KnJ

February 9, 2013

Make sure your statements cover the entire period of your marriage. That was what bit me and I got an RFE. Otherwise sounds like a great list.

Definitely copy of your GC

February 9, 2013

Sorry if it was already mentioned, but I'd throw seizures into the mix. Tumors, as was mentioned, also possible. Mental stuff is also possible, but if there is any way to have an EEG -- one where they try to induce this stuff -- that would be one way of ruling out actual epileptic activity. If he's not remembering things, this can especially point to unusual brain activity. Wary of psychiatrists because they're more likely to take the symptoms as evidence of psychiatric disorder and medicate without testing. Been there.

February 9, 2013

I have a compound name [maiden married] no hyphen. That is the legal name on my green card, and my Canadian Passport.

in 2009 I had no problems getting my SS card with this two word last name.

The RMV can't do two word last names, so my name got hyphenated. Then Macy's used my driver's license, and that is hyphenated.

My main credit card is my legal name.

My employment is my legal name (SSN is the legal name)

Health insurance is the married half of my last name (it was easier going to the pharmacy and the doctor with a one word last name). There have been no consequences to this.

Other non-official business is often using just the married half.

There are no problems -- when I run my free credit report, all names (compound, hyphenated, and husband's last name) show up against my SSN.

For what it's worth, in hindsight I would either have not changed my name, or have entirely changed my name. I like the compound name, but it can be a hassle. Sometimes people think the maiden name part is my middle name. But I kind of am also glad I kept it. However I use the married only for most causal purposes.

I absolutely detest the hyphenated version. Luckily it's been confined to my Driver's license and Macy's card.

I occasionally get junk mail in my maiden name. Which is odd.

My suggestion would be that perhaps since the year your wife got the SS card, they've changed their policy -- more and more people are doing this kind of name change.

You could go to your local SS office and talk to someone -- show the green card, any other evidence like Marriage certificate that establishes her legal name is a two word last name, and they should be able to correct it.

Hopefully they'll be cooperative.

Hope I understood the problem here.

Edited to add: You could try and see if you could just get the GC in line with the other stuff, but it would depend on her preference more than anything. my inclination if I were in that situation is to change everything else besides the GC because I think that'd be the hardest to change. More work, but path of less resistance. Social Security should be able to change to match GC.

K

February 9, 2013

Thanks Yurika & Jim! I forgot about the %

It's such a relief to have this part over with. Took just 10 months

..

February 9, 2013

Timing plays into this, but I was a recent RFE case where there was insufficient documentation -- I had supplied bank statements for every month I could print, copies of our credit cards (not joint, I was secondary, but the numbers were the same) but with no credit card statements, and 2009, 2010 and 2011 joint tax returns -- but only the first page. Joint auto insurance documentation but not proof of coverage for the span of the marriage (12-12-2009 through 11/2012 at time of RFE). I supplied one beneficiary evidence (immigrant named american spouse on 401k), a few pics, affidavits...

Ultimately though, what I sent in my RFE:

I contacted Bank of America and got ALL statements from the month I moved here, through to the date I was able to print my own statements online (it was two inches thick, but I was fine with that. It shows consistent rent payments out of one account, etc. It wasn't joint for the entire time but I got a letter from the bank stating when the account went joint (wasn't right away.

I contacted Discover Card and ordered paper statements for ALL of the months through to the present. I told these financial institutions it was for immigration and they were very responsive. Discover was an online request.

I contacted auto insurance and got a letter stating proof of coverage that I was added onto the policy as a driver. I ended up forgetting the letter sent to me stating when my own car was added to the policy, but that didn't hurt my approval.

I printed an immigrant medical insurance plan I had as a stop gap between my POE and marriage (when I could get on J's policy), with J named as beneficiary.

That was the extent of it but it was 4lbs of paper.

- we do not have kids

- i never submitted evidence of a lease with both names

- i never submitted drivers licenses (auto insurance was good proof)

- i never submitted wills or life insurance policies.

- do not have my name in any on my american husband's liabilities

- i did not provide a cover letter

- i started off highlighting significant charges on statements and then on advice of VJers I stopped. So it was partially highlighted. sorta messy.

I got approved.

Every case is different, of course, but I would say that the biggest thing when you look at the list of what you supplied, is where they said you were missing stuff.

From there, once you satisfied what was missing (like, print *all* of the tax return, and I mean every single page), add anything that proves joint persisting financial obligations. It sounds like you are thin on that, but I'm serious about getting every single month of bank statements and every single month of credit card statements you both used.

Don't get as hung up on proof of residence as on proof of every-day spending and joint obligations, the costs of daily living. Health care costs can be one example. I didn't go there, but if we were lacking on the bank/credit side, that could be something.

2 cents, that's all. Good luck.

It's stressful -- I bundled up this entire document and took it to UPS and it was so stressful leaving it there, it felt like I was sealing my fate.

Also, whatever you do don't forget to include the blue RFE with your package.

K

February 9, 2013

APPROVED!!!!! Oh I am so relieved. I am tracking that card constantly until it arrives

Updating my dates below:

California Service Center (30 applicants, 27 approved 90%)

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

LEXRJ................02/29/12........03/03/12.......03/30/12........08/14/12....(Card Received 08/20)

BLUEROSE001..........03/01/12........03/05/12.......04/02/12........08/02/12....(Card Received 08/10)

MISSYOUHUN...........03/01/12........03/05/12.......04/13/12........08/20/12....(Card Received 08/24)

NIK+HEATHER..........03/01/12........03/08/12.......04/06/12........--/--/--....(RFE Received 09/04, responded 11/20)(Interview is scheduled)

IAHMJPINOY...........03/01/12........03/12/12.......04/09/12........07/30/12....(Card Received 08/08)

RHIANNERCAKES........03/02/12........03/05/12.......04/03/12........08/27/12....(Card Received 08/31)

SARAHANDANIS.........03/03/12........03/05/12.......04/02/12........09/14/12....(RFE Received 08/11, responded 08/24)(Card Received 09/20)

SAIF9171.............03/03/12........--/--/12.......04/10/12........08/22/12....(Never received NOA)

JBG805...............03/05/12........03/06/12.......04/06/12........10/16/12....(Card received 10/20)

FONFANSCOTT..........03/07/12........03/12/12.......04/05/12........12/11/12....(RFE Received 10/12, responded 12/3)

ANONEEMOOSE..........02/15/12........03/12/12.......04/05/12........--/--/--....

JSVP2008.............03/08/12........03/12/12.......04/23/12........08/24/12....(Card received 09/01)

OSIN.................03/09/12........03/12/12.......04/02/12........08/06/12....(Card received 08/10)

MOONLIGHT7...........03/13/12........03/15/12.......05/14/12........08/29/12....(Card received 09/04)

AMIN&ANI.............03/14/12........03/22/12.......04/21/12........10/18/12....(RFE received 09/28)(Card Received 10/24)

FABULOUS02...........03/16/12........03/21/12.......05/16/12........10/12/12....

CDAGIRLMI............03/16/12........03/19/12.......05/08/12........--/--/--....

CHIEFS341............03/16/12........03/19/12.......04/18/12........08/31/12....(Early Bio 04/05)

SUPREMECOMPLEX.......03/16/12........03/19/12.......04/19/12........08/27/12....(Card received 08/31)

KBANKS...............03/16/12........03/19/12.......05/09/12........09/05/12....(Early Bio 04/18)(Card received 09/10)

CALLOFDUTY...........03/19/12........--/--/12.......04/25/12........09/24/12....(Card received 09/28)

M&ME.................03/20/12........03/22/12.......05/02/12........10/12/12....(Card received 10/19)

LARRY C..............03/22/12........03/26/12.......05/24/12........09/25/12....

KEVIN-N-MERLAINE.....03/23/12........03/26/12.......04/27/12........09/12/12....(Early Bio 4/18) (Card received 09/17)

TINYPYRAMIDS.........03/23/12........03/26/12.......05/07/12........10/10/12....(Card received 10/15)

MARKIEBOY............03/23/12........03/26/12.......05/02/12........10/23/12....(Received RFE 10/12)(Card received 11/01)

AK+TK................03/23/12........03/31/12.......05/02/12........11/07/12....(RFE received 09/28,responded 10/31)

ANDRELLE.............03/24/12........03/26/12.......05/23/12........09/26/12....(Card received 10/01)

UNIQUE...............03/24/12........03/26/12.......04/24/12........09/10/12....(Early Bio 04/13)(Card received 09/15)

RITZZ................03/29/12........--/--/12.......05/11/12........10/10/12....(No NOA yet)(Card received 10/15)

Vermont Service Center (34 applicants, 30 approved 88%)

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

SACHINKY.............02/27/12........03/01/12.......03/26/12........12/07/12....(Card received 12/13)

OSEN74...............02/28/12........03/01/12.......04/27/12........12/05/12....(Card received 12/10)

SANISH...............02/28/12........03/02/12.......04/02/12........12/03/12....(Early Bio 03/15)

SDHIMAN..............??/??/12........03/02/12.......04/03/12........11/14/12....

HAPPY2012............03/01/12........03/06/12.......04/??/12........12/07/12....

DAVE AND MELANIE.....03/06/12........03/09/12.......03/30/12........12/14/12....(Card received 12/20)

JACK999..............03/XX/12........03/XX/12.......04/XX/12........01/07/13....

JULIAVA..............03/08/12........03/12/12.......04/27/12........11/23/12....(Card received 12/06)

ACLOSIPIC............03/08/12........03/12/12.......04/19/12........11/30/12....(Early Bio 04/06)

LUCKYNIZ.............03/09/12........03/13/12.......04/27/12........12/06/12....

MATTRICA.............03/09/12........03/17/12.......--/--/12........11/28/12....

SPOOM................03/12/12........03/14/12.......04/19/12........12/04/12....(Early Bio 04/09) (Approved w/o interview)

SKV..................03/13/12........03/16/12.......04/26/12........--/--/--....

JO & DANNY...........03/14/12........03/19/12.......05/02/12........11/30/12....(Early Bio 04/11)(Card received 12/10)

LILRASKLS............03/16/12........03/20/12.......04/18/12........12/10/12....(Card received 12/16)

CAMHAE...............03/16/12........03/21/12.......XX/XX/XX........05/22/12....(Sent from Japan/military)

KIRTHIRAJ............03/16/12........03/22/12.......05/07/12........11/30/12....(Card received 12/5)

BOTKILLA.............03/16/12........03/23/12.......04/06/12........12/12/12....

SWEET ANGEL..........03/19/12........03/24/12.......04/19/12........--/--/--....(Early Bio 4/11/2012)(Need to redo Bio 05/09)(RFE received 11/30 for fingerprint)

KNJ..................03/19/12........03/22/12.......04/23/12........02/06/13....(RFE 11/21/12; responded 01/22/13; card in mail 02/08)

THX1138..............03/20/12........03/22/12.......05/30/12........--/--/--....

GBOREE...............03/21/12........XX/XX/XX.......04/18/12........11/21/12....(Never received NOA and got I-551 stamp)(Card received 11/27)

LEO&FARAH............03/21/12........--/--/12.......04/23/12........01/08/13....(RFE received 11/29, responded 12/31?)

MLIFETIME............03/21/12........--/--/--.......05/04/12........11/21/12....(Never received NOA)

BUNZARELLI...........03/21/12........03/22/12.......04/19/12........11/19/12....

ANIUTA...............??/??/12........03/23/12.......??/??/12........11/16/12....

JLP9576..............03/22/12........--/--/12.......04/30/12........11/26/12....

SUNFLOWERSISS........03/22/12........03/23/12.......04/24/12........11/28/12....(Card received 12/03)

ANTIPODEANPHIL.......03/23/12........--/--/12.......05/07/12........11/26/12....(Never received NOA and got I-551 stamp @infopass on the same day as Bio)

THARNSUR.............03/23/12........03/27/12.......05/07/12........12/17/12....

CALA BEL.............03/26/12........03/28/12.......04/26/12........11/30/12....(Card received 12/10)

ROBBY999.............03/27/12........03/29/12.......05/07/12........12/04/12....(Card received 12/10)

GHANOU...............03/28/12........03/30/12.......??/??/12........11/19/12....(Card received 11/23)

ATHILA...............03/xx/12........03/30/12.......05/04/12........12/12/12....(Card received 12/15)

IMPORTANT!

* Make sure that your VJ Text Editor setting is set to Rich Text Editor.

* Go to the MOST RECENTLY POSTED VERSION of this list (go to the last post and scroll UP) and "Reply" to it, deleting the "quote" tags in your reply.

* Please DO NOT change the font, font size, add colors, stuff like that.

* Please PREVIEW before posting to make sure it is properly formatted.

* Please check that you have not deleted anyones NAME & DATA.

Date of I-751 = The Date you sent your application

NOA Date = The Receipt Date on your original NOA letter

Biometrics = The Date of your biometrics appointment

Approved = The Date your case was approved

* Please Capitalize your VJ Name when adding it to the list.

* When you're on this list, please come back to update your information accordingly.

* If you cannot add your information yourself, please ask another VJ member to help you do so.

December 18, 2012

Yes you are going overboard. it will just look like an undecipherable rainbow to an IO.

Hence the cover letter;

so I should skip any annotation and just send stuff blank, for them to wade through hundreds of pages?

I suppose a few months of highlighted statements is better than the entire thing being, as you said, a rainbow of highlighting.

I think you are going a bit overboard. I also tried color coding my different bank statements by month and year and then used sticky flags to separate other pieces of additional evidence. However, I wanted to make a copy of all the evidence I was sending them, and had to remove all of those things to make the copies at Kinkos/FedEx. I ended up just using a BRIGHT BLUE piece of paper (that I labeled with a silver sharpie) in between the different sections of evidence in the order presented on my cover sheet. I did also use some paperclips for a few documents (the tax return transcripts, etc.).

Overall, it was over 200 pages that I sent in my RFE. I think I went overboard myself. There is such a thing as going overboard to the point of causing confusion. Good luck!

Okay.

The pieces of paper in between the sections makes sense

And a cover sheet, maybe is a good thing, but I don't have to itemize (ie interpret) the statements in the cover letter, to prove anything?

Just let the evidence speak for itself..?

Thanks guys.

December 18, 2012

Also, I bought sticky flags. I am not sure whether I'll need them. At first I thought I might, to draw attention to important items in the giant stack of paper I'm sending. Not sure.

Seriously going bonkers over here!

I have til February but really would like to get this in ASAP, obviously

December 18, 2012

So in response to my 11/21 RFE I ordered credit card statements and bank statements all the way back to 2009 through 12/2012.

I am now in the process of highlighting all relevant transactions

-- green related to joint expenditures on the joint credit and bank -- stuff we've both written checks for, like rent, and expenses like wedding rings and honeymoon or family expenses

-- blue related to my own earnings and expenditures that show on the joint accounts

-- yellow related to J's earnings and expenditures that show on the joint accounts

I also got a letter from the bank stating how long the account's been open and the average balance during that time

I also got a letter from the auto insurance stating the date I was added to the policy

I am also drafting a cover letter that states:

1. Everything enclosed that addresses gaps mentioned in the RFE

2. One additional document (supplementary health insurance I got to cover the gap before I was married)

Then adding two addendums, one for bank statements and one for credit cards wherein I list all transactions highlighted in *green* (most of the blue and yellow is self-explanatory, such as auto payments for utilities, and paychecks).

So that rather than just highlighting transactions and images of checks, I'm actually showing things and explaining them (like the check we wrote to J's mom reimbursing her for Nutcracker tickets when we went to see that with her)

Am I going overboard?

Also thinking of including passport stamps on J's passport showing he visited Canada with me. (I didn't save boarding passes, unfortunately)

I'm a disorganized fool, but this is making me get really #######. I don't want to fail to provide evidence.

But literally it's a stack of paper, I can't even imagine how much this is going to cost me to mail to VSC.

Can I get validation? Should I keep going since I started? Should I ditch the addendums and stick to just highlighting relevant transactions? (Highlights are already committed on some statements, whereas any cover letter or addendum could be simply abandoned and they wouldn't know the difference).

K

(still considering whether all the therapist bills should be highlighted..... )

December 4, 2012

KnJ don't be too discouraged. At least you know there is movement happening with your case.

We didn't have a mortgage or joint utility bills either but we showed joint bank accounts, joint debt, joint ownership of a car and a couple other items showing we lived together. if they are asking you for specific things you don't have i would suggest you include an explanation for why you can't include it

Thanks Bunzarelli.

I'm working to get it together. The main thing, reading the notice very very carefully, is that they are really looking for the gaps to be filled in. So I ordered credit card statements and bank statements for all the way back to the beginning.

Gonna try and read some RFE threads and perhaps try to draft a cover letter that states what I've included (corrected) and additional documents I've added. I may highlight pertinent transactions on bank/credit statements, but that might be trickier than it seems..

Here's to using more dead trees

November 25, 2012

1) Has anyone faced a similar situation before? How did you handle it? What are the risks?

2) I know I should list the Philadelphia address as our shared residence on the I-130/I-751. However, I believe the forms also ask about other addresses. I suppose I should list my temporary address in DC there and include a short explanation?

We are both terrified...Please help

Bumping this topic. I have no idea.

Did you cross post this to other forums? In part, I say go one step at a time, but it's good you're thinking ahead.

The burden of proof is pretty high. I am in no situation like that (was living in Canada until the K-1), but this week I got an RFE on the I-751 (in part maybe because we didn't do things like have a joint lease).

Many legitimate couples maintain multiple residences or even live in different cities for periods of time. But I think because of your situation you need multiple proof of financial and social obligations that extend beyond residence.

Check out the list of acceptable evidence for the I-751 and try to fulfill as many as possible, as early as possible.

I wish I had.

Good luck

K

November 25, 2012

Got an RFE for removal of conditions (I'm in VSC with March Filers)

Mainly, i think it's due to incomplete documents, like pages missing from a bank statement (and not spanning entire period of marriage).

So I have to go kill some trees now

November 25, 2012

Selling the car may be tricky without getting the speedometer replaced. However, when you replace a speedometer, the mileage resets to 0 and legally as far as I know, nowhere can you get the mileage put back on.

My Canadian car when I was still back in Canada had a broken speedometer, and I needed it replaced. They wrote the original miles on a sticker in my door. Technically this means the car has "mileage unverified" -- you can add up the KM in the door and the KM on the odometer, but the sticker is an unofficial statement of mileage. My speedometer sucks because MPH isn't even lit up at night. I have had to do the conversion in my head.. If I replaced speedometer to MPH, I would then have *two* stickers in the door stating KM of the various speedometers I had. But in order to sell my car to anyone in the US, even if not legally, I think I would have to change the speedometer.

If you tried to sell the car after changing the speedometer to MPH, you would be asking any buyer to take on faith that the vehicle has the number of miles you say it does.

I would recommend selling the car without changing the speedometer out, but tell prospective buyers that you would pay to change it out if they wanted.

That way they can see the original mileage and trust it before they buy it.

That said, a mileage unverified car is worth less, IMO. I'm not sure whether some states would make you change the speedometer. You also would have to check laws around that.

Also, some states have lemon laws, or requirements to document the car has never been totaled, etc. This may also be a consideration.

Myself, I have no plans to sell my Canadian car. I will run it into the ground, or donate it once maintenance costs exceed value. That said, it's a Honda Civic, and they are great cars that can last for a really long time. J just changed jobs and isn't using his car, which means we have two cars -- I'm basically juggling cars. His is newer, and it'd make sense to keep it (and cruise control, power everything, etc) instead of the old Civic, but I seriously doubt I could sell the car.

Hopefully you will have no problems selling it, but make sure it's legal.. otherwise it could be a negative cash benefit.

Cheers

-- K

November 25, 2012

I got an RFE : (

Updated the chart below.

CSC RFE cases still look like they don't take too long even with an RFE, but who knows how VSC handles RFEs, even if I got all the stuff together this week..

I'm discouraged, but there were a few things that they say were incomplete (easier to remedy), and I'll be able to put in additional pictures etc.

Most of the incomplete stuff was incomplete because it didn't show the *entire* period of us being married.

But as far as additional evidence, we never did any lease with both our names on it (he was already here and then we went month-to-month -- should've done a new lease.. except we were considering buying a house but never did).

We have no kids together

No mortgage

No joint utility bill for the *period of our marriage*

Submitted 2 affidavits, but we don't have many people who have known us the entire time we've been married. I guess we kind of have a small group of friends.

I'm thinking of getting my doctor (who I saw probably two months into my being here) to write one. But she doesn't know me that well.

Le sigh.

California Service Center (30 applicants, 26 approved 87%)

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

LEXRJ................02/29/12........03/03/12.......03/30/12........08/14/12....(Card Received 08/20)

BLUEROSE001..........03/01/12........03/05/12.......04/02/12........08/02/12....(Card Received 08/10)

MISSYOUHUN...........03/01/12........03/05/12.......04/13/12........08/20/12....(Card Received 08/24)

NIK+HEATHER..........03/01/12........03/08/12.......04/06/12........--/--/--....(RFE Received 09/04, responded 11/20)

IAHMJPINOY...........03/01/12........03/12/12.......04/09/12........07/30/12....(Card Received 08/08)

RHIANNERCAKES........03/02/12........03/05/12.......04/03/12........08/27/12....(Card Received 08/31)

SARAHANDANIS.........03/03/12........03/05/12.......04/02/12........09/14/12....(RFE Received 08/11, responded 08/24)(Card Received 09/20)

SAIF9171.............03/03/12........--/--/12.......04/10/12........08/22/12....(Never received NOA)

JBG805...............03/05/12........03/06/12.......04/06/12........10/16/12....(Card received 10/20)

FONFANSCOTT..........03/07/12........03/12/12.......04/05/12........--/--/--....(RFE Received 10/12)