How Much Evidence to Bring to AOS Interview?

[LilyKins 121]

Good Morning Everyone

 

After 18 long months, our AOS interview is this Friday. I've compiled a binder full of the following evidence:

 

Identity Documents

 

• USC spouse birth certificate
• USC spouse passport
• USC spouse driver's license
• Beneficiary birth certificate (all versions; original hand written, original shortened, and a new version that's computer printed)
• Beneficiary passport
• Beneficiary driver's license

 

Updated Forms

 

• Updated I-864/I-864A from joint sponsors with all supporting information to reflect their current income (during/post-COVID) with all supporting evidence:
  • 2020 tax return
  • Proof of citizenship
  • 6mo income statements from both joint sponsors
• USC Spouse is currently unemployed (was a student until May), but I have been employed full time for over a year now (was unemployed at the time of applying); should I bring an updated I-864/I-864A for us as well?

 

Immigration Documents

 

• Interview notice
• Sealed I-693 envelope (not sent with original application)
• All original I-20's (I'm adjusting from F1)
• EADs related to OPT
• Copy if I-94 (though I haven't travelled since applying)
• EAD/AP from AOS
• My OPT journey was long and a little twisted, so I'm wondering if I should bring documents related to my various OPT applications as well?

 

Evidence of Cohabitation

 

• Leases from our current apartment and our previous apartment with both our names
• Renter's insurance for current apartment with both of our names
• Utility bills with both of our names

 

Evidence of Financial "Comingling"/Bonafide Marriage

 

• 6 months of joint bank statements, showing rent & utility payments and other day-to-day transactions
• Joint car insurance
• Joint health insurance
• Letter from immigrant's 401k indicating that the USC spouse is the sole beneficiary
• Letter from immigrant's life insurance that the USC spouse is the sole beneficiary
• Tax return transcripts for the last 3 years -- 2020 (joint), 2019 (both filed single), 2018 (both filed single)

 

 

With all of this (2 copies of each, one for me and one for the IO to keep if necessary), I have a 1" binder that is absolutely stuffed. I was going to print some more photos (different to the ones we originally submitted) and some other supporting evidence -- wedding cards we received, wedding invitations we've received as a couple, etc -- but I'm thinking that it might be too much. 

 

I've also heard that it is wise to bring a complete copy of your application with you, but I'm wondering if this is actually done in practice. We front loaded our original application with quite a bit of evidence of our relationship up to that point, so together all of the forms (I-130, I-130A, I-864 (spouse), I-864/I-864A (joint sponsor), I-765, I-131) with their supporting evidence works out to about 500 pages. Add to that the OPT application files (three I-765s, one rejected package, one approved package, one replacement EAD package) and all of the supporting evidence for those applications...).

 

Will I look like a crazy person if I bring an entire file box with me to the interview? Should I make another complete copy of my copy of the complete application package, or is it safe to bring my copy with me as the IO should have copies of everything I have submitted?

 

 

Neurotic, I know, but I appreciate the wisdom and expertise here  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 21, 2021 by LilyKins

[Letspaintcookies 2,206]

First of all: you're good to go 😊 that's a lot of good evidence. If you want to bring the cards do it but I doubt that this is what will make or break your case 😉

 

You could prepare a new affidavit for you two but don't show it unless they ask. Your information will be updated at the interview anyway without a new form.

 

I didn't brought copys of all my applications and I don't recall anyone who really was asked for it even though it's asked for in the notice.

 

For your OPT stuff... no idea if that is an important part here. 

Edited June 21, 2021 by Letspaintcookies

[oneoftheunderdogs 68]

This is really helpful! We have our interview coming up next month and I‘ve been compiling all our evidence and forms into binders as well!

I think our lists are pretty much identical so I think (hope) you (we) are good to go! Good luck! Please let us know how it went and if there was anything else you needed!

[USC4SPOUSE 506]

@LilyKins, your evidence looks really good. We brought to the interview a copy of the entire package we submitted - including the evidence we front-loaded. We also brought new evidence.  We made 3 sets of copies in case we got separated. We gave a set to our lawyer, one for my spouse and one set for me - just in case we got "separated". In hindsight, it was overkill but we wanted to be prepared for anything. We actually brought the evidence in a small carry-on luggage - I kid you not. 

 

The officer interviewed me first and my lawyer was present. Then, he said we were done and asked me to get my husband. The whole thing probably lasted 45 minutes. 

The officer said he had sent more than enough evidence and only wanted to see that our IDs had the same address, most recent tax returns, paystubs. At this point, I can't remember if he wanted to see any of the new evidence we brought in. He asked a few questions about my job, salary, what kind of schedule we work and also how we met. Then, he asked my husband the same questions. The officer made a few updates with the answers my husband provided and asked him to sign a form to certify all the updates he had made. I am mentioning this because my husband only mentioned signing a form once we got home and I was not sure what he had signed, but our lawyer confirmed that it was just a form updating information. 

 

Regarding OPT, we brought all the paperwork from my husband's OPT - EAD, I-20s, Transcripts. The officer did not ask for any of that and we had also submitted that with the initial petition. 

 

If you want to release your co-sponsor of their duty, you may do that. Just realize that the officer may need to take some time to review the new I-864. It's all up to you. 

 

It is great that you have all this evidence as you will need it to file the I-751 to remove conditions on the green card in about 2 years from now. You will. be fine. If wheeling in a pile of evidence is what brings you peace of mind, then go with that. 

 

Best wishes.  

 

PS: by the way, we brought our evidence in binders also but everything was 2 hole punched at the top. 

 

Edited June 21, 2021 by USC4SPOUSE

[LilyKins 121]

1 hour ago, USC4SPOUSE said:

@LilyKins, your evidence looks really good. We brought to the interview a copy of the entire package we submitted - including the evidence we front-loaded. We also brought new evidence.  We made 3 sets of copies in case we got separated. We gave a set to our lawyer, one for my spouse and one set for me - just in case we got "separated". In hindsight, it was overkill but we wanted to be prepared for anything. We actually brought the evidence in a small carry-on luggage - I kid you not. 

 

The officer interviewed me first and my lawyer was present. Then, he said we were done and asked me to get my husband. The whole thing probably lasted 45 minutes. 

The officer said he had sent more than enough evidence and only wanted to see that our IDs had the same address, most recent tax returns, paystubs. At this point, I can't remember if he wanted to see any of the new evidence we brought in. He asked a few questions about my job, salary, what kind of schedule we work and also how we met. Then, he asked my husband the same questions. The officer made a few updates with the answers my husband provided and asked him to sign a form to certify all the updates he had made. I am mentioning this because my husband only mentioned signing a form once we got home and I was not sure what he had signed, but our lawyer confirmed that it was just a form updating information. 

 

Regarding OPT, we brought all the paperwork from my husband's OPT - EAD, I-20s, Transcripts. The officer did not ask for any of that and we had also submitted that with the initial petition. 

 

If you want to release your co-sponsor of their duty, you may do that. Just realize that the officer may need to take some time to review the new I-864. It's all up to you. 

 

It is great that you have all this evidence as you will need it to file the I-751 to remove conditions on the green card in about 2 years from now. You will. be fine. If wheeling in a pile of evidence is what brings you peace of mind, then go with that. 

 

Best wishes.  

 

PS: by the way, we brought our evidence in binders also but everything was 2 hole punched at the top. 

 

Oh boy, I didn't even think to make an extra copy in the event we get separated!! That's a good point.

 

Good to know we won't be the only crazies dragging suitcases of files around 😆

[USC4SPOUSE 506]

22 minutes ago, LilyKins said:

Oh boy, I didn't even think to make an extra copy in the event we get separated!! That's a good point.

 

Good to know we won't be the only crazies dragging suitcases of files around 😆

@LilyKins, you do YOU.  You will need all that evidence for your removal of conditions petition in two years from now. Let us know how it goes! 

[Muna44 0]

Hi Lily, can you please tell us when where you DQ, and when you received your notice for the June 21st interview? I'm interested in your time line. My case is hovering around 18 months also. Thanks! 

[LilyKins 121]

16 hours ago, Muna44 said:

Hi Lily, can you please tell us when where you DQ, and when you received your notice for the June 21st interview? I'm interested in your time line. My case is hovering around 18 months also. Thanks! 

Hi!! My timeline is in my signature and the VJ timeline is also updated. I'm applying for AOS so we don't get DQ'ed the same way people applying for CR1/IR1 do. We received notice in mid-May for the late June interview.

 

My timeline is also not a good one to follow because there were a few severe delays.

[oneoftheunderdogs 68]

Hey @LilyKins, how was your interview?!

[Joe30 17]

Bump, how was it

[LilyKins 121]

The interview went really well! Our officer was super kind and put us at ease from the start.

 

The security guards giggled at our box of evidence -- we ended up bringing a big file box with us -- and asked if I had the kitchen sink with me too. The officer was not going to ask for any additional evidence from us (probably because we front-loaded our application) but said it must've taken a lot of work to compile all the evidence we brought and "didn't want that effort to go to waste". He said he'll accept whatever I'd like to give him, so I handed over the bank statements, an assortment of joint insurances (health, life, auto) and our 2020 joint tax return.

 

He approved us on the spot ❤️ so thankful to finally be finished this step of the process and start moving on with our lives. I'll probably continue to browse the VJ forums to stay abreast of changes to procedures and current events, but thank goodness we have 18 months to catch our breath before ROC  

[USC4SPOUSE 506]

53 minutes ago, LilyKins said:

The interview went really well! Our officer was super kind and put us at ease from the start.

 

The security guards giggled at our box of evidence -- we ended up bringing a big file box with us -- and asked if I had the kitchen sink with me too. The officer was not going to ask for any additional evidence from us (probably because we front-loaded our application) but said it must've taken a lot of work to compile all the evidence we brought and "didn't want that effort to go to waste". He said he'll accept whatever I'd like to give him, so I handed over the bank statements, an assortment of joint insurances (health, life, auto) and our 2020 joint tax return.

 

He approved us on the spot ❤️ so thankful to finally be finished this step of the process and start moving on with our lives. I'll probably continue to browse the VJ forums to stay abreast of changes to procedures and current events, but thank goodness we have 18 months to catch our breath before ROC  

Congrats @LilyKins! That went really well. I am happy for you both.  

[oneoftheunderdogs 68]

3 hours ago, LilyKins said:

The interview went really well! Our officer was super kind and put us at ease from the start.

 

The security guards giggled at our box of evidence -- we ended up bringing a big file box with us -- and asked if I had the kitchen sink with me too. The officer was not going to ask for any additional evidence from us (probably because we front-loaded our application) but said it must've taken a lot of work to compile all the evidence we brought and "didn't want that effort to go to waste". He said he'll accept whatever I'd like to give him, so I handed over the bank statements, an assortment of joint insurances (health, life, auto) and our 2020 joint tax return.

 

He approved us on the spot ❤️ so thankful to finally be finished this step of the process and start moving on with our lives. I'll probably continue to browse the VJ forums to stay abreast of changes to procedures and current events, but thank goodness we have 18 months to catch our breath before ROC  

Awesome!! So glad to hear it! Congrats!!

[CanadianInSoCal 8]

Is it really necessary to bring UPDATED I-864 evidence to the interview?  (like a more current tax return, more current pay stubs, more current employment letter...?)

 

My Notice clearly says to bring a completed I-864 and supporting evidence "(UNLESS ALREADY SUBMITTED)" (added caps for emphasis).

 

It doesn't say anything, anywhere about updated versions of evidence, if the I-864 was already submitted with evidence (in our case, last October). I'm sure they would be very clear about this on the notice if it was the case.

[USC4SPOUSE 506]

5 minutes ago, CanadianInSoCal said:

Is it really necessary to bring UPDATED I-864 evidence to the interview?  (like a more current tax return, more current pay stubs, more current employment letter...?)

 

My Notice clearly says to bring a completed I-864 and supporting evidence "(UNLESS ALREADY SUBMITTED)" (added caps for emphasis).

 

It doesn't say anything, anywhere about updated versions of evidence, if the I-864 was already submitted with evidence (in our case, last October). I'm sure they would be very clear about this on the notice if it was the case.

@CanadianInSoCal The officer typically asks for recent paystubs and most recent tax return.