I-751 - gathering evidence [split thread]

[Dome 24]

Hey all, working on finishing up gathering the evidence and filing but am unsure on a few things if anyone has any advice. For evidence that there is many months of (ex. bank statements), did you all send every single month? Or something like one statement per quarter? I was gathering together banking documents and it is super thick for all of them lol

 

The only utility we pay at our apartment is electric, and we could only get it in one name. Should we not include utilities/bills in this case? Phone bill is is one name only as well.

 

Lastly, I was recently laid off and have since found a new job, but health insurance will not kick in for 3 months. Wife is on her company's insurance individually now and I'm looking for a marketplace option during the interim. It was not an option for us to both go on her health insurance since the monthly premium for the two of us would've been insane. Should I not include anything health insurance related?

 

 

[OldUser 6,608]

Hi @Dome there's at least two school of thoughts when it comes to submitting evidence.

 

 

Strict approach

I-751 instructions ask for as much evidence as possible from the date of marriage until date I-751 petition is filed. This means every monthly statement, bill etc that's available to you and has value as evidence.

 

Soft approach

Submit only evidence since 2 year Green Card date until date I-751 petition is filed.

Submit quarterly bank statements or bills.

 

 

My experience

I recently got I-751 approved using Strict approach. I had no RFEs and no interview.

 

VJ members experience

Many users used Soft approach and got successfully approved.

 

Important considerations

Whichever approach you will choose:

- Make sure to provide all pages of each statement or document you submit. Partial statements will likely trigger RFE

- Make sure your evidence is relevant and strong. Do not submit local bus timetables unless it has to do anything with your case

- Successful applicants think in terms "What all can I submit" instead of "What's the miminum can I submit to get approved?"

 

 

Your case

I don't see IRS tax return transcripts. This is important evidence. Have you traveled? You may want to include plane tickets / hotel reservations with both names. Do you have a car? Are both are you insured? What about copies of IDs for both US citizen and LPR showing same address?

[Dome 24]

1 hour ago, OldUser said:

Your case

I don't see IRS tax return transcripts. This is important evidence. Have you traveled? You may want to include plane tickets / hotel reservations with both names. Do you have a car? Are both are you insured? What about copies of IDs for both US citizen and LPR showing same address?

Thanks for the response. I will go with the strict approach to be safer and just do every single statement for what I have available.

 

Any trip we've made, the hotels have always been in one persons name only. Driver's licenses have old addresses (mine is 2 addresses ago, wife's is 1 address ago....) so both of those pieces of evidence are unfortunately out. Below is what I have collected, in no particular order:

 

- Form G-1145

- Form i-751

- Front + Back Greencard copies

- 3 years of jointly signed apartment leases

- 3 years of renters insurance with both our names

- Car insurance with both our names (car title is only in one name, so can't provide that)

- 2021 + 2022 jointly filed tax return transcript

- Joint bank account statements since the joint account was created

- Joint High-Yield Savings Account statements + a form listing both our names and stating it is a joint account

- Two 401K statements + beneficiary form (we each have a 401K)

- Roth IRA statements + beneficiary form

- Life insurance beneficiary form

- Credit Card statements, form noting the main card holder and authorized individual on the card, and copies of the actual credit cards

- Airplane tickets + booking confirmations from 2022 trip to Japan

- Photos post AOS greencard interview (Japan trip, both our families, sporting events, restaurants, misc...)

 

Currently working on getting two affidavits and on a cover letter (I still need to organize the above order better).

 

 

 

 

[OldUser 6,608]

27 minutes ago, Dome said:

Driver's licenses have old addresses (mine is 2 addresses ago, wife's is 1 address ago....)

That's one of the first things USCIS officer asks for at the interview if you were to have it tomorrow. I know it's a hassle, but you're required by law to have up to date info on your driver licenses + it's an excellent piece of evidence. Or if it's mismatched or out of date it can cause more scrutiny at USCIS.

 

I hope you guys remembered to file AR-11 and I-865 every time you moved.

 

Good luck!

 

 

[Dome 24]

3 hours ago, OldUser said:

That's one of the first things USCIS officer asks for at the interview if you were to have it tomorrow. I know it's a hassle, but you're required by law to have up to date info on your driver licenses + it's an excellent piece of evidence. Or if it's mismatched or out of date it can cause more scrutiny at USCIS.

 

I hope you guys remembered to file AR-11 and I-865 every time you moved.

 

Good luck!

 

 

We have filed AR-11 and I-865 each time we've moved. I would not have expected them asking for licenses at the interview... guess we better get on that and update them now. Thanks for the heads up!

[Chancy 6,241]

*** Post & replies split off from August filers thread ***