I-751 RFE ... sigh

[Pmenon 1]

Hi everyone,t

 

Just got my letter in the mail from USCIS indicating that they needed more evidence of our marriage. I thought all the diligence I put in while preparing the initial packet would have paid off, but alas it didn't. Here's what we submitted, in USCIS's words:

 

1) two affidavits that don't provide original, detailed, specific documentation about the marital relationship (my sister in-law and her husband submitted two identical affidavits on our behalf using a template I found on here - can they resubmit or should we seek out new people?)

2) Chase bank deposit account balance summary that does not indicate joint transaction activity nor the combination of financial resources (we set up a joint account but do not use it frequently as we manage our own finances, even after marriage - same thing goes for credit cards, etc.)

3) 2014 and 2015 tax documents (we have filed married jointly every year since getting married)

4) redacted documents that appear to be an online account printout of benefit elections (I had provided copies of my insurance benefits where I had listed my wife as the beneficiary)

5) copy of emailed travel itineraries

6) partial copy of lease agreement (for a short period of time, we lived together in a different city and therefore had this lease in our names. we currently live with family, so we don't have a lease with our names)

7) photos

 

So my question is ... what now? What else can I provide? I looked at the list of suggested documents that USCIS asks for, and we don't have many of those. The biggest thing we have going, I believe, is that we are expecting our first child together in September. What else can we really provide?

 

Thanks!

[Diamond507 10]

4 minutes ago, Pmenon said:

Hi everyone,t

 

Just got my letter in the mail from USCIS indicating that they needed more evidence of our marriage. I thought all the diligence I put in while preparing the initial packet would have paid off, but alas it didn't. Here's what we submitted, in USCIS's words:

 

1) two affidavits that don't provide original, detailed, specific documentation about the marital relationship (my sister in-law and her husband submitted two identical affidavits on our behalf using a template I found on here - can they resubmit or should we seek out new people?)

2) Chase bank deposit account balance summary that does not indicate joint transaction activity nor the combination of financial resources (we set up a joint account but do not use it frequently as we manage our own finances, even after marriage - same thing goes for credit cards, etc.)

3) 2014 and 2015 tax documents (we have filed married jointly every year since getting married)

4) redacted documents that appear to be an online account printout of benefit elections (I had provided copies of my insurance benefits where I had listed my wife as the beneficiary)

5) copy of emailed travel itineraries

6) partial copy of lease agreement (for a short period of time, we lived together in a different city and therefore had this lease in our names. we currently live with family, so we don't have a lease with our names)

7) photos

 

So my question is ... what now? What else can I provide? I looked at the list of suggested documents that USCIS asks for, and we don't have many of those. The biggest thing we have going, I believe, is that we are expecting our first child together in September. What else can we really provide?

 

Thanks!

 

Your and your spouse's State ID or Drivers License showing the same address?

Health, dental, vision insurance?

Life insurance?

Power of attorney or will?

[Crazy Cat 41,323]

Disregard-  I misread the question.....sorry

Edited June 11, 2017 by missileman

[Pmenon 1]

3 minutes ago, Diamond507 said:

 

Your and your spouse's State ID or Drivers License showing the same address?

Health, dental, vision insurance?

Life insurance?

Power of attorney or will?

Thanks for the reply!

 

1) We do have State ID showing the same address

2) I'm currently on my wife's insurance and she has me listed as being on the policy. Does this need to go back to the start of our marriage? It has changed a few times with employers over the last 3 years

3) No power of attorney or will - we can set one up, but I think it will come off as too suspicious to USCIS if we do it now, correct?

3 minutes ago, missileman said:

In place of #5- Do you have actual boarding passes, receipts showing dates of actual time together?  Itineraries can change, actual receipts are more reliable.

Hi there! Yes, for some of the trips we definitely do have boarding passes. I could also potentially go back and see old boarding passes on my airline apps if that helps...

[JFH 12,189]

Are you insured to drive the save vehicle? Are you both on the finance agreement for a car or any other large purchase? A store credit card? 

[Pmenon 1]

1 minute ago, JFH said:

Are you insured to drive the save vehicle? Are you both on the finance agreement for a car or any other large purchase? A store credit card? 

Unfortunately we don't have a vehicle, and even if we did she doesn't drive. Outside of that, we aren't currently financing any large purchases ...

[JFH 12,189]

It is probably too late now but for the benefit of readers who are yet to file I-751, many people take out a low limit store credit card from somewhere such as Target together and have it in both names. Or a low limit credit card together and use it just for gas just so that you can show some bills in both names. 

 

Do you have a lease agreement with the family member that you live with? 

[Pmenon 1]

1 minute ago, JFH said:

It is probably too late now but for the benefit of readers who are yet to file I-751, many people take out a low limit store credit card from somewhere such as Target together and have it in both names. Or a low limit credit card together and use it just for gas just so that you can show some bills in both names. 

 

Do you have a lease agreement with the family member that you live with? 

We don't have a lease agreement unfortunately - we never thought of doing that as we thought it would be a short-term setup.

[Coco8 1,042]

I'm confused. Are you AOS while she is in the US? Or is she in Canada and are you doing an IR-1/CR-1 visa?

 

Some of the information you gave them seems sound. Maybe you have to make sure it looks official or stronger. For instance, the travel, it seems as if you sent a travel itinerary. Reinforce this with boarding passes, hotel bills, or credit card bills showing you purchase stuff together, or pictures. 

 

#4 maybe if this is an online printout that doesn't seem too official, try to get something more official. And if you changed jobs, try getting an older one, from around the time you got married and you first put her as beneficiary (if that makes sense). 

 

If you don't have a lease you can have the family write you a letter and saying you are staying with them (maybe you are saving money for a downpayment or something?). But if you have other bills sent to that address, like the joint account, or you insurance, you could add that to reinforce the fact that you are living there.

 

 

[Pmenon 1]

Just now, Coco8 said:

I'm confused. Are you AOS while she is in the US? Or is she in Canada and are you doing an IR-1/CR-1 visa?

 

Some of the information you gave them seems sound. Maybe you have to make sure it looks official or stronger. For instance, the travel, it seems as if you sent a travel itinerary. Reinforce this with boarding passes, hotel bills, or credit card bills showing you purchase stuff together, or pictures. 

 

#4 maybe if this is an online printout that doesn't seem too official, try to get something more official. And if you changed jobs, try getting an older one, from around the time you got married and you first put her as beneficiary (if that makes sense). 

 

If you don't have a lease you can have the family write you a letter and saying you are staying with them (maybe you are saving money for a downpayment or something?). But if you have other bills sent to that address, like the joint account, or you insurance, you could add that to reinforce the fact that you are living there.

 

 

AOS in the US currently living with my wife, the USC, with her family in NYC. Sorry about that.

 

Re: #4, I will take a look. And yes, we were thinking of getting the family to supply a letter indicating the same. Gosh, this is frustrating.

[Diamond507 10]

18 minutes ago, Pmenon said:

Thanks for the reply!

 

1) We do have State ID showing the same address

2) I'm currently on my wife's insurance and she has me listed as being on the policy. Does this need to go back to the start of our marriage? It has changed a few times with employers over the last 3 years

3) No power of attorney or will - we can set one up, but I think it will come off as too suspicious to USCIS if we do it now, correct?

That's great that you have the State IDs showing the same address. As for the health insurance, send what you have. Many couples don't have health insurance continously throughout the years. I would definitely send a POA or a will. It is great evidence regardless of when it was made.

 

How about a joint cell phone plan? That's good evidence too.

[Crazy Cat 41,323]

26 minutes ago, JFH said:

many people take out a low limit store credit card from somewhere such as Target together and have it in both names.

Great idea.  I'll remember that one....

[Coco8 1,042]

21 minutes ago, Pmenon said:

AOS in the US currently living with my wife, the USC, with her family in NYC. Sorry about that.

 

No problem. You might want to update your timeline so that other people can give you better advice. It says IR-1 now. 

 

 

[wololo 28]

Maybe a little bit off-topic, but: How long did it take to get the RFE after you submitted your I-751?

 

I ask this because I just submitted my I-751 and I want to know more or less when to expect an RFE if it happens.

[Y3+E 25]

I wish that I had found this forum/web site before we had assembled and submitted our petition.  The cell phone plan (two-year plans most common) is a great idea!  And, I never thought of submitting our driver's licenses with the same address.  

 

I included a 401K beneficiary form.  Actually two, since my employer changed providers this year.  

When I initially changed my will to include my wife, my attorney included a statement in the will that my wife was pregnant with my child.  When I changed my will a second time to include my step-children, it cost each of us $500 for wills, trusts, and powers of attorney.  If you can afford do to this, I would go ahead and do this now.  

 

We included 40 photos of the family being together over the past two years. 

 

We included separate jeweler receipts for our engagement rings and wedding bands.  

 

When I initially submitted our Petition for Alien Relative [USCIS Form I-130], we submitted doctor's medical statements on my wife's pregnancy.