allyrose

Hi everyone, 

Last week my husband and I got an RFE for his green card asking to prove the validity of the marriage. We are in the process of getting the evidence together and have some questions that we can't find answers to. First of all, one of the suggested documents in the letter was a lease/rental agreement showing we both pay rent and live in the same place. We live with my mother who rents the house, and we give her money towards her rent and bills every month. We don't have utility, phone, or internet bills addressed to us because she is the one renting the house from the landlady. Does anyone know of a template for something like that? We want it in writing stating we pay her rent, but we also don't want to write up a lease agreement because she's not really sub-leasing the rooms. We live with her, we aren't her roommates but we do pay her to live here. How can we get this down in a way that is acceptable to UCSIS? 

Also, one of the other suggested documents are affidavits from people that know us certifying we are a couple and that they have known us. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to structure those document as well? Is it just a sort of letter? 

We are in the process of transferring one of the car titles to both our names, and are opening a joint bank account as soon as our bank opens (damage from Irma) and we are both authorized on each other's credit cards and have pictures of each card with the same number on it with our names on each one. We also have a flight itinerary from when we traveled together to RI and several pictures of us at a wedding we attended. We are not in a financial position to do much else- do you all think that evidence will be enough? Getting tired of proving to strangers that our love is real. Thanks. 

Hi everyone, 

Last week my husband and I got an RFE for his green card asking to prove the validity of the marriage. We are in the process of getting the evidence together and have some questions that we can't find answers to. First of all, one of the suggested documents in the letter was a lease/rental agreement showing we both pay rent and live in the same place. We live with my mother who rents the house, and we give her money towards her rent and bills every month. We don't have utility, phone, or internet bills addressed to us because she is the one renting the house. Does anyone know of a template for something like that? We want it in writing stating we pay her rent, but we also don't want to write up a lease agreement because she's not really sub-leasing the rooms. We live with her, we aren't her roommates but we do pay her to live here. How can we get this down in a way that is acceptable to UCSIS? 

Also, one of the other suggested documents are affidavits from people that know us certifying we are a couple and that they have known us. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to structure those document as well? Is it just a sort of letter? 

We are in the process of transferring one of the car titles to both our names, and are opening a joint bank account as soon as our bank opens (damage from Irma) and we are both authorized on each other's credit cards and have pictures of each card with the same number on it with our names on each one. We also have a flight itinerary from when we traveled together to RI and several pictures of us at a wedding we attended. We are not in a financial position to do much else- do you all think that evidence will be enough? Getting tired of proving to strangers that our love is real. Thanks.   

1 hour ago, Suudsu said:

Which bank do you use?

Bank of America. They are all closed today around us. 

1 hour ago, shayden10 said:

Hi allyrose!

I don't know if you've responded yet to your rfie but I wanted to lend a hand, if I can!

I definitely think you should get your parents to write an affidavit stating that you live together and with them (that helps to explain why there aren't any bills!) until you're ready to be on your own. If you have any close friends or family other than that, I would choose two other people to do an affidavit regarding your relationship. 

Do you have or know anyone who has a decent camera? It may be worthwhile to have some photos taken of the two of you together and with family. I submitted two pages of photos of my husband and I with the initial package that included some with our family and friends. 

If you received any cards from family or friends following the wedding congratulating you on your marriage, make copies of those. Or if you have any cards addressed to both of you (holiday cards?). 

Do you have a car? I would suggest changing the title to have both of your names. Even if it's your mom and dads car and you change it then change it back later. 

I would consider asking your parents if you can take over one of the bills. I know you said money is tight but even if you two go out and get a cell phone bill that has both your names it might help. 

If you have any plans for the future ceremony (do you have a dress, a ring, or have you picked a date already and made arrangements with a venue/photographer/caterer?) showing that you're making arrangements might help. 

You should also consider (I know you've mentioned it before) opening a joint bank account if you haven't already. If your husband is working already he can switch his pay to go into the new account or you can make a small deposit every pay. If you do open an account, order checks with both your names and your current address on it. 

I know it's frustrating right now that you have an rfie and feel like there is nowhere to go from here, but you'll get there. I think the best place to start with is to sit down with your man and your parents (as a group and one on one) and discuss what this rfie means and how you need to respond to it. 

Best of luck to you and your hubby, hopefully you get things sorted soon.

Hi! We haven't responded yet because we don't have enough evidence- trying to open a joint bank account but all the local banks are closed here because of Hurricane Irma. My mom is going to write a lease agreement of sorts to say that we live together and pay rent to her. We have many many photos of us together that we submitted for the K1 in the first place, we didn't know we also needed to submit them for AOS. We have two cars, one in my moms name and one in my dad's name. We have no cards of congratulations because we only told few people and will have a big ceremony and party later on. We have no plans for this right now as we have no money. We don't event have rings. 

I am just upset that we keep having to prove to all these strangers at USCIS that we are a real married couple. We don't have a lot, but we're together and that's all we wanted. 

On 9/10/2017 at 4:57 PM, antoineD said:

I think the easiest thing to do here is to make him an authorized user of your credit card or vice versa. Should be for free, and if you trusted him enough to marry, hopefully you can trust him with your credit score.

 

It'll be a good paper trail.

Yeah he's been authorized on my card for several months now. 

18 hours ago, Suudsu said:

First and foremost, stay safe in the hurricane!

 

Regarding the second:

If not tenants, are you listed as occupants on the lease?

 

Regarding the first:

I would recommend car titles as joint ownership of property. Apparently it costs $77.25 to get a new title in Florida.

 

Credit cards - who are the statements addressed to? Are they addressed to one of you only, or both of you? If they are, I think producing several recent months of statements will be helpful.

You can get a bit creative here when it comes to shared financial obligations:

Utility bills?

Phone bills?

Internet bills?

Even if you carve up responsibility for the bills, that would still be helpful (one of you pays gas and electricity, the other pays the phone and internet)

Is he a driver of your car? Are you both on the car insurance together?

Other insurance policies? E.g. health insurance?

Nominating one another as beneficiary of bank/retirement accounts?

We are not listed as occupants. And one car is in my dads name and one is in my mom's name- they do not want to change the titles. The credit cards statements are addressed to me for my card, and him for his card, nothing has both our names on it. We have no utility bills or phone or internet bills- all of these are addressed to my mom. Hy husband has no health insurance, and I am on my dad's. We do not have car insurance together. He is a driver on my dad's car and I am a driver on my mom's car. We do not have retirement accounts. And thank you- we are hunkering down during the hurricane. Hopefully won't have any major damage! 

14 hours ago, Ebunoluwa said:

You are going to have to try a little harder or risk denial.
Here is a list of what you can use, I won't take the time to delete the items you already explained you do not have or can't get,
try to get several other items.

 

1. Affidavit from family that you both love with.

2. Wills, power of attorney, living wills (doable online).

3. Mobile phone account with both names.

4. Gym card/contract showing both names/address.
5. Car insurance, joint car loan / car title.
6. Cards addressed to you both.
7. Photos with family.
8. Trips anywhere together showing boarding passes, hotel receipts etc.
9. Life insurance
10. Health insurance.

Of course you can open a joint bank account with little money. They don't care how much money. If you both
work then you both get paid. Deposit it in a joint account.
If you both make $500 or whatever a month who cares, deposit it and you both use it.
You work and spend money like a couple with co mingled finances.
With Irma on her way, understandable but make sure you get the RFE in before the noted date or they will deny you.
The conditions may be better tomorrow than after Irma hits so do all you can do a.s.a.p.

Prepare ahead of time for ROC, the next phase because you definitely need a lot more to again prove a bona fide relationship,
including bank statements from inception of marriage.

 

 

Examples of documents showing a bona fide relationship (Submit COPIES only. Do not send originals):

1. A deed, showing co-ownership of your property or a lease agreement with both of your names on the lease. 2. Utility bills, credit card bills, and other types of bills which have both of your names on them. Since many utilities will only put a bill in one person's name, some bills in one name and other bills at the same address but in the other spouse's name serve the same purpose: showing your financial & social lives intermingled. 3. Copies of actual credit cards, health insurance cards, or other "joint" cards that you have together, showing same account number. 4. Car, health, or life insurance that has both of your names on the policy or the other spouse listed as the beneficiary. 5. 401K or other retirement plan with spouse listed as beneficiary (right to survivorship is the technical term) 6. Bank or stock accounts with both of your names on them. 7. A copy of your joint federal and state tax returns (including W-2's and other applicable Schedules and attachments). Sending an official tax transcript from the IRS (for Federal) is beneficial and often preferred as it reflects what was actually filed. 8. A car title or other titles to property showing joint ownership with your spouse. 9. Birth certificate of any children that have been born to your marriage. 10. Documentation of any vacations that you have taken, including flight itineraries, hotel bills, pictures of you together on vacation. 11. Other family pictures of you together. 12. Documentary proof showing evidence of your children together (Copy of Birth Certificate, photos, etc) 13. Copies of Christmas cards and other holiday cards addressed to you both

 

Yeah we can get affidavits no problem. But we don't have a car together, or cell phone plans, or car insurance, or health insurance. All we have is photos of together with families etc. We can open a joint bank account after Irma, but we aren't in any financial position to do much else. We both pay my mom her car payment and my husband uses my old car which is insured by my dad. We live with my mom and pay her rent. Basically we don't have 1,2,4,5,6,7,8, and 9 on the list of things you sent.  

17 hours ago, SteveE said:

 

Yeah he has a card with his name on it for my credit card account. 

1 hour ago, MyMistaLovaLova said:

Hey ally ! We are in ft lauderdale. Stay safe during this hurricane! However, I suggest you open the joint account and at least add 25 dollars a week each. My husband and I set it up so it can Pay our bills. So 250$ direct deposits every week from our jobs. 25$ a week or every 2 weeks shows something.  I am also going to show pictures of us during Easter with my family.  When is your interview ??? Mines is October 16 in Oakland park! 

Hi stay safe! We are near Jacksonville and Daytona Beach- no clue where to go! Thanks for the advice! And we don't have an interview date. We just got the RIFE today after 7 months of waiting. 

3 minutes ago, rosecloud said:

I think even if you don't make "enough money", make a joint bank account. Why can't the little money you do make get put into a joint bank account? Even if it's not used, it's easy to prove that at least you have a joint bank account. 

 

I would also include photos from family events where both of you are in photos with other family members. This REALLY helped my husband and I to get approved. 

 

Sworn affidavits should really only be supplementary. I think just having those isn't enough. 

We were told that if you make a joint bank account that just sits there and is un-used that it looks suspicious.  

Hi everyone, 

Today we finally have heard word about our I-485 case and it is a request for evidence. The evidence we can provide is listed: 

Documents showing joint ownership of property- we have none because 

Leases showing the same residence- we live with my mom who is renting from our landlady because we can't afford to move out

Documents showing shared finances and obligations- we are authorized on each other's credit cards but there is no documentation stating that. Neither of us make enough money to open a joint bank account. We can open one but it won't be used because there will hardly be anything in it. And also we have a massive hurricane headed our way so this won't be done within the next week. 

Birth certificates of children- we have none. 

Sworn affidavits from others with knowledge of the validity of the marriage- we can do this, and we can have a lot of them but is that enough?

We don't have photos from the wedding because we did it at city hall and are saving for a ceremony later on. I work 2 jobs just to pay my student loans, and he works as a server until we can save up enough to move out. We don't have a lot of money. We just wanted to be married and be together and live together. I know this is not unusual, but I really don't know how we are supposed to prove that our marriage is real because we don't have property together or a joint bank account. Please help. We have waited since March to hear anything about our green card and are disappointed it took so long just for an RIFE. 

Hi everyone, 

Today we finally have heard word about our I-485 case and it is a request for evidence. The evidence we can provide is listed: 

Documents showing joint ownership of property- we have none because 

Leases showing the same residence- we live with my mom who is renting from our landlady because we can't afford to move out

Documents showing shared finances and obligations- we are authorized on each other's credit cards but there is no documentation stating that. Neither of us make enough money to open a joint bank account. We can open one but it won't be used because there will hardly be anything in it. And also we have a massive hurricane headed our way so this won't be done within the next week. 

Birth certificates of children- we have none. 

Sworn affidavits from others with knowledge of the validity of the marriage- we can do this, and we can have a lot of them but is that enough?

We don't have photos from the wedding because we did it at city hall and are saving for a ceremony later on. I work 2 jobs just to pay my student loans, and he works as a server until we can save up enough to move out. We don't have a lot of money. We just wanted to be married and be together and live together. I know this is not unusual, but I really don't know how we are supposed to prove that our marriage is real because we don't have property together or a joint bank account. Please help. 

Hi everyone. My husband called USCIS because it's been six months since we submitted our case with no news. They said it's too early to report a problem, and that we have to wait six months until anything has happened with our case, meaning biometrics in march. So we have to wait more. Still no news. He has his EAD and we applied for his AP for December so hopfully that works out. 

Also I get an email from Visa Journey saying that I should update my timeline because based on their timelines my husbands interview should have been in June. Which it obviously was not. Just annoying to be reminded by them to update things when thre haven't been any.

Anyone else still in the same boat with nothing since fingerprints? 

33 minutes ago, Ebunoluwa said:

No we have not. Our AOS has been pending since May 2015, went through EAD/AP renewal twice but you have nothing to
worry about traveling with AP.

Do you have any advice on EAD renewal? It's a yearly thing right? He got in the beginning of April and I know it takes a few months to renew. 

1 minute ago, Ebunoluwa said:

You are not a conditional resident because you have not received your green card yet, neither are you a permanent resident.
You are a K1 visa holder adjusting status. 1 d) is correct.

Sweet thanks. Have you or your spouse used AP to travel outside the country? I've heard mixed stories so we're a bit afraid. 

Hi everyone. Spoke to USIS about the green card- bad news is Orlando is still processing cases from October 31st  So we are applying for AP for December. I'm just struggling with the language. My husband came in on K1 and we are married now, obviously. He has his EAD and we are waiting for his green card. But the lingo in the AP instructions is confusing.

"Upon returning to the United States, most individuals must present a valid H, L, K, or V nonimmigrant visa and must continue to be otherwise admissible. If you do not have a valid or unexpired H, L, K, or V nonimmigrant visa, then you generally need to obtain an H, L, K, or V nonimmigrant visa at a U.S. Department of State (DOS) visa issuing post. Individuals will need a valid nonimmigrant visa, advance parole, or other travel document to present for reentry." 

So his K1 expired 3 months after he arrived, which is the standard procedure. Is this saying that advance parole will take the place of that? 

Also this: 

"Your application for adjustment of status generally will not be deemed abandoned, even if you do not apply for an Advance Parole Document before traveling abroad while an adjustment application is pending, if you currently are in one of the following nonimmigrant classifications, and remain eligible for and would be admissible in one of the following categories upon applying for admission at a port-of-entry: a. An H-1 temporary worker, or H-4 spouse or child of an H-1; b. An L-1 intracompany transferee, or L-2 spouse or child of an L-1; c. A K-3 spouse, or K-4 child of a U.S. citizen; or d. A V-1 spouse, or V-2/V-3 child of a lawful permanent resident"

But a K1 isn't listed on there? Someone please help, we are so sick of paper work. Thanks! 

1 hour ago, Ebunoluwa said:

Also.....make sure you submit a NOA1 from your pending AOS with the AP application or you will get a RFE for the fee. It's free when you are or have
filed AOS. It may take 4 months to receive AP so I wouldn't wait any longer to file if you want to travel by December.

Great thanks. And do you know if we check 1a) I am a permanent or conditional resident of the US and am applying for re-entry, or 1d) I am applying for an Advance Parole document to allow me to return to the United States after temporary travel? 

Not sure if he's classed as "conditional" while we wait for AOS, but the example doc has 1d checked. 

Hi everyone! 

So we didn't file for AP when we filed for my husband's AOS in February, because we don't need to leave the country until December for Christmas. Anyway, we didn't think we would need AP because we thought we'd have his green card by November at the latest. Recently, we called USCIS because it's been 6 months since we filed, and they said a) it was too early to call because it needs to be 6 months since anything has progressed with the case, which would be March/April when he got his EAD, and b) the Orlando office is still processing cases from October 31st. We filed Feb 13th, so it's going to be a WHILE before they get to us. 

We need to go to England for Christmas, since my husband has not seen his family since January. But we can't book tickets yet and don't have specific dates, is that okay? Do we need specific dates for the AP? And also if anyone has any suggestions about how to handle this frustration or if this is normal (which is probs is) please let me know

Thanks! 

On 8/4/2017 at 2:23 PM, klm9971 said:

Is someone out there whose status does not change since you went from Biometrics. It's been 161 Days since any notifications. I am wondering whether should I call USCIS customer service or not. 

 

Any help?

Ours is the same. Still says fingerprint fee recieved on Feb 27th. We have EAD but that's it. Thinking we will call too. 

19 hours ago, jcarlosluna100 said:

I just called the 800 number inquiring for my I-485 status. The automated service told me my case is in Lee Summit, MO. The attendant told me to wait until my case is transferred to my local office (Washington DC) for interview scheduling. The longer my case stays at MSC (Missouri Service Center) the longer the probability my interview will be waived. According to the official processing times in my local office, my case will be reviewed by the end of October or the first two weeks of November.

 

 

02/02/17: USCIS Received AOS Documents

03/30/17: Biometrics Appointment Done

05/06/17: EAD Expedite Requested 

05/12/17: EAD Expedite Request "Denied"

05/30/17: EAD & AP Ordered

06/02/17: EAD & AP NOA 2's in mail

06/10/17: EAD Combo Card Received

08/03/17: Update on I-485 (Case still in Lee Summit, MO)

How did you get to talk to a person? Did you press 3 to report a problem with your case? We would like to talk to someone who can give us that information. Thanks! 

On 7/26/2017 at 10:11 PM, Poubon said:

Just wanted to update everyone on our case. Today my husband received the official letter that his green card was approved and would be mailed in 3 weeks . We got a second letter confirming that it was approved without an interview! We are so overjoyed. I had been checking the app daily but the statuses were not updated. 

Wait so you got a letter saying it was approved without it ever updating on the app?

17 hours ago, TL2016 said:

You might just be one of the people to get an interview waiver. I know this process is long and boring, but everyone here in this thread is well within the normal processing times. There is absolutely no need to get angry over other people's status updates, especially since the ready for interview one doesn't mean anything besides that it's probably with their local office. If I were you, I'd apply for the AP as soon as possible and not rely on a green card approval as that could not happen until 2018. 

 

Processing times of a year and sometimes more are not only common, but can happen to anyone. Especially those with long wait times at their local offices like NYC. 

 

I'm not upset that the process is taking so long. I'm frustrated that cases in my local office who also filed when we did have interview dates or are ready to be scheduled. Not comparing cases is hard-I think we all do it a little bit haha. It's silly to me that they work on cases in no particular order- and that's what bothers me, and many others. It seems to be luck of the draw and I know a lot of us on here find that annoying. 

2 hours ago, carlos7 said:

Orlando as well, filed on February 17th and status ready to be scheduled for interview since April 7th

That's infuriating. We filed Feb 8th, and it says nothing!! 

2 hours ago, T_McCann said:

I'm In Orlando itself and I'm in the exact same situation as you! 

 

My spouse and I agreed to file for AP in April and we received it in June because we have "honeymoon" booked for Jan next year to Bahamas.

 

it didn't cost anything to file we just submitted it with a copy of the receipt from AOS.

 

good luck! 

 

 

Okay great thanks! We are going to file next month for AP. We had just hoped his green card would have come by now or at least we would have heard something! Another user who is in Orlando told me that they filed in March and their case is ready to be scheduled for an interview- I don't know why some move faster than others. 

Anyone in the Northeast FL area on here? Our local office is Orlando, but our case still only says "fingerprint fee received." In August, it will be the 6 month mark and we can call. We did not file for AP because we don't need to travel internationally until Christmas, but are now thinking in August we should apply since there has been no movement on the green card front. It's really disheartening