Does too much documentation slow the process down?

[Vani 0]

If you have plane tickets that would be helpful. I scanned some of our plane tickets and sent it along with my other evidences!

[debbylyn 0]

Vani...congrats on your approval....

I sent in a few photos, copy of Barry's passport pages showing his visits, copies of boarding passes and itineraries, ATM withdrawal slips matched to copies of his bank statement, a few emails and chat logs and calling card call logs....in the end we got RFE'd for his decree nisi copy

BTW...cute cat!!!!

Edited April 26, 2008 by debbylyn

[Vani 0]

Vani...congrats on your approval....

I sent in a few photos, copy of Barry's passport pages showing his visits, copies of boarding passes and itineraries, ATM withdrawal slips matched to copies of his bank statement, a few emails and chat logs and calling card call logs....in the end we got RFE'd for his decree nisi copy

BTW...cute cat!!!!

THANK YOU I love VJ, everybody here is so kind and helpful.

And I spammed posts haha, I was so nervous the day before my interview!

ON TOPIC: I actually also sent all of what debbylyn has sent too! I even sent my Fiancé's bank statement containing the record that he bought me a ring and other records that he went to Montreal (he came to visit me) and bought some stuff.

OFF TOPIC: I know she's a cute cat! But she's such a devil inside, I hate, hate, hate her sometimes She would scratch me out of the blue (I still have scars) and sometimes she would rub my leg for minutes until I push her away with my foot. But she's too cute to resist Poor humans.

Edited April 26, 2008 by Vani

[carL♥tRin 1]

well.. i think sending tons of evidences at uscis will not cause a back logged...lol..it would also be somehow excessive there, but it doesn't hurt to bring it. They will look at maybe five pages of it...and besides, it would be an advantage for the petitionee during interview with the consulate...Based on my friend's experience, he was not even asked to show any evidences in his interview..i really don't believe that sending tons of evidences will delay the process...unless...you ul lack something...well, its much better to be sufficient...it just makes us confident..:-)

[william_wallace 8]

I think probebly everyone's case is different. Some need to give more evidence, some less. Were applying our package now and sending it next week. Boarding passes from 4 trips, hotel receipts, 6 photos of us together, the letter of intent and a letter explaining on how we met. The emails, chat logs, phone bills and letters we will keep for the interview. We think this is enough to send as our relationship has gone on for over 2 years.

[Vani 0]

That should be enough. On my interview day, the interviewer didn't even ask me to show any more proofs... I sent in less than you did

[pugsly 0]

So a couple of olks have mentioned "red flags" but I have seen a list of red flags on the site. Do people know some of the red flags? And if so, what are they?

Thanks

PS already sent in my package, but it would be nice to know if I need to start finding a way to overcome something if folks know its a "red flag"

Marc ellis wrote an article awhile ago addressing some "red flags",.http://www.ilw.com/articles/2006,0323-ellis.shtm

I can only say what mine are.

1. big age difference

2. Don't share the same religion.

[angelangels 0]

I sent a lot of documentation with my K1 and felt it was a key factor in my speedy visa approval, as the adjudicator flipped through my extensive documents and said okay! It is best to have just more than enough documentation I feel personally

[rebeccajo 14]

I think probebly everyone's case is different. Some need to give more evidence, some less. Were applying our package now and sending it next week. Boarding passes from 4 trips, hotel receipts, 6 photos of us together, the letter of intent and a letter explaining on how we met. The emails, chat logs, phone bills and letters we will keep for the interview. We think this is enough to send as our relationship has gone on for over 2 years.

William -

I love your the bolded portion of your post. It's exactly the essence of this process we are all caught up in.

Let's talk about the concepts of reading the guides and researching the journey for a moment. I once read a member state that if you could inhale, you could probably get an I129F approved at the service center level. Fundamentally that's correct, because the only requirements for approval are properly completed documents; both parties are free to marry; both parties have intent to marry; and the parties have met in the last two years. So from that standpoint, referring to additional evidence as 'superfluous' and a 'waste of time' is correct.

BUT - and here's the big 'but - it's important to analyze which consulate your case is headed towards. That's where reading and research will come into play. It's one reason veteran members harp and wail at newer members to READ, RESEARCH and UNDERSTAND - because every case is different and if you are opting for a 'do-it-yourself' process,you are responsible for the end result.

As push said, Marc Ellis recommends some secondary evidence in the file due to the legal premise that the consulate can't reject evidence already approved by the service center. That's a smart tactic that won't hurt you if you have trouble on interview day. However, the consular officers have the authority to make decisions based upon 'totality of circumstance' and that's a big magic void many a rejected case can fall into.

I believe some secondary evidence in the file is beneficial because even though bare-bones evidence is all it takes to get NOA2, secondary evidence MAY be required at your consulate. How are you going to know what your consulate looks at if you don't research before you ever submit your I129F packet? (re-read post #10 of moroccousa above in this thread).

On interview day, the CO's receive the files of the beneficiaries they will see that day. They will make a cursory review of the file before they see the visa applicant - maybe they have an hour or two in the morning to do this or maybe they do it one by one, a few moments before each interview is conducted. That time they spend looking into the paper file gives them a 'snapshot' of the relationship between the petitioner and the beneficiary. A well prepared file can help set the CO's mind toward an approval at a difficult consulate.

I know what I've written is a bit of an essay, but I wanted to applaud William for getting it right. Each case is different and research and knowledge of the process can only help you towards a successful end result.