Questions about the N400 Online Application

[ilikepotatoes 57]

Hi everyone. My hubby is getting ready to file the N400 form under the 3 year rule, and as usual, I am worrying lol. I have a couple of questions about the application (which we are filing online instead of sending all our documents in).

 

1. Much of our evidence doesn't begin until several months after he entered the US. For example, our auto insurance and joint bank accounts were not activated until about three months after his arrival. Also, he wasn't added to the bill with our electric company for 8 months. We do have three years of tax information to submit, thankfully. But I am concerned that they are going to scrutinize this evidence since it's not EXACTLY at the three year mark. Will this be an issue?

2. Should we send a letter along with our evidence, explaining what we have submitted? If so, should it be from me, the US citizen spouse, or my husband?

 

That's all for now, though, I am sure there will be more as time goes on lol. Thanks in advance!

[OldUser 9,809]

1. That's OK, it takes time to establish life.

2. I wouldn't bother with it.

The only question is, when was husband added to lease (if you have or had one)? 

[Fr8dog 384]

He already did the ROC (according to you profile). They are not looking for "evidence" they already have in your file. They want the tax returns that were filed after the ROC and if you really want to you can sent some more stuff from the same period. 

I went with the absolute bare minimum on the online application for the N-400. One tax return and that was it. Figured if they wanted to see something they would sent me an RFE. They did not.

 

 

[Dashinka 25,821]

6 hours ago, Fr8dog said:

He already did the ROC (according to you profile). They are not looking for "evidence" they already have in your file. They want the tax returns that were filed after the ROC and if you really want to you can sent some more stuff from the same period. 

I went with the absolute bare minimum on the online application for the N-400. One tax return and that was it. Figured if they wanted to see something they would sent me an RFE. They did not.

 

 

We also took the bare minimum route wrt to N400 evidence when my wife filed (3yr rule).  No RFEs, took a lot of info to the interview, and none of it looked at.

[OldUser 9,809]

Not a big fan of bear minimum filings. RFE slows down the case. Adjudicator potentially asking for more evidence prolongs the interview, and my goal was always be in and out of USCIS building as fast as I can.

 

I'd submit everything I can in support in marriage based N-400.

 

It's free when filing online. It's not resulting in spending money on printing or shipping bigger packet.

 

Building a strong case pays itself off. 

 

I was a 5 year rule filer. Some on VJ said uploading 5 years of taxes was unnecessary and excessive. Even my lawyer said I didn't need to upload it. I insisted on it. Case got processed in 3.5 months.

 

Before interview, I was going over and over my travel history. As we were waiting, lawyer said don't worry, they rarely go into details of travel. But in my interview they did.

 

Sometimes whatever you feel is the right thing to do, is the right thing to do.

 

Good luck!

Edited June 26 by OldUser

[PGA 326]

On 6/26/2025 at 10:26 AM, OldUser said:

Not a big fan of bear minimum filings. RFE slows down the case. Adjudicator potentially asking for more evidence prolongs the interview, and my goal was always be in and out of USCIS building as fast as I can.

 

I'd submit everything I can in support in marriage based N-400.

 

It's free when filing online. It's not resulting in spending money on printing or shipping bigger packet.

 

Building a strong case pays itself off. 

 

I was a 5 year rule filer. Some on VJ said uploading 5 years of taxes was unnecessary and excessive. Even my lawyer said I didn't need to upload it. I insisted on it. Case got processed in 3.5 months.

 

Before interview, I was going over and over my travel history. As we were waiting, lawyer said don't worry, they rarely go into details of travel. But in my interview they did.

 

Sometimes whatever you feel is the right thing to do, is the right thing to do.

 

Good luck!

We have been working on our application the last few days to prepare to file later this year. I am slightly uncomfortable with submitting all our joint bank (or any bank/credit card) information to some nameless person sitting in a cubicle, whether at USCIS or anywhere else (I know, I know, we did it during the IR-1 process and I'm still uncomfortable with that). Now you have me worried that what we did add wasn't enough. So far we have

- child's birth certificate

- copy of our auto insurance cards for last (almost) 3 years   

- lease documents for last (almost) 3 years

- 2024 MFJ return transcript, 2023 MFS return transcript (w/copy of amended return to explain why it was changed to MFS), 2022 MFJ return transcript.

 

That's it....any opinions, suggestions?  

Edited June 28 by PGA
added info

[OldUser 9,809]

23 minutes ago, PGA said:

 I am slightly uncomfortable with submitting all our joint bank (or any bank/credit card) information to some nameless person sitting in a cubicle, whether at USCIS or anywhere else (I know, I know, we did it during the IR-1 process and I'm still uncomfortable with that).

They are US government officials.

[PGA 326]

1 minute ago, OldUser said:

They are US government officials.

Yeah you're right. Even worse. 😁

[Fr8dog 384]

I had no issue handing them over but I didn't have any. The thing was that we did not have a joined bank account, She owned the house already. I was not on any utility bill. In other words there were no financial ties at all (car insurance and phone bill was the only thing with both our names on it). At the interview we gave our reason for this. The officer told us that that made sense and would recommend approving the ROC (eventually they did when they found the last pieces of my file many moons later).

They have you sit in a waiting room for awhile before they call you in, they already know what you look like from your ID. I'm sure they observe the applicants before they call them in and can spot a fake relation from a mile away.

[Leumas 49]

21 hours ago, PGA said:

We have been working on our application the last few days to prepare to file later this year. I am slightly uncomfortable with submitting all our joint bank (or any bank/credit card) information to some nameless person sitting in a cubicle, whether at USCIS or anywhere else (I know, I know, we did it during the IR-1 process and I'm still uncomfortable with that). Now you have me worried that what we did add wasn't enough. So far we have

- child's birth certificate

- copy of our auto insurance cards for last (almost) 3 years   

- lease documents for last (almost) 3 years

- 2024 MFJ return transcript, 2023 MFS return transcript (w/copy of amended return to explain why it was changed to MFS), 2022 MFJ return transcript.

 

That's it....any opinions, suggestions?  

 

Health/Medical insurance?  Does one of you cover the other and the child?

[PGA 326]

8 hours ago, Leumas said:

 

Health/Medical insurance?  Does one of you cover the other and the child?

Interesting... our child is covered under my wife's employment plan. I am only on her dental plan because I have my own medical (and my dental plan stinks).

[OldUser 9,809]

8 minutes ago, PGA said:

Interesting... our child is covered under my wife's employment plan. I am only on her dental plan because I have my own medical (and my dental plan stinks).

And this is good evidence of bonafide marriage. I'd include it.

Edited June 30 by OldUser