More 129F questions

[vanee 13]

I've looked through the guides and example forms and have found the answers to several of my questions. Here are some more questions I have:

- My home address and mailing address are different. Do we put my home address on p. 1 of 129-F and my mailing address on p. 2, the other way around, or...??

- What type of birth certificate does my fiance (the USC) need to include? A regular (short) form, the long form, or a certified birth certificate?

- For #18 ("Describe the circumstances under which you met"), I've written a timeline showing how we became friends online after getting to know each other through our work, when that friendship became more than a friendship, and our two meetings in person (the second time for two months). I think it's relevant because our first meeting in person was related to our work. But is a whole page too much information? Or are more details good?

- Are letters from people who know us and saw us together in person helpful? We could ask someone we work with to write about us on business letterhead. Also a friend we had lunch with and my fiance's adult son (no letterhead paper for them). They all saw how connected the two of us feel. But I don't want to give the government more than they want.

We have evidence of being together in person twice this past year. Unfortunately, I didn't realize at the time that boarding passes were the evidence to keep, and I have boarding passes for only one way for each trip. But with receipts and other documentation, I can still prove that we were at the same place at the same time on 2 occasions. I'm trying to figure out how much more to include.

Thanks for your help!

[edit] I forgot this question (and maybe some others). I'm self-employed. I work at a computer and can continue doing my work just as easily in the US as in Canada. Should I mention in my 129-F cover letter that I'm self-employed? It might help show that work is not my motivation for applying. But again, I don't know how much more information to give them than exactly what they ask for.

Thanks again!

Edited November 26, 2006 by vanee

[aussiewench 9]

  vanee said:

- My home address and mailing address are different. Do we put my home address on p. 1 of 129-F and my mailing address on p. 2, the other way around, or...??

The address block on the forms is the data field captured for all of our mailings. Consistent with the limitations on the number of characters per line (a maximum of 32) and the total numbers of lines (4) in that field, whatever is in the block will become the mailing address used by the system. The data in these fields is entered exactly as indicated on the forms. Please include internal routing symbols in the address block, especially for large organizations. It is better to abbreviate the name of the organization and have space for the routing codes than to fully spell out the name and have notices sit in the organization's mailroom

Source

  Quote

- What type of birth certificate does my fiance (the USC) need to include? A regular (short) form, the long form, or a certified birth certificate?

Long form. Many have received RFE's for submitting short form.

  Quote

- For #18 ("Describe the circumstances under which you met"), I've written a timeline showing how we became friends online after getting to know each other through our work, when that friendship became more than a friendship, and our two meetings in person (the second time for two months). I think it's relevant because our first meeting in person was related to our work. But is a whole page too much information? Or are more details good?

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.

  Quote

- Are letters from people who know us and saw us together in person helpful? We could ask someone we work with to write about us on business letterhead. Also a friend we had lunch with and my fiance's adult son (no letterhead paper for them). They all saw how connected the two of us feel. But I don't want to give the government more than they want.

Not necessary unless you are really coming up short on other evidence such as boarding passes, passport stamps, photos etc.

  Quote

We have evidence of being together in person twice this past year. Unfortunately, I didn't realize at the time that boarding passes were the evidence to keep, and I have boarding passes for only one way for each trip. But with receipts and other documentation, I can still prove that we were at the same place at the same time on 2 occasions. I'm trying to figure out how much more to include.

See above.