We did not take photos

[Penny Lane 8,159]

At I129F stage you do not need any pictures, only primary evidence. Just send boarding passes, and hotel receipt and copy of the entry stamp and you will be fine. You will need them at the interview stage though.

Primary evidence is great, but secondary evidence is also necessary. A boarding pass and passport stamp do not prove that you met in person, it proves that you were in the same place. Photos prove you met in person. Both are important, and without one or the other, you'll likely receive an RFE.

[UnhappyVictimAmer 2]

I spent too much time and money on photos that were never looked at by anyone. Call your embassy and ask them if they are needed. Are you going through a lawyer?

[san diego 407]

Primary evidence is great, but secondary evidence is also necessary. A boarding pass and passport stamp do not prove that you met in person, it proves that you were in the same place. Photos prove you met in person. Both are important, and without one or the other, you'll likely receive an RFE.

Actually, tickets and hotel and entry stamp are sufficient prove at the I129F petition stage. I disagree on RFE. Photos are not necessary to get petition approval. They are necessary for K1 approval though. If everything else is fine RFE will not be issued. I recommend going with only primary prove and have another trip while you are waiting for NOA2. If RFE is issued (unlikely), you will have a prove.

[san diego 407]

I spent too much time and money on photos that were never looked at by anyone. Call your embassy and ask them if they are needed. Are you going through a lawyer?

Actually, here is the thing. There are 2 scenario that you can follow and will be fine:

1) Have only primary prove during I129F stage. Everything being fine and in order you will not receive an RFE. However, you will need much more prove including pictures at the embassy stage. This is given as they do send a note together with your package.

2) Front-load your petition with picture evidence, etc. (this is what I did). In this case they will not ask for any prove at the embassy.

In this particular case I would recommend going with first scenario and get more prove while waiting.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Actually, tickets and hotel and entry stamp are sufficient prove at the I129F petition stage. I disagree on RFE. Photos are not necessary to get petition approval. They are necessary for K1 approval though. If everything else is fine RFE will not be issued. I recommend going with only primary prove and have another trip while you are waiting for NOA2. If RFE is issued (unlikely), you will have a prove.

You cannot state "if everything else is fine RFE will not be issued" as a fact. Plenty of people get RFE'd for no pictures.

[san diego 407]

You cannot state "if everything else is fine RFE will not be issued" as a fact. Plenty of people get RFE'd for no pictures.

It may happen. However, given the situation, this is not an option. The fastest option for this individual is to submit with primary evidence and have another trip while waiting. If he gets RFE he will already have pictures. If he does not he will present them at the embassy. Another option would be to take another trup which will delay things MUCH more. While RFE (which I still think is unlikely) will delay only by 3 weeks or so.

[Shenzhen 34]

My fiance and I met the last week of my visit to Manila and we did not take photos because no camera. What do you suggest we do? Are photo necessary?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I would file then plan another trip with lots of photos with her family and you 2 together. I took 500 pictures my first trip about 350 the 2nd time and maybe 50 the 3rd time. They asked for pics at the interview and the VO looked at all of them. With out them it would have been denied I am sure. No pictures is highly suspect IMO.

Edited May 16, 2011 by Shenzhen

[san diego 407]

They never looked at any pictures at the interview. I prepared tons and used none. I would argue that some people don't like to take pictures. For example, I never take pictures because it spoils all the fun from the trip. The only reason why we took pictures because my russian fiancee likes taking pictures together, which we used in the application. Not everyone likes taking pictures and I am not sure why is it so suspicious.

[bridan 0]

All the other comments are good. i was thinking too if you sent e-mails the week before as of preparing your trip there. Keep that and print them as proof. And, when you went back home, if you e-mailed how you enjoyed your stay there and are anxious to meet again...could help

[crazybanana 1]

this is what they do during the interview, they go through everything and see what you don't have. request it and then deny you for not having it. so, I say you must have pictures. my fiance was asked" why don't you have any pictures with your fiance's mother?" of course our K1 was denied.

[tjnielsen 2]

You more then likely get away with filing it with out pictures but you will probably get and RFE for it... The USCIS wants physical proof that you two have met before.. and they will ask for photos... and if they don't ask you for them more then likely the US Embassy in Manila would for her interview..good luck to you

[Gosia & Tito 199]

My fiance and I met the last week of my visit to Manila and we did not take photos because no camera. What do you suggest we do? Are photo necessary?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Won't repeat what others have said already, but I'd say that you need to account for the possibility that you get a RFE for pictures. You may or may not. If you do, better plan now on what you would do, last thing you want is to receive a RFE in 5 months and then you really need to do something quick. Some have suggested another trip, I would say that if there are plans to meet between now and 5-6 months for now, to perhaps move the date 1-2 months and get pictures. If no RFE, then great, you had some good days with fiancee.

The general advice you will get here is to not give excuses to a bureaucrat if you can avoid it.

[pepper 34]

They never looked at any pictures at the interview. I prepared tons and used none. I would argue that some people don't like to take pictures. For example, I never take pictures because it spoils all the fun from the trip. The only reason why we took pictures because my russian fiancee likes taking pictures together, which we used in the application. Not everyone likes taking pictures and I am not sure why is it so suspicious.

We sent pictures with our I-129F packet but the consul still asked for some at my interview.And that was in Manila where the OP's fiancee will have her interview. It is better to come prepared because nobody knows what evidence/s the IO wants.

Edited May 17, 2011 by earp

[A and T 82]

Im positive without photos you would be denied.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

It may happen. However, given the situation, this is not an option. The fastest option for this individual is to submit with primary evidence and have another trip while waiting. If he gets RFE he will already have pictures. If he does not he will present them at the embassy. Another option would be to take another trup which will delay things MUCH more. While RFE (which I still think is unlikely) will delay only by 3 weeks or so.

No way, Jose!

People have tried this approach, and it failed. You have to prove you met within two years prior to filing the I-129F. If you get an RFE for failing to prove this to the satisfaction of the adjudicator then any evidence you send in response must pre-date the filing of the I-129F. If you send evidence from a trip made after you filed then the petition will be denied, and you'll be instructed to re-file. The law couldn't possibly be any more clear on this point.

This site, and the internet in general, are rife with people who have tried to satisfy an RFE with evidence manufactured after the fact, and they failed.

Just to satisfy your curiosity, here are a couple of VJ members who received RFE's for not submitting photos, or submitting photos that weren't adequate:

This one didn't submit any photos, but submitted plenty of primary evidence:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/297840-rfe-for-no-photos-grrr/

This one submitted photos, but didn't write where the photo was taken or who was in it on the back - only the dates:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/244812-rfe-for-i-129f/page__view__findpost__p__3771856

I'll find more, if you like.