What should the I-129F packet look like?

[BaBamSam 239]

Hi Everyone! I've been combing through VJ for the last month as my boyfriend (from the UK) and I decided to get married on his November visit to me and we now have the pleasure of going through the K-1 visa process. Extremely glad to have found this site as I was originally planning on blowing my savings on a lawyer...but no longer!

Anyway, I'm assembling the I-129F packet and here is what I am including (in the order I currently have it):

- G-1145

- Cover Letter

- Personal check (think it's $340)

- I-129F form

- I-129F question 18 supplement (there just wasn't enough space!)

- G-325A and passport photo in plastic bag (Petitioner/Me)

- G-325A and passport photo in plastic bag (Beneficiary)

- My US birth certificate copied front and back

- Letters certifying intent to marry (Both of ours)

- Proof of having met/ongoing relationship in the following forms

1. Airline tickets for my trips to UK (and one set of baggage tags)

2. Copies of passport stamps and UK student visa (mine)

3. Airline tickets for fiance's trips to US

4. Copies of his passport stamps

5. Photos (12 in total) from first trip together in 2010 through recent visit in Nov 2012

6. Affidavits (two) notarized by myself and my fiance detailing our relationship

7. Affidavits (two) notarized by each of our mother's as witnesses to relationship

8. Emails back an forth (approx. 1 conversation for each month for the last two years)

9. Text history excerpts from 2010 until now

10. FaceTime screenshots of video chatting

11. Facebook screenshots of relationship status/interactions

Now for my questions!

1. Do you think, from your experience, this is enough/an accurate packet?

2. How should I include the photos? I couldn't find any photo pages (tried a Staples, Rite Aid and CVS) so right now each "visit" is in its own plastic baggie and labeled.

3. Can I double hole punch at the top and put the fastener in? Or do I just fasten it with a clip?

Sorry for the length - I just tend to get extremely detail-oriented with these sorts of things and this time it's extremely important to me!

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer

[aws&ndd 103]

First of all I think you did an excellent job with your packet! You should also include your boarding passes as primary proof of meeting. The airline tickets are nice, but it doesn't prove you actually were on the plane, just that you bought the tickets. A boarding pass proves you were on that plane and that you actually went. Your relationship proof (from item 6 to 11) really isn't needed, although it won't hurt. Keep in mind you don't want your packet to be too large. I don't know if it would really make that big a difference, but for me I'd be scared if I made mine too large and they skipped over mine to do a smaller packet.

I had about 10 photos with my packet as well, and I put them all in a ziplock bag, and I stapled the bag to a sheet of paper. I actually used 2 bags to document pictures from 2 different visits, and I labeled each bag as such.

To keep my papers organized, I just used paper clips. I didn't fasten anything. I just put all my papers in a priority mail envelope at the post office and mailed it.

My packet was around 40 pages. The only proof I included in my packet was: boarding passes, itineraries, hotel receipts, passport stamps, cell phone bills indicating calls made, money transfer receipts.

I hope this helps!

[dave97232 12]

Hi BamBamSam!

You married him in November? The K1 visa is only for fiance/fiancee. Here is a nice summary made by helpful people on this forum of the visa options:

http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

It looks like K3 and IR-1/CR-1 are the options if you are already married.

Your I-129F sounds like it has more than enough to go. You probably did this also, but I imagine putting the date on the back of each photo along with the location may be a good idea.

[Bumbero 130]

I had about 10 photos with my packet as well, and I put them all in a ziplock bag, and I stapled the bag to a sheet of paper. I actually used 2 bags to document pictures from 2 different visits, and I labeled each bag as such.

That's exactly what I just did.

OP, it looks like you did a great job with your packet! I don't know if they will stay on there but just for my OCD and wanting to be organized, I placed little sticky tabs that were labeled at the bottom of the petition for quick reference to my cover letter. Like I said, I don't know if they will STAY on there but it was worth the shot!

Good luck with your journey!!

[BaBamSam 239]

First of all I think you did an excellent job with your packet! You should also include your boarding passes as primary proof of meeting. The airline tickets are nice, but it doesn't prove you actually were on the plane, just that you bought the tickets. A boarding pass proves you were on that plane and that you actually went. Your relationship proof (from item 6 to 11) really isn't needed, although it won't hurt. Keep in mind you don't want your packet to be too large. I don't know if it would really make that big a difference, but for me I'd be scared if I made mine too large and they skipped over mine to do a smaller packet.

I had about 10 photos with my packet as well, and I put them all in a ziplock bag, and I stapled the bag to a sheet of paper. I actually used 2 bags to document pictures from 2 different visits, and I labeled each bag as such.

To keep my papers organized, I just used paper clips. I didn't fasten anything. I just put all my papers in a priority mail envelope at the post office and mailed it.

My packet was around 40 pages. The only proof I included in my packet was: boarding passes, itineraries, hotel receipts, passport stamps, cell phone bills indicating calls made, money transfer receipts.

I hope this helps!

Thank you for your reply!

I am currently searching for boarding passes (and he is too), but we both tend to chuck these. Luckily, I have baggage receipts from luggage on my last flight and we both have passport stamps from our visits.

I'm trying to keep mine to about 40 pages, as well! Most of our email convos are only 1 page since we primarily use FaceTime and iMessage to communicate I think that page amount is a good number to aim for

Thanks again! I am so curious to see how people submitted everything within the envelope. Knowing that I can just fasten things with clips makes it easier!

[BaBamSam 239]

Hi BamBamSam!

You married him in November? The K1 visa is only for fiance/fiancee. Here is a nice summary made by helpful people on this forum of the visa options:

(link)

It looks like K3 and IR-1/CR-1 are the options if you are already married.

Your I-129F sounds like it has more than enough to go. You probably did this also, but I imagine putting the date on the back of each photo along with the location may be a good idea.

Hi there! We didn't get married, but just decided to (though I see how I worded that could be confusing). He had no choice to go back to the UK after his visit due to work and we decided to do an engagement period first ^^

I labeled the backs with dates and locations! And the baggies!

Thanks for your response

That's exactly what I just did.

OP, it looks like you did a great job with your packet! I don't know if they will stay on there but just for my OCD and wanting to be organized, I placed little sticky tabs that were labeled at the bottom of the petition for quick reference to my cover letter. Like I said, I don't know if they will STAY on there but it was worth the shot!

Good luck with your journey!!

Oh I'm glad someone else seconded that submission method! I just bought multicolored tab-label things to do just that this afternoon on my Staples excursion!

Thanks for replying to me!

[Bumbero 130]

Oh I'm glad someone else seconded that submission method! I just bought multicolored tab-label things to do just that this afternoon on my Staples excursion!

Thanks for replying to me!

Yeah! I just heard that if you include those tabs, exactly the same things I purchased too, place them at the bottom of the petition not on the side.

Glad someone else matches my OCD too! LOL

[amykathleen2005 441]

They rip the whole thing apart anyways and put it in their own files so any order you feel comfortable with is appropriate.

[BaBamSam 239]

They rip the whole thing apart anyways and put it in their own files so any order you feel comfortable with is appropriate.

If they rip it apart I definitely won't bother with a hole punch fastener then. Thanks!