Pictures as evidence

[kaydee457 13]

For my 129f for evidence I sent a copy of my passport, it showed I had gone two times to see my fiance. I did not include any pictures of us together, phone bills, or any other evidence.

My petition was approved in less than a week, so I had no problem with them needing any other evidence.

I also submitted hotel receipts, car rental receipts, boarding passes, copy of passport to show travel dates. I don't think pics are that important...........why did I send in 5????? I don't know but believe me I wish I had kept it much more simple.

Whatever you can show that will prove you have in fact met-that is what they want!!!!

Yes, I and many others I've read about from time to time have been approved without submitting any photos at all so this should give you an idea of the relative weight given to a photo as evidence.

If you have one to supplement your other more tangible evidence then by all means send it in. The type of evidence you should concentrate on are as Aussie, and others have alluded to.

A strong complete picture in the adjudicators mind is what you need to aim for that shows you have met within the required period of 2 years via airline tickets, boarding passes, itineraries, hotel receipts, credit card receipts, etc. Don't make the mistake of thinking and making photographic evidence the primary evidence. And take care in not weighing down the petition with evidence of an ongoing relationship as opposed to a stronger package of evidence of having met in the required 2 year period. Phone bills eg do not count towards evidence of having met.

Leave out the relationship evidence and save it for the interview.

Edited February 15, 2006 by kaydee457

[Yodrak 7]

Aussiewench,

Two interesting things about that example:

- The petition was denied not because petitioner couldn't prove a meeting, but because the documented meetings had not taken place within the required time frame of 2 years prior to submitting the petition.

- Petitioner was self-represented at his appeal.

Yodrak

I know that many of us have been over and over this issue of photographic evidence. Most members know my standing on it Photographic evidence whilst it doesn't hurt to submit and can make a strong package of evidence even stronger. A strong complete picture in the adjudicators mind is what you need to aim for that shows you have met within the required period of 2 years via airline tickets, boarding passes, itineraries, hotel receipts, credit card receipts, etc. Don't make the mistake of thinking and making photographic evidence the primary evidence. And take care in not weighing down the petition with evidence of an ongoing relationship as opposed to a stronger package of evidence of having met in the required 2 year period. Phone bills eg do not count towards evidence of having met.

Have been pouring over a link with miles and miles of appeals that are mostly denied and found many very interesting.

Here's an example

The petitioner states that he has photos to prove he met his fiance prior to filing the petition. However, photographs are not evidence of a personal meeting.

Source

There is many like it.

[Chuckles 0]

Hehe, I haven't been with VJ long, but this question always seems to raise an argument It seems to me you want to have pictures, but if you do not, your other evidence should be solid as a rock.

Also, some pictures are better then others. A picture of you together in front of the Washington Monument with a newspaper in your hand probobly goes farther then a picture in a random 'picture box'.

I guess the big kicker on pictures is really, what real proof does the adjucator have that it is really you and your fiance in the pictures? Sure you send passport photos, but it is something that is not too difficult to fake, unless you send copies of the actual passports with the persons photos.

[aussiewench 9]

The documented evidence that he submitted in the appeal by way of the photos, was not accepted as being proof that they had met within the required 2 year period. And it clearly stated in a seperate sentence 'However, photographs are not evidence of a personal meeting'. Appeal dismissed.

Aussiewench,

Two interesting things about that example:

- The petition was denied not because petitioner couldn't prove a meeting, but because the documented meetings had not taken place within the required time frame of 2 years prior to submitting the petition.

- Petitioner was self-represented at his appeal.

Yodrak

Edited February 15, 2006 by aussiewench

[kaydee457 13]

Hehe, I haven't been with VJ long, but this question always seems to raise an argument It seems to me you want to have pictures, but if you do not, your other evidence should be solid as a rock.

Also, some pictures are better then others. A picture of you together in front of the Washington Monument with a newspaper in your hand probobly goes farther then a picture in a random 'picture box'.

I guess the big kicker on pictures is really, what real proof does the adjucator have that it is really you and your fiance in the pictures? Sure you send passport photos, but it is something that is not too difficult to fake, unless you send copies of the actual passports with the persons photos.

Chuckles- Please see my signature for your answer. Anyone can make photos appear anyway they want these days......Just takes some crude computer skills and a good to moderate Photo editing software package.

[Chuckles 0]

Hehe, I haven't been with VJ long, but this question always seems to raise an argument It seems to me you want to have pictures, but if you do not, your other evidence should be solid as a rock.

Also, some pictures are better then others. A picture of you together in front of the Washington Monument with a newspaper in your hand probobly goes farther then a picture in a random 'picture box'.

I guess the big kicker on pictures is really, what real proof does the adjucator have that it is really you and your fiance in the pictures? Sure you send passport photos, but it is something that is not too difficult to fake, unless you send copies of the actual passports with the persons photos.

Chuckles- Please see my signature for your answer. Anyone can make photos appear anyway they want these days......Just takes some crude computer skills and a good to moderate Photo editing software package.

LOL yah that one sure fooled me !!!

[kaydee457 13]

Hehe, I haven't been with VJ long, but this question always seems to raise an argument It seems to me you want to have pictures, but if you do not, your other evidence should be solid as a rock.

Also, some pictures are better then others. A picture of you together in front of the Washington Monument with a newspaper in your hand probobly goes farther then a picture in a random 'picture box'.

I guess the big kicker on pictures is really, what real proof does the adjucator have that it is really you and your fiance in the pictures? Sure you send passport photos, but it is something that is not too difficult to fake, unless you send copies of the actual passports with the persons photos.

Chuckles- Please see my signature for your answer. Anyone can make photos appear anyway they want these days......Just takes some crude computer skills and a good to moderate Photo editing software package.

LOL yah that one sure fooled me !!!

Well, you get the point.....It's very easy to add a date to a photo, and the sophistigated "rings" that we hear of from time to time I'm sure have very good forgeries to submit.....

[Yodrak 7]

aussiewench,

The two items that I mentioned are separate and distict from the photographs as evidence issue - OT from the point of view of this thread, but interesting and worthwhile in their own right.

I did not mention the photographs issue in that post, but I will add a few comments on it now with regard to this example case.

- The decision says "The petitioner states that he has photos to prove he met his fiancee prior to filing the petition." The decision does not say whether or not the petitioner presented the photos he claimed to have, but the language seems to indicate that he did not present them.

- The decision says "... the petitioner and the beneficiary must have met in person between June 8, 1997 and June 7, 1999. The record indicates that the petitioner last met his fiancee in the Philippines on January 30, 1997." The decision does not say what the record consists of, whether it includes photographs or not, but it does say that the issue is not if they met, but when. In this context, one can easily understand the statement that photos are not evidence of a personal meeting - if the petitioner was claiming another meeting after June 8, 1977 photos are certainly not suitable evidence as they could easily have been taken during one of the prior meetings.

I agree, by the way, that photographs are not required evidence of having met, not even primary evidence. Maybe a helpful addition to other evidence as part of a total package.

Yodrak

The documented evidence that he submitted in the appeal by way of the photos, was not accepted as being proof that they had met within the required 2 year period. And it clearly stated in a seperate sentence 'However, photographs are not evidence of a personal meeting'. Appeal dismissed.

Aussiewench,

Two interesting things about that example:

- The petition was denied not because petitioner couldn't prove a meeting, but because the documented meetings had not taken place within the required time frame of 2 years prior to submitting the petition.

- Petitioner was self-represented at his appeal.

Yodrak

Edited February 15, 2006 by Yodrak

[irishgirl73 0]

I have to admit, now that my petition is being held up I wonder if it isn't b/c I sumitted too much #######. I mean I followed the guides here, but I may have been a little overzealous. I don't think the people looking at my paperwork care if I have changed my hairstyle over the course of our relationship

I think this is just one of those things where people send in what they are comfortable with. For one person it may be no pics, another 15.

To each his own I guess.

[maya62 7]

If you are together now, do get a few pics together! Heck, get the camera at Walmart and ask the Greeter to take a photo of you! They don't have to be works of art, but I think it is much better to have lousy/goofy pictures than no pictures. I wouldn't spend the money on a family portrait just for your petition, but if you want one anyway...

Imho, photos can only help. We got our petition approved with only 3 photos (and lots of other evidence: boarding passes, visas, credit card statements showing payment for airline tickets, itineraries, etc...), but when my fiance dropped packet 3 off at the (high fraud Asian) consulate, he was told to come back TOMORROW for your interview and bring more pictures!! Fortunately we had a few more.

As many have said, they are part of a total "picture".

Best wishes!

Maya

[rosyanne 0]

VERY important. We were rejected because of that.

[Yodrak 7]

Maya,

Keep in mind that petition processing by the USCIS and visa application processing at a consulate are two separate and distinct things, some different issues are involved.

Yodrak

...

Imho, photos can only help. We got our petition approved with only 3 photos (and lots of other evidence: boarding passes, visas, credit card statements showing payment for airline tickets, itineraries, etc...), but when my fiance dropped packet 3 off at the (high fraud Asian) consulate, he was told to come back TOMORROW for your interview and bring more pictures!! Fortunately we had a few more.

...

Maya

[*Robert* 2]

Maya,

Keep in mind that petition processing by the USCIS and visa application processing at a consulate are two separate and distinct things, some different issues are involved.

Yodrak

Yodrak, I like something you said in another thread concerning the primary criteria for getting a visa. You said "the visa applicant has to be admissable to the US and the relationship, whether it's pre-marriage or post-marriage, has to be bona fide (i.e. not for the purpose of evading US immigration law)."

What would you say is the primary criteria for getting the I-129F approved, other than proof of meeting withing the last two years? Does proving there is a bona fide relationship come into play at this point?

Robert

[aussiewench 9]

What would you say is the primary criteria for getting the I-129F approved, other than proof of meeting withing the last two years? Does proving there is a bona fide relationship come into play at this point?

Robert

On the I-129F instructions you will note that one MAY also submit evidence in support of the letter of intent.....of intent to marry within the 90 days of entering the US. IMO this would include evidence such as engagement ring receipt, any notices in newspapers about your engagement, documentation from an engagement party, any documented wedding plans etc etc.

In general evidence of an ongoing relationship is only required at interview stage.

Hope this helps.

Lorelle

[ryecatcher25 0]

i would like to raise the issue of helping to influence the embassy official once apacket arrives. For everyone stating save the relationship evidence for the embassy, many have posted how the embassy officials recieved their petition packet and said they were already convinced of the relationship because of evidence provided within.

There is no way that anyone on this website will ever convince me that submitting a photo of my fiancee and I at our engagement party together with her family around us will not have some knd of impact on the offical looking at it. I had to prove that the pic was taking in the last 2 years with plane tickets and hotel receipts, by the 3 photos i sent of us at that party are very good evidence of our relationship. And if the embassy officer looks at htose pics before he sees my fiancee for her interview then i am certain it will positively influence him.

There is absolutely no way that anyone will tell my that photographic evidence is not helpful. No way.

And for the record i submitted what many would think is a ton of evidence in my petition packet and was approved in 2 weeks. I have said it before and i'll say it again. organization is key. Pretend that your packet is going to be opened by a mentally handicapped person and make things easy for them to find.