Worried about RFE

[corvusheart 163]

We filed for ROC back in February and I know it usually takes 9- 12 months for a decision.

 

 The language in the instructions explained the evidence must cover the entire duration of the marriage. We supplied quite a bit, every lease and lease renewal, tax transcripts, six months previous of utilities bills, health insurance, health insurance statements, 5 affidavits, greeting cards, bank stuff etc. Even a statement from our landlord stating we've been living together the entire time.

 

Our marriage is well documented. He came in 2014 on K-1. But paperwork from the year 2015 we didn't do much that year so I don't have much paperwork covering that year except for tax transcript, lease renewel, and a trip together back to England. And we didn't have any doctor appointments. Also I hadn't put him on our utility bills till 2016 because that's when he finally found employment. 2014, and 2016 and the beginning of this year we had well documented though. The lack of documentation in 2015 will that be an issue because it does ask for paperwork covering entire duration of marriage?

[corvusheart 163]

  Here's a list of what we supplied.

 

Scan of front and back of his green card

Scan of front and back of his state id

2014,2015,2016 tax returns filed jointly

2014,2015, 2016 tax transcripts from IRS

Scan of health insurance card showing both our names

Flight tickets showing our two trips to the UK together in the last two years

Scans of both our passport

Explanation of benefits for health insurance showing both our names and medical appointments for the last three years

Explanation of benefits for dental addressed to me because I'm the policy holder and showing him as patient

Dental statements addressed to me showing his name as patient

6 months worth of electric and Comcast bills showing both our names

6 months of bank statements from our individual bank accounts. We have separate accounts but our statements plainly show us transferring money between each other for bills and rent.

Leases from the last three years showing both our names

CRPs from the last three years showing both our names

Statement from landlord affirming we have lived together since he came on K-1.

Four affidavits from friends.

One greeting card from his aunt back in the UK.

Two greetings cards from friends.

Co-Op membership showing both our names.

Invoices from online purchases showing his name and address

Metrotransit confirmation emails showing his name and our address

[Sukie 1,465]

I think you can relax and sit back and wait for another 8 months.  If you get an RFE, it's simple to send back an explanation as to why 2015 is skinny.  But you have the basics - you live together, you bank together, and you file taxes together.

 

You probably should have shown a sample of bank statements throughout your marriage instead of the last six months, but perhaps your leases and your tax returns will overcome that.  And, if your spouse didn't have a job until recently, then the bank statements are a moot point anyway!

 

No one can tell what is "enough".  It depends on the officer who will review your file.

 

Best of luck to you.  The wait is horrible!

 

Sukie in NY (Our ROC approval letter came yesterday - we waited one year!)

Edited April 20, 2017 by Sukie
More info

[corvusheart 163]

He didn't open a bank account till a year ago because that's when he found a job.

[Lemonslice 4,968]

Do you mean personal or joint account?

How did you manage finances until then?  Was he an authorized user on your account? Did you give him a credit card? Did you give him an allowance? Just explain how you were doing it as a couple for the first year or two. 

Edited April 20, 2017 by Lemonslice

[MyHeartWillGoOn93 8]

51 minutes ago, corvusheart said:

  Here's a list of what we supplied.

 

Scan of front and back of his green card

Scan of front and back of his state id

2014,2015,2016 tax returns filed jointly

2014,2015, 2016 tax transcripts from IRS

Scan of health insurance card showing both our names

Flight tickets showing our two trips to the UK together in the last two years

Scans of both our passport

Explanation of benefits for health insurance showing both our names and medical appointments for the last three years

Explanation of benefits for dental addressed to me because I'm the policy holder and showing him as patient

Dental statements addressed to me showing his name as patient

6 months worth of electric and Comcast bills showing both our names

6 months of bank statements from our individual bank accounts. We have separate accounts but our statements plainly show us transferring money between each other for bills and rent.

Leases from the last three years showing both our names

CRPs from the last three years showing both our names

Statement from landlord affirming we have lived together since he came on K-1.

Four affidavits from friends.

One greeting card from his aunt back in the UK.

Two greetings cards from friends.

Co-Op membership showing both our names.

Invoices from online purchases showing his name and address

Metrotransit confirmation emails showing his name and our address

You have way more stuff that I had and I got my approval letter last night without getting an RFE!  so you will be fine, I am sure of it.

[magic123 3]

For what its worth, I think you should be fine. As others have said that's a lot more than I submitted. I didn't include any affidavits, greeting cards, or a statement from the landlord! I didn't even think about trying to span comprehensively the time we were together. I would think that filing jointly for the 3 years would be strong evidence complimenting the other materials you had mentioned. 

 

In this case, I say, no news is good news. For reference, it look over 13 months for me to finally get approval on ROC. Before then, I didn't hear anything from them.

 

 

[corvusheart 163]

1 hour ago, magic123 said:

For what its worth, I think you should be fine. As others have said that's a lot more than I submitted. I didn't include any affidavits, greeting cards, or a statement from the landlord! I didn't even think about trying to span comprehensively the time we were together. I would think that filing jointly for the 3 years would be strong evidence complimenting the other materials you had mentioned. 

 

In this case, I say, no news is good news. For reference, it look over 13 months for me to finally get approval on ROC. Before then, I didn't hear anything from them.

 

 

The temporary extension that comes with NOA 1 only spans for a year, did they send another letter extending it again?

[magic123 3]

38 minutes ago, corvusheart said:

The temporary extension that comes with NOA 1 only spans for a year, did they send another letter extending it again?

No. The NOA extends one year from the expiry date of the green card and not from the date of the NOA letter. So we had a buffer period. That being said, we were getting close to the one year extension of the card expiry date, so I had scheduled an INFOPASS appointment. Soon after, I received the approval letter, so I just cancelled my appointment.

 

In the event that you don't get an approval after the extension period, you can get an i551 stamp on your passport that proves that you are a permanent resident for another year. I don't expect you to have the same issues, as California seems to process things much quicker than Vermont. Good luck!

Edited April 20, 2017 by magic123

[shell20 746]

I would look at this as a positive sign, meaning they are looking at your case. You can only provide what you can provide and it seems you have provided a lot of stuff and what is the worst possible scenario, that you go for interview and get your card sooner rather than later. I know that sounds quite easy and no doubt if I am summoned by the powers that be I will be a nervous wreck, but it's a means to an end. I don't know about you but I am tired of worrying about GC's  as is my husband and my status in and out of the country when I visit my relatives etc. It is very stressful!

 

What really makes me quizzical though, is the fact that they send out RFE's and then it still take months to make a decision. Surely an RFE indicates they have been looking over a file and looked at evidence. So surely they should make a decision sooner, meaning if you don't get an RFE then it means they are satisfied with the evidence and should produce the card.  Sorry I hope you understand what I am trying to say and not very eloquently!.

[shell20 746]

Oh my bad thought you already got an RFE.

[Redheadguy03 505]

Sounds like you should be ok. If you get a RFE just follow the instructions. Good luck!!! 

[Ortolan 381]

Your list looks good! I don't think you need to worry overmuch. If you get one, you get one, but I bet you won't.

[inloveVEN 46]

i dont think you should be worried. When things are true none can deny it. Just if they ask you for more you just need to send more or at least a well documented explanation. 

 

[Ketsuban 1,034]

It's extremely uncommon to have someone be denied ROC unless they did something like file too late or give absolute bare-bones evidence then act like they have no idea who their spouse is at the subsequent interview. Also, your spouse is from the UK, a low fraud country. I think your evidence is pretty good. You can only provide what you have, and if they send an RFE for something they were expecting to see, you can explain why you don't have it in a letter. There are absolutely no requirements to have specific joint accounts/policies, it's the overall picture that counts the most.