K1 AOS Interview - Evidence

[SV350z 3]

Hi Guys,

 

I know there are extensive threads on this subject and I've read them but my situation is a bit unique.  We've been waiting on an interview for almost 2 years, change of address, etc. slowed us down.  The interview letter + the internet say to bring bills, leases, proof of things together basically.  However, we really don't have too much together, we just moved states, and aside from that my phone is prepaid, etc.  The only thing I have is a phone bill and LOTS of photos.  We also have a business together so we have an LLC and operating agreement.

Does anyone have any tips on if this would be sufficient or what else could work? I am hoping photos + details about the time and location might work.

 

I look forward to any suggestions, the interview is Tuesday and it's Sunday, I am paranoid.

[JFH 12,190]

Driver licenses with same address? Insurance policies listing you both as registered drivers for the same car or occupants of the same place? Wills? Joint checking or savings account? Credit card in both names? 

[USC4SPOUSE 506]

5 hours ago, SV350z said:

Hi Guys,

 

I know there are extensive threads on this subject and I've read them but my situation is a bit unique.  We've been waiting on an interview for almost 2 years, change of address, etc. slowed us down.  The interview letter + the internet say to bring bills, leases, proof of things together basically.  However, we really don't have too much together, we just moved states, and aside from that my phone is prepaid, etc.  The only thing I have is a phone bill and LOTS of photos.  We also have a business together so we have an LLC and operating agreement.

Does anyone have any tips on if this would be sufficient or what else could work? I am hoping photos + details about the time and location might work.

 

I look forward to any suggestions, the interview is Tuesday and it's Sunday, I am paranoid.

So let's start with the basics here. You withstood the test of time, and you have been married for longer than 2 years. So right there, you're swimming in a different pool - even a nicer pool. That being said they do expect to see a paper trail. No one is expecting you two to have amassed a fortune, or to have a mortgage. That's not it. It's about finding evidence from the time you met until the present day, that shows that throughout all that time you two have been together building a life. The deal for k-1s was to present evidence at the embassy of your relationship, that you had met during the past 2 years and that you intended to marry. You did as required and married within 90 days. So you fulfilled the terms.

 

Remember that evidence of bona fide marraige does not mean evidence from the date of your marriage. It means evidence that you entered this marriage for love and not to evade immigration laws. So it's really more about the intent. That's what you want to focus on.

 

Do not assume that USCIS has the evidence that you showed at the embassy for his k--1 visa.  You also moved states. They won't have that evidence readily available.  You can use all that evidence to show the longevity of your relationship. Plane tickets from back in the day. Skype chats. All of that is fair game.

 

Remember also that he came on k-1, so in your case, unless he decided to engage in genocide or slave trade since he entered the US there really will not be any bars to his adjustment of status. You two played by the rules. K-1 is the way they want you to do it and that's what you did. Believe me fellow same sex couple, you will be just fine. 

 

Now you have more evidence than you think you have. You just have to get creative. I would first create a timeline of key events in your relationship since you met. Then, build evidence around that. Literally ask yourselves. OK, from these events, do we have receipts? Are there pictures that could be matched to receipts? Are there text messages around this birthday celebration when we invited our friends out to dinner? Trips. 

 

Receipts are great because they're proof that you were at a location at a certain time. Receipts are used as alibis in courts of law. Do you have text messages of you two reminding one another to buy coffee and milk on your way back from work because you're out of those items at home? If you do, and if you can find the receipts, then you're golden. Print the text messages and attach receipts to them. 

 

We used iexplorer from macroplant to print ALL of our text messages. We chose mostly text messages that spoke for the progression of our relationship, some light arguments - real couples argue over text, so we showed that -, and then the texts with receipts.

 

The fact that you two moved from one state to another is also proof of the fact that your marriage is real. So find those items that link you together. 

 

I am going to share a couple of examples of Table of contents from a few people that got very creative. You may get ideas from those. It's a good idea to tell USCIS exactly what your evidence means. What I mean is that you should write in full sentences what the evidence is proof of. Do not expect them to go through your bank statements and figure out your transactions to prove that you commingle. The burden of proof is on YOU to show evidence of bona fide marriage. They do not have to connect the dots for you. 

 

Break down transactions for them. Write in a sentence or two how you commingle. Print out cancelled checks. Hopefully, you have a joint checking account. 

 

Table of Contents

 

                         

Exhibit 1 - Proof of Petitioner’s US Citizenship

 

•       Copy of Both Sides of US Citizen Passport Card 

 

•       Copy of All Pages of US Citizen Passport 

 

 

Exhibit 2 - Proof of Family Relationship Between Petitioner & Spouse Beneficiary - Marriage

 

•       Copy of Marriage Certificate; showing marriage on Month/Day/Year in City, State.

 

•       Copy of Certified Copy of Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage between Petitioner & Former Spouse on Month/Day/Year.

 

Exhibit 3 - Evidence of Cohabitation

 

•       Copy of lease agreement listing Spouse Beneficiary & Petitioner as joint tenants at Street address, City, State, Zip Code since January 8^th, 2018. (4 pages)

 

•       2017 CRP, Certificate of Rent Paid issued by Landlord to Spouse Beneficiary for August 1^st, 2017 – December 31^st, 2017. (1 page)

--*Of note: serves as documentation that Beneficiary PAID RENT at Street Address. as early as August 1^st, 2017 – before Spouse Beneficiary’s lease started on January 8^th, 2018.

 

•       2017 CRP, Certificate of Rent Paid issued by Landlord to Petitioner for August 1^st, 2017 – December 31^st, 2017. (1 page)

 

•       2017 CRP, Certificate of Rent Paid issued by Former Building/Owner to Petitioner for January 1^st, 2017 – July 31^st, 2017. (1 page)

 

•       Copy of email communication between tenant Petitioner & Landlord confirming the execution of the current lease. (1 page)

 

•       Copy of email communication between tenant Petitioner & Landlord confirming the mailing of a cashier’s check from XXXX Bank on October 12^th, 2017. (1 page – includes image of check).

 

•       Copy of cancelled checks issued by Petitioner & Spouse Beneficiary from joint checking account ****9999 to pay for rent at current address. (3 pages total)       

 

•       Correspondence from landlord giving Petitioner & Spouse Beneficiary notice to enter unit. (3 pages)

 

•       Copy of fridge magnet of Rental Company with contact information. (1 page)

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 4 - Evidence of physical presence at Street Address, City, State, Zip code 

 

•       August Smart Lock Account

                              i.    Email notification sent to smith.jones@gmail.com (shared email account)

✓ “Your August Smart lock batteries are low”

 

ii.              Account Screenshots

✓  Petitioner Account – Phone screenshot (1 page)

✓  Spouse Beneficiary Account – Phone Screenshot (1 page)

✓  Guest list – displays Spouse Beneficiary & Petitioner as Owners at Smith Jones residence (1 page) 

✓  Activity log 02/04/18 – 03/05/18 (40 pages)

a. Displays date & time Petitioner & Spouse Beneficiary locked/unlocked doors.

 

Exhibit 5 - Evidence of Receiving Mail at Same Address

 

•       Spouse Beneficiary checking account statement as evidence that Spouse Beneficiary has received mail at Street Address, City, State, Zip Code as early as May 2017. (1 page)

 

•       Confirmation of Spouse Beneficiary address change request successful submission from USCIS-CaseStatus@dhs.gov. Date: July 1^st, 2017. (1 page) 

 

•       Email from USCIS-CaseStatus@dhs.gov, confirming Spouse Beneficiary’s address has been updated with new information provided on July 1^st, 2017.  (1 page)

 

•       I-797 Notice of Action addressed to Spouse Beneficiary - Approval notice for application for employment authorization displaying current address. Date: July 24^th, 2017. (1 page)

 

•       Employment authorization card receipt displaying current address. Date: July 26^th, 2017. (1 page)

 

•       Spouse Beneficiary’s profession-related memberships - all 3 account profiles display our joint address: (3 pages total)

i. Membership #1 ii. Membership #2 iii. Membership #3

 

Exhibit 6 – Evidence of having unrestricted access to each other’s mail through USPS informed  delivery account.

 

•       USPS Informed delivery daily digest - Print out from Petitioner’s account (6 pages)

•       USPS Informed delivery daily digest - Print out from Beneficiary’s account (36 pages) ***here we printed the daily digest from November until 03/13/18. Mailed package 03/14/18.

 

Exhibit 7 – Evidence of Joint Gas Residential Service Account  

 

•       Name of Gas Company

                              i.      Account details (2 pages)

✓  Screenshot – Bill due 02/06/2018 

✓  Screenshot – Bill due 04/04/2018

 

ii.              Account preferences: (3 pages)

✓ Evidence of joint account access.

a.      Billing & Payment settings

b.     Service notifications settings

c.      User access – Petitioner– Full access user

 

iii.            My profile (3 pages)

✓ Evidence of joint account registration

 

iv.            Copy of Gas bill 

✓  Billing date 01/09/18 (1 page)

✓  Billing date 02/06/18 (1 page) 

a. Displays Spouse Beneficiary & Petitioner as joint account holders.

✓ Billing date 03/07/18 (1 page) 

a. Displays Spouse Beneficiary & Petitioner as joint account holders.

 

v.              Payment confirmation for Feb 6^th, 2018 Gas bill.

✓ Paid with Spouse Beneficiary’s Personal checking account ** 8888

 

vi.            03/08/18 - Payment confirmation (1 page)

✓ Paid with Joint Checking ***9999

 

vii.           03/06/18 - Payment confirmation email to smith.jones@gmail.com (shared email account)

 

viii.         Upcoming Payment Alerts sent to smith.jones@gmail.com (shared email account)

✓  Sent 02/01/18 – payment due 02/06/18

✓  Sent 03/01/18 – payment due 03/06/18

`

Exhibit 8 – Evidence of Joint Electric Residential Service Account

 

•       Name of Electric Service Provider

 

                              i.      Email notifications “your statement is ready” (2 pages total)

✓  sent to smith.jones@gmail.com (shared email account)

✓  Dates 01/14/18 & 02/13/18

 

ii.              Monthly electric bills – Date 01/12/18 & 02/12/18 (2 pages total) ✓ Display both names: 

a.      Spouse Beneficiary  

b.     Petitioner

 

iii.            Billing and Payment History Report (1 page)

✓ 12/08/17 – 03/08/18

 iv. 03/08/18 –Joint checking ***9999 payment confirmation (1 page)

 

v.           03/08/18 – Email confirmation “payment applied” to smith.jones@gmail.com. (1 page)

 

vi.         Account profile (1 page)

✓ Displays both names on account: Petitioner + Spouse Beneficiary

 

Exhibit 9

 

               •    Internet Service – Name of company

i.            Account Users Page printed on 01/11/18 & 03/05/18  (top left corner) – Evidence of longevity of joint account. (2pages) ✓ Displays both names on account:

a.      Petitioner - Primary

b.     Spouse Beneficiary – Unrestricted Secondary

 

ii.           Account Settings page (1 page)

✓  Displays preferred personal email as smith.jones@gmail.com

 

iii.         Internet bill: (1 page)

✓  billing date 02/10/18

 

***Of Note: it is not possible for both names to display on the bill. This company’s bills display only the primary account holder’s name.

 

iv.          Payment confirmation email (1 page)

✓  Paid with Spouse Beneficiary’s Checking account ending in ***8888

 

v.           Evidence of payment with Joint Checking ****9999 (2 pages):

✓  12/08/17

✓  01/08/18

 

Exhibit 10

 

•       Joint Checking Account Agreement (2 pages)

                              i.      Displays Joint Tenants as:

✓  Petitioner

✓  Spouse Beneficiary 

✓  Since 10/06/17

 

•       Joint Checking Account Bank Statements:

i. 10/19/17 (2 pages) ii. 11/14/17 (4 pages)

✓  Page 4 – 11/01/17 Cancelled check for Rent Payment iii.             12/19/17 (3 pages)

✓  Page 3 – 12/01/17 Cancelled check for Rent Payment

 

Exhibit 11 – Evidence of Joint Employer-sponsored Benefits

 

•       Benefit Enrollment Statement of current coverage (3 pages)

i.       Displays Petitioner + Spouse Beneficiary coverage in	2017 & 2018.
***This was a print out from my benefits account on my Employer’s website***

 

•       Confirmation of Beneficiary Information (4 pages)

i.         Spouse Beneficiary listed as ONLY beneficiary of: ✓ 401K & ALLSTATE Critical Illness

✓  Accidental Death & Dismemberment & Optional Life Insurance

✓  Business Travel Accident & Company Paid Life Insurance

✓  ALLSTATE Accident

***This was a print out from my benefits account on my Employer’s website***

 

•       Evidence Spouse Beneficiary utilizes joint health insurance benefits (4 pages).  *Of note: Employer health insurance provides each member with individual cards. Only the primary/employee is listed on each card.  

                              i.    12/18/17 – Evidence of prescription coverage for Petitioner (1 page)

✓ Paid for with Beneficiary Visa credit card ending in ***7777

***Basically, picked up a prescription. Made a copy of the sheet that the pharmacy gives you (with your
name, name of drug, has a barcode etc) with the receipt which shows the prescription # and $0.00 copay,                                                and the insurance card with my name on it. All 3 in one page.***

                             ii.      12/21/17 - Flu shot for Beneficiary (1 page)

✓ Evidence that flu shot was fully covered by insurance benefit. ✓ Copay $0.00

***Made a copy of the flu shot sheet with Spouse Beneficiary’s name on it and prescription #, with the
receipt which shows $0.00 copay and Spouse beneficiary’s insurance card – all in one page.

 

iii. 12/21/17 - Eye vision tests for Spouse Beneficiary & Petitioner (2 pages) Evidence that both Vision Tests were covered by insurance benefit.

✓  Copay $10 each.

✓  Paid with Beneficiary Visa credit card ending in ***7777

***This was a photocopy of the vision prescription, receipt which shows the $10 copay and Spouse
beneficiary’s last 4 digits of credit card, along with the actual credit card – all on one page.

 

•       Evidence of Health Savings Account Card (HSA) ISSUED for Spouse Beneficiary (2 pages) ***This was a print out from the online account and a photocopy of both cards. 

 

•       Copy of Employer issued Discount Cards for Petitioner (employee) & Spouse beneficiary (1 page)

 

•       Correspondence to Spouse Beneficiary from Employer Personnel Manager in City, State; welcoming Spouse Beneficiary to the Employer sponsored Discount Benefit for employees. Discount card delivered with correspondence. (1 page)

 

Exhibit 12 – Evidence of Joint Driver Insurance Coverage since 09/08/16 *** We met 06/19/16. This the earlies piece of financial ties that we could find. We did highlight the date on the table of contents we sent for them to note that as evidence of the longevity of our financial ties or at least that we were serious about the relationship even early on. 

 

•       Joint Automobile Policy summaries included:

i. 09/08/16 - 03/08/17 (1 page) ii. 03/08/17 - 09/08/17 (1 page)

iii. 09/08/17 – 03/08/18 (1 page)  iv. 03/08/18 – 09/08/18 (1 page) *Current – Active 

•       Verification of Automobile insurance 

i.           09/08/17 - 03/08/18 (1 page)

ii.         03/11/18 – 09/11/18 (1 page)

•       Automobile Insurance Identification Cards (2 pages)

•       Evidence of payment with joint checking ****9999 (1 page)

 

Exhibit 13 – Evidence of comingling of financial resources    

                                                                                                                                                                                        

•       Letter from (Name of State) Department of Revenue for Identity Verification Addressed to Petitioner & Spouse Beneficiary. (1 page).

•       Evidence of Employer Payroll Direct deposit to Joint Checking ***9999 (1 page)

 

•       Target REDCard (debit card) (4 pages total)

i.              Copy of each Target REDcard 

ii.            12/28/17 – Email confirmation from Target adding Spouse Beneficiary to account. iii.        Correspondence from Target delivering Spouse Beneficiary’s Target Redcard

iv.      Evidence Joint Checking ****9999 is linked to Target Redcard. (we printed the section from the online account that shows that)

 

•       American Express – Petitioner & Spouse Beneficiary Joint Account

i.                  Payment summary from 10/25/17 – 12/18/17; displays payment with Joint Checking

***9999 (1 page) ii.   Transaction details from Joint checking ***9999 (3 pages)

✓  10/30/17

✓  11/20/17

✓  12/19/17

•       Discover – Petitioner & Spouse Beneficiary Joint Account

i.                  Evidence Joint Checking ****9999 registered for online payments. (1 page) ii.    10/24/17- Transaction detail – payment with Joint Checking ****9999 (1 page)

 

•       State Board of Health Profession Name Online License Renewal; paid with Petitioner & Spouse Beneficiary Discover card ****5555 (1 page)

 

Exhibit 14 – Evidence of Joint Memberships

 

•       Joint Amazon Prime Account - Manage your household Page shows Petitioner & Spouse Beneficiary listed. *We share credit & debit cards to shop. (1page)                                                                       

 

•       Joint Sam’s Club membership 

i.                  Online account membership summary (1 page) ii.           Copy of both membership cards (1 page)

 

•       Joint Gym Membership 

i.                  Platinum Couple Membership Details (1 page)

✓ Added Spouse Beneficiary as partner on membership on 09/21/16

ii.                 Emergency Contact Information (1 page) *Lists each other as emergency contacts

iii.               Club Tab Account Authorization (1 page)*Lists Spouse beneficiary as authorized to charge purchases to the gym account.

iv.                Copy of both membership cards (1 page)

v.                 Transaction Details; Jan 1, 2017 – Mar 1, 2018. (13 pages)       

 

Exhibit 15 

 

•       Weekend Trip 09/10/16 – 09/12/16

i.            Reservation email (2 pages)

ii.           Spouse Beneficiary Checking account Statement (1 page)

✓  09/12/16 – Pizza purchase – City, State

✓  09/14/16 – Hotel stay payment

•       Stay-cation in City, State 10/09/16 – 10/10/16

i.            Reservation confirmation email to (2 pages)

ii.           Hotel Experience survey email to smith.jones@gmail.com (shared email account) (1 page)

 

•       Stay-cation in City, State 10/22/16 – 10/23/16

i.            Name of Hotel– Final Bill

 

•       Wedding band receipts 08/02/17 (2 Pages)

`

•       Graduation presents

i.	Pronunciation Workshop
	naturally, by the way)

 (amazing course to speak with an American accent

 

✓  05/12/17 Order history & account details – ordered for Spouse Beneficiary (1 page)

✓  05/12/17- Payment confirmation – Paid by Petitioner (1 page)

✓  05/14/17 - Email exchange with Pronunciation Workshop (1 page)

 ii. 05/11/17 - Macy’s receipts of graduation suit/apparel (2 pages)

 

•       02/13/18 – Evidence of Gift (Video surveillance camera) to Petitioner’s mother, from

Petitioner & Spouse Beneficiary (3 pages)

i.            Paid with Joint Petitioner & Spouse Beneficiary Discover card ***5555

 

•       03/11/18 – Evidence of gift bought in Israel by Petitioner’s father & Petitioner’s mother for

Petitioner & Spouse Beneficiary  (4 pages total)

i.            Picture of gifts & mail envelope

ii.           Enlarged copy of envelope – displays USPS tracking number

iii.         03/09/18 – 03/11/18 – Text message USPS status updates. 

iv.          Copy of prayer text in German

 

•       Postcard from Spouse Beneficiary’s best friend in Malaysia– (1 page)

 

Exhibit 16 – Selection of text messages that reflect our relationship timeline and evolution between         June 2016 – December 2016

 

Exhibit 17 – Selection of text messages that reflect our relationship timeline and evolution between         January 2017 – December 2017  

 

Exhibit 18 – Selection of text messages that reflect our relationship timeline and evolution between         January 2018 – March 2018 

***Some text messages were your typical married couple “Please don’t forget to get some milk, bread and swiss cheese on your way from the gym” Then we matched the receipt’s date & time with the text messages date & time. You know how it is. Once you move in together, you do not text as often if ever, really. 

To print all these text messages we used a program called iExplorer. Here’s the link.

https://macroplant.com/iexplorer?gclid=Cj0KCQjw2KHWBRC2ARIsAJD_r3eVn88jPS3jA7s9VuYLPh

w-AJdOniNaogUyhjITRMH4Gi3H2UZFXqsaAutHEALw_wcB

If the link gets blocked, you can just google iExplorer, it will be the first result. 

 You have to pay for each license but after that it’s yours to use forever. It allows you to download text messages from your iphone and android that is accepted as a legal document in a courtroom. It shows the phone number, the device ID, the phone number. It also shows the phone number and time right next to each text message. And it shows a title on top in the following format: 

Chat with Spouse beneficiary 

11/8/2016 01:06:13 PM

11/8/2016 11:23:45 PM

It was way too time consuming to take screenshots and at the end of the day if you end up in a legal dispute with USCIS, screenshots are worthless. That was our choice, though.****

 

Exhibit 19 – Pictures from July 2016 – January 2018

 

 

[SV350z 3]

Thank you very much! I printed out lots of what you both mentioned and I also made a table of contents like you ^ did!