AOS interview question
 

Dear all,
I have a question about the items needed for AOS interview. My
interview is coming up next Monday and to be honest, I am totally not
prepared. I just came back from my hometown in Asia yesterday because
my mom was seriously sick. Another reason that I am not prepared is
because my husband and I never paid too much attention to the things
needed for the interview. We just thought that we'd be okay as we are a
true couple. But now after reading some posts here, I became worried as
realizing how unprepared we are. I am listing what we have and don't
have below. Could you please let me know if it looks that we are okay
or we may be in trouble? If we might be in trouble, is there anything
at this point that we can do to improve?

Here are the things we do have:
1.A whole lot of photos from our trips together to various places and
our wedding, photos with both parents
2.We went to the same school in the same year, so we have that proof.
it's obvious how we met. we also worked for the same company right
after school.
3. A joint rental lease
4.A car insurance with both our names
5.My beneficiary summary (for life insurance and savings plan) printed
from my computer (my company doesn't issue any proof for this)
6.Utility bills under my name or his name (never both names)
7. Not sure if this will help, but I am 3 month pregnant and I do have
the altrasound photo of the baby with my name on top - the best proof
to me, not sure if it's to the INS

Here are the things we do NOT have (but I realize that most of the
couples here had):
1. Joint bank account/credit card (we both make the same amount of
income and we almost split all household related expenses. we each
already had several bank accounts and credit cards before we got
married. we just thought it's not necessary to open another bank
account)
2. Joint tax return (we were married last Oct and filed married
separately this spring because for most of last year we were single)
3. Joint health insurance (my husband's company offers free health
insurance for their employees but if you add a family to the plan, the
additional charge would be more expensive than my company's health
insurance primium. so, we have separate health insurance)
4. Joint car ownership (we had our own cars before marriage and we are
still paying our loans. so, it never occured to us that we should have
joint car ownership)

Well, please forgive me for the long post. I just want to get a sense
of how much trouble I am in right now. Any comments and insight are
much appreciated!
Hope

Re: AOS interview question
 

Hi:

Every case is different. Please note that if the DAO is not satisfied, its not that you are denied, they simply give you an I-72 RFE requesting more evidence. Yes, its a delay, but that is not the end of the world.

But your documentation sounds not bad to me.

On your tax returns -- if you filed "married, filing separately" that is no problem. Such a return requests information on the other spouse -- i.e. name and social security number! So it shows the marriage. Now, if you filed "single" -- then you might have problems. Not fatal -- but should be taken care of with the tax people [it might even be tax neutral to change to "married, filing separate" -- but I don't know your tax return].

Take it easy. I think you will probably be fine.

Re: AOS interview question
 

These are probably not helpful...unless they show you living together at the same address after you were married. The rest of the items in this list look great.

This is the only one that seems unusual. If you were married at any point in 2005, then your tax return should show "Married" - either "filing joint" or "filing separately". Not sure what yours is, but if it's either of those, it's OK. Your worry would come if you filed "Single". Otherwise, looks like enough evidence to me.

Best Wishes,
Rene

Re: AOS interview question
 

Folinskyinla and Rene,
Thanks so much for your response! I feel much better now.
Regarding the tax return for 2005, we did file as married, but filed
separately. So we should be okay.
I was most concerned about the joint bank account. It was such an easy
thing to do, now looking back...
Really appreciate your input! I will keep you all posted about the
interview results!
Hope

Re: AOS interview question
 

Many people do not have a joint savings and/or checking account.