Question 18 on I-129F

[nickypeas 0]

How detailed an explanation are they looking for here? Do they simply want to know the details of how we physically met in person, or do they also want to know how we came to know eachother in the first place? What kind of info. do you need to give them?

[William33 110]

nickypeas,

Just provide a brief explanation of how you met in person. You can expand on a separate sheet, just list the form and line number, then sign and date it.

How detailed an explanation are they looking for here? Do they simply want to know the details of how we physically met in person, or do they also want to know how we came to know eachother in the first place? What kind of info. do you need to give them?

[Mike and Lily 13]

How detailed an explanation are they looking for here? Do they simply want to know the details of how we physically met in person, or do they also want to know how we came to know eachother in the first place? What kind of info. do you need to give them?

They want to know how you came to know each other and when. They also want to know when and where you first met in person.

e.g. we met in a computer chat room on 05/30/06. We first met in person in Mexico City on 08/30/06. You might want to specify the name of the internet site if you met on one.

You just need to give them basic facts.

[ramos96 1]

They just want some basic details of how you met, for my petition, I listed that we had met online because I was searching for people in Hong Kong as I was going there for a visit and then I listed the two dates that we met while I was there and then described in quick detail the two visits we have had since then, with proof that these occurred, my proof was airline stubs and passport stamps, official documentation and or photos carry great weight, pretty much anything else can be faked if people are trying to cheat the system.

Sincerely,

Ramos

[aussiewench 9]

Tip:

Use Q18 to describe in some detail of how you met in the required 2 year period that established the relationship. The evidence you then submit should support those details. Boarding passes, passport stamps, hotel/credit card receipts, rental receipts if ever lived together etc etc are primary evidence. Photos are secondary which support the primary evidence. What one should be aiming for is creating an image in the minds eye of the adjudicator......a complete picture. Look outside the box for evidence that shows you both in the same place at the same time. Each case is different and one should submit evidence accordingly, not just rely on the standard unofficial list.

Whilst evidence of an ongoing relationship is not a requirement at the initial filing stage, it can be beneficial to those from high fraud countries (eg the philipines) to do so, or if there is anything that could be a red flag that may cause issues at interview stage. This evidence should always be very carefully scrutinised especially emails & chat, to make sure there is nothing mentioned that may be construed in a different way then it is meant. Also make sure that any photo evidence submitted of any ceremony cannot be mistaken for a marriage ceremony which has in the past caused issues and denials.

[garya505 2]

My answer to Q18 was short and sweet: "I met my fiancee in her country on May 31, 2006 when I was there for two weeks", and I included a variety of evidence of this meeting.

[nickypeas 0]

Tip:

Use Q18 to describe in some detail of how you met in the required 2 year period that established the relationship. The evidence you then submit should support those details. Boarding passes, passport stamps, hotel/credit card receipts, rental receipts if ever lived together etc etc are primary evidence. Photos are secondary which support the primary evidence. What one should be aiming for is creating an image in the minds eye of the adjudicator......a complete picture. Look outside the box for evidence that shows you both in the same place at the same time. Each case is different and one should submit evidence accordingly, not just rely on the standard unofficial list.

Whilst evidence of an ongoing relationship is not a requirement at the initial filing stage, it can be beneficial to those from high fraud countries (eg the philipines) to do so, or if there is anything that could be a red flag that may cause issues at interview stage. This evidence should always be very carefully scrutinised especially emails & chat, to make sure there is nothing mentioned that may be construed in a different way then it is meant. Also make sure that any photo evidence submitted of any ceremony cannot be mistaken for a marriage ceremony which has in the past caused issues and denials.

Thanks, that was very helpful.

[MLG 0]

I included a seperate paper to answer question 18 but I didn't sign and date the seperate paper. However, I cut and pasted the same detailed essay onto my letter of intent, which is signed and dated, (summary paragraph in the beginning so they don't have to wade through the whole thing if they dont' want to).

You think not signing and dating that seperate sheet of paper is going to be a problem considering the same exact words are signed and dated elsewhere?

[William33 110]

MLG,

There are many perspectives on this process, yet people have slipped through with an array of mistakes.

At the end of the day, one should seek to package their petition leaving zero question about the legitimacy of the relationship.

aussiewench says it best: "What one should be aiming for is creating an image in the minds eye of the adjudicator......a complete picture."

To answer you question, probably not an issue to worry about, but a best practice to keep in mind.

I included a seperate paper to answer question 18 but I didn't sign and date the seperate paper. However, I cut and pasted the same detailed essay onto my letter of intent, which is signed and dated, (summary paragraph in the beginning so they don't have to wade through the whole thing if they dont' want to).

You think not signing and dating that seperate sheet of paper is going to be a problem considering the same exact words are signed and dated elsewhere?

[nickypeas 0]

Tip:

Use Q18 to describe in some detail of how you met in the required 2 year period that established the relationship. The evidence you then submit should support those details. Boarding passes, passport stamps, hotel/credit card receipts, rental receipts if ever lived together etc etc are primary evidence. Photos are secondary which support the primary evidence. What one should be aiming for is creating an image in the minds eye of the adjudicator......a complete picture. Look outside the box for evidence that shows you both in the same place at the same time. Each case is different and one should submit evidence accordingly, not just rely on the standard unofficial list.

Whilst evidence of an ongoing relationship is not a requirement at the initial filing stage, it can be beneficial to those from high fraud countries (eg the philipines) to do so, or if there is anything that could be a red flag that may cause issues at interview stage. This evidence should always be very carefully scrutinised especially emails & chat, to make sure there is nothing mentioned that may be construed in a different way then it is meant. Also make sure that any photo evidence submitted of any ceremony cannot be mistaken for a marriage ceremony which has in the past caused issues and denials.

Sorry if this is too much, but I thought I'd just post what I've written in response, and you can let me know if it will be sufficient.

I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiance

Question 18.

Nick and I met in an online chatroom in August of 2001, and we've maintained a friendship ever since. In March of 2005, our relationship became romantic, and we decided to finally meet each other in person. We did so for the first time on July 5th, 2005 in Chicago, Illinois. Nick stayed with me at my apartment in Normal, Illinois until September 24, 2005. We met in person a second time on December 21, 2005, when I travelled to Edmonton, Canada to visit Nick and to meet his family, and I stayed there until January 14, 2006. Nick and I met in person for a third time on May 23, 2006 when Nick travelled to Illinois and stayed with me at my apartment in Bloomington, Illinois until November 21, 2006.

Does it need more detail? Less? Any advice would really be appreciated, because I'm still sort of lost with this question.

[Private 1]

It depends on the country, if you are in the middle east please provdie every single detail. Spell everythign out. We did this and that and some feelings. I am not sure if it matters in the US but at the consulate level they are trying for every reason to send your case back. All things should be address. I guess this is more for the Middle Eastern people like myself and not you. I am not sure about Canada, but with Morocco, I wrote out that we meet through a family member and when we meet in person, I thought it explained everythign but they said at the interview that we did not know each other long enough and how do they know I am muslim. So I should have said more about the reason why I wanted to marry him and why I think he wanted to marry and also around the time we meet. I said that we meet and shortly after I went to visit however I think this was the loophole in my case and they returned it. So give a lot do not deal on any of the problems, if there is an age say something about it and tell what it is and also say something liek he does not care becuase he said blah, blah. And then on and on about his matureity and some other stuff. Because I think they look at your file before ahdn and make the decision from there. No matter what you say, it is going through ear and out the other. When preparing your paperwork, I would do it like you are going to the interview. And then at the interview give them the rest, from the date of file until. Do not go in there with things from the beginning, send them the beginning. If you have a red flag, send everything from the beginning. Just my opinion as someone that got sent back, we had very few things and they found something,Salaam.

[Ladylethal 12]

I used a separate sheet to describe how we met online, then in person, briefly describing all the trips we took to see each other and what we did, including facts like we met each other's parents (they seem to find that very important) leading to his proposal to marry me. We then submitted pictures that supported our story, taken at the places we claimed to have been together.