What evidence is good for I-751?

[stag 51]

We are still a bit out from filing for I-751, but I want to start thinking about what evidence will be sent. We do have joint banking account, took a couple trips together, obviously live together though most bills like electricity are in my name since I bought the house before we married. I'm assuming though the biggest evidence will be our child together born during our marriage? So sending the baby's birth certificate as evidence. How much does having a child together increase chance that interview will be waived and/or process will be smooth? Our processes before that for getting the first green card was very easy and no complications. Just was curious the experience of people in terms of the evidence for this next step, thanks. 

[OldUser 6,606]

See the guide for list of evidence. 

Also this doc.

 

You can add your spouse name to utility bills any time by changing details online or calling the companies.

 

Child's birth certificate is good evidence.

 

There's no way of knowing your interview is going to be waived. Sometimes the strongest cases get interview scheduled due to random checks.

 

Submit as much as you can and hope for the best.

Edited December 22, 2022 by OldUser

[Crazy Cat 41,810]

You are wise to plan ahead for ROC.  I wouldn't assume anything is obvious to USCIS.  Even after filing the I-751, you will need to continue to compile evidence of marital union from the filing date to the date of the interview.  That is what our officer wanted to see during our I-751 interview.  Good luck.   This is what we initially sent:

 

For ROC

Apartment lease with both our names & signatures
Joint bank checking acct statements since wife's arrival in June 2017.
Deed for new home with both our names
Mortgage Lender Letter with both our names.
Credit Cards showing both on joint account with same card number.
Amazon delivery label showing both names and our current address.
Wife's Military Dependent ID card showing me as the sponsor.
Tricare Eligibility Letter showing both of us together.
Military pay statement showing wife as my benefic.
Texas Health Care Directives appointing each other as sole health care proxy(Advanced Directives)
Our Texas driver's licenses with same address for both of us
2018 Joint Tax ReturnTax Returns 
Pictures of us on special occasions here in the US.
Car Insurance Cards showing both of us as insured drivers for our car
Boarding Passes for Las Vegas Valentine Day Trip 2019
Utility application showing both our names for our current address    

[iwannaplay54 985]

11 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

You are wise to plan ahead for ROC.  I wouldn't assume anything is obvious to USCIS.  Even after filing the I-751, you will need to continue to compile evidence of marital union from the filing date to the date of the interview.  That is what our officer wanted to see during our I-751 interview.  Good luck.   This is what we initially sent:

 

For ROC

Apartment lease with both our names & signatures
Joint bank checking acct statements since wife's arrival in June 2017.
Deed for new home with both our names
Mortgage Lender Letter with both our names.
Credit Cards showing both on joint account with same card number.
Amazon delivery label showing both names and our current address.
Wife's Military Dependent ID card showing me as the sponsor.
Tricare Eligibility Letter showing both of us together.
Military pay statement showing wife as my benefic.
Texas Health Care Directives appointing each other as sole health care proxy(Advanced Directives)
Our Texas driver's licenses with same address for both of us
2018 Joint Tax ReturnTax Returns 
Pictures of us on special occasions here in the US.
Car Insurance Cards showing both of us as insured drivers for our car
Boarding Passes for Las Vegas Valentine Day Trip 2019
Utility application showing both our names for our current address    

I like this list

@stag

Add if you have it:

Joint Health insurance cards

Matching drivers licenses

Life insurance beneficiary statements

401k beneficiary statements

 

 

[stag 51]

27 minutes ago, iwannaplay54 said:

I like this list

@stag

Add if you have it:

Joint Health insurance cards

Matching drivers licenses

Life insurance beneficiary statements

401k beneficiary statements

 

 

Thanks, yeah don't have everything joint, but things like health insurance, driver licenses, future joint tax return, a couple trips together, credit card account together, will be possible to show. I own the home (before marriage), so it's only my name on the house deed, but my wife is registered with building to live at our place, so can get that. Given all has been smooth till now, hoping it will be the same. I'm assuming common child together should be first evidence though? I mean that should supersede any piece of evidence for bone fide marriage in my opinion. 

[Crazy Cat 41,810]

4 minutes ago, stag said:

I mean that should supersede any piece of evidence for bone fide marriage in my opinion. 

All evidence is considered in totality with other evidence, imo. 

Edited December 22, 2022 by Crazy Cat

[iwannaplay54 985]

3 minutes ago, stag said:

Thanks, yeah don't have everything joint, but things like health insurance, driver licenses, future joint tax return, a couple trips together, credit card account together, will be possible to show. I own the home (before marriage), so it's only my name on the house deed, but my wife is registered with building to live at our place, so can get that. Given all has been smooth till now, hoping it will be the same. I'm assuming common child together should be first evidence though? I mean that should supersede any piece of evidence for bone fide marriage in my opinion. 

It will help but they have a lot of interest in co-mingled finances

[stag 51]

46 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

You are wise to plan ahead for ROC.  I wouldn't assume anything is obvious to USCIS.  Even after filing the I-751, you will need to continue to compile evidence of marital union from the filing date to the date of the interview.  That is what our officer wanted to see during our I-751 interview.  Good luck.   This is what we initially sent:

 

For ROC

Apartment lease with both our names & signatures
Joint bank checking acct statements since wife's arrival in June 2017.
Deed for new home with both our names
Mortgage Lender Letter with both our names.
Credit Cards showing both on joint account with same card number.
Amazon delivery label showing both names and our current address.
Wife's Military Dependent ID card showing me as the sponsor.
Tricare Eligibility Letter showing both of us together.
Military pay statement showing wife as my benefic.
Texas Health Care Directives appointing each other as sole health care proxy(Advanced Directives)
Our Texas driver's licenses with same address for both of us
2018 Joint Tax ReturnTax Returns 
Pictures of us on special occasions here in the US.
Car Insurance Cards showing both of us as insured drivers for our car
Boarding Passes for Las Vegas Valentine Day Trip 2019
Utility application showing both our names for our current address    

Some of those I have jointly, but some things like house deed is not joint since I bought before marriage or my wife doesn't drive so car insurance is only in my name. Honeymoon trip after wedding evidence is plenty though. The building can give a letter that my wife lives at the address (she had to apply to HOA to live). Electricity and Mortgage is in my name as it was set up before marriage.  Will that be an issue? 

[OldUser 6,606]

4 minutes ago, stag said:

Thanks, yeah don't have everything joint, but things like health insurance, driver licenses, future joint tax return, a couple trips together, credit card account together, will be possible to show. I own the home (before marriage), so it's only my name on the house deed, but my wife is registered with building to live at our place, so can get that. Given all has been smooth till now, hoping it will be the same. I'm assuming common child together should be first evidence though? I mean that should supersede any piece of evidence for bone fide marriage in my opinion. 

Don't just rely on child's birth certificate. Some couples had a child together and then separated. Unless you have enough evidence of living together, USCIS may give you a hard time.

[iwannaplay54 985]

2 minutes ago, stag said:

Some of those I have jointly, but some things like house deed is not joint since I bought before marriage or my wife doesn't drive so car insurance is only in my name. Honeymoon trip after wedding evidence is plenty though. The building can give a letter that my wife lives at the address (she had to apply to HOA to live). Electricity and Mortgage is in my name as it was set up before marriage.  Will that be an issue? 

Joint bills are rarely possible.  Joint assets are gold.

Edited December 22, 2022 by iwannaplay54

[stag 51]

Just now, iwannaplay54 said:

It will help but they have a lot of interest in co-mingled finances

Currently we have : joint bank account, joint credit card together, I can set my wife as beneficiary for my insurances if that helps, my wife is dependent in my health insurance, our taxes will be joint of course, but certain things that I acquired before marriage like the house mortgage or electricty bill is in my name. We do have driver licenses at same address of course, but since my wife doesn't drive, car insurance is just in my name. Just thinking what else will be needed to be co-mingled. 

[stag 51]

2 minutes ago, iwannaplay54 said:

Joint bills are rarely possible.  Joint assets are gold.

But what can I do if I acquired asset before marriage? 

[iwannaplay54 985]

Just now, stag said:

Currently we have : joint bank account, joint credit card together, I can set my wife as beneficiary for my insurances if that helps, my wife is dependent in my health insurance, our taxes will be joint of course, but certain things that I acquired before marriage like the house mortgage or electricty bill is in my name. We do have driver licenses at same address of course, but since my wife doesn't drive, car insurance is just in my name. Just thinking what else will be needed to be co-mingled. 

You have me flagging you LOL

 

In a “normal” household she should already be insured to drive, she should already be your life insurance beneficiary.  It is not unusual for mortgage and deed to be in one or the other’s name, nor is it unusual for utilities to be the same.  Dependent on health/dental etc is a given. Just reading you the flags dude.

[stag 51]

3 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Don't just rely on child's birth certificate. Some couples had a child together and then separated. Unless you have enough evidence of living together, USCIS may give you a hard time.

I have quite a bit, but it seems the fact I acquired my home before my marriages and not during is a red flag since are both names are not on it? We do have joint bank accounts, credit card, trips together, our insurances together, addresses of driver license and medical bills together, but there's a few things only in my name simply because I acquired it before marriage. Just want to plan for these things. 

[iwannaplay54 985]

1 minute ago, stag said:

But what can I do if I acquired asset before marriage? 

I never mentioned your house or mortgage