kids

- We live together.

- I bought my own place prior to marriage.

- Most of utility bills and mortgage precede marriage, and are in my name.

Planning to send the 751 form, check (from joint account) for fee, color copies of permanent resident card (1 of front, 1 of back) and the following evidence:

- Color copies of driver's licenses (same address and last name)

- Color copy of joint/authorized-user credit cards (same credit card number)

- Marriage Certificate (not sure if needed/necessary.)

- 2013, 2012 IRS Joint Tax Transcripts

- Our W2s (2012 and 2013)

- 2013, 2012 Joint Fed and State Tax Returns

- My 401K form listing her as sole beneficiary

- My life insurance form listing her as sole beneficiary

- Her 401K form listing myself as sole beneficiary

- Her life insurance form listing myself as sole beneficiary

- Joint Checking Statements (2 years worth) - some household bills from here

- Joint Savings Statements (2 years worth)

- Joint Auto Insurance

- Joint Auto Title - We bought a car

- Joint Auto Loan

- Various Auto Dealership Contract Paperwork (both signed)

- Roadside Assistance Claims - Lists both of us

- Joint Medical Insurance (she is on my insurance)

- Various Medical Claims for both of us

- Joint Dental Insurance (she is on my insurance)

- Various Dental Claims

- Travel itenary

- Various pictures from 2012/wedding through today (12 wedding, about 34 scattered through time-vacations, anniversaries, holidays)

1. Does this evidence sound fine? Gaps?

2. Should I go through and highlight our names on statements and what not?

3. How do I send it? I currently have it all in a 3" binder. Is this ok to send with the application? I didnt see any guides on the preferred method of receipt.

Thanks.

Edited July 1, 2014 by RecentGuy

[Cheezees 1,514]

The marriage certificate is not necessary. Do not include it. Everything else looks great. I would also include the credit card statements as opposed to just copies of the cards. DO NOT send a binder or papers with punched holes in them. Paper clips are fine but even staples are frowned upon. If you statements clearly show both names, no need to highlight. (Some of my documents were hard to read and I did some very light highlighting but I would not recommend it.)

In a cover letter, include why you have no direct evidence of living together (no joint lease or joint mortgage). Don't give them any reason to delay the process or send you an RFE. Good luck!

[RecentGuy 0]

Good advice.

I will look into adding my wife to the property deed (I dont think I can add her to the mortgage unless I refinance.) When we initially got married, she had no credit; it didn't make sense financially to do it. It may be different now, assuming the property isnt underwater.

I can add the credit statements. The only reason I didnt include them was that they are only addressed to me, despite her being an authorized user. The statement also doesn't break down purchases by card.

In regards to greeting cards, I may have one or two from family addressed to us both. I wish I would've kept these, and gotten more pictures. We have a lot of family pictures, but few where both of us are contained in the same physical picture. It's always one or the other and family.

Instead of sending a binder, do most people leverage just a binder clip? I thought a binder would keep everything organized, but if it's frowned upon, I will re-print everything (without holes as well.)

[sunshine79 7]

Evidence looks solid. I don't think you will need those greeting cards. I wouldn't worry about that.

[NancyNguyen 1,657]

Ditto to sunshine79, all good primary evidence so why do you bother adding greeting cards and pictures? By the way, I just stacked everything up in same order with my contents on my headletter.

[RecentGuy 0]

Thanks for the advice. I imagine the travel itinerary and pictures aren't worth much, but I figured I would include it. I'll pass on the greeting cards.

I am working on finishing up our package now. I re-printed all of the documents, and Ill probably just use ACCO clips to keep it together (it's about 2-3" thick.)