Assembly questions for proof for consulate

[LilLoveBug 0]

So - how exactly do you assemble your pics and proof when you go into the interview? Is there some format? It says chronological order is best. OK, can I paste photos on a page with receipts/other proof and date them? Does anyone have any pictures of the packet that they turned in? Did anyone get creative? :-)

Bug

[pushbrk 12,877]

So - how exactly do you assemble your pics and proof when you go into the interview? Is there some format? It says chronological order is best. OK, can I paste photos on a page with receipts/other proof and date them? Does anyone have any pictures of the packet that they turned in? Did anyone get creative? :-)

Bug

You don't actually "turn in a packet". You bring the evidence organized in categories, so that when a specific kind of evidence is asked for, you can conveniently hand it over. I recommend a simple accordion file (no more than about three inches thick) to separate the financials from the communication samples, from the pictures, from the travel evidence etc.

[LilLoveBug 0]

So - how exactly do you assemble your pics and proof when you go into the interview? Is there some format? It says chronological order is best. OK, can I paste photos on a page with receipts/other proof and date them? Does anyone have any pictures of the packet that they turned in? Did anyone get creative? :-)

Bug

You don't actually "turn in a packet". You bring the evidence organized in categories, so that when a specific kind of evidence is asked for, you can conveniently hand it over. I recommend a simple accordion file (no more than about three inches thick) to separate the financials from the communication samples, from the pictures, from the travel evidence etc.

I bought one of those accordian things already, in fact. So should I have everything sorted by type and month? i.e.: August 2008 - photos, August 2008 - emails, etc etc etc?

Do they ever ask for proof (pictures, emails, receipts, plane tix) at the consulate window, or just paperwork stuff? Is that proof ONLY asked for during the actual talking part of the interview??

Thanks again

Bug

[pushbrk 12,877]

So - how exactly do you assemble your pics and proof when you go into the interview? Is there some format? It says chronological order is best. OK, can I paste photos on a page with receipts/other proof and date them? Does anyone have any pictures of the packet that they turned in? Did anyone get creative? :-)

Bug

You don't actually "turn in a packet". You bring the evidence organized in categories, so that when a specific kind of evidence is asked for, you can conveniently hand it over. I recommend a simple accordion file (no more than about three inches thick) to separate the financials from the communication samples, from the pictures, from the travel evidence etc.

I bought one of those accordian things already, in fact. So should I have everything sorted by type and month? i.e.: August 2008 - photos, August 2008 - emails, etc etc etc?

Do they ever ask for proof (pictures, emails, receipts, plane tix) at the consulate window, or just paperwork stuff? Is that proof ONLY asked for during the actual talking part of the interview??

Thanks again

Bug

I would put each category's pages in chronological order. If you want to further organize the tabs, fine but if the dates are there, they can read.

[Elghazi2008 4]

So - how exactly do you assemble your pics and proof when you go into the interview? Is there some format? It says chronological order is best. OK, can I paste photos on a page with receipts/other proof and date them? Does anyone have any pictures of the packet that they turned in? Did anyone get creative? :-)

Bug

There's no format. The idea is to make it most convenient for YOU to find information when you go into the interview. They will be expecting you to be organized so that if they ask for something, you should know right where it is and be able to hand it over quickly. I suppose you could get creative, but it's not really necessary as they won't care how hard you worked on decorating your packet if they don't believe your case is valid :/ I would make it as simple and professional as possible. When you're all done with the process though, make a scrapbook of all your proofs and paperwork for the family or the kids to look at later on That could be fun!!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

So - how exactly do you assemble your pics and proof when you go into the interview? Is there some format? It says chronological order is best. OK, can I paste photos on a page with receipts/other proof and date them? Does anyone have any pictures of the packet that they turned in? Did anyone get creative? :-)

Bug

There's no format. The idea is to make it most convenient for YOU to find information when you go into the interview. They will be expecting you to be organized so that if they ask for something, you should know right where it is and be able to hand it over quickly. I suppose you could get creative, but it's not really necessary as they won't care how hard you worked on decorating your packet if they don't believe your case is valid :/ I would make it as simple and professional as possible. When you're all done with the process though, make a scrapbook of all your proofs and paperwork for the family or the kids to look at later on That could be fun!!

I made such a beautiful presentation, really. I was proud of myself. I got to the consulate and went to the window where we truned in documents. To my horror the little slot under the bulletproof glas was NO WAY going to let this behemoth color presentation pas through. "Certainly they will open a side door so I can wheel it in on this dolly" I though to myself. Nope.

The very nice man cmes to the window and asks for the DS-156K first. "I have all in this wonderful, colorful presentation I pent hours assembling for your amazement!" He said "I just need the Ds-156K please" So there I am disassembling my entire colorful, impressive presentation into a loos stack of papers and handing them through the window (unceremoniously I might add) and the guy has the nerv to assemble it into his very own package on the other side of the window, completely ignoring the dividers, colored tabs and labels I had already prepared for him. He had the nerve to have his very own folder and made his own determination of how to assemble it!!!!

Bootm line...make sure you have everything. Paper clip the original, the copy and the translation of each together, that is as organized as you need to get, anything else will be disassembled without regard to your artful efforts.

All feelings of insult, hurt and shame evaporated when we got the visa, but for what it's worth don't spend too much time on this. Paint the ceiling instead.

[JonasMichaels 0]

So - how exactly do you assemble your pics and proof when you go into the interview? Is there some format? It says chronological order is best. OK, can I paste photos on a page with receipts/other proof and date them? Does anyone have any pictures of the packet that they turned in? Did anyone get creative? :-)

Bug

You don't actually "turn in a packet". You bring the evidence organized in categories, so that when a specific kind of evidence is asked for, you can conveniently hand it over. I recommend a simple accordion file (no more than about three inches thick) to separate the financials from the communication samples, from the pictures, from the travel evidence etc.

I bought one of those accordian things already, in fact. So should I have everything sorted by type and month? i.e.: August 2008 - photos, August 2008 - emails, etc etc etc?

Do they ever ask for proof (pictures, emails, receipts, plane tix) at the consulate window, or just paperwork stuff? Is that proof ONLY asked for during the actual talking part of the interview??

Thanks again

Bug

This is also my question...do they actually take the proof you have assembled at the consulate window? Should I tape the actual receipts, plane ticket stubs, etc to a sheet of paper? Thanks

Jonas

[Conan 0]

So - how exactly do you assemble your pics and proof when you go into the interview? Is there some format? It says chronological order is best. OK, can I paste photos on a page with receipts/other proof and date them? Does anyone have any pictures of the packet that they turned in? Did anyone get creative? :-)

Bug

You don't actually "turn in a packet". You bring the evidence organized in categories, so that when a specific kind of evidence is asked for, you can conveniently hand it over. I recommend a simple accordion file (no more than about three inches thick) to separate the financials from the communication samples, from the pictures, from the travel evidence etc.

I bought one of those accordian things already, in fact. So should I have everything sorted by type and month? i.e.: August 2008 - photos, August 2008 - emails, etc etc etc?

Do they ever ask for proof (pictures, emails, receipts, plane tix) at the consulate window, or just paperwork stuff? Is that proof ONLY asked for during the actual talking part of the interview??

Thanks again

Bug

This is also my question...do they actually take the proof you have assembled at the consulate window? Should I tape the actual receipts, plane ticket stubs, etc to a sheet of paper? Thanks

Jonas

Good question. I was going to make copies of receipts and plane tickets. Hopefully someone can answer which way is best

[JelloShotGirl 0]

I had regular pics (developed at the lab) some of them had dates on it, some didnt I think. I labeled the back of the pic with a description and date

ie: Travel to Tagaytay 04/18/2006

Picture of Phil and Marg and friends 04/20/06

Picture of Phil and Marg with brothers and sisters 04/25/2006

I bought a few clear plastic page protectors

I then inserted the pics and stapled around the picture with about four staples to keep it in place.

I kind of followed the protocol in which I submitted the pics necessary for the k1 application- label it on the back, etc. I also put that in a clear page protector. I think you can submit with the proof of travelling togeter. Good luck!

[TBoneTX 45,273]

do they actually take the proof you have assembled at the consulate window?

This will depend on your consulate. At my then-fiancee's first interview, which she attended alone (big, BIG mistake), the copious evidence was refused, and she was kicked out for "not having enough evidence." At our second interview (a Stokes interrogation, for a K-1!), they accepted all of that evidence and much more, but kicked us out afterwards anyway because they were unwilling to decide on the spot. First time: "Not enough evidence -- go away!" Second time: "Too much evidence -- go away!" At this writing, this continues to happen to couples there, and most are enraged, yet nothing can apparently be done about the situation. It has been suggested that the manufacturers of Plexiglass could choose this consulate as the place to test the ultimate strength of their product.

[hope2018 25]

We labeled every picture on the back and had our evidence organized .

[JelloShotGirl 0]

You definitely want to have it organized, also labeled if possible. The pre screener in Manila was reading our correspondence, the co at the interview was thumbing thru the pics. Keep this in mind (we always had success with this...its better to have more than enough evedence than not enough. And make sure u organize it to look neat, thats all gud luck!

[LilLoveBug 0]

You definitely want to have it organized, also labeled if possible. The pre screener in Manila was reading our correspondence, the co at the interview was thumbing thru the pics. Keep this in mind (we always had success with this...its better to have more than enough evedence than not enough. And make sure u organize it to look neat, thats all gud luck!

What do you guys think about glue sticking or taping photos/receipts to a blank sheet of paper and labeling around that? Like I took some trips with my fiance and thought I could put a heading at the top - TRIP TO MUI NE - the date, the photo, the restaurant receipt or hotel room receipt, so it is all together for them on one or two pages. I must, literally, have 20 pounds of receipts and over 2500 photos. I would say this might be overkill, don't you think?!

One other question - is it more important to have recent proof of relationship? Because I sent in A LOT of pictures in the beginning with my I-129f - should I bring duplicates of those pics and show the new ones from more recently? We have known each other for a while, so we have A LOT of proof stuff, I just can't feature it ALL. Thanks

Bug

Edited January 23, 2009 by LilLoveBug

[TBoneTX 45,273]

What do you guys think about glue sticking or taping photos/receipts to a blank sheet of paper and labeling around that? Like I took some trips with my fiance and thought I could put a heading at the top - TRIP TO MUI NE - the date, the photo, the restaurant receipt or hotel room receipt, so it is all together for them on one or two pages.

This sounds like a very feasible idea, si man.

I must, literally, have 20 pounds of receipts and over 2500 photos. I would say this might be overkill, don't you think?!

It's no laughing matter in some places. I know of three current petitioners at the consulate in Guayaquil, Ecuador who have this amount and caliber of evidence, yet the consulate insists that it's not enough and demands more & more & more when there is no more left to provide.

One other question - is it more important to have recent proof of relationship? Because I sent in A LOT of pictures in the beginning with my I-129f - should I bring duplicates of those pics and show the new ones from more recently?

Your consulate should have been sent everything from USCIS that you had submitted in your I-129F application. Because USCIS has seen it, the consulate cannot deny its existence (unless you're in Ecuador). I recommend concentrating on the more recent evidence; the consul may look at a lot, some, or very little, but have it there. It's far easier to whip out requested material then & there than it is to be slapped with a 221(g) and go through weeks of delay and added expense (best-case).

[rajemr2119 0]

Well for me, what I did was..

I bought a clear folder, bond papers and a glue, then i typed some captions on word doc to the pics that I choose that would way really

show a closed tied relationship, then I printed that labels, cut it patiently, took the pics from the first day we met, paste it on the white

bond paper, and when am done, i label the pics to is appropriate labels, I even put table of contents on my first page, then i put the pics

with labels already, followed by exchanged emails, our chat msgs,(selected from start-middle-recent ones), i even put next to it the cards

that he sent to me and from his mom, then the packages reciepts, the $$$ transfer from him, bank statements from him, decree of divorce,

my CENOMAR, my birth certificate, NBI, the reciepts from the visa fees and visa verifications, the application forms(DS's) and I even put his

scanned ID's, passport, his birthcertificate, the letter of INTENT TO MARRYFROM BOTH OF US, the affidavit of support, tax return, W2, payslips, COE

and I did put as much more evidence I did have so that when the consulate ask me it is easy to find and give it to him/her!!

I did really make it simple but less stress finding, though it was really stressful for me to prepared it!

THE CONSULATE PRESECREENER did asked me my certificate of singleness, NBI clearance, affidivit of Support, W2, all the forms, and a lot of docs

that is required and I was asked few questions and told to be seated and wait my queing number to be cold again for the CONSULATE FINAL INTERVIEW!

As far as I could remember, the CONSULATE that did my final interivew didn't asked me another more proofs of evedince for It was all there in her hand

and I did answered all the question confidently and I did passed the INTERVIEW with hassle free!!

I tried to upload a pic of my folder that I did prepared for my K1 VISA but, it is failed to upload..:-(

Edited January 25, 2009 by rajemr2119