supporting documents question for AOS concurrent filing

[hwandhw 7]

This forum's been so helpful for my husband (US citizen) and I, preparing for my AOS from F-1 student.

However, I have some questions and I hope someone will graciously be able to answer from experience.

 

Sorry if these are redundant or stupid questions.... Thank you all in advance! 😁

 

1) I don't know if it's members choosing to be on the side of over-prepared, but there seems to be a lot of times where people put their final cover letter with a checklist of materials up here and it shows that they put more documents than what it states on the instructions page. For instance, the I-130 asks for one proof of evidence of the petitioner's US citizenship so I attached my husband's birth certificate (US) but other members seem to attach the passport page as well. Also, I've seen it where they attach the beneficiary's passport page to each form, and more than one copy of the marriage certificate.

 

Is it better to send more than one piece of evidence? I'm a little confused.

 

2) For the I864, the instruction says: 

 

"You may include evidence supporting your claim about your expected income for the current year if you believe that submitting this evidence will help you establish ability to maintain sufficient income. You are not required to submit this evidence, however, unless specifically instructed to do so by a U.S. Government official. For example, you may include a recent letter from your employer, showing your employer’s address and telephone number, and indicating your annual salary. You may also provide pay stubs showing your income for the previous six months."

 

In what case would be good to submit a letter from an employer? It says you are not required but I'm not sure what it means to "establish ability to maintain sufficient income". 

 

3) Is it okay if I send one copy of the G-1450 and write the entire amount of $1760 on it for I-485 and I-130 combined? Or should I write separate copies of the form? I saw conflicting information and I just wanted to make sure. 

 

4) Lastly, I saw how on members write on their checklists, "certified copy of marriage license". Does this mean that they send a copy of the marriage license that's certified? Or is it a copy of the certified marriage license? Sorry if this is a stupid question..

[debbiedoo 2,339]

17 minutes ago, hwandhw said:

 

1) Is it better to send more than one piece of evidence? I'm a little confused.

Send what you have an what is applicable. Sending more than needed is ... not needed. A Birth Certificate OR a Passport confirms nationality and identity

 

Quote

 

2) For the I864, the instruction says: 

 

"You may include evidence supporting your claim about your expected income for the current year if you believe that submitting this evidence will help you establish ability to maintain sufficient income. You are not required to submit this evidence, however, unless specifically instructed to do so by a U.S. Government official. For example, you may include a recent letter from your employer, showing your employer’s address and telephone number, and indicating your annual salary. You may also provide pay stubs showing your income for the previous six months."

 

In what case would be good to submit a letter from an employer? It says you are not required but I'm not sure what it means to "establish ability to maintain sufficient income". 

I submitted the past 3 years tax transcripts (not 2018 because I had not filed them yet, just did that today lol) and 6 months of paystubs. If they want or need more, they will tell me LOL

 

Quote

 

3) Is it okay if I send one copy of the G-1450 and write the entire amount of $1760 on it for I-485 and I-130 combined? Or should I write separate copies of the form? I saw conflicting information and I just wanted to make sure. 

I sent separate checks

 

Quote

 

4) Lastly, I saw how on members write on their checklists, "certified copy of marriage license". Does this mean that they send a copy of the marriage license that's certified? Or is it a copy of the certified marriage license? Sorry if this is a stupid question..

They need the marriage certificate. In some states the license (What you need to get before you get married) is the same as the certificate. Where I am, it basically is, just photocopied and given a stamp and a signature. I sent an original because I have about 20 of them so its not a big deal. If you do not have/can not obtain copies easily, send a copy and then eventually you will take the original to the interview.

 

 

And for what its worth, my cover letter did not list every item. Just gave a brief overview and listed the forms i was submitting

Edited April 14, 2019 by debbiedoo

[eckoin 211]

2 hours ago, hwandhw said:

1) I don't know if it's members choosing to be on the side of over-prepared, but there seems to be a lot of times where people put their final cover letter with a checklist of materials up here and it shows that they put more documents than what it states on the instructions page. For instance, the I-130 asks for one proof of evidence of the petitioner's US citizenship so I attached my husband's birth certificate (US) but other members seem to attach the passport page as well. Also, I've seen it where they attach the beneficiary's passport page to each form, and more than one copy of the marriage certificate.

 

Is it better to send more than one piece of evidence? I'm a little confused.

I went with "all government issued IDs when asked for a piece of government ID". So I sent my (USC) husband's passport and birth certificate and driver's license. I sent my passport, birth certificate, driver's license, and NEXUS card. Overkill, yes, but hey, if they lose one, they have the other. 

 

You need a copy of the marriage certificate for almost every form. Same with beneficiary's passport. That's not really negotiable, and why you see people attaching multiple copies. Each form is a separate bundle, many with the same requirements. 

 

2 hours ago, hwandhw said:

2) For the I864, the instruction says: 

 

"You may include evidence supporting your claim about your expected income for the current year if you believe that submitting this evidence will help you establish ability to maintain sufficient income. You are not required to submit this evidence, however, unless specifically instructed to do so by a U.S. Government official. For example, you may include a recent letter from your employer, showing your employer’s address and telephone number, and indicating your annual salary. You may also provide pay stubs showing your income for the previous six months."

 

In what case would be good to submit a letter from an employer? It says you are not required but I'm not sure what it means to "establish ability to maintain sufficient income". 

If you're the beneficiary using your income as part of the household, a letter is required. If you're a US citizen sponsoring a relative, and somewhat recently started a new job that pays above the 125% FPL, then it could help. For example, say you started working in September 2018, earning a salary of $60k. You therefore earned $20k in 2018, just below the cutoff. But if you submit a letter from your employer stating that you earn a salary of $60k and have been employed for 8 months now, 4 in 2018, and 4 in 2019, that could work. 

 

2 hours ago, hwandhw said:

3) Is it okay if I send one copy of the G-1450 and write the entire amount of $1760 on it for I-485 and I-130 combined? Or should I write separate copies of the form? I saw conflicting information and I just wanted to make sure. 

This I don't know, I'll defer. 

2 hours ago, hwandhw said:

4) Lastly, I saw how on members write on their checklists, "certified copy of marriage license". Does this mean that they send a copy of the marriage license that's certified? Or is it a copy of the certified marriage license? Sorry if this is a stupid question..

You need a copy of the marriage certificate. In some states, when you request your "marriage certificate", they'll send you a certified copy--I guess the "original" just stays on file. Whatever you receive from your county/state, take a photocopy of it and submit. 

[eckoin 211]

2 hours ago, debbiedoo said:

Send what you have an what is applicable. Sending more than needed is ... not needed. A Birth Certificate OR a Passport confirms nationality and identity

 

I submitted the past 3 years tax transcripts (not 2018 because I had not filed them yet, just did that today lol) and 6 months of paystubs. If they want or need more, they will tell me LOL

"Sending more than needed is... not needed" *sends three years worth of tax transcripts just in case*

[hwandhw 7]

1 hour ago, eckoin said:

"Sending more than needed is... not needed" *sends three years worth of tax transcripts just in case*

Thanks for your replies! 

 

I think I'm going to just go on the side of safe just in case too. 😂