Bank statements as evidence

[technoman 2]

I'm trying to collect evidence to file my I-751 for my wife. From what I read, you can send in copies of joint savings and checking accounts. Also, joint utility bills can be used. How far back do I have to go with the bank statements and utility bills? If I just sent in copies of statements from the past 6 months or so and the last 2 years for the bills, is that considered sufficient? Thanks!

[Pitaya 2,577]

Many people seem to get caught up with this requirement, including ourselves. Here is the information from the form instructions:

Evidence of the Relationship

Submit copies of documents indicating that the marriage upon which you were granted conditional status was entered in “good faith” and was not for the purpose of circumventing immigration laws. Submit copies of as many documents as you can to establish this fact, to demonstrate the circumstances of the relationship from the date of the marriage to the present date, and to demonstrate any circumstances surrounding the end of the relationship, if it has ended.

Ref: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-751instr.pdf (Emphasis added)

Good luck on your immigration journey.

[Sukie 1,461]

I'm trying to collect evidence to file my I-751 for my wife. From what I read, you can send in copies of joint savings and checking accounts. Also, joint utility bills can be used. How far back do I have to go with the bank statements and utility bills? If I just sent in copies of statements from the past 6 months or so and the last 2 years for the bills, is that considered sufficient? Thanks!

Here's what the whole "statement" thing is all about. USCIS wants to have visible evidence that a couple is living together. By looking at the actual spending patterns on credit card statements, and the income and outflow of a bank account, an officer can make assumptions that the couple is bonafide.

It does no "real" good to send 24 monthly bank statements of a joint account with $25 in it where there is no activity. Your statements need to show activity that supports your relationship - deposits of paychecks, payments of rent or mortgage, charges/debits at the grocery store or gasoline pump.

If you consider the REASON you are submitting bank or credit card statements, that might help you choose which ones to include. As the previous poster said - it's from the date of your MARRIAGE to the present day. Some people submit ALL statements. Some submit quarterly statements. You just need those statements to tell your story as a couple.

Best of luck to you!

Sukie in NY

[technoman 2]

That's all helpful. I was also wondering, is it OK if I blocked out the account numbers (or part of them) on the bank statements?

[babsloblaw 6]

That's all helpful. I was also wondering, is it OK if I blocked out the account numbers (or part of them) on the bank statements?

That should be fine. I sent copies of my credit cards along with my husband's, and blocked out all but the last 4 digits of the accounts, and it was accepted. Leave the last 4 digits as well to be on the safe side.

The important thing is that both your names are in that account, and the mailing address is your place. (I brought a bank statement to my AOS interview, and the officer didn't take it as evidence because we used my mother-in-law's home address.) I'd strongly recommend sending in ALL the statements because there's been some RFE from people who only sent a few statements.