Adjustment Package Questions!

[Paula_am 0]

Hi!

Im new to the forum, Ive been reading a lot in this website and found a lot of useful stuff but there is still some questions we have.

My boyfriend and I have been together for a year and a half, Im from Spain, he is American and we have been visiting each other back and forth in between countries.

We came together into the country on August, I had a B1 visitors visa, wich expired in january. We got married in January, before my visa expired and now that we have come up with the money we are gonna start the paperwork for the adjustment package to get me to be a citizenship.

I have 3 questions!

1. We were told that we need proof that our marriage is bona fide and the easiest thing is to get a conjoined bank account but since my visa expired they need another form of identification aside for my pastport, one that shows that I live in the states. His bank is chase, so my question is, how can I get this form of id, or is it another bank that will make things easier?

2. In the paperwork they ask for his tax return of the last year, but he didnt work at all last year, what should he put in it?

3. Should I get a medical exam and send it with the paperwork or wait until they tell me to get it?

Thank you all so much!!

[Ryan H 3,790]

Moved from AOS/Family Based Visa to AOS/Work, Student, & Tourist Visas; OP has indicated they are adjusting from a B1 visa.

paperwork for the adjustment package to get me to be a citizenship.

If the adjustment application is approved by USCIS, you will become a US Permanent Resident, not a US Citizen.

[Basee 2]

Hi!

Im new to the forum, Ive been reading a lot in this website and found a lot of useful stuff but there is still some questions we have.

My boyfriend and I have been together for a year and a half, Im from Spain, he is American and we have been visiting each other back and forth in between countries.

We came together into the country on August, I had a B1 visitors visa, wich expired in january. We got married in January, before my visa expired and now that we have come up with the money we are gonna start the paperwork for the adjustment package to get me to be a citizenship.

I have 3 questions!

1. We were told that we need proof that our marriage is bona fide and the easiest thing is to get a conjoined bank account but since my visa expired they need another form of identification aside for my pastport, one that shows that I live in the states. His bank is chase, so my question is, how can I get this form of id, or is it another bank that will make things easier?

2. In the paperwork they ask for his tax return of the last year, but he didnt work at all last year, what should he put in it?

3. Should I get a medical exam and send it with the paperwork or wait until they tell me to get it?

Thank you all so much!!

I think you mean residency. Are you saying that chase wont allow him to add you to his bank account with your passport as ID? Try another bank, also, having a joint account is NOT the only form of evidence you will need to prepare but once you have submitted your package you will be able to accumulate further evidence.

Are you saying he did no paid work in the year? if so, he will need to explain that in a letter saying so, plus get a joint sponsor as he wont be able to show that he can support you on his own.

Send the medical exam with the paperwork. I know some wait to be asked for it, but you WILL be asked for it, so might as well just do it and be done with it.

[kcoyclay1 98]

Basee gave you all the answers you need. All the best in your journey. Try Bank of Amrerica. They allow you to have a bank account in which you only use the ATM for transactions and you do not need social security.

[Paula_am 0]

thank you all so much!!

about the questions Basee:

I think you mean residency. Are you saying that chase wont allow him to add you to his bank account with your passport as ID? Try another bank, also, having a joint account is NOT the only form of evidence you will need to prepare but once you have submitted your package you will be able to accumulate further evidence.

Yes we wanted me to add me into his account. What other avidence will we need? Do I need to have that before I send the paperwork?

Are you saying he did no paid work in the year? if so, he will need to explain that in a letter saying so, plus get a joint sponsor as he wont be able to show that he can support you on his own.

Last year, My husband was in costa rica most of the time, and the time that he did work, which was a couple of months, was under the table, so he doesnt have anything to claim taxes. He started his new job a month ago, we were expecting this was enough to prove he can support me?

I Will try bank of America, thank you

Again, thank you so mcuh for the help!

[Little_My 463]

The information about evidence of bonafide marriage is all in the instructions for the forms - I would suggest that you take another look at the instructions, as well as the VJ guide for AOS, before sending out your package. It seems you might have missed quite a few things there, and to avoid any unnecessary delays with the application it would be good to double and triple check that you have everything you need.

As mentioned earlier, the medical paperwork HAS TO be sent with the package. It won't move anywhere without it. You need to make an appoitnment with a certified civil surgeon to get the form filled out, and send that in a sealed envelope (which you'll get from the doctor) with the rest of the paperwork.

Regarding evidence, as mentioned, there is a list in the instructions for I-130. Under "What documents do you need to prove family relationship", E-J are all examples of documents you can use to show bonafide marriage. Thse include photos, lease, joint finances (bank accounts, credit cards, joint loans), joint insurance, joint phone plan.. The list goes on and on. Bank accounts are just one type of evidence, but by no means the only type, and also most likely not sufficient without additional proof.

With the affidavit of support, if your husband has only been working in his current job for a few months and can't show he was making income over the poverty limit prior to this job, it is very likely USCIS would request more evidence of adequate income as his current job is new. If he can show he has signed a contraact for a longer period of time, and/or if his monthly income puts his annual income substantially over the minimum requirement, then it might be enough - but if he is making close to the minimum, and he is on a temporary contract, I would personally consider finding a joint sponsor just in case.

[jdh 103]

FYI - you don't need to prove a valid visa to Chase bank...they are not INS....you are married to the account holder and you have valid ID.

I was added to my wife's chase account using my Canadian Passport with no visa stamp at all.

Ask to speak to someone higher up and if they have issues ask to see their written policy. Switching banks can be a hassle that you shouldn't have to go through.

Also in regards to the income the instructions indicate that if he did not have to file taxes the previous year you just need to submit a letter explaining that he was not required to do so because he did not meet the income requirements listed on the 1040 instructions for filing income tax. Also include with the letter the printed out 1040 instructions to attach to the letter showing the applicable law that exempts him (in this case the income table).

It doesn't matter how far above the poverty line you are...you either make it or you don't.

Edited April 4, 2012 by jdh

[Little_My 463]

It doesn't matter how far above the poverty line you are...you either make it or you don't.

True and not true. USCIS has discretion in this matter, and even if a sponsor currently has a job that puts him right above the annual minimum income requirement based on his/her monthly income, USCIS has the right to request for more evindence of sufficient finances from the sponsor. For example, in a situation where the sponsor has a fairly new job, cannot show history of making steady income over the minimum requirement, and isn't making substantial amounts over the requirement, USCIS might very well ask for more evidence of sufficient income and more proof that the income will in fact continue on that same level. Personally, I just think it might be a good idea to at least have a joint sponsor lined up in case of an RFE - they only get a limited amount of time to respond to an RFE, and it might be hard to come up with a person who is willing to act as a joint sponsor on a short notice.

[jdh 103]

I just think it might be a good idea to at least have a joint sponsor lined up in case of an RFE - they only get a limited amount of time to respond to an RFE, and it might be hard to come up with a person who is willing to act as a joint sponsor on a short notice.

Sounds like decent advice...it certainly can never hurt to have someone prepared.

[Paula_am 0]

Thank you all so much for your help!!

We have another sponsor, his parents are gonna be a joint sponsor for us, his mom worked for the goverment for basically all her career and retired last year, that would be enought right??

Im having trouble finding a cheap civil surgeon near Santa Rosa, California, they all want in between $200 and $1000 and a really dont have that kind of money after all the fees.

Also I had a question. i have no real record of my vaccines, I know i have them all, but i had them when i was a child and i dont think there is a real record back in spain, I obviously didnt have to put any before coming here, so what should I do?? thank you!

[jdh 103]

If you have no record than you don't have any option but to find the $200 to get it done...

That's actually fairly reasonable...$1000 on the other hand is ridiculous.

Borrow it if you have to...sell something...find a way, it's mandatory,

[Little_My 463]

The doctor can also do an antibody titer test to check the level of antibodies in your blood against a particular disease. I have no idea if this would be cheaper than just getting the vaccinations, but you can definitely ask the civil surgeon.

I agree with jdh, $1,000 is ridiculous. I had my check done in NYC and paid $180. I didn't have to get any vaccinations, but even with vaccinations I don't think the fee for the medical should run over $500.

[Mike X Man 37]

My vaccination stuff cost me $165. That included $40 for a titer for chicken pox that I should have skipped all together since I ended up not paying for my varicella shots anyway. Note: since I didn't have any of my vaccination records, I pretty much got all of them...again -- for FREE at the health dept. Say amen to grants towards students with "little to no income." I did calculate what it would have cost me had I received all my shots from the clinic doing the physical. It would have been around $700.

[kzielu 1,144]

Also I had a question. i have no real record of my vaccines, I know i have them all, but i had them when i was a child and i dont think there is a real record back in spain, I obviously didnt have to put any before coming here, so what should I do?? thank you!

You'll have to do them which will be another at least $200 in addition to the exam.

[jdh 103]

You'll have to do them which will be another at least $200 in addition to the exam.

That is not necessarily true. This is not regulated and is dependent upon doctor and location...some of them include the cost of all the vaccines in their quote, some include all but one or two and some include none...

Just ask before you book.