Recommendations for wills/power of attorney/etc.?

[BOS_LHR 829]

We're two weeks away from being able to file our ROC, and I'm nervous because I don't have my husband's name on the mortgage or car. I'd like to get some legal docs done up to help beef up the petition -- does anyone have recommendations for good online services they've used to create wills, powers of attorney, or other ROC-friendly documents? Thanks!

[Sukie 1,460]

Just be sure you get documents for YOUR state!

Sukie in NY

[BOS_LHR 829]

Thanks Nice to see some familiar names around here!

For stuff I'm sending:

*Tax return transcripts 2013-2015

*Monthly joint checking statements

*3x 401k beneficiary designations between us

*2x IRA and one Roth IRA beneficiary designation

*Proof of joint medical insurance

*Proof of joint dental insurance

*Joint cell phone statements

*Proof of two shared credit card accounts (and statements from the one which is actively used)

I can add a joint BJ's Wholesale membership, evidence of postal mail sent to us both at a shared address, and possibly boarding passes from trips we've taken (would passport stamps work also?). I have life insurance through work so I need to figure out how to get some evidence of my husband being my beneficiary on that too. That's pretty much it though, and I feel a little shaky not having mortgage/car loan & title/car insurance/savings account in both names to add to the pile.

Edited March 20, 2016 by BOS_LHR

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Thanks Nice to see some familiar names around here!

For stuff I'm sending:

*Tax return transcripts 2013-2015

*Monthly joint checking statements

*3x 401k beneficiary designations between us

*2x IRA and one Roth IRA beneficiary designation

*Proof of joint medical insurance

*Proof of joint dental insurance

*Joint cell phone statements

*Proof of two shared credit card accounts (and statements from the one which is actively used)

I can add a joint BJ's Wholesale membership, evidence of postal mail sent to us both at a shared address, and possibly boarding passes from trips we've taken (would passport stamps work also?). I have life insurance through work so I need to figure out how to get some evidence of my husband being my beneficiary on that too. That's pretty much it though, and I feel a little shaky not having mortgage/car loan & title/car insurance/savings account in both names to add to the pile.

List is looking good. Just to let you know, we were approved without any of these you have:

*3x 401k beneficiary designations between us

*2x IRA and one Roth IRA beneficiary designation

*Proof of joint medical insurance

*Proof of joint dental insurance

*Joint cell phone statements

And the mortgage and utilities were all in my name only. We did own two cars jointly and insured them in both names. I guess one of you doesn't drive?? Two driver licenses or state IDs with same address shows you live together. I included boarding pass photocopies showing we sat together on the plane. Admittedly some of the other things I submitted were pretty cheesy, but they approved.

I think something cooked up last minute is less convincing than a two year history of other things.

Edited March 20, 2016 by Nich-Nick

[BOS_LHR 829]

We live in Boston and have easy access to public transit, so even the one car we have is barely used. My husband hasn't gotten a driver's license or state ID - he just uses his green card if ID is necessary somewhere. Mortgage was obtained by me alone before I met him, utilities can only be under one person's name, etc. Feels like there's a lot I can't include.

I'll definitely be including monthly statements for joint accounts as far back as we have them, though. Cell phone and checking account are post-immigration but I think I added him to credit cards as soon as we got married. Too much of this financial comingling stuff requires a social security number, but I guess when they came up with the "from date of marriage" requirement they didn't consider married couples might spend a year+ apart waiting for a visa

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I think as long as you cover from the greencard date -ish then that is sufficient to please them. Pick some photos together. I purposely chose family and at home things rather than posing in front of some landmark looking all fancy. Admittedly, I purposely took photos with immigration in mind for two years when I probably wouldn't otherwise. "Take a picture of us painting the house for USCIS" hahaha. Some of them we looked pretty haggard in, but I thought they looked more real. Candid group shot with friends around a big table having coffee (and tea for the Brit). Backyard BBQ....mostly casual type things of our everyday life.

[TBoneTX 45,291]

If you have an interview and are queried as to why your wills and powers of attorney are so recent, a good reply is, "We'd procrastinated in creating these crucial documents, and this ROC process was the perfect prompt to actually get them done."