Need Help with RFE for Marital Life

[Marshmallow-E 4]

Hello, everyone. I applied for I-485 based on a K-1 visa in April this year. A few days ago, I received an RFE asking for additional proof of our married life since the ceremony. In our initial application, we only submitted our marriage certificate and wedding photos as bona fide relationship evidence. The screenshot shows what the RFE is requesting.

 

So far, we’ve gathered the following evidence:

• Joint lease agreement
• Joint auto insurance policy
• Proof of living at the same address (driver’s licenses, pay stubs, bank statements, Costco membership)
• Evidence of being listed as emergency contacts for each other at work
• Additional wedding photos
• Photos from other life events
• Sworn affidavits from my spouse’s family

 

After getting married, my spouse and I have taken on different financial responsibilities. He pays for rent and internet, while I cover auto insurance and groceries. We handle the remaining expenses separately. I added my spouse as an authorized user on my credit card, and he added my name to the internet bills after receiving the RFE. 

 

My questions are:

1. Should we open a joint savings account to strengthen our case?
2. Will actions taken after receiving the RFE raise any red flags with USCIS?
3. Does the evidence we’ve gathered so far seem sufficient for approval?
4. Do we need to notarize the sworn affidavits? We are aware that we should include a government ID for each of them.

 

I’d appreciate any advice or insight. Thank you!

 

Edited November 22 by Marshmallow-E

[Lemonslice 4,916]

What about:

- Wills, living wills?

- Adding each other's as beneficiaries on all accounts (pension, retirement, savings, etc.) ?

- Health insurance?

- Phone bills?

Edited November 22 by Lemonslice

[Edward and Jaycel 278]

Co-mingling finances is the gold standard for USCIS (from everything I have read) along with proof of co-habitation as spouses. This is what we put in our I-485 that we just sent in:

 

o   Photos taken at our Wedding and Celebratory Dinner on October 25^th, 2024 – 3 Pages

o   Copy of our Wedding Invitation

o   Copy of our Joint Apartment Lease (In my maiden name as we signed it before our marriage) – 24 Pages

o   Copy of our first Joint Bank Account Statement from XXXXXXX Bank – 6 Pages

o   Copy of My Husband’s Work Benefits Summary with me Included on his Health Insurance as Spouse and as the sole Beneficiary of his Life and AD&D Insurance Policies (Coverage for the  Remainder of  2024) – 2 Pages

o   Copy of My Husband’s Work Benefits Summary with me Included on his Health Insurance and Life Insurance Plan as Spouse and as the sole Beneficiary of his Life and AD&D Insurance Policies (2025  Enrollment) – 2 Pages

o   Copy of my husband’s retirement plan beneficiary page listing me as Primary and Sole Beneficiary

o   Copy of my husband’s Last Will and Testament with me listed as Personal Representative and Sole Beneficiary – 9 Pages

o   Copy of my husband’s Power of Attorney for Healthcare with me listed as his “Agent” – 4 Pages

o   Copy of my husband’s Human Resources Portal page with me listed as his Emergency Contact

Edited November 22 by Edward and Jaycel

[Marshmallow-E 4]

34 minutes ago, Lemonslice said:

What about:

- Wills, living wills?

- Adding each other's as beneficiaries on all accounts (pension, retirement, savings, etc.) ?

- Health insurance?

- Phone bills?

 

Hi Lemonslice,

 

Thank you for your advice! We’ll definitely work on living wills, retirement plans, and savings. I forgot to mention that both my spouse and I are still in school or training, and we only work part-time jobs that don’t offer many benefits like pensions, 401(k)s, or health insurance. My spouse is covered under his parent’s health insurance, while I currently don’t have any health insurance. His phone plan is also under his parents, whereas I have my own plan. 

[Marshmallow-E 4]

9 minutes ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

Co-mingling finances is the gold standard for USCIS (from everything I have read) along with proof of co-habitation as spouses. This is what we put in our I-485 that we just sent in:

 

o   Photos taken at our Wedding and Celebratory Dinner on October 25^th, 2024 – 3 Pages

o   Copy of our Wedding Invitation

o   Copy of our Joint Apartment Lease (In my maiden name as we signed it before our marriage) – 24 Pages

o   Copy of our first Joint Bank Account Statement from XXXXXXX Bank – 6 Pages

o   Copy of My Husband’s Work Benefits Summary with me Included on his Health Insurance as Spouse and as the sole Beneficiary of his Life and AD&D Insurance Policies (Coverage for the  Remainder of  2024) – 2 Pages

o   Copy of My Husband’s Work Benefits Summary with me Included on his Health Insurance and Life Insurance Plan as Spouse and as the sole Beneficiary of his Life and AD&D Insurance Policies (2025  Enrollment) – 2 Pages

o   Copy of my husband’s retirement plan beneficiary page listing me as Primary and Sole Beneficiary

o   Copy of my husband’s Last Will and Testament with me listed as Personal Representative and Sole Beneficiary – 9 Pages

o   Copy of my husband’s Power of Attorney for Healthcare with me listed as his “Agent” – 4 Pages

o   Copy of my husband’s Human Resources Portal page with me listed as his Emergency Contact

 

Thank you for your ideas, Edward and Jaycel!

[Lemonslice 4,916]

53 minutes ago, Marshmallow-E said:

 

Hi Lemonslice,

 

Thank you for your advice! We’ll definitely work on living wills, retirement plans, and savings. I forgot to mention that both my spouse and I are still in school or training, and we only work part-time jobs that don’t offer many benefits like pensions, 401(k)s, or health insurance. My spouse is covered under his parent’s health insurance, while I currently don’t have any health insurance. His phone plan is also under his parents, whereas I have my own plan. 

Even without pension, you can still add each other on your individual bank accounts.  You might also want to look into having him move to your phone plan, or you joining their family plan, if only to save money.  Best of luck!

[Sukie 1,464]

Also, write a cover letter explaining how you manage expenses.  State exactly what you told us:  Spouse 1 handles xxxxx, Spouse 2 handles yyyy.

 

Honestly, a lease with both your names will go a long way.  Shows you live together!

 

Best of luck!

 

Sukie in NY

[Marshmallow-E 4]

8 minutes ago, Sukie said:

Also, write a cover letter explaining how you manage expenses.  State exactly what you told us:  Spouse 1 handles xxxxx, Spouse 2 handles yyyy.

 

Honestly, a lease with both your names will go a long way.  Shows you live together!

 

Best of luck!

 

Sukie in NY

 

Hi Sukie, 

 

A cover letter explaining our financial situation does sound like a great idea! Thanks for your help!

[Caligirl1 213]

8 hours ago, Marshmallow-E said:

Hello, everyone. I applied for I-485 based on a K-1 visa in April this year. A few days ago, I received an RFE asking for additional proof of our married life since the ceremony. In our initial application, we only submitted our marriage certificate and wedding photos as bona fide relationship evidence. The screenshot shows what the RFE is requesting.

 

So far, we’ve gathered the following evidence:

• Joint lease agreement
• Joint auto insurance policy
• Proof of living at the same address (driver’s licenses, pay stubs, bank statements, Costco membership)
• Evidence of being listed as emergency contacts for each other at work
• Additional wedding photos
• Photos from other life events
• Sworn affidavits from my spouse’s family

 

After getting married, my spouse and I have taken on different financial responsibilities. He pays for rent and internet, while I cover auto insurance and groceries. We handle the remaining expenses separately. I added my spouse as an authorized user on my credit card, and he added my name to the internet bills after receiving the RFE. 

 

My questions are:

1. Should we open a joint savings account to strengthen our case?
2. Will actions taken after receiving the RFE raise any red flags with USCIS?
3. Does the evidence we’ve gathered so far seem sufficient for approval?
4. Do we need to notarize the sworn affidavits? We are aware that we should include a government ID for each of them.

 

I’d appreciate any advice or insight. Thank you!

 

You could still provide the bills aboutrent,internet,insurance etc and mark those on the bankstatements incl a short letter explaining the fact about splitting responsibilities- that's what I did and it was more than sufficient 

[K1visaHopeful 2,849]

8 hours ago, Marshmallow-E said:

Hello, everyone. I applied for I-485 based on a K-1 visa in April this year. A few days ago, I received an RFE asking for additional proof of our married life since the ceremony. In our initial application, we only submitted our marriage certificate and wedding photos as bona fide relationship evidence. The screenshot shows what the RFE is requesting.

 

So far, we’ve gathered the following evidence:

• Joint lease agreement
• Joint auto insurance policy
• Proof of living at the same address (driver’s licenses, pay stubs, bank statements, Costco membership)
• Evidence of being listed as emergency contacts for each other at work
• Additional wedding photos
• Photos from other life events
• Sworn affidavits from my spouse’s family

 

After getting married, my spouse and I have taken on different financial responsibilities. He pays for rent

So you have a lease in both your names. 

8 hours ago, Marshmallow-E said:

and internet

The bill will have your common address and same as lease.

8 hours ago, Marshmallow-E said:

, while I cover auto insurance

Will have both your names in policy. 

8 hours ago, Marshmallow-E said:

and groceries.

If you use a credit card, your grocery shopping charges will appear at stores in the same city as your lease/ any proof of living together. 

8 hours ago, Marshmallow-E said:

We handle the remaining expenses separately. I added my spouse as an authorized user on my credit card, and he added my name to the internet bills after receiving the RFE. 

Timing is irrelevant. 

8 hours ago, Marshmallow-E said:

My questions are:

1. Should we open a joint savings account to strengthen our case?

Nah.

8 hours ago, Marshmallow-E said:

1. Will actions taken after receiving the RFE raise any red flags with USCIS?

Nah.

8 hours ago, Marshmallow-E said:

1. Does the evidence we’ve gathered so far seem sufficient for approval?

Sure but you're likely not thinking of everything you have because you think it's not good enough. DLs, mail, memberships, municipal licenses like pets, sporting etc. 

8 hours ago, Marshmallow-E said:

1. Do we need to notarize the sworn affidavits? We are aware that we should include a government ID for each of them.

No.

8 hours ago, Marshmallow-E said:

I’d appreciate any advice or insight. Thank you!

 

Understand the reason you got an RFE.

It's not because you didn't submit anything. 

It's because time has lapsed inbetween filing AND they likely don't want to bother to interview you so are asking for truth on paper.

[Marshmallow-E 4]

8 hours ago, K1visaHopeful said:

So you have a lease in both your names. 

The bill will have your common address and same as lease.

Will have both your names in policy. 

If you use a credit card, your grocery shopping charges will appear at stores in the same city as your lease/ any proof of living together. 

Timing is irrelevant. 

Nah.

Nah.

Sure but you're likely not thinking of everything you have because you think it's not good enough. DLs, mail, memberships, municipal licenses like pets, sporting etc. 

No.

Understand the reason you got an RFE.

It's not because you didn't submit anything. 

It's because time has lapsed inbetween filing AND they likely don't want to bother to interview you so are asking for truth on paper.

 

Hi K1visaHopeful,

 

Thank you for answering my questions and providing additional insight! We now feel more confident about my case!

[wazzujoel 76]

Hi Marshmellow-E,

 

I just wanted to say that I think your evidence is  sufficient as is, however there were a lot of other ideas suggested in this thread that are also a good idea. In your situation I don't think it will hurt you to include as much evidence as you can even if it might be a little over kill. I especially liked Sukie's idea of a letter affidavit from you as a couple explaining your marriage life and how you have co-mingled your finances and how you are both students working part-time. Just a short couple paragraph letter stating you have integrated your lives. 

 

Honestly though, I think what you have is already enough. Best wishes.