Post a picture of your I-129 packet!

[Fandango 1,439]

Unless you have a specific need to front load your petition, there is no need for a petition to be 200 pages long. There was once a thread (I'm sure it's stickied here) by a svc center employee explaining the process of going through the petition. They have a huge load, so imo, K.I.S.S.

eta: 200 pages is even excessive imo for a front loaded petition, but that's jmho

Edited January 17, 2011 by Lisa C

[Fandango 1,439]

My packet was about 200 pages. It used paper clips to hold like documents together and then a larger binder clip to put everything together. I put photos of our time together in a plastic bag that was attached via binder clip to other evidence of our time together. Same thing for the passport photos of us. I annotated the back of each picture telling them when, where and what we were doing (for example engagement on new years my photos showed the ring which I included copies of receipts for and Christmas decorations in the background). I made sure to include pictures with backgrounds that placed us together at certain times of the year, with Christmas trees, Santas in the background, places that had obvious Russian stores by signs, and even one of them accidentally had a calendar in the background that was hung on the wall turned to January 2011.

My packet was likely overkill as I also included the I-134 with it and supporting financial documents and letter from my employer as to my job there. I did not want any reason for an RFE, so I included anything I could think of that would hold up the process. It took me the better part of 3 days to pull everything together, and I was very organized going into my trip to Russia. So anyone that has not already did this, I would advise much preparation in advance of the trip. Make sure many pictures that way really good ones that can't be denied as to when and where you were together. And of course sending in pictures of all the emails and such does not hurt either. I did this to show how much communication we have, but not show them every email and explode my package to 500 pages or more.

one more thing: pictures are secondary evidence. It's better to focus on primary evidence...plane tickets, passport stamps, hotel bills, etc. Pictures with Santa only prove that you were there during the holidays, it doesn't prove that you were there within 2 years.

and the svc centers aren't interested in your financials. At all.

[Rwlaird 18]

The effort to help others should be appreciated by those still at this stage. I'll add my two cents for ehatever it's worth.

It seems best to read the instructions the agency provides and not do any more or less than that. I would assume that their "General Tips on Assembling Applications for Mailing" were written to provide clear guidance after dealing with the hassles of so many applications which were not organized the way that they like. I only found a couple of vague areas: 1) what to do with the photos and the check; and 2) how to label the tabs; how to break the information into categories for each tab (which they ask be placed across the bottom).

So what I did: 1) put the photos and check in a ziploc bag with the photos held into place with a post it note; also punched the bag at the top just like they ask for the pages; and 2) the categories that seemed logical for tabs: STATEMENT - I-129F - G-325A - BIRTH CERT. - EVIDENCE. Devising a tab system for the bottom of the page required creativity since I wasn't able to easily find any at Office Depot. I used stick on tabs and put each on a blank sheet to seperate each category.

It seemed to work for me as I just got approval the second time (didn't work out with first fiancee) with no RFE either time - also whole package was about 10 to 15 pages - not 200.

[On the Road Again 2]

Please read the rest of the thread. Things do change with USCIS, but this particular aspect of preparing an I-129F packet has not changed.

Really not an important part of the process. No, none, No one, has ever been dis-apporved because of a hole punch, paper clip, ACCO fastener, thumb tack or any device used to secure papers together. So it's not really important to read any more then I needed.

[JohnC811 4]

Darn I wish i took a picture of it put together

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Mine was in a clear plastic folder and I had tabs on the side. Tabs for the petition, G325A, proof of US citizenship, evidence of meeting. I didn't hole punch or stick anything together in any way. Whatever we did, I am sure USCIS tore it apart and organized it to fit their system anyway.

[James And Oksana 19]

As I said, mine was likely overkill. But then again my packet had not just Oksana, but her daughters and translations of birth certificates and divorce certificates. Without even the I-129F, just those documents for her and I would have exceeded 20 pages. Not to mention that other people had recommended in addition to my birth certificate, that I also include all pages of my passport. As I figured, they will rip apart the package and focus on the relevant information in the package as I have plenty of it. My focus was on preventing any RFE's coming back. If someone can tell their story and proof in 15 pages, more power to them, but there is no way my package would have been sufficient at that many pages, even without the financials.

[JeWcHee 3]

Hello....here is the replica of my k1-application. I used prong fasteners and a 3 partition folder to hold the documents plus bought a special letterhead paper to hold my photos. Total pages - 40

http://www.visajourney.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=lastupby&uid=96135

[RK_and_Inday 10]

Raldetta,

Thank you very much for your post, your suggestions, and comments. For myself (RK, the petitioner) and Inday (beneficiary) your post was timely. Over the past few weeks, I and Inday have recently been assembling documents for the I-129F also. Very, very soon am hoping to submit the completed I-129F. So at this point I, too, had been wondering about how to best/properly package/present this form and all the additional documents/evidences. Your post and the comments/replies which your post have inspired have answered many of the very specific questions I soon was also about to ask of members on this site. Again, thank you, and continued good luck is wished to to you on your own "visa journey."

RK

[USColombia 6]

Hello....here is the replica of my k1-application. I used prong fasteners and a 3 partition folder to hold the documents plus bought a special letterhead paper to hold my photos. Total pages - 40

http://www.visajourney.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=lastupby&uid=96135

So how did you organize your packet with 3 partition folder? Each side got a section? I am thinking about going this route but don't want to confuse people. Maybe it's just easier to use "binder" clips instead....

[yapasdeprobleme 4]

I actually did take a picture of mine, but I can't find it. It was in a 1/2 inch binder (not pink) with a cover letter and a table of contents. I did about six dividers for the various forms, the letters of intent, chat records, photos, emails, etc. They required photo copies of every page of my passport, so that took up about 45 pages (I have a big one), then phone records and emails - it did end up being about 100 pages, I'd say. I had tabs... I figured I'm only doing this once, and my file should reflect how serious I am, so I made it as nice and easy to read as possible.

On a side-note - i sent it to Vermont, they received it 4 AUG 2010. Any guesses as to when I'll receive notification of the next steps?