I recently went through the successful application to remove conditions on residence (I-751) with my wife, and found there were a few things I could have done better with my initial submission.
We unfortunately received (and responded to) an RFE (Request for Evidence) due to insufficient documentation for the petition. I had included standard items, like the last joint bank statements, marriage certificate, etc, but it wasn’t enough to prove a “bona fide” marriage.
Some tips I’d suggest for anyone looking to file this on their own:
- Consult a lawyer when preparing your filings. Yes, it will cost you $300-$600, but it can help you prevent mistakes at the onset.
- Draft up a cover letter detailing each piece of evidence, the time span it covers, across various categories
- Include any beneficiary information you have
- Your evidence should span the entire period of marriage–in my RFE I submitted information from just before our marriage date, quarterly, to the present
- Highlighting the petitioner’s name, spouse’s name, and dates on evidence will help your examiner work the case faster
- Include a couple affidavits; it’s easy to ask your friends/colleagues to draft one, and helpful.
Note: I am not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice, just my own personal experience.
