TinNhi

5 hours ago, Timona said:

Go for both

Thank you @Timona, I'll try to assemble an all digital version of what we mailed, so we can upload it before the 12/22 deadline.  We wouldn't be so nervous about what we mailed except for the fact we don't see "signature confirmation" from what we sent.  We only see "Delivered, left with individual" and we don't want anyone at USCIS to deny they received our response.

This is all we received and see from the USPS Express service we used:

Status: Delivered, Left with Individual
Status Date / Time: October 21, 2022, 1:00 pm
Location: SAN ANTONIO, TX 78258
Postal Product: Priority Mail Express 1-Day®
Extra Services: Insured
PO to Addressee
Up to $100 insurance included

16 hours ago, Timona said:

Follow instructions on paper

Thanks. The instructions say either method is OK, so we're wondering if we should play it safe and use both.  Any advantage to do so?

Hi all,

I asked this same question at the tail end of topic I started in this forum, but I think it deserves its own thread and sincerely apologize if it doesn't.

Long story short, we received an RFE to provide 'Evidence of a shared marital life together'.  

The RFE states they must receive an answer by December 22nd, 2022.

We put our response together and mailed it via USPS Express mail.  We have the USPS receipt and it says the package was signed for back in late October 2022.  No other details like the name or initials of who actually received and signed for it.

If we don't see any status update through the USCIS online portal by, say, December 15th or so, should we prepare a digital RFE response of the same content and upload it to them?  That way, we can at least have a digital trail and screenshots we submitted on time.

The last thing we want is for USCIS to say they must not have received it and there's no particular employee they know of, who accepted it.  Maybe I just don't know how USPS Express works, but not having an actual person's name or initials who signed for it, makes me nervous.

Would you also submit your response online if the time is ticking down without any progress updates?

We used Rapid Visa up to this point, so they've always mailed things on our behalf.

Thank you very much for any information and assistance you can provide.

Question...

If we don't see an update on the USCIS website to our mailed RFE response a few days before the deadline they gave us (Dec 22nd, 2022), should we upload the information we mailed by USPS Express directly to USCIS's website so we at least have a paper trail that we submitted the RFE evidence in time?

All we have currently is a USPS Express Mail receipt that says someone signed for it.

Thank you.

14 minutes ago, Rocio0010 said:

Yes.

 

No, don't use highlighters because they scan your documents and highlighters can cover the information.

 

No. Don't you have letters that certify said employer- provided benefits?

 

Photos are very weak evidence and plus, in this situation, they might seem staged. I wouldn't even bother with pictures. Send whatever you have now.

 

Hard to tell. I have seen people getting more than one RFE.

They are not going to deny it, but even if they did, she's not going to be deported. You can always file again (and pay, of course!)

Thank you!  Ok, we've sent it off and now the waiting game.  Not sure how long it takes for us to see any updates but at least we can breathe easy knowing we sent as robust of a response as possible to this RFE.  

Can't thank everyone enough and will surely let you know how things go!   Take care all.

17 hours ago, Letspaintcookies said:

We applied 3 days after getting married. There was nothing to send 🤣 of course you can but you don't have to and it's not advised to wait just to gather evidence that's expected at the interview. 

That's similar to our situation.  We applied for AoS very soon after we got married so there wasn't much shared or accumulated at that point. We did however ensure to include our marriage certificate, but apparently, they lost or misplaced it. 

I have several more questions, if I may:

• On our cover letter, should I include my wife's alien registration # and last 4 of my SSN near our printed names, the date and our signatures? 
• Should we highlight our documents to direct the reviewing officer's attention to where both our names appear together on each document? Or will they scrutinize each document so thoroughly that it's not necessary?  (We have already been highlighting lines on our bank statement that show money went out to a particular utility or service)
• Should we include our most recent paystubs to not only confirm our address and part of our SSNs, but also because I'm sending a lot of documents regarding my employer-provided benefits?
• We've been given until middle of Dec for our response to arrive at USCIS.   I know ASAP is always best, but is there a positive/negative to sending it this week versus say, later, like in November so we can gather even more evidence - like more photos?
• Lastly, it's either an approve or deny based on this RFE's response, right?  They will not be sending any more RFE's on this matter given, correct?  This is truly our last shot?

Thanks as always!

9 hours ago, Daisy.Chain said:

I'm curious too..this RFE is for more evidence. Did you submit all of these things already for the initial application and they are asking for more or is it that you didn't submit much evidence with the initial application?

Thanks all.  I may have muddied the water a bit by posting this separate thread about the one pager.   I see the admin/mod merged my two threads, so hopefully you're able to read my original thread explaining what we received in the RFE and what we've prepared as a response.

In September we received an RFE asking for two things:. Marriage certificate and evidence of shared marital life after our wedding date. It gives examples of what we should reply with and by when. (later part of Dec)

Our response 'package' includes:

- Copy of the RFE (it literally states send a COPY of the RFE)

- Cover letter listing contents of whats included

- Certified copy of our marriage certificate

- Copy of our joint  lease from 2021 -2022

- Copy of our joint lease from 2022 - 2023

- Shared internet bill (both our names)

- Shared mobile phone bill (both our names)

- Copy of Visa card statement with our names

- Copy of Mastercard statement with our names

- Copy of our ID'S (front & back) with same address

- Notarized affidavit from family member attesting to our address from the day my then-fiance and I lived until we got our new apartment

- Joint utilities bill (water, sewer, trash)

- Joint electric bill

- Joint renters insurance policy

- Receipt of her AR11 address change

- Receipt of my i865 address change 

- My employer provided health care coverage with wife covered as spouse (med, vision, life insurance w/ her as beneficiary)

- My employer -provided 401k with her as beneficiary

- My employer-provided dental plan covering her

- Her recent bank statement highlighting payments to our utilities from above

- My bank statement highlighting me covering our apartment and internet bill

- Certificate of rent paid for each of us

- Copy of flight receipt for a trip we took together

** I will also soon have and will include my 2021 tax return papers showing married filing jointly

~ 20-25 photos of us and our puppy, including a couple of our court wedding (during Covid)

I posted a second thread asking if I should include a few paragraphs describing our day to day life, just for the officer to get a better sense of who we are

Thanks and hope this clears up confusion.  Btw, we are not sending big binders, simply folders that have little bendable metal tabs that keep our clear protective sheets in place 

Hi,

In assembling our response package to an RFE we received recently (evidence of shared marital life), is it advisable to write up a one page letter (in a binder, placed immediately following our cover letter and before our supporting documents) just introducing ourselves and what goes on in a typical day or week in our life?

For example, "We typically start our days with...", or "some of our favorite things to do together...", basically helping the reviewing officer to better visualize where we are, who we are and what our marriage is like.  

What do you guys think?  We want to paint the officer a vivid but easty to read summary of our shared marital life . Another example, grocery shopping using Instacart, playing tennis, our working out routine, the places we frequent, what are jobs are, etc.

Thank you very much.

On 10/13/2022 at 1:07 PM, Rocio0010 said:

I mean, by law you should have done it within 10 days of moving, but no, she's not going to be deported. File AR-11 online, I865 by mail, breathe, carry on. 

 

You said your wife is going to get mad at you for not doing this. Remember, you're together in this process and it's a shared responsibility. She needs to do her part too.

 

Also, your evidence sounds strong, but if I were you, on my way tomorrow to drop off the I-865 to USPS I'd stop at Chase with your wife and open a joint account. 

If you both have DL that show the same address, that's another evidence of cohabitation.

Thank you so much!   We've added front/back color copies of our IDs showing same home address.  Was able to download a new Capital One statement with both our names on it too.  She submitted AR11 last night and I express mailed my I-865.  We made copies of each receipt/confirmation page to include in our folder, placed right behind our affidavit from my father that attests we lived at his place for 2.5 months.

Will research banks/credit unions we can open a joint checking or savings account today.

Hoping to also find a handful more pics, or at the very least, take a couple more when we go out this weekend.

Hi,

Just as the title suggests, do we send originals of Affidavits or photocopies to USCIS?  This is in response to an I-485 RFE we recently received.  Family attestations about our shared marital life together.  The RFE itself makes no mention of requiring originals, but some Googling has us questioning ourselves.

Thank you.

6 minutes ago, OldUser said:

@TinNhi it's better late than never! File it ASAP. LPR needs to submit AR-11 and the I-864 sponsor needs to file I-865.

Thank you so, so much.  We will do so immediately.  This isn't something that can be done online, is it?  

6 minutes ago, .yana said:

Eh?

 

I did not notify USCIS for months about my new address. Not ideal but happens all the time and nothing came of it.

 

You’re fine.

It's been over a year.  June 2021 until now, so 1 year and 4 months.  I'm so stupid to have assumed getting our mail 2 miles away, weekly was okay.  I'm in full panic mode now.

Thank you so much for all of your replies, it truly means the world to us.  

But now a terrible, and I mean AWFUL development in the last 45 min and I can hardly type this I'm shaking so badly and fighting back tears.

I did not know it's ILLEGAL to not notify USCIS of our change of address within 10 days of moving from my parents' house to our new and current apartment we've been leasing.   My parents' house is literally 2 miles away from our place so I thought nothing of it.  Should I immediately find an immigration lawyer?  I can't even afford one.  Or are we finished, either way?  Stupid stupid me.  I feel so sick to my stomach and need to tell my wife in two hours. 

Hi all,

My wife and I recently received an RFE requesting our marriage certificate and 'evidence of shared marital life' and beginning from March 27 2021 (day we got married) to present.

First, is the wording of their request the same as them suggesting and asking for evidence of a bona fide relationship/marriage?

Second, I'm really concerned we may not have strong enough evidence to submit.  That's because between March 2021 to present, we've really just been homebodies (that's why we match so well too) not only due to the pandemic, but also because I work so much from home and my wife works FT hours when I am off work, and we honestly have very few friends. 

We don't have joint financial accounts as the banks we looked into need her to be a permanent resident.  She does have an SSN, work authorization card, and got her biometrics done, etc.

What we do have, includes:

- Both of us are on our apartment lease agreements for June 2021 to June 2022, and another one from June 2022 to present.

- She's on my employer based health care plan, that includes medical, dental, life insurance and is my 401K beneficiary.

- Notarized Affidavit from my father whom we lived with him and my mom from March 2021 until our first day at our new place attesting he was a witness to our court marriage ceremony and that we dined out together, played games, watched movies, helped them around the house, etc..

- Flight receipt for our trip to Georgia to see my sister in 2021.

- A dozen photos but they're of just her and me mostly (and our dog) as I mentioned us not having many friends.  There's a few that my parents took at our court wedding ceremony along with the judge that married us as well and her and I with my parents. (Ceremony video recorded as well). It was just me, my wife and our two witnesses were my parents). Middle of Covid spike.

- Joint utilities,  joint electric, joint cell phone bills.

- A single credit card statement with both our names.

- Her bank account statement, highlighting her payments for some of our utilities.

- My bank account statement showing me paying for our apartment.

- My driver's license and her driver's permit ID.

Last, should I write a cover letter and a letter of explanation as to why we don't have so much?

What are your thoughts?  

Thank you immensely.

On 12/29/2020 at 8:31 PM, dtm8855 said:

Hi TinNhi congrat.  I have a few question if you could assist me.  When we filed the the i-129f in the U.S. in 2019 we provided a "copy" of my birth certificate and a the i-134 affidavit of support [2018 1040 tax].  Now that we got an ok just in december 2020 with the PKT3-K instruction of to do tasks.  It asked for the "original" birth certificate and the i-134.  With the Covid i cannot travel back to bring the important documents and afraid it might be lost with the "original" birth certificate via postal mail.  I can Fedex the required doc back but hesitate to send the "original".  May i ask how do you supply the original bc and the i-134.  

Hi and thank you for the support and well-wishes! 

I only provided copies of my birth certificate and other I-134 documents.  I literally used Adobe to scan-to-email my Fiance all the supporting documents.

Good luck!

5 minutes ago, Paul & Mary said:

No affidavits are the worst evidence to supply.  The can cause issues.  They are not primary evidence. Only use affidavits when there is no other evidence to submit.

Thanks for the quick and detailed responses guys! 

Does this mean that my Fiance's relationship with my siblings and friends is a non-issue?  Just maybe explain if and how they met, but only if asked?

Hi all,

My Fiance in Vietnam has been a Freelance worker for a U.S. company for 1 year now.    Although technically a freelancer, her schedule and hours are equivalent to a full-time worker in the U.S. 

For the K1 interview (and beyond), what documentation and information does she need to request of her boss?  (Founder/CEO)

Letter of employment with company letterhead?  Her PayPal records showing her steady monthly payments from the company's PayPal account?

Thanks!
 

Hi all,

We understand that a family tree (both sides) is almost certainly required nowadays for the K1 interview. (Ho Chi Minh City)

Can someone point us in the right direction on what exactly to include?  Is there a popular format or template to follow?
 

Thanks!

As of today, we're also still waiting for our K1 interview to be scheduled in Ho Chi Minh City.

NOA2 in June and I called and obtained our NVC case # in August.

Hi all,

I introduced my Vietnamese Fiance to my siblings in the U.S. via video chat over a year ago.  Since then, they've kept in touch through Facebook Messenger.

My question is, do I need to ask my siblings to write a letter detailing when and how they met, what type of person they know my Fiance to be, their plans to meet face-to-face in 2021, etc.?  

Does that ever come up or get asked in a K1 interview?

Thanks!

6 minutes ago, hopelifebetter201 said:

Is there available for K1 interview now? You do not need to be with her in the interview. For many reasons they can give her the blue sheet of paper but not because you are not there with her. 

Thanks again @hopelifebetter201.

No, she has not yet been contacted for the interview.  I believe it's CR-1 first, then all the other K1's before us.  I hope they will be understanding because of Covid-19.  

Thank you for the quick replies and well wishes - truly appreciated.  

If I cannot be there with her for the interview, is there a high chance they will send her away?  If yes, for what reasons?

Hi all,

As if we weren't already worried and nervous enough for our K1 interview before the recent resurgenceof Covid-19 cases in Vietnam, 10x moreso now that there's a real chance I won't be able to travel and go with her as we had hoped. 

If the travel ban from the U.S is still in effect around our interview date, we're terrified it'll be an easy, if not automatic reason to send her away with a blue skip.  

Any advice on how to overcome and/or over-compensate for this scenario?

Thank you.