A few worrisome things re evidence

[sealedkiss 1]

Thanks everyone who responded to my questions lately. It is a stressful time researching and filing for K1, and I appreciate all of your support.

I think from my previous posts you all know more of less our story. I think we have a lot of positive factors, but still there are things that had me worried. I'm listing them here and asking for your kind opinions:

Phones:

1. Neither of our phones are registered under our names. Hers is in her dad's name (family plan). Mine is in my sister-in-law's name (family plan). So our phone bills may not carry a lot of weight here.

2. In the past we didn't talk on the phone too much. Recently we do a few times a week. She uses an internet calling card to call me. I use a calling card to call her. So all you see on the phone bills are toll-free numbers.

3. She was in the US for 3 months. There wasn't a single day we didn't talk on the phone. I bought her a prepaid Verizon Wireless phone that has unlimited minutes to me (Verizon customer). However, being a prepaid phone, it was not tied to her name or mine.

Handwritten letters:

4. There have been very few handwritten letters, she to me, or I to her. Maybe 4-5 each side. And we've known each other since 2002.

Chat:

5. I think I have plenty of things to show here. Chatting was a big part, but sadly I didn't think to keep any chat logs prior to September of 2005.

Photos:

6. We don't have a habbit of taking a lot of pictures. But of our 4 meetings, I think there were around 50 photos.

Gifts (not a worrisome thing, but I have a question):

7. She made a few, just a few, but very unique, handmade gifts to me: scarf, pottery, cards, audio files. Does any of you show similar items as evidence? I think it's difficult to show them. How do you tell if a scarf was made for me by her? Audio files aren't easy to show at the interview. The piece of pottery has writing on it, but we never use names... just "anh", "em" you must know these words already! Actually I'm not worried about it, but carrying pottery to the interview seems a bit odd.

In the big picture, we have everything a long-term, commited couple would. I know I probably worry too much, but with the high-fraud HCMC, I don't want any avoidable flaws. Please advise with some solutions to these concerns. I really appreciate that.

Best,

sealedkiss

[Tony_H 0]

Hi sealedkiss,

Phones: Here's how I would approach it. I would present the phone bills and explain the situation clearly regarding the names on the account. Highlight those calls that were yours. As for internet calling card, I would show record of their purchases and still present those calls anyway with a clear explanation. For the prepaid Verizon, I would show those cards and explain them. Please remember, it is not just the phones info that they are looking at. They will look at other things as well. You should start communicating in ways that are identifiable from now on and keep track of these new records.

Handwritten letters: Just present those you have.

Chat logs: I believe that Yahoo keeps track of those chat sessions anyway unless you specified it not to. I would show all. For me, I had logs for around1 months before I went to Skype and Sightspeed (video chat). I printed all those chat logs and sent them in. Now I am keeping track of my video calls, date, time, and length. I also show the service profile that is linked to me and her with our personal information.

Photos: Take some more and make sure you have other people in those pictures.

As for gifts: I bought gifts for her, her son, and her parents. But I think it's hard to clearly present them as evidence. However, I will show receipts for the engagement ring, wedding gown, wedding photography, and the engagement dinner itself.

Some other things that I am thinking about showing are: records of foreign money exchange, how my travel ticket was purchased (in my case, I used frequent flyer mileage so it would be my mileage statement showing that), email logs, emails, her ADSL bills, her web posting, birthday card.

Tony

[chuckandkim 0]

sealedkiss and Tony,

You guys are awesome and very detail with your evidence. I love it when people see the "Big Picture" where HCMC not only looks at phone bills or handwriten letters Tony has addressed your concern very well.

Anything you can show that you BOUGHT the prepaid Verizon phone: your credit card statement where it shows you paid for that phone, I doubt it if you need to go that far.

Internet Chat Log: great to have, no need to print EVERYDAY chat-log, give them a sample (two or three days each month)

Photos: Put them all in an album and note the date/location/event to tell the interview officer your STORY (remember, your fiance will have about 5-10 mins to make a great impression and convincing story presented for them to make the decision, if not, doubt sets in, AR and AP will occur). Lack of pictures will be countered with FOUR (4) visits. No worry here.

About gift: I think it's your call. Tackiness is something I would avoid, again, think of 5-10 minutes rule! You bring what best show your case and relavent to your relationship. If you are questioning the evidence right now, I think you may already have the answer... My vote: bring what makes you comfortable.

Handwriten notes/letters: I personally and highly recommend you and her to crank up the pens and pencils... write to each other once or twice a month. Do not EVER forget anniversaries, special holidays (christmas, easter, TET, Trung Thu, Valentines etc.). How many times we hear they actually read the CARDS, Letters that lovers wrote to each other? A lot! Remember the 10 mins rule! Only have 5-10 mins to make the decision to issue PINK slip or not!!! By the way, when sending mails/notes to each other, I prefer to send via Postal Service or FedEx, just to make sure your letters get that POSTSTAMP. Why? Handwriten letters are harder to write, it takes time and effort than emails/chats, and traceable to your ZIP code if they need to match it up (your location = letter origin)

I hope this helps and dont' worry about asking too many questions... I did!

love,

chuck and kim

[GREEN/TRAN 0]

sealedkiss and Tony,

You guys are awesome and very detail with your evidence. I love it when people see the "Big Picture" where HCMC not only looks at phone bills or handwriten letters Tony has addressed your concern very well.

Anything you can show that you BOUGHT the prepaid Verizon phone: your credit card statement where it shows you paid for that phone, I doubt it if you need to go that far.

Internet Chat Log: great to have, no need to print EVERYDAY chat-log, give them a sample (two or three days each month)

Photos: Put them all in an album and note the date/location/event to tell the interview officer your STORY (remember, your fiance will have about 5-10 mins to make a great impression and convincing story presented for them to make the decision, if not, doubt sets in, AR and AP will occur). Lack of pictures will be countered with FOUR (4) visits. No worry here.

About gift: I think it's your call. Tackiness is something I would avoid, again, think of 5-10 minutes rule! You bring what best show your case and relavent to your relationship. If you are questioning the evidence right now, I think you may already have the answer... My vote: bring what makes you comfortable.

Handwriten notes/letters: I personally and highly recommend you and her to crank up the pens and pencils... write to each other once or twice a month. Do not EVER forget anniversaries, special holidays (christmas, easter, TET, Trung Thu, Valentines etc.). How many times we hear they actually read the CARDS, Letters that lovers wrote to each other? A lot! Remember the 10 mins rule! Only have 5-10 mins to make the decision to issue PINK slip or not!!! By the way, when sending mails/notes to each other, I prefer to send via Postal Service or FedEx, just to make sure your letters get that POSTSTAMP. Why? Handwriten letters are harder to write, it takes time and effort than emails/chats, and traceable to your ZIP code if they need to match it up (your location = letter origin)

I hope this helps and dont' worry about asking too many questions... I did!

love,

chuck and kim

hey now i was wondering if i should send all the letters my girl sent me back to her for the interview ?i sent the envolopes to show post mark but i kept the letters how will they know she sent them?

[chuckandkim 0]

Green/Tran,

You're on the right track. Again, think as your Interview Officer: hmmm, i'm wondering what did they write to each other in those mails whose envelopes are here on my desk... I did send back ALL of Kim's letters, postcards, holiday cards in my final package of evidence for the interview. You need to show a complete picture of your relationship, and those letters are part of it. Hope this helps!

[GREEN/TRAN 0]

Green/Tran,

You're on the right track. Again, think as your Interview Officer: hmmm, i'm wondering what did they write to each other in those mails whose envelopes are here on my desk... I did send back ALL of Kim's letters, postcards, holiday cards in my final package of evidence for the interview. You need to show a complete picture of your relationship, and those letters are part of it. Hope this helps!

ok thanks