Supporting evidence for AOS following K1 marriage?

[smilingstone 225]

Hi all,

 

Hoping you can advise here.

 

I entered the US on my K1 last week and we'll be planning to get married over the next few weeks. Throughout the whole K1 process I had in my head that we will need further supporting evidence of our relationship/marriage for the AOS process, such as co-mingling finances, opening joint accounts, health insurance, etc. However, now that I'm revisiting guidance on our next steps, there isn't any mention of this.

 

I am wondering if I misread something early on and it just stuck in my mind, and that we actually don't need to provide anything like this. VJs AOS guide doesn't make any mention of it, and nor does any other immigration-based sites. Is this something needed for the potential interview (from what I understand not all people get called for AOS interview)?

 

Can anyone confirm or clarify what we need? A run down of the docs you provided, when filing and/or for interview, would be really helpful.

 

Thank you  

[MalloryCat 235]

i believe the co-mingling of finances and stuff is more asked for during the removal of conditions process.

 

including it as part of AOS isn't required, but some people do as just extra evidence of a bona-fide relationship.

 

I included a photos from our wedding, a copy of our joint apartment lease, print outs showing my husband as a dependent on health insurance (medical, vision, and dental), and a print out of my life insurance (2 different ones, both employer provided) showing him as the sole recipient.

 

but none of that is required, the only thing required to show your marriage is real is the certified copy of the marriage license.

Edited 5 hours ago by MalloryCat

[Edward and Jaycel 472]

12 minutes ago, MalloryCat said:

but none of that is required, the only thing required to show your marriage is real is the certified copy of the marriage license.

 

While true, I always go by the philosophy of sending the strongest case possible and with the AOS, hoping to get a waiver for the interview  

[MalloryCat 235]

9 minutes ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

 

While true, I always go by the philosophy of sending the strongest case possible and with the AOS , hoping to get a waiver for the interview  

that is also a very good point lol

[Edward and Jaycel 472]

56 minutes ago, smilingstone said:

A run down of the docs you provided, when filing and/or for interview, would be really helpful.

 Here a link to the November AOS Filers Thread where I listed our cover letters' tables of contents

 

 

[EatBulaga 344]

1 hour ago, MalloryCat said:

but none of that is required, the only thing required to show your marriage is real is the certified copy of the marriage license.

@smilingstone @Edward and Jaycel AOS should include a copy of the marriage certificate, not the marriage license. If you only include the marriage license with your AOS, you risk getting an RFE for the marriage certificate.

 

Marriage license is what you apply for before the marriage to get the officiant to sign and submit to the county clerk to register your marriage. Some marriage license have a line for you to request to the officiant to make a name change.

 

Marriage certificate is the official record from the county clerk for the marriage. If you have a name change, you can use the marriage certificate to change your name at the Social Security office, driver's license office, etc.

 

One thing often overlooked in preparing for the AOS is the wait time from the marriage to actually getting the marriage certificate. Some county clerk marriage registration may take over a month to get the marriage certificate, while others can be available the same day the officiant submits it. What I've observed in some cases is the marriage certificate wait is too long and the AOS is sent in with the marriage license before the I-94 expires to get the NOA1, but to only later receive an RFE for the marriage certificate.

Edited 3 hours ago by EatBulaga

[Edward and Jaycel 472]

11 minutes ago, EatBulaga said:

AOS should include a copy of the marriage certificate, not the marriage license.

Yes... We included a Certified True Copy of our Marriage Certificate. Luckily the County Clerk here makes it really easy to record the completed certificate and get copies. We got married on a Friday and went to the Clerk on that following Monday, had our certificate recorded and walked out with 10 Certified copies all in about a 20 minute visit. 

[MalloryCat 235]

yea certificate is what i meant

my county clerk was using them interchangeably for whatever reason lol

 

we were able to look it up on their website to see if it had been processed yet, and then was able to order copies once it was

[SL2024 94]

We have our courthouse wedding tomorrow but are in the process of getting some of the documents and information to save time for getting everything together to file our AOS (the rest we will get ready after the wedding).

 

I think ultimately it is up to you what you include in your file but I agree with @Edward and Jaycel that you should give the strongest case possible so try to include what you both have available already and what you can get in between now and when you file the AOS.

 

Things like Marriage Certificate, Joint Bank Accounts, Joint Health Insurance, Mortgage/Rental Agreements, etc.

 

 

[alliejourney 71]

That kind of evidence is hard to collect when you're adjusting from K1, since oftentimes you don't have required documents to open bank accounts, get a driver's license, etc! After all, us USCs agree to financially sponsor our beneficiaries while you navigate immigration and get on your feet.

 

All we submitted was our marriage certificate as per the instructions, but as he received his work authorization and has the ability to become more independent, we've been gathering up evidence of shared address and shared finances, in case we get an RFE for more evidence of a bona fide marriage. I do think others' advice to include photos from the wedding and things like that is wise, I wish I had done that!

[SL2024 94]

2 minutes ago, alliejourney said:

That kind of evidence is hard to collect when you're adjusting from K1, since oftentimes you don't have required documents to open bank accounts, get a driver's license, etc! After all, us USCs agree to financially sponsor our beneficiaries while you navigate immigration and get on your feet.

 

All we submitted was our marriage certificate as per the instructions, but as he received his work authorization and has the ability to become more independent, we've been gathering up evidence of shared address and shared finances, in case we get an RFE for more evidence of a bona fide marriage. I do think others' advice to include photos from the wedding and things like that is wise, I wish I had done that!

 

That is very true as well! I would agree as well that photos of wedding should be included as well.

[smilingstone 225]

Thanks everyone for your very valuable advice!

 

1 hour ago, SL2024 said:

Things like Marriage Certificate, Joint Bank Accounts, Joint Health Insurance, Mortgage/Rental Agreements, etc.

 

One of our concerns is that our living situation isn't the most conventional. We live on my fiancé's father's land and don't pay rent/mortgage. We only pay for the utilities, which goes directly to him. There's nothing formal in writing confirming as such, but I'm wondering if a notorized letter from the FIL would help?

 

We're aiming to get the ball rolling on my SSN ASAP, so then we can open a joint account. We'll also be looking at health insurance plans that can detail us both. We'll also be able to do wedding photos. But apart from the aforementioned, I'm struggling to think of anything else we can use to strengthen the request. If anything, I feel like 90 days (although more like 30 days) isn't a lot of time to gather stuff that evidences a married life.

[Edward and Jaycel 472]

2 minutes ago, smilingstone said:

There's nothing formal in writing confirming as such, but I'm wondering if a notorized letter from the FIL would help?

 

 

Get a sworn affidavit from him which a notary in FL can notarize

[OldUser 7,427]

3 minutes ago, smilingstone said:

One of our concerns is that our living situation isn't the most conventional. We live on my fiancé's father's land and don't pay rent/mortgage. We only pay for the utilities, which goes directly to him. There's nothing formal in writing confirming as such, but I'm wondering if a notorized letter from the FIL would help?

 

Just now, Edward and Jaycel said:

 

Get a sworn affidavit from him which a notary in FL can notarize

Agreed with what @Edward and Jaycel said.

 

However, for multiple reasons, including those outside immigration, I recommend planning to find a place of your own sooner rather than later.

[Edward and Jaycel 472]

1 minute ago, OldUser said:

However, for multiple reasons, including those outside immigration, I recommend planning to find a place of your own sooner rather than later.

 

👆👆 Yes this