Spouse has a different address than mine

[hablat]

I'm a U.S. Citizen and I just recently got married to my long-time girlfriend of 3 years this February. She is legally in the U.S. right now as a J-1 Visa Holder interning at a Hotel in Philadelphia PA. She is contracted to intern/work for them for the duration of her 1 year j-1 Visa which expires this coming July. My permanent address is in Maryland, and I'm currently attending college here at the University of Maryland.

Our dilemma is that even though we are currently married we are not able to live with each other yet, due to her work and my school being in different states. However we see each other every week at least 2 days a week, sometimes she visits me here in MD on her day offs and i visit her in Philadelphia on days that i don't have classes.

We are currently filling for Adjustment of Status for my wife. And are in the process of filling I-130 and i-485 concurrently along w/ g-g325a, i-693, and i-864.

My Question is would it be acceptable by USCIS if we fill out the forms with our different addresses, her's being a Philadelphia PA address and mines being in Maryland. If it is acceptable, how would we go about explaining it when we submit our forms, do we need to state it in our cover letter or do we need a separate form to explain our situation. Do we really need to have the same address in all our forms?

[hablat]

Can anyone help me out on this thanks

[rayb]

Hablat,

Does her J1 visa show whether she is subject to the "2-year absence" after J1 visa expires? If she is not subject, and it is clearly indicated on her visa and her visa backup documentation, you can proceed.

Showing separate addresses needs to be handled carefully, as you have "red flag" before you even get "out of the gate." My advice is to show a permanent address for both of you at which you can receive mail, but also indicate her work location as a temporary employent-required address.

--Ray B

I'm a U.S. Citizen and I just recently got married to my long-time girlfriend of 3 years this February. She is legally in the U.S. right now as a J-1 Visa Holder interning at a Hotel in Philadelphia PA. She is contracted to intern/work for them for the duration of her 1 year j-1 Visa which expires this coming July. My permanent address is in Maryland, and I'm currently attending college here at the University of Maryland.

Our dilemma is that even though we are currently married we are not able to live with each other yet, due to her work and my school being in different states. However we see each other every week at least 2 days a week, sometimes she visits me here in MD on her day offs and i visit her in Philadelphia on days that i don't have classes.

We are currently filling for Adjustment of Status for my wife. And are in the process of filling I-130 and i-485 concurrently along w/ g-g325a, i-693, and i-864.

My Question is would it be acceptable by USCIS if we fill out the forms with our different addresses, her's being a Philadelphia PA address and mines being in Maryland. If it is acceptable, how would we go about explaining it when we submit our forms, do we need to state it in our cover letter or do we need a separate form to explain our situation. Do we really need to have the same address in all our forms?

[hablat]

Thanks Ray B. Fortunately she is not subject to the 2 year absence. So would our application possibly be denied before an interview, where we could explain our situation, because of a different address? If we use my home address as her primary address, how will we note her adress on philadelphia as temporary? For example on her g-325a form it ask for her residence in the last five years , would we include both my address and her philadelphia address with same "from" and "to" dates. And thanks again for helping us get this sorted out.

[rayb]

Since you are now married, you must show an agreed-upon address as your "base" address, at which you can receive mail, but provide an explanation for temporarily residing at different locations for employment purposes.

---Ray B

Thanks Ray B. Fortunately she is not subject to the 2 year absence. So would our application possibly be denied before an interview, where we could explain our situation, because of a different address? If we use my home address as her primary address, how will we note her adress on philadelphia as temporary? For example on her g-325a form it ask for her residence in the last five years , would we include both my address and her philadelphia address with same "from" and "to" dates. And thanks again for helping us get this sorted out.

[hablat]

Since you are now married, you must show an agreed-upon address as your "base" address, at which you can receive mail, but provide an explanation for temporarily residing at different locations for employment purposes.

---Ray B

Thanks again Ray B. Sorry for not being clear. Yes we are going to be living together at my address after her contracted work at Philadelphia, its our agreed "base" address. Our joint account bank statements, and her personal account are being mailed to my address. So from what i understand it would be best for me to use my address as her primary address but still list her Philadelphia address as one of the addresses she resided in in the last 5 years listing it as the most recent but noting it as temporary. Then include a letter with our application to explain why her most recent address is in Philadelphia, and why it is temporary. As i understand it if we have our interview before her July contract is over at Philadelphia, then we should provide a lot of supporting documents to support why we are living in two different states at the moment. Would that be a good way to move ahead with our application? I just want to be sure about this. Thanks.

[rayb]

Yes, I agree with your plan as described below.

--Ray B

Thanks again Ray B. Sorry for not being clear. Yes we are going to be living together at my address after her contracted work at Philadelphia, its our agreed "base" address. Our joint account bank statements, and her personal account are being mailed to my address. So from what i understand it would be best for me to use my address as her primary address but still list her Philadelphia address as one of the addresses she resided in in the last 5 years listing it as the most recent but noting it as temporary. Then include a letter with our application to explain why her most recent address is in Philadelphia, and why it is temporary. As i understand it if we have our interview before her July contract is over at Philadelphia, then we should provide a lot of supporting documents to support why we are living in two different states at the moment. Would that be a good way to move ahead with our application? I just want to be sure about this. Thanks.