My final I-129 package questions!

[Wade+Kristin 0]

Hi everyone,

So tomorrow is finally the big day when we are sending out our first K1 package and there is a lot of butterflies fluttering around in my stomach by now. We've been reading the guides over and over, following the check list and overlooking things more than once so hopefully we got everything under control. I've got a couple more questions that I hope you guys are able to answer - it's appreciated as always

1. It says passport-type of photo. We took the pictures here in Norway by norwegian standards, which is a bit smaller than the american standard passport photos. Will that be okay or will we need to go in and try and have them custom made for this? I am assuming it is okay to follow our standards here since it says passport - type?

2. For the documents needed in the first package with the I-129f application, is it okay to use normal copies or do we need photocopies for anything? I'm thinking in specific of the birth certificate and his divorce decree? Do they want the original papers or will regular copies be okay? I noticed the step by step guide only says copy, but wanted to double check with you guys before mailing the package.

3. How elaborate do we need to be about the paper regarding how we met? I assume they want specific details although not making a chapter out of it?

Any answers and help would be much appreciated. Feeling kinda up in the air - and very excited - here because the day for sending it out has finally arrived

~ Kristin

[canadian_wife 1,822]

1. Passport size photos are supposed to be to American standards - 2x2 inches. I am not sure if they will accept Norwegian standards or not. I know they did not accept the Canadian standards which were slightly larger than the US ones.

2. Don't send originals to USCIS and makes at least 2 copies of the entire packet just in case. The originals will be submitted later.

3. Don't write a novel or include dialog but be specific enough to include dates and locations.

Good luck on your journey

[baron555 934]

Ditto on what cw said plus some more:

I'm thinking in specific of the birth certificate and his divorce decree?

Don't need the birth certificate of the beneficiary, just the petitioner (or copy of entire passport, that's what I sent).

Also all documents not in English must be translated and a copy of that included.

3. How elaborate do we need to be about the paper regarding how we met? I assume they want specific details although not making a chapter out of it?

Here's what I stated for my petition of which we received our NOA2 last week: "On Feb. 14, 2009 we both met in Kiev, Ukraine and stayed together until Feb. 24, 2009."

Then I supplied copies of our passports with the Ukraine entry and exit stamps, copies of our boarding passes showing our names and the destination and dates, copies of our apartment bill with the same date ranges, and then some photos of us in front of historic and recognizable landmarks in Kiev.

Any answers and help would be much appreciated. Feeling kinda up in the air - and very excited - here because the day for sending it out has finally arrived

~ Kristin

[Nik+Heather 121]

Hi everyone,

So tomorrow is finally the big day when we are sending out our first K1 package and there is a lot of butterflies fluttering around in my stomach by now. We've been reading the guides over and over, following the check list and overlooking things more than once so hopefully we got everything under control. I've got a couple more questions that I hope you guys are able to answer - it's appreciated as always

1. It says passport-type of photo. We took the pictures here in Norway by norwegian standards, which is a bit smaller than the american standard passport photos. Will that be okay or will we need to go in and try and have them custom made for this? I am assuming it is okay to follow our standards here since it says passport - type?

2. For the documents needed in the first package with the I-129f application, is it okay to use normal copies or do we need photocopies for anything? I'm thinking in specific of the birth certificate and his divorce decree? Do they want the original papers or will regular copies be okay? I noticed the step by step guide only says copy, but wanted to double check with you guys before mailing the package.

3. How elaborate do we need to be about the paper regarding how we met? I assume they want specific details although not making a chapter out of it?

Any answers and help would be much appreciated. Feeling kinda up in the air - and very excited - here because the day for sending it out has finally arrived

~ Kristin

1. Nik got UK type passport photos that I had to cut apart myself. I didn't measure them, so I'm sure they weren't exactly 2x2. We were approved without RFE. Also, I have read that others had similar experiences. So long as it is close to meeting the rules, good chance that you'll be OK. Now when it comes time to issue the visa, it becomes more important, because the picture will be included in the visa, so it needs to be the right size.

2. Not sure what the difference is between a "normal" and "photo"copy. Whichever one means any old copy machine in any office/kinkos etc. You could even scan and print at home.

3. We sent mostly facts. First meeting Nov xx - Nov xx 2007, second meeting xxxxx, third meeting xxxxx, 4th meeting....etc. Just dates for when we had been together in person. We also explained how we had come to meet - in our case, playing the same online game. I provided the web address in case they wanted to check it out. It was only about as long as this paragraph here. I closed the loop by providing one picture from each meeting in person, with notes as to the date and land marks in the background, and bording passes/itineraries/passport stamps to correlate.

I was excited to send it out too, but then when it's gone, it's sooooo boring waiting for things to happen. Hoping for a speedy approval!

Edited July 2, 2009 by Nik+Heather

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hi everyone,

So tomorrow is finally the big day when we are sending out our first K1 package and there is a lot of butterflies fluttering around in my stomach by now. We've been reading the guides over and over, following the check list and overlooking things more than once so hopefully we got everything under control. I've got a couple more questions that I hope you guys are able to answer - it's appreciated as always

1. It says passport-type of photo. We took the pictures here in Norway by norwegian standards, which is a bit smaller than the american standard passport photos. Will that be okay or will we need to go in and try and have them custom made for this? I am assuming it is okay to follow our standards here since it says passport - type?

2. For the documents needed in the first package with the I-129f application, is it okay to use normal copies or do we need photocopies for anything? I'm thinking in specific of the birth certificate and his divorce decree? Do they want the original papers or will regular copies be okay? I noticed the step by step guide only says copy, but wanted to double check with you guys before mailing the package.

3. How elaborate do we need to be about the paper regarding how we met? I assume they want specific details although not making a chapter out of it?

Any answers and help would be much appreciated. Feeling kinda up in the air - and very excited - here because the day for sending it out has finally arrived

~ Kristin

1. Maybe a problem. Maybe not. You want to risk severl weeks delay for lack of getting a correct sized photo?

2. Copies are OK. Divorce certificates must have a stamp from the court, but a copy of the stamp is OK, as long as you can read it.

3. I used two sentences. They want to know how you first met in person.

[Wade+Kristin 0]

Hi everyone and thanks for the great replies!

As usual I feel more confident after asking my questions here at VJ

I don't really want to risk a delay due to the wrong photo sizes, no, so I guess we will take some new ones tomorrow just to make sure. Luckily he is here visiting now so we can have it done together before it's being mailed out.

I have one more question based on this reply from Gary and Alla "3. I used two sentences. They want to know how you first met in person." We met online and in person a few years ago, should I not mention how we met online or should I only concentrate on when we met in person? This was earlier than the 2 years they mention, although we have also of course met more recent. Should I only mention the times we have been together during the last 2 years or also mention former visits?

Thanks!

Kristin

[Nik+Heather 121]

Hi everyone and thanks for the great replies!

As usual I feel more confident after asking my questions here at VJ

I don't really want to risk a delay due to the wrong photo sizes, no, so I guess we will take some new ones tomorrow just to make sure. Luckily he is here visiting now so we can have it done together before it's being mailed out.

I have one more question based on this reply from Gary and Alla "3. I used two sentences. They want to know how you first met in person." We met online and in person a few years ago, should I not mention how we met online or should I only concentrate on when we met in person? This was earlier than the 2 years they mention, although we have also of course met more recent. Should I only mention the times we have been together during the last 2 years or also mention former visits?

Thanks!

Kristin

I think it is a good idea to explain how you met virtually, how you met in person for the first time, and how you met in person within the 2 year requirement.

If I remember correctly, Gary and Alla met each other in real life (so also in person) within 2 years...

When dealing with something which is virtually free (a few more words on the page), less is NOT more.

[Wade+Kristin 0]

Hi everyone and thanks for the great replies!

As usual I feel more confident after asking my questions here at VJ

I don't really want to risk a delay due to the wrong photo sizes, no, so I guess we will take some new ones tomorrow just to make sure. Luckily he is here visiting now so we can have it done together before it's being mailed out.

I have one more question based on this reply from Gary and Alla "3. I used two sentences. They want to know how you first met in person." We met online and in person a few years ago, should I not mention how we met online or should I only concentrate on when we met in person? This was earlier than the 2 years they mention, although we have also of course met more recent. Should I only mention the times we have been together during the last 2 years or also mention former visits?

Thanks!

Kristin

I think it is a good idea to explain how you met virtually, how you met in person for the first time, and how you met in person within the 2 year requirement.

If I remember correctly, Gary and Alla met each other in real life (so also in person) within 2 years...

When dealing with something which is virtually free (a few more words on the page), less is NOT more.

Hi again and thanks for replying to me once more

I'll make sure we cover properly how we met. We met online for the very first time a few years ago and had our first meeting the following year, which was why I was wondering if we should include this along with how we've also met in person during the last two years. I see some of you have photos where they include important places/land marks in the city they're in.. unfortunately we don't really have a lot of that to include ourselves. We do have plenty of regular pictures of us together, as well as photos of us at the hospital when our son was born. I will also include photos from the day we picked out the rings together at the jewelry and I hope they will accept this as enough proof of us being together and having a proper relationship.

Anyway, thanks again for replying - it is very appreciated. I see you just got approved of your own visa and wanted to say congratulations! It must feel great to be done with the long waiting time

Kristin