adding wife to house deed for AOS?

[Dave&Olga 0]

We sent off our AOS package last week, and I'm now trying to take care of a few extra bona fide support items that required some extra time/effort (in case they ask in the interview or we get an RFE).

Any opinions/experience on how important it is to have my wife on my house deed/title for USCIS? Did anyone else have success without a rental agreement or joint home title?

I wouldn't be hesitating, except if I'm reading the Florida law correctly, I need to pay a "document stamp" tax based on the balance of my mortgage to add my wife to the title (I was expecting a $50 processing fee, not a significant tax penalty). I might refinance my loan later this year, which would be a better time to add her to all the official documents (once she has an SSN).

I'm going keep looking into the details, and I might call a real estate lawyer, but I thought I would get an opinion from the VJ side in case anyone had a similar situation. Thanks everyone!

Dave

[aaron2020 11,651]

Do not add her to the deed unless you want to give half your house to her. In case of a divorce, she will own half. You would need to buy her out or face a court ordered sale if she does not want to co-own the house after a divorce.

IMHO, you do not need to add her to the deed to show a bona fide marriage as long as you have other evidence to show a life together.

Edited April 28, 2014 by aaron2020

[kzielu 1,149]

I wasn't added to the deed at AOS time (mostly due to lack of time), ended up being no problem at all - like said above, if you have other evidence, you don't need to do that.

[RobbieG 94]

I submitted a property tax bill showing myself and husband as the property owners with my I-130. Is that sufficient for ownership proof?

I sent tons of other evidence showing a relationship.

RobbieG

Dallas, TX

[tom&tanya 48]

You can call a local title company, should be no need for an attorney. It's a very simple thing. (I'm a real estate broker in Florida).

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

All the way past becoming a USC without having to be added to the titel

[Uhoh 10]

I won't be added to the deed as the mortgage is still under my husband and his ex wife's names until the property sells. When we buy a new place together then I will be named.

[lil2be 11]

My husband quitclaimed deed to our names. In Michigan, we paid $2 and it is done at a civil court. No atterney, no mortgage broker

[Dave&Roza 748]

We sent off our AOS package last week, and I'm now trying to take care of a few extra bona fide support items that required some extra time/effort (in case they ask in the interview or we get an RFE).

Any opinions/experience on how important it is to have my wife on my house deed/title for USCIS? Did anyone else have success without a rental agreement or joint home title?

I wouldn't be hesitating, except if I'm reading the Florida law correctly, I need to pay a "document stamp" tax based on the balance of my mortgage to add my wife to the title (I was expecting a $50 processing fee, not a significant tax penalty). I might refinance my loan later this year, which would be a better time to add her to all the official documents (once she has an SSN).

I'm going keep looking into the details, and I might call a real estate lawyer, but I thought I would get an opinion from the VJ side in case anyone had a similar situation. Thanks everyone!

Dave

This is an issue for estate planning and not something that should or needs to be done just to satisfy the USCIS that the marriage is legit. My wife was not and is not on the deed, but we have a completed and soon to be Notarized Quit Claim Deed that she will file with the county clerk's office upon my death that transfers the property from me to her so she can sell it without having to go through the entire probate system. Always be careful when transferring or adding a person to a deed or real property. Please research the difference between tenants-in-common and joint tenancy and which is the default for your state. If married, in some states the spouse is automatically added as a joint tenant which causes all kinds of problems when one spouse dies without a will.

One item does not make or break your case for AOS or even ROC and there are good reasons for doing things differently than others. Gather up YOUR proof and make YOUR case with the USCIS, we can only advise you of what worked before, but in the end it comes down to the person at the USCIS that is looking at YOUR case.

Good luck,

Dave

[Dave&Olga 0]

Thanks everyone for the quick and thorough responses. I will relax a bit, glad to hear from those whose made it through the process without making changes to their house title.

You can call a local title company, should be no need for an attorney. It's a very simple thing. (I'm a real estate broker in Florida).

Thanks Tom and/or Tanya, if I do decide to do it, I will contact the title company I used when I bought the place 2 years ago.

[Snag 57]

Not a big deal. I wasn't even on our first lease together because I didn't have a SSN. I got approved on the day of interview with other evidence.

[mike281 1]

We sent off our AOS package last week, and I'm now trying to take care of a few extra bona fide support items that required some extra time/effort (in case they ask in the interview or we get an RFE).

Any opinions/experience on how important it is to have my wife on my house deed/title for USCIS? Did anyone else have success without a rental agreement or joint home title?

I wouldn't be hesitating, except if I'm reading the Florida law correctly, I need to pay a "document stamp" tax based on the balance of my mortgage to add my wife to the title (I was expecting a $50 processing fee, not a significant tax penalty). I might refinance my loan later this year, which would be a better time to add her to all the official documents (once she has an SSN).

I'm going keep looking into the details, and I might call a real estate lawyer, but I thought I would get an opinion from the VJ side in case anyone had a similar situation. Thanks everyone!

Dave

We got approved with no extra bona fide documents doing AOS from tourist visa. Just a few pictures of us together throughout the years and the marriage certificate. The interview was all of 5 minutes and consisted of very few questions of us. The interviewer did say that when we apply for the non conditional green card after 2 years we should have some supporting documents such as a joint bank account or joint ownership of a car, but really I think it won't matter too much. As long as your relationship is legit they will be able to tell. I definitely would not wast the money on getting these docs done.