SandM

All: I just recently received notification that my petition for removal of conditions had been approved and that the new card is en route. Please see my signature and timeline for details. We had received an RFE and had responded to it, but were never called for an interview. So for those of you waiting since December 2014 or later: things are moving, if slowly. You can always get an I-551 stamp to extend your status.

I'd like to report that we were approved. There was no interview following our RFE notification and the package we sent in response. Simply a direct notification in the mail. I checked the case status online and it shows "New Card Is Being Produced" as of Feb. 2. I'm updating my signature accordingly.

Yes you really need to prove an ongoing marital relationship if you're planning on citizenship through marrige.

Right, but that's what we do via the removal of conditions process, isn't it? People don't seem to ordinarily send in nearly as much documentary evidence when filing the N-400. But maybe I'm wrong--we're only just beginning to research the specifics of this next step.

What date did you get your I-551 stamp? Thanks.

Yesterday. I've also updated my timeline and signature for future reference.

Didn't really see the point as we had sent in our RFE response less than three weeks earlier!

If Vermont is already lagging behind, it's unlikely that they'll respond to our RFE response so soon. We might get lucky, but typically it seems to take at least a few months--and it's not advisable to check with them until 60 days following the deadline (or so I think?).

Anyway, we plan on moving forward with our N-400 and filing that early in 2016. Hopefully it will keep things moving along.

Hey all,

Quick update: I was able to get my passport stamped with I-551. It was a very brief and smooth process. The stamp is valid for one year.

I asked the officer about filing the N-400 (we become eligible very shortly--see timeline). I was advised to submit the same set of documents as we had for the RFE. This was unexpected, as I thought the N-400 doesn't require as extensive a package.

Happy to ask this over in the N-400 section of the forum, but any ideas? Is that really the case?

People who did an Infopass to get an I-551 stamp: do you just walk in and request it, showing your NOA and other details?

We're kind of confused because we chose the appointment option to speak to a representative/"other" and so don't really know what's going to be required at the appointment...

You can get a stamp by the time you wait for the decision and you can also apply for N400. I wanted to make sure that I did everything the right way, this is why I filed the first day that I was eligible:)

Thanks! I think we'll go this route. Could you or someone else point me to where I can details about getting my passport stamped? And then I suppose I'll begin a new thread for the next hoop to jump through: the N-400.

Do I need an I-550 stamp in my passport while we await decision on my RFE? People seem to hear back on RFEs within anything from ten days to more than sixty, so I'm not sure...

Actually, I want to amend this to ask:

Based on my timeline, and based on the fact that we just submitted an RFE that will be decided upon sooner or later, should I move ahead with filing the N-400 as soon as I'm eligible? Our understanding is that that can push USCIS to reach a decision sooner. And I will be eligible in about a month's time (3 years of LPR, 3 years since marriage have already elapsed, and we'll have been living 3 months or more at our current place of residence).

Also, aside from the possible N-400, my one-year extension letter expires very soon! What should I do to maintain my legal status?

Do I need an I-550 stamp in my passport while we await decision on my RFE? People seem to hear back on RFEs within anything from ten days to more than sixty, so I'm not sure...

Hey all,

Thanks so much for all the assistance so far--we're really grateful! Just a few last-moment questions before we send it off.

1. Is it fine if we FedEx overnight the RFE package? In a standard manila envelope?

2. There are no specific forms or payments due for the RFE, I think? Other than including the original RFE document from USCIS, that is.

3. Is it alright to provide copies of all our documents, or is there anything that we should send in the original? I think the prevailing advice is to send in copies, but just wanted to double-check.

Thanks again.

@Happy Chic: Merci beaucoup. We had wondered if it matters that a few of these documents have been added recently, but it seems that would almost *have* to be the case since USCIS specifically looks for non-repeated additional evidence.

We'll draft the cover letter along with everything else mentioned, and hope for the best. My understanding is that if it isn't enough, they can require an interview? Have there been people on this forum who had removal proceedings initiated after a "failed" RFE?

@ Sukie: Thanks very much! Yes, we will be sure to outline the relevant points in our cover letter.

@ Happy Chic: Thanks! We took our advice and are ensuring healthcare power of attorney for each other.

Please help out with any other suggestions or bits of advice. How does the fresh stack of financial documents + other materials look? Most of this is from between the time of our filing and the present, since the RFE does advise not repeating evidence/material.

Can't be helped--just another step in the process, I suppose! We'll be filing for my naturalization as soon as possible, so that's something else to look forward to.

Hi everyone,

My husband and I received a RFE in August 2015 after petitioning for the I-751 in November 2014. He is a graduate student in CT, but is currently doing a year-long fellowship in NY that began in September 2015 so we have moved in with my parents for the academic year.

In the RFE letter we received from USCIS, they state:

"Your supporting evidence does not sufficiently establish that you and your spouse entered the marriage in good faith and continue to share a life together. You submitted for evidence as follows:

-Identification documents

-2012 and 2013 income tax return transcripts

-recent bank account statements

-recent utility bills

-affidavits

-2013 lease agreement and extension

-photos

You have not provided enough sufficient examples of shared assets and liabilities spanning the period of the marriage to show that you and your spouse have shared and continue to share a life together. The recent documents provided appear to only cover the immediate period of your marriage prior to submission of your I-751 petition. Overall, further evidence covering the full range of your marriage may prove helpful to your case to prove a legitimate and good faith marriage."

They go on to request evidence such as, but not limited to:

-"Children as a result of marriage

-Evidence that you and your spouse have resided together and shared responsibility for a common residence

-Evidence that you and your spouse have combined financial resources may include financial records showing joint ownership of assets and joint responsibility for liabilities

-Evidence that you and your spouse have made estate, health and financial planning arrangements with each other

-Affidavits from third parties who have knowledge of the bona fides of your marital relationship."

Here's what we have as our response to the RFE:

-Cover letter detailing our situation to provide context.

-2014 IRS transcripts.

-New joint apartment lease in CT (2015 through 2016), which we are currently subleasing as a result of our moving back home temporarily for my husband's fellowship.

-More bank statements from our joint checking account, covering our submission of I751 until present. We did not have a joint bank account until summer 2013 (we were married in June 2012) because we were working to figure out the next steps, moving for his PhD, etc. We started seriously joining our finances and other stuff when we moved to CT.

-Three credit card accounts in which either my husband or I am the primary cardholder and the other is an authorized user on the account. We are requesting documentation from the banks verifying the authorized user in the account, but in the event that we do not receive the verification letters in time, we will include scans of our credit cards showing the same credit card number under our own names.

-Joint car insurance (I started owning a car in March 2015 and my car insurance shows that we are both insured since March and I had my insurance renewed for both of us through February 2016.

-Joint health insurance.

-Photos from our summer trip to Paris and Venice.

-Affidavit from my parents regarding our residence in their home for the year-long fellowship and from a college advisor/friend of my husband's.

- He will secure power of attorney for healthcare and authorize me (spouse).

Our deadline is Oct. 29. Things like children etc. are not applicable. But what else do you think we could or should include? Any suggestions would be very helpful! It's clear that USCIS would like to see more material for the initial period of our marriage, but given that we stayed with my parents in NY (again, as a convenience until my husband's PhD applications received a response one way or another that winter), there's not really a lot there. We had already provided evidence of travel, trips, etc. between June '12 and summer '13. Really our case gets a lot stronger after we moved to CT. How can we best address this?

I was out of the country when the notice was sent, but the date of issue is Aug. 3 with a response deadline of Oct. 29. Planning on sending off everything this weekend or early next.

Hi all,

Many apologies about the silence on my end--the past couple of months have been hectic what with returning to the US after my summer fellowship abroad, a move to begin a new fellowship, etc. Anyway, we received an RFE. The deadline to respond is Oct. 29. I will be making a separate thread to solicit guidance, so please feel free to help! We'd be glad for it!

Hope to post back here with good news eventually.

Huge thanks. I'll look into this as soon as I'm back in the US.

Here is a website that I found on google

http://www.senate.gov/senators/contact/

Usually if you do a search on your senators website they have paperwork for immigration inquiries that you can fill out and send back.

What state are you residing in?

Thanks! And it's a bit tricky. I'm ordinarily a resident of CT as is my wife, but we will be in NY for the academic year 2015–2016 as I'll be doing a fellowship there. So...I *think* I should still contact my CT senator? Since I won't be in NY until September...

So it looks like the last few of us Nov. filers are finally up next! Or soon, at any rate. I'm finishing up a work trip/vacation in Paris and am hoping to hear something by the end of August.

Quick question: those of you who have contacted your senators, how did you go about it? I don't know if there is a thread/guide on VisaJourney--if there is, please point me the right way. But if there isn't, I'd love to know more about this because I'd like to contact them if I don't see any resolution by the end of Aug.

Oh thanks! I'll do that.

Just a quick but somewhat serious question. The letter we all received extends our status by "a period of one year." Given the delays at VSC that have been noted previously in this thread, what should we do if we're closing in on one year with no response from USCIS? I don't know if this has previously been an issue (I'm sure it must have at some point in the past), but if anyone knows of helpful topics/discussions, feel free to link me.

Sorry to bring this back up, but nobody responded to it a few pages back (surprisingly! The forum is usually so very helpful). I'm applying for visas to France and the UK (a fellowship to study French at the Sorbonne over summer, and a couple of academic conferences in the UK), and I'm currently doing it using my expired GC and the USCIS letter. I haven't had my passport stamped with the I-551 yet. However, I'm concerned about the unexpected VSC delay and am wondering if I should get that done some time soon.

Hopefully my visas won't be held up because of all this.

Just a quick but somewhat serious question. The letter we all received extends our status by "a period of one year." Given the delays at VSC that have been noted previously in this thread, what should we do if we're closing in on one year with no response from USCIS? I don't know if this has previously been an issue (I'm sure it must have at some point in the past), but if anyone knows of helpful topics/discussions, feel free to link me.

Make sure you have the NOA1 that states that your green card is extended for a year. (I only say this because it was my biometrics appointment notice that was stamped with the "processing" stamp, not my NOA). My kids and I are traveling to Canada in 2 weeks and I plan to take our passports, expired green cards, the NOA1s and the stamped biometrics letters, just to be sure all bases are covered.

Ah damn, thanks for the clarification. Has anyone ever misplaced that letter and asked for a replacement or something? I'm trying to find mine at the moment...

Please do update the table with our data for biometrics: 01/09/2015, Completed biometrics

Thanks!

Also, quick question: I'll have to travel to Canada soon, and then to the UK in the summer; I assume a valid passport and the USCIS letter (duly stamped with the "biometrics processing stamp" that I received when I completed my biometrics) will be all that's needed?