Need reassurance that I'm filing the I-129F correctly

[Elghazi2008 4]

My fiance and I are working on putting together the I-129F. This is what we have so far:

• Form I-129F
• Form G-325A (one from each of us)
• Letter of intent signed by me
• Letter explaining circumstances of our first meeting (online AND in person), signed by me
• Copy of my passport
• Some MSN message logs*
• Photographs together*
• Two color photos (from each of us)*
• Receipt from my engagement ring (with a photo included)
• Copies of visa stamps in my passport
• Copies of e-tickets and baggage claim sticker

*When I looked at our MSN message logs, I found that each of our logs (8) are over 125 pages long. I shrunk the font so each log was 107 pages long instead, but I only printed one page of conversation from each log. Is this okay since the tops of the log pages show that the page I printed is "Page 6 of 107"? If not, is there another option that I could use to keep from using so much paper and ink, such as sending a cd with our MSN logs on it or including links to our MSN logs?

*All of our photos together were taken with my digital camera. Some of them are not dated because I didn't figure out how to add the date stamp onto them until after I had been in Morocco with him for a few weeks. My question is how I need to have them printed. Is it okay to print the pictures onto regular paper or do they want the pictures printed onto photo paper instead? I realize that photo paper is preferable, but if I can get away with 'sloppy copies' for proof, I'd like to.

*What exactly are the USCIS guidelines for individual photographs? I tried to find the specification sheet, and I either found the wrong one or the specifications only say that a passport-style photo is needed. My fiance sent photos to me that he had taken professionally a week ago. Do I need to have my photo taken professionally for this as well? Or can I take the picture myself and print it off (photo or regular paper?) as long as it's a 'passport-style' photo?

As far as I know, the only other thing that I have left to get around is a copy of my birth certificate. Is this correct or are we missing some documents that will slow our K-1 process even further??

[YuAndDan 153]

G-325A is a FOUR page form, they need all 4 pages signed, and NOT just a copy of page 1 4 times, they need pages 1 through 4.

Should be 2 letters of intent, one from petitioner, and one from beneficiary, OR one signed by both.

MSN log is not a requirement of filing, it is needed at the visa interview as evidence of ongoing relationship.

Only 1 passport pic needed from beneficiary, and one from petitioner. http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/04_08_02Photo_flyer.pdf (USCIS passport photo guidelies) Note they conform to DOS guidelines, http://travel.state.gov/passport/guide/guide_2081.html

Photos together is secondary evidence, they can be printed on plain paper, and make a note on the back side of who is in the pic, as well as where and when the pic was taken, a few with family is a good thing to include.

If you are using your passport to prove US citizenship then ALL pages including cover must be submitted, OR you can use a US birth Cert, or Naturalization Cert.

Edited July 14, 2008 by YuAndDan

[Elghazi2008 4]

G-325A is a FOUR page form, they need all 4 pages signed, and NOT just a copy of page 1 4 times, they need pages 1 through 4.

Should be 2 letters of intent, one from petitioner, and one from beneficiary, OR one signed by both.

MSN log is not a requirement of filing, it is needed at the visa interview as evidence of ongoing relationship.

Only 1 passport pic needed from beneficiary, and one from petitioner. http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/04_08_02Photo_flyer.pdf (USCIS passport photo guidelies) Note they conform to DOS guidelines, http://travel.state.gov/passport/guide/guide_2081.html

Photos together is secondary evidence, they can be printed on plain paper, and make a note on the back side of who is in the pic, as well as where and when the pic was taken, a few with family is a good thing to include.

If you are using your passport to prove US citizenship then ALL pages including cover must be submitted, OR you can use a US birth Cert, or Naturalization Cert.

Thank you for telling me that. I looked on the USCIS website for the G-325A and the instructions for it said that I just need to include all the copies with my petition. There were 'four pages' but they were all the same though. If that isn't correct, where can I find the right papers?

Regarding the letter of intent, I had heard that his letter of intent wasn't needed for the I-129F, but at his interview instead...

[Ana&D 0]

YuAndDan provided some great input I'll just add, that at this stage, do not worry about chats/emails. All they need is hard evidence that proves meeting in person in the last two years. For this, pictures are considered secondary. What they need to see is passport stamps and boarding passes. Throw some pics and missing docs menionted and you are good to go. Best of luck!!!

[Ana&D 0]

Thank you for telling me that. I looked on the USCIS website for the G-325A and the instructions for it said that I just need to include all the copies with my petition. There were 'four pages' but they were all the same though. If that isn't correct, where can I find the right papers?

Regarding the letter of intent, I had heard that his letter of intent wasn't needed for the I-129F, but at his interview instead...

You have the right form. You have to submit all four pages, even though they are the same. And they all have to be signed. Letter of intent from both of you is needef for the petition and than for the interview (except this one should be dated closer to the interview date).

[pushbrk 13,268]

Thank you for telling me that. I looked on the USCIS website for the G-325A and the instructions for it said that I just need to include all the copies with my petition. There were 'four pages' but they were all the same though. If that isn't correct, where can I find the right papers?

Regarding the letter of intent, I had heard that his letter of intent wasn't needed for the I-129F, but at his interview instead...

You have the right form. You have to submit all four pages, even though they are the same. And they all have to be signed. Letter of intent from both of you is needef for the petition and than for the interview (except this one should be dated closer to the interview date).

The pages contain the same information but are not otherwise identical. The downloadable and fillable forms will autofill all pages. Print them all and sign them all.

The other key issue Dan already addressed but that bears repeating is that the instructions indicate the need for signed letters of intent from the petitioner and beneficiary, not just one person. It is possible to draft a letter that covers both and then is signed by both. Either will do. A single letter from the petitioner will not do.

I'm going to give you a C+ for preparation and suggest that as you go forward, you do a better job of studying the form instructions. Study carefully and interpret literally. Then we're always here and happy to check your work for you. I posted all my lists of enclosures, got corrections and still made mistakes that thankfully caused no problems or delays.

Edited July 14, 2008 by pushbrk

[brnidokiegurl 1]

You are going thru Casa...make your application as complete as you can..do the letters now and again at interview from both. The thing is with casa this application maybe all the interviewer looks at...some have gone to the interview with all their evidences and it is never looked at so you have to include everything up front

[YuAndDan 153]

G-325A is a FOUR page form, they need all 4 pages signed, and NOT just a copy of page 1 4 times, they need pages 1 through 4.

Should be 2 letters of intent, one from petitioner, and one from beneficiary, OR one signed by both.

MSN log is not a requirement of filing, it is needed at the visa interview as evidence of ongoing relationship.

Only 1 passport pic needed from beneficiary, and one from petitioner. http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/04_08_02Photo_flyer.pdf (USCIS passport photo guidelies) Note they conform to DOS guidelines, http://travel.state.gov/passport/guide/guide_2081.html

Photos together is secondary evidence, they can be printed on plain paper, and make a note on the back side of who is in the pic, as well as where and when the pic was taken, a few with family is a good thing to include.

If you are using your passport to prove US citizenship then ALL pages including cover must be submitted, OR you can use a US birth Cert, or Naturalization Cert.

Thank you for telling me that. I looked on the USCIS website for the G-325A and the instructions for it said that I just need to include all the copies with my petition. There were 'four pages' but they were all the same though. If that isn't correct, where can I find the right papers?

Regarding the letter of intent, I had heard that his letter of intent wasn't needed for the I-129F, but at his interview instead...

Each page is different, just look at the information box at the bottom of the page.

Page 1 is marked (1) Ident, 2 is REC BR, 3 is "C", and 4 is Consulate.

Fill in page 1, and print out page 1 through 4, it will fill in pages 2 through 4 with info from page 1.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/g-325a.pdf

[LuckyDucky 0]

As per the guide here, I also had my fiancee write a letter stating her intent to marry me as well. (ie, A letter of intent to marry from both of you.)

Edit: Oops, I missed that YuandDan already stated that. Nevermind!

Edited July 14, 2008 by LuckyDucky

[nunyab 0]

I remember the paperwork stage... now we're in the waiting stage to see if we did it all right. Good luck!