Question of Evidence

[Robyn-n-Kris 72]

Ok, just read through all the pages regarding RFE and i'm now concerned. We are getting ready to file shortly (he's sent his documents from the UK to me to file) and i'm worried about the evidence that needs to be provided as proof of the relationship and meeting. We've known each other for awhile but only met face to face once and that was last year when he was here for 6 weeks and stayed with me. There was no hotel and we didn't really go out and spend money on anything specifc. We are both camera shy so only have 1 or 2 pics of us together. I know he is sending copies of his entire passport as well as any itinerary and boarding passes he might still retain. We are also going to provide copies of phone records of calls made to each other as well as correspondences back and forth over the last year. I'm worried that this will not be considered enough evidence along side the letter of intent we are both providing and that we are going to run into road blocks.

Is there anything else that can be done or do you all think we will run into issues?

[Jamie76 0]

All you really need to do is prove you have met face to face within the last 2 years. If he has boarding passes, stamps in his passport and there are pictures of you two together, you are fine.

[truffles 2]

Hey Robyn,

I remember feeling exactly the same - very few photos of us together - usually one of us was behind the camera!

I had visited several times ( 2 times per year usually staying 2 weeks each time over a period of 3.5 years ) before filing - we sent copies of passport pages - boarding passes - phone bills - basically anything that showed a presence in the USA - some pics - send what you have as basically thats all you have!

At this intial stage you are being asked to prove that you have met within the last 2 years ....if you are unsettled with what you have right now would you be able to consider holding off the paperwork to get another visit in?....others will be able to advise their experiences, this is a good place to hang out as everyone here will be only too willing to help and make suggestions. Good luck.

[pushbrk 12,898]

All you really need to do is prove you have met face to face within the last 2 years. If he has boarding passes, stamps in his passport and there are pictures of you two together, you are fine.

Pictures are secondary evidence, so not actually required. The important thing is actual primary evidence he was in the US in the past two years. That would be boarding passes, passport stamps or ticket stubs. An itinerary is meaningless, I've got lots of them I never bought tickets to go along with, much less took the flights. If you've got a few pictures, do include them.

You show evidence of an ongoing relationship at interview time, so save the phone records and communication evidence for that.

[Robyn-n-Kris 72]

Not really. I mean I am going to hopefully go over there and visit this summer but we want it filed now so things can begin. I know we have 2 pics and he's very good at keeping all documentation so I'm sure he is sending everything he can to me to provide. We want to start our life together as quickly as possible. I guess i'll ask him more about what he sent when he calls me later tonight before he goes to work. (btw i so hate the blasted time zone difference!!!)

So then by showing copies of his passport and boarding pass that will be good enough showing he was here last fall??

Edited February 7, 2008 by Robyn

[msu17 0]

I'd go ahead and file with what you have. People have been approved with a lot less and people have gotten RFE's after sending a lot more. You meet the requirements for filing, so I would go ahead and try.

[pushbrk 12,898]

Not really. I mean I am going to hopefully go over there and visit this summer but we want it filed now so things can begin. I know we have 2 pics and he's very good at keeping all documentation so I'm sure he is sending everything he can to me to provide. We want to start our life together as quickly as possible. I guess i'll ask him more about what he sent when he calls me later tonight before he goes to work. (btw i so hate the blasted time zone difference!!!)

So then by showing copies of his passport and boarding pass that will be good enough showing he was here last fall??

Yes, the passport stamps indicate he was in the US (if his passport was actually stamped) and the boarding passes will indicate he flew to your City or a nearby one.

[truffles 2]

Boarding passes and passport stamps would demonstrate a visit has been made...i hear you on the time zone difference - me and my OH had 8 hours difference!!! ...good luck!

[Robyn-n-Kris 72]

Spoke with my huney last night (early his time) before he went to work and he did send his boarding passes and he is emailing me a full copy of his passport. So all of that will go in the package. He didn't think the passport copies were needed at the beginning so he didnt mail them. Thank god for email!!

So what i'm planning to include with the I-295f will be copies of his boarding pass, print out of his itinerary, 2 photos of us together and copies of his passport with dates stamped and location. Now is it advisable to also send copies of email correspondence and/or phone records just in case to help support the primary evidence? I'm of a mind to do so just to cover any and all bases.

[pushbrk 12,898]

Spoke with my huney last night (early his time) before he went to work and he did send his boarding passes and he is emailing me a full copy of his passport. So all of that will go in the package. He didn't think the passport copies were needed at the beginning so he didnt mail them. Thank god for email!!

So what i'm planning to include with the I-295f will be copies of his boarding pass, print out of his itinerary, 2 photos of us together and copies of his passport with dates stamped and location. Now is it advisable to also send copies of email correspondence and/or phone records just in case to help support the primary evidence? I'm of a mind to do so just to cover any and all bases.

Email and phone records are not evidence of meeting. They are evidence of bona fide ongoing relationship, needed at the interview.

[rebeccajo 14]

Although it happens rarely, the occasional RFE is issued if there is no explanation of 'how you met' - which is part of the language of the first sentence in Item 18 of the petition.

In other words, along with physical evidence of meeting in the last two years, include a brief essay on how the relationship began. Such as "at university in the winter of 2006" or "in yahoo chat around June 2005" - whatever fits.

[Robyn-n-Kris 72]

We have two letters explaining how we met and when and where our first meeting occurred so that shouldn't be a problem. Just wanting to make sure we cover any and all contingencies to avoid an RFE LOL

[cellarlily 0]

Like others have said, the most important thing is that you have physical evidence of meeting that shows dates and names such as boarding passes. Make sure it has the YEAR date on it as some of the boarding pass stubs do not. We received an RFE because I didn't notice that it was missing the year.

Pictures are fine, but they are not proof that the meeting occurred in the last two years. Be thorough in "how you met", include all the necessary pictures and copies and you should be fine.

[Robyn-n-Kris 72]

I am curious though. Do they want to see the entire copy of the passport to include blank pages???

[aravis227 1]

I don't have any help to offer, but I'm so glad you asked this question! I'm in exactly the same stage and was thinking the same things that you are.