Got an RFE, trying to figure out what other evidence to add

[Zabalex 0]

Hi everyone!

 

We filed our joint I-751 in November 2016, and this week we got an RFE. Which is quite surprising, since we've made sure to include as much evidence as possible.

 

A bit of background: I am a Russian citizen, my wife is an American citizen. Got married in 2013, lived in Korea in 2014 while waiting for my GC, moved to the US in 2015. Lived together with her parents until March 2016, then moved to a new place (that's the lease we sent them),

in March 2017 we moved yet again and got a new lease (this is what we are going to send them since we didn't have it before).

 

Moreover, in the RFE letter, it almost seems like they either ignored or overlooked some of the evidence. Here's what they say:

 

Quote

You submitted copies of your joint tax returns from 2014; a copy of a joint bank statement from 2016; copies of your joint health insurance policy from 2015 and 2016; a copy of a lease from 2016 with only your spouse's name listed as tenant; copies of plane tickets for an undated trip; and photos.

 

The thing is, in the copy of a lease form 2016 beside my spouse's name there is also my name under the "Use of property section", it's right there on the same page. I am considering resubmitting that and underscoring both names, just in case. Is that a good idea?

We also sent them copies of our IDs mentioning the same address where we were living in 2015. (Her parents' place)

 

Here's what we are thinking of submitting now:

 

• Copies of our joint bank statements from 2015, 2016 (unless I shouldn't submit the same year twice), 2017.
• Copies of our joint credit card records for 2016 and 2017.
• A new lease for 2017 with both our names on it.
• My wife's life insurance with me as her beneficiary.
• Plane tickets for our trip we took earlier this year.
• My mother's written statement saying that my wife and I lived together in her apartment in Russia from August 2013 to January 2014.
• My wife's former employer statement saying that we both lived in Korea in an apartment provided to us by him while my wife was an English teacher there.

 

That's all we can get at the moment. Do you think that would be enough? Do the written statements from my mother and my wife's former employer have any value here?

 

Thank you!

[mindthegap 2,605]

You can't send what doesn't exist.

Send what you have, and a letter if you feel the need. Anything that has a)both names on, and b) has a date on, will be useful.

 

What you must not do, is not respond, as you will be denied.

[Lemon23 400]

6 minutes ago, Zabalex said:

Hi everyone!

 

We filed our joint I-751 in November 2016, and this week we got an RFE. Which is quite surprising, since we've made sure to include as much evidence as possible.

 

A bit of background: I am a Russian citizen, my wife is an American citizen. Got married in 2013, lived in Korea in 2014 while waiting for my GC, moved to the US in 2015. Lived together with her parents until March 2016, then moved to a new place (that's the lease we sent them),

in March 2017 we moved yet again and got a new lease (this is what we are going to send them since we didn't have it before).

 

Moreover, in the RFE letter, it almost seems like they either ignored or overlooked some of the evidence. Here's what they say:

 

 

The thing is, in the copy of a lease form 2016 beside my spouse's name there is also my name under the "Use of property section", it's right there on the same page. I am considering resubmitting that and underscoring both names, just in case. Is that a good idea?

We also sent them copies of our IDs mentioning the same address where we were living in 2015. (Her parents' place)

 

Here's what we are thinking of submitting now:

 

• Copies of our joint bank statements from 2015, 2016 (unless I shouldn't submit the same year twice), 2017.
• Copies of our joint credit card records for 2016 and 2017.
• A new lease for 2017 with both our names on it.
• My wife's life insurance with me as her beneficiary.
• Plane tickets for our trip we took earlier this year.
• My mother's written statement saying that my wife and I lived together in her apartment in Russia from August 2013 to January 2014.
• My wife's former employer statement saying that we both lived in Korea in an apartment provided to us by him while my wife was an English teacher there.

 

That's all we can get at the moment. Do you think that would be enough? Do the written statements from my mother and my wife's former employer have any value here?

 

Thank you!

I believe the USCIS saw the inconsistency here that's why they sent you an RFE. One is the joint account since you only sent the statements for 2016, they want to see the co-mingling assets and liabilities from the whole duration of marriage, meaning since day one of your marriage until the present, two is the fact on the first lease apartment agreement that you sent, your wife is only on the lease agreement without explaining I guess why you're not on the lease agreement. Explanation letter on each documents that you will sent without your name is big plus to them, specially if the explanation is from the US citizen which has big role on I-751 application.

[Zabalex 0]

26 minutes ago, mindthegap said:

You can't send what doesn't exist.

Send what you have, and a letter if you feel the need. Anything that has a)both names on, and b) has a date on, will be useful.

 

What you must not do, is not respond, as you will be denied.

 

Thank you!

 

14 minutes ago, Lemon23 said:

I believe the USCIS saw the inconsistency here that's why they sent you an RFE. One is the joint account since you only sent the statements for 2016, they want to see the co-mingling assets and liabilities from the whole duration of marriage, meaning since day one of your marriage until the present, two is the fact on the first lease apartment agreement that you sent, your wife is only on the lease agreement without explaining I guess why you're not on the lease agreement. Explanation letter on each documents that you will sent without your name is big plus to them, specially if the explanation is from the US citizen which has big role on I-751 application.

 

Makes sense. The thing is, my wife added me to her bank account as soon as we got here, which was in 2015. We got a joint credit card in 2016 only. But I see how they'd want to see as much evidence as possible. As for the lease agreement, my name is there, but I guess they didn't see it. Thank you for the advice!

[charmander 692]

2015&2016 tax return transcripts, health insurance renewals, rental insurance docs, any holiday cards address to both of you, some people think creating wills and power of attorneys is good, affidavits from friends or relatives, photos covering the last 3 years, etc.

 

Send whatever you have; don't worry about what you don't have, wait patiently and see what comes next. Good luck.

 

[Lemon23 400]

11 minutes ago, Zabalex said:

 

Thank you!

 

 

Makes sense. The thing is, my wife added me to her bank account as soon as we got here, which was in 2015. We got a joint credit card in 2016 only. But I see how they'd want to see as much evidence as possible. As for the lease agreement, my name is there, but I guess they didn't see it. Thank you for the advice!

yes, that's how they evaluate the legitimacy of the marriage. On my case I sent to them the whole year statements of our joint account from (January to December from 2014 to 2016) as well as our health insurance from 2015 to 2017 coverage. My name was not on lease as well but my spouse explained in a form of letter why i'm not on the lease agreement. my evidence was so thick. We'll see if they will send me an RFE LOL!

Edited October 18, 2017 by Lemon23

[lesly87 27]

1 hour ago, Zabalex said:

Hi everyone!

 

We filed our joint I-751 in November 2016, and this week we got an RFE. Which is quite surprising, since we've made sure to include as much evidence as possible.

 

A bit of background: I am a Russian citizen, my wife is an American citizen. Got married in 2013, lived in Korea in 2014 while waiting for my GC, moved to the US in 2015. Lived together with her parents until March 2016, then moved to a new place (that's the lease we sent them),

in March 2017 we moved yet again and got a new lease (this is what we are going to send them since we didn't have it before).

 

Moreover, in the RFE letter, it almost seems like they either ignored or overlooked some of the evidence. Here's what they say:

 

 

The thing is, in the copy of a lease form 2016 beside my spouse's name there is also my name under the "Use of property section", it's right there on the same page. I am considering resubmitting that and underscoring both names, just in case. Is that a good idea?

We also sent them copies of our IDs mentioning the same address where we were living in 2015. (Her parents' place)

 

Here's what we are thinking of submitting now:

 

• Copies of our joint bank statements from 2015, 2016 (unless I shouldn't submit the same year twice), 2017.
• Copies of our joint credit card records for 2016 and 2017.
• A new lease for 2017 with both our names on it.
• My wife's life insurance with me as her beneficiary.
• Plane tickets for our trip we took earlier this year.
• My mother's written statement saying that my wife and I lived together in her apartment in Russia from August 2013 to January 2014.
• My wife's former employer statement saying that we both lived in Korea in an apartment provided to us by him while my wife was an English teacher there.

 

That's all we can get at the moment. Do you think that would be enough? Do the written statements from my mother and my wife's former employer have any value here?

 

Thank you!

I think for a lot of officers this is a "check the box" exercise. I don't think there is anything to worry about. Your new list looks quite comprehensive to me. Do you mind me asking, what is your NOA1 date? 

[Zabalex 0]

14 minutes ago, lesly87 said:

I think for a lot of officers this is a "check the box" exercise. I don't think there is anything to worry about. Your new list looks quite comprehensive to me. Do you mind me asking, what is your NOA1 date? 

Thank you for the kind words! I-751 receipt date is 11/14/2016.

[dnp2014 44]

Just send whatever recent documents you have with both names on it. 

[Mrsjackson 300]

10 hours ago, Zabalex said:

Hi everyone!

 

We filed our joint I-751 in November 2016, and this week we got an RFE. Which is quite surprising, since we've made sure to include as much evidence as possible.

 

A bit of background: I am a Russian citizen, my wife is an American citizen. Got married in 2013, lived in Korea in 2014 while waiting for my GC, moved to the US in 2015. Lived together with her parents until March 2016, then moved to a new place (that's the lease we sent them),

in March 2017 we moved yet again and got a new lease (this is what we are going to send them since we didn't have it before).

 

Moreover, in the RFE letter, it almost seems like they either ignored or overlooked some of the evidence. Here's what they say:

 

 

The thing is, in the copy of a lease form 2016 beside my spouse's name there is also my name under the "Use of property section", it's right there on the same page. I am considering resubmitting that and underscoring both names, just in case. Is that a good idea?

We also sent them copies of our IDs mentioning the same address where we were living in 2015. (Her parents' place)

 

Here's what we are thinking of submitting now:

 

• Copies of our joint bank statements from 2015, 2016 (unless I shouldn't submit the same year twice), 2017.
• Copies of our joint credit card records for 2016 and 2017.
• A new lease for 2017 with both our names on it.
• My wife's life insurance with me as her beneficiary.
• Plane tickets for our trip we took earlier this year.
• My mother's written statement saying that my wife and I lived together in her apartment in Russia from August 2013 to January 2014.
• My wife's former employer statement saying that we both lived in Korea in an apartment provided to us by him while my wife was an English teacher there.

 

That's all we can get at the moment. Do you think that would be enough? Do the written statements from my mother and my wife's former employer have any value here?

 

Thank you!

Resubmit the lease and this time highlight both you and your spouse's names on it. They're busy so try and make it so that they don't have to do too much searching. 

 

Also, make sure the letters you send (mother + employer) are notarized if possible. 

Edited October 19, 2017 by Mrsjackson

[islandgirl80 28]

11 hours ago, Zabalex said:

 

Thank you!

 

 

Makes sense. The thing is, my wife added me to her bank account as soon as we got here, which was in 2015. We got a joint credit card in 2016 only. But I see how they'd want to see as much evidence as possible. As for the lease agreement, my name is there, but I guess they didn't see it. Thank you for the advice!

Submit the monthly statements..from 2015 to recent if I were you. Submit the monthly statements, they want to see if you two are co mingling your finances. Ask your wife to write a letter, that is what my husband did..he wrote an explanation letter for the evidence that we do not have. Submit the 2016 tax return transcript. Submit the credit cards statements too..if you will add pictures put captions and dates. 

[Zabalex 0]

10 hours ago, Mrsjackson said:

Resubmit the lease and this time highlight both you and your spouse's names on it. They're busy so try and make it so that they don't have to do too much searching. 

 

Also, make sure the letters you send (mother + employer) are notarized if possible. 

 

Thanks for the advice! We'll try to get them notarized. I am guessing if we don't, those letters won't have much weight, right?

 

9 hours ago, islandgirl80 said:

Submit the monthly statements..from 2015 to recent if I were you. Submit the monthly statements, they want to see if you two are co mingling your finances. Ask your wife to write a letter, that is what my husband did..he wrote an explanation letter for the evidence that we do not have. Submit the 2016 tax return transcript. Submit the credit cards statements too..if you will add pictures put captions and dates. 

Will do, thank you!

[Cocoza 48]

Just my opinion, I am guessing that you didn't go through AOS here in the U.S. I might be wrong but based on my understanding, if you didn't go through AOS and have an actual Interview for that process, you would most likely get an interview for ROC. Again, i might be wrong. Just go with all new documents you have, i'm more than 99.9% sure that it'd just be a formality because you didn't have an AOS interview. It's no biggie!.

[Zabalex 0]

8 minutes ago, Cocoza said:

Just my opinion, I am guessing that you didn't go through AOS here in the U.S. I might be wrong but based on my understanding, if you didn't go through AOS and have an actual Interview for that process, you would most likely get an interview for ROC. Again, i might be wrong. Just go with all new documents you have, i'm more than 99.9% sure that it'd just be a formality because you didn't have an AOS interview. It's no biggie!.

We had an interview in South Korea (had to move it from Russia because that's where we were living at the time), I am not sure if that's the same one though. Good point, though. Thanks for letting us know!

[Cocoza 48]

5 minutes ago, Zabalex said:

We had an interview in South Korea (had to move it from Russia because that's where we were living at the time), I am not sure if that's the same one though. Good point, though. Thanks for letting us know!

I know you would have had an interview but i meant having an Interview HERE in the U.S for AOS process. Again, i might be wrong.