I-751 Cover Letter and List

[HeatDeath 430]

I've finally got my I-751 packet put together. I've just got the cover letter and final list drafted, and I should be able to send this out later this week, and finally get this step in the journey under way. I became eligible to file in early September, but life happened, as it tends to, and it's taken 'til now to get everything organized and together.

Before I send off my package, however, I would like to make the now-traditional request for other people who are going through or have recently gone through the I-751 process to give my list and cover letter a lookover, estimate whether I have enough evidence, check to see if the writing style is good [not too formal], etc. I would really appreciate any input you all may have.

Before I started this process, I put together my own list of evidence by looking through literally dozens of similar threads in the forum archives. Comments on this cover letter won't just help me, but many others who will find this thread in the weeks and months to come.

Thank you very much.

10/30/2011

USCIS California Service Center

P.O. Box 10751

Laguna Niguel, CA 92607-1075

RE: I-751 JOINT PETITION TO REMOVE CONDITIONS ON RESIDENCE OF:

(K-1 VISA) <My Name>, A###-###-###

To whom it may concern:

Enclosed please find a JOINT I-751 petition for removal of conditions of permanent resident status regarding <My Name>. <My Name> entered the US on a K-1 visa in July 2009, married <USC Wife's Name> on September 12, 2009, and was awarded Adjustment of Status to Conditional Permanent Residence on December 1st, 2009. We are happily living together and jointly request that this petition be accepted for removal of conditions on the residence of <My Name>.

Contents include the following documents, constituting a petition for the Removal of Conditions on the Residence of <My Name>:

• Completed I-751 JOINT Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence.
  
• Check for $590 to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
  
• Photocopy of both sides of <My Name>’s Permanent Resident Card.
  

Enclosed please also find the following documents to verify the status of our marriage and ongoing relationship:

• Affidavit from <USC Wife's Parent's Names>, parents of <USC Wife's Name>, testifying to shared residence with both <My Name> and <USC Wife's Name>, and that the marriage between <USC Wife's Name> and <My Name> was entered into in good faith, is ongoing, and was not entered into to circumvent immigration law.
  
• Photographs of <My Name> and <USC Wife's Name>, demonstrating consistent and continuous public affection, attendance, interaction, and identification as a married couple at family functions and in public, over the course of the marriage.
  
• Photocopies of envelopes addressed to both of us, showing shared residence, and public identification as a married couple, over the course of the marriage.
  
• Photocopy of 2009 federal tax transcript showing filing status as “Married” for 2009.
  
• Photocopies of 2010 federal tax transcript showing filing status as “Married Filing Jointly” for 2010.
  
• Photocopies of driver licenses of <My Name> and <USC Wife's Name>, showing a shared address over the course of the marriage.
  
• Photocopies of the first and last pages of an “Offer To Purchase” contract for a condominium townhouse, signed jointly by <My Name> and <USC Wife's Name>, showing intent to continue to have a shared address, and to take and have joint ownership of and joint responsibility for a joint primary residence.
  
• Photocopies of <Bank Name> credit cards for <My Name> and <USC Wife's Name>, showing a joint account, and joint financial obligations and responsibility, over the course of the marriage,
  
• Photocopies of <Another Bank's Name> credit cards for <My Name> and <USC Wife's Name>, showing a joint account, and joint financial obligations and responsibility, over the course of the marriage.
  
• Photocopies of <Bank Name> statements for <My Name> and <USC Wife's Name>, showing <USC Wife's Name> as an authorized cardholder, further showing a joint account, and joint financial obligations and responsibility, over the course of the marriage.
  
• Photocopies of <Yet another Bank's Name> bank statements showing shared address, and joint account, over the course of the marriage.
  
• Photocopies of <Insurance Company Name> automobile insurance cards showing a joint automobile insurance policy over the course of the marriage,
  
• Photocopies of <Another Insurance Company's Name> health insurance cards showing a joint health insurance policy over the course of the marriage.
  
• Photocopies of life and medical insurance application forms from my employer, showing joint insurance policies, the designation of beneficiary status to <USC Wife's Name>, and public identification as a married couple over the course of the marriage.
  
• Photocopy of Costco membership cards with adjacent membership numbers and identical issue date, showing a joint account and shared management and decision making regarding household purchases and expenses, over the course of the marriage.
  

Copies of documents submitted are exact photocopies of unaltered documents and we understand that we may be required to submit original documents to an Immigration or Consular officer at a later date. Please advise us if you have any further questions or concerns related to this petition.

Sincerely,

<USC Wife's Name> and <My Name>.

[jkelly07 120]

put a copy of your permanent resident card front and back, your evidence looks good for the past two years.

[Barca 10]

your list looks great, the only thing I would add if you have would be any 401k or life insurance info if you are on each other's beneficiaries! best of luck!

[HeatDeath 430]

Thanks all. I have photocopies of the front and back of the GC in there, and the life and medical insurance application forms I filled out when I started my current job.

I mailed out the packet at lunch today! It's good to have it finally underway.

[Dan & Juan 12]

Thanks all. I have photocopies of the front and back of the GC in there, and the life and medical insurance application forms I filled out when I started my current job.

I mailed out the packet at lunch today! It's good to have it finally underway.

your list and your letter are impeccable. GREAT JOB!

Yours is an excellent example for others to follow.

[mjaskiew 8]

HeatDeath, would you mind sharing the affidavit from your in-laws? I'm helping my friends with their I-751 package and they actually moved in with me couple of weeks ago. They will be my roommates for another few months. So my letter will also serve as their proof of joint residence. If you could share you affidavit with me, I would greatly appreciate it! I'm just not sure what wording should I use.

Thank you!

[HeatDeath 430]

HeatDeath, would you mind sharing the affidavit from your in-laws? I'm helping my friends with their I-751 package and they actually moved in with me couple of weeks ago. They will be my roommates for another few months. So my letter will also serve as their proof of joint residence. If you could share you affidavit with me, I would greatly appreciate it! I'm just not sure what wording should I use.

Thank you!

Sure, here you go:

<DATE>

To whom it may concern,

We the undersigned, affirm that our daughter, <NAME [petitioner]>, legally married <NAME [beneficiary]> on <WEDDING DATE>. They have been living as husband and wife in our home in <CITY>, <STATE>. The marriage was entered into with good faith and was not for the purpose of circumventing immigration law.

<NAME [petitioner]> and <NAME [beneficiary]> are in a committed relationship and have detailed plans and goals for their future together.

With Respect,

<NAME> and <NAME>

<ADDRESS>

_______ ____________ ____________

Name........Date of Birth........City of Birth

_______ ____________ ____________

Name........Date of Birth........City of Birth

Obviously, parts of this are quite specific to us, but you can see the general style, and how it derives strictly from the USCIS I-751 instructions:

Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by at least two people who have known both of you since your conditional residence was granted and have personal knowledge of your marriage and relationship. (Such persons may be required to testify before an immigration officer as to the information contained in the affidavit.) The original affidavit must be submitted and also contain the following information regarding the person making the affidavit: his or her full name and address; date and place of birth; relationship to you or your spouse, if any; and full information and complete details explaining how the person acquired his or her knowledge. Affidavits must be supported by other types of evidence listed above.

Two or more people - check.

Known us since the residence and have personal knowledge of marriage - check.

Original affidavit submitted - check.

Contains full name and address of signers - check.

Contains date and place of birth of signers - check.

Contains relationship to us - check.

Contains full info about how they acquired knowledge - my mother-in-law felt that was implicit in the cohabitation - check.

Supported by other evidence - see the above cover letter - check.

Hope this helps!

[TBoneTX 43,043]

This is a very helpful thread. Before filing for Mrs. T-B.'s ROC, I asked a very sharp immigration attorney about the seeming requirement for affidavits. He said, "Affidavits are for people whose other evidence is very thin. Most people don't even need to think about including affidavits."

Food for thought, si man.

[Brogeo 1]

This is a very helpful thread. Before filing for Mrs. T-B.'s ROC, I asked a very sharp immigration attorney about the seeming requirement for affidavits. He said, "Affidavits are for people whose other evidence is very thin. Most people don't even need to think about including affidavits."

I'm sure this is indeed true, and in our case (complete with interview) the affadavits (which we did have) were not mentioned at all. However, they're also one of the easiest pieces of evidence to obtain if the relationship is genuine. If you can get them, its hard to see how they could do any harm - you even get the chance to vet them and decide on their inclusion yourself.

[mjaskiew 8]

HeatDeath - thank you very much!! :-)

[And_Sam 44]

Thanks for all the input! We'll be starting ROC next month and I'm trying to gather info now!

[docgee 0]

Thank you HeatDeath for sharing your letter. Very informative and comprehensive. Just a few questions for you... Did you both sign the letter abover your respective names or just did the sponsor sign the letter? Also, would it be advisable to get affidavits from family members or friends of the family (friends being more nonpartial, i presume)?

[HeatDeath 430]

We both signed our names, because it is a joint petition.

I just sent the one affidavit letter signed by both my wife's parents. I got approved in 5 months with no RoC or interview, so that must have been enough.

Honestly, with the evidence I listed, an affidavit was probably not necessary at all. Lots of people don't include them at all and do fine.

I don't think the marginal difference in perceived impartiality between friends and family makes any real difference. USCIS just want to hear from "at least two people" who are willing, if necessary, to testify under oath. I don't think the specific relationship carries much weight, and affidavits in general carry relatively little weight.

[docgee 0]

HeatDeath,

One more question about the evidence to include....when providing copies of my wife's passport, should I provide a copy of my own as evidence? How many passport size photos are needed for both the applicant and the sponsor?

[HeatDeath 430]

My list shows everything we sent. The I-751 instructions do not require any passport photos, so I did not send any. Also, the I-751 instructions do not require a copy of either the beneficiary's or the petitioner's passport, so I did not send either.

Passport photocopies are only requested as proofs of citizenship (in the case of US citizens) or as identification (for the beneficiary, particularly during the I-129F petition and visa application phase). The I-751 does not require proof of the petitioner's citizenship, and they are already receiving a copy of your green card to serve as both proof of status and identification for the beneficiary, so no passport photocopies are required.

The I-751's documentation requirements are focused on, as I paraphrased in the cover letter, "verify[ing] the status of the marriage and the ongoing relationship". Unless you wish to include passport stamps showing that you and your wife traveled on an international vacation together (which incidentally would be a really good piece of evidence), your passports contribute no information regarding your ongoing relationship and are therefore not required.

Edited May 7, 2012 by HeatDeath