Preparing for AoS

[Lewis_L 0]

Hi folks,

 

Great site here.  This is my first post.

 

We're pretty close to being ready to file our AoS (130/485) package, but I have a few concerns.

 

Background:  I'm the USC.  My fiancée arrived in the U.S. in March 2020 as a visitor (B-2).  We've been living in the U.S. together since she arrived and we were married in August 2020.

 

A tricky part of the situation is that we've both been in and still are in a sort of semi-isolation situation (by choice, not due to any illness) and have not been able to leave it to visit a bank or anywhere really.  We're restricted to doing things remotely for the foreseeable future.

 

We've managed to get a good number of the necessary documents and photos.

 

My concerns are in the areas of 1) proof of bona fide marriage and 2) the 944 public charge questions.

 

Re 1), I can't seem to open a joint bank account remotely, especially as my wife of course has no SSN.  Any suggestions on whether or how that could be done remotely would be welcome.

 

    We have rental receipts for the place we're staying, a few photos and the marriage certificate but not too much else.  I've been able to add her as an authorized user on one of my credit cards, but beyond that I'm looking for suggestions of what I could do by telephone/internet to beef up the evidence of bona fide marriage.

 

    Would any of the following be significantly helpful?  both names on auto insurance, ditto homeowners insurance, a will, or a medical power of attorney?  Other things?

 

Re 2), it seems that proof of health insurance would be a plus, but I use Medicare (can't add her) and it's not clear how someone who's not here legally now (an overstayer) can get health insurance.  We're living in California now but home state is in New England.  So, any ideas on how to get coverage for her would be appreciated.

Gathering some of the above could take some time and I'm not sure whether it's better to take that time and run the risk of her being deported or to hurry up and submit what we've got and take our chances on an RFE or denial.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Lewis

[Duke & Marie 1,389]

You’ll have to take her to the bank to be added as a spouse without ITID/SSN.. to do this she’ll need passport, driver licences and tax number from old country.. 

 

health insurance is something she’ll need, you may have to purchase her a policy 

[Lewis_L 0]

Thanks much.

 

Any other input?  Anyone?

[Chancy 6,243]

On 10/19/2020 at 10:12 AM, Lewis_L said:

Would any of the following be significantly helpful?  both names on auto insurance, ditto homeowners insurance, a will, or a medical power of attorney?

 

Yes.  Other suggestions here --

 

 

[Lewis_L 0]

Thanks, Chancy.  Appreciate the answer and the link to more good suggestions.

[Co6aka 18]

A few thoughts...

 

Your wife could carry a copy of your marriage certificate in her purse, along with a clear photocopy of her passport and visa, and a clear copy of your passport and/or birth certificate.  My wife also has scans of those on her mobile phone, and added scans of the I-797 notifications when we received them.

 

Bank of America added my wife to my checking accounts even without the marriage certificate. At that time we had only a copy of the executed marriage license and a copy of the minister's certification to perform marriages, and a screenshot of the marriage bureau's website indicating the bureau is closed until further notice. We also offered photos from our outdoor driveway ceremony, but they didn't need them. What did help was my wife's foreign credit cards, one of which is from CitiBank.  BoA's only request was that as soon as we receive the marriage certificate we bring it to a branch, which we did a few months later when we received it.  IMHO, if your bank isn't willing to help you out at a time like this then it's time to find another bank.

 

As for the AOS package, get the whole thing fully and properly prepared.  Note that USCIS wrote re the I-944, "After Oct. 13, 2020, we will reject your Form I-485 if you do not include the required forms and evidence with Form I-485 at the time of filing" on this page:  https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/public-charge/injunction-of-the-inadmissibility-on-public-charge-grounds-final-rule

 

You'll have plenty of bona fide proofs by the time of your interview.  Include whatever you have by the time you're ready to submit the AOS package. USCIS is aware of the pandemic and the difficulties it's causing for everyone.  Get letters from family and friends, yours and if possible hers too; there are examples on this site.  You could include a couple of photos if you have any.

 

The I-944 could be very helpful if your wife has any degrees, certifications, work experience, assets, etc.  It cost us a two month delay in filing, but my wife got her diplomas sent here, professionally translated into English, and then evaluated (by a USCIS-approved evaluator) to an accredited U.S. masters degree. Plus, at the the same time, she got her property deeds sent here, and then professionally translated, and also the corresponding real estate tax valuations, assessments, and payment records from the government website.  She also included her pension account information from the government website.

 

A will is easy and cheap to prepare yourself, but be sure to read your home state's specific requirements for witnesses, notarization, etc.  There are many websites for will preparation, some free and some with a small fee, and they should advise you of the specifics.  I just updated my previous will (prepared by a lawyer) since everything else would remain the same.

 

Cross-check all of your forms for data consistency.

 

As for health insurance, first call both Medicare and your home state's marketplace and ask for advice.  As the spouse of a USC, she's eligible to receive coverage, but decline Medicaid if they offer it, because the state should have some non-Medicaid "public charge excluded" plans for pending immigrants.  If the rep doesn't understand, ask to be transferred to someone higher up the ladder.

 

 

[Lewis_L 0]

Wow, thanks very much indeed, Co6aka.  Kind of you to take the time to help out.

 

Looks like it's better to err in the direction of completeness of the submission.

 

Some great tips and suggestions -- much appreciated.

 

 

 

[sunshinedaisies 4]

My husband (usc) andni opened a joint account with wells fargo, we just said that i am on the process of aos, it was approved. They only needed my husband to be the primary account holder and i’m the secondary. They just asked me to submit my ssn when i have received o e.