RFE after almost 5 months.....

[kamson 1]

Speaking of pictures and proof that you have been together in the last two years... Our pictures have a date on them of 2007 even though we took the pictures in 2010. I have lots of additional supportive information/proof that we have indeed been together in his country... However, I am wondering will it come into question when he does go for interview. I'm prayful that it won't just a thought.. since this discussion has come up..

[dogspot 90]

This really isn't rocket science; you have the Guides and if you had followed them to the letter and signed and completed the forms using the Example Forms you wouldn't be in this quandry.

This isn't necessarily true. See Ashex's example above - specify the state where you plan to marry? C'mon...that's not mentioned in any guide. There have been other examples of ridiculous RFEs over the years that no guide here or anywhere is going to help you avoid.

The way I see it, an RFE is a good thing. At least they didn't deny you. Reply to the RFE and you'll likely be approved the same day they receive it.

Edited February 11, 2011 by dogspot

[Utha 10]

Dont worry, the RFE could be anything that you never imagine like ours. You are not the only one on that late RFE boat, we got RFE after more than 5 months and now we still waiting for another RFE. What a beautiful world, right?

[Shenzhen 34]

Well, its official, after almost 5 months of feeling confident that the forms, pictures, phone records, and hotel bill would get me to my baby, an RFE is released in our names. Still havent seen the list of things they need, but I am not sure what else we can do to prove to them that we are in a comitted relationship.....

I do think it's BS that showing receipts from dinner and movies and gass bills are accepted forms of primary evidence, yet time stamped photos are secondary along with phone records.... It shows us together, and how often we talk to eachother.....

I have seen stories of other people on here with less evidance getting accepted, and it disheartens me to see my RFE. I can't really show passport stamps, because they just give me a quick scan and send me on my way.... what else can we include to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt we are together, and want to be for years to come?

I waited 6 months called them to look into the case. Got an RFE at the 7 month got approved in 2 more weeks. Made it through the USCIS and now have been stuck at the NVC for 3 months. Sent in copies of the DS-230 and the AOS 2x and emailed them once the last time. STILL ABSOLUTE BIG FAT 0. NVC disservice center. I paid them $488.00 for what to lose my paper work. THis is disgusting. It will be 1 year since I filed next week.

[NotYourPsycho 0]

C,

I filed my petition in November so I am still waiting. I only sent pictures so I know we will get RFE. The instructions for petition say: provide copies of evidence that you and your fiance met in the last two years. I didn't know anything about primary and secondary evidence until I found VJ. It seems like people get approved really fast after you send back what they ask for so don't worry and it may be something else they need.

The problem for us is that I don't have much to send them when we do get RFE. We both drive, I didn't keep any receipts from tolls in the US (doesn't prove anything) or from the bridge and as you know they don't stamp your passport. The only thing I thought of is the possibility of getting a printed list from the border of all the times I have entered and exited the country...this is probably not an option but I don't have much more even though we visit once a month

I feel your pain! I am working on putting together mine and asked one of the Sumas border guys about it, and they said they don't print out copies and I would need to keep track myself. We visit eachother atleast 2-3 times a month. Makes it hard to prove with no hotel reciepts, border crossing stamps, boarding passes, etc. I just keep piling what reciepts and pictures we do have in a folder and hope for the best.

Maybe I'll ask this next border guy when I cross back into the US tomorrow.

[NinoniAndBoosBoos 6]

<br />Yeah, it's really upsetting getting an RFE. But if it helps, once you send in the requested information it really doesn't take them long to process it. Once they had recevied our RFE reply it only took them one day! Unfotunately, USPS lost our reply letter in the post for 1 week inbetween grrrrr. Of all the letters to lose <img src='http://static-forums.visajourney.com/public/style_emoticons/default/headbonk.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> <br /><br />Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, return the RFE info soon as you can and it shouldn't take long <img src='http://static-forums.visajourney.com/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> <br /><br />Good luck<br />

<br /><br /><br />

we sent in our RFE with exactly everything they requested, CSA received it Jan. 25 and we have no word of our NOA2. We are now outside of the processeing time frame and it is again worrisome having to follow-up with them. I think we will wait to contact them though, once I am in the US visiting my fiance, hopefully we might get our answer while we are together, that would be so wonderful. Keep positive and sorry they lost your letter, lesson here COPY COPY COPY and patience patience patience.

Edited February 13, 2011 by NinoniAndBoosBoos

[CaBOoSE 3]

Okay, so heres the situation now....

We have the RFE. It is asking for copies of my Passport and all stamps, here is the problem. I have always used the Ambassador bridge to cross, and not once have the border crossing officers given me a stamp for my passport. Will this cause a problem with the RFE? I really want to find this out quickly because the RFE expiry is the 12th of March (I know, more than enough time) If it will be a problem not having stamps I can probably get one this weekend on my next trip, but I am just wondering if they can pull up all the information from the systems since the passport was scanned in. I could send the copies to my fiancee in Ohio right now, if I knew the stamps weren't direly needed......

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

It sounds to me like they are asking for proof of meeting in person in the last two years. You cannot go and ask for a stamp now, because you need proof that you met in the two years before you sent in the petition (ie you must be eligible at the time of submission, can't get eligible now if you weren't then). What did you send in as proof of meeting?

[iampatricias 17]

Hmm, I'd copy every page in your passport and attach a note saying something to the effect of, "frequent crossings at Ambassador Bridge have not required passport stamps" ... I mean, they must know about the passport stamping procedures for Canadians getting into the States?

If you're going on the weekend, you could always try to bring your RFE and mention it to the agent at the border and see what they can do for you...

[DJbcn 0]

I'm in the same situation, I got an RFE today after waiting 5 months and one week! It's so upsetting, I can't believe they are doing this to us!

[CaBOoSE 3]

It sounds to me like they are asking for proof of meeting in person in the last two years. You cannot go and ask for a stamp now, because you need proof that you met in the two years before you sent in the petition (ie you must be eligible at the time of submission, can't get eligible now if you weren't then). What did you send in as proof of meeting?

Exactly what the forms had asked.... we sent in hotel receipts, color photos, the receipt for the engagement ring, the signed letters of intent, there wasn't much more we could have done other than the passport. I feel stupid now for not including it, but the stamp thing is going to hurt me isn't it? Right now I just don't know what else I can do, I just want to be with her so badly, and from the sounds of it, I won't be able to.... it is depressing me to no end.....

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Exactly what the forms had asked.... we sent in hotel receipts, color photos, the receipt for the engagement ring, the signed letters of intent, there wasn't much more we could have done other than the passport. I feel stupid now for not including it, but the stamp thing is going to hurt me isn't it? Right now I just don't know what else I can do, I just want to be with her so badly, and from the sounds of it, I won't be able to.... it is depressing me to no end.....

Don't be depressed! You can fix it. Can you type here exactly what the RFE says?

Hotel receipts are good, but the other things are not primary evidence of meeting in person (I mentioned this earlier in this thread). Photos are only secondary evidence, and intent letters and receipts for gifts do not prove that you ever met in person.

Don't confuse things here. I am guessing (though to be sure we'd need the exact text of the RFE) that they are not satisfied with your proof of meeting in person in the last two years. There is nothing about your relationship here. Only that you need to satisfy the requirement of meeting in the past two years (before you sent in the petition). And I am sure you did that, so calm down, and start getting the primary proof together. The hotel receipt sounds promising, was it a hotel in Canada? Was this explained in your cover letter? Lack of stamps in your passport can be explained as well. Before I go much further, please type out the language in the RFE. Don't panic! You just have to get your terms and types of proof straight. Good luck.

[CaBOoSE 3]

We have only had our one hotel stay in Detroit.... the rest of the time I have driven to Ohio to be with her. We have sent in ticket stubs from movies, our trip to cedar point, all those trivial things we sent in to back up we have physically met, I mean why wouldnt a time dated photo be acceptable as proof of meeting? Its not like I photoshopped myself on the picture... LOL But right now I am getting a schedule down of all my visits to include with the passport photos... I am praying that they can pull up my entries to the us and see that they do match up to the dates I will include... I just don't know what else I can do other than affadavits and all the other secondary evidance we have.....

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

We have only had our one hotel stay in Detroit.... the rest of the time I have driven to Ohio to be with her. We have sent in ticket stubs from movies, our trip to cedar point, all those trivial things we sent in to back up we have physically met, I mean why wouldnt a time dated photo be acceptable as proof of meeting? Its not like I photoshopped myself on the picture... LOL But right now I am getting a schedule down of all my visits to include with the passport photos... I am praying that they can pull up my entries to the us and see that they do match up to the dates I will include... I just don't know what else I can do other than affadavits and all the other secondary evidance we have.....

People DO "photoshop" pictures all the time. USCIS does still ask for "film dated" photos, but that requirement is obsolete. Before digital cameras, many film cameras had an internal illuminated clock, and an image of that clock could be exposed along with the photo image. It didn't prove absolutely that a photo was taken on the date indicated because it was easy to change the date on the camera, but it did make it difficult to retroactively change the date on a photo that was taken more than two years ago unless you had your own darkroom. With digital photography and photo editing software, those dates are no longer trusted. They'll accept the photographs as evidence if you can provide some compelling evidence that you were both in the same place at the time you claim the photos were taken.

Tickets from movies aren't useful. They don't have your names on them. You or anyone else could have attended the movie on that date.

Since you drove your car, did you purchase gas with a credit or debit card? If you could match up a credit or debit card statement with your gas receipts then that would prove that YOU purchased gas at the time and place indicated.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Yes, you will have to connect the dots for them. If you included a hotel receipt from a town in which your fiance doesn't live, did you also show from some receipt of hers that shows SHE was in Detroit at that time? Did you write in your cover letter why you sent this receipt in the first place? They could think you had a nice trip to Detroit by yourself. Just think very literally and get some conclusive proof that you and she were in the same place at the same time. This proof will be receipts etc with your names on it tied to your bank account. Don't get confused with proof of relationship. It is possible the CBP could pull up your visits, that is also a good avenue to investigate. Jim's idea about gas receipts is also good (as usual). You could get your bank records to show proof of purchases in Ohio. You can fix this. Don't worry, and good luck.