RFE -- oh the joy.

[meauxna 15]

525+ pages of evidence and documentation

WHAT?!

What could you possibly have sent?

And WHAT could you possibly NOT have had in there?

elmcitymaven, thanks for taking it in stride.

kins: I think it's been a semantics confusion for you & elmcitymaven AND whoever told you that info. Clearly the Embassy person was unaware of the new requirement (and why not, their forms were out of date!) and, well, it's just turned out to be *one of those things*.

Way to roll with it, all of youse.

[Angela 1]

Here's what they asked for the first time:

1. Please provide a sworn affidavit explaining how and when your spouse had met and the background leading up to your marriage on August 31, 2005. Also submit any other documentation to support that you and the beneficiary have a bona fide marriage.

2. Please provide three (3) affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties having personal knowledge of the bona fide of your relationship with the beneficiary. (Each affidavit must contain the full name and address, date and place of birth of the person making the affidavit; his or her relationship, if any, to the petitioner, beneficiary and complete information and details explaining how the person acquired his or her knowledge.)

Exhibit A.

Affidavit from me, wife

Exhibit B.

Affidavit from Husband

Exhibit C.

Affidavits from Third Parties

1. ****

2. ****

3. ****

4. ****

Exhibit D.

Photographs: Hubby visits Wife in US (three visits)

Exhibit E.

Photographs: Wife visits Hubby in Stockholm (three visits)

Exhibit F.

Photographs from Wedding of Hubby and Wife from August 31, 2005

Exhibit G.

Wedding Guest List from August 31, 2005

Names, addresses, and phone numbers of attendees

Exhibit H.

1. Wedding ring order from Tiffany & Co.

2. Visa credit card statement showing payment for wedding rings

Exhibit I.

1. Receipt for wedding dress and shoes from David’s Bridal

2. Visa credit card statement showing payment for dress and shoes

Exhibit J.

1. Receipt for wedding dinner at Tyresö Slottskrog (Castle restaurant)

2. Visa credit card statement showing payment for wedding dinner

Exhibit K.

Visa credit card statement showing payment for:

1. Three night stay at Nordic Light Hotel in Stockholm

2. Movie tickets and refreshment for a night out in Stockholm

Exhibit L.

Hubby’s Boarding Passes showing two of his trips to Pittsburgh

Exhibit M.

Wife’s Boarding Passes showing two of her trips to Stockholm

Exhibit N.

Hubby’s passport showing three entries to the United States

Exhibit O.

Wife’s Passport showing three entries to Sweden

Exhibit P.

Phone bills of Hubby showing calls to Wife (2004 to present)

Exhibit Q.

Phone bills of Wife showing calls to Hubby (2004 to present)

Exhibit R.

Invitation for Wife and Hubby to attend wedding of mutual friend, J.H., of the UK, planned for Las Vegas in October, 2007, with photo showing Hubby, Wife, and Mr. H. together on August 31, 2005

Exhibit S.

The 2007 Hubby Family Calendar, Wife and Hubby appear in August. Photo taken in Stockholm on July 30, 2006

Exhibit T.

Order Details from Gift purchases to each other from Amazon.com

Exhibit U.

Emails from Hubby to Wife (2003 to present)

Exhibit V.

Emails from Wife to Hubby (2003 to present)

Exhibit W.

Emails between Wife and members of Hubby’s family

Exhibit X.

Miscellaneous Cards and Letters

This time around, second RFE:

1. Provide a photocopy of my old marriage certificate between me and my ex-husband.

2. Provide a chronological timeline of my relationship with my ex-husband from the time we were married to the date of our divorce, including the date of our separation.

3. Provide any evidence to show shared or community assets that support a bonafide relationship (bank letters, bank statements, insurance policies, 2005 and 2006 tax returns)

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

This time around, second RFE:

1. Provide a photocopy of my old marriage certificate between me and my ex-husband.

2. Provide a chronological timeline of my relationship with my ex-husband from the time we were married to the date of our divorce, including the date of our separation.

3. Provide any evidence to show shared or community assets that support a bonafide relationship (bank letters, bank statements, insurance policies, 2005 and 2006 tax returns)

I find it so hard to believe that your original packet was insufficient, and, I must say, put a chill in my heart when I consider what *I* just sent. IMHO, asking about your last marriage in such detail is a bit on the intrusive side (even for USCIS) -- a chronological timeline? Is it really necessary for them to ask us to dredge up the pain of the past, and how does charting the demise of your previous marriage prove the bona fides of your current one? I got a similar, but not as detailed, request in my RFE too, something along the lines of when my relationship ended with my ex.

I also find it appalling that they expect us to commingle our assets. I was married to my ex for over 9 years before we split and we never had a joint bank account. For us, it worked -- I was responsible for some bills, and he for the others. We were happy for a good long time before the breakup and I don't think anyone could say that the lack of a joint account was indicative of a lack of commitment to each other. Bruce and I don't have a joint account now, primarily due to our credit ratings which make it hard to add each other, but also because we don't want to or see the need, especially given the fact that we are expecting to leave the country soon. Nor is he on my lease -- I moved in first, he joined me later and although the landlady knows he lives there she doesn't see the need to add him. We have lots of stuff addressed to us individually at the same address which shows, I believe, we live together. If they want to come and check out that flat, they'd be hard pressed to prove we didn't have a relationship -- it's too small for us not to! It is, I thought, our own personal choice to commingle assets or not. As a woman, I have enjoyed being in charge of my own money and although I trust Bruce completely ultimately it is my money to manage. (Being a poor student he has next to nothing, and what little he does make goes to paying our bills.)

I'd love to know what comes of your second RFE -- please keep us updated. It seems utterly illogical to me that what you have shown already is insufficient. But then we are dealing with USCIS, not Mr Spock!

[Angela 1]

It'll take about a week for them to receive my package, and last time I emailed London, they said it'll take "about two weeks" to adjudicate the Petition. I'll definitely post the results.

I'm not sure what they're going for with all this information. I gave them most of what they asked for. I mentioned in a previous post that I was a bit lacking in the shared assets department, since we haven't lived together yet... I'm curious as to how that will pan out. In fact, in the past two years we've been together about 132 days in six visits to each other. We desperately want to be together, and thought the DCF option offered in Sweden was the way to go. The kicker is this: we filed and got approved FOUR days after the Adam Walsh Act was signed into law. So we got screwed.

I am guessing that the ten-year age difference has something to do with this (I'm older than my husband).

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Just an update -- we got the NOA2 today! What a relief. I spent the whole weekend obsessing about the adequacy of what we submitted, and I guess it did the trick because I am the proud owner of a shiny new NOA2!

Just for info for others who might be going down the same route, here is my cover letter detailing what went in:

As per your letter of 12 April 2007, I enclose the following to complete my petition:

· Sworn affidavit signed by myself on 16 April 2007 explaining how my spouse and I met and the background leading up to our marriage on 29 December 2006, and providing information on how my former spouse and I terminated our relationship;

· Sworn affidavits from [deleted -- 3 colleagues of mine], swearing to the bona fides of my relationship with the beneficiary and how this knowledge was obtained;

· Photocopies of the following documents, showing that the beneficiary and I maintain a relationship and residence together:

o Seventeen (17) photographs showing the beneficiary, myself, and members of my and the beneficiary's families together at times dating between May 2006 and February 2007, including our wedding;

o Photocopy of our wedding reception invitation at my parents' home on 30 December 2006;

o Twelve (12) cards and notes celebrating our engagement and wedding from both families, friends and work colleagues;

o Final gas bill in beneficiary's name dated 1 September 2006 showing both his old and new address;

o Beneficiary's Capital One Visa statement dated 14 February 2007, showing joint address;

o Letter from Islington Council to beneficiary dated 12 December 2006 regarding his move to joint address and adding him to the Council Tax;

o Beneficiary's Abbey National bank account statement dated 12 December 2006, showing joint address;

o Beneficiary's motorcycle insurance policy note from [insurer name deleted], dated 10 April 2007, showing joint address;

o Petitioner's NHS medical card in married name, showing joint address;

o 2007/08 council tax bill for joint address from Islington Council in petitioner's former name – we have notified the council of the beneficiary's residence but this has not been reflected, but is being rectified;

o BT bill dated 7 March 2007 in petitioner's former name, showing joint address;

o Thames Water bill dated 1 April 2007 in petitioner's former name, showing joint address;

o TV licensing renewal notice for 1 May 2007 – 20 April 2008 in petitioner's former name, showing joint address.

I made it clear in my own statement on our relationship that we do not currently have or intend to have any joint community property whilst we remain in the UK, and that Bruce is not on any of the bills as I moved into the flat first. I also was worried because, for expediency's sake, I didn't have the affidavits notarised, but had our signatures verified by my company's in-house lawyer who did it for free (well, I have promised her a mojito at a company drinks event next week!).

Anyway, crisis averted, and we're back on track. Thanks to all for listening to me vent, and I hope the info above is useful to other VJers.

Edited April 23, 2007 by elmcitymaven

[Angela 1]

That's great news, Elm Wishing you smooth sailing from here on out!

[kins 0]

Anyway, crisis averted, and we're back on track. Thanks to all for listening to me vent, and I hope the info above is useful to other VJers.

Great news! Now you can get on with the next stage...