What did you bring to your Consulate interview as proof of engagement?

[Joseph & Ana 0]

I seem to have lost my receipt for Ana's engagement ring. I could have sworn i kept it in my wallet, but its gone. Hopefully the ring itself, the fact that we're applying for a FIANCE visa, and I have an engagement greeting card from my Grandparents too.. Not to mention like was mentioned above, the affidavit of sincere relationship. I am hoping they don't nit-pick.

[Brad and Vika 129]

I am under the impression that the petitioner is not allowed to be present at the interview, in Moscow and most other embassies. I did not know you could do it in Kiev.

Vika brought me, and her ring, and about a ton of pictures, email, and other stuff that the consular officer didn't even look at. The lesson was that fiance' at interview trumps all paper proof (at least in Kiev - I realize some embassies are different). Good Luck!

Yep, I walked right up to the window with her. No questions for her (other than "can you speak English?"), and only a comment or two about the visas in my passport. Others in Ukraine have had the same experience, but I can't speak to Russia. It seems that being present in the building and available would accomplish the same thing, insofar as it is pretty solid proof that you have met in the past two years. You would also be available to attest personally to your intent to marry.

I seem to have lost my receipt for Ana's engagement ring. I could have sworn i kept it in my wallet, but its gone. Hopefully the ring itself, the fact that we're applying for a FIANCE visa, and I have an engagement greeting card from my Grandparents too.. Not to mention like was mentioned above, the affidavit of sincere relationship. I am hoping they don't nit-pick.

I understand that the PI is an entirely different ballgame - maybe even a different sport Seriously, ask questions on the PI forum about your presence.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

My immigration lawyer said that we did not need to be engaged prior to the interview, but it was imperative that PROOF OF RELATIONSHIP be established and seemd to put a bit more emphasis on the Intent to Marry letter than the sample letter presented here on VJ. It might depend on the individual consulate or the individual interviewing officer that day, but supposedly the "official" guidelines do not require an actual engagement. However, I wanted to formalize my intent with my fiancee, so we are officially engaged with ring, family party, etc. and photos to boot.

Your attorney is wrong.

You need to provide "proof of engagement" with the petition or you will receive an RFE for it. "Proof of engagement" is the fiancee letter of intent that you intend to marry within 90 days of arrival in the USA. Proof of engagement is NOT the same as proof of ongoing relationship. You need to establish that your "engagement" (already proven in the petition) is not for the purpose of immigration benefits but the result of a relationship which would logically lead to marriage. Two entirely different things.

Most consulates do not require "proof of engagement" at the interview, ours did not, but we brought a second "letter of intent", identical to the first one except for date, in case it was asked for. It wasn't.

Many consulates DO allow the US citizen to attend the interview. I walked right up with Alla when she was called. They said nothing about it.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

As I was reading an example of the Packet 3/4 email that the Sydney Consulate sends, I noticed it asks for proof of engagement. I am going to guess that most, if not all Consuls ask for this....so, what did you take to show this? Off the top of my head I am going to show my engagement ring and a copy of the receipt for it, pictures from our engagement dinner, and emails in which we discuss our wedding plans and such. That would be sufficient, right? Along with ongoing relationship proof, of course. Keep in mind that my fiance and I aren't going to be seeing each other until I touch down at LAX with my visa in hand.

I showed them the ring receipt and of course she was wearing the ring for the interview. No problem for us.

FWIW, we never did buy an engagement and Alla does not have one to this day. She has a simple wedding band we bought after her arrival here. I have never heard of an engagement ring being proof of anything. I am wearing my Father's wedding ring and never bought one for myself, that does not make our marriage any less valid. No such silly things were ever asked for or needed for the interview or the AOS.

[Brad and Vika 129]

As I was reading an example of the Packet 3/4 email that the Sydney Consulate sends, I noticed it asks for proof of engagement. I am going to guess that most, if not all Consuls ask for this....so, what did you take to show this? Off the top of my head I am going to show my engagement ring and a copy of the receipt for it, pictures from our engagement dinner, and emails in which we discuss our wedding plans and such. That would be sufficient, right? Along with ongoing relationship proof, of course. Keep in mind that my fiance and I aren't going to be seeing each other until I touch down at LAX with my visa in hand.

I showed them the ring receipt and of course she was wearing the ring for the interview. No problem for us.

FWIW, we never did buy an engagement and Alla does not have one to this day. She has a simple wedding band we bought after her arrival here. I have never heard of an engagement ring being proof of anything. I am wearing my Father's wedding ring and never bought one for myself, that does not make our marriage any less valid. No such silly things were ever asked for or needed for the interview or the AOS.

Gary - you are WAY off base with this dude! Everybody knows that a big, sparkly, expensive rock is irrefutable proof that you have more money than sense - and are willing to (as I did) spend a big slug on this symbol that really isn't required in her culture. Honestly, Vika did appreciate it, and the AOS interviewer did comment on it (that it was pretty - not that it was necessary)

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

As I was reading an example of the Packet 3/4 email that the Sydney Consulate sends, I noticed it asks for proof of engagement. I am going to guess that most, if not all Consuls ask for this....so, what did you take to show this? Off the top of my head I am going to show my engagement ring and a copy of the receipt for it, pictures from our engagement dinner, and emails in which we discuss our wedding plans and such. That would be sufficient, right? Along with ongoing relationship proof, of course. Keep in mind that my fiance and I aren't going to be seeing each other until I touch down at LAX with my visa in hand.

I showed them the ring receipt and of course she was wearing the ring for the interview. No problem for us.

FWIW, we never did buy an engagement and Alla does not have one to this day. She has a simple wedding band we bought after her arrival here. I have never heard of an engagement ring being proof of anything. I am wearing my Father's wedding ring and never bought one for myself, that does not make our marriage any less valid. No such silly things were ever asked for or needed for the interview or the AOS.

Gary - you are WAY off base with this dude! Everybody knows that a big, sparkly, expensive rock is irrefutable proof that you have more money than sense - and are willing to (as I did) spend a big slug on this symbol that really isn't required in her culture. Honestly, Vika did appreciate it, and the AOS interviewer did comment on it (that it was pretty - not that it was necessary)

Dude...NO! It is that generational thing again. Any woman that stood in one line to buy half a cucumber while her mother waited in another line to buy a spoonful of sour cream, then met up to split it for breakfast, thinks a big diamond is STUPID!!! Can't eat 'em, can't play with 'em, can't ride one into town, and they don't keep you warm in winter like that super hi-tech (not itchy) long underwear she really likes (in winter) I think she would stab me in the heart when sleeping if I spent that kind of money on a ring. Or maybe she is just sayin' that...what do you think? I think she would rather have a dishwasher (but the boys say "What does SHE need a dishwasher for? WE wash the dishes!")

A dishwasher may be better evidence of engagement, come to think of it. (see how I stay right on topic so Gigii doesn't spank me!)

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

As I was reading an example of the Packet 3/4 email that the Sydney Consulate sends, I noticed it asks for proof of engagement. I am going to guess that most, if not all Consuls ask for this....so, what did you take to show this? Off the top of my head I am going to show my engagement ring and a copy of the receipt for it, pictures from our engagement dinner, and emails in which we discuss our wedding plans and such. That would be sufficient, right? Along with ongoing relationship proof, of course. Keep in mind that my fiance and I aren't going to be seeing each other until I touch down at LAX with my visa in hand.

I showed them the ring receipt and of course she was wearing the ring for the interview. No problem for us.

FWIW, we never did buy an engagement and Alla does not have one to this day. She has a simple wedding band we bought after her arrival here. I have never heard of an engagement ring being proof of anything. I am wearing my Father's wedding ring and never bought one for myself, that does not make our marriage any less valid. No such silly things were ever asked for or needed for the interview or the AOS.

Gary - you are WAY off base with this dude! Everybody knows that a big, sparkly, expensive rock is irrefutable proof that you have more money than sense - and are willing to (as I did) spend a big slug on this symbol that really isn't required in her culture. Honestly, Vika did appreciate it, and the AOS interviewer did comment on it (that it was pretty - not that it was necessary)

Dude...NO! It is that generational thing again. Any woman that stood in one line to buy half a cucumber while her mother waited in another line to buy a spoonful of sour cream, then met up to split it for breakfast, thinks a big diamond is STUPID!!! Can't eat 'em, can't play with 'em, can't ride one into town, and they don't keep you warm in winter like that super hi-tech (not itchy) long underwear she really likes (in winter) I think she would stab me in the heart when sleeping if I spent that kind of money on a ring. Or maybe she is just sayin' that...what do you think? I think she would rather have a dishwasher (but the boys say "What does SHE need a dishwasher for? WE wash the dishes!")

A dishwasher may be better evidence of engagement, come to think of it. (see how I stay right on topic so Gigii doesn't spank me!)

Oh...and the older they are...the longer they waited in line for a bus to go to school. And it was always winter...and always more cold than now because of Global warming and always more snow than now.

That is not proof of engagement.

[Ban Hammer 13,590]

moved from K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures to US Embassy and Consulate Discussion

Topics relating to I-134's, packets sent from consulate and medical & police certificates should be posted here.

Edited August 17, 2009 by charles!