How much ROC evidence is too much?

[Derwood 203]

My ROC window opens in February 2017. I have been studiously collecting evidence and organising it in a binder. I believe I have a good variety of evidence but I also have a lot of it. The general advice on this I-751 forum seems to lean towards sending 'everything except the kitchen sink'.

I busted out of a 1" ring binder about a year ago. My 3" binder is now full and I have three months evidence still to go in it and four more months ahead of me before filing. I don't know how much the folder weighs as my kitchen scales error over 7lbs.

How much evidence is too much?

Does anyone know if ROC files are pulled apart and re-organised by the service centres? They're going to hate me if they are.

Edited October 25, 2016 by Derwood

[lucybelle 453]

My ROC packet was around 300 pages (I know because I scanned everything before I sent it in so I would have a complete electronic file). Some people believe that if you have a few excellent pieces of evidence you don't need to put in everything else. But I'd rather put in too much and not get an RFE for more evidence, then the reverse. Especially since I had to file with Vermont which takes double the amount of time to approve as California does.

There might be some things you could get rid of if you have other excellent evidence. For example affidavits and pictures are secondary, you'll want to throw in a few pictures but you certainly don't need more than 10.

[bkghosh 121]

My ROC window opens in February 2017. I have been studiously collecting evidence and organising it in a binder. I believe I have a good variety of evidence but I also have a lot of it. The general advice on this I-751 forum seems to lean towards sending 'everything except the kitchen sink'.

I busted out of a 1" ring binder about a year ago. My 3" binder is now full and I have three months evidence still to go in it and four more months ahead of me before filing. I don't know how much the folder weighs as my kitchen scales error over 7lbs.

How much evidence is too much?

Does anyone know if ROC files are pulled apart and re-organised by the service centres? They're going to hate me if they are.

To save on pages, we printed everything double sided. Stapled each month's statements and then used binder clips to for each type of evidence (bank statements, CC statements, etc.). Then made a list of evidence which was at the top of this evidence package. The USCIS service center will pull this package apart and put it in their folders in there own way. Our whole package fit in a very large envelop. But looks like you will need a box...

If you have an abundance of primary financial evidence, you can thin out on the 'secondary' evidence (pictures, plane tickets, etc.).

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Ours was maybe 20 pages, no RFE. There is no blanket answer to your question, because each case is different. Are you from a low fraud country? yes. If your marriage is not unusual in any way, you might take some of that evidence away. If I were you, I might ask myself what exactly takes up so much room and then scrap duplicates. Like bank statements? You could show quarterly statements instead of monthly.

[Teddy B 17,252]

I agree with Harpa, 20-25 pages of good solid evidence ie; joint taxes, joint bank account, joint credit card, joint lease or mortgage, joint health & auto insurance is all that's really needed and quarterly statements from bank accounts & credit cards are all that's required.

Good Luck!

Edited October 25, 2016 by Teddy B

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

Ours was about 100 pages give or take and that was only including 5 bank statements from our 4 joint accounts, and 4 credit card statements from our two accounts that had both names. I think that and selected pages from the life insurance was most of the bulk.

I think you've got to go for a selection approach, like send a few statements and little of this and little of that.

[jjbandero 39]

My finished file was about a stack of papers 2" thick, given that everyone's situation is different, here's ours for reference:

• We had no major red flags - my wife was in the US on valid work visas prior to us getting married, no significant differences in age, socio-economic background, religion, education etc.
• We co-mingled finances even before we got married
• We had a variety of evidence both financial and personal

During AOS, the interviewer was particularly interested in our financial evidence, for ROC we continued to collect paperwork in this vein:

• Mortgage
• Joint tax return
• Car insurance
• 401K
• Other insurance
• Credit cards
• Savings account

We did not submit every statement received, just every 3-4 months or so to show there was continued co-mingling and activity.

Best regards

Edited October 25, 2016 by jjbandero

[Pitaya 2,577]

The total weight of our initial ROC submission was around six pounds. The total weight of our subsequent ROC-related RFE submission was around four pounds. Initially we sent in financial statements for each quarter, with the RFE we sent in every financial statement since the inception of our marriage.

YMMV.

[Shauneg 762]

One I just dealt with was about 15....no RFE....approved.

[SherryandDaniel 4]

I did the kitchen sink approach, partially because I had to file at VSC and would probably scream if I got a RFE. I'm also a type A personality, so not sending a ton of evidence would drive me bonkers. Otherwise there was nothing unusual about our case and Australia is a low marriage fraud country.

[dmck 80]

Quality not quantity...the more you provide, the more they have to read, and the more they have to interpret and decide if it supports or refutes your request. We sent in about 15 pages.

[Pitaya 2,577]

Quality not quantity...the more you provide, the more they have to read, and the more they have to interpret and decide if it supports or refutes your request. We sent in about 15 pages.

I am not certain it matters. I suspect that it depends on the prevailing whim of the individual adjudicator.

YMMV.

[charmander 692]

I am not certain it matters. I suspect that it depends on the prevailing whim of the individual adjudicator.

+1 . Over and over we've seen stories from both sides-- hey look we've been approved with barely minimum evidence vs oh no we've been RFE'd/interviewed with 300 pages of evidence. There is no magic recipe. If the adjudicator is in a good mood 10 pages of evidence could suffice, if he/she is having a bad day, you could win the RFE lottery even if you submitted lifetime worth of evidence.

Just check what others sent in their package (check user timelines), read the FAQs/pinned threads for advice, you'll be good to go.

[Shauneg 762]

+1 . Over and over we've seen stories from both sides-- hey look we've been approved with barely minimum evidence vs oh no we've been RFE'd/interviewed with 300 pages of evidence. There is no magic recipe. If the adjudicator is in a good mood 10 pages of evidence could suffice, if he/she is having a bad day, you could win the RFE lottery even if you submitted lifetime worth of evidence.

Just check what others sent in their package (check user timelines), read the FAQs/pinned threads for advice, you'll be good to go.

Couldn't more with everything you both said.

[Ketsuban 1,034]

I don't even want to know how many pages were in mine. I went through 2 ink cartridges and about half a pack of A4 paper. I like to think I put so much in they won't bother looking through and just approve it, but that probably won't happen