Well, we received an RFE today from USCIS. Here is a list of what we originally sent, any ideas on what else I can give them as evidence? Frankly, I thought we went overboard the first time...


We sent:

- copies of front and back of green card
- copy of both of our driver's licenses
- copy of our medical and dental insurance cards
- joint bank account statements
- IRA plan with each other as beneficiary
- copy of 401k account with wife as sole beneficiary
- Joint income tax returns for 2005 and 2006
- copy of health club contract for both of us
- copy of auto registration showing both as joint owners
- copy of auto insurance policy with both of us listed as drivers
- copy of gas, credit card and water bills sent to our home with both of us
- copy of airline tickets for 2006 and 2007 vacations with pictures of us
- original envelopes sent to our house for our anniversary and christmas addressed to both of us
- two notarized letters from friends and family attesting to our marriage

What I did not send:

- docs about previous marriage, it's the first for both of us
- docs about children, we don't have any
- docs showing joint ownership of residence, I had the mortgage before my wife arrived and she has no credit history so worried we will get a horrible
rate if we refi if I add her to the mortgage


I have purchased life insurance through work since we filed this so I can send them that showing my wife as sole beneficiary. Other than that, it's going to be repeat of stuff I sent before with today's date.

Bitter beyond belief they RFE'd us, I am angry beyond the heat of thousand suns right now.

Any ideas folks on what more I can send??????

Most of the time, they will ask you the things that you've already sent (originally). I guess the only way to find out what they wanted is to wait for the RFE notice in the mail... Good luck!

We have the RFE in hand, they don't list anything specific. It only gives the boilerplate list of items they had when we sent the application the first time. That's what is so frustrating, they ask for more but don't tell you what they want and I sent everything on their list I could.

They may have lost some of your paperwork. I got an RFE asking for items I already included when they transferred our AOS to California. I just resent in everything I did before. You might want to send in your more recent statements from the bank, etc. to prove these things are still valid. Can you add your wife to the actual title of the house instead of adding her to the mortgage?

I understand where you're coming from. In that case, send the things you didn't send originally and recent copies of what you've already sent... Good luck!

That definitely sucks! I would think that is sufficient evidence. There is another similar post today about an RFE from Vermont Service Center by "12yrs_inUS".

Hope someone who has gone through this can shed some more light. I would suggest sending them everything you already sent them as well as any new stuff you can find. Make sure it is from the entire time period of your marriage.

Good luck!

GalyasTorpedo,
It looks like there is no pictures with you two together in the list of the documents you sent as evidence.
Probably VSC wants some photos from you?

The poster did say they sent vacation photos along with airline ticket boarding passes/stubs.

I would tend to agree with another poster here who said maybe some of your documentation got lost when your case was transferred.

The joint housing thing seems to be very important. I would research how to get both parties added on the deed of the property where you live.

Best of luck with everything!

Kathleen

Thanks all, we did send vacation pictures. I spoke to my settlement attorney today and it appears I can add my wife to my home deed, for a fee of course, and it will not impact my mortgage. I guess the lender can call the loan due if they become aware of this change but that is apparently rarely if ever done when adding a spouse. So it looks like I get to shell out some more cash. If sending this, extra joint financial statements from different date ranges and sending the life insurance info I recently purchased is not enough they are going to have one heck of a fight on their hands.

Another quick update, we just got off the phone with USCIS. The agent, after listening to the list of items we sent, was a bit surprised and stated that they would "pull our file" to make sure they have everything. She advised me to NOT re-title my home and risk having the loan come due, she said it's not necessary. Furthermore, she indicated that they would call us back within 1 week. I was not sure what to expect but glad they are taking a second look before asking us to send additional docs, etc.

Hi

Would like to know if they really called back. Im in the same boat. Got an RFE today and my list of evidences looks very close to yours. Also my case wasn't even touched online. Shouldn't it at least be touched before they send out RFEs?
Hope things went well for you

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I-751 timeline:

Vermont Service Center

Date Filed : 2007-07-23
NOA Date : 2007-08-06
RFE(s) : 2008-03- 13
Bio. Appt. : 2007-09-15

Hello,

I was wondering if any of you have received any updates for your RFE issues? I was surprised how you both got RFE base on the list of evidence that you sent them.

We never heard from USCIS so we called back today as it has been two weeks. Apparently our file was pulled and it's still "en route" to an officer but the rep today told me it could be weeks before someone looks at it. She told me to just "do our best" to figure out what additional info they want and send it. Essentially the life insurance info will go out, I can ask friends or family so I can send a 3rd certified letter attesting to our marriage, maybe copies of our tax returns I just filed this year and whatever else I can come up with. I've sent everything on their list and am not a mind reader so hopefully it will be enough. Just a bit frustrated right now....

We received a notice too.

I was like you thinking and thinking what else to send....

Tax returns. Are they the IRS transcripts... no the copies or printouts that we file?
Do you have home insurance that is under both names?

In addition to the new stuff make sure you resend all the evidence you had submitted with the original petition. People have commented that their is a possibility that they lost some of the original evidence.

Good luck!

It states on the RFE letter to not resend the info you sent the first time. I am going to resend the cover sheet indicating what they should have in lieu of this when I send more info this week. I'll respond and share what we came up with when we send it out Wednesday. My wife made a good point, just compile what we can and send it vs. wondering why they would be sending us an RFE. It's not like they are going to suddenly apologize and approve us admitting they made a mistake for asking for more information.

Do either of you have wills with the other as beneficiary? That might help. You could probably even produce one fairly quickly with a software package and get it recorded at your courthouse in a matter of days.

I agree with the poster who said the residence situation is of primary importance, and we have personal friends (IRL) who were RFE'd for the same thing.

I'm thinking we'll be RFE'd this fall, too, because I have not put my house into my husband's name yet and am completely torn about doing so, even though he is a wonderful sweet husband and I love him beyond words. I lost my first house in my first divorce. Once burned, twice shy, as they say - and I'm even thinking about writing something to that effect with our application to remove conditions!

I wish the OP luck, and I'm sure things will work out fine... your original list sounds like plenty!

Maya

As promised, here is what we are sending today in response to the RFE:

- Copy of original cover letter detailing everything they should have already
- Additional notarized letter of support, that makes 3 now
- Confirmation of enrollment in life insurance as of 1/1/08, 100% to spouse
- Phone bill showing two cell lines with us in family plan
- recent copies of multiple bank statements with j/o
- travel docs of our scheduled trip to Hawaii in May!!! Aloha.
- copy of recent water bill sent to our house with both names
- letter offering employment sent to our house to my wife back in '06
- recent Amex/Costco (greatest store on earth) sent in both our names, new in '08 for us
- copy of TurboTax certification of filing 2007 taxes, that makes THREE years they have now
- pictures of us entertaining both our extended families together
- written explanation that we cannot provide documentation of children as we do not have children


If that's not enough then it's time for my Congressman to join the party. Thanks all for the support.

You should have submitted a copy of your lease mortgage of your occupancy even if your wife is not included .... and made a note that you have that mortgage when you were not yet married. This is just a proof of your residency together.

Goodluck

Actually I did add a note about the mortgage deed as well so I think I have that covered. Thanks.