faxed or scan signature?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

hi again, i just wanted to know that when filing or the k-1 visa, if i send a letter (eg. letter of intent to marry) or any letter that require both hers and my signature, is a copy acceptable.

basically if email/fax her the letter with my signature and she signs it, then emails/faxes it back to me , is that acceptable?

thank you

All signatures requested from either party need to be original signatures.

Letters of intent need to be signed (original signatures), preferably in blue ink so that you don't get an RFE for a mistaken photocopied signature.

Even the cover letter should be signed by both parties in original signatures.

Al

Cover letters are optional. Cover letters do not have to be signed by either party OR and do not even need to exist.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

We got an RFE for sending photocopies of the G-325A, instead of ones with original signatures.

Actually the G-325a does not ned to be signed at all by the foreign beneficary IF you request they sign it at the interview. Copied signatures are not accpetable, but an UNSIGNED G-325a would be if properly handled and requested (see internal USCIS memo below) However you do need an original signature for the letter of intent, so why not have one for the G-325a also. I suggest your fiancee sign several BLNAK G-325a's and send them to you for you to fill in.

Internal USCIS memo regarding G-325a signatures...

Interoffice Memorandum

To: SERVICE CENTER DIRECTORS

From: Michael Aytes /S/

Acting Associate Director for Operations

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services

Department of Homeland Security

Date: November 1, 2005

Re: Guidance for Processing Pending Form I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) when

G-325A for Petitioner and/or Beneficiary is not Signed and/or Photos not Submitted.

Purpose

To provide field offices with guidance on processing Form I-129F petitions when the accompanying G-325A is missing signatures and/or photographs.

A properly executed Form G-325A is required for all I-129F petitions. Previously it was standard practice to issue an RFE when the beneficiary failed to sign the G-325A and/or failed to submit photographs. From the date of this memorandum, an RFE should not be issued in instances where the beneficiary failed to sign the G-325A and/or failed to include photographs provided that the beneficiary is residing abroad. The beneficiary will be required to sign the Form G-325A and/or submit photographs at the time of visa issuance abroad. It is also not necessary to RFE for the petitioner’s signature on the G-325A, if the petitioner failed to sign it. The signature of the petitioner on the Form I-129F should be deemed sufficient for purposes of adjudicating the petition. Finally, it is important to note that the petitioner’s photograph is still required for the adjudication of the I-129F, so if it is missing, it must be requested prior to adjudication.

Questions regarding this memorandum may be directed through appropriate channels to Mica Pilz of Service Center Operations.

sorry forgot to include this:

does the letter of intent have to be notarized ?

thanks again

no

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

It never occurred to me to have my then-fiance sign the cover letter, esp since I was the petitioner & not him. Wasn't an issue.

I would add that an RFE would add more than a week. They issue the RFE, then mail it, then it gets to you, you do what it says, mail it back (with the RFE letter inside), it has to get to them, be received AND processed.

But if the mail from the OP's fiance to the OP would take a week or more to get to him, he may as well file it with a scanned/faxed signature. Meanwhile, have her mail him the original signature. So at least if he gets an RFE, he already has the signed paperwork and can return it the same day.

An RFE will normally add more than a month to the process. Try to avoid them.

[Fratesmj 0]

Never chance ANYTHING. Always send original signatures. Waiting a few extra days for your fiance to sign a letter is better than receiving an RFE and having to prolong the already long process. Goodluck and have patience!!

[robofos 0]

Originals only

Hi, im new here- but ive been reading for a few weeks.

My fiance is Ecuadorian, and for her to hand-mail the signature to me here in the US, would take a few weeks. This is only concerning the G-325A form. I would definitely prefer to have her just scan a nice, high quality copy. I haven't read anything official that specifically says mail only original signatures. So how do you all know?

[robofos 0]

and also, what if the foreign fiance doesn't sign it at all? According to this, you're OK!

[TBoneTX 45,787]

My fiance is Ecuadorian, and for her to hand-mail the signature to me here in the US, would take a few weeks. This is only concerning the G-325A form. I would definitely prefer to have her just scan a nice, high quality copy. I haven't read anything official that specifically says mail only original signatures. So how do you all know?

Welcome to VJ, si man. In regard to your question, please ask yourself: Regardless of whether you've read anything or not, would you rather risk weeks of delay if USCIS requires original signatures that you haven't provided, or would you rather do the job correctly, in the first place, when petitioning?

Your fiancee can put her original signatures on the necessary papers and send them back to you by DHL. If necessary, send her the money for the DHL cost.

And, in regard to your follow-on question: Would you rather that your fiancee wait for the marvelous consular experience in Guayaquil? Read (or re-read) this entire thread -- http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/110313-us-consulate-in-guayaquil-ecuador/ -- paying attention to the very WORST stories. Then, read (or re-read) all of the reviews of the Guayaquil consulate (click "Reviews" atop any VJ page), paying attention to the WORST stories (in particular the one by PDXBicycleBoy). Ask yourself if you want to give the consulate yet one more reason to condemn you than they'll already find.

By the way, front-load your I-129F petition with a kitchen sink's worth of "evidence of bona fide relationship."

None of the above is meant to be reproving or "lecturing" in nature. Rather, I'm trying to provide you (a newcomer who has time to react) with what I and my contemporaries wish to heaven that we'd had, and learned the hard way.

[robofos 0]

Yeah I have changed my mind, and I talked to her about it. it is more for sure to just have her send it in. She sent me the 4 forms with original signatures in the mail yesterday, and when she asked the people at the "correo" how long it would take, they said 8-10 days. I'll believe it when I see it, but this is definitely the more certain way to go. Now on to more ridiculous paperwork-

[pushbrk 13,031]

Letters of intent need to be signed (original signatures), preferably in blue ink so that you don't get an RFE for a mistaken photocopied signature.

Even the cover letter should be signed by both parties in original signatures.

Al

This is wrong. It's the US Citizen's petition, so any cover letter only needs their signature. A cover letter is not required, so even missing a signature is OK on this one.

Letters (plural) of intent need original signatures. One on each of the TWO letters would be customary but it's certainly possible to draft a single letter both could sign and have it accepted.

Edited February 10, 2011 by pushbrk