AOS Cover Letter Check: Feedback & Tips Appreciated

[skimmilk 32]

Hello, all!  Well, two months after my husband and I got married, we're finally almost ready to send our paperwork.  I've copied and pasted our cover letter here and was hoping for any feedback.  Since we haven't sent it out yet, we still have time to make changes and/or gather other paperwork if necessary.  

 

Some background: I'm Canadian and my husband is the US citizen.  I used to be here on F1 (2013 to 2016).  Been with my husband since 2015; moved in together after five months.  My OPT expired Oct 2016.  We'd been hoping I'd find an employer who would sponsor me.  But that didn't happen and we weren't ready to get married either.  So I went back home to Canada.  I came back to the US in March 2017 as a visitor to be with my husband for several months.  He was going to visit Canada with me just before my visitor status would expire.  But at the end of April, he proposed and I couldn't stand the thought of going back and forth between the US and Canada, so I accepted.  We got married May 31, 2017.  We did not hire a lawyer.

 

A COUPLE QUESTIONS!
1. What is the best way to package our personal photographs with the paperwork?  I bought some 12"x12" binder sheets that can hold 4"x6" photographs.  Should I just put the photographs in a smaller Ziploc bag?  We plan on using 3"x4" bags for the passport photos.

 

2. I crashed on my friend's couch for five months back in 2015.  This was between finishing school and moving in with my husband.  Should I include my friend's address as part of my residence history? 

 

Anyway, sorry for making this a super long post.  Here's our cover letter (names removed, obviously):

----------------------------------------------------

Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
P.O. Box 805887
Chicago, IL 60680-4120

 

NATURE OF SUBMISSION: ORIGINAL Concurrent Filing of the Following Forms
1. I-130 [Petition for Alien Relative]
2. I-485 [Application to Register Permanent Residency or Adjust Status]
3. I-864 [Affidavit of Support]
4. I-765 [Application for Employment Authorization]
5. I-131 [Application for Travel Document]

 

PETITIONER: Husband's Name (US Citizen)
BENEFICIARY: My name

 

To whom it may concern:

Please kindly find enclosed the forms listed above under “NATURE OF SUBMISSION” and their supporting documents.  Copies of supporting documents are exact photocopies of unaltered original documents.  We understand that we may be requested to submit and/or provide the original documents at a later date.
 

1.       Check for $535 (I-130 filing fee)
 

2.       Check for $1225 ($1140 I-485 filing fee + $85 Biometrics fee)
 

3.       Form I-130 [Petition for Alien Relative] by Husband
- Supporting Documents:

a.       TWO passport style photos of Husband and TWO passport style photos of Wife (FOUR PHOTOS TOTAL)

b.       Form I-130A (filled out by Wife)

c.       Photocopy of Husband’s BIRTH CERTIFICATE

d.       Photocopy of MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE

e.       Joint bank statement

f.        Joint T-Mobile bill statement

g.       Joint Zipcar account

h.       Personal photographs (25 TOTAL)

i.         Sworn affidavits from third parties attesting to the bona fide nature of our relationship and marriage (from our parents and a couple friends)

 

4.       Form I-485 [Application to Register Permanent Residency or Adjust Status]  (NOTE: We're using the new I-485)
- Supporting Documents:

a.       TWO passport style photos of Wife

b.       Photocopy of Wife’s BIRTH CERTIFICATE

c.       Photocopy of Wife’s PASSPORT ID PAGE and PASSPORT PAGE WITH NONIMMIGRANT VISA

d.       Photocopy of MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE

e.       Form I-693 [Report of Medical Examination & Vaccination Record] - SEALED
 

5.       Form I-864 [Affidavit of Support] (NOTE: Husband is self-employed; this form is the one we are the most unsure about.  If we need to attach any other documents, please let us know.)

- Supporting Documents:

a.       Husband’s 2016 IRS TRANSCRIPT

b.       Husband’s 2016 FORM W-2

c.       Husband’s 2016 FORM 1099

d.       Husband’s 2016 FORM 1040 SCHEDULE

 

6.       Form I-765 [Application For Employment Authorization]
- Supporting Documents:

a.       TWO passport style photos of Wife

b.       Print-out of most recent I-94

c.       Photocopy of prior EAD (front & back)
 

7.       Form I-131 [Application for Travel Document]
- Supporting Documents:

a.       TWO passport style photos of Wife

b.       Photocopy of Wife’s PASSPORT ID PAGE and PASSPORT PAGE WITH NONIMMIGRANT VISA

c.       Print-out of most recent I-94
----------------------------------------------

 

Thank you all!!!

 

 

[tato2017 41]

1- I think you can place the pictures in an envelope (Letter paper size envelope)

2- Yes you should include that address as well.

 

I think your cover letter looks good but here is the checklist for you to look again in case you have some extra documents you can put it.

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Form I-130 Completed and signed form by Petitioner (U.S. Citizen).
Form I-130A Completed and signed by spouse beneficiary.
A personal check or Money Order amount of $535 made out to U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
https://www.uscis.gov/forms/our-fees

Two-passport style photo of U.S. Citizen with full name on the back and name on plastic bag.
Two-passport style photo of beneficiary with full name on the back and name on plastic bag.
Copy of U.S. Citizen`s Birth Certificate or Passport Biographical Page, or Naturalization Certificate.
Copy of U.S. Citizen`s Driver License or Passport Biographical Page.
Copy of Marriage Certificate.
Copy of Divorce Decree (If you are divorced previously).
Copy of beneficiary`s passport biographical page.
Copy of beneficiary`s most recent I-94.
https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/recent-search

Evidence Showing Bona Fide Marriage:
 ☐ Joint IRS Tax Return Transcripts (if you have it).

 ☐ Birth Certificate of your children (if you have any).

 ☐ Joint Lease or Mortgage showing joint tenancy (if you have it).

 ☐ Joint Bank Statements. (Checking, Saving, Credit Cards etc.).

 ☐ Joint Utility Bills (Or Utility Bills showing the same address for each spouse)

 ☐ Joint Cell Phone Bills.

 ☐ Joint Car title.

 ☐ Joint Car Insurance.

 ☐ Life insurance showing each other as beneficiary.

 ☐ Retirement accounts showing each other as beneficiary.

 ☐ Health, dental Insurance showing you are on one another plan.

 ☐ Photographs (Weddings, Trips, Family gatherings, Friends)

 ☐ Affidavits from your family, friends having personal knowledge of your bona fides marriage.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Form I-485 Completed and Signed by Beneficiary (Alien Applicant).
A personal check or Money Order amount of $1225 made out to U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (Including biometric fee).
Copy of foreign birth certificate for beneficiary accompanied by full-certified translation.
Copy of beneficiary`s passport Biographical page.
Copy of beneficiary`s passport nonimmigrant visa page (if you have)
Two-passport style photo of beneficiary with full name on the back and name on plastic bag.
Copy of beneficiary most recent I-94.
https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/recent-search

Copy of Marriage Certificate.
Copy of Divorce Decree (If you are divorced previously).
 Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (sealed by civil surgeon)
“You do not need to send with your initial application but you need have it with you during the interview”
Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA:
 ☐ Petitioner copies of IRS federal income tax return transcripts for the last one year (Optional last 3 years).
 ☐ Copies of Petitioner`s W2`s or 1040`s forms.

 ☐ Copies of Petitioner`s pay stubs.
 ☐ A letter of employment verification for the petitioner.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Form I-765 Completed and Signed by Beneficiary.

Two-passport style photo of beneficiary with full name on the back and name on plastic bag.

Copy of beneficiary`s passport Biographical page.

Copy of beneficiary most recent I-94. https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/recent-search

*No Filing is required for I-765 since it is being submitted along with I-485.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Form I-131 Completed and Signed by Beneficiary.

Copy of beneficiary`s passport Biographical page.

Copy of beneficiary most recent I-94.

Two-passport style photo of beneficiary with full name on the back and name on plastic bag.

 

 

 

[skimmilk 32]

Thanks, @tato2017!!  Follow-up question: 90% of our photos are on our computers.  Except for the ones we're printing for this application (which basically show our relationship from the beginning to the present), the rest aren't in physical form.  Should we print out all our personal photos and bring the album with us to the interview?  I know they'll most likely ask for photos between our application receipt and the interview, but what if they want to see more photos from last year or something?

[tato2017 41]

Yes. You should print good amount of photos and take it to interview with you in case you get asked for. Obviously you cannot print all of them but just select some (showing over the time progression) and print it out. Until the interview time you will more evidence showing bona fide marriage and photos are just part of it.

[skimmilk 32]

4 minutes ago, tato2017 said:

Yes. You should print good amount of photos and take it to interview with you in case you get asked for. Obviously you cannot print all of them but just select some (showing over the time progression) and print it out. Until the interview time you will more evidence showing bona fide marriage and photos are just part of it.

Thanks for your quick reply!  I really want to send this all in by the end of the week, so I'm preparing myself to be at the printer all day today. 

[skimmilk 32]

6 hours ago, tato2017 said:

Yes. You should print good amount of photos and take it to interview with you in case you get asked for. Obviously you cannot print all of them but just select some (showing over the time progression) and print it out. Until the interview time you will more evidence showing bona fide marriage and photos are just part of it.

Alright one more question: what should I include in our application during the time period my husband and I were long distance?  We Skyped a lot so I took some screenshots of our Skype chat window. He also sent me some gifts and I still have the packages with shipping labels. I also have my boarding passes from when I left and came back. Thoughts on including some or all of this in our AoS package?

[tato2017 41]

sure you can include those. I think the more you include upfront it is better so they don`t issue you RFE. I think Skype screenshots and boarding passes good idea to include. Also attach a sheet of paper explain the skype screenshots and boarding passes (Just send the copy of the boarding pass - keep the original). Just make sure you organize them well it does not fall apart when they are handling.

[skimmilk 32]

21 hours ago, tato2017 said:

sure you can include those. I think the more you include upfront it is better so they don`t issue you RFE. I think Skype screenshots and boarding passes good idea to include. Also attach a sheet of paper explain the skype screenshots and boarding passes (Just send the copy of the boarding pass - keep the original). Just make sure you organize them well it does not fall apart when they are handling.

 

Okay thanks a ton!  For all the relevant photocopies (my old EAD, passport pages, etc), I scanned them into a program just to add some text at the top of each page (like my husband's or my name and "PHOTOCOPY: [document name]").  Is this considered kosher?  I just thought it'd be easier for the office workers to keep track of and compare to the cover letter.

[tato2017 41]

Yep that works but don`t over do it and  make sure the documents does not look like altered when you add text.