Is common residence a necessity?

[W.C. 0]

Hello everyone,

I am wondering if common residence is absolutely necessary in lifting conditions for permanent residence? My husband and I live in Seattle right now, but I will likely have to move to Chicago or New York for my post-graduate education in June of next year (there are only 2 post-graduate education programs in Washington, and chances of me getting into them are slim). The training program will be 3 years. Since the economy and job prospects aren't great lately, my husband probably won't be able to relocate with me, so we will have to be separated for 3 years. Will this profoundly affect my lifting of conditional permanent residence? Do we have to live together for USCIS to consider us a married couple?

If anyone has experience in this matter, please help me out! Thank you!

[Anh map 2,098]

Everyone's circumstances are different. Just be prepared to show that you are living your lives as a married couple. Comingled finances are important.

[BabyBlueSusie 1]

Hello everyone,

I am wondering if common residence is absolutely necessary in lifting conditions for permanent residence? My husband and I live in Seattle right now, but I will likely have to move to Chicago or New York for my post-graduate education in June of next year (there are only 2 post-graduate education programs in Washington, and chances of me getting into them are slim). The training program will be 3 years. Since the economy and job prospects aren't great lately, my husband probably won't be able to relocate with me, so we will have to be separated for 3 years. Will this profoundly affect my lifting of conditional permanent residence? Do we have to live together for USCIS to consider us a married couple?

If anyone has experience in this matter, please help me out! Thank you!

My husband and I are in a very similar situation. We lived in NYC together and then moved to Indiana because I started grad school at Notre Dame. We moved right when the economy tanked, and my husband was not able to find work (it's a small town and my husband has limited english skills to boot), so he went back to NY and has now been there for almost 2 years, working a steady, union job. I have a scholarship and the school pays me to work for them on top of that, so hopefully one can see why I didn't just go to a grad program in NY. I save everything from our visits together, and plan to submit proof of joint bank accounts, insurances and tax returns, among other things. Also, both of our names are on both of the apartment leases and some of the utility bills. Not sure if this will make a difference, but better safe than sorry. I think that as long as you make your case, you should be fine. Good luck! We will be applying shortly so I will definitely post about how it goes!

[W.C. 0]

My husband and I are in a very similar situation. We lived in NYC together and then moved to Indiana because I started grad school at Notre Dame. We moved right when the economy tanked, and my husband was not able to find work (it's a small town and my husband has limited english skills to boot), so he went back to NY and has now been there for almost 2 years, working a steady, union job. I have a scholarship and the school pays me to work for them on top of that, so hopefully one can see why I didn't just go to a grad program in NY. I save everything from our visits together, and plan to submit proof of joint bank accounts, insurances and tax returns, among other things. Also, both of our names are on both of the apartment leases and some of the utility bills. Not sure if this will make a difference, but better safe than sorry. I think that as long as you make your case, you should be fine. Good luck! We will be applying shortly so I will definitely post about how it goes!

Thanks so much for your reply! I was planning to do the exact same thing: joint bank accounts, life insurance benefits, travel ticket stubs, lease agreements etc., to show commitment to the relationship. But bottom line is, I really don't know how the USCIS thinks, so input from someone with personal experience would definately ease my anxiety. Please keep me posted! Thanks!