RFE - Circumstances of Meeting

[seanoneone 0]

Hello All

So we got an RFE for Circumstance of Meeting. I am a little bit concerned because I was under the impression I had already sent in everything I had. My fiance is in Iran and I have gone there twice to see her, sent in pictures and flight itinerary. I am going to resend all that I previously sent but what more could they want? My fiance was already in her home country to begin with so what other documents could I prepare for my RFE that would be applicable? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[sara80 17]

Hello All

So we got an RFE for Circumstance of Meeting. I am a little bit concerned because I was under the impression I had already sent in everything I had. My fiance is in Iran and I have gone there twice to see her, sent in pictures and flight itinerary. I am going to resend all that I previously sent but what more could they want? My fiance was already in her home country to begin with so what other documents could I prepare for my RFE that would be applicable? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

I would recommend sending in copy of your passport with entry stamps in Iran, thats's more a valid proof of having been there, any other copy of receipts such as money withdrawal while there/credit cart payment showing its been done there, hotel receipts etc.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I think they want to know HOW you met. It would help to type the wording of the RFE here, to make sure it's "circumstance of meeting" and not "proof of meeting in the past two years." Those are two different things. So, how did you meet? Online? Family friends? Why did you go to Iran?

Edited February 18, 2012 by Harpa Timsah

[Neash 2]

We have received the RFE 4 days ago and I"M SO WORRIED about it. my fiance has sent them pictures before but not they asked for more evidence which we are going to send our passport stamps. My concern is if this is a big issue and will the take us to the first step and make the process longer? Or this is normal?

Looking forward to hear from you!

[Andie 147]

We have received the RFE 4 days ago and I"M SO WORRIED about it. my fiance has sent them pictures before but not they asked for more evidence which we are going to send our passport stamps. My concern is if this is a big issue and will the take us to the first step and make the process longer? Or this is normal?

Looking forward to hear from you!

It is still not clear whether they want Circumstances of meeting (how you met - such as via dating website, through a mutual friend, while travelling etc) or proof of having met in previous 2 years.

I would write a statement of how you met, then provide the additional proof of meeting within the previous 2 years. Copies of Passport stamps, boarding passes and any ATM or other receipts for payments made while together during those dates are best evidence - any additional proof you have to support your having met in the 2years.

If you send this back to them, it can take as little as 2 weeks to get a reply.

Edited February 19, 2012 by Andie

[baron555 934]

Hello All

So we got an RFE for Circumstance of Meeting. I am a little bit concerned because I was under the impression I had already sent in everything I had. My fiance is in Iran and I have gone there twice to see her, sent in pictures and flight itinerary. I am going to resend all that I previously sent but what more could they want? My fiance was already in her home country to begin with so what other documents could I prepare for my RFE that would be applicable? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

I suggest reading the VJ Guides very slowly and very carefully; from what you sent in is not primary evidence.....passport stamps are, plus a few other things.

I find it interesting that you had this other evidence but failed to send that in also?!!

[GrayL 47]

Circumstance of meeting: I wrote a letter, in the form of an Affidavit explaining how we met, it was just a one page statement. For question #18 of the I-129F form I wrote "See attached I-129f Supplement: Part B, Question 18, explanation of meeting in person."

Evidence of meeting: Primarily evidence I included travel itineraries (Expedia), airline boarding passes (Keep those!), and copies of the entry stamps in my passport. Secondary I included about 10 photos of me and my fiancee together, on the back I wrote the date, who is in the photo and a brief explanation of the photo (My wife and I visiting her grandma for her 60th birthday). For so That was enough for me.

Good luck!

Edited February 19, 2012 by GrayL

[Moomin 292]

Hello All

My fiance is in Iran and I have gone there twice to see her, sent in pictures and flight itinerary.

I am going to resend all that I previously sent but what more could they want?

They want something else or more than just re-submitting what you have already sent. Check that your submitted evidence have both date and year on. Pictures are secondary evidence so they're not asking for pictures if the RFE is asking for initial(primary) evidence; Passport stamps e.g. By the time you get an RFE and respond, you're given an extra change, don't screw that up. If you have the passport stamps, then submit a copy of the entire passport with an explanation of entering the country on xx date, 2011 and meeting in person. The pictures (with handwritten dates and year on) merely supports your passport stamps.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hello All

So we got an RFE for Circumstance of Meeting. I am a little bit concerned because I was under the impression I had already sent in everything I had. My fiance is in Iran and I have gone there twice to see her, sent in pictures and flight itinerary. I am going to resend all that I previously sent but what more could they want? My fiance was already in her home country to begin with so what other documents could I prepare for my RFE that would be applicable? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Itineraries are not evidence of travel. Send copies of passport stamps showing you entered the country, boarding passes for the flights, receipts for in country expenses and a couplephotos of you together.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hello All

So we got an RFE for Circumstance of Meeting. I am a little bit concerned because I was under the impression I had already sent in everything I had. My fiance is in Iran and I have gone there twice to see her, sent in pictures and flight itinerary. I am going to resend all that I previously sent but what more could they want? My fiance was already in her home country to begin with so what other documents could I prepare for my RFE that would be applicable? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

That is item # 18 on the form, they want you to describe the circumstances of how you two met. Write a very details letter of how you met the first time be it online or whatever, then continue to the first time you met in person. Give them what they asked for in detail.

[Neash 2]

It is still not clear whether they want Circumstances of meeting (how you met - such as via dating website, through a mutual friend, while travelling etc) or proof of having met in previous 2 years.

I would write a statement of how you met, then provide the additional proof of meeting within the previous 2 years. Copies of Passport stamps, boarding passes and any ATM or other receipts for payments made while together during those dates are best evidence - any additional proof you have to support your having met in the 2years.

If you send this back to them, it can take as little as 2 weeks to get a reply.

Thank you so much for your helpful information. Yes, we are going to send them our passport stamps tomorrow and I really hope to get the approval soon! That 2 weeks that you mentioned, is the NOA2 or RFE acceptance?

By the way, how could I use the Ticker Factory charts or how could I put my timeline as a signature?

Thank you AGAIN!

Edited February 20, 2012 by Neash

[pushbrk 12,892]

Hello All

So we got an RFE for Circumstance of Meeting. I am a little bit concerned because I was under the impression I had already sent in everything I had. My fiance is in Iran and I have gone there twice to see her, sent in pictures and flight itinerary. I am going to resend all that I previously sent but what more could they want? My fiance was already in her home country to begin with so what other documents could I prepare for my RFE that would be applicable? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Read your RFE carefully. It explains what they consider primary evidence of meeting. Nothing you mention above is primary evidence. Flight itineraries are not evidence of travel. Photos are secondary evidence. At least one piece of primary evidence is needed. What do you have?

[Andie 147]

Thank you so much for your helpful information. Yes, we are going to send them our passport stamps tomorrow and I really hope to get the approval soon! That 2 weeks that you mentioned, is the NOA2 or RFE acceptance?

By the way, how could I use the Ticker Factory charts or how could I put my timeline as a signature?

Thank you AGAIN!

In view of the fact you have had an RFE I think it would be wise to send an explanation of how you first met as well as the explanation of your meeting within the last 2 years. Question 18 asks if you have met within the last 2 years and then goes on to ask how you first met. If you do both these in an explanation letter labelled *Question 18* attachment, then you have it covered and as proof of your meeting supply the copy of passport stamps, if possible copies of boarding passes, receipts (or maybe copy of credit card a/c showing payment and location and date of charges. Photos are considered secondary evidence, but if you have another good example, no harm in attaching it.)

The two weeks is a rough estimate... but if they are happy with your response, then it will be an NOA2 approval. Recently there was one approved in 5 days, but sometimes they can take a lot longer. 2 weeks is not uncommon.

Hope it all works for you..

[Neash 2]

In view of the fact you have had an RFE I think it would be wise to send an explanation of how you first met as well as the explanation of your meeting within the last 2 years. Question 18 asks if you have met within the last 2 years and then goes on to ask how you first met. If you do both these in an explanation letter labelled *Question 18* attachment, then you have it covered and as proof of your meeting supply the copy of passport stamps, if possible copies of boarding passes, receipts (or maybe copy of credit card a/c showing payment and location and date of charges. Photos are considered secondary evidence, but if you have another good example, no harm in attaching it.)

The two weeks is a rough estimate... but if they are happy with your response, then it will be an NOA2 approval. Recently there was one approved in 5 days, but sometimes they can take a lot longer. 2 weeks is not uncommon.

Hope it all works for you..

wow, it's very nice of you! One more question for you, refer to your explanation, do you think if they need an Explanation of the first meeting, they would mention in the RFE letter? or not necessarily?

Cause, I haven't seen the RFE letter but my fiance said they asked for some evidence showing that the fiancee (me) was in the second country we met in!

Does it make sense to you? You still think we should send the explanation of how we met first time?

[skiptex 225]

wow, it's very nice of you! One more question for you, refer to your explanation, do you think if they need an Explanation of the first meeting, they would mention in the RFE letter? or not necessarily?

Cause, I haven't seen the RFE letter but my fiance said they asked for some evidence showing that the fiancee (me) was in the second country we met in!

Does it make sense to you? You still think we should send the explanation of how we met first time?

sounds like YOU need a copy of the RFE

Edited February 20, 2012 by skiptex