I-751 ROC Evidence advise

[Rob&Jen 14]

My (beneficiary) ROC is due the beginning of July and I feel like I'm almost ready to submit but I wanted to run this by your helpful selves in case any of you have any suggestions for extra evidence.

 

Besides the basic requirements per the guide I have the following:

 

• Copies of IRS transcripts, returns and W2s for 2017/2018 showing a married joint filing.
• Copies of our apartment lease with email correspondence showing our arrangements/agreements prior to signing and a receipt for the moving truck showing both our names.
• Copies of statements for utilities including electric, TV/internet, Netflix, Xbox etc. Most are in my wife's name but are paid and billed to my account and/or debit card.
• Copies of motor and renters insurance in both names going all the way back to our original apartment (we've moved twice since I came here in 2016).
• Copies of bank statements dated from March 2019 back to March 2018. I carefully highlighted recurring utility payments, rent checks, transfers to wife's account etc.
• Misc. emails and receipts showing correspondence and gifts bought for one another, along with printouts of Facebook comments between us and family. 
• Copies of birthday, christmas and wedding cards between 2016 and present from friends, family and between ourselves.
• Photos of us together with family from overseas. Most of these are focused around 2016-2017 as 2018/2019 we were both working very hard towards improving our living situation so we only went out sparingly and we're not the kind of couple who takes pictures of everything we see and do (I know, hindsight and all that).

 

We have very little in the way of joint assets or accounts. We did have a joint checking account for a while but ended up closing it as I'm the sole provider and handle all of the finances myself. My wife keeps her own checking account for when she finds work (plus she's terrible with money and closing the joint was mostly due to this). I am planning on digging out some more receipts but so far this is what I have. She also has her own insurance and coverage and I don't have a 401K so we can't use those as evidence.

 

Our car recently died and I'm currently saving to replace it so I would really REALLY like to avoid having to bus us both all the way to Philly for an interview in the future. I know I'll have to for biometrics but that at least I can do on my own (wife is recovering from muscle damage in her knee).

 

Please, any suggestions or ideas are welcome.

 

Thank you

 

[Cryssiekins 976]

I don’t think USCIS likes items to be highlighted.  I think I remember reading that in the instructions.  

 

I would use the cover letter as an opportunity to explain your case, and why certain items aren’t there.  That’s what I have done.  My husband and I have a joint savings and checking account, and we both have separate accounts.  My pay goes into the shared account bc I’m the higher earner, and we use that to pay our bills and credit cards (which we often use for bills too for points).  Our rent payment -and cell phones payment comes from his account, as his monthly income is enough to cover those two items and his daily expenditures (gas, coffee etc).  It’s maybe not traditional, but it works for us.

 

I think you’ve done a good job of gathering the items you can provide them, so the cover letter will bridge the gap for anything missing. 

[Sukie 1,460]

You have a goodly number of things to send them. 

 

ONLY send the transcripts.  You do NOT need to send the returns and W2s.  The transcripts are more valuable than the returns.

 

The idea of explaining the lack of joint accounts is a VERY good one.  You don't need a huge explanation - just that you don't maintain a joint checking account, and that your wife keeps her own account.  The two of you agreed to do this as you have different approaches to handling money, and this way works for you both.  Expenses are paid through your account.

 

Good luck!

 

Sukie in NY

[Wuozopo 4,293]

Do you have driver licenses showing the same address?

 

A note regarding other comments/ideas--

I highlighted on the photocopies of evidence. It says not to highlight or use correction fluid on the form.

 

I put my short explanation behind the form with the evidence pages, where the adjudicator would read it when looking at the evidence. It was titled --Evidence Not Included and Why Not.  I'm not convinced cover letters make it to the adjudicator when the file is organized in receiving center. I actually didn't use a cover letter.

 

 

Edited April 20, 2019 by Wuozopo

[Rob&Jen 14]

On 4/19/2019 at 10:25 PM, Sukie said:

You have a goodly number of things to send them. 

 

ONLY send the transcripts.  You do NOT need to send the returns and W2s.  The transcripts are more valuable than the returns.

 

The idea of explaining the lack of joint accounts is a VERY good one.  You don't need a huge explanation - just that you don't maintain a joint checking account, and that your wife keeps her own account.  The two of you agreed to do this as you have different approaches to handling money, and this way works for you both.  Expenses are paid through your account.

 

Good luck!

 

Sukie in NY

Thank you. Yes I did include a cover letter explaining our account situation. Regarding the Transcripts though, I am sending the returns and W2s because from personal experience with an RFE I received during my original GC application this was a requirement. 

[Rob&Jen 14]

On 4/20/2019 at 8:55 AM, Wuozopo said:

Do you have driver licenses showing the same address?

 

A note regarding other comments/ideas--

I highlighted on the photocopies of evidence. It says not to highlight or use correction fluid on the form.

 

I put my short explanation behind the form with the evidence pages, where the adjudicator would read it when looking at the evidence. It was titled --Evidence Not Included and Why Not.  I'm not convinced cover letters make it to the adjudicator when the file is organized in receiving center. I actually didn't use a cover letter.

 

 

Thanks. She has a driver license and I have a state ID card. I made colour photocopies of both including the address-change slip the DMV issued to the both of us, so that shouldn't be a problem. I included a primary cover letter listing what was included in the packet and I also broke the evidence down into five sections, each with their own brief cover letter explaining the contents and reasons for absence of certain documents (such as joint insurances etc). 

 

I agree that the form must not be altered in any way, and I haven't, but I don't see the harm in making slight highlights on my bank statements like you did with your copies of evidence. 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

39 minutes ago, Rob&Jen said:

I agree that the form must not be altered in any way, and I haven't, but I don't see the harm in making slight highlights on my bank statements like you did with your copies of evidence.

I highlighted the heck out of every submission to USCIS from petition to citizenship...date, names, specific item I wanted noticed. Futhermore, I wrote notes in every bottom margin of anything that needed explanation. In red even!😂