i 751 evidence - Are these strong enough?

[jessielinder 0]

Hi all, I need some opinions on how strong my I 751 evidences and what is the chance of getting called for an interview and/or approved.

I entered US on student visa July 2007

Met my husband Feb 2008

Married in May 2010

Conditional Green Card approved in Feb 2011.

I have submitted the following documents:

1. Joint apt lease, with both our names. ( Lease term starting from Sept 2012 )

2. Health Insurance, with both our names

3. Dental Insurance, with both our names

4. Joint saving bank account statement

5. Internet bill with his name, Gas bill with my name, both showing common address

6. 3 pictures taken together. ( he is camera shy, and does not like taking pictures)

7. My 401K plan, showing my husband as beneficiary

8. Joint credit cards, a few statements from 2012.

9. 2 - 3 junk mails, showing common address

10.My life insurance, my husband as beneficiary

We did not file tax together, and it seems like most couples send their jointly filed tax return. I am losing sleep over this, so worried of being denied.

Can anyone give me your opinions on how strong/weak my evidences are ? what is the chance of getting called for interview? and what is the chance of getting approved/denied ?

Thank you in advance.

Jessielinder

[canadian_wife 1,785]

Taxes are a concern, why did you not file jointly?

What about driver's licences showing a common address?

Did you take trips together?

good luck

PS - what you have looks good

[Ryan H 3,790]

Moved from MENA regional forum to Removing Conditions on Residency Discussion.

[amykathleen2005 441]

Well it seems you can prove you were together in 2012, you need things from your whole relationship post greencard.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Hi all, I need some opinions on how strong my I 751 evidences and what is the chance of getting called for an interview and/or approved.

I entered US on student visa July 2007

Met my husband Feb 2008

Married in May 2010

Conditional Green Card approved in Feb 2011.

I have submitted the following documents:

1. Joint apt lease, with both our names. ( Lease term starting from Sept 2012 )

2. Health Insurance, with both our names

3. Dental Insurance, with both our names

4. Joint saving bank account statement

5. Internet bill with his name, Gas bill with my name, both showing common address

6. 3 pictures taken together. ( he is camera shy, and does not like taking pictures)

7. My 401K plan, showing my husband as beneficiary

8. Joint credit cards, a few statements from 2012.

9. 2 - 3 junk mails, showing common address

10.My life insurance, my husband as beneficiary

We did not file tax together, and it seems like most couples send their jointly filed tax return. I am losing sleep over this, so worried of being denied.

Can anyone give me your opinions on how strong/weak my evidences are ? what is the chance of getting called for interview? and what is the chance of getting approved/denied ?

Thank you in advance.

Jessielinder

I had typed out a detailed reply, only to have it lost down the memory hole when the thread was moved. I really hate that

Not filing taxes together may indeed be something they look at very suspiciously. It's usually advised to file jointly. Why did you file separately ?

Also, you mention some evidence from Sept. 2012. Does any of your evidence cover the period between 2010 and 2012 (especially bank account/credit card accounts) ? You will need to show evidence of your couple-ness during that period, otherwise it might possibly look to the consulate like you only started residing together and mingling finances shortly before ROC.

Only 3 pics of you together in 2 years ? Get more.

I would not bother submitting the junk mail as evidence - the bills are much stronger (even if in separate names - as long as they show the same address during the same period, they are good.)

[jessielinder 0]

Well it seems you can prove you were together in 2012, you need things from your whole relationship post greencard.

Thank you. That was one of my concerns too. We did not keep much documents from 2011. do you think INS will request additional evidence from 2011?

I have our joint car insurance policy ( Feb - Aug 2011 ), and some phone bills that show common address ( his parents' house, also his driver's licence) from 2011.

[lbounds 16]

Yeah, you need to show evidence of being together for the years since the card was issued as was mentioned. I wouldn't rely just on 2012 info. What about copies of your earlier joint lease before 2012, letters to both of you over the years at current and other addresses, anything else you can add to show you together as a couple since marriage. I bet our file we submitted may have been 1 1/2 - 2 inches thick including about 2 years or more of bank records showing transactions every other month. Ours is still in process since we just submitted

[jessielinder 0]

I had typed out a detailed reply, only to have it lost down the memory hole when the thread was moved. I really hate that

Not filing taxes together may indeed be something they look at very suspiciously. It's usually advised to file jointly. Why did you file separately ?

Also, you mention some evidence from Sept. 2012. Does any of your evidence cover the period between 2010 and 2012 (especially bank account/credit card accounts) ? You will need to show evidence of your couple-ness during that period, otherwise it might possibly look to the consulate like you only started residing together and mingling finances shortly before ROC.

Only 3 pics of you together in 2 years ? Get more.

I would not bother submitting the junk mail as evidence - the bills are much stronger (even if in separate names - as long as they show the same address during the same period, they are good.)

Thank you for your detailed reply.

I did not submit much document prior to Sept 2011. However, I have the following documents if called for interview or RFE: joint bank statement from 06/2011 thru 12/2012. Joint car insurance policy 02/2011 - 08/2011. My cell phone bills 03/2011, 04/2011, 05/2011, 10/2011 showing common address.

When we filed for CGC two years ago, we were living at his parents' house. We moved to current apt in Sept 2011. Therefore, all documents from 2011 show his parents' house's address.

I hope these are not problem.

Am I over-worrying myself?

[Ryan H 3,790]

do you think INS USCIS will request

INS hasn't existed since 2003.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Thank you for your detailed reply.

I did not submit much document prior to Sept 2011. However, I have the following documents if called for interview or RFE: joint bank statement from 06/2011 thru 12/2012. Joint car insurance policy 02/2011 - 08/2011. My cell phone bills 03/2011, 04/2011, 05/2011, 10/2011 showing common address.

When we filed for CGC two years ago, we were living at his parents' house. We moved to current apt in Sept 2011. Therefore, all documents from 2011 show his parents' house's address.

I hope these are not problem.

Am I over-worrying myself?

OK you have some good evidence covering 2011. Do any of your photos show you and your husband (maybe along with his parents) during the time in 2010 when you were living at their house ? It could help cover that period. You could also get them to write an affidavit and submit that.

It's normal to worry, but you have some good stuff to show so far.

What about the taxes ? Is there a reason you didn't file jointly ? They really like to see "mingling of finances" and joint tax returns are the strongest evidence of that.

[jessielinder 0]

OK you have some good evidence covering 2011. Do any of your photos show you and your husband (maybe along with his parents) during the time in 2010 when you were living at their house ? It could help cover that period. You could also get them to write an affidavit and submit that.

It's normal to worry, but you have some good stuff to show so far.

What about the taxes ? Is there a reason you didn't file jointly ? They really like to see "mingling of finances" and joint tax returns are the strongest evidence of that.

Thank you for assuring i "have good stuff".

Reasons for not filing tax jointly: I was unemployed quite some time in 2010 & 2011, and it seems like filing jointly did not make a difference. Pictures? He hates taking pictures.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Thank you for assuring i "have good stuff".

Reasons for not filing tax jointly: I was unemployed quite some time in 2010 & 2011, and it seems like filing jointly did not make a difference. Pictures? He hates taking pictures.

Well... I guess you could ask his parents to write affidavits to cover the period in 2010 that you lived with them - they can attest that you are indeed a genuine couple, etc. etc.

Hmm if one spouse is employed and the other is not or makes far less money, usually filing jointly will cut your tax bill (there are exceptions, of course.) But if you filed taxes as married but separate, go ahead and submit those tax forms as well; at least your name will be on the form. If you didn't file as married.... could be a problem.

[jessielinder 0]

Well... I guess you could ask his parents to write affidavits to cover the period in 2010 that you lived with them - they can attest that you are indeed a genuine couple, etc. etc.

Hmm if one spouse is employed and the other is not or makes far less money, usually filing jointly will cut your tax bill (there are exceptions, of course.) But if you filed taxes as married but separate, go ahead and submit those tax forms as well; at least your name will be on the form. If you didn't file as married.... could be a problem.

Thank you, I was so new to this tax filing process. I am definitely going thru this process with a professional this year.

I have already submitted all the documents I listed in December, and had my biometric done last week.

Just waiting for USCIS's decision or interview notice, and losing sleep and appetite over this.

I will ask my mother in law to write an affidavit if we are called for an interview and bring it.

Thank you again.

[Hopefully Sooner 2]

I thought filing as Married whether joint or separate should not matter? As long as you file married? Someone shed light on this.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

I thought filing as Married whether joint or separate should not matter? As long as you file married? Someone shed light on this.

Filing jointly can be evidence of more "mingling of finances".... but even if they filed as married/separately, they definitely should submit those tax statements.