Aquabac

I missed that sticky. Thanks. Although that was over 10 years ago and things change. I got nervous when i was trying to figure out the 90 day AOS application rule and then read the thread of the woman who detained I've told my wife to keep all documents in a seperate folder on her phone so she has them always and physical copies of pertinent docs for travel.

I liked your post because of the last part; "I wish they would post these things in the documents tab to expedite the process. " Not because you haven't heard.

Lots of different stories out there regarding US Air travel within the country today. Wife came here on K1 and we were married within the 90 days. Filed for AOS and have had our interview but everything is still pending Her I-94 has expired. Her Philippine passport is still valid. She does not have driver's licence or state ID yet Can she travel by air domestically without risk today with only her alien passport, and NOA of AOS application?

My intention is do do them simultaneously. And some of it now before we have even receive an RFE. We have sent emails, requesting copies already. We will contact CBP tomorrow as well. It may work. It may not. Costs us nothing to try IF, we get an RFE we will make an appointment with a USCIS approved physician immediately. To wait would be foolish I doubt an appointment will occur immediately and while waiting for an appointment I will contact my congressman's office and request assistance. No time will be wasted. They have us by the proverbial short hairs and i know it.

We had her Polio vaccine done here and uploaded the documet. That's another example of the BS they make us do extra. The beneficiary must go to the approved medical center and get all the vaccinations required. But they do not require the polio vaccine there. But after you here if you don't get one you could get an RFE for one. #######? I am a simple logical person. If it is required then give it then!

Yes. Hopefully they will " find " it. The only proofs we have at the moment is the fact that by the government's own procedures she would NEVER have been allowed to go through Immigration at JFK without handing it over and her I-94 proves she came in legally. Also we do have a copy of the vaccine record so that's related I would guess. Today she sent an email to the medical center she used in the philippines requesting a copy of her file if possible. When entering the US, it is Customs & Border patrol that handles it so I thought IF we get an RDE to request through my Congressman's office that they contact CBD and maybe the Embassy asking for a copy. If they none of these things produce results quickly I will of course pay for a new medical because we are at their mercy but I will not like it. lol

We had our interview today. The officer was polite She asked to see ID. Swore us in Asked my wife her address. Asked her to " Tell me how you got here. Your story" Wife gave brief exclamation of how we met. It seemed the officer didn't look at our file until we were in the office. She commented " You uploaded a lot of documents" She was glancing through and made comments along the way. "I see your birth certificate", etc. She asked my wife her address, who she lives with, how many people in household, then asked both of us how many times we were each married. She asked about the k1 and if we got married with the 90 days. She asked if she was ever out of status etc She then went over the 485 yes/no questions Ever been arrested,Ever been a communist.Ever protest the US government Ever commit genocide etc Then went back to the file. Mentioned the 864 and " I see several tax returns" Stated, you uploaded a lot of documents again. Stated I see you have a joint account She asked how we pay the bills What kind of home we live in whether apartment or home. then about the lease or mortgage Then she stated she can't see her medical record in the file. She kept looking and nothing is there. She asked if we have a copy. We told her the only thing we had was the vaccination record and asked if she wants a copy of that. As you know the medical file is sealed and forbidden to be opened by the applicant and must be handed over to immigration when entering the country. Which I said to her. She kept looking. Nothing Then she told us the background checks which are mandatory now are backlogged so she can't approve anything until that is done and she needs to speak with her manager regarding the medical file. We may receive a request for a new 693 and would need a USCIS approved doctor to sign it etc but she needs to speak with her manager. I stated that the the US government has it and my wife would not be allowed through immigration if she hadn't handed the sealed file over. Isn't there some kind of chain of evidence of who received documents? She said she doesn't know and it is no fault of ours( my wife and I) but we might get a request for a new one. She has to speak with her manager etc. So the interview was easy. only documents other than our passports she asked for was the I-94 and she asked if we needed it back and we told her we had copies. My wife is excited but I am less so because they lost her medical records

I have not considered the Removal of conditions . Thanks for mentioning it. I've been focused on the AOS. I have not made a will yet. While she is the beneficiary on all my accounts and I have no family other than her I need to do that. I need to meet with an estate planner to figure out the best way for my estate to be handled for her when I'm gone. It's on the To Do List. I'm Curious; Is the Removal of Conditions as scrutinized and require as much proof of Bonafies as the AOS process? Obviously our next step is to learn about that. Monday is the interview. So, Tuesday I will start the search regarding the I-751 etc.

We uploaded ( and I will bringing copies) of a good deal of evidence. New 2025 tax transcript. Joint utility bills for the 2 months since filing. Credit card statements of the accounts we both used for the 2 months Joint financial statements ( 3 accounts) for the 2 months since filing About 30 photos of us together doing various things. I'm bringing copies of everything we sent with the application and everything we uploaded. And original documents that they may ( probably) want to see We will organize it in an accordian folder this weekend.

Wish us luck, This Monday is our AOS interview for my wife. We have uploaded a preponderance of evidence , IMO anyway. We're bringing copies of everything we uploaded as well as originals and extra copies of all documents required. I-94, passpors, Birth certs, marriage cert. NOA notices, etc In 2026 with the advent of greater scrutiny, I'm wondering if anyone was asked this year for any documents they already supplied. You'd think with the ability to upload they would not need or ask for any copies other than to see original of the few specific documents required but you never know. We are definitely bringing copies of all the evidence that was uploaded but we're discussing if we need to bring copies of everything that was supplied with the original application. We did not make any additional copies when we made her AOS package and I wish I would have. I intend to get it printed now anyway since better safe than sorry, but many are telling us the copies of the orig filing is not needed. Some say they kept it on their phone and during the interview if a document was needed they would ask the officer if they could turn their phone on. I doubt that's a good idea. Might work with some officers and not with others. Why risk it? Anyway, I was just wondering what others did since the new administration has made AOS marriage based interviews basically mandatory. Anyone here go through the interview in 2025 or 2026? I'm wondering too if anyone was asked to supply all the copies of the photos they already submitted I will post our experience after the interview for those interested

This may have been a mistake but we uploaded the 2025 tax transcript under the Category "Income Tax Returns" instead of "864 supporting documents". My income of the last 3 years was well over the poverty guidelines and since 2025 is the first year we could file jointly I wanted it to be seperate from the 864 so it's more likely that the officer will take note of filing jointly I even thought of uploading additionally just the first page to the category "Bona Fides of Relationship" because it is a joint filing which is strong evidence of shared finances as well as residency.

Regarding updating evidence for I-864 and I-485 My wife filed her I-485 in the beginning of March 2026 and we filed the I-864 using the last 3 years of tax transcripts available (2024,23,22) before I filed my 2025 return. Taxes and whether to file updated I-864: We were married in 2025 so we are filing our 2025 return Married Filing Jointly for the first time. Once my accountant completes our returns and files we want to upload the return. I’m thinking of waiting until the transcripts are available which supposedly takes 2-3 weeks after filing Should I just upload the tax return/transcript or should I update form I-864 and upload that? in the drop-down menu of USCIS for uploading evidence, there are several categories to choose for the uploads: * I-864 * Income Tax Return * I-864 Supporting Documents * Bona Fides of Relationship If I redo an updated 864 I would guess I should use the category “I-864” but if I just upload 2025 tax transcript , should it be “Income Tax Return category” or “I-864 supporting documents” category? Also since this is the first time we can file a Joint Tax Return (which is a document that proves Bonafide Marriage) Should we upload the Joint tax return twice? Once for the I-864 and also use under category Bona Fides of Relationship? General question regarding uploading evidence; How much other evidence and how often do you suggest uploading? Bank statements, credit card statements, photos of relationship, utility bills etc

I think within one year should be good but if they do not state a time frame I would guess it is up to the CFO interviewer. Just remember the interviewer can decide to not grant the CFO if they choose to and they might demand an updated background check. It's really up to them

I think within one year should be good but if they do not state a time frame I would guess it is up to the CFO interviewer. Just remember the interviewer can decide to not grant the CFO if they choose to and they might demand an updated background check. It's really up to them I think within one year should be good but if they do not state a time frame I would guess it is up to the CFO interviewer. Just remember the interviewer can decide to not grant the CFO if they choose to and they might demand an updated background check. It's really up to them I think within one year should be good but if they do not state a time frame I would guess it is up to the CFO interviewer. Just remember the interviewer can decide to not grant the CFO if they choose to and they might demand an updated background check. It's really up to them

My friend was scammed. IMO This is a perfect example of why USCIS demands so much evidence Here's the background: He met a woman online years ago. They got engaged like 6 or maybe 7 years ago and while at the beginning I saw many red flags they seemed happy and it wasn't my business. I even met the woman when I visited my GF at the time and she seemed very nice. She was certainly a drama queen though and always sick with mystery ailments. She kept postponing her visa appointments due to illness and even lied about her CFO. She told him that she failed because they asked her if she knew the Filipino consulate's phone # in the state in the US she would be in and because she did not have it memorized they failed her. Yeah. BS Then she got approval and my friend booked her flight and her mother supposedly had a stroke and was in a Coma. So it was further delayed. Then her visa expired. He was mad and they broke up but kept speaking. He thought she just didn't want to leave her family He went on vacation to Thailand and she surprised him and met him there and they rekindled their relationship They tried to reapply or reinstate the K1 visa but of course there were problems and more delays. Then he was contacted by another American. Seems he was dating her for several years too. Gave her an ipad and for whatever reason he suspected something and checked it. Turns out she was seeing 4 or more guys and had photos and correspondence on the ipad. He found my friends info and contacted him. Shared photos of her with him and the other guys to prove she was a scammer He has notified USCIS and revoked his support for the K1 visa. My question is this; Does he have any recourse to make a fraud complaint with USCIS so she is on file as a scammer? This may help the next poor SOB if she gets engaged to another American. Does USCIS even care about this kind of thing?

The website copy worked fine for us.

I'm now retired and it will be similar to last year but most likely slightly different. The last 3 years were all in the same range within 5% of each other

It will be similar but I'm sure not exact. Perhaps I should round it down to the nearest thousand.

We are filing the I-485 AOS for my wife now. I'm retired but still have taxable income well above the threshold I'm now doing the I-864 and just want to double check regarding transcripts and whether to include assets and a few other questions. I searched a few threads but most are a few years old and I also miss the forest for the trees from time to time ( actually, sometimes I focus on the wrong trees 😉) so I thought it okay to ask . 1) IRS Tax transcripts: Is 2024 the most recent year since it is not April 15th yet? 2) When using IRS Return transcripts ( NOT Account of course) is it truly best to use just the most recent year ( 2024 since it's before April) or best to use 3 years even if you make well more than the poverty guidelines? 3) When filling out the 864 #7 "My current individual annual income ": Should that be what is listed as Total income on the Return transcript? 3a) which is also the same # input under Part 6 16a Most Recent Tax year and Total Income? 4) In an old thread it was mentioned if you only use recent year you should only supply that years Return transcript BUT you still need to fill out the total Income from the previous 2 years transcripts in Part 6 section 16.b and 16.c The quote from that thread is "Just to be clear, the amount earned for the last 3 years is required to be listed but only the returns for the last year is required to be attached." That seems odd to me and not what I read on the guidelines on the USCIS website. Perhaps things have changed? Or changed back even? I just want to check 4) Part 7 Use of Assets I do not need to use assets and the guideline says "Only complete Part 7. if you need to use the value of assets to meet the income requirements. " So I should not fill that out but can I, and should I include in the filing , account statements to the 864 that show assets as further proof of my capability of continually being well above the poverty guidelines? Reading the Guidelines it seems all I need to attach as far as income requirements is the Return transcripts of 2024 but that just feels too easy Thanks for your guidance

I will search the VJ Guides after I get caught up on printing all our docs for filing I have used search to look up info but missed pertinent threads often.. I need to better my search game

Thanks I just learned this last night So we will file and then we will upload additional evidence in the future

Thank you for the explanation. I wish i would have looked into all of this before she even arrived. Ignorance is not bliss. We are going to file As soon as I get the February statements. We are going to spend the next 2 weeks organizing all our evidence so we can mail it out as soon as I get the joint account statements.

Thanks for your post and @wildbug100420 post I'm rather ignorant about immigration but I thought the requirement for staying in the US was to be married within the 90 days and you could not travel outside of the US and back until you either got your Green Card or Advanced Parole. Even when she arrived Immigration told her 3 times that she needed to make sure she got married within 90 days. No one from Immigration said anything about AOS within 90 days. This is certainly concerning and we will apply sooner than later but i want at least 1 month of bank statements from joint accounts I went on the USCIS website to see if there was any information regarding k1 and mandating filing for AOS within 90 days and did not see anything suggesting that. I found this link to USCIS website Visas for Fiance"s of US Citizens https://www.uscis.gov/family/family-of-us-citizens/visas-for-fiancees-of-us-citizens It clearly states about Failure to Marry within 90 days but no other time limits. Under "Process for Bringing your Fiancé(e) to the United States " it shows the following: NOTE: I tried to insert a screen shot but I think it goes at the end of the post so I will paste what it says Step 5: Adjustment of Status – USCIS If you marry within 90 days, your fiancé(e)—now your spouse—may apply for a Green Card by filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. We review Form I-485 and the documents your spouse submitted. We may mail a request for evidence to your spouse if we need additional documentation or information. You and your spouse will usually be required to appear for an interview. If you were married for less than two years at the time the Form I-485 is approved, USCIS will grant your spouse conditional permanent resident status and issue a Green Card valid for 2 years. Your spouse will need to remove the conditions on his or her residence by filing Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence in the 90 days before his or her Green Card expires. Clearly states you must marry within 90 days Step 5 it states you MAY apply for a Green Card if you marry within 90 days. Not that you must file within 90 days And then it talks about "less than two years at the time the Form I-485 is approved" and the only other time limit is to file for removal of restrictions 90 days before their Green card expires. Of course that does not state you have 2 years to apply but the only time restrictions listed is marriage within 90 days and restrictions regarding before and after 2 years of approval of your Green card I would hope they would put any other time limits clearly in this section. They may have it elsewhere and I certainly hope they do not. I wonder if anyone has had experience with someone getting a deportation notice after marrying within the 90 days and not filing I-485 by that time? Certainly is a concerning issue and why I should have started the joint account process the moment she got her social security card but we didn't. We will file as soon as possible.

We are arranging our documents for my wife to file her AOS I've heard this year they are being tougher on proof and what they expect to be submitted than they have been. So we want to make sure we have a preponderance of evidence and we do not receive an RFE Background: She had her medical exam 06/23/2025 She arrived 10/07/2025 She got her Social Security Card 10/28/2025 We were married 12/06/2025 Tried to change name on SS card to married name but I-94 expired. They wouldn't do it. I own our home since 2011 so she is not on the deed or mortgage I was self employed and am now retired. Medicare for health insurance. My Bride is too young for Medicare. Seems the 3 main areas of proof they want to see for both names to be in: Lease/Mortgage/Deed Co Insurance Joint Accounts Only have 1 of the 3: Joint Accounts. We have 2 JTWROS Checking accounts and 1 investment account with Fidelity. She is listed as the sole beneficiary on my other investment accounts and both my IRAs I added her as an authorized user to all my credit cards in January and she just started using them this month . Some documents are in maiden name , others married. Her Social Security is in her maiden name, 1 credit card I gave her before we were married and both joint checking accounts. Water bill and Electric bill has maiden name. Verizon married name. We had a lovely Church wedding and have our marriage cert from the Church and most importantly for filing; the State Plenty of photos Adding her to utility bills here wasn't perfect. We have only 3 types of utility accounts; Verizon for cell phones and internet, Electric, & Water Water bill added her to the mailing address but not account name. They told me they would have to close my account and reopen it to change everything She is also on my home heating oil delivery account. She will be applying for her Learner's permit the end of the month ( February). Once she has that I assume I can add her to my auto insurance. Other Evidence: Costco membership on my account I listed her as my HealthCare proxy She is authorized for full disclosure for my Medicare account Listed on my Apple acct as family Dental Plans Family Discount card We want to apply for AOS as soon as it is advisable. I'm thinking I should wait at least 2 months of banking activity for statements before applying. Also, By March/April I should be able to have my taxes done and I could file jointly. I'm thinking a joint tax return is strong evidence and worth waiting a few months. Her medical exam expires on 06/23/2026 I assume that means as long as the application is mailed before then or they recieve her package she does not need another medical exam Should I get friends that know us well to write affidavits? Any other suggestions ? Anyone have recent experience with their spouse's AOS after marriage and filing I-485 ? Thanks

Curious what happened in your case? It's been over 2 years since this thread. If you are still around on the forum and see this post I'm sure many would benefit from hearing specifics of your case and the outcome What did you end up supplying for the RFE? What was the ultimate outcome? I hope it went well