visaquestion1234

Holy hell, Batman. I just did a deep dive into all of our millions of incoming USCIS mail. Turns out we in fact DID receive the 48 month extension. I feel stupid now.

1 hour ago, OldUser said:

+1000

 

Hence my question to OP about moving addresses which never got answered...

Sorry, should have addressed that. We have not moved.

3 hours ago, mindthegap said:

Your wife's residency does not expire.

Much the same as her residency did not expire when her original card did, it is simply that her 2 year extension letter will expire, but that is her proof of status, and not the status itself.

She remains a permanent resident. 

 

Shortly before it expires, she should apply for an I-551 stamp in her passport as ongoing proof of status, which is sufficient for all purposes including travel.

You do this by calling USCIS, saying 'infopass' to the godawful automated system, waiting for 45 mins on hold to speak to someone who then arranges for someone to phone you back a month later, at a hugely inconvenient time, to schedule an appointment for a stamp at a hugely inconvenient time. If you are really lucky they will mail you a stamp on a white I-94W card. 

Thank you, this is extremely helpful.

3 hours ago, OldUser said:

What's more concerning is the fact she did not receive 48 months extension letter. In 2023 USCIS sent out 48 months extensions to everybody who had pending I-751. This would have extended her GC for another 2 years.

 

The reasons why it's concerning is if you never received new extension letter, you might as well missed interview appointment letter, RFE, NOID or denial.

 

Did you move since filing I-751? If moved, did your wife file AR-11? Did you file I-865 if you moved?

 

You can request missing notice (48 months extension) here https://egov.uscis.gov/e-request/displayNDNForm.do?sroPageType=ndn&entryPoint=init

 

 

Thank you! I searching for a 48 month extension letter but could only find the initial 24 month one we received. I will submit a request via that link in case it was misplaced or we never received it for some reason. The status online still states “Case Was Updated To Show Fingerprints Were Taken” so I don’t have any reason to believe an RFE or denial was issued.

Hi All,

My wife’s residency expires this November. We filed for ROC in September of 2022 and only got an a 24 month extension (case has been stagnant since November of 2022). She is of course eligible for naturalization but is that the only practical way to speed up the process and maintain her legal residency? Naturalization isn’t a huge priority at the moment so I’d love to know what I can do in between now and November when her status expires.

Thank you!

1 minute ago, Crazy Cat said:

Real estate is not classified as a reportable foreign asset (as are foreign accounts, etc).  However, any income from the rental or sale of that real estate would have to be reported as income. 

Thank you. I just looked it up quickly and saw the same thing. The land is valued at around $7,000 USD and they are unlikely to sell it. I definitely anticipate reporting it if a sale is ever made however.

4 minutes ago, OldUser said:

I don't think this requires disclosing it to USCIS.

 

However, it does need to be reported to IRS.

Thank you for the quick reply. If she contributed the money as a gift to her family and she was left off the deed/transaction would that still be required?

Hi all,

My wife is a LPR (removal of conditions pending). She and her family are considering buying a plot of land in her home country and she would be contributing a few thousand dollars. This would be the largest share and the plan is to have it in her name. Since she is still a citizen of her home country does this require any legal action on our end in the US? The plan would be to transfer the few thousand to her or her mom’s account in her home country and they would use that account for the transaction. I assume this would need to be declared in a potential future interview/citizenship application.

Thank you!

30 minutes ago, OldUser said:

I would only carry the original (and have multiple digital and paper copies) when travelling internationally. 

Great, thanks for your input!

Got the extension letter! Do you need to carry around the original copy or can you just use a copy? Just thinking about potential scenarios where something like that might pop up (speeding ticket or if someone of authority needs to see it randomly)?

Okay, I think I'm ready to put a bow on this! I included a cover page, a short intro, and a table of contents with the following (I've redacted some personal info):

[A short description]

EXHIBIT A: Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence

EXHIBIT B: Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance

EXHIBIT C: Lawful Permanent Resident Status and Identification

This exhibit includes copies of the following:

Current Permanent Resident Card

I-797, Notice of Action stating approval of my I-485 application

Employment Authorization/Advance Parole Card

Social Security Card

Driver’s License

EXHIBIT D: Marriage Certificate

EXHIBIT E: Cohabitation with Spouse

This exhibit includes copies of the following:

Electric bill addressed to me and my spouse

Water bill addressed to me and my spouse

Home Owner’s Insurance under me and my spouse

Closing statement of current home (purchased prior to me obtaining lawful permanent resident status)

Spouse’s current driver’s license matching our address

EXHIBIT F: Federal and State Tax Returns for 2019, 2020, and 2021

EXHBIT G: Financial Commingling

This exhibit includes the following:

Monthly statements from joint [...] checking account

Monthly statements from [...] - I am an authorized user on this account, and only the primary account holder’s name (my spouse, [...]) is listed on the statements. The charges are then paid through our joint [...] account

Monthly Costco card membership statements

Proof of myself as my spouse’s 401k beneficiary

Most recent 401k statement

Account summary of joint [investment] account

Account summary of joint [investment] account

EXHIBIT H: Summary of Spouse’s Employment Benefits with as the Beneficiary

This exhibit includes the following:

Summary page detailing all benefits elected by my spouse, including health and life insurance

Copy of current health insurance card

EXHBIT I: Evidence of Joint Vehicle Insurance

EXHBIT J: Supplemental Evidence

This exhibit contains the following:

Assorted photographs from throughout our marriage

Certificate of marriage into the Catholic Church in [...]

Photographs of Catholic Church wedding ceremony

6 hours ago, beloved_dingo said:

Thank you. I'm sure you're fine. I opted to send all bank statements, which is what made it so large. Many folks opt to send quarterly statements which cuts down on the paper.

Yeah you have to use a two-hole punch at the top, but USCIS does that anyway with the hard copies after they scan the docs in. 

What size fasteners did you use? 2 inch?

10 minutes ago, Maria P. said:

OMG @beloved_dingo, I think your package just triggered my inner perfectionist climax 🥰🤩

 

This looks super neat. like MEGA neat. So beautiful. If I could redo my package, or make it better - I would change 2 things ->  (1)  putting Money Check - FIRST thing on top (I attached it to the top of my I751 form, but I have Cover letter as first thing in the package*) and (2) Getting ACCO fasteners. I was in such rush trying to get it done asap (because of filing later than I could have) that I went with paper clips, but I did see USCIS mentioning that fasteners via two holes on top is highly appreciated.  Great job, really. This looks stellar. 

30 minutes ago, beloved_dingo said:

We used ACCO fasteners. Picture attached. 

 

The credit card form was on top, then cover letter, e-notification form, the completed I-751, etc. 

 

Everything else was divided up into Exhibits, which is why there are tabs labeled A, B, C, etc. 

 

We divided up the documentation in the exhibits like this:

 

EXHIBIT A – BANK ACCOUNTS

Documentation of joint checking & savings accounts

EXHIBIT B – OTHER FINANCIALS

This included tax transcripts, credit cards, beneficiary on IRA, joint loan

EXHIBIT C – SHARED ADDRESS & COHABITATION

Leases, utility bills, letters addressed to us both

EXHIBIT D – SHARED INSURANCE & BILLS

Car insurance with both names/vehicles, gym membership, phone bill with both names/numbers

EXHIBIT E – MISCELLANEOUS

Photos, Healthcare POAs, documentation of trips taken together

Amazing! I know USCIS prefers ACCO fasteners, but it feels weird punching holes in the documents (you need to do that in order to use those, correct?).

29 minutes ago, Maria P. said:

Mine was probably something 200+ too, I got this file folder from Walmart, and then put all paperwork inside. I printed USCIS # and petition subject/basic info: on top front flap of that folder  (my walmart folder had some nice clear pocket for that, otherwise I would just write it using fat permanent marker or print & stick it onto front page of the folder).  

 

Inside -> I had printed table of contents (sticked it to the back of that front folder flap, meaning person opening it will see it on the left side and on the right side will be a pile of papers/application). Table of Content had listed document sections (and brief list of documents attached in bullet points) in order  that they are put in the package.  I used sticky tabs for each section AT THE BOTTOM (USCIS asks specifically not to put them on the side).  

I used a rule of thumb and general logic, e.g. I had separate sticky tabs for FORM I 751, COPY OF GREEN CARD, Copies of DRIVING LICENSES, but for bulky taxes - i just had one tab TAXES, (not: Taxes 2019, Taxes 2020, Taxes 2021, W2s 2021, W2s 2020, etc.) 

 

USCIS specifically asks not to use heavy staples -> I have used small metal clips to clip documents together, as well as Jumbo metal clips to join several similar documents in one section. Example: I printed every other month bank statement from beginning of marriage:  each 3 pages of individual monthly statement were clipped with tiny paper clip on top + all of them together (18 statements total) with big jumbo ones from middle of both sides (so they stay together). For mega big sections (e.g. several "blocks of documents"  that are related to one another) -> like bank statements, trading account beneficiary disclosures,  bank "trustee" disclosures -> I used a rubber band to make sure nothing is displaced. just one thin rubber band holding entire section -> nothing crazy, and nothing that is hard to disassemble or might add irritation/more work to USCIS officer.

 

I  did spread out paper clips in different locations, so that package is uniform and not bigger /skewed on one corner/side. 

 

I mailed it via USPS.  Just brought my folder (I put rubber band around it) to the office and asked for envelope or box that would fit it and they got me some plastic envelope. Shoved it in and sent for a bon voyage hoping for the best...

 

P.S. Please refer to official filing recommendations from USCIS if in doubt: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-guidance/form-filing-tips . 

 

M. 

Wow! Thank you so much. I really really appreciate you sharing your process. You remind of why the community here is the best on the internet. Good luck to you!

Alright, it’s game time again. Good luck to all who have already submitted or are in the process of compiling the massive mound of documents.

How is everyone going to package the files? Mine will likely be over 200 pages and too big for a binder clip but I don’t want to just send a bunch of loose papers.

24 minutes ago, beloved_dingo said:

Many people choose to sent quarterly statements instead of sending every month. If you have a lot of evidence, you should be fine doing that. Some people get more peace of mind through sending every statement. 

 

However, I think you need to look at it a different way. It may seem "excessive" but the last thing anyone wants when going through these immigration processes is to get an RFE. So prioritize sending as much quality evidence as possible. 

This is basically my guiding philosophy. My wife and have a typical marriage with basically everything joint, living together, etc. There isn’t anything to hide and our evidence is as strong as it can get, but there’s nothing to lose by front-loading our application. It’s indeed a once in a lifetime expense and action. Therefore, we’ll be going with monthly statements. Two accounts, 38 months, two pages each (so 4 total per month). That comes out to 152 pages. USCIS is free to examine it all. We’re “sacrificing” some extra paper and ink from Staples. Worth it, IMO.

8 minutes ago, beloved_dingo said:

We sent quarterly water bills that show both of our names and that's it. None of the others (power, internet) are joint so I didn't bother sending those at all. 

Got it, thanks.

How many utility statements (of each service) did you guys include? Trying to think of a reason why submitting many electric bill statements would be better than a few.

4 hours ago, TheLedgerFiles said:

Mailed to Phoenix PO Box on 7/22. Arrived 7/25. Just got the text notification this morning 7/29. Relieved they have it now, haha!

Congrats!

2 minutes ago, beloved_dingo said:

Yes, that is fine especially since you have the joint checking account with both names. 

We did that for one of our credit card accounts because it didn't show his name anywhere else. Another CC account showed both names on the statements so we did send those. 

Thank you! I appreciate the quick response.

Hi all,

Quick question and title really says it all, but I (US citizen) am the primary account owner of our credit card account and my wife is an authorized user. Therefore, my name is on the monthly statements but we both have our own cards. Our checking account is joint and shows both of our names on the statements and of course shows the monthly credit card charge which would match the statement. When I include our credit card account statements, would a page showing that she is an authorized user suffice?

Hey all homeowners - how many mortgage statements did you include?

4 minutes ago, Misscloud said:

no worries. u are not the only couple who "married" twice. technically its only 1 time ( the civic), the church = reception

Great, thank you!

1 minute ago, Misscloud said:

what is the question?

is it related to ROC? because many people did that and never have an issue, especially during covid time

the legal marriage = the civil ceremony

Yeah I suppose I should have phrased that all differently. Will it cause any issue that we married technically twice? How much should I explain since it resulted in decent sized foreign transactions and money transfers from my parents helping out?

I guess I’m overthinking.

Hi All,

My wife and were legally married in a small civil ceremony with family and close friends shortly after her arrival on a K1 visa. It was always the plan to have a much larger wedding in the Catholic church down the line. She got her GC in November of 2020 and we got “re-married” in her home country earlier this year. There were 150+ people and it was a much more typical wedding. This of course had a big effect on some of our financial and travel activity. Has anyone done anything similar? It was really a matter of religion and celebration so I’m not sure how USCIS would view a situation like that.

Thanks in advance! You all are fantastic.