Sukie

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

You might try clearing your browser history, cache, and cookies. Sukie in NY

I understand. If you have home owner's insurance, be sure to add him to the list of claimants. That way, if anything awful were to happen to you, he would be able to file a claim with the insurance company. Have a great journey! Sukie

Your list is good, and should be, for most officers, complete. I would ask you one question though...what is your living situation? Do you rent? Do you own? I would add a copy of a lease or a deed/mortgage. If you live with friends, or with family, then include an affidavit from them describing your agreement, and how the two of you contribute to the household. This is not a requirement - but might go a long way to add to your "co-habititation" paperwork. Best of luck to you both! Sukie in NY

My spouse got her 10-year card exactly one week before her Naturalization Ceremony! Sukie in NY

Here's the thing about starting to build a credit score... One of the first questions asked is how long you have lived at your current address. Most algorithms award partial points until you have lived at one address for at least a year. If the place you live is owned instead of rented, your score goes higher. If you don't have an income (and your UK job won't count), then you get no points. It takes being at a job at least six months to be considered "stable". Then they look at how much credit to you have, vs. how much credit you use. And, do you pay off the credit each month, or not? Some people take out a small installment loan (I did this when I bought appliances) and pay it off religiously - that garners a lot of points for your score. It's very hard to get credit if you don't have credit. That's why piggy-backing on your spouse will be critical over the first couple of years. Let us know what happens! Sukie in NY

It will take some time to build up your US Credit Score. 1. Get added as a secondary user on your spouse's card. 2. Get added on your spouse's bank account, or, if you can, open your own account. 3. Working with the bank where you are added or new, ask for the "pre-paid" credit card (as mentioned above). 4. Try to get added on utility bills. Even if you start with a very low credit amount ($1000), if you use it properly, you will build good credit. But it will take at least one year to truly build a score. Best of luck to you! Sukie in NY

Yep. Married a Gold Coast honey! Sukie in NY (in Oz)

Sorry, Captain Ewok - the "Block New Topics" was good for about 24 hours, but it's b-a-a-a-a-a-c-c-c-c-k-k-k.... 8:09 AM Brisbane Australia time on November 2...5:09 pm EDT on November 1 Sukie in NY

I used this outline for my data: 1. Required documents 2. Documents that proved we live together (lease, mortgage, utilities) 3. Documents that showed we combined our financial lives (not every couple does this) 4. Documents that show we do life together (joint gym memberships, for example) 5. Documents that show we have planned for the future together (wills, Powers-of-attorney) Sukie in NY

You may have ticked the box to have a Social Security Number assigned and sent to you, but historically, it only has worked about 50% of the time. If you do not have a SSN letter by October 15th, then head to your local Social Security Office to enquire. Don't go before the 14 days, as it does take some time to process the request, as the SS Administration is a separate entity from USCIS. If the officer who processed you through at your Point of Entry did not tick the box on his or her screen, then the request will not be generated. Happened to us, even though we specifically asked the officer about it. You were not nor will you be charged for a Social Security Number. Sukie in NY

The fact that you trust each other enough to have a joint account is a plus. Later, showing how you USE the joint account will be important. Go for it!!! Sukie in NY

Be sure to take your flight details/itinerary - especially your boarding pass if you still have it. Sukie in NY

The "not a citizen" was enough here in New York. Sukie in NY

90 minutes is probably not enough time. 3 hours or 200 minutes is much better. 11 hours is overkill. Best of luck on your journey! Sukie in NY

You need an affidavit from the family member(s) who are paying your utilities. They should explain exactly what they cover, and what monthly sum you pay them to help pay them back. It would also be good if they explain WHY they are doing this. Also make sure your evidence is from the beginning of your marriage. Sukie in NY

You are fine. The "90 days" date was March 10th, and your package was delivered on March 11th. Breathe! Sukie in NY

It's hard to predict what a Border Officer will do - and you might catch one on a good day, and one on a bad day. Prior to our marriage and subsequent immigration journey, my partner did get a warning when she came through one time. Scared her to death. And we were visiting for MUCH longer times than you were. And we got through ok. The suggestions above are good. Bring the letters, etc. with you, just in case. Best of luck! Sukie in NY

If you have a couple of utility bills with both your names on them, then just submit those. If you don't, then submit one with your name and one with your partner's name showing THE SAME ADDRESS. The reason for having these particular docs is yes, to prove financial togetherness, but even more important, to show you live together. Having an explanation of your maiden name in a cover letter will not hurt. Sukie in NY

Here's another vote for including the tax transcript only. The transcript proves that you filed. A signed 1040 package does not. Plus, they prefer the transcripts! Sukie in NY

Print all the pages, but just choose one statement per quarter instead of all monthly statements. We just did quarterly for our process, but we also had LOADS of other financial mingling data. The only thing we were asked for were updated taxes (we applied just before April 15th, so by the time the interview came along, we had another transcript to submit). Best of luck. Sukie in NY

New York takes voter registration from the Driver's License roll. Send the card back with "Not a Citizen" checked. Make a COPY of the card (filled out) before you send it back. My spouse got called for Jury Duty TWICE before she became a citizen. Cover your backside, and send it back in. Sukie in NY

I owned our home before we married. We merely added a note about this to our cover letter, showed that my spouse was listed on our Homeowners Insurance, and submitted our NY Driver's Licenses - both with our home address. We had no issues. Sukie in NY

Oh, Jeez. What a &*$%storm. So very sorry to hear this. You are one of the most organized people on this list. Surely there is a way through. Do you live in a state with a sympathetic senator? Sukie in NY

Keep the envelope, too! Sukie in NY