AOS interview

[E and R 8]

I put my spouse on my bank accounts the day after he arrived. If for nothing else so that he could feel a sense of financial independence and also so that if something were to happen to me he would have access to funds to cover for anything. I use Bank of America. Changing to a joint account takes ID and around 5 or 10 minutes. It is not a hassle and has a lot of other benefits other than just showing immigration. With that said you don't seem uncomfortable to not have direct access to the accounts jointly and every is different I think. I am putting my spouse on everything for HIS protection. Done since arrival since 03/02/16, 401K, Life insurance, car insurance, Medical and Dental, insurance, car insurance, Checking and Savings accounts, Electric and water bill accounts, Cable accounts, apartment lease and he is an authorized user on a credit card.

He has given up his life in his home to be here to leave with me. I feel it my obligation (that I do without hesitation) to do everything I can to ensure that he will be protected and well cared for if anything were to happen to me. Oh... and this also helps out with USCIS but to me it is an afterthought.

[toxicatta 10]

It is what it is and we all have to jump through burning hoops to get to the end goal.

You can certainly not do it and deal with the consequences later or fall in line like the rest of us and do what you have to do.

Take a look around all the RFE's that have been issued lately, subscribe to the ROC forum to read the threads for yourself.

People have submitted everything but the kitchen sink for ROC and they still want more, mainly what has been stated over and over again

the RFE's are for joint bank accounts from the beginning of marriage and bank statements showing that co financing activity.

By all means research it yourself and don't take my word for it. I am only trying to help you.

You can gamble with AOS if you want to but you should get ready for ROC now not one months before filing.

USCIS doesn't care what your husband thinks.

No, I totally understand all that. And again, I truly appreciate your advice and I am going to take it, even though I find these rules ridiculous. Like you said, it is what it is. They have a standard of a bona fide marriage and we will have to match it. Got it.

Thank you very much for your help!

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

They understand you do not have a lot of evidence for AOS. Provide what you have.

As for ROC later, other than filing taxes jointly, there is not really one type of evidence that you must provide. Other couples have chosen not to have joint bank accounts and still been approved for ROC. You just need to make sure to have, and provide plenty of other types of evidence that shows your co-mingling of finances and co-habitation. And showing that he puts part of his income in your account each month, will also work as evidence. Even better if you can show that you both help the bills out of each of your accounts.

[toxicatta 10]

They understand you do not have a lot of evidence for AOS. Provide what you have.

As for ROC later, other than filing taxes jointly, there is not really one type of evidence that you must provide. Other couples have chosen not to have joint bank accounts and still been approved for ROC. You just need to make sure to have, and provide plenty of other types of evidence that shows your co-mingling of finances and co-habitation. And showing that he puts part of his income in your account each month, will also work as evidence. Even better if you can show that you both help the bills out of each of your accounts.

That's what I thought. If they needed one specific type of evidence they would mention it in some instruction, right?

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

RFE's seem to always come back to joint bank statements from inception of marriage to show financial co mingling as an important part of evidence.

Though some couples have other overwhelming evidence of financial co mingling, some did show just as much and were still asked for the dang bank

statements, the gamble is up to you.

Here are some threads with RFE's but there are many, some AOS, most ROC.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/566794-rfe-on-i-751/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/572987-rfe-after-marriage-interview/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/440716-rfe-re-good-faith-marriage-what-to-do-if-limited-evidence-of-financial-co-mingling/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/416328-rfe-bank-statements/

[toxicatta 10]

RFE's seem to always come back to joint bank statements from inception of marriage to show financial co mingling as an important part of evidence.

Though some couples have other overwhelming evidence of financial co mingling, some did show just as much and were still asked for the dang bank

statements, the gamble is up to you.

Here are some threads with RFE's but there are many, some AOS, most ROC.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/566794-rfe-on-i-751/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/572987-rfe-after-marriage-interview/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/440716-rfe-re-good-faith-marriage-what-to-do-if-limited-evidence-of-financial-co-mingling/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/416328-rfe-bank-statements/

Thank you for the links! I've researched this a fair bit myself, too... It seems you are right about ROC, but it should be easier with AOS. Still, I guess, better safe than sorry.

[francais_usa 74]

OP is adjusting status, not applying for ROC. I agree that a joint account will be important in the future, but toxicatta, I wouldn't worry about it for now. Our interview is coming up in a few weeks and we are choosing not to have a joint account before the interview? Why?--because my parents are on my checking account at BofA now, and in order for me to add my husband onto the account, everyone has to be present. My parents live in a completely different state and we won't be able to see them before the interview. I don't want to open up a new account with BofA because I would lose the long relationship I have with the bank by starting fresh. The adjudicator should understand our reasoning, as they should understand why you don't need a joint account now. Don't worry--take as much evidence as you can and you'll be fine. The difference here is that both you and your husband will be present at the interview in front of the adjudicator, so it won't be some anonymous person analyzing evidence behind a desk.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

OP is adjusting status, not applying for ROC. I agree that a joint account will be important in the future, but toxicatta, I wouldn't worry about it for now. Our interview is coming up in a few weeks and we are choosing not to have a joint account before the interview? Why?--because my parents are on my checking account at BofA now, and in order for me to add my husband onto the account, everyone has to be present. My parents live in a completely different state and we won't be able to see them before the interview. I don't want to open up a new account with BofA because I would lose the long relationship I have with the bank by starting fresh. The adjudicator should understand our reasoning, as they should understand why you don't need a joint account now. Don't worry--take as much evidence as you can and you'll be fine. The difference here is that both you and your husband will be present at the interview in front of the adjudicator, so it won't be some anonymous person analyzing evidence behind a desk.

Everyone understands that OP is adjusting status, perhaps you are missing the point about ROC.

If I had a penny for every time someone says don't worry you will be fine ... and then they weren't !

Your case is different. Having said that, a good explanation to the IO of why you conduct your financial transactions the way

you do can be helpful when not having a joint account. Sometimes it is accepted and sometimes it's not. Since we don't

have a crystal ball to see the future it's best to submit it and not be lackadaisical about it.

[francais_usa 74]

Everyone understands that OP is adjusting status, perhaps you are missing the point about ROC.

If I had a penny for every time someone says don't worry you will be fine ... and then they weren't !

Your case is different. Having said that, a good explanation to the IO of why you conduct your financial transactions the way

you do can be helpful when not having a joint account. Sometimes it is accepted and sometimes it's not. Since we don't

have a crystal ball to see the future it's best to submit it and not be lackadaisical about it.

Eh, there's no need to be snarky...anyway, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and that was mine. OP, good luck on your journey!

[toxicatta 10]

OP is adjusting status, not applying for ROC. I agree that a joint account will be important in the future, but toxicatta, I wouldn't worry about it for now. Our interview is coming up in a few weeks and we are choosing not to have a joint account before the interview? Why?--because my parents are on my checking account at BofA now, and in order for me to add my husband onto the account, everyone has to be present. My parents live in a completely different state and we won't be able to see them before the interview. I don't want to open up a new account with BofA because I would lose the long relationship I have with the bank by starting fresh. The adjudicator should understand our reasoning, as they should understand why you don't need a joint account now. Don't worry--take as much evidence as you can and you'll be fine. The difference here is that both you and your husband will be present at the interview in front of the adjudicator, so it won't be some anonymous person analyzing evidence behind a desk.

OP, good luck on your journey!

Thank you! Yes, of course, at the actual interview the person will see both of us and we'll be able to answer any questions. And that's why my husband is so relaxed about this - his communication skills are great. But apparently a few people did have bad experiences with AOS because of some inconsequential little details.Which is a shame...

Thanks again, and the best of luck to you too!

[toxicatta 10]

Everyone understands that OP is adjusting status, perhaps you are missing the point about ROC.

If I had a penny for every time someone says don't worry you will be fine ... and then they weren't !

Your case is different. Having said that, a good explanation to the IO of why you conduct your financial transactions the way

you do can be helpful when not having a joint account. Sometimes it is accepted and sometimes it's not. Since we don't

have a crystal ball to see the future it's best to submit it and not be lackadaisical about it.

Well, personally I would try to avoid even the smallest chance of getting an RFE. I have read the interview reports from people who got RFEs because they had one tiny piece of paper missing or because USCIS wanted one other piece of evidence of bona fide relationship. But I have read many, many more reports from people who brought an effing TON of papers to the interview, and the USCIS person didn't even look at them and just asked a few standard questions and approved the GC. So you are right, we don't have a crystal ball and can't see the future. We can only rely on official instructions and other people's experiences. ALL experiences, not just the bad ones.

[GerryC327 29]

My wife & I had our USCIS interview on Feb. 29,2016 in Chicago. The interview went well, but we were told that the State Dept. failed to forward much of the information needed to make a decision for AOS. Fortunately we had copies of most everything except a local police report, two passport photos of myself (U.S. citizen sponsor/husband), and a new physical. We were given an RFE for those items and provided them to USCIS within two weeks. We have a copy of everything along with a receipt from the post office showing that the package was received. When we check our case status it still is showing that the RFE was sent on the interview date. Has anyone else had this experience? I thought they'd at least show that they'd received the package from us. We called the helpline once and were told we need to wait 60 days from the date USCIS received our evidence to get anymore information. It's very frustrating when we've done everything we've been asked to do with so little feedback. Thanks everyone for putting up with my rant.

[toxicatta 10]

My wife & I had our USCIS interview on Feb. 29,2016 in Chicago. The interview went well, but we were told that the State Dept. failed to forward much of the information needed to make a decision for AOS. Fortunately we had copies of most everything except a local police report, two passport photos of myself (U.S. citizen sponsor/husband), and a new physical. We were given an RFE for those items and provided them to USCIS within two weeks. We have a copy of everything along with a receipt from the post office showing that the package was received. When we check our case status it still is showing that the RFE was sent on the interview date. Has anyone else had this experience? I thought they'd at least show that they'd received the package from us. We called the helpline once and were told we need to wait 60 days from the date USCIS received our evidence to get anymore information. It's very frustrating when we've done everything we've been asked to do with so little feedback. Thanks everyone for putting up with my rant.

I've actually read quite a few stories like that, where online status doesn't change and the petitioner has no way of knowing whether USCIS received their package or not. Usually people are advised to wait a little longer and then call again.