RFE received

Amica · October 10, 2013

Hi everyone,

We filled I-751 6 months ago and we just received RFE (Request for Evidence) in which USCIS wants the following:

1. Identity Document: Submit legible copies of the conditional permanent resident and petitioning spouse's drivers licenses and or identity cards.

2. Evidence of good faith marriage: The documentation should reflect both of our names and should cover the period of time from the date of marriage to the present date:

*Copies of bank statements

*Copies of mortgage agreements or deeds showing joint ownership of assets or property

*Copies of insurance polices such as life insurance

*Copies of credit card statements

*Copies of loan documents such as car loans, home improvement loans, business loans, etc.

*Copies of rental leases or mortgage agreements, deeds showing joint tenancy at a common residence signed by the conditional resident, the U.S. citizen spouse and the owner(s) of the property

*Copies of utility bills

To be honest, we didn't realize how extensive the required documentation is for this, so we didn't begin collecting all the necessary information from the beginning of our marriage.

I don't have a credit card (only my husband does) but our I-751 petition included copies of debit cards and a bank check showing joint banking account. If we open a joint credit card now, will this help?

We also sent a copy of our joint car insurance policy. When I moved to the US my husband already owned two cars so he just put my name on the insurance policy. Before receiving RFE we were thinking of buying a new car. At this point if we buy jointly would that be helpful evidence?

We sent a copy of our joint healthcare insurance policy. My husband also switched a life insurance policy to include me when we received the original I-751 notification. We have a screenshot of when this was switched over in the system - is this sufficient, or do we have to inquire with the life insurance to provide us with an official policy document?

Approximately at the time we filled the ogitinal I-751, we moved into a new house. Our previous residence was the shared family home of my husband and his immediate family. We didn't want to complicate the petitionin the last days of filling, so we filed with our old address. So on our original petition, all the submitted documentation is associated with the old address. If we submit recent additional evidence with all information associated with the new address, would that be a problem?

Finally, since we lived together with extended family we don't have any official rental leases. Is there another way to "prove" that we lived together besides an official rental least contract? Perhaps a statement attesting to our residence by extended family?

How do we proceed now? What else can we do to ensure successful lifting of conditions?

Thanks in advance for any help or information you can provide!

2ndMessiah · October 10, 2013

So you moved house and didn't inform the USCIS?

File an Ar-11 change of address. Your spouse, if they are your financial sponsor will also have file a different form (sorry forgot which one it is).

As far evidence goes, get tax transcripts from the IRS (can be done online) of your joint tax returns for the last 2 -3 years.

Get a letter from the bank stating the names on your joint account and when it was setup. Send copies of bank statements covering the period of the account. one from every third month of the account.

Do you receive personal property tax bills with both your names on it? Send copies of those from the last two or three years.

Yes buy the car and send a copy of the registration and title that shows both your names on it.

Car insurance. Send copies of each renewal letter thats shows both names from the past few years.

These are the things they want. But it HAS to span the period of at least your conditional green card.

Does your life insurance policy list you/ each other as the beneficiaries?

Edited October 10, 2013 by 2ndMessiah

2ndMessiah · October 10, 2013

I-865 Sponsors notice of change of address is the form needed if your spouse is your financial sponsor and have moved.

cdneh · October 10, 2013

We were staying with relatives as as well when we filed, so we included a letter from them saying that. Not notarized, just a statement, and we had no issues.

Amica · October 10, 2013

Hi 2ndMessiah,

Thank you for your informative reply, it is much appreciated.

Correct, we did not inform USCIS of our move because the address where we were living at the time we originally filed is my mother-in-law's house, literally blocks away from where we live now. We would be happy to report the change of address, we didn't just out of fear it would complicate the application and confuse USCIS.

Since we lived in my mother-in-law's house for the first two years, we don't have any utility bills and/or financial evidence spanning the entire relationship, and this is our biggest concern. When I first arrived I didn't really use debit/credit cards/checking, as most of my expenses were either handled by my husband or paid for by me in cash. We have filed taxes jointly for the last 3 years, and have shared family car insurance (husband and his mother/brother do a joint policy for all their property due to discounts) for at least the last two years as well. My hunsband's life insurance does show me as the primary beneficiary.

We will go with the joint car purchase and perhaps get a new joint credit card. Again, our main concern is that most of our intermingled finances (apart from tax returns/car insurance/health inssurance) will not cover the entire span of the conditional residence, only the last year or so.

Any other ideas or additional information is welcome. Thanks in advance.