KJC

We highlighted too. One color for names, one color for dates. We also bought Post-It note tabs and tabbed each section of evidence (bank statements, phone bills, etc). We used the note section to write a description of each section. I later read that tabbing isn't suggested but they were only sticky notes. It looked pretty neat and organized anyway.

Our I-751 was just approved and our list of evidence looks much like yours. Perhaps it was just bad luck or maybe the volume of evidence?

Did you send copies of bills, insurance polices, taxes, etc spanning two years or just the most recent? We sent three or four copies per year, as well as copies of our auto/renters' insurance for 2008-2010, health/life insurance 2008-2010, and 2008 and 2009 tax transcripts. Because I leased our apartment before my husband moved here most of the utility bills are in my name or his name was just added this past year. In the cover letter we listed different types of bills separately and pointed out that our lack of utility bills was because of when the apartment was leased. We sent about two inches of paperwork and most was repeats of the same item from a different month/year. Someone here suggested highlighting your names and dates to make it easier for USCIS when they go through it all. We used one color for names and another for dates.

I didn't see photos on your list. We only sent a few per year (we aren't photo people) and I wrote captions explaining where we were and who was with us ("4th of July cookout 2009 pictured with..." etc). We also sent a few pages of copies of greeting card envelopes addressed to both of us spanning 2008-2010 from various relatives. We also included copies of the cards if there was a note inside. Probably a good idea because they can see all the different return addresses with postmarks spanning your marriage.

Send copies of items that are unrelated to your marriage but prove you live at the same location. Copies driver's licences, IDs, magazine subscriptions, etc. If you both work, send a few copies of paycheck stubs per year, as well as Social Security statements. We also made a copy of our 2010 Census form before we mailed it with the intension of using it as evidence in I-751 packet but forgot to send it so not sure if that would help or not.

Also we do not have children and did not address that in our I-751 packet. That shouldn't matter.

Good Luck!

Just checked case status online and "On March 4, 2011, we ordered production of your new card. Please allow 30 days for your card to be mailed to you."

Fantastic!

We got our biometrics appointment letter today - 12/29!

You can update our record. We got our NOA today! The receipt date is 11/18 (check was cashed on Monday).

The NOA is addressed to my husband's first initial-last name, not his full name (which is the way he signs his signature) but the petitioner info is correct (first name-middle initial-last name). Should we be concerned?

Are you suppose to get a reminder from the service center you need to file your ROC with? We live in Ohio and according to the I-751 instructions we are suppose to (and did) send our ROC packet to California, but now that you mention it I notice that the reminder letter we received two months ago came from the Vermont location. Very odd.

Actually the return address on the envelope is VT, but the return address on the letter itself is from Lincoln, NE. Not sure if this helps you but might be worth mentioning anyway.

We mailed our ROC yesterday (11/17) and it was delivered to the CA Service Center today.

So relieved to get it out before the fee increase and Thanksgiving!

We paper clipped each section of evidence (bank statements, lease, copies of photos, etc) using either regular/large paper clips and then fastened everything together with a medium sized binder clip. It was a tight fit but the large binder clip was too bulky. We also used removable Post-it-Note tabs and labeled each section with the tabs on the right side, which I see from the link isn’t suggested but it looked very organized anyway.

We are using one of those little clips meant to hold material together that has been two-hole-punched at the top

I think I know what you're talking about. Did you put the evidence in a folder or just connect it with those metal prongs (if I'm thinking of the right thing)?

We plan on Express Mailing our application either Wednesday or Thursday, so it should be in CA by Friday in time to beat the fee increase.

Maybe when I go to the office supply store tomorrow to make color copies of our driver's licenses and green card I'll buy a presentation folder or something. I hate to just send a bunch of paper even though that is what we did last time.

Also if anyone is thinking of what additional evidence to send- I'm considering sending copies of our state and city taxes. We already have our IRS transcripts. I'm assuming it can't hurt but we're trying to avoid sending this in a box so maybe not. Good idea, bad idea? Also I haven't read about anyone sending Social Security Statements- We're sending our most recent (we've only had once each since our marriage).

Also I'm assuming staples are OK?

We’re preparing our I-751 to mail this week and we’re not sure how to bundle the evidence. I remember with previous applications we were not suppose to staple anything. Also others here mentioned that they wrote their alien # on the evidence. I’ve read both the I-751 Instructions and the Visa Journey Step-By-Step guide and see nothing about either. I suppose it wouldn't be a good idea to send a tabbed binder full of evidence?

Also we’re sending all bank statements but only about five or six copies (spanning the last two years) of utility/insurance bills and paycheck stubs. Is this OK or do most people send all?

I like the idea of writing the alien # on evidence so we’ll do that even if it is not required, but is there anything else we should include? Also can we staple individual evidence or should we only use paper and binder clips?

Thanks for any advice!

I wasn't aware of this! We were planning on sending our I-751 packet out on 11/19 or 11/20 using either second or next day delivery to be there by 11/22 (with the goal of giving us time to go over everything a few times but getting it out before Thanksgiving). Are the fees based on when your packet is post marked? Even if that's true I'm worried it won't be delivered or processed in time and our forms will be sent back or worse, lost. We could probably get everything ready and overnight it Monday 11/15 but I'd still be concerned. It is better to wait until after the fee change? But that is no good either because we'd hate to wait when we don't have to just to pay more. Also my husband's green card expires in early/mid January and we should have mailed this last month.

These fee changes happen occasionally so surely someone must know. Any other November filers dealing with this issue?

Do you think it would help or hurt to explain in the cover letter why we have a lack of utilities in his name? Also both the cars are in my name, the first I had before our marriage and the second is really my husband's but it's in my name as we bought it before he got his green card. I'm worried that leaving out what might seem like obvious evidence could cause problems but explaining why these things are only in my name might be more trouble? Has anyone else done this?

Thanks again!

My husband’s conditional green card expires in mid January 2011. I’ve been pretty busy and stressed lately so sorry if these questions are repeats of past posts.

I’m worried about lack of evidence. We live in the apartment I rented before he moved here so the utilities are in my name. Also both the cars are in my name. We have a family cell phone plan but the idiots at Verizon listed his number under my maiden name until last year when we realized and had it corrected.

We have:

- Joint filed IRS transcripts for 2008, and 2009.

- Bank account statements from May 2008- on indicating joint account (I’m sending them all).

- Debit cards from said account (albeit with different numbers).

- Joint apartment lease as of May 2009 (pre-greencard listed as an additional resident- might be able to get copy from leasing office).

- Old health insurance cards from 2008 (undated) with both our names (current cards just have my name).

- Copy of my current health insurance/life insurance enrollment plan with my husband included/listed as beneficiary (dated 2009).

- Car insurance cards/policy from 2008, 2009, and 2010 with both our names on it.

- His/my paycheck stubs showing we live at the same address and money going to same account.

- A few photos (we’re not photo people).

- Masses of holiday cards from various family members addressed to us both (2008-present).

- Electric bill and phone bill with both our names on it (although that was recently added/corrected, so only from 2009-today).

- Affidavits (if needed).

I’m sending our complete bank history together, but for the phone and electric bill could I send the most recent (which I have to anyway as it was changed until recenly)? Also do we need to provide any proof of relationship prior to our marriage? Do we need affidavits?

Sorry this is so long! Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Since I just visited the UK, I forgot how much faster and cheaper the internet is there. In Scotland, my parent's 20mb connection is costing them around the same amount of money it's costing me in North East Ohio despite the fact that their's is exactly 10 times faster. Making the value for money exactly 10 times worse off.

I'm not happy about it but it looks like the competition isn't much better!

Hmm ok, this is dissapointing.

I thought the "flexible dates" option was my best bet. I could see flights that where about $600 dollars, but it looked like you had to wait about a week before being able to purchase those flights. Now there are NO flexible date flights until October!

I am off work as of now until mid-August, so I'm planning to visit my family back in the UK. I am super flexible with flights and routes, all I want is something cheap.

But I seriously can not find ANYTHING that is cheap. I've tried loads of different dates and airports and everything is around $1,200!

Anyone know if there's any way for me to find something cheaper?

I'm going from Cleveland to Glasgow.

Is it OK to collect unemployment benefits while on a conditional green card (or permanent green card)? My husband is going to be laid off in a week or two, assuming he is allowed to collect benefits in our state, is it OK to do so? I'm worried that he is not allowed under the conditions of the I-864. Sorry if this has been discussed before, I searched and couldn't find an answer.

Thanks!

Thanks!

The approval date on the email is his original employment approval date, so hopefully it's just a duplicate and not identity/visa theft but I'll call USCIS tomorrow to be sure. I got scared thinking maybe the conditional green card needed employment authorization, we missed a step, or something.

On a side note, we apply for removal of conditions in a few months- Is my husband allowed to work as is assuming his conditional card expires before his permanent card is approved? How does that work.

Thanks again!

Hi,

I received an email from USCIS today regarding my husband's employment authorization:

On XX XX, 2008, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I765 APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION. Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.

He has his green card and should be eligible to work, so why two years after the employment authorization are they sending this. Anyone get this message before?

That is what I thought, but wasn't 100% sure. Thank you!

My British husband (currently has the conditional two year green card) plans to visit the UK this summer. Our I-130 was approved without an interview so his passport was never stamped with the I-551 stamp. Will this cause problems when returning to the US? Searching other posts here it appears that people approved with interviews don't always get stamped so I'm assuming this isn't a problem but I'm overly cautious.

Is no I-551 a concern?

Marcel_25- Thanks for the reply! That is about the same as our timeline (married roughly a month before birthday). Maybe we didn't need SSS registration afterall (either that is no one is sure of what to do with nearly-26 year old immigrant husbands).

tmman- You were past your 26th birthday when you came in, so you're good unless you lived in the US previous to that. You might need to request a status letter from sss.gov just to prove you didn't need to register, but that is not certain since the SSS question on the N-400 asks if you've lived in the US between the ages of 18 and 26. If you haven't why would they need that?

Thanks again!

I was in the same situation. Came on a K1 Visa in October 2004 and turned age 26 in November 2004.I didn't become a Permanent Resident until June 2005. I recently requested a status letter from the Selective Service Center and they stated:

"We have received your inquiry as to whether you are required to register with

Selective Service.

Based upon our records and the information you provided, you were not required

to register with Selective Service because you entered the United States on a

valid visa as a lawful non-immigrant before the age of 26, and remained in that

status until your 26th birthday.

You should submit this letter to any agency concerned about your registration

status with Selective Service."

So basically if you get your Green Card and you are not 26...register.

If you are 26 and you get your Green Card... You don't register.

Were you married before your 26th birthday? I was told my husband would not have had to register if we hadn't gotten married before his 26th, and we did. However both the SSS reps I spoke to weren't 100% certain on that.

I don't know, I read the AOS as saying that they'd transfer the information to the SSS AFTER you're approved (edit: and who knows how long that take for them to do that), seeing how they say you need to do it on your own if you're not. But if if post-marriage K1s need to apply anyway, why do they even bother transfering files afterwards and instead put a sentence or two reminding you to apply? Especially if it is dangerously close to your 26th birthday.

Ok,

I have roughly this figured out. I spoke with someone from the SSS and while she wasn't sure, she believed that despite being on the I-94, once my husband and I were married that changed his status and that greencard has nothing to do with it. That is what the other guy told me too. Hopefully we'll be OK come citizenship time (see N-400 section G) with the status letter and an explanation of why we didn't register (didn't know and only had a month to figure it out before too late!). If marriage really does change your status you'd think there would be more information about it, I guess it all comes down to the definition of "lawful nonimmigrant".

I really thought it wasn't until after greencard, and http://www.visajourney.com/faq/k1k2visa-enter.html question 5.11 says that as well. I'm hoping that the approved-AOS SSS registration will come through in the next couple days, but maybe not because he is now 26. Or maybe the status letter will come back saying he didn't need to register after all.

Basically, from the mess I've been through in the last couple days and the extra work and stress we'll have to deal with when we apply for citizenship (or a government job, fed aid, etc) I'd definitely suggest applying for SSS registration if you're still 25. Less work to do, although who knows if it is actually correct or not.