Interview Supporting Paperwork

[arthurmsarthur]

Hello everyone,
First time posting here. This forum have been extremely helpful throughout this whole I-485 process. I do have a question regarding the supporting documents they ask you to bring to the interview. The interview appointment letter ask to bring a copy of the original application package sent, which is almost 500 pages (Don't understand since they claim to be merging to a paper free process, but anyways...). Now, for all the affidavit financial related things, where we sent our tax returns, W2s, paystubs, etc. Can I just bring a copy of the ones submitted back in September or do I have to bring updated ones as of this moment in time we are at? Cause we have new pay stubs, tax return for 2020 etc.

Are those documents really important or they look more into passport, birth certificate, pictures of wedding and things like that?

My timeline looks like this:

April 8, 2021 We scheduled an interview for your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
March 23, 2021 We are ready to schedule your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, for an interview.
March 16, 2021 The fingerprints relating to your Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, were taken.
February 24, 2021 We received your response for Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
December 14, 2020 We sent a request for initial evidence for your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
September 28, 2020 We accepted the fingerprint fee for your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. Our National Benefits Center location is working on your case.
September 15, 2020 We received your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

I would bring updated paystubs and tax return. The officer will likely ask to see those.

[rkk09]

Hi,
Its better to have complete petition package along with updated/recent most documents.. We will not know, how and what Officer will ask and verify.. If we keep ready all supporting documents will be really helpful.
Thanks

[SmithB]

Since the interview is months after you submit the original package is recommended to bring everything you already submitted plus updated documents and photos. Also bring all originals or at least the civil documents if they want to see it. Its better to have them all because let's say the officer wants to see something you don't have handy they will issue RFE and you have to mail it and wait which can delay the process further. You are going to need all updated documents for your 10 year green card later on so you will have them ready. Good luck!

[arthurmsarthur]

That is what I was getting ready to do, just read conflicting things online about it. Thanks for the help everyone!

[yinander]

Oh my god does everyone need to bring a full copy? That sounds like such a pain!

[SmithB]

You are suppose to have all the originals in case they ask anyway. Why would it be a pain, you should have copies of all submitted paperwork. Plus when you later on apply for the 10 year green card you will need the exact same thing. I don't see how that would be a pain.

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

arthurmsarthur Hi, I think that folks are just trying to convey that it is always a good idea to have a copy of what you submit -whether it is a physical copy or digital copy. Sometimes USCIS loses files. It does not happen often but it happens. In those cases, it is up to you to reproduce the forms and evidence that you had submitted earlier. What happens if you get to the interview and the officer tells you "most of your evidence got shredded by mistake during an office move. So sorry. Do you have copies of it with you?"

As you may already know, adjustment of status or I-485 is only the beginning. Your next filing after the I-485 is the I-751 Removal of Conditions on Permanent Residence. (That is, of course, only if you have not reached two years of marriage when USCIS adjudicates your I-485.)

I can tell you that my spouse and I likely overdid for the I-485 and I-751. We overdid it because it is very important to us to be able to be together. So for the I-485 we had 3 sets of copies for everything we submitted with our concurrent filing. Then, we also made 3 sets of copies of all updated evidence that we brought to the interview. One set for my husband, a second set for me and a third set for the lawyer who went to the interview with us.

We prepared for the interview by becoming reacquainted with the forms we submitted, names of family members (the names of my husband's parents and relatives are hard for me to pronounce and I have never met them), and also by knowing where the evidence was. When the officer asked for tax returns or anything, we reached for those right away and without hesitation.

Now, having all those copies and table of contents from the I-485 also made filing for the I-751 much easier. It was nice to have all that evidence already sorted out and ready to go. After all, the I-751 requires that you submit evidence since the date of your marriage until the present day.

Perhaps, you may have already visited the thread below. I am going to post it below in case anyone who reads your thread, has not seen it. Many people have found it very helpful.

https://www.immihelp.com/forum/adjustment-of-status-i-485/178298-links-evidence-of-bona-fide-marriage-for-i-130-i-485-filing-interview-tips/page11#post760990

All the best to you on your AOS process.

USCFFS