Sukie

Shin, it is your documentation that will speak for you. Make it EASY to see that you "do life" together, even when you are apart. We were also a same-sex couple (one of the first to file when DOMA fell. You'll get through it! When you submit your documentation, write a cover letter explaning your live/work situation. Don't make USCIS "guess" at how the two of you do life. USCIS does understand job markets and new grads! Sukie in NY

There are often couples who have to be separated due to work - medical residents, academics, etc. Your job,, as OldUser says, is to document your trips to visit each other. Keep ALL airline tickets, bus tickets, receipts for gas, hotels, if applicable, plus records of how often you speak to each other online or on the phone. It is not insurmountable. It's just a little different. Also document your time with the relatives who are supportive of you. Best of luck on your journey!!! Sukie in NY

If you have sent evidence - like a bank statement or credit card statement or a copy of a lease - make sure you send ALL the pages! Don't just send the summary! Good luck! Sukie in NY

As two others have said, get in front of any questions with a letter of explanation of your lifestyle. Pictures of the van, documentation of where the van has been, and where you park it. Vive le difference! In Australia they have a name for retired people who sell up and travel in their camper vans - "Grey Nomads"!!! Sukie in NY

The most important thing about your evidence is that it should be self-explanatory - meaning an officer can infer what he or she needs to know from what is in front of them. Should there be gaps, or if things aren't clear, that can lead to suspicion and/or RFEs. The best thing to do is to simply explain how you do it in a cover letter - meaning you say something like xxx account was originally <owner> and in <month, year> we added <second owner> to the account. We each contribute $$$ to a joint account from which we cover <list expenses here> . We also each maintain separate accounts. Our relationship suffered a rough patch from <date> to <date>, where we did not agree on how our money was spent. We have since moved through that patch, and are back on track. Whatever YOU say needs to be the truth. Just state the facts - don't try to either hide anything or use pretty language. Just state the facts so that the officer can look at your evidence and see what is happening instead of trying to guess what goes on. Best of luck to you! Sukie in NY

I had to remember my high school Latin for that one, VinnyH. That was over 50 years ago..... Sukie in NY

Sounds like someone got caught NOT knowing this, and just wants to post a cautionary tale. Thanks, OP, for reminding this community. Sukie in NY

I just entered Japan 3 weeks ago as a tourist - I did not need to "register" with a touring company. That WAS a rule as the COVID shutdown was loosening, but it is not a requirement (for a US Citizen, anyway) now. Also - Timona, I like the start of the discussion. However, the turn-around time for a US Citizen/GC holder to locate a notary public (especially if it is a weekday, and you work 9-5) is on the skinny side. Normally, I would go to my bank - but not every branch has a notary on staff FULL-TIME. And, how far is everyone from a Staples?

If you are sending hard-copy, just print the pages and send them in. If you are trying to condense a file that you are going to upload electronically, then break the document into several smaller files. Our paper file was 4 inches thick. Sukie in NY

Take the paragraph you have written above (which is very clear) and add it to your cover letter, removing the words "Concerned that it might appear unusual for a third party to be named on our joint account". They still might ask you for prior statements, but you have explained everything up front, and I think you'll be good. Best! Sukie in NY

1. They want to see evidence from the time of marriage or from when you submitted AOS. This is VERY important. Since your bank account is only 1 year old, you need to explain this in a cover letter. Otherwise you will probably get an RFE because the circumstances are not clear if you only submit 12 months. 2. You will need to get your mother to write an affidavit stating that you have lived together at the house that she owns since xx/xx/xx, and that you will continue to do so. If you contribute at all to any of the expenses (like utilities), she needs to add that in, and I see that there are records to show that you do so. Sometimes a parent can add a line like "I am happy for my son and daughter-in-law to live in the house that I own, so that they may begin saving money for one of their own" (if this is true). Your driver's licenses can then prove you are at this address. You need to show that you have lived together in the marriage. You have good evidence other than these two items. They DO look at how you handle your finances, and they really care that you live together. Best of luck! Sukie in NY

Just a note: Informed Delivery cannot show anything that doesn't go through the automated sorting machine. So smaller first class mail in #10 envelopes, or 4 x 6 sized postcards or placards can be scanned, but nothing that cannot fly through that sorting machine. Sometimes you get the "A piece of mail that we do not have a picture of" notice, but sometimes, you just don't get any notice. Sukie in NY

Looks like you have covered it nicely. Best of luck on your journey!!! Sukie in NY

Make sure your affidavit from your husband's parents explains that they let you live with them. If you contribute to the household at all (do you add money for groceries or to help with utility bills?), make sure that's in the affidavit too. Best of luck! Sukie in NY

You have given us a lot of "explanations" (finances, housing) here on Visa Journey. I strongly suggest that you add a cover letter with these explanations to ward off any RFEs. Normally I would suggest getting an affidavit from your "landlord" explaining your housing arrangement. Definitely talk about the fact that you had separate accounts until 5 months ago - remember, you are supposed to be showing evidence since your marriage. Best of luck to you! Sukie in NY

Just a note about the SS card... I know your spouse checked the box saying you wish a SS card - we did, too, but the immigration system doesn't always play nice with the Social Security system. When a new immigrant is processed, the processing officer needs to check a box on his/her screen that sends the data to the Social Security office requesting a card. This does not always happen - and since your husband got through so fast, there might be a chance that this step was missed. When my spouse came in (we flew together to JFK), we both went to secondary together, and I made special mention that we had checked the box for a SS card to be generated (because someone on Visa Journey had suggested we make this "special mention"). Didn't happen. If you have not gotten the card within two weeks, then go to your local SS office. If you go earlier, and the SSN is already in process, then it can really confuse the person at the SS office desk. At one point a few years ago, you had only a 50-50 chance of the card being automatically generated through the system. Somehow I doubt this has improved. Best of luck to you and yours! Sukie in NY

Just a thought, too. If the OP's friend has a government job, especially with a security clearance, he may need to alert a supervisor as to what is going on, in case of a blackmail or extortion attempt. I am sorry for the child in this situation. I also know what it is like to feel like there is impending doom with a legal case, and how worked up it can make you! OP - have your friend get a lawyer. Sukie in NY

Sometimes it is a mistake on the part of the person submitting the form(s), and sometimes, it's NVC/USCIS that is just plain ignorant. The best way to avoid an RFE is to double-check and triple-check ALL requirements for each form, double-check and triple-check EVERY BIT OF INFORMATION on the form, double-check and triple check how much money you have to send and both address the check and the envelope properly. A submission that tells a complete story will rarely get an RFE. Best of luck! Sukie in NY

We had a different issue, but in a similar category. When we came through, the manual used by NVC had not been updated regarding police certificates in Australia (Australia went from certificates issued by each state to a national certificate). We had to print off the "rules" from the Australian Police, attach this to the RFE, and return this information (which USCIS should have known in the first place). We got through ok after that. If the state.gov website says the document you need is xxxx and is issued by yyy, then copy that page, write a paragraph describing the conversation with your Nova Scotia Vital Statistics Office (better if you had that in writing from THEM), and return the explanations, and another copy of your marriage certificate to NVC. Best of luck. Sukie in NY

Sounds good to me! Car insurance with both names? House insurance with both names? Wills? Medical powers of attorney? Those are also very good "co-mingling" pieces of evidence. Good luck to you on your journey! Sukie in NY

A quarter is THREE months. So 8 full statements in total for 2ish years. IF IF IF you have other strong financial evidence. Sukie in NY

Be sure to acknowledge the whys of separation in your cover letter, and emphasize the efforts you have made to remain connected with your spouse. Things like: How often do you talk with your spouse and how (email, phone, Facetime). How often do you physically get together in the same place? If you have friends or family members who know and support your relationship, this might be a good time for an affidavit mentioning what the two of you do to maintain your relationship and how they observe/support this. Your evidence is strong - just make your story strong, too! Best of luck on your journey. Sukie in NY

OOOOO - thank you, Dashinka! I never would have guessed to look there! Sukie in NY

Question: We used to be able to "report" posts at the top of the page. I don't see that option anymore. So are the poor moderators just having to try to kill stuff as it comes up? Thanks to all of you! Sukie in NY

The issue is that your packet is scanned. If you have a double-sided packet, then someone has to flip EVERY SINGLE PAGE to scan the docs (if they don't have a fancy-dancy scanner that you can tell to do this), and that's if they notice you have double-sided stuff in the first place. You risk having "missing pages" and you probably annoy a clerk who is scanning your packet - especially if you have 500 double-sided pages. So it is best to follow the guidance of USCIS and print one-sided only. Sukie in NY