No lease for ROC application

[Keiko2325 7]

Hi all! I am about to be eligible to file for ROC and was a bit worried since we live in a house I bought before marriage so my spouse’s name is not on the mortgage. These are the evidence we have showing bona fide marriage: 

1. utilities bills showing both our names (only 2 months of electricity bill since we just recently called them to update our bill to show both names, water and gas bill are impossible to add both our names but we have them in either my name or spouse’s)

2. IRS mail about stimulus check addressed to both our names 

3. Actual copies of credit cards 

4. credit card statements showing both our names 

5. Health, dental and life insurance showing my spouse as a beneficiary 

6. car insurance showing both our names 

7. Joint tax returns for 2019 and 2020 

8. Vacation to Disney together (flight tickets in our names) 

9. family photos with my mother in law 

10. Receipt showing spouse’s gift purchased for me 

 

Are my evidence considered strong enough? Would the utilities bills be sufficient? Would we need affidavits from our friends and family to prove our case? 
 

Thank you so much! 

 

Edited April 5, 2021 by Keiko2325

[debbiedoo 2,339]

You can only send what you have. Our home is only in my name (purchased before marriage).

 

Do you have joint bank statements?

[Bob in Boston 767]

5 hours ago, Keiko2325 said:

Are my evidence considered strong enough?

Like Debiedoo said, BANK STATEMENTS! they like to see the money comingled in one account. I did a quitclaim deed and put my spouse on the deed of the house. More of estate planning than anything else as we are both in our mid to late 60s. Good Luck

Edited April 5, 2021 by Bob in Boston

[Sukie 1,474]

Don't worry about your spouse not being on the deed or mortgage.  Just add a short paragraph to your cover letter explaining that you purchased the house before you married.  Then make sure you have evidence to show that you both live there - for example, copies of both of your driver's licenses or voter registration showing your address.

 

You'll be fine!  I owned my house free and clear before I got married.  I just explained that in our cover letter, and had copies of our licenses and voter registration.  We had absolutely no issues.

 

Sukie in NY

[Keiko2325 7]

2 hours ago, Bob in Boston said:

Like Debiedoo said, BANK STATEMENTS! they like to see the money comingled in one account. I did a quitclaim deed and put my spouse on the deed of the house. More of estate planning than anything else as we are both in our mid to late 60s. Good Luck

We don’t have joint bank accounts due to our different investment strategies, but we have joint credit cards. Would that be sufficient? 

[mindthegap 2,610]

You can't provide what doesn't exist

[Sukie 1,474]

1 hour ago, Keiko2325 said:

We don’t have joint bank accounts due to our different investment strategies, but we have joint credit cards. Would that be sufficient? 

It's also ok to have separate bank accounts, but it's not the usual thing that couples do.  Be sure you explain (in your cover letter) that you don't have joint accounts because you handle your money separately - but you'll need to show how you pay your bills.  Or at least describe how you pay your bills.

 

Joint credit accounts are good.  How do you pay them off? 

 

Also, you don't mention it, but even if you own the house/have the mortgage, your homeowner's insurance should list BOTH names as claimants.  This means if one of you should die, the other spouse has the ability to file an insurance claim.  It's not just from a USCIS perspective that this is important - but for life in general.  A classic example - your house has a tree fall on it, and it kills one of the occupants.  The other occupant needs to be authorized to file a claim to repair the house.

 

In your case, it would strengthen your case to have wills - especially showing the homeowner is willing the property to the non-home-owner.

 

I think you will be ok - you just need to think like a case officer...how does the paperwork you submit show these two people live together, do life together, and are planning for a future together?

 

Best of luck!

 

Sukie in NY

Edited April 5, 2021 by Sukie
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