Applying for AOS but not living together [g-325a]

[dtw45 0]

I recently got married a month ago but my spouse and I do not live together since she is a F1-visa student in NYC, NY and I am a US-citizen student in Ithaca, NY (4.5hrs away). Her program is ending in December and she does not have OPT (because she used it about a year ago for her previous program). We intend to live together after she graduates but, should we apply immediately for AOS?

Looking through the g-325a form, I was worried since she cannot list herself as living in my apartment yet until the summer. Can I post-date residence history??

If we apply, what issues will we have to address since we do not live together? I read a few other posts about the interview process that have me concerned. We have not "resided together", but we call and visit each other often. She plans to live with me during the summer when she has off. Is this enough? Would changing her permanent address to my apartment and still go to school in NYC be a good idea?

I appreciate any and all information.

Thanks.

[PinkMelody 1]

except the summer time, do you guys have any plan to live together permanently any time soon?

Lying and just changing address on the form would not help anything I think. Being honest is the best. I saw some couples on here on VJ that do not live together and they put the seperate address and attached the explanation I believe.

[jdh 103]

I know if I was the interviewer I would find it odd.

Why would you get married when you can't live together?

[dtw45 0]

I know if I was the interviewer I would find it odd.

Why would you get married when you can't live together?

Well, I love her very much and we visit each other practically every weekend. Even though she is in NYC most of the month for school, can I consider my address as her permanent address and her school address as the local address? This would be for the g-325a residential history.

Also we plan to live together after she graduates in December.

Edited March 24, 2012 by dtw45

[sachinky 464]

I have nothing helpful to add, just say wanted to say hi to a fellow Ithacan!

14850.

[ceadsearc 515]

IOs understand when you have a valid reason like school. You'll likely be asked about it, possibly be more heavily scrutinized but as long as you are honest you should be fine. Don't lie on anything, THAT is what would cause problems. Keep evidence of visiting each other to bring to your interview.

[Little_My 463]

I agree with ceadsearc. There are many married couples who, at one point or another, have to live apart for reasons such as studying or work. It's not that uncommon. You will most likely be asked about it, and you should prepare to have very strong evidence of a bona fide marriage at the interview, but it's not something that can't be overcome. Misrepresenting the situation in your AOS forms is the absolutely worst possible thing you could do.

[him4life 13]

most married couples living apart should be able to supply proof of an ongoing relationships, there should be stuff like travel records, telephone records, maybe hotel bookings, email records, etc, things like that facilitates an ongoing relationship, do you have any of those? in addition you should know your wife very well and likewise her, couples living apart are usually heavily scrutinized and a lot of personal questions are asked about each other

[dtw45 0]

most married couples living apart should be able to supply proof of an ongoing relationships, there should be stuff like travel records, telephone records, maybe hotel bookings, email records, etc, things like that facilitates an ongoing relationship, do you have any of those? in addition you should know your wife very well and likewise her, couples living apart are usually heavily scrutinized and a lot of personal questions are asked about each other

Thanks likklebit. That's very comforting. I know her history very well and should be able to answer most questions about her and her about me. The only thing we don't discuss much is each other's school work. And I have lots of photos with her and plenty of email. I hope skype and google voice records are acceptable as well.

[NancyNguyen 1,657]

Thanks likklebit. That's very comforting. I know her history very well and should be able to answer most questions about her and her about me. The only thing we don't discuss much is each other's school work. And I have lots of photos with her and plenty of email. I hope skype and google voice records are acceptable as well.

This is AOS in the US, not fiancee/spouse overseas visa, you need to prove an on-going bona fide marriage with co-mingling proofs, not daily messenger for peoples, who are half the world far from each other. It will not be persuasive in IO point of view. IO is trained to find out abnormal things in an immigration matter so you will need to be able to do more than just answering her history. Good luck.

[dtw45 0]

This is AOS in the US, not fiancee/spouse overseas visa, you need to prove an on-going bona fide marriage with co-mingling proofs, not daily messenger for peoples, who are half the world far from each other. It will not be persuasive in IO point of view. IO is trained to find out abnormal things in an immigration matter so you will need to be able to do more than just answering her history. Good luck.

I appreciate the advice. At the moment I am in the process of adding her to my lease and setting up a joint bank account. I also have lots of photos of us together. We've also traveled together to China to visit her family and taken a cruise to the Bahamas. And we can get affidavits from many friends and family.

Are there any other co-mingling proofs you would suggest? I've been reading the tips on this marriage visa blog.

Edited March 25, 2012 by dtw45

[NancyNguyen 1,657]

Bills, insurances, tax return, credit cards... are some samples of good proofs.