sarah&rob

A notarised affadavit has to be signed by a notary public otherwise it is just an affadavit. Am not sure if the family affadavits are applicable as they could be seen as predjudice being family members who aren't going to say anything against you. Just a thought is all, I would personally get affadavits from friends or work colleagues who know of your situation and know about your living arrangements.

Well my issue is that I was married in Las Vegas. The only people who were there with us were my two brothers and my brother's fiancee (now my sis-in-law). That is why I asked my bro & sis-in-law to do one for us.

My husband has no friends here and my friends all live in different states. My one friend who I did ask to do one (and hopefully will be getting it notarized tomorrow and then mailing to me asap *cross fingers*) lives in Texas and we went to visit her last March...so she is the only of my friends to see us together as a married couple.

The one from my mom is in place of a lease or rent agreement because we don't have that. We just give her a check every month.

Edit - None of my co-workers have ever spent time with my husband & I together. Some of them have met him, but they don't know how we are together just hanging out...if we are happy, etc. The most they could put in an affidavit is that they have seen us together in the same room once.

Hello.

What's a Notarized Affidavit? And what is that for? Thank You and Good Luck!

http://www.visajourney.com/examples/I-751_support.doc

It's a statement from friends/family saying they have known you since you were married, see you and your spouse together living as a happy married couple and whatnot. I have seen people say they aren't really necessary but it says in the I-751 instructions that you should have at least 2.

They're mostly helpful like in my case where we don't have *any* joint utilities to show.

I am getting very worried now, reading how others got an RFE and how I have similar evidence to send in.

First - we have no joint utilities.

We live with my mom in the house I grew up in and everything is in her name or my dad's name (he passed away in March 2009). I had her get a notarized affidavit, but do you think I should include printouts of the cashed checks from my bank online account as more proof?

We only got a joint checking account for the purpose of paying rent in the beginning of 2010. Before that the checks would only have my name.

We opened our joint savings account in November 2008 shortly after we got married but I can't find any of the mailed statements from that far back.

Also, I have not changed my last name to his and I am hoping this does not look bad for us. It is just my personal preference for certain reasons, but I may choose to change it in the future.

I feel sometimes like I am overthinking things, but I don't know.

This is a list of everything we have:

Removal of Conditions

- Form I-751

- Check for $590 ($505 filing fee + $85 biometrics fee)

- Copy of Resident Alien Card (front & back)

Supporting Documents

- Copy of 2010 Federal & NJ e-file 1040 from tax prep group (Married Filing Jointly) with copies of both Robert Lastname’s and Sarah Lastname’s W-2s

- Tax Transcript for 2009 (Married Filing Jointly)

- Tax Transcript for 2008 (Married Filing Jointly)

- Copy of Sarah’s Pension & Life Insurance Beneficiary pages from State of NJ online system showing Robert as Primary Beneficiary

- Copy of Sarah’s Health Benefits page from State of NJ online system showing Robert as spouse & showing they had seen proof of marriage.

- Copies of Health Insurance Cards for Robert Lastname & Sarah Lastname showing same ID #s

- Copies of Dental Insurance applications from Sarah’s place of employment listing Robert as spouse

- Copies of Sarah Lastname’s NJ Driver License & Robert Lastname’s NJ State ID showing same address

- Copy of car title showing joint ownership

- Copies of Account Summary for Joint Savings Account & Joint Checking Account from Peapack-Gladstone Bank Online Account showing both names and opening dates

- Copy of a Savings Account statement & Copy of a Checking Account Statement both mailed from Peapack-Gladstone Bank

- Notarized Affidavit from Janet Lastname with whom Sarah & Robert reside (in lieu of lease or rent agreement)

- Notarized Affidavit from Stephen & Jessica Lastname (brother & sister-in-law)

- Notarized Affidavit from Misty Lastname (friend)

- Photographs of Sarah & Robert documenting various times together since they were married on October 31, 2008

What do you all think? Any advice for additional evidence we could provide?

Thank you guys for the responses. I have an appt for Thursday to amend my taxes, I am little pissed at him but you live and you learn.

Good luck with everything...tax time is stressful

I had something similar happen. I am the USC and I have a full-time better paying job than my husband. He works part time at a grocery store and when he was first hired, his boss put "Married" on his W4 form so this year he made around $12k and they only took out $20 for federal withholding.

When I changed my W4 at work, they have a box to check "Married, but withhold at higher single rate". I had that box checked so they tax me at the single rate even though I am married.

When we had our taxes done, we ended up owing money because they didn't take enough from my husband (thankfully it was only like $45 that we owed to federal). Our tax people then advised us and I had him bring a new W4 to work that put the same - "Married, but withhold at higher single rate". So far that seems to be working because in his last paycheck they withheld $10 instead of $0 or $.50 or whatever that they had done previously.

Your husband should definitely NOT file his taxes as "SINGLE" because he is married. You can file Married Filing Separately or Married Filing Jointly. We were advise at our tax session that if you file Married/Separate that you will not get as much of a tax break as if you filed Married/Joint. I also tested this out on the free Turbo Tax online and when I did it Married/Separate I owed over $500 just by myself because I couldn't include my Student Loan interest and did not get the tax break. I took this year as a learning experience and even though I was angry because we wanted to use our tax refund to go back to the UK to visit my husband's family, at least we only owed $45 and not more. Now I know more about the whole process and won't make mistakes in the future.

I am currently gathering all my stuff together so we can hopefully send out the packet on Monday.

My question now is do you think a print out from bank account online that shows both our names on it and has the date the account was opened will be enough? Or do I really have to go to the bank and get a letter from them with the same information?

We're hoping to send everything next Friday!

No worries, you'll do fine. From what I read, you have about the same evidence as we send in and I'm not worried at all. My wife owns three houses but doesn't pay mortgage or utilities and the houses are in her name only, so we couldn't use those either. We do own two cars though, shared ownership, and if I were you, I would just add him to the title for the sake of it.. I mean, it wouldn't hurt if you did and it is only extra evidence that he is listed on the title, meaning he actually owns half of it

I think that especially the financial things are good for them to see in joint owner ship. We don't have joint credit cards either but a joint bank account is good to have instead.

If he has a state ID with address on it, you can also copy that one together with a copy of your driver license. That way you have another way of proving that you live on the same address.

Thank you

He does not presently have a State ID, but since it is all done through the Motor Vehicle Commission, he can do that the same time we do the title change. Probably a good idea for him to have one anyways since presently his only forms of ID are his GC and his passport and it's doubtful we'll be able to afford for him to get his license anytime in the near future.

I hope everything we will have will be enough!

I'm sure it is allowed, even more so because these affidavits are only secondary evidence (which makes sense because it VERY easy to fake these) and not required at all if your other evidence is strong (for example, we didn't file them). The only thing matters is that they actually declare something, how it is written doesn't really matter imho

Yeah, we don't really have STRONG evidence... we live with my mother and pay her rent, no utilities. She will be writing an affidavit as well stating that we live with her and pay rent and have done so as a couple since he arrived on his K-1 in 2008.

The only phones we have are cell phones with a family plan and the account is under my name with him as the second line. This totally doesn't prove anything though :/

I was able to get print outs of my Pension & Life insurance beneficiaries with him listed as "spouse" and "primary" beneficiary. I was also able to get a print out of my State Health Benefits with him listed as "spouse" and saying they got proof of that with our wedding date listed and that it was approved.

My job also just switched their dental insurance so I have a copy of the application for that with him listed as my spouse. The only thing with that is that it only has *my* part filled out and not the Employer part. Reason for that is because I work in my town's public library and for things like health insurance and dental insurance we are covered under the town, though we stand alone on other things, like the payroll. We filled out our portion and the application was whisked away to the municipal building so I don't even know if I could get a copy of it completely filled out or if that doesn't even matter.

I also have transcripts of our taxes from 2008 and 2009 when we filed jointly and could possibly have 2010's copy if he gets his W-2 in time.

We have bank statements for our joint checking and savings accounts that we opened shortly after we were married.

Right now off the top of my head I can't think if we have more.

We haven't taken any trips - can't afford it

He doesn't drive because we can't afford to add him to the car insurance. He has a car that was a gift from my aunt & uncle but the title & insurance are in my name. We would pay the extra $60 to have his name added to the title if it would make a difference, but I don't know if only doing that NOW would be suspicious.

I am in a debt management program so I would not be allowed to open a joint credit card account with him, so we don't have that.

Neither of us like our picture being taken so we don't have many of us together

Hi everyone!! Back on VJ after 2 years, we should be filing for ROC next month so I am currently gathering together everything we'll need.

My question about the sworn affidavits needed...do they only have to be from one person per affidavit? Or could my brother & sis-in-law sign one together. They traveled with us to Las Vegas and were there when we got married and we were invited to their wedding as husband and wife so the affidavit would say ..."blah blah blah.......We traveled with Sarah and Robert to Las Vegas, NV and we were both present at their wedding. We invited them to our wedding as a married couple." Then they would both sign it in presence of a notary.

Anyone know if that would allowed or if they would have to each do one separately?

You would be better to do the form again. The part "person preparing this form" is for lawyers or immigration workes, you as a spouse do not need to complete that part.

Agreed.

I prepared the forms for my husband's (it was easier since I did all the K-1 paperwork myself), but HE signed them.

Just have your wife sign and leave that "person preparing form" blank. As TayRivers said, that is for lawyers or like a "professional" who is helping you prepare the papers

Don't worry!!

First - the I-693A is no longer being used...what is used is the full I-693. For a K-1, you only need to fill out certain parts of it and have a Civil Surgeon transcribe your DS3025 onto the I-693 form and sign it.

Similar situation happened to my husband, we submitted the DS3025 and only learned AT the interview that the rest of his medical paperwork (the stuff in the envelope that was turned in at POE) never made it into his file.

We got an RFE for the I-693 at the interview and got like 30 days to send it back to them.

What happened to us though was that my husband had to redo his full medical exam because it was apparently lost between POE and his file with USCIS.

Hope this helps

Since you/your spouse is adjusting from a marriage based visa, you need things that prove that you have a bonafide marriage and are establishing a life together as a couple...

we brought our bank statements and the papers we signed when we set up our joint savings account, our cell phone bill with both our names on it, a notarized letter from my mom stating we live with her and pay rent and she attests to the fact that we are married and living together as a couple (because we do not have a lease or joint utility bills since we're living in my mom's house)...if you DO have a lease or utility bills with BOTH names on it, bring that...other things like that.

Good luck with your interview

I just wanted to let everyone know that Michelle's GC came in the mail today. No more USCIS for 2 years!!!!!!!! WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! :dance:

YAY!! Congrats :dance:

Rob got his card today!

Now we are finally done for 2 years haha

Katie I am sure Chris's card will come soon, looking at the date we got that last email about Rob's it has been exactly a week.

yay congrats to those who've gotten their cards!

hopefully this means Robbie's will arrive soon

Just got the second email from CRIS saying card production ordered

Ah they never took Rob's EAD, though he did have it with him. The guy who interviewed us back in April gave an envelope with his name on it to send the card back once Rob got his green card.

congrats!!! :dance:

Ok so I took my husband to Newark USCIS to get his passport stamped yesterday and aside from driving in that stupid place (in the rain), everything went well.

We got in line and called to a window where a woman asked what we were there for. We told her that Rob was approved for his green card, but hasn't gotten it and we saw the announcement on the website about the delay and wanted to get his passport stamped and she printed out a ticket number for us and told us to go wait till our number showed up on the screen. We waited about 10-15 mins and went to the window they called us to.

We were again asked why we were there, so we told this woman and she looked up some things in the computer and took Rob's passport and told us to go wait by the window at the end and listen for Rob's name to be called.

Then about 15-20 mins later a man came to the window with Rob's passport and explained to us that the stamp was valid for 3 months, handed us the passport and gave us a small card with USCIS stuff on it and said if he did not get the green card by the end of June to call the number on the card.

That was it. Painless really (except the drive ) and now he has his stamp

Question guys: They'll stamp your passport right? Can you still travel without the card but with the stamp on the passport?

If your card is being delayed because of this, then yes they want you to schedule an INFOPASS and go get your passport stamped.

As far as I know it's the same as having the card....but if I'm wrong, someone please correct me.

Yup he is the immigrant, lol here I thought we were done with all this for a while.

Luckily they had an appointment available on Friday afternoon so we can get this taken care of ASAP.

Please let me know how it went, cause I have an appointment set for Monday morning.

Sure I will make a post how it goes

Yup he is the immigrant, lol here I thought we were done with all this for a while.

Luckily they had an appointment available on Friday afternoon so we can get this taken care of ASAP.

ugh... Official USCIS Announcement on Card Production Delays

So since this probably is going to affect some of you and also my husband, they say you're supposed to make an INFOPASS and go get your passports stamped.

I went to make the appointment and it says "number of persons" should I put 2 since I have to go with him since he can't drive yet? Or just 1 since its only him that is actually needing the stamp?

Oh! and also it asks for "receipt number"... what receipt number?

Yes the same happened to my husband, he came here on K-1 and for some reason we were scheduled to have an interview rather than the papers being sent to CSC. At the interview we were told that the only 'medical' paperwork they had was the DS3025 which we sent in (assumed the rest of the medical stuff would've been in the brown envelope). So that meant his medical paperwork was lost somewhere between POE and meeting up with his file. We had to pay $250 for another full medical exam and thankfully with our copy of the DS3025, he didn't need any extra vaccines or anything and he didn't react at all to the TB test, so we just paid the flat fee the CS charges for a medical.

It happens, it sucks, but if you want to get your green card, you do what you have to do...

We sent the medical from the CS back to our interviewer and were approved the day he received it.