rwj

Over this whole process I always found it very useful to read on VJ the lists of what other people include for evidence. It's given me lots of ideas as to what paperwork to keep, so actually filing the I-751 was quite as easy process.

So for anyone who's interested, here's our list:

REQUIRED

* I-751 Petition

* Additional list of all our addresses since married, as requested on petition form

* Cheque for $275 (yay, we snuck in before the fee skyrockets!)

* Copy of Green Card, front and back

OPTIONAL EVIDENCE

* Passport copy - i saw this mentioned somewhere, and I copied it on the same page as my Green Card. I now read it's not required, but it's in there now and I don't feel like re-copying, so it's staying.

* Affadavits - Three letters written by: 1) Mike's parents 2) a good friend of ours who came to our US wedding reception, and 3) my old boss. The letters say how they know us and talk about times they've seen us together, how we present as a couple, etc. etc. The first two are really lengthy and notarized, the last one is short and to the point, and just signed. If this presents any issues, i'll post it here!

* Photos - 8 photos of us in distinct geographical locations (Walking across the Golden Gate Bridge, Hiking at the Grand Canyon, Arches NP in Utah) or with key family members - there's one of both sides of the family right after our wedding in Australia (where i'm really skinny) and then another a year later, again with both sides of the family, in Connecticut (where i'm obviously larger LOL) (hard to fake the weight gain if we took all the photos in one day!!!!). I also threw in a picture of us and our dog - it doesn't prove anything, but it with the other stuff it paints a nice picture. I know there was some discussion when we were first filing about digital vs. *real* photo prints - I just printed these off on my home printer on ordinary paper, 4 to a page. Again, i'f they balk at this i'll let you guys know.

* Residential Lease Agreements - copies of the front and back pages of our current, and one previous lease

* Renters Insurance - current policy and one previous bill

* Tax Returns - Copy of IRS transcripts showing our 2005 and 2006 joint US tax returns. These are easy to get (call the IRS, they'll get them to you within 2 wks) and prove you filed together, which your copies of the tax return do not.

* Credit Card - Copy of our visa cards and a statement showing a joint account.

* Costco - Copy of our Costco cards on a joint account.

* Banking - We have 2 joint Checking Accounts, so sent one statement and one voided check.

* 401k - Copy of both our 401k policies, showing the designation of each other as beneficiaries.

* Travel - A copy of our airline receipts and itineraries for our trip to Connecticut last September/October, where we had a (belated) US celebration of our marriage, hosted by Mike’s parents, and attended by Rosemary’s parents who traveled from Australia for the event.

That's it. So we'll see how that goes. I feel fairly confident that there's enough different stuff there to show a life togther. And it is nice to know at this stage it's more up to USCIS to prove a fake marriage than the other way around.

Happy petitioning everyone,

Rose

Thanks for the input.

I put the whole thing together last night - since it shouldn't hurt, and there seem to have been lots of people who submit letters without notarization, I think i'll leave it in. To the post office!!!

I will get Citizenship as soon as i'm eligible, rather than having to keep renewing a green card. I want to get to the point in my life, where I never, ever have to fill out another USCIS form and wait for another petition to be approved, and they can't deny me entry at the border no matter how long i've been away.

We plan to move to Australia in a couple of years, and raise a family there. They of course would have both passports from birth, and i'd like my kids to experience living in the US at some point in their lives. I'd hate it if i lost my greencard by being away from the US for too long, and then my kids decide they want to live their lives here. I'd have to start all over again! Ugggggghhhhhhhh!!

I wouldn't take US citizenship though if it meant giving up my Australian one, which it doesn't.

Somewhere on VJ I saw that IRS Transcripts were preferred over your copies of tax returns. Mike called IRS and ordered these over the phone - it's free, and a fully automated system so you don't even have to talk to anyone at IRS. Ours took about a week to arrive.

Plus we don't wanna get a letter from her employer because we aren't going to tell them she's leaving until we get the visa. Otherwise she might get laid off =/

OK, but you don't have to tell your employer the whole story, just tell them you're going to the wedding, and will be back to work afterwards (which, if i understand correctly, is true, right?) and you need the letter as you've heard Canadians visiting the US are getting asked for proof of ties to Canada. Your impending K1 doesn't have to enter the picture at all, does it?

Just a thought.

Good luck!

Rose

Hi stina&suj,

I remember you guys from back when we were waiting on the K1 - i'm also sending our I-751 tomorrow, so we'll be waiting together again! We just moved to Nevada so now we get to check out the services (?) of the CSC...

Good luck! Hope it goes quickly for you.

Rose

Hi everyone,

I'm just putting together my I-751 petition, and one of my letters from an interstate friend isn't "notarized" or "sworn". I know notarization isn't essential, but I believe it should say something on there like "i swear this to be true....."

What do you think, should I include it anyway? Leave it out? (I already have two Affadavits) I could write "I swear this to be true...etc" on the letter myself, but I really don't want to jeopardise this petition in any way.

Appreciate any opinions, thanks.

Rose

#######!!!! After going through Nebraska when it was the slowest centre for K1, now they're lifting their game just after we've moved to an area serviced by CSC!!!!!

Hey,

We all met up a couple of months ago - everyone that came to that was from SLC valley area - have you met any other VJers in Vegas?

Hey everyone (hoping there's still people subscribed to this topic!)

Wanted to let you know that the free outdoor concerts at Deer Valley start next week, Wednesday June 28, 6pm - 8pm. We're going to pack a picnic and take a bottle of wine, should be a good night. Everyone's welcome to join us, we'll probably go up around 5 - 5.30pm. It's quite a popular event so PM me if you're coming and we'll arrange somewhere to meet up. Here's a link with the info for the whole concert season.

http://www.ecclescenter.org/performances/c...ries/index.html

Hope to see you there!

Rose

We're doing well, been camping among 2000 year old Redwoods on the N.Cali coast, heading for Oregon's crab shacks.

Mike and Rose

Great time, thanks everyone, good to meet you all - let's do it again soon

sounds great, we'll be there!

Rose & Mike

15th for dinner sounds good if that suits other people? How's 6.30ish?

Saturday the 15th? Might be a possiblity for us... probably after work for us (6.30ish?) if you guys might still kicking on somewhere?

All summer there are free outdoor concerts at Deer Valley at least every Wednesday; There are also free outdoor movies in Park City most Fridays. Both are fun nights, BYO Blanket, Picnic, Beverages etc.

Also interested to check out some of the outdoor venues and festivals in SLC.

Rose

Hi everyone,

OK i know i'm reeeeeeeaaaaaallly late in getting in on this thread, but we're definitely also interested in a Utah get-together. April 16 is, however, the last day of the ski season so we'll almost definitely be both working up in Park City... but we'll be around for the summer so if we maybe don't catch this one we'll make it to the next event. Anyone else interested in catching some outdoor live music over the summer?

Rose