Germanimmigrant

Hi, I was a F1 student in the U.S. from 2003 to 2010 when my adjustment of status was approved. I met my wife in 2008 and we got married in 2009. The whole adjustment of status process was smooth. Our interviewer at the Cincinnati office was professional, fair and courteous. The whole process took only three months.
I've tremendously benefited from the information on this forum but I never signed up nor posted about my experience at the time.
Now, we're preparing to file for ROC this November. I've already got most relevant information assembled, most notably the birth certificate for our daughter, two years of joint tax returns and many bank and insurance documents plus two affidavits from friends and pictures (I would say that's also in the order of importance for USCIS). I feel comfortable with the ROC process and don't expect any problems as there is evidence galore.
Thanks again to the VJ community. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Honestly, is this all financial commingling you have with your husband? No joint credit card or authorized user on your husband's card?
In theory, that account that you have shows commingling. If it has only a few hundred dollars in it, one might question the commitment. If this is serious savings, then it might be ok. I hope you also have insurance policies where you name each other as beneficiaries. In general, commingling finances is the single most important indicator of a marriage (at least for USCIS). If you don't have enough, your husband should consider putting you on his other account(s), at least until your immigration journey is over. That much trust is duly necessary. If you can't trust your partner fully, why even get married in the first place?

It would be injustice if the US citizen could keep the immigrant spouse in indentured servitude as long as they please and have a say over what should happen to them. What qualification do you possess to decide over someone's case, even your husband's? Being a USC is a birthright not something that qualifies you to make a legal decision. Immigration also has the obligation to protect the rights of those who give up their old life to come here.
In your case, the course of events is sad and unfortunate. I hope you can get it sorted out. After all, though, you cannot blame USCIS for anything. You made that choice and you signed that petition and affidavit of support. Their looking at your issue matter-of-factly seems cruel to you but if you think about it, it is the only possible way to handle such cases. They cannot engage in emotional siding with the parties involved. Your best bet is to collect evidence for the abuse and couch that document in a clear and comprehensible way. For moral support your USCIS office is the wrong place. Collect evidence!

I think the insurance comparison makes little sense. Tracking and express mail don't insure your documents. You have no recourse if someone else takes possession of your check or your forms. It's more about peace of mind than anything else.
Ok, so you got tracking and it shows that it never arrived. What are you gonna do? You have to cancel the check and resend the package anyway. Another situation: your tracking shows that the package has been delivered and signed for by Joe Miller. Then you never hear from USCIS. You call them up but they've lost your package in the system for whatever reason. You have to resend anyway. They won't care whether you have tracking or not.
I can only see the reason for choosing express or priority mail if you want to insure valuables or need a fast delivery. One day or two less in a six-month journey matter little to me.
You're right. It's everyone's personal choice. Oftentimes, people make choices based on feelings rather than facts.

I said it before but I say it again. In my view all the expensive services are a waste of money. A few days after receipt you get your first NOA anyway. You see that the money is drawn from your account. That is the proof that they received it. Save yourself a few bucks in the already expensive process and ship it first class like I did.

Unless you are in a specific situation or want to explain specific circumstances, I wouldn't waste any time on a cover letter. But that's just me. I submitted my AOS and my ROC both without a letter. One was approved without a hitch, the latter is currently processing.
Cover letters are not required. I wonder if someone even reads them. If it makes you feel better, then submit one. But then don't overthink the letter. Keep it simple and short.
In my dealings with USCIS I have become more pragmatic. I wouldn't waste any money on color copies of documents anymore as I did during AOS. I wouldn't waste any money on cover letters and other embellishment anymore. I wouldn't waste any extra money on express mail or priority signature required.

Unless you are in a specific situation or want to explain specific circumstances, I wouldn't waste any time on a cover letter. But that's just me. I submitted my AOS and my ROC both without a letter. One was approved without a hitch, the latter is currently processing.
Cover letters are not required. I wonder if someone even reads them. If it makes you feel better, then submit one. But then don't overthink the letter. Keep it simple and short.
In my dealings with USCIS I have become more pragmatic. I wouldn't waste any money on color copies of documents anymore as I did during AOS. I wouldn't waste any money on cover letters and other embellishment anymore. I wouldn't waste any extra money on express mail or priority signature required.

Depends.
If one of you does not work, then daycare receipts would show evidence that implies that you are separated.
They are more interested in whether the income is deposited into a co-mingled account than if it spent on something that it took co-mingling to "produce" LOL

Ok, the original poster suspects that his wife is "bipolar." I do wonder if this is just a home-spun assessment that he has impressed on her or if there is really evidence to said claim. If it were real, then yes, this would make a relationship very hard to endure. I assume, though, that most people who call others "bipolar" do so as to put a label of insanity on someone without actually knowing what the symptoms of bipolar disorder are. They have picked up such labels from consuming popular media and are familiar with terms such as depression or bipolar or other disorders. Upon encountering behavior that they classify as not normal, they then pick a term that they think represents best what they have observed.
I have a friend who is bipolar, and the illness is complex to say the least. If the original poster has been with his now wife for about 17 months altogether (that was his claim) he would have certainly observed the swing from the manic to the depressive episode every couple of months or so. Claiming now that she is "bipolar" seems far-fetched to me...
I wonder if this is the wife's cry for help in a desperate situation. As a husband, one would have to take care of one's wife. After all, that's the promise upon entering marriage. It's not just a piece of paper that enables the OP to draw immigration benefits but it comes with real responsibilities.
I don't want to play to pretend to be a moral prig and a paragon of virtue. I have my flaws, too. However, this story seems highly suspicious to me. I cannot see a tangible claim of abuse.
Ok, the original poster suspects that his wife is "bipolar." I do wonder if this is just a home-spun assessment that he has impressed on her or if there is really evidence to said claim. If it were real, then yes, this would make a relationship very hard to endure. I assume, though, that most people who call others "bipolar" do so as to put a label of insanity on someone without actually knowing what the symptoms of bipolar disorder are. They have picked up such labels from consuming popular media and are familiar with terms such as depression or bipolar or other disorders. Upon encountering behavior that they classify as not normal, they then pick a term that they think represents best what they have observed.
I have a friend who is bipolar, and the illness is complex to say the least. If the original poster has been with his now wife for about 17 months altogether (that was his claim) he would have certainly observed the swing from the manic to the depressive episode every couple of months or so. Claiming now that she is "bipolar" seems far-fetched to me...
I wonder if this is the wife's cry for help in a desperate situation. As a husband, one would have to take care of one's wife. After all, that's the promise upon entering marriage. It's not just a piece of paper that enables the OP to draw immigration benefits but it comes with real responsibilities.
I don't want to pretend to be a moral prig and a paragon of virtue. I have my flaws, too. However, this story seems highly suspicious to me. I cannot see a tangible claim of abuse.

As I am contemplating the so-called pieces of primary evidence (such as joint assets, birth certificates etc.) for our I-751, here is the true proof of our marriage being a legitimate one:
We pet, feed, and water our cats together. For the past week, together we've been forcing an antibiotic pill down one of our cats' throat as she had an infection of the ear. Together, we hold on to the cat, taking a joint risk of being clawed.
When we got married, each of us had one cat. After a few months, our cats had accepted their owner's spouse as a potential cuddle partner. Furthermore, they became feline friends. But they also fought which we shouldn't mention to USCIS as it would sabotage our argument.
We eat a mango together in the evening before we go to bed.
We feed our daughter together in the kitchen, making a mess of it every single time.
I mow the lawn so that my wife doesn't have to do it. I hate yard work. I really do! That must be love!
My wife tried her admittedly broken German in Germany last year. It didn't work so well, and she said something very rude by accident when she tried to order a sausage but ended up ordering feces. Later, in a big public place she and a friend of mine discussed the severity of swine flu (then plaguing the U.S. as you might remember), and after a couple of seconds, literally, the place was empty. We still joke about this.
My wife calls me lazy sometimes. But that's because I've metamorphosed from uptight German to easy-going American. I guess she could draw up an affidavit and have it notarized (Oh wait, notarizing isn't required).
Well, the list could go on...
What evidence would USCIS never accept? Wouldn't it be funnny to throw it in with the package? After all, immigration officers have to look at humdrum documents and corny pictures all day. Has anyone ever included something humorous in their I-751 package?

As I am contemplating the so-called pieces of primary evidence (such as joint assets, birth certificates etc.) for our I-751, here is the true proof of our marriage being a legitimate one:
We pet, feed, and water our cats together. For the past week, together we've been forcing an antibiotic pill down one of our cats' throat as she had an infection of the ear. Together, we hold on to the cat, taking a joint risk of being clawed.
When we got married, each of us had one cat. After a few months, our cats had accepted their owner's spouse as a potential cuddle partner. Furthermore, they became feline friends. But they also fought which we shouldn't mention to USCIS as it would sabotage our argument.
We eat a mango together in the evening before we go to bed.
We feed our daughter together in the kitchen, making a mess of it every single time.
I mow the lawn so that my wife doesn't have to do it. I hate yard work. I really do! That must be love!
My wife tried her admittedly broken German in Germany last year. It didn't work so well, and she said something very rude by accident when she tried to order a sausage but ended up ordering feces. Later, in a big public place she and a friend of mine discussed the severity of swine flu (then plaguing the U.S. as you might remember), and after a couple of seconds, literally, the place was empty. We still joke about this.
My wife calls me lazy sometimes. But that's because I've metamorphosed from uptight German to easy-going American. I guess she could draw up an affidavit and have it notarized (Oh wait, notarizing isn't required).
Well, the list could go on...
What evidence would USCIS never accept? Wouldn't it be funnny to throw it in with the package? After all, immigration officers have to look at humdrum documents and corny pictures all day. Has anyone ever included something humorous in their I-751 package?

As I am contemplating the so-called pieces of primary evidence (such as joint assets, birth certificates etc.) for our I-751, here is the true proof of our marriage being a legitimate one:
We pet, feed, and water our cats together. For the past week, together we've been forcing an antibiotic pill down one of our cats' throat as she had an infection of the ear. Together, we hold on to the cat, taking a joint risk of being clawed.
When we got married, each of us had one cat. After a few months, our cats had accepted their owner's spouse as a potential cuddle partner. Furthermore, they became feline friends. But they also fought which we shouldn't mention to USCIS as it would sabotage our argument.
We eat a mango together in the evening before we go to bed.
We feed our daughter together in the kitchen, making a mess of it every single time.
I mow the lawn so that my wife doesn't have to do it. I hate yard work. I really do! That must be love!
My wife tried her admittedly broken German in Germany last year. It didn't work so well, and she said something very rude by accident when she tried to order a sausage but ended up ordering feces. Later, in a big public place she and a friend of mine discussed the severity of swine flu (then plaguing the U.S. as you might remember), and after a couple of seconds, literally, the place was empty. We still joke about this.
My wife calls me lazy sometimes. But that's because I've metamorphosed from uptight German to easy-going American. I guess she could draw up an affidavit and have it notarized (Oh wait, notarizing isn't required).
Well, the list could go on...
What evidence would USCIS never accept? Wouldn't it be funnny to throw it in with the package? After all, immigration officers have to look at humdrum documents and corny pictures all day. Has anyone ever included something humorous in their I-751 package?

As I am contemplating the so-called pieces of primary evidence (such as joint assets, birth certificates etc.) for our I-751, here is the true proof of our marriage being a legitimate one:
We pet, feed, and water our cats together. For the past week, together we've been forcing an antibiotic pill down one of our cats' throat as she had an infection of the ear. Together, we hold on to the cat, taking a joint risk of being clawed.
When we got married, each of us had one cat. After a few months, our cats had accepted their owner's spouse as a potential cuddle partner. Furthermore, they became feline friends. But they also fought which we shouldn't mention to USCIS as it would sabotage our argument.
We eat a mango together in the evening before we go to bed.
We feed our daughter together in the kitchen, making a mess of it every single time.
I mow the lawn so that my wife doesn't have to do it. I hate yard work. I really do! That must be love!
My wife tried her admittedly broken German in Germany last year. It didn't work so well, and she said something very rude by accident when she tried to order a sausage but ended up ordering feces. Later, in a big public place she and a friend of mine discussed the severity of swine flu (then plaguing the U.S. as you might remember), and after a couple of seconds, literally, the place was empty. We still joke about this.
My wife calls me lazy sometimes. But that's because I've metamorphosed from uptight German to easy-going American. I guess she could draw up an affidavit and have it notarized (Oh wait, notarizing isn't required).
Well, the list could go on...
What evidence would USCIS never accept? Wouldn't it be funnny to throw it in with the package? After all, immigration officers have to look at humdrum documents and corny pictures all day. Has anyone ever included something humorous in their I-751 package?