Newbie Approaching I-751 Application

[jmd8800 0]

Hello. My wife and I will be filing an I-791 application after 07/09/2014. Her conditional green card granted via marriage, expires on 10/09/2014.

I am familiar with most of the process thanks in part to posters on this forum, but I have a couple of questions:

1) we will include our tax returns but I'm wondering if we need to include just the 2 main pages or all of the schedules etc that accompany our taxes

2) My wife did a biometrics thing during the initial green card application. The I-751 application mentions an $85 biometric fee. Is this a second biometric fee a second appointment?

Does anyone have opinions on paying an attorney to file the paperwork? We did have an attorney help us file the initital proceeding

Thanks in advance. :-)

[Gosia & Tito 199]

Hello. My wife and I will be filing an I-791 application after 07/09/2014. Her conditional green card granted via marriage, expires on 10/09/2014.

I am familiar with most of the process thanks in part to posters on this forum, but I have a couple of questions:

1) we will include our tax returns but I'm wondering if we need to include just the 2 main pages or all of the schedules etc that accompany our taxes

2) My wife did a biometrics thing during the initial green card application. The I-751 application mentions an $85 biometric fee. Is this a second biometric fee a second appointment?

Does anyone have opinions on paying an attorney to file the paperwork? We did have an attorney help us file the initital proceeding

Thanks in advance. :-)

1. You want to request a tax transcript from IRS. Free. Go to their website and request last 2 years. I'll take a few days by regular mail

2. Yes

3. No need to get an attorney. Forms are quite simple. The documentation needed is not specifically listed except for a couple of things, so you need to figure out what applies best for you. AMong others: show finance commingling by having taxes filed jointly, bank accounts in both names, mortgage and/or title; or lease, car titles, loans...all in both names. state id/drive license showing same address, health insurance from company shpowing coverage for both, 401k showing benficiary spouse, travel together (borading passes, pics, etc) would be secondary.

There are also affidavits, from a couple of people.

There is a full list in the guides here..just search for ROC and i believe it's pinned

[TBoneTX 43,131]

*** Thread moved from Introducing Our Members forum to the ROC forum, on the basis of the OP's queries. ***

[didopage 337]

I think you meant I-751, not I-791 (your post title was right).

Be careful, you need to file not earlier than 90 days before her GC expiration date. It is NOT 3 months. Use this tool to know when your filing window open: http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/dateCalculator.html (seems to be July 11th).

Yes, the biometrics fee is for a second biometrics appointment.

Other questions were pretty well answered by Gosia & Tito already.

No need for an attorney. The I-751 form is super easy to fill in (that's the only form to submit!), the rest is a matter of gathering a whole bunch of documents (printing bank statements, asking tax transcripts to the IRS, ...), and that's the most time-consuming part. An attorney can't do that for you. Seems like a waste of money (to me) to hire one because you will basically have to do 95% of the work yourself (if not 99%).

Edited June 23, 2014 by didopage

[BBCC 16]

1. You want to request a tax transcript from IRS. Free. Go to their website and request last 2 years. I'll take a few days by regular mail

2. Yes

3. No need to get an attorney. Forms are quite simple. The documentation needed is not specifically listed except for a couple of things, so you need to figure out what applies best for you. AMong others: show finance commingling by having taxes filed jointly, bank accounts in both names, mortgage and/or title; or lease, car titles, loans...all in both names. state id/drive license showing same address, health insurance from company shpowing coverage for both, 401k showing benficiary spouse, travel together (borading passes, pics, etc) would be secondary.

There are also affidavits, from a couple of people.

There is a full list in the guides here..just search for ROC and i believe it's pinned

Has anyone reported having their application packaged returned for sending copies of tax returns instead of transcripts?

We sent copies of our returns, didn't bother with getting a transcript and they accepted it.

[NancyNguyen 1,657]

Has anyone reported having their application packaged returned for sending copies of tax returns instead of transcripts?

We sent copies of our returns, didn't bother with getting a transcript and they accepted it.

Because you included all the supporting forms. Some people has complicated tax (self employed, investment, amended tax...) then the tax returns will be messy then tax transcript is preferred choice. It covers everything about your tax. They don't return your package, they send RFE for tax supporting docs.

[Worrier 3]

1. You want to request a tax transcript from IRS. Free. Go to their website and request last 2 years. I'll take a few days by regular mail

You can download the transcripts online without requesting the IRS to mail them. It is way quicker.

[Gosia & Tito 199]

You can download the transcripts online without requesting the IRS to mail them. It is way quicker.

True.

I prefer the mail because I just don't trust much getting info that is sensitive online....This is a diff discussion but I happen to work in computer security for the past several years and it's just too risky for my taste...most people don't have the secure environment that is required these days. Most of the time it is not that critical but you never know. There are people who are actively seeking to gain access to your identity everyday. Thay are ot targetting specifically you or I but any computer that goes under their radar is a potential target.

[jmd8800 0]

Thanks for all of the info. Especially the time frame calculator. We were going to postmark the envelope on July 9 however after seeing the calculator we'll wait until the 11th to postmark it USPS overnight.

What we have so far:

• 2 years of IRS tax transcripts
• 15 or so pictures of us. A couple taken on a trip to Thailand with her family. Some at home some at dinner. One at a Thai temple.
• 6 months of joint checking. (Very little activity we just pay rent and car ins and AAA) We submitted this account initially.
• Joint credit card statement
• Anthem Blue Cross showing both of us on the policy through my work. (I had to take a screen shot to get it.)
• All of my employment benefits and retirement papers show my wife as beneficiary.
• Family AAA membership (continuing)
• 2 affidavits 1) landlord 2) good friend of mine for 40+ years
• Flight itinerary to Thailand. Scans of entry/exit in passports
• Seems I'm forgetting something..hahaha

We cannot find a copy of our lease. This was submitted originally and I think I'll just mention that in the cover letter. It has not changed. After 1 year the lease defaults to month to month unless another lease is signed which is not the case.

One last question. My wife received an Employment Authorization card (brown / red color) with dates on it. This card has expired by 11 months. If I remember right this was issued until the conditional green card is approved. Is that correct or did we miss something?

Thanks for all of your help. I'll post more as time goes on.

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

I like your "Seems I'm forgetting something..hahaha" bullet point as what you are including... I'm sure that'll help your ROC process. You seem fine regarding your list, although they like to see at least quarterly joint bank accounts from the point of you getting married to present...

Thanks for all of the info. Especially the time frame calculator. We were going to postmark the envelope on July 9 however after seeing the calculator we'll wait until the 11th to postmark it USPS overnight.

What we have so far:

• 2 years of IRS tax transcripts
• 15 or so pictures of us. A couple taken on a trip to Thailand with her family. Some at home some at dinner. One at a Thai temple.
• 6 months of joint checking. (Very little activity we just pay rent and car ins and AAA) We submitted this account initially.
• Joint credit card statement
• Anthem Blue Cross showing both of us on the policy through my work. (I had to take a screen shot to get it.)
• All of my employment benefits and retirement papers show my wife as beneficiary.
• Family AAA membership (continuing)
• 2 affidavits 1) landlord 2) good friend of mine for 40+ years
• Flight itinerary to Thailand. Scans of entry/exit in passports
• Seems I'm forgetting something..hahaha

We cannot find a copy of our lease. This was submitted originally and I think I'll just mention that in the cover letter. It has not changed. After 1 year the lease defaults to month to month unless another lease is signed which is not the case.

One last question. My wife received an Employment Authorization card (brown / red color) with dates on it. This card has expired by 11 months. If I remember right this was issued until the conditional green card is approved. Is that correct or did we miss something?

Thanks for all of your help. I'll post more as time goes on.

[blk 87]

Thanks for all of the info. Especially the time frame calculator. We were going to postmark the envelope on July 9 however after seeing the calculator we'll wait until the 11th to postmark it USPS overnight.

What we have so far:

• 2 years of IRS tax transcripts
• 15 or so pictures of us. A couple taken on a trip to Thailand with her family. Some at home some at dinner. One at a Thai temple.
• 6 months of joint checking. (Very little activity we just pay rent and car ins and AAA) We submitted this account initially.
• Joint credit card statement
• Anthem Blue Cross showing both of us on the policy through my work. (I had to take a screen shot to get it.)
• All of my employment benefits and retirement papers show my wife as beneficiary.
• Family AAA membership (continuing)
• 2 affidavits 1) landlord 2) good friend of mine for 40+ years
• Flight itinerary to Thailand. Scans of entry/exit in passports
• Seems I'm forgetting something..hahaha

We cannot find a copy of our lease. This was submitted originally and I think I'll just mention that in the cover letter. It has not changed. After 1 year the lease defaults to month to month unless another lease is signed which is not the case.

One last question. My wife received an Employment Authorization card (brown / red color) with dates on it. This card has expired by 11 months. If I remember right this was issued until the conditional green card is approved. Is that correct or did we miss something?

Thanks for all of your help. I'll post more as time goes on.

Hi, with regards to the EAD Card you are correct in that your wife only needed it until she received her G/C, the only thing it is now is a memento of her journey to getting her G/C.

Brian

[Lainie B 465]

Thanks for all of the info. Especially the time frame calculator. We were going to postmark the envelope on July 9 however after seeing the calculator we'll wait until the 11th to postmark it USPS overnight.

What we have so far:

• 2 years of IRS tax transcripts
• 15 or so pictures of us. A couple taken on a trip to Thailand with her family. Some at home some at dinner. One at a Thai temple.
• 6 months of joint checking. (Very little activity we just pay rent and car ins and AAA) We submitted this account initially.
• Joint credit card statement
• Anthem Blue Cross showing both of us on the policy through my work. (I had to take a screen shot to get it.)
• All of my employment benefits and retirement papers show my wife as beneficiary.
• Family AAA membership (continuing)
• 2 affidavits 1) landlord 2) good friend of mine for 40+ years
• Flight itinerary to Thailand. Scans of entry/exit in passports
• Seems I'm forgetting something..hahaha

We cannot find a copy of our lease. This was submitted originally and I think I'll just mention that in the cover letter. It has not changed. After 1 year the lease defaults to month to month unless another lease is signed which is not the case.

One last question. My wife received an Employment Authorization card (brown / red color) with dates on it. This card has expired by 11 months. If I remember right this was issued until the conditional green card is approved. Is that correct or did we miss something?

Thanks for all of your help. I'll post more as time goes on.

You need to include a copy of the green card, front and back. You don't need the employment authorization card.

The lease is important. They will not look at evidence from previous applications. This is a brand new petition and needs to be self-contained. You need to find the lease or get something in writing from your landlord.

You need to show that you are living together. Copies of both of your drivers licenses with the same address are good. Utilities or other bills with both of your names on them, addressed to your current address.

You need 2 years of joint bank and/or credit card statements. YOu can choose to include a statement every few months, but the total timespan needs to cover the entire period of marriage.

[jmd8800 0]

I like your "Seems I'm forgetting something..hahaha" bullet point as what you are including... I'm sure that'll help your ROC process. You seem fine regarding your list, although they like to see at least quarterly joint bank accounts from the point of you getting married to present...

So yes I was forgetting something: We are opening an online (for now maybe a storefront later) business together and we have filed for DBA, secured the website URL, etc. We did this back in April and hope to be live around January 2015.

I will get the bank to print the statements back to day 1. For some reason I cannot print statements from this account at home.

Tomorrow I will go through everything again. We are getting close to mailing day.

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

Oooh, fingers and toes crossed for you guys!

So yes I was forgetting something: We are opening an online (for now maybe a storefront later) business together and we have filed for DBA, secured the website URL, etc. We did this back in April and hope to be live around January 2015.

I will get the bank to print the statements back to day 1. For some reason I cannot print statements from this account at home.

Tomorrow I will go through everything again. We are getting close to mailing day.

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Has anyone reported having their application packaged returned for sending copies of tax returns instead of transcripts?

We sent copies of our returns, didn't bother with getting a transcript and they accepted it.

We sent no copies of tax returns and haven't had any RFEs (yet). Just her ID and GC, my ID and pay stub, and a joint bank account statement.