Is our proof enough?

[V24 21]

So far I intend to bring to the interview:

Apartment joint lease

Joint bank account (5 months of statements in both names)

Joint Savings account which is still in my maiden name, from nearly 2 years ago (not sure if i will include this since i still didn't change my name)

Health, dental and vision insurance cards in both names, with some bills in my name

Photos - need to pick and choose, how many would you recommend?

Flights from trip to australia and around europe

Joint at&t (phone) bills for 4 months

Joint bill from our dogs vet

Anything else helpful that is recommended?

Edited October 19, 2015 by V24

[Elf 146]

If you don't yet have wills or medical advance directives/powers of attorney, this is a great time to get them done. They're not only good proofs for the AOS interview, they're invaluable if the unthinkable should happen.

Another possibility: is either of you listed as the beneficiary for the other's pension or life insurance?

As for photos, I've heard recommendations for anything from 5 to 100. I created a photobook that told the story of our relationship, with sections for photos of our wedding and reception; the two of us together at major family events (other weddings, new babies etc); the two of us spending time with family members (birthdays, visits, just hanging out); photos of us from vacations and trips; photos of us with different groups of friends; the two of us with our dog; the two of us at Thanksgivings, Valentines Days, New Year celebrations, on our wedding anniversary. I also included occasional screenshots of Facebook posts from each of us, mostly silly posts showing normal "couple-y" interactions. I reasoned that creating a book would let me show the IO a lot of photos in a short time, because I could put 4-8 photos on each page with captions and dates. The IO took a couple of minutes to look through the whole 30-ish page book, she smiled at many of the pages and made a couple of friendly comments. I honestly think it was more effective at proving to her that we are a bona fide couple than all the rest of our evidence put together. I'd heard that sometimes the IO asks to keep a few photos for the file, so I'd also brought 4x6 prints of some of the photos in the book (maybe 15-20) but they weren't needed.

[V24 21]

We don't have wills or life insurance/pension plans or anything like that! We just not graduated and honestly don't own anything valuable at all yet. I will definaty make a photo book. I love that idea of being able to show lots of photos on one page thanks so much!!!!