Ed+Cindy

Part 7© only asks for the trips that I've taken since becoming a PR.

However, Part 7(a) asks "How many total days did you spend outside of the United States during the past five years?"

So does this include the time (within the last 5 years) before I became a PR?

Thanks,

Cindy

Finally, I've had enough of waiting in the secondary inpection room whenever I enter the US, so I'm filling in my N-400 form now.

I'm confused by Part 7 on Time outside of the US.

Shall I only list the trips since I got my PR (>3 years ago) or everything within the last 5 years?

Thanks,

Cindy

Yes, there are kiwi fruits, kiwi birds and kiwis in New Zealand.

BTW, another VJ member suggested that we should submit our W2 forms that show our common address.

I guess you don't have that because you're self-employed and runs a business jointly.

Has anyone suggested your driver's licenses that show the same address?

I also found some good Q&A in this old forum:

I-751 RFE

We filed our I-751 in early July, and have to respond to the RFE by Dec 15th, 2011.

hello fellow kiwi! I'm the kiwi/Taiwanese wife who married my American husband. I reckon "they" probably get a kick from picking on kiwis

You're luckier because they asked for specific evidence. They sent me a template list of items, some of which we already submitted.

Also, last night we realised that the RFE's WAC number is different from my application WAC number, and the RFE's WAC number cannot be found on their online tracking system! Honestly, they've made so many mistakes on our case, including not sending me a NOA letter to extend my PR for 1 year, so now I'm wondering if the mistakes were made intentionally?!

Anyway, back to our RFE that we have to respond to. We had to ask our leasing agent to let me backdate my signature to reflect the reality of our joint living situation, and EVERY evidence is worth the effort! I talked with the chief legal counsel at my company, and his strongest advice is to bombard them with as much evidence as possible in one go (including the ones that we originally submitted with updated versions) to make the examiner's job easier.

Based on my personal experience, kiwis are generally too sincere and we naturally spill out the truth and nothing but the truth, which may not be in our best interest... Over time, I've learnt to say only what's required and often shrugging shoulder, saying I don't know, or I forgot, or pure oversight are the better answers.

BTW, where did you file the I-751 at?

Good luck to both of us!

Cindy

We posted a similar thread a week or so ago:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/333564-rfe-any-suggestions/

We had bills, accounts, a car loan, etc in both names, but we didn't send the apartment lease

I would guess your RFE is because there is no proof of a shared residence. Get something that shows you live together. Also, send in copies of driver's licenses with matching addresses.

My guess is you will get an interview and have to prove things there too.

Good luck.

Sorry, but why would you get a restraining order against someone you loved and desire to have a real marriage and life with?

Why would you call the cops??

If you really wanted to be with this person, you could have gotten the restraining order dismissed.

This sounds fishy.

It also sounds like the typical "I'll dupe a man to marry me for a US GC, then claim abuse as soon as I land in the US." Maybe I'm wrong.

Our leasing agent is kind enough to let me back date my signature to a day that was a few days after I arrived in the US, and that date is before our marriage.

Oh I feel for you for going to an interview. When is it? Good luck!!!! Please keep me posted on the type of questions they ask and your responses.

If the American society is more liberal, then they'll just accept what we do as being normal The issue is most Americans get married, buy a house and produce babies within 2 years!!!

Yes we will mail in copies of our driver's license this time.

Thanks for your suggestion for tax return documents too!

Thanks for chiming in on your thoughts

And of course we mailed in copies of our Identity Documents.

We also sent in a few cards/invites that our family and friends addressed to both of us, but we doubt these would make much difference, because they can be faked easily.

So, we're planning to send them everything we sent originally, including updated car insurance, bank account and credit card statements.

In addition, we want to add:

- Copy of our lease agreement issued in both our names

- A letter from our property leasing agent dated Sep 11 to verify a change or our rental rate

- Copy of our Sep 11 electricity bill issued in both our names

- Ed's new benefits plan with Cindy listed as the primary beneficiary

- More pics of us this summer

- Copies of our joint US tax return and state tax return for 2009

Is there anything else we should add?

Cindy

Ed (USC Husband) here this time. Above was my wife.

To answer your question about what items we submitted: Basic answer, we submitted everything we had except our home lease. This list included the following :

Joint loan paperwork for our new car

insurance for car in both names

both our 401k accounts with beneficiaries as each other

checking and visa account statement, joint accounts

2 affidavits from friends whole live locally and hang out with us a lot

2010 tax return (married filling jointly)

copy of airplane tickets for one trip and copy of hotel bookings for another trip

gym membership

a few pictures

I think there were a few additional items, but I don't remember them off hand.

My wife never added her name our lease. I moved in to our flat while she was still overseas. We both know our landlord well and never added Cindy since it was just a formality. We reckon that's one of the main items that USCIS is bitching about us. So we got a new lease document recently and a separate letter from the landlord to send with the RFE. However, USCIS has picked on my wife at every single step (I'm not exaggerating) and if there is something they can do to make things harder, they have at each of the 2-3 immigration steps before this one.

I submitted my I-751 at the end of June 2011. I received my biometrics appointment letter dated 08/12/2011 in mid-August, and had to setup an info pass to get a I-551 stamp in my passport because they forgot to send me a NOA for a 1-yr extension. I had my biometrics test on 09/09/2011 with ease.

Two weeks ago, I received a I-797E, Notice of Action as a RFE for my I-751. They attached a template list of items without specifying the missing ones, so my husband and I are guessing it's probably the evidence for "joint residency". I just read some of the discussions on this forum, and realized that apparently they pick on couples who don't have kids and/or jointly-owned properties after 2 years of marriage! So, we're one of them and we've been renting the same apartment ever since I arrived.

We've already asked our leasing agency to add my name to the lease, so do we still need to explain why we didn't submit it originally?

There's a bolded line on the RFE that says:

Pursuant to 8 C.F.R. 103.2(b)(11) failure to submit ALL evidence requested at one time may result in the denial of your application.

Since the RFE doesn't specify any particular evidence, and they've enclosed a letter-sized envelope, we're wondering whether we should resend copies of all of the documents that we originally submitted?

My gut feeling tells me that a complete pack of info would help the examiner's assessment, so hopefully it'll be approved faster.

However, this means we'll have to use our own bigger envelope. Is it ok to do so?

It's been a long and frustrating process for me, so any advice will be greatly appreciated!!! Thank you all

Cindy & Ed

I submitted my I-751 at the end of June 2011. I received my biometrics appointment letter dated 08/12/2011 in mid-August, and had to setup an info pass to get a I-551 stamp in my passport because they forgot to send me a NOA for a 1-yr extension. I had my biometics test on 09/09/2011 with ease.

Two weeks ago, I received a I-797E, Notice of Action as a RFE for my I-751. They attached a template list of items without speficifying the missing ones, so my husband and I are guessing it's probably the evidence for "joint residency". I just read some of the discussions on this forum, and realized that apparently they pick on couples who don't have kids and/or jointly-owned properties after 2 years of marriage! So, we're one of them and we've been renting the same apartment ever since I arrived.

We've already asked our leasing agency to add my name to the lease, so do we still need to explain why we didn't submit it originally?

There's a bolded line on the RFE that says:

Pursuant to 8 C.F.R. 103.2(b)(11) failure to submit ALL evidence requested at one time may result in the denial of your application.

Since the RFE doesn't specify any particular evidence, and they've enclosed a letter-sized envelope, we're wondering whether we should resend copies of all of the documents that we originally submitted?

My gut feeling tells me that a complete pack of info would help the examiner's assessment, so hopefully it'll be approved faster.

However, this means we'll have to use our own bigger envelope. Is it ok to do so?

It's been a long and frustrating process for me, so any advice will be greatly appreciated!!! Thank you all

Cindy & Ed

FYI: Infopass got us the I-551 stamp for a year. The lady said she's seen a lot of people without the extension letter lately.

OK, need some explanation here...

Today (08/18), we received a Notice of Action, I-797C, titled: "ACS Appointment Notice". It has the biometrics schedule date.

This is the only letter we have received.

Should we also be receiving something else that extends my wife's GC a year? As it is, her GC expires in about 6 weeks.

Thanks.

Two phone calls speaking to three people got us the answer that the NOA was mailed Aug 12th and the Biometrics appt is Sept 9th.

I'm not sure why it took about 30 business days for this to be processed though. Oh well.

The first person on the phone wanted transaction receipt info from the electronic payment which we had to get from the bank. It turns out they didn't need this upon calling back the second time. The second time people were somewhat nicer and told my wife the NOA was mailed recently.

What idiots. It never fails that every encounter with USCIS (and even more globally DHS) proves to be a headache in dealing with lazy stupid people.

We called last week and were told to wait until after 30 days. CSC received the package July 1st, so we're going to call again this week. I suspect the July 4th holiday screwed things up. If nothing comes out of the phone call and we don't receive the NOA soon, we'll do an Infopass appt.

Hi-

It has been a month since we filled the I-751 We have not received a NOA or biometric appointment letter yet. The check has been cashed.

Should we be worried? Who can we call to inquire?

Thanks,

Ed

Hello!

2 days ago i was sent to a secondary inspection in the border going to USA. After one hour questions etc they let me go in with the visa waiver.

So now what happens to my file? am i banned for next times or red flagged or something? or since they let me go in is like i've never been in secondary inspection so i won't have problems in the future?

thanks

What status did you enter as?

Are you visiting a partner (boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse)?

More info is needed.

The fact that you went to secondary will be noted in CBP's file on you. It will contain notes of the secondary inspection. This can be looked up on each subsequent entry attempt. This may or may not cause you to go to secondary inspection on your next entry attempt.

If you are planning to move to the US on a K-1/K-3 or CR/IR visa, I suggest you do that soon.

Your luck may run out and it is is possible you may not be admitted in the future under INA 214(B) or equiv.

Your profile says "k-1" visa, yet it looks like the foreigner is here on a B visa.

Can you clarify?

If they came as a tourist and you didn't not know each other before, you can marry and adjust status.

However, if they used the B visa to immigrate to the US with the intent of marrying and staying here, that could be considered fraud.

The people on this forum would need more info to advise you better.

You should be approved. Look for the email soon, and the letter in the next few weeks.

We had a very neutral review and left it without a decision being made, but ended up getting the CRIS approval email two days later.

You don't want to get a US passport, to help in case you return in the future?

If you have been an LPR for 4 years married to the same USC, you are eligible.

Just my thoughts, so you can avoid issues with VWP in the future.

My wife and will move back to NZ (or Aus) in a few years, but we'll definitely wait for her to get a US passport.

CBP is only getting more annoying with visitors entering the US and if you can get a US passport, you don't have to deal with any of it ever again.

I've read posts before of people getting the fees waived.

do you remember the grounds for waiver?

Asylum AOS filers usually get the fee waived.

I've read posts before of people getting the fees waived.

I think military probably has a decent chance of it.

Hi. I have my AOS interview on Oct 26, 2009. Can anyone tell me what do they ask at the interview? Do they approve right away and let us know that we are approved? Do they stamp on the passport if approved? How long does it take to send them a GC? Thanks in advance for your response.

It can be approved then, or it may not.

Ours was not approved at the interview, but a couple of days later.

A lot of people are approved at the interview though.