Chat histories as evidence of ongoing relationship

[haleywynne 0]

My fiance has his interview in London on the 22nd and I really want a straight forward answer on how important it would be to bring chat histories as evidence of an ongoing relationship.

Right now my evidence is within the 2 visits we've had since filing the I-129f...

1. Passport stamps (Ash came to Texas once and I went to England once... before that he had visited 3 times and I had visited twice.)

2. Itineraries for those two flights and their boarding passes

3. About 11 photos of the two of us together taken during those 2 visits

4. Ash's parents sent us a postcard to my house while he was here and they were in Ireland (I saved it for this thinking it might be some help, haha)

We talk mostly on MSN, Skype and phone cards.

1. MSN chats don't even have our actual names, there are thousands of pages I'm sure and, in my opinion, doesn't seem like a very legitimate way of proving a relationship other than words between two random names.

2. Skype is easy to print out a history for, we can do that.

3. Phone cards, the ones I use (from Walgreens) don't send records of the calls as far as I know.

4. We also talk A LOT on Blackberry Messenger, no way of really proving that

Basically, with the evidence I do have, is it really necessary for me to print out and edit all those MSN conversations???

Thanks in advance

Edited October 1, 2009 by haleywynne

[Anh map 2,098]

You should be demonstrating your ongoing relationship from beginning to present, not just your visits together.

You would want to send them selected chats from periods throughout your relationship. I'm not sure what type of chat history MSN can show. If you're able to show an archive summary of the chats (showing date, contact, etc.) that would be something good. I believe that was what we submitted to the consulate along with chats from various points along the way.

From some recent foreign service officer blogs that I've read Blog Link the CO is focusing on the person and how the questions are answered more than any documentation. The blogs talked more about non-immigrant interviews, but the same thinking has to apply. That being said, we were RFE'd for more detail in our correspondence. At that point some trees were sacrificed and all chat transcripts submitted.

Our consulate was a tough one (Vietnam), so you may not be held to as high a standard. Give the CO a sense of your communication. No need to give them the spicy chat. Just chat about life, life together, the visa process, important occurences. No one can really saw what is the "right mx." But better to bring too much and get the visa than an RFE.

Good luck!

[Allie and Nigel 2]

Read some of the posts in the embassy reviews, London doesnt really make a big deal about relationship proof, they want the $$$ part. Maybe have a bit but dont go crazy getting stuff like other consulates make people do. Its up to you.

[haleywynne 0]

Okay that's what I was thinking, because I read that the London Embassy isn't too concerned with loads of proof because they are low fraud.

I guess we will print out random conversations through out the years, I was really hoping that Skype history and photos would be good...

Also as a follow up question, should I send all the same photos I sent with the I-129F again? I had only planned on sending more recent ones.

[Allie and Nigel 2]

Whatever, photos, letters, postcards, a bit of chat logs, do a sprinkle of a bit but dont go crazy with stuff....like other consulates make folks do! Just make sure the ducks are in a row money wise like I said cause thats the most important....

[haleywynne 0]

Whatever, photos, letters, postcards, a bit of chat logs, do a sprinkle of a bit but dont go crazy with stuff....like other consulates make folks do! Just make sure the ducks are in a row money wise like I said cause thats the most important....

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I have that down. I obviously don't make enough as a student/substitute teacher, but my dad is cosponsoring.

He makes wellll above the poverty required for what our household size will be when Ash gets here so I think we will be fine. I've got his tax transcripts, w-2, pay stubs, employer letter, and birth certificate. I'm all set right?