Three-year marriage route to citizenship.. How much marriage evidence is sufficient?

[aa1979 100]

I heard from people saying send a very thick file of evidence that the applicant has been married and residing with the US citizen for three years.  Some other people say no need for a thick file of evidence as it is normally done in ROC- I-751 process.

 

It definitely says send some of the marriage evidence in the instructions... But, I think the wording of the instructions makes it seem, at least to me, like not to send that many documents.  In the instructions, they break "documents referring to you and your spouse" down to point a, point b, point c when they talk about "documents referring to you and your spouse" in number 4 below... and they use the word "OR" in between each point.  It makes it sound like if we use one of these options (i.e. an IRS tax return transcript for the last 3 years) with current marriage certificate and past divorce decree(s), then evidence is sufficient. Which implies the "less documents"-route would be sufficient as well as efficient.  But again, I don't want to do something based on my own assumptions which may end up slowing down the process. 

 

Here is a copy from their instructions from the official website...

"2.□ Your current marriage certificate; and
3.□Proof of termination of all prior marriages of your spouse (divorce decree(s), annulment(s), or death certificate(s)); and
4.□ Documents referring to you and your spouse:
a. Tax returns, bank accounts, leases, mortgages, or birth certificates of children; or
b. Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-certified copies of the income tax forms that you both filed for the past 3 years; or
c. An IRS tax return transcript for the last 3 years"

Could anyone comment based on their own experience of what they did or based on their knowledge of the topic of what they have heard?  Would an IRS tax return transcript for the last 3 years be sufficent with possibly a couple of bank statements having both of our names on it? I appreciate your inputs. 

Edited December 25, 2019 by aa1979

[gregcrs2 1,778]

33 minutes ago, aa1979 said:

I heard from people saying send a very thick file of evidence that the applicant has been married and residing with the US citizen for three years.  Some other people say no need for a thick file of evidence as it is normally done in ROC- I-751 process.

 

It definitely says send some of the marriage evidence in the instructions... But, I think the wording of the instructions makes it seem, at least to me, like not to send that many documents.  In the instructions, they break "documents referring to you and your spouse" down to point a, point b, point c when they talk about "documents referring to you and your spouse" in number 4 below... and they use the word "OR" in between each point.  It makes it sound like if we use one of these options (i.e. an IRS tax return transcript for the last 3 years) with current marriage certificate and past divorce decree(s), then evidence is sufficient. Which implies the "less documents"-route would be sufficient as well as efficient.  But again, I don't want to do something based on my own assumptions which may end up slowing down the process. 

 

Here is a copy from their instructions from the official website...

"2.□ Your current marriage certificate; and
3.□Proof of termination of all prior marriages of your spouse (divorce decree(s), annulment(s), or death certificate(s)); and
4.□ Documents referring to you and your spouse:
a. Tax returns, bank accounts, leases, mortgages, or birth certificates of children; or
b. Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-certified copies of the income tax forms that you both filed for the past 3 years; or
c. An IRS tax return transcript for the last 3 years"

Could anyone comment based on their own experience of what they did or based on their knowledge of the topic of what they have heard?  Would an IRS tax return transcript for the last 3 years be sufficent with possibly a couple of bank statements having both of our names on it? I appreciate your inputs. 

See required evidence starting at page 10 of N400 instructions specifically stating what to submit and what to bring to the interview.

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/n-400instr.pdf

 

[Charming12 59]

49 minutes ago, gregcrs2 said:

See required evidence starting at page 10 of N400 instructions specifically stating what to submit and what to bring to the interview.

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/n-400instr.pdf

 

so we do need to submit so many documents when file for N400? Like we do not need to submit supporting documents i.e Bank statements, IRS Tax returns, lease, insurance etc? They will need it at the time of interview right? The instruction clearly states that when file for N400, only submit green card, marraige certificate and thats it? Am I interpreting something wrong?

[nad2000 0]

the more document you have available the better the case will be processed, as the IO examine your case you should make it easy for him

[gregcrs2 1,778]

31 minutes ago, Charming12 said:

so we do need to submit so many documents when file for N400? Like we do not need to submit supporting documents i.e Bank statements, IRS Tax returns, lease, insurance etc? They will need it at the time of interview right? The instruction clearly states that when file for N400, only submit green card, marraige certificate and thats it? Am I interpreting something wrong?

The instructions are pretty crystal clear to me as to what you provide with the form and what you bring to the interview.  

[Nitas_man 3,100]

2 hours ago, aa1979 said:

I heard from people saying send a very thick file of evidence that the applicant has been married and residing with the US citizen for three years.  Some other people say no need for a thick file of evidence as it is normally done in ROC- I-751 process.

 

It definitely says send some of the marriage evidence in the instructions... But, I think the wording of the instructions makes it seem, at least to me, like not to send that many documents.  In the instructions, they break "documents referring to you and your spouse" down to point a, point b, point c when they talk about "documents referring to you and your spouse" in number 4 below... and they use the word "OR" in between each point.  It makes it sound like if we use one of these options (i.e. an IRS tax return transcript for the last 3 years) with current marriage certificate and past divorce decree(s), then evidence is sufficient. Which implies the "less documents"-route would be sufficient as well as efficient.  But again, I don't want to do something based on my own assumptions which may end up slowing down the process. 

 

Here is a copy from their instructions from the official website...

"2.□ Your current marriage certificate; and
3.□Proof of termination of all prior marriages of your spouse (divorce decree(s), annulment(s), or death certificate(s)); and
4.□ Documents referring to you and your spouse:
a. Tax returns, bank accounts, leases, mortgages, or birth certificates of children; or
b. Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-certified copies of the income tax forms that you both filed for the past 3 years; or
c. An IRS tax return transcript for the last 3 years"

Could anyone comment based on their own experience of what they did or based on their knowledge of the topic of what they have heard?  Would an IRS tax return transcript for the last 3 years be sufficent with possibly a couple of bank statements having both of our names on it? I appreciate your inputs. 

Most smooth cases are prepared like ROC packages.  No “ors”.

Financial accounts, tax returns, and documentation that you have lived together in the same household for the entire marriage.  

 

[Downloader 199]

The most complete your case is at the time of review the smoother it will go, I submitted mine with everything from the beginning like joint accounts, cars, boat, health insurance, life insurance, mortgage documenta, school documents for the kids etc....

Looks like the Officer did his review in advance and not a single document was asked for so it was english & civics test and approved on the spot. In & out in 10 minutes. 

During my entire immigration journey having the most quality evidence available from the beginning has proved to make USCiS work easier and of course smoother for me at the end. 

 

Good Luck!

[Cathi 5,795]

My husband provided evidence between the time of ROC and naturalization. Commingling of finances type things and not a ton of it. Not nearly as much we sent for ROC or the visa process.

[POA 178]

8 hours ago, aa1979 said:

I heard from people saying send a very thick file of evidence that the applicant has been married and residing with the US citizen for three years.  Some other people say no need for a thick file of evidence as it is normally done in ROC- I-751 process.

 

It definitely says send some of the marriage evidence in the instructions... But, I think the wording of the instructions makes it seem, at least to me, like not to send that many documents.  In the instructions, they break "documents referring to you and your spouse" down to point a, point b, point c when they talk about "documents referring to you and your spouse" in number 4 below... and they use the word "OR" in between each point.  It makes it sound like if we use one of these options (i.e. an IRS tax return transcript for the last 3 years) with current marriage certificate and past divorce decree(s), then evidence is sufficient. Which implies the "less documents"-route would be sufficient as well as efficient.  But again, I don't want to do something based on my own assumptions which may end up slowing down the process. 

 

Here is a copy from their instructions from the official website...

"2.□ Your current marriage certificate; and
3.□Proof of termination of all prior marriages of your spouse (divorce decree(s), annulment(s), or death certificate(s)); and
4.□ Documents referring to you and your spouse:
a. Tax returns, bank accounts, leases, mortgages, or birth certificates of children; or
b. Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-certified copies of the income tax forms that you both filed for the past 3 years; or
c. An IRS tax return transcript for the last 3 years"

Could anyone comment based on their own experience of what they did or based on their knowledge of the topic of what they have heard?  Would an IRS tax return transcript for the last 3 years be sufficent with possibly a couple of bank statements having both of our names on it? I appreciate your inputs. 

That's a very good question. When I applied for my citizenship, I didn't send a lot with my application but prepared a lot during my interview. During the interview, I brought a lot of bank statements and credit card statements. Itineraries from different travels and a lot of pictures as well as our tax transcript for the last 4 years. 

 

At the interview, the interviewer only looked at our tax transcripts. I asked her if she needs the other documents and she said no and pointed out a think file of the papers we sent from the CR-1 to ROC. 

 

I hope this helps.

[Dashinka 24,860]

16 hours ago, gregcrs2 said:

See required evidence starting at page 10 of N400 instructions specifically stating what to submit and what to bring to the interview.

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/n-400instr.pdf

 

 

8 hours ago, POA said:

That's a very good question. When I applied for my citizenship, I didn't send a lot with my application but prepared a lot during my interview. During the interview, I brought a lot of bank statements and credit card statements. Itineraries from different travels and a lot of pictures as well as our tax transcript for the last 4 years. 

 

At the interview, the interviewer only looked at our tax transcripts. I asked her if she needs the other documents and she said no and pointed out a think file of the papers we sent from the CR-1 to ROC. 

 

I hope this helps.

We followed exactly what the instructions stated.  We submitted the marriage certificate and a copy of my wife’s GC with he paper application only, and gathered the other documents for the interview.  We were also doing the ROC at the same time, so the interview was a combo and the IO also had our thick ROC submission as well.  At the N400 interview, we only updated our tax records since filing the ROC, the IO did not ask for any additional evidence.

[AnGeLxX 154]

I did my ROC in 2017 - got approved in 2018. May 2019 I filed for citizenship under the 3 year rule. I followed the instructions and submitted taxes, photo's, car and health insurance as proof. I had my interview on Dec 11 and the officer didn't ask me for any documents to show, was approved on the spot and have my oath ceremony on Dec 31.  They should have your whole visa process from the beginning 😂.

[~Alessa~ 26]

Hello! What if we didn't file taxes in 2016 (were not required to) and only have tax transcripts for the last 2 years (2017 and 2018). Is it a good idea if I write a note explaining why we didn't file in 2016 and mention that I will bring 2019 tax transcript to the interview?

And of course I would attach other financial documents with my N-400.

Also does anyone know if you file your taxes and pay it in full in January would IRS send you transcripts within couple of weeks or you can only get your transcript when the tax season is over? 

Edited December 26, 2019 by ~Alessa~

[gregcrs2 1,778]

3 minutes ago, ~Alessa~ said:

Hello! What if we didn't file taxes in 2016 (were not required to) and only have tax transcripts for the last 2 years (2017 and 2018). Is it a good idea if I write a note explaining why we didn't file in 2016 and mention that I will bring 2019 tax transcript to the interview?

Also does anyone know if you file your taxes and pay it in full in January would IRS send you transcripts within couple of weeks or you can only get your transcript when the tax season is over? 

Tax transcripts are not needed until interview.  See N-400 instructions page 11, Item 7.A.(e)

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/n-400instr.pdf

[~Alessa~ 26]

3 minutes ago, gregcrs2 said:

Tax transcripts are not needed until interview.  See N-400 instructions page 11, Item 7.A.(e)

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/n-400instr.pdf

oh ok I didn't know! thank you!

[cyclone27 710]

We submitted an updated mini i751 packet From date it was submitted to present.