A couple attending their green card interview faced an unexpected setback. The officer told them their relationship “looked good” but stopped short of immediate approval. Instead, they received an RFE asking for joint financial documents like utility bills, car loans, and mortgage papers.
Lawyer’s Poor Advice Delays Approval
The requested documents needed to show both names and the same address. Their lawyer, however, hadn’t asked them to carry those papers. Because of this, they couldn’t submit them on the spot, leaving the officer with no proof of shared finances.
Experts Call the Evidence Essential
The lawyer claimed that in his 27-year career, he had never seen USCIS ask for such proof. But experts insist these documents are key to proving a genuine marriage. Other applicants shared that their lawyers had clearly advised them to carry joint financial evidence.
Why USCIS Prefers Financial Proof
Officers rely on shared financial documents because photographs are easy to fake. Joint bills, loans, and mortgages give stronger proof of a real marriage than photos or verbal statements. This preference is now standard in many marriage-based green card cases.
Couple Faces a Costly Wait
The couple has now applied for joint bills, but they must wait about a month for them to arrive. This delay, caused by poor legal guidance, has cost them valuable time. Their green card approval would likely have come sooner with better preparation.
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