Wedding Guest List....too early to submit?

[AKSinghSingh79 143]

So a wedding guest list is almost a must to bring to the interview at most consulates.

But I was wondering, since I already have a guest list, why not submit it now along with my I-129F? I've used TheKnot.com to create a tentative wedding guest list and an approximate wedding date.

The handy thing about TheKnot is they also include a space for contact info.

I think I have way too much time on my hands but hey less work to do later! Is it a bad idea to send so much stuff now? i.e. Will it raise red flags this early in the process?

I also am planning on getting a notarized statement verifying the authenticity of our relationship from friends of mine that will be on my wedding party and family members, all who have met my fiance and know him well.

I can't see how more information can be an issue but dealing with New Delhi is always risky so I wanted to make sure.

[Anh map 2,098]

I've never heard of folks submitting a guest list. But if it is something that your embassy/consulate routinely asks for then absolutely submit one.

[AKSinghSingh79 143]

I've never heard of folks submitting a guest list. But if it is something that your embassy/consulate routinely asks for then absolutely submit one.

I know Delhi routinely asks for it during the interview and that couples have received a 121g slip for not having it when they come to the interview.

I also know that many CO will not take the time to review much of the evidence a couple brings to the interview and may give a 121g or put the couple in AP even if they did have the guest list.

I figured that if I submitted there would be a higher probability of them looking at it now instead of waiting until the interview and having them skip over it and place us in AP.

[TBoneTX 45,309]

I figured that if I submitted there would be a higher probability of them looking at it now

Good thinking, si man. The consulates are not supposed to ignore information that USCIS has seen, and they're not supposed to refuse visas on the basis of anything that USCIS has seen (and "approved of," if USCIS passes the petition and it reaches the consular stage).

I'm not sure whether adding a tentative wedding date is advisable or not; it could be viewed as "presumptuous." Regardless, front-loading your I-129F petition with information that New Delhi is known to require sounds like a shrewd move and good preparation.

[AKSinghSingh79 143]

Good thinking, si man. The consulates are not supposed to ignore information that USCIS has seen, and they're not supposed to refuse visas on the basis of anything that USCIS has seen (and "approved of," if USCIS passes the petition and it reaches the consular stage).

I didn't know that! That's really good to know for the future. Thanks for that piece of information!

I'm not sure whether adding a tentative wedding date is advisable or not; it could be viewed as "presumptuous." Regardless, front-loading your I-129F petition with information that New Delhi is known to require sounds like a shrewd move and good preparation.

Yes, I had reservations about doing this as well. Glad to have a second opinion on it. Maybe I'll wait until we are at the interview stage to submit our wedding date along with the name of the officiant performing the ceremony.

Thanks!

[TBoneTX 45,309]

You're welcome, si man. After some searching, I found the article that I was looking for:

http://www.ilw.com/articles/2006,0323-ellis.shtm

What I said above is explained very well in the last paragraph of "Practice Tip #1," but read the whole fascinating article.

Marc Ellis is an immigration attorney who visits this site. His VJ name is ellis-island.

[AKSinghSingh79 143]

You're welcome, si man. After some searching, I found the article that I was looking for:

http://www.ilw.com/a...0323-ellis.shtm

What I said above is explained very well in the last paragraph of "Practice Tip #1," but read the whole fascinating article.

Marc Ellis is an immigration attorney who visits this site. His VJ name is ellis-island.

Very helpful article, thanks for providing the link. I'm extremely glad that I read this article before we filed the I-129F.

[TBoneTX 45,309]

Very helpful article, thanks for providing the link. I'm extremely glad that I read this article before we filed the I-129F.

You're welcome. I wanted to be 100% sure that I expressed the earlier thought exactly as it should have been said. Plus, it's been awhile since that article has been publicized, and it will be helpful to others in this forum. I have confidence that you'll compile a great petition package and fend off the monkeyshines from New Delhi before they can occur, si man!

[Bec_Dipu 103]

I know Delhi routinely asks for it during the interview and that couples have received a 121g slip for not having it when they come to the interview.

I also know that many CO will not take the time to review much of the evidence a couple brings to the interview and may give a 121g or put the couple in AP even if they did have the guest list.

I figured that if I submitted there would be a higher probability of them looking at it now instead of waiting until the interview and having them skip over it and place us in AP.

New Delhi asks for this all the time. It's best to provide them whatever they might issue a 221g for prior to the interview. They've also been known to ask for a copy of the beneficiary's voter id card and last five years of voting records.

We turned in a guest list, a notarized statement that my fiance doesn't vote, 12 notarized letters of support from our families and friends, a letter and pictures detailing my bridal shower, screen shots from our theknot.com page, a renewed letter of intent that answered questions I thought they might have like why we hadn't physically met each other's parents, evidence of us interacting with each other's family via email, phone or Skype, why we didn't have a large engagement party, why we went the K1 instead of marriage route, pictures of all of his stuff I've brought home over the past year and integrated into our home, phone logs, email logs, Skype logs.

I provided all of that and when we walked up to the CO's counter, the 221g was already printed and ready for us. BUT, when the CO saw me and found out who I was, in the trash it went. Moral of my story: be as prepared as you can be and still expect a 221g. If at all possible, show up for the interview too.

By the way, I've read multiple stories where New Delhi or other Indian consulates issued a 221g for evidence that they already had in their possession and when the beneficiary pointed that out and tried to make them look at it, they said they wouldn't review it and it would have to be turned into the VFS again. Proof that they don't look at everything you send them.

Edited September 3, 2011 by Bec_Dipu

[AKSinghSingh79 143]

New Delhi asks for this all the time. It's best to provide them whatever they might issue a 221g for prior to the interview. They've also been known to ask for a copy of the beneficiary's voter id card and last five years of voting records.

I had no idea about the voting stuff. We'll include that information as well.

We turned in a guest list, a notarized statement that my fiance doesn't vote, 12 notarized letters of support from our families and friends, a letter and pictures detailing my bridal shower, screen shots from our theknot.com page, a renewed letter of intent that answered questions I thought they might have like why we hadn't physically met each other's parents, evidence of us interacting with each other's family via email, phone or Skype, why we didn't have a large engagement party, why we went the K1 instead of marriage route, pictures of all of his stuff I've brought home over the past year and integrated into our home, phone logs, email logs, Skype logs.

In your opinion, how important is an engagement party? I've heard that they are important to show at the New Delhi consulate but not so common when dealing with the Mumbai consulate. Regardless, Kirpal and I are planning on doing a small engagement party for his family when I come to visit in January.

I provided all of that and when we walked up to the CO's counter, the 221g was already printed and ready for us. BUT, when the CO saw me and found out who I was, in the trash it went. Moral of my story: be as prepared as you can be and still expect a 221g. If at all possible, show up for the interview too.

I will attend that interview, if it kills me!

By the way, I've read multiple stories where New Delhi or other Indian consulates issued a 221g for evidence that they already had in their possession and when the beneficiary pointed that out and tried to make them look at it, they said they wouldn't review it and it would have to be turned into the VFS again. Proof that they don't look at everything you send them.

Grrrrr, so irritating. We're definitely gearing up for a fight

Edited September 3, 2011 by AKSinghSingh79

[sachinky 465]

Approach NWD with severe caution.

Bombay and Madras don't seem to be PITAs, though.

My husband didn't attend the interview (I felt that it was better that I attend the interview alone given that, according to him, remembering my "birthday AND our anniversary date is too much stuff" for him to remember) and our interview lasted for less than 3 minutes.

Edited September 3, 2011 by sachinky

[baron555 934]

So a wedding guest list is almost a must to bring to the interview at most consulates.

But I was wondering, since I already have a guest list, why not submit it now along with my I-129F? I've used TheKnot.com to create a tentative wedding guest list and an approximate wedding date.

The handy thing about TheKnot is they also include a space for contact info.

I think I have way too much time on my hands but hey less work to do later! Is it a bad idea to send so much stuff now? i.e. Will it raise red flags this early in the process?

I also am planning on getting a notarized statement verifying the authenticity of our relationship from friends of mine that will be on my wedding party and family members, all who have met my fiance and know him well.

I can't see how more information can be an issue but dealing with New Delhi is always risky so I wanted to make sure.

It's not required for the Moscow Embassy and I'd bet for most it is not.

[payxibka 10,045]

It's not required for the Moscow Embassy and I'd bet for most it is not.

regardless of any consulate requirement, it certainly is not needed or even wanted by the uscis

[tan&tuyet 15]

I would just send what they ask for and not anything more. If you send more than they ask for it might slow down the process.

[Enigma11561 336]

If things like wedding lists are required for places like New Delhi, then they really put you through the ringer. Honestly, I never heard of such a thing as this until you made this post. wow.I cannot understand why the number of people at a wedding has anything to do with immigration. At my wedding there was me, my wife, a good friend as a witness,and the justice of the peace.