I-751 Documents that show shared address/residence question

[Bryan and An 23]

Hello! 

 

We are getting ready to send our I-751 application in for removal of conditions, hopefully next week. Here's my question - we have a certain number of documents showing both of our names with the same address: tax transcripts, auto loan, auto insurance, bank statements, a credit card, maybe a few other things. However, we have tons more stuff for each of us separately, but showing the same address: medical bills and EOBs, paycheck statements, financial documents (401k, etc.)...in addition to the stuff that is addressed to both of us, should we also send the separate stuff in since it shows each of us at the same address? How would we label that - just as documents that show residency at the same address? Thanks!

 

Bryan and An

[Cryssiekins 976]

9 minutes ago, Bryan and An said:

Hello! 

 

We are getting ready to send our I-751 application in for removal of conditions, hopefully next week. Here's my question - we have a certain number of documents showing both of our names with the same address: tax transcripts, auto loan, auto insurance, bank statements, a credit card, maybe a few other things. However, we have tons more stuff for each of us separately, but showing the same address: medical bills and EOBs, paycheck statements, financial documents (401k, etc.)...in addition to the stuff that is addressed to both of us, should we also send the separate stuff in since it shows each of us at the same address? How would we label that - just as documents that show residency at the same address? Thanks!

 

Bryan and An

For proof of shared residency, I would recommend copies of drivers licenses or state ID’s.  

 

If you have a lease/mortgage/deed this is also good.  If not, then yes, send in some of the above mentioned documents to establish that fact.

[ArmyVet 146]

19 minutes ago, Bryan and An said:

Hello! 

 

We are getting ready to send our I-751 application in for removal of conditions, hopefully next week. Here's my question - we have a certain number of documents showing both of our names with the same address: tax transcripts, auto loan, auto insurance, bank statements, a credit card, maybe a few other things. However, we have tons more stuff for each of us separately, but showing the same address: medical bills and EOBs, paycheck statements, financial documents (401k, etc.)...in addition to the stuff that is addressed to both of us, should we also send the separate stuff in since it shows each of us at the same address? How would we label that - just as documents that show residency at the same address? Thanks!

 

Bryan and An

To be honest "tax transcripts, auto loan, auto insurance, bank statements, a credit card, maybe a few other things" is good enough, I would just recommend adding a lease or rental contract with both of your names on it. Good luck!

[Bryan and An 23]

Thanks for the quick responses. We will definitely include copies of our drivers licenses - forgot to mention that. As far as lease or rental contracts, unfortunately, I never added her to my mortgage because the bank said the only way to do that would be to refinance, which would have resulted in several thousand dollars worth of fees. Hopefully, that’s not an issue. In addition to the other stuff mentioned, I also have her as the beneficiary on both my life insurance policy and pension plan. 

[Lemon23 400]

29 minutes ago, Bryan and An said:

Hello! 

 

We are getting ready to send our I-751 application in for removal of conditions, hopefully next week. Here's my question - we have a certain number of documents showing both of our names with the same address: tax transcripts, auto loan, auto insurance, bank statements, a credit card, maybe a few other things. However, we have tons more stuff for each of us separately, but showing the same address: medical bills and EOBs, paycheck statements, financial documents (401k, etc.)...in addition to the stuff that is addressed to both of us, should we also send the separate stuff in since it shows each of us at the same address? How would we label that - just as documents that show residency at the same address? Thanks!

 

Bryan and An

 

Just now, Bryan and An said:

Thanks for the quick responses. We will definitely include copies of our drivers licenses - forgot to mention that. As far as lease or rental contracts, unfortunately, I never added her to my mortgage because the bank said the only way to do that would be to refinance, which would have resulted in several thousand dollars worth of fees. Hopefully, that’s not an issue. In addition to the other stuff mentioned, I also have her as the beneficiary on both my life insurance policy and pension plan. 

You have more than enough, just make sure those are 3 years worth of evidences. 

[Cryssiekins 976]

13 minutes ago, Bryan and An said:

Thanks for the quick responses. We will definitely include copies of our drivers licenses - forgot to mention that. As far as lease or rental contracts, unfortunately, I never added her to my mortgage because the bank said the only way to do that would be to refinance, which would have resulted in several thousand dollars worth of fees. Hopefully, that’s not an issue. In addition to the other stuff mentioned, I also have her as the beneficiary on both my life insurance policy and pension plan. 

For your own info:  you can add her to the deed via a quit claim deed.  Usually ~$500 depending on state and county.  It’s absolutely not necessary, but just thought I’d share in the event you were unaware.  It doesn’t involve the bank at all, so no refi fees.  Any real estate attorney can draft up pretty quick.  When I worked on real estate transactions in NY, often we would have a couple where only one qualified for the mortgage, so we would wait until the original transaction was recorded, and then a month later do the quit claim deed for them.  

[Bryan and An 23]

9 minutes ago, Cryssiekins said:

For your own info:  you can add her to the deed via a quit claim deed.  Usually ~$500 depending on state and county.  It’s absolutely not necessary, but just thought I’d share in the event you were unaware.  It doesn’t involve the bank at all, so no refi fees.  Any real estate attorney can draft up pretty quick.  When I worked on real estate transactions in NY, often we would have a couple where only one qualified for the mortgage, so we would wait until the original transaction was recorded, and then a month later do the quit claim deed for them.  

Thanks for the info - good to know! And this can be done even if there’s still a mortgage on the house?

[Ksenia_O 696]

1 hour ago, Bryan and An said:

Thanks for the info - good to know! And this can be done even if there’s still a mortgage on the house?

Absolutely !

 

My name was added to the deed and there is still a mortgage on the house (we didn't add me to a mortgage for the same reason - it would require a refinancing and extra cost) 

By the way - we are also in MO, and it did cost us around $180.0 to add my name to a Deed. 

 

About "separated" documents, showing the same address.. I'd not worry about it. The process is not  just about quantity. It's about quality as well  . And you have a great stuff to submit with  I-751 - Tax Transcripts, Copy of driver lic... they show the same address already, so you are good. 

 

Good luck!

Edited June 5, 2019 by Ksenia_O

[Cryssiekins 976]

1 hour ago, Bryan and An said:

Thanks for the info - good to know! And this can be done even if there’s still a mortgage on the house?

You’ll want to double check with an attorney in your county, but it should be doable, provided it’s been 30+ days since signing the mortgage.

 

I found it worked with our car title too.  That was in my name only bc he didn’t qualify for the car loan, but later on we applied for a joint title certificate and all was well.

[Sukie 1,459]

You seem to have good info.  Don't bother with sending stuff with only one name.  Concentrate on those items with both names.

 

Also don't worry about only one name on the deed/mortgage, but DO include a note in your cover letter stating that you owned the house prior to the marriage, and because of credit considerations, only your name appears on the mortgage and deed.  This will prevent you from getting an RFE about why only one of you is on the deed/mortgage.  It's not unusual for only one half of the couple to do this - but do explain it up front.

 

Best of luck!

 

Sukie in NY

[afrocraft 313]

2 hours ago, Sukie said:

...Don't bother with sending stuff with only one name.  Concentrate on those items with both names....

Uhm, I'm not sure about this. Driver's licenses with the same address are strong evidence of residence, but obviously bear only one name.

 

OP: Send whatever you have that shows 1) cohabitation, 2) co-mingled finances, 3) shared life experiences, and 4) planning for the future together, and that do so from marriage to the present. Those are the essential elements of a bona fide marital relationship. Use your cover letter or an "Evidence Guide" to explain any deviation from expectation. 

[Sukie 1,459]

9 hours ago, afrocraft said:

Uhm, I'm not sure about this. Driver's licenses with the same address are strong evidence of residence, but obviously bear only one name.

 

 

Of course driver's licenses.  The OP mentioned other items that are not identification documents.

 

Sukie in NY

[afrocraft 313]

3 hours ago, Sukie said:

Of course driver's licenses.  The OP mentioned other items that are not identification documents.

 

Sukie in NY

Surely one can imagine other similar documents that have just one name but are good evidence for marriage bona fides. Like:

• Cohabitation: Official correspondence (including the envelope) from government agencies (e.g., IRS, SSA) addressed separately to each spouse
• Co-mingled finances: Separately owned financial statements with every-day transactions that go to same address, show sharing of financial responsibilities, and are explained in a cover letter
• Shared life experiences: Hotel reservation, obviously in one spouse's name, that support other travel bookings for joint trips

Respectfully, your blanket don't-bother-with-stuff-with-only-one-name advice was not well thought through, and could hinder creative thinking by petitioners who lack routinely cited documentation.

[Ash.1101 1,756]

We sent in our last two leases showing shared residence at our current apartment and paystubs showing the address is the same.

 

Bank statements also had both our names with same address, as did car insurance, renters insurance, car loans and tax returns. So what was good financial info also confirmed the same addresses as the lease and the I-751 application.

 

We did not send drivers liscense, but we did send cable bill in his name with same address, electric bill in my name with same address.

Edited June 6, 2019 by Ash.

[Amadia 711]

Here's what I sent for ROC. I redacted info for privacy purposes:

 

PETITION TO REMOVE CONDITIONS ON RESIDENCE
ITEM #	SUMMARY OF CONTENTS:							PAGE #
1)	FORM I-751							1-11
2)	COPY OF PERMANENT RESIDENT CARDS FOR:
	- (redacted)
	- (redacted)
	- (redacted)							12
3)	COPY OF MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE							13
4)	COPY OF CERTIFICATION OF BIRTH FOR:
	(redacted)							14
5)	COPY OF WARRANTY DEED FOR HOUSE							15-16
	COPY OF MORTGAGE LOAN WITH (redacted) BANK,							17
	COPY OF CLOSING DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT							18
	COPY OF HOMEOWNERS' INSURANCE							19-20
6)	COPY OF RETAIL INSTALLMENT SALE CONTRACT - TOYOTA RAV4 LE							21-23
	COPY OF AUTO LOAN DETAILS							24
	COPY OF DRIVER LICENSES							25
	COPY OF AUTO INSURANCE POLICY AND CARDS							26-29
7)	COPY OF (redacted) JOINT SAVINGS ACCOUNT
	(FIRST DATE JOINED AUG 2016 TO PRESENT)							30-31
	COPY OF JOINT CREDIT CARDS WITH (redacted)							32-33
😎	COPY OF TAX RETURN 2016 -MARRIED, FILING JOINTLY							34-40
	COPY OF TAX RETURN 2017 -MARRIED, FILING JOINTLY							41-45
9)	COPY OF UTILITIES:
	- XFINITY FROM COMCAST (TV & INTERNET)							46
	- PALM BEACH COUNTY WATER							47
	- FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT							48
10)	COPY OF HEALTH INSURANCE (FAMILY COVERAGE):
	- (redacted) (DENTAL PPO), POLICYHOLDER: (redacted)							49
	- (redacted) (HEALTH), POLICYHOLDER: (redacted)							50
11)	SWORN STATEMENT OF (redacted) WITH PHOTO							51-52
	SWORN STATEMENT OF (redacted) WITH PHOTO							53-54
12)	EVIDENCE OF FAMILY VACATIONS							55-56