Interview preparation and proof

[Little_My 463]

What? You don't sign his name.. you get a credit card on your name that is added to his account. Or open an account under both of your names and get cards on that account.. You have card on your own name, he has a card on his name, and you definitely do not sign his name.

What USCIS is looking for is proof of you two merging your lives like married couples normally do - which, more often that not, means joint accounts, joint finances, shared spending and savings and so forth. It can be seen as a red flag if you both have kept your financial lives separate.. though, I do know that some married couples just prefer it that way. And you two have a child, so that is pretty solid proof.

Ultimately, if they have not specifically asked for anything, it is up to you what you bring. Based on other people's experiences here on VJ, and based on what comes up on google when searching for this topic, proof of shared finances, joint lease, joint insurance and big joint purchases (house, car..) are usually considered as the most solid proof you can take.

[cookieandcream 10]

Do the affidavits for the relationship need to be notarized?

[Little_My 463]

We had ours notarized, but apparently they don't need to be. Just have the person sign it, and remember to attach a copy of their ID with the affidavit. Some say they are more useful if coming from US Citizens - we had 3 from US citizens and one from my father, who attested to the timeline of our relationship and to the fact that we lived together in Finland before I moved here.

[ceadsearc 515]

We have a child but our interview definitely did NOT think that was proof enough and asked for more. She wanted:

- our lease together (in our case he wasn't on the lease so she wanted something saying we were both residents of the apartment if we had it)

- insurance together (car and health)

- receipts from buying our rings

- joint bank statements showing we used the account

- pictures (WITH the dates they were taken printed - NOT handwritten - on the back)

- Anything else we had ... like letters, itineraries of trips we had taken together, etc.)

[cookieandcream 10]

OMG FREAKING OUTTTTTT

[Tempo House 6]

Do you have anything like life insurance where the spouse is named as the beneficiary? Does your husband have a 401k with you named as beneficiary?

I think a tax return with you on it (joint or as dependent) should also be good evidence and it sounds like you have that. Utility bills where you are jointly named, or just to prove you each receive bills at the same address, etc.

Our experience was the interview doesn't only depend on financial commingling, so don't worry yourself too much about it, just gather as much evidence as you can in the time you have. If there is anything you can be named as a dependent on, or vice-versa, and it's not been done yet: get on it. Start using your joint account even if it's inconvenient and get bank statements to have on hand at the time of interview.

[icee 0]

We have a child but our interview definitely did NOT think that was proof enough and asked for more. She wanted:

- our lease together (in our case he wasn't on the lease so she wanted something saying we were both residents of the apartment if we had it)

- insurance together (car and health)

- receipts from buying our rings

- joint bank statements showing we used the account

- pictures (WITH the dates they were taken printed - NOT handwritten - on the back)

- Anything else we had ... like letters, itineraries of trips we had taken together, etc.)

hi guys,

yes, what you've put here would work. But don't freak out. Just submit whatever you have. Basically you have to prove you guys are living together and sharing responsibilities as a married couple.

- If he listed you as his dependent in his tax returns, take those forms. He probably listed you as one of his dependants when you weren't working and so it means he had to take care of you financially. We put my name in my husband's tax return as dependent as I wasn't working at that time.

- Pictures will work.

- If you live together as your renter to write up a rent lease, it should work. Our renter wrote his rent lease on a piece of paper by hand and we had to sign it, but that was all; it wasn't even notarized or whatever.. So you can write up one of your own and bring it to the interview.

- Do you share health insurance? add that one.

When we brought all the papers they've written in their letter we had to bring for our interview, our interview officer hardly ever wanted to look at any of those papers. All he wanted to see our wedding photos, our rent lease and that's all. I guess he wanted to see our rent lease because at the time of applying for AOS we were living at friends' place and we submitted our applications with that address and with the affidavit from those friends telling that we are really living at their house and planning to move out when we can. But since we moved and got an apartment. Other than that he wanted to hear how we met, developed our relationship and how we got married. I think they can tell who's faking and maybe in that case they'll want to look at all your papers.

- Having a child is a good proof, but they need to know that you guys are actually living together as a family if you are basing your AOS status on marriage.

good luck and don't be nervous, if you guys are true - then they can't deny you.

A

[snooki703 7]

OMG FREAKING OUTTTTTT

My immigration lawyer told me about a couple that didn't bring any evidence of co-mingled finances or joint bank account statements/credit cards because they were both of an older age and had been used to maintaining separate accounts anyway and didn't bother to change that once they got married. They were approved because the IO has a lot of discretion and basically knew they were a real couple just by body language/the way they finished each other's sentences.

Do your best to bring the affidavits, photos, tax returns, and the joint account statement, even if it doesn't have much activity. If they probe you on the joint accounts, just tell the truth. Its pretty believable and realistic that you still use your old separate banking accounts.

Also, having a child is a HUGE indication of a real marriage, and I honestly think you'll be approved w/o any issues. Bring your child's BC and feel free to bring him to the interview.

[cookieandcream 10]

Thank you so much I was ready to cry earlier, it's putting me under a lot of stress,

I don't think I'll bring our son, he is 2.5 and thinks the floor is a huge bouncy house! he jumps off everything possible!

I guess I just need to relax, it's just scary for me I do very poorly under pressure so hopefully the officer won't be stressful

[Myopia 93]

- If he listed you as his dependent in his tax returns, take those forms. He probably listed you as one of his dependants when you weren't working and so it means he had to take care of you financially. We put my name in my husband's tax return as dependent as I wasn't working at that time.

Your husband should not have claimed you as a dependant. If he did then did he file as head of household?

He should have filed as married filing jointly at the very least.

You can amend your taxes if it is within the past three years at no fee but you may owe them money or they may owe you.

[katgrl 14]

Please tell us how your interview experience was! Hope you have a positive outcome!

[Juvia 0]

I went to my interview appointment yesterday with a lot of evidence, the officer did not ask to see any of them.

I think every case is different.

Check my timeline, you will find my interview comments under Adjustment of Status.

[cookieandcream 10]

I was approved and you guys were write he filled our taxes jointly,

Everything was dine, the IO only asked for supporting evidence since I didn't add any in the application and he made us step out for 5 minutes and brought us an approval letter!

I was pretty surprised he didn't even asked how we met or anything.

Thank you so much !!!!!

[juliava 80]

Yeeey!!!!!Congratulations!!!!I'm glad everything went smoothly.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Congrats! No more worrying!