I-485 from K-1 RFE asking for evidence of valid marriage and marriage certificate (that we already sent)

[TheirLax 0]

Hi,

I've received an RFE for my I-485 application asking for evidence that my husband and I have a valid marriage and a shared life together. It suggests things like joint leases, bank account statements, utility bills, photos, and affidavits from people who know us.

It also says to submit our marriage certificate. Well, we already sent them a certified copy of it with the original application. I'm not sure why that wasn't good enough.

One thing I'm concerned about is that the raised seals on the certified copies we have are colorless imprints, i.e. on a photocopy they wouldn't show up at all - is that normal?

We don't have a lot of photos together (not really our thing), and we only recently started really using our joint bank account and adding me to the utility bills. Would older bills and statements that don't have both our names on them, but show us living at the same address, help?

We also didn't do a traditional wedding in terms of the outfits we wore, and the photos didn't come out great, and I'm worried that will count against us because we won't be able to give them any of the usual wedding pics.

[p-ana 933]

You probably received this rfe because they want you not to have an interview.

So send in a copy of your marriage certificate again, and every piece of paper that has both of your names or shows that you share finances and an address

[MariaR323 199]

I would probably send an actual certified copy - the original certified copy and not a copy of it. You can always get more and it looks more official.

[yuna628 9,747]

Don't send a photocopy of the certified copy. When we went to the clerk, we got several copies (one for us to keep, one for AOS, and extras). The actual copy delivered from the clerk's hands to yours is what they want. Barring that, if you did send them the actual copy, then it's most likely they've lost it. Do you have your name on any shared bills currently? How about health insurance or a simple will? If you have your name on the joint bank account now, there should be something you can print out. Any trips or receipts? Any honeymoon stuff with your names on it? If you lack photos, spend some time together and get snapping.

This sounds like it's a blanket RFE because they need actual proof of the marriage in the form of the certificate. Of course sending the additional evidence will help too.

[TheirLax 0]

You probably received this rfe because they want you not to have an interview.

So send in a copy of your marriage certificate again, and every piece of paper that has both of your names or shows that you share finances and an address

Hi p-ana,

Not having an interview would be very convenient! Fortunately the RFE deadline isn't until February so we have some time to gather evidence.

I would probably send an actual certified copy - the original certified copy and not a copy of it. You can always get more and it looks more official.

Hi MariaR323,

I'm a little confused - I thought what I sent was an actual certified copy, it was the physical document we got from the county vital statistics office. (The photocopy I mentioned was only hypothetical. Sorry if I was unclear about that!)

Don't send a photocopy of the certified copy. When we went to the clerk, we got several copies (one for us to keep, one for AOS, and extras). The actual copy delivered from the clerk's hands to yours is what they want. Barring that, if you did send them the actual copy, then it's most likely they've lost it. Do you have your name on any shared bills currently? How about health insurance or a simple will? If you have your name on the joint bank account now, there should be something you can print out. Any trips or receipts? Any honeymoon stuff with your names on it? If you lack photos, spend some time together and get snapping.

This sounds like it's a blanket RFE because they need actual proof of the marriage in the form of the certificate. Of course sending the additional evidence will help too.

Hi yuna628,

That's what I sent them - the photocopy was only hypothetical. I suppose at least another certified copy of our marriage certificate won't be difficult to obtain if they've lost the one we sent them. I was just surprised at how almost-invisible the seal is on them and wondered if that was why they asked for it again.

We're both on the electricity bill, we should both be on the rental agreement, and we have a few months of statements for the joint bank account (although we've only just started making transactions on it regularly). Health insurance maybe, I need to pry the details out of my employer.

With regards to photos, it sounds like we will have to go somewhere and do something fun together, what a pity!

Edited December 5, 2016 by unboxed

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

I agree with Yuna that it sounds like a blanket RFE due to the marriage certificate which they may have lost.
Send another certified certificate and what you listed, it should be enough.
Doing something fun together and taking pics isn't all that bad is it ?
Wish we would have more time to do that and we have over 10,000 photos together from our 7 year relationship....no joke.

If you still feel uneasy and want more things look in the ROC guide and read the evidence list, you may have several items already that

you aren't thinking of right now.

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from Fam.-based AOS to Fam.-based AOS Progress Forum~

[Claire and Troy 2]

My wife received the same RFE. We submitted a copy of marriage cert, joint banking statement, life insurance beneficiary info, co-ownership on home title, photos, utility bills showing both names, signed letters from neighbors and family, copies of Facebook posts, and scans of snail mail received for birthdays, holidays, etc.

Approved without interview.