RFE - What else can I possibly submit?

[sccrsurfer 2]

After 1 year and 3 months from filing our AoS, I get an RFE to provide further evidence of a bonafide marriage.  Yet I'm confused.  We've literally submitted everything that would be considered major proof of having a life together.

 

Here is what we sent: 

* Signed lease

* Joint bank account statements

* Join CC statements

* Child birth certificate

* Photos

 

The RFE acknowledges that we've sent these things.  Then it goes onto suggest that what we've isn't enough to prove a marriage, and then lists the following documents we can send for evidence: 

 

* Signed lease

* Joint bank account statements

* Join CC statements

* Child birth certificate

* Photos

 

Yes.  It is an exact repeat.  No, I'm not joking.  Maybe the service center has a sense of humor?  

 

I can send a few insurance docs, life insurance with my wife (she is the immigrant, I am the USC) as the beneficiary, and our deed to the home we literally just bought.  But that's about it for 'hard proof' docs.  Other than that I can submit more photos.  I guess we can send a tax return.  That's an awful lot of private information to be sending them.  Letters from family and friends? 

 

Whats odd is that we submitted exactly what they are requesting.  And the RFE specifically mentions not to re-send any documents previously submitted.  

 

This post is partly a rant. But seriously, what am I missing here that could have prompted this?  

[Georgia16 2,858]

Did you submit so it showed the entire time of marriage? 

 

Tax returns for all years

DL showing same address 

mail showing same address 

insurance stuff car, house, life and so on

401k showing beneficiaries 

 

just examples of of what you else can send them. 

[SalishSea 18,089]

23 minutes ago, sccrsurfer said:

I guess we can send a tax return.  That's an awful lot of private information to be sending them. 

That is the essence of immigration.  Haven't you already provided those, when you sponsored her?

[sccrsurfer 2]

8 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

That is the essence of immigration.  Haven't you already provided those, when you sponsored her?

Point taken, to an extent.  We've been sending and filling out paperwork for this during the K1 days in 2013 when we started everything.  I can't actually recall every doc we've sent.  But I make a serious point of being thorough and haven't had an RFE till now.  A joint bank account is already proving 'financial entanglement,' if you will, not to mention everything else that was sent. 

 

It is what it is, and I'll have to cough up some more docs. 

 

As I mentioned, part of the intention here was to rant.  

[SalishSea 18,089]

Just now, sccrsurfer said:

Point taken, to an extent.  We've been sending and filling out paperwork for this during the K1 days in 2013 when we started everything.  I can't actually recall every doc we've sent.  But I make a serious point of being thorough and haven't had an RFE till now.  A joint bank account is already proving 'financial entanglement,' if you will, not to mention everything else that was sent. 

 

It is what it is, and I'll have to cough up some more docs. 

 

As I mentioned, part of the intention here was to rant.  

I get it.  And it sucks.  Best wishes for successfully overcoming the RFE.  What country is your wife from?

[sccrsurfer 2]

 

 

 

 

 

1

25 minutes ago, Georgia16 said:

insurance stuff car, house, life and so on

 

Most of this is handled by me, as I imagine it is in at least some other households.  I handle certain things and she does others.  The cars are in my name, but she is listed in life insurance and car insurance. 

 

And no, I haven't sent docs for every year since marriage.  Only the most recent at the time of application.  That could be a valuable bit of advice I didn't think.  I was taking the RFE a bit cynically for the simple reason that it was essentially requesting what we've already submitted.  Sending those same docs for each year I think would be much more helpful in establishing proof of a bonafide marriage.  Thanks!

[sccrsurfer 2]

2 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

I get it.  And it sucks.  Best wishes for successfully overcoming the RFE.  What country is your wife from?

France. 

 

Another user mentioned sending docs for each year of marriage.  I think that could be helpful.  It's just too easy to be cynical when the RFE literally used as examples every one of the documents I already sent as evidence to establish proof of a bonafide marriage.  Requesting more info is one thing.  Requesting more of the same, then telling me not to submit the same, is a mind numbing paradox.

 

It is the paperwork version of the scene in Supertroopers when they keep yelling at the guys to pull over and he responds "but we're already pulled over!"  I feel like that guy, minus the copious amounts of mind-altering substances.  :) 

[Scandi 4,178]

It has been well over a year since you provided them proof, you should have much more by now (new bank statements etc). They want to see that you're still bonafide, not just back when you filed, over a year ago. Also add new stuff, like letters in both your names, utility bills in both named, both your state IDs/drivers license that shows the same address, insurances of various kinds etc.

 

I have a feeling it'll be the same with ROC, even if you send great proof when you file, they might still request more once they pick up your file as it has been so long since they received it. It has to be on-going.

Edited April 27, 2019 by Scandi

[Pitaya 2,577]

I can certainly empathize with your apparent frustration with and RFE with the ROC petition part of the process. We ran into the same thing a few years ago. The initial submission weighed in at six pounds of paper, and that wasn't enough. They snagged us for more marriage bonafides. So, where I had sent in comprehensive quarterly financial records, I sent in a copy of every blasted month. I eventually sent them another copy of everything that I had previously sent them with the AOS process and a WHOLE lot more. I was at the point that if I could have posted them the kitchen sink, it would have been boxed up and sent....The one piece of evidence that included with the supplemental RFE response packet, were copies of our newly-prepared wills,  powers of attorney, living wills, etc. This was on the advice of my old VJ buddy T-bone. We got the wills done through legalzoom.com. It was pretty painless, deciding on what we wanted, then going through their online interview process, they hand-held us through the entire process, including what WA-state specific requirements we had to complete to put the package together. If I recall correctly they cost around $400. In hindsight, it was good for the ROC process and, more importantly, very useful for our ongoing life together. So, the supplemental RFE response packet weighed in at almost 4 pounds. Bottom line is that  our ROC petition was approved. 

 

Hang in there and just give everything they want in spades......

 

Good luck on your immigration journey.

Edited April 27, 2019 by Pitaya

[NikLR 13,232]

So you sent one recent cc and bank statement?

Thats why you have an RFE.  Send enough to cover the span of the marriage.  Some people send quarterly, others send monthly. 

Send all the jointly signed leases.  

Send photos.

Send all married tax returns

Do you think the government cares that you dont want to send private information that they can already access? No. You need to send it all of it to them or tell them why it doesnt exist.  

Send wills

Send living wills

Send powers of attorney 

Send everything that since the beginning of your marriage that you and your spouse have commingled your lives and finances. 

 

[xillini 71]

And sometimes they just want to check if the marriage is still valid and you have been living with spouse since waiting time period is more than an year, which is arguably longer processing time. So you can just send them ordinary evidences post-ROC natures that have the same material evidences that you have already submitted. 

[AstroCanada 206]

This report that was linked in another thread was interesting:
https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/cisomb-conditional-residence-recommendation-final-02282013_1.pdf

 

It mentioned that there were large numbers of unwarranted RFE's in this process...I think you probably have an example.  I guess just send more of the same and good luck.

[yuna628 9,700]

Where in the process is the OP? His first post says the RFE is for AOS, yet this is posted in the ROC forum. Which is it?

 

If it is ROC, the OP would certainly have to send in tax transcripts, that is required anyway. If they haven't sent many bank statements... this would also be a huge factor. Anything that shows co-mingling would also be important. Wills would also be good too.

[NikLR 13,232]

1 hour ago, yuna628 said:

Where in the process is the OP? His first post says the RFE is for AOS, yet this is posted in the ROC forum. Which is it?

Good question. 

[Cathi 5,783]

Child's birth certificate is not proof of a bonafide relationship, it only proves you had sex. Plus you sent very little proof. You are also required to send joint tax returns.

 

 

You can send:

Drivers licenses with shared address

joint healthcare insurance

life insurance showing each other as beneficiaries

joint utility bills

joint credit card statements

rental insurance

car insurance. Even if you only have one car you both have to be listed on the policy.