evidence questions and interview.

[Alaska101 2]

hi everyone, we are geting ready to send the I-751 joint petition to remove condition to USCIS. Please see the list below for what we are planning to submit as evidences with the application and let us know if we have enough:

1) copy of front and back of my wife conditional green card. (expire date is 04/23/2015).

2) two sworn affidavits by U.S citizen friends. Do they need to notarize?

3) copies of jointed filing tax return transcripts of 2012 and 2013 with copies of W2 for both of us in 2013.

4) copies of jointed checking and saving account statements every 3 or 4 months or so since 2013.

5) partial copies of our least agreement on 03/2013, and full least agreement renewal on 04/2014.

6) copy of our shared visa alaska airlines cards with shared milage account.

7) copies of our health insurance cards (both previously and current insurance companies).

8) copy of our shared Sam's Club cards.

9) Various phone bills (3), doctor bills ( separate but send to same address since 2013 to now), car insurance renewal notice (for both the old car and new one), new car bill statement (2 months), Car registration with both names.

10) copy of our driver licenses with same address.

10) copies of our airline tickets receipts for Michigan trip in 2013, Seattle trip in 2014, and the upcoming Seattle trip 2015.

11) couple of cards for Christmas and such with original envelopes address to both of us.

12) photos of us together with family and friends in Michigan, Seattle, and Alaska. we are planning to send 20 or so photos.

we also have a preapproved mortgage qualification certificate from the local bank here. should we include that too? we are looking for a house now.

Please let me know if we have enough evidences. with that much information, do you think we still require to have an interview with USCIS? i think they are very random or you have some red flag on your application. Thanks for your input.

[Lainie B 465]

Looks like plenty to me. You have lots of evidence of comingling finances and cohabitation.

You don't need to notarise affidavits.

Usually if USCIS are not satisfied with the amount of evidence they will issue an RFE. If the response to the RFE is still not sufficient, then that's when they schedule an interview. Interviews are very rare for ROC.

Edited January 23, 2015 by Lainie B

[Cheezees 1,514]

Looks like plenty to me. You have lots of evidence of comingling finances and cohabitation.

You don't need to notarise affidavits.

Usually if USCIS are not satisfied with the amount of evidence they will issue an RFE. If the response to the RFE is still not sufficient, then that's when they schedule an interview. Interviews are very rare for ROC.

Affidavits need to be notarized/sworn.

[TBoneTX 43,401]

Affidavits for ROC don't need to be notarized. If they did, the instructions would say so.

Affidavits are suggested only if all other evidence is weak. The OP's evidence isn't weak.

[SimpaticoJT 8]

TBone - affidavits need to be notarized. It specifically says in the official instructions, page 2, item 5. Better be safe than sorry.

[Lainie B 465]

It does not say anywhere in the instructions that affidavits need to be notarized.

[TBoneTX 43,401]

It doesn't say it (item 5 on page 3, not page 2). Notarization is completely optional. Regardless, and in accordance with the answer from an experienced immigration attorney whom I'd asked during "our" time, affidavits are needed only if other evidence is thin, which the OP's isn't.

The success of do-it-yourself efforts during this process relies upon one's abilities to read accurately, interpret instructions literally, and answer completely & honestly.

Edited January 23, 2015 by TBoneTX

[Alaska101 2]

thanks for the input everyone. i could get the affidavit notarized in the office here. we have a local notary signer. i will get that notarized anyway.

[Cheezees 1,514]

It doesn't say it (item 5 on page 3, not page 2). Notarization is completely optional. Regardless, and in accordance with the answer from an experienced immigration attorney whom I'd asked during "our" time, affidavits are needed only if other evidence is thin, which the OP's isn't.

The success of do-it-yourself efforts during this process relies upon one's abilities to read accurately, interpret instructions literally, and answer completely & honestly.

While it is true that affidavits are considered weak evidence, the instructions to specify that they need to be notarized. That is the definition of a SWORN affidavit. An affidavit is a written SWORN statement. Without notarization/swearing, it is just a letter. The instructions clearly state that they must be sworn. Perhaps if USCIS used the word "notarized", this misconception would go away. But again sworn=notarized.

It does not say anywhere in the instructions that affidavits need to be notarized.

It does sworn means notarized.

[jtaylor 8]

Affidavits, by definition, need to be witnessed by a notary or officer of the court.

Declarations do not.

Declarations under penalty of perjury are usually enough for USCIS.

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/legal-difference-between-affidavit-declaration-3194.html

Edited January 23, 2015 by jtaylor