ALRIGHT. HONESTY Please

[MatthewNCarolina 73]

I'm about to mail out my I-129F petition tomorrow... or actually today since it's 12:34 AM. I'm usually in bed at 11PM... I need answers to this: What to send to your fiance(e) once the I-129F is approved (Receive NOA2):

1. A copy of the entire I-129f package (that you made when you sent the petition in) and a copy of information that you sent back due to an RFE (if you received one).

SERIOUSLY. How CRUCIAL and IMPORTANT is this? I think it's a suggestion. If it is, TELL ME it is. I know damn well that not everybody has made an ENTIRE copy. I started to do this as I was piecing together my petition... but since I am so thorough, it began to get too overwhelming to focus on basically TWO petitions... I tried to print everything *times* two still, but I found myself needing to focus on my IMPORTANT petition... copies don't seem as important to me. Now... I'm staying up late because I told my fiancee I'd mail out the petition tomorrow. I don't want to let her down. The separation has been very hard and I can't help but think of her pain the most. I need honest answers. Flat out answers. I'm making black and white copies of my forms/passport/birth certificate as we speak. I can't help but think it's overkill. What's the chances of her consulate/embassy requesting an ENTIRE copy of my petition, if it's forwarded to them anyway? I plan to go to the interview with her, and also plan to help her gather things for the interview.

anyway... other than the most important stuff, I have facebook messages, some skype conversation chat logs, excess pictures printed on regular paper... copies of atm receipt, copies of tickets when we visited tourist attractions in her country... I have so much as far as ongoing relationship stuff. As I said, I'm very thorough and if I was to sit here and make copies of EVERYTHING... it just seems like it'd be a total waste. Especially since I read about many people going to interviews with heaps of stuff and the officers don't even look at it. I know it's worth it, for the outcome but FOR REAL... do I need copies of all the ongoing relationship stuff I ALREADY HAVE in my petition? We plan to print a bunch of that stuff anyway, when I'm there because we'll obviously have more saved chat history/pictures/receipts/etc. I am planning on flying to see her as soon as I send this damn petition because I can't stand being away from her anymore. She feels the same too. I'm going to propose to her on this next visit... and we're also having a small ceremony since her family won't be able to see her get married here with me, in the US when she comes. We'll have more evidence then, for her interview.

I know that what I pasted here: What to send to your fiance(e) once the I-129F is approved (Receive NOA2):

1. A copy of the entire I-129f package (that you made when you sent the petition in) and a copy of information that you sent back due to an RFE (if you received one).

this is a very good suggestion but in the same token it is NOT asked by USCIS. I see a lot of "smart people giving their 2 cents" here very often... I read a lot of posts. If you're gonna just tell me it's "a good idea" then I don't want to hear from you. If you are somebody who has been through this process and didn't make an entire COPY and your process was fine, tell me. If you're somebody who knows a lot about it, did include all of this, yet didn't end up needing it... TELL ME. Just don't pass it as concrete fact if it's not.

Thankyou very much, I'm limited on time

Matt

Edited March 17, 2011 by MatthewNCarolina

[bluexdiver 1]

Matt,

We are going thru the process also, going to the interview in a couple weeks. Make copies of your entire package. Reading other people's experience, this can be crucial if you need it. Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. Send her a copy also, with and all the documents you need after you receive the NOA 2 for the interview.

Brasil consulate is not crazy about proof of relationship, just have proof with pics, phone records, and passport stamps when you visit Brasil. If you show up and attend the interview with her, obvious it's a valid relationship, but rarely necessary. Otherwise relax and endure the waiting, it's going to be long and with it's challenges, but in the end it will all be worth it.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

It's not a REQUIREMENT but there have been cases where the beneficiary is at the interview and the CO claimed a certain document wasn't there. So the beneficiary was able to get the document from the copy and show it was sent or at least supply another. Those that don't have copies and are in that situation are given RFE's. Up to you what you do. I personally had an entire copy. i wanted my approval and i wanted it that day!

[Jay & Cici 3]

Hi Matt,

I think everyone went the same process as well.You have to make double copies of everything, this is being in a smart way. Why? because there are instances that documents are being lost, sent to different places. My hubby, which is the petitioner went to this process for me. Dont this by alone. let her help you, this will familiarize her to the things that she needs to along the way. Not all of the beneficiaries are allowed to have their fiance with them in the interview, depends on the country i think or to the Consul.

good luck to you and to us.. K1 is really a test of patience, faith and love.

Edited March 17, 2011 by Jay & Cici

[pushbrk 12,883]

I'm about to mail out my I-129F petition tomorrow... or actually today since it's 12:34 AM. I'm usually in bed at 11PM... I need answers to this: What to send to your fiance(e) once the I-129F is approved (Receive NOA2):

1. A copy of the entire I-129f package (that you made when you sent the petition in) and a copy of information that you sent back due to an RFE (if you received one).

SERIOUSLY. How CRUCIAL and IMPORTANT is this? I think it's a suggestion. If it is, TELL ME it is. I know damn well that not everybody has made an ENTIRE copy. I started to do this as I was piecing together my petition... but since I am so thorough, it began to get too overwhelming to focus on basically TWO petitions... I tried to print everything *times* two still, but I found myself needing to focus on my IMPORTANT petition... copies don't seem as important to me. Now... I'm staying up late because I told my fiancee I'd mail out the petition tomorrow. I don't want to let her down. The separation has been very hard and I can't help but think of her pain the most. I need honest answers. Flat out answers. I'm making black and white copies of my forms/passport/birth certificate as we speak. I can't help but think it's overkill. What's the chances of her consulate/embassy requesting an ENTIRE copy of my petition, if it's forwarded to them anyway? I plan to go to the interview with her, and also plan to help her gather things for the interview.

anyway... other than the most important stuff, I have facebook messages, some skype conversation chat logs, excess pictures printed on regular paper... copies of atm receipt, copies of tickets when we visited tourist attractions in her country... I have so much as far as ongoing relationship stuff. As I said, I'm very thorough and if I was to sit here and make copies of EVERYTHING... it just seems like it'd be a total waste. Especially since I read about many people going to interviews with heaps of stuff and the officers don't even look at it. I know it's worth it, for the outcome but FOR REAL... do I need copies of all the ongoing relationship stuff I ALREADY HAVE in my petition? We plan to print a bunch of that stuff anyway, when I'm there because we'll obviously have more saved chat history/pictures/receipts/etc. I am planning on flying to see her as soon as I send this damn petition because I can't stand being away from her anymore. She feels the same too. I'm going to propose to her on this next visit... and we're also having a small ceremony since her family won't be able to see her get married here with me, in the US when she comes. We'll have more evidence then, for her interview.

I know that what I pasted here: What to send to your fiance(e) once the I-129F is approved (Receive NOA2):

1. A copy of the entire I-129f package (that you made when you sent the petition in) and a copy of information that you sent back due to an RFE (if you received one).

this is a very good suggestion but in the same token it is NOT asked by USCIS. I see a lot of "smart people giving their 2 cents" here very often... I read a lot of posts. If you're gonna just tell me it's "a good idea" then I don't want to hear from you. If you are somebody who has been through this process and didn't make an entire COPY and your process was fine, tell me. If you're somebody who knows a lot about it, did include all of this, yet didn't end up needing it... TELL ME. Just don't pass it as concrete fact if it's not.

Thankyou very much, I'm limited on time

Matt

My suggestion is to focus on one petition, get the stack built and throw away the copies you made. Then, on the way to the post office, stop ad FedEx Office or Office Depot etc and hand them the whole stack. Ask them to scan the entire stack, in order, to a single PDF file, reduce the file size and put it on your thumb drive or burn it to a CD. That way you have a soft (electronic) copy of the whole stack without worries. You can email it to your fiance and upload it to your own computer. If you want to print it, fine. This way, if there are any problems, you'll know exactly what you sent.

[payxibka 10,045]

....there have been cases where the beneficiary is at the interview and the CO claimed a certain document wasn't there. So the beneficiary was able to get the document from the copy and show it was sent or at least supply another. Those that don't have copies and are in that situation are given RFE's.

urban legend or old wives tale

Edited March 17, 2011 by payxibka

[caly 48]

My suggestion is to focus on one petition, get the stack built and throw away the copies you made. Then, on the way to the post office, stop ad FedEx Office or Office Depot etc and hand them the whole stack. Ask them to scan the entire stack, in order, to a single PDF file, reduce the file size and put it on your thumb drive or burn it to a CD. That way you have a soft (electronic) copy of the whole stack without worries. You can email it to your fiance and upload it to your own computer. If you want to print it, fine. This way, if there are any problems, you'll know exactly what you sent.

That's what we did. My husband has one of those scanners that can scan 50 pages per minute at work. We assembled the entire packet, checked it twice and he scanned it all to a single PDF just before putting it in the envelope and dashing out to the post office during lunchtime. Quick and painless.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Most people never need a copy, but for those whose paper work gets lost or who are dealing with a high fraud consulate it is important to have a copy. I filled out everything on my computer and scanned everything I was submitting with my printer/scanner ( 50 dollars + paper ) The copy start as a folder where the pdfs and scans where saved. Then it was moved to a stick which went with me to Nigeria and we went over everything before the interview on my Nigerian laptop.

[Jubi & Tony 3]

I actually made two copies of the orginal packet. So I could send in the orginal packet to USCIS, mailed my Fiancee a packet (actually I hand delivered it on one of my trips to see her), and i kept a copy for myself with the presumption that I will always have a packet as a backup. Now I just have to wait for them to approve it..lol

[Blob18 111]

I actually made two copies of the orginal packet. So I could send in the orginal packet to USCIS, mailed my Fiancee a packet (actually I hand delivered it on one of my trips to see her), and i kept a copy for myself with the presumption that I will always have a packet as a backup. Now I just have to wait for them to approve it..lol

I did the same. Had the paper and printer ink so I just printed 3 of each, put everything on the floor before sending and assembled three exact copies. Took 20 minutes to assemble and another 20-30 going over the original to make sure everything was there.

Kept 1 copy for my records, and gave her 1 copy a month ago when I visited.

[Ellie-and-David 38]

I'm glad that I made a copy of everything as the lady interviewing me could not find the copy of my husbands divorce to decree in the file.

Luckily (and thanks to VJ advice) my husband had made a copy of the entire packet and sent it to me prior to interview. I was able to supply her with the document and therefore avoided an RFE. In fact, as I was rifling through my file to find the divorce decree she did mention "dont worry if you dont have it, you can send it in and then we will issue the visa".

Not cool. I did not want to leave that embassy without handing my passport over and guaranteeing it would be back on it's way to me asap.

[Ilona&Rimas 1]

You always need to take a belt and suspender approach to this process. Don't be in a rush because it can costly dearly if the package is not completed correctly. I know I went through my package at least 3 times to make sure it was accurate. I then slept on it and went through it one more time before I sent it out the next day. And yes, make a copy of everything and I kept it in the exact same order. take your time, read the guides here, get it right the first time and then you can enjoy the 5-6 month wait...lol

[baron555 934]

Most of my documents were prepared electronically so I just printed out multiple copies.

I actually made two complete hard copies of everything....plus I have all electronically.

I sent one to Alla for her interview....and nothing was needed from it....and I have a complete hard copy in my files.

For me this was a no brainer and I didn't balk at the task.

And, I took a total of about two weeks to prepare the package...most of it was waiting for FedEx with her signed G235A and Letter of Intent.

Edited March 17, 2011 by baron555

[Penny Lane 8,159]

I have two complete copies of the petition. One for my records, one to bring with me to my interview in case they are missing anything. I'm not sure how making copies is such a hard task. Focusing on two petitions? You are filling out one and simply photocopying or scanning it. Where's the difficulty?

Edited March 17, 2011 by Coconuts

[Shorah 2]

If this is super important to you, which I'm sure it is, then better safe than sorry, make the copies.