I751 Enough Proof?

[txdoc 35]

Hello everyone,

I am getting ready to file i-751. We are within the 90 day timeframe, albeit a month into it. Still got a little under 2 months to GC expiration. We got married in 2019, and she officially moved here in mid 2021 after her CR1 was approved.

 

I am sending the following as proof of bonafide relationship:

• • Copies of her passport and green card 
• Copy of my passport? and naturalization certificate?
• • Copy of our joint US tax transcripts for the tax year 2021 and 2022
• • Copy of our apartment lease showing joint lease.
• • Copy of our auto insurance showing both of us listed
• • Copy of renter’s insurance for our apartment showing both of us listed
• • Copy of our credit card statements showing spouse as authorized user
• • Copy of our health, dental, vision insurance cards showing spouse as beneficiary
• • Print out of 401k, life, disability insurance showing spouse as beneficiary
• • A copy of our airline reservations for multiple vacations that we went on together in the past 4 years
• • Copy of UK birth certificate of our son
• • Copy of US CRBA for our son
• • Pictures and invitation card from son's first birthday
• Pictures and invitations from our three wedding events with over 200+ people in attendance in each event

 

Things I need help with:

1. Don't have a joint bank account. since we both mostly use our CC for points, and I pay off the card with my account. Sometimes, she also pays towards it with her own bank account. I can add her to my chase account before sending off i751 if that would help, no problem with that. Should I add her to my bank account before sending off i751?

2. She doesn't drive yet, so doesn't have a DL showing the same address, but is working on it. Should I wait on a state ID or DL?

3. My DL shows my parent's address, as that is my permanent mailing address. due to my medical training, we used to move often. On her CR1 paperwork, it also shows my parent's address. Do I need to file AR-11 and i865 before sending i751? And should I change my DL address to match our apartment address?

4.I'm just concerned the 90 day window opened a little over a month ago, so I've procrastinated a little because of my terrible work schedule. Should I prioritize sending what I have if I have enough proof vs waiting to get the above completed and then sending it all at once?

 

Thanks y'all!

Edited May 5, 2023 by txdoc

[OldUser 6,636]

You have some good evidence for sure.

Co-mingling of finances is one of the strongest bonafide marriage indicators, it wouldn't hurt paying for basics such as rent and utilities using a joint account. Don't you have common financial goals such as saving towards a house, emergency fund etc? Having a joint savings account would have been nice. But now this ship sailed for I-751 initial submission. I would strongly encourage opening a joint account for everyday's life purposes and for additonal evidence if you get it down the line. Don't wait for any statements now, but at least have them for potential RFE in 6-12 months and for N-400.

 

Same with your IDs. You're required to have valid address on your DL, so update it tomorrow. Have your spouse apply for state ID. How does she live without one? Both should have matching address on your IDs/DLs where you both actually live. If this takes 7-10 days, you can update and send copies with I-751, if longer - don't bother waiting, but still update the address.

 

Edited May 5, 2023 by OldUser

[Rocio0010 5,579]

Why are you sending passports and the naturalization certificate?

[txdoc 35]

11 minutes ago, OldUser said:

You have some good evidence for sure.

Co-mingling of finances is one of the strongest bonafide marriage indicators, it wouldn't hurt paying for basics such as rent and utilities using a joint account. Don't you have common financial goals such as saving towards a house, emergency fund etc? Having a joint savings account would have been nice. But now this ship sailed for I-751 initial submission. I would strongly encourage opening a joint account for everyday's life purposes and for additonal evidence if you get it down the line. Don't wait for any statements now, but at least have them for potential RFE in 6-12 months and for N-400.

 

Same with your IDs. You're required to have valid address on your DL, so update it tomorrow. Have your spouse apply for state ID. How does she live without one? Both should have matching address on your IDs/DLs where you both actually live. If this takes 7-10 days, you can update and send copies with I-751, if longer - don't bother waiting, but still update the address.

 

Thanks for your reply. Makes sense, I'll add her to my account. She doesn't work as of yet, hence we never really thought of getting a joint account, since all the expenses just go on our joint credit cards. 

I updated my DL address just now, and I'm getting an appointment for TX ID next week. She mostly uses her passport as ID for everything, which I now realize I should've gotten her an ID long time ago.

4 minutes ago, Rocio0010 said:

Why are you sending passports and the naturalization certificate?

Not sure if it's needed hence the question mark

[OldUser 6,636]

8 minutes ago, txdoc said:

She mostly uses her passport as ID for everything, which I now realize I should've gotten her an ID long time ago.

That's risky. The cost, time and hassle of replacing passport is higher than replacing state ID. Great that she's finally getting one. Make sure she gets unrestricted social security card also.

 

No passports or naturalization certificates are needed for this one. Not that it would hurt, but it shouldn't be required. Just copy of LPR's GC, back and front.

 

Edited May 5, 2023 by OldUser

[txdoc 35]

Just now, OldUser said:

That's risky, the cost, time and hassle of replacing passport is higher than replacing state ID. Great that she's finally getting one. Make sure she gets unrestricted social security card also.

 

No passports or naturalization certificates are needed for this one. Not that it would hurt, but it shouldn't be required. Just copy of LPR's GC, back and front.

 

Got it, thanks! Yes for sure, got the earliest appointment to get a TX ID.

[Sukie 1,459]

TXDOC, add a paragraph to your cover letter/Table of Contents about how you handle your finances together.  Better to explain that you use your credit cards for everything up front than to have them ding you for not having bank statements.  Lots of couples do not have joint bank accounts.  Just tell them how YOU do it.

 

Sukie in NY

[txdoc 35]

 

On 5/5/2023 at 9:37 AM, Sukie said:

TXDOC, add a paragraph to your cover letter/Table of Contents about how you handle your finances together.  Better to explain that you use your credit cards for everything up front than to have them ding you for not having bank statements.  Lots of couples do not have joint bank accounts.  Just tell them how YOU do it.

 

Sukie in NY

Thank you, will do that. Now just waiting on ID and will go ahead and send the package!