How we met letter

[nkkst2 0]

Hello... could anyone provide me with a sample of question 18 on the I-129 petition. I am not sure how much detail you are supposed to get into... do you just explain how you met.. or talk about how you met, how your relationship developed, when you see each other etc.

[dsd^rjp 0]

Hi there this is what my fiance (USC) wrote to question #18 on I-129F form:

hope it helps

happy holidays!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I-129F Supplement: Part B, Question 18: Has your Fiance(e) met and seen you

Dsd and I met at an ________site in April of 2007. Since then, we have corresponded via mail, e-mail, phone, internet, and text message. I took a trip to Jakarta, Indonesia to visit Ms. sd in October of 2007. During this trip, we traveled together to other parts of Indonesia: Puncak, Bali, and Yogyakarta.

In January/February of 2008, I traveled to Jakarta. From there, the two of us embarked on a trip to various locations in Thailand (Bangkok, Krabi/Railay Beach Area, and Phuket).

The attached documents provide proof of our ongoing relationship. I have attached documentary information for my trips in 2007 and 2008. I have printed itineraries, bank and credit card statements showing ATM withdrawals, and transactions for hotels. I have also attached copies of airline boarding passes (when available).

The packet also contains phone records showing (primarily) text messages to Ms. SD two phone numbers: +62……. and +62……. I have also attached a statement from my long distance provider (www.onesuite.com) for calls to Ms. SD. Please note that we use Skype (www.skype.com) and yahoo messenger (messenger.yahoo.com), for much of our voice and video chat, since they are free. I have attached screenshots showing my skype history of chat with Dsd (handle:______).

I have also attached a small sampling of e-mails that we exchanged, as well as copies of two cancelled envelopes/cards that I received from Ms. SD at my home address in VA.

The attached plastic bag contains photographs of the two of us, taken on the aforementioned trips. It also contains passport-sized photos.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

[YuAndDan 153]

#18 only needs a brief statement.

Like "Met on an online chat board M/Y, started emails and chats M/Y, met in person M/Y, engaged M/Y, ..."

[myperfectflaw 11]

#18 only needs a brief statement.

Like "Met on an online chat board M/Y, started emails and chats M/Y, met in person M/Y, engaged M/Y, ..."

Agree with YuAndDan. They don't have time to read a novel. Short and to the point is what we put.

[Carlawarla 1]

Hello... could anyone provide me with a sample of question 18 on the I-129 petition. I am not sure how much detail you are supposed to get into... do you just explain how you met.. or talk about how you met, how your relationship developed, when you see each other etc.

Just want to welcome another Canadian/US couple to VJ!

Some additional info on VJ here for Canada/US couples are the VJ Wiki page here:

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Canada

and the Canada forum:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showforum=93

Lots of good information for the Canada/US couple applying for visas!

Best of luck for a speedy approval!

[DairyFarmer 1]

#18 only needs a brief statement.

Like "Met on an online chat board M/Y, started emails and chats M/Y, met in person M/Y, engaged M/Y, ..."

Agree with YuAndDan. They don't have time to read a novel. Short and to the point is what we put.

Ditto the above

[shaggy_mutt 0]

#18 only needs a brief statement.

Like "Met on an online chat board M/Y, started emails and chats M/Y, met in person M/Y, engaged M/Y, ..."

Agree with YuAndDan. They don't have time to read a novel. Short and to the point is what we put.

Ditto the above

Just to question the conventional wisdom here for a moment... Since the point of this whole exercise is to establish that there's a real relationship, and since the adjudicator is free to quit reading at any point when s/he is satisfied of that, what's the potential downside? Have any petitions been denied for being wordy?

I ask because in the past, people were being advised to put "see page ___" (with an accompanying essay) as an answer to #18. It seems like the prevailing advice has changed since then.

[pushbrk 12,824]

#18 only needs a brief statement.

Like "Met on an online chat board M/Y, started emails and chats M/Y, met in person M/Y, engaged M/Y, ..."

Agree with YuAndDan. They don't have time to read a novel. Short and to the point is what we put.

Ditto the above

Just to question the conventional wisdom here for a moment... Since the point of this whole exercise is to establish that there's a real relationship, and since the adjudicator is free to quit reading at any point when s/he is satisfied of that, what's the potential downside? Have any petitions been denied for being wordy?

I ask because in the past, people were being advised to put "see page ___" (with an accompanying essay) as an answer to #18. It seems like the prevailing advice has changed since then.

At the petition stage for a K1 process the adjudicator doesn't judge whether the relationship is real. They judge whether the couple is free to marry and have met in person during the past two years. It's at the visa interview, judgments are made about the bona fide ongoing relationship. As such, unless there are obvious red flags to consider, a brief answer to 18 is adviseable as is holding off on much in the way of bona fide relationship evidence until the interview. Do make sure you provide primary evidence of meeting, like passport stamps boarding passes, hotel receipts etc.

[TBoneTX 45,088]

unless there are obvious red flags to consider

I would add to this "or if you will be interviewing at a high-fraud, known-to-be-difficult, or rogue consulate."

[pushbrk 12,824]

unless there are obvious red flags to consider

I would add to this "or if you will be interviewing at a high-fraud, known-to-be-difficult, or rogue consulate."

Agreed but the OP is Canadian.

[rebeccajo 14]

#18 only needs a brief statement.

Like "Met on an online chat board M/Y, started emails and chats M/Y, met in person M/Y, engaged M/Y, ..."

Agree with YuAndDan. They don't have time to read a novel. Short and to the point is what we put.

Ditto the above

Just to question the conventional wisdom here for a moment... Since the point of this whole exercise is to establish that there's a real relationship, and since the adjudicator is free to quit reading at any point when s/he is satisfied of that, what's the potential downside? Have any petitions been denied for being wordy?

I ask because in the past, people were being advised to put "see page ___" (with an accompanying essay) as an answer to #18. It seems like the prevailing advice has changed since then.

At the petition stage for a K1 process the adjudicator doesn't judge whether the relationship is real. They judge whether the couple is free to marry and have met in person during the past two years. It's at the visa interview, judgments are made about the bona fide ongoing relationship. As such, unless there are obvious red flags to consider, a brief answer to 18 is adviseable as is holding off on much in the way of bona fide relationship evidence until the interview. Do make sure you provide primary evidence of meeting, like passport stamps boarding passes, hotel receipts etc.

There is prior anecdotal evidence in newsgroups and forums of the occasional RFE for lack of evidence regarding HOW the couple met. This shouldn't happen as the technical requirement for approval is having met within the last two years. But there is evidence of same nonetheless.

The general consensus amongst veteran newsgroup users is to give a brief outline of how the couple came to be introduced and the evolution of the relationship. It need not be flowery. The I129F packet moves onto the consulate and is reviewed by the Consular Officer prior to the interview. It can be positive for the CO to have a snapshot of the relationship in their mind before the face to face interview wherein more quantitative proof of the bonafides will be examined.

[OttoMay 0]

happy Holidays all!!

don't know if I did right, won't know until NOA1

I did all that was mentioned before. Started with short statement, from me and from May. Then followed with the novel and then followed with evidence.

So it is up to the reviewer. Stop after reading the short statement or go on.

Good luck all with your journey

[Karri 0]

I wrote a one page essay explaining the two trips and that I stayed with his family and their impression of me. I also included a closing paragraph that declared our feelings for each other.