ChrisDC

1 minute ago, Lemon23 said:

if you dont mind me asking, what is the name of the handy app on your smartphone that you use? 

USCIS Civic Test Study. I've also downloaded US Citizenship test 2018. 

Basically, nothing more than what people on this forum suggest. I used all the evidence I had previously submitted when I received a RFE to remove conditions on my GC plus more recent evidence. I prepared for the civic/history test by using flashcards (I found a handy app on my smartphone), although I already knew some basics as a result of an exam I had taken months ago. On the day of the interview, I dressed nice and relaxed. I was in and out of the office in less than 15 minutes.

29 minutes ago, a.t.j24 said:

how did your interview go?

The interview went very smoothly: in and out in about 15 minutes. 

7 minutes ago, Mountain Climber said:

Congrats!  Time to relax.

Thanks! I wish I had the chance, but I am graduating (doctorate) in two weeks...

On 11/13/2018 at 10:46 PM, Diane and Chris said:

I want to read it. I’m sure Chris does, too. 

Sorry that it took me a while to respond to your message, but I had a few very intensive weeks. I'm very sorry about your nightmare, and I hope you will be able to get your citizenship soon. My interview went very smoothly and this morning I took the oath. I'm now officialy a US citizen! Good Luck! 

1 hour ago, Kiolas said:

Hello ChrisDC,

 

it is a great moment to have a citizenship interview!

 

I wish you a smooth and quick process!

 

We are also same-sex couple 👭. Every couple's experience is different. We did not have friendly experience with USCIS. However, USCIS should not discriminate based on sexual orientation. If you experience any issue, feel free to contact Ombudsman office as well as your Congressman or other local officials.

 

Wish you best of luck 😊🙏

Helo Kiolas, 

 Thanks for your response! Getting a biased USCIS officer is eactly my fear. I hope it is not going to happen.  Would you mind telling more about your experience? 

Good luck to you too! 

Chris

Hello, 

    My citizenship interview is scheduled for this Friday in Philadelphia. Since I've applied for citizenship based on marriage (same-sex), I'm going to bring several proofs of evidence of my four years wedding as I did for the removal of conditions on my greencard. I studied thoroughly for the civic/history and English test. Any particular recommendations? Thanks! (Until a few days ago I was very cool about it, but now I feel a bit nervous and anxious 😓).

Just now, jskibo said:

Which one did you file your taxes as a resident?

Thanks. I have one residence in DC and one in Delaware. The latter is the one I used to file my taxes.

Hello, 

 I am working on my N-400 online application, but I have an issue with my residence history. Within the last four years my spouse and I have been commuting between two residences, which are located in two different states. Unfortunately, the section of the residence history doesn't allow me to list both addresses with the same timeframe and I don't think it would make sense to list a week in one residence and one month in the other one. Should I just list the permanent address we use for income tax?  Any suggestion? Thanks!

After submitting all the documents requested by the RFE, my greencard has finally been approved!!!! Thanks very much for your help. Now, it's time to start my naturalization process. THANKS!

Just now, Sukie said:

Your issue has nothing to do with being a same-sex couple.  Your issue is more that you are a mature couple who have been independent and are now just trying to mingle your separate lives.

 

You have given us a lot of good information about WHY your financial situation is what it is.  Now, you need to write a letter and both of you sign it, and explain everything you have told us.

 

1.  Why you have separate health care.

2.  Why your driver's licenses have different addresses.

3.  How you handle every day expenses (and trace to your statements)

4.  Re-iterate that you have made wills, and that the real estate will go to you if your partner dies.

5.  Be very deliberate - over explain.  Cross reference your explanatory statements to documents that prove your statements.

 

You will be fine.  You just don't look like a young just-starting-out couple.

 

My spouse is not my my deed.  She is also only on ONE car, not both.  But she is on the homeowner's insurance and on both car insurances.  This was not an issue - but I explained it up front.

 

Good luck!

 

Sukie in NY

Thanks!

Just now, Lemon23 said:

Also if you and your spouse can request for a reference letter from the bank and can shows that both of your were listed as beneficiary then it will be a big help. Banks can provide that specially for joint account.

Thanks!

Just now, Lemon23 said:

Generally, USCIS want's to see if you have co-mingling assets and liabilities since day one after the marriage to present, so you have to provide all the statements of your co-mingling assets and liabilities to them  that shows both of you pay the bills.

I'm currently studying full time to pursue my doctorate, so we have agreed that he takes care of the utilities for the time being. However, the bills are all on both names. Savings are separate, but I'm listed as beneficiary for his account and he's listed as beneficiary for mine. 

Just now, bob72601 said:

Best of luck. What is the date of your NOA1?

November 1st, 2016. I recently made an info-pass appointment, and I got an I-551 stamp on my passport because my extension letter was about to expire. After a week from the stamp, I received the RFE letter with 90 days to submit the required documents. 

Just now, bob72601 said:

Please complete your Timeline so we can follow you.

 

Yes, thanks for reminding me. I'm doing it, but it will take a bit. 

Just now, NikLR said:

What exactly did you send the first time?

You mean right after we got married and before the interview? Statements of joint account, several pictures of us together or with friends and family members, invitations to events as couple, original certified copy of marriage license,  receipts of trips together including honey moon, affidavit of support from friends and my spouse's sister. 

Hello everyone, 

  I've been following this forum from a long time, but I've never posted anything until today. I'm in a same-sex marriage and, although there is an age gap between my spouse and me,  everything went very smoothly (AOS, interview, conditional green card, extension letter) until recently when we' ve received a request for more evidence from USCIS. For our case, we have hired a lawyer since the beginning of this journey, and we think we have substantial documents that proofs that our marriage is in good faith including affidavit of support from family members and friends. However, there are a few things in the USCIS request that worry me. 
1) Evidence that you and your spouse reside together and share responsibility for a common residence. 
   My spouse owns two houses and pays the mortgage for one and, since he has a will in place that states that I will inherit them in case of his death, he has never thought to add me to the deed. Also, our drivers' licenses have one the address of one house and the other one the address of the second house; for logistic reasons we have decided to keep it like that.  
2) Evidence that you and your spouse have combined financial resources may include financial records showing joint ownership of assets and joint responsibility for liabilities such as joint checking and savings account statements showing deposits or withdrawals for the period of your marriage, insurance policies that show the other spouse as the beneficiary, joint tax returns. We have copies of two years joint tax returns, utilities on both names for both house, car ownership and related insurance with both names on, and credit card in both names. Regarding checking accounts, however, we own a joined account and two separate ones, and both utilities and mortgage are paid with my spouse's account. On the other hand, we use the joint account to pay minor things, and my small income goes to that account. Since I am currently studying full-time and working part-time, we've agreed on this financial arrangement.
Also, my partner can't include me in his health insurance because he has Medicare, so we have two separate health insurances.   
3) Evidence that you and your spouse have made estate health and financial planning arrangements with each other: a will, a trust or a durable power of attorney, for health care or property or both. As I mentioned above, my partner and I have a will in place that state that in case of the death of one of us all the property goes to the living spouse. Also, both of us have investments that have the other one listed as the beneficiary. However, we don't have a power of attorney for health. 

Could you please give me some suggestions? Do you think it would look suspicious if my partner added me to the deed now? Or, to his personal checking account? Or, should it be better to submit all the documents we've including a cover letter that explains all the financial arrangements? Thanks!