"Frontloading" Your I-129F/K-1 Petition. Opinions/experiences?

[Redicent 14]

Some say to "frontload" your petition with extra "ongoing relationship" evidence, beyond what is need for I-129F appoval, at the start, so you have an easier time at the embassy interview.

Some say otherwise. Whats the real story?

Does frontloading really help when it gets to the embassy?

Does frontloading slow down the approval process at USCIS?

Why give USCIS stuff to confuse them or cause more questions?

Can the extra evidence just be sent to the embassy once an embassy case number is assigned, before the interview?

Those who frontloaded, how long was your NOA1 to NOA2 time? RFEs?

Those who did not frontload, how long was your NOA1 to NOA2 time? RFEs?

Embassy experiences regarding frontloading?

Actual experiences would be more helpful, rather than assumptions.

I ask these questions fully knowing that one must first satisfy USCIS. Some evidence of ongoing relationship may help with that. And of course different embassies have different standards to overcome. These are given concepts. My interest is in whether frontloading is truly effective. And is there recent experience to show which is best.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Time is not different. You should front-load for Philippines because yes, it really helps. You cannot send in other evidence until the interview. Choose some quality bits of evidence; not the whole kitchen sink. Evidence will not confuse someone...

[Redicent 14]

Time is not different. You should front-load for Philippines because yes, it really helps. You cannot send in other evidence until the interview. Choose some quality bits of evidence; not the whole kitchen sink. Evidence will not confuse someone...

Thanks for your reply. Im trying to nail down hard facts. Please help me with this. Maybe you have experience or direct knowledge. This is for the benefit of all of us on VJ.

Once an embassy has your file, why cant they add anything to it?

Can anybody cite a rule that you cant send stuff to be added to your file at the embassy? Links to any official websites regarding this?

Why cant evidence be sent to the embassy with the case number on it?

Does anybody have experience sending papers to the embassy with case number attached? Rejected or accepted?

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Because they won't accept it. Things are done in a certain way and you cannot deviate from that for streamlining and security reasons. Do you think the embassy would just accept a big package at their door?

[Netsikai 20]

Basing on our experience, frontloading the 1-129 f really helps a lot....we mailed the package last Oct.15,2012, no rfe and it was approved last April 26,2013...

I know this is not one of your question but I want to share what we included....

we included all boarding passes with yellow ink highlighting the name, date and destination and airline... each and every page of our passports with yellow highlighting the ,arrival and departure dates, the visa, the I-194(when I visited him)..., computer printouts of all our airline tickets with highlights of name, date and destination..., pictures printed out in bond paper with caption of date, location, who we are with...chats one printout for each week, email one for every week, letters, complete pages of my fiances divorce papers, engagement ring receipt photocopy...other than the required forms, photo and docs.

We had tabs (we ordered at amazon) at the bottom of the pages for easy finding of the docs, we placed 2 hole fasteners (acco brand also ordered at amazon) at the top (I noticed all documents had 2 hole fasteners at the top and folders at the us embassy manila when I had my interview last July 15, 2013)...and a small caption at the bottom of each page of our docs I-129f submission, petitioner's and beneficiary's name...my estimate of our package about 60 to 80 bond papers...paid 20 Dollars for overnight usps mail.

I just want to share our experience because I am so happy we did it and have good results.

[Redicent 14]

Because they won't accept it. Things are done in a certain way and you cannot deviate from that for streamlining and security reasons. Do you think the embassy would just accept a big package at their door?

Thats good to know that US Embassies NEVER accept mail. Who has some factual answers?

Basing on our experience, frontloading the 1-129 f really helps a lot....we mailed the package last Oct.15,2012, no rfe and it was approved last April 26,2013...

I know this is not one of your question but I want to share what we included....

we included all boarding passes with yellow ink highlighting the name, date and destination and airline... each and every page of our passports with yellow highlighting the ,arrival and departure dates, the visa, the I-194(when I visited him)..., computer printouts of all our airline tickets with highlights of name, date and destination..., pictures printed out in bond paper with caption of date, location, who we are with...chats one printout for each week, email one for every week, letters, complete pages of my fiances divorce papers, engagement ring receipt photocopy...other than the required forms, photo and docs.

We had tabs (we ordered at amazon) at the bottom of the pages for easy finding of the docs, we placed 2 hole fasteners (acco brand also ordered at amazon) at the top (I noticed all documents had 2 hole fasteners at the top and folders at the us embassy manila when I had my interview last July 15, 2013)...and a small caption at the bottom of each page of our docs I-129f submission, petitioner's and beneficiary's name...my estimate of our package about 60 to 80 bond papers...paid 20 Dollars for overnight usps mail.

I just want to share our experience because I am so happy we did it and have good results.

Thanks. Experience is a good thing to listen to.

Edited July 16, 2013 by Redicent

[yorubaqueen13 28]

I did not front load... USCIS process from NOA1 to NOA2 was 117 days less the 4 months... I will b sending a binder full of more supporting eveidence in chronilogical order to my fiancee for interview!!!

[duraaraa 203]

Some say to "frontload" your petition with extra "ongoing relationship" evidence, beyond what is need for I-129F appoval, at the start, so you have an easier time at the embassy interview.

Some say otherwise. Whats the real story?

Does frontloading really help when it gets to the embassy?

Does frontloading slow down the approval process at USCIS?

Why give USCIS stuff to confuse them or cause more questions?

Can the extra evidence just be sent to the embassy once an embassy case number is assigned, before the interview?

Those who frontloaded, how long was your NOA1 to NOA2 time? RFEs?

Those who did not frontload, how long was your NOA1 to NOA2 time? RFEs?

Embassy experiences regarding frontloading?

Actual experiences would be more helpful, rather than assumptions.

I ask these questions fully knowing that one must first satisfy USCIS. Some evidence of ongoing relationship may help with that. And of course different embassies have different standards to overcome. These are given concepts. My interest is in whether frontloading is truly effective. And is there recent experience to show which is best.

I didn't frontload. My petition was approved in about four months. (December filer, CSC)

As for the embassy, the embassy in Ulaanbaatar allows you to submit all of the documents the Friday before the interview (interviews are Wednesdays). They will look over the documents and tell you if something is missing. With those documents, it's possible to also include relationship evidence (in our case, pictures and handwritten letters, because my wife didn't have internet access at the time).

In some cases, people have frontloaded and were told that they didn't need any more evidence, that they already had enough, when they tried to add more on the document submission day.

This is, of course, embassy-specific, but I haven't heard of many people having a hard time in Mongolia, which is ironic because it is a poor country, and it is considered high-fraud for B visas.

[Redicent 14]

I did not front load... USCIS process from NOA1 to NOA2 was 117 days less the 4 months... I will b sending a binder full of more supporting eveidence in chronilogical order to my fiancee for interview!!!

Thanks.

So far, we have 1 Frontloader approved at 193 days and 1 non-loader approved at 117 days.

Another non-loader from the topic that spawned this one was approved at 84 days.

Keep 'em coming, need more data...

[Redicent 14]

I didn't frontload. My petition was approved in about four months. (December filer, CSC)

As for the embassy, the embassy in Ulaanbaatar allows you to submit all of the documents the Friday before the interview (interviews are Wednesdays). They will look over the documents and tell you if something is missing. With those documents, it's possible to also include relationship evidence (in our case, pictures and handwritten letters, because my wife didn't have internet access at the time).

In some cases, people have frontloaded and were told that they didn't need any more evidence, that they already had enough, when they tried to add more on the document submission day.

This is, of course, embassy-specific, but I haven't heard of many people having a hard time in Mongolia, which is ironic because it is a poor country, and it is considered high-fraud for B visas.

Thank you, more interesting info. That embassy allows, even asks for more evidence prior to interview.

And we add another non-frontloader approved at about 4 months...

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Thanks.

So far, we have 1 Frontloader approved at 193 days and 1 non-loader approved at 117 days.

Another non-loader from the topic that spawned this one was approved at 84 days.

Keep 'em coming, need more data...

I already told you that frontloading or not does NOT change your processing time. The time has to do with current petition load at the service centers and changes from month to month. There is not a way to go faster.

Furthermore, speed should NOT be the goal. The goal should be getting a visa, which is the whole point of the process. Sending in a bare bones petition for the idea that it will go faster, just to be denied your visa at the end for lack of a bona fide relationship is pure foolery.

[Netsikai 20]

Totally agree with Harpa Timsah...very well said.

[six7one 17]

No Frontload. No RFEs. Approved in 142 days.

You need just enough evidence of a genuine relationship to convince the USCIS to approve your petition. That's the trick because it is subjective as long as you send the minimum required supporting evidence.

I just want to add that I accompanied my Fiancee to her interview. We had a ton of evidence! Chat logs, Sype logs, SMS logs, PayPal receipts for phone loads, airline boarding passes, hotel receipts, etc. The USEM did not take a single piece of paper from our evidence pile because I was with her. Not saying this is the norm, but just our experience.

[duraaraa 203]

I already told you that frontloading or not does NOT change your processing time. The time has to do with current petition load at the service centers and changes from month to month. There is not a way to go faster.

Furthermore, speed should NOT be the goal. The goal should be getting a visa, which is the whole point of the process. Sending in a bare bones petition for the idea that it will go faster, just to be denied your visa at the end for lack of a bona fide relationship is pure foolery.

I understand what you are saying, but I disagree. For me, speed was very much the goal. My step kids had been growing up without me there for 10 months, and I didn't get to see them or have much of an influence over them, other than phone calls.

Speed is a big deal for a lot of people waiting to be with their loved ones.

With that said, I think that frontloading makes absolutely no difference in speed at the USCIS stage, and probably only makes a difference if there would be a reason to doubt the validity of a relationship (high-fraud country, big age gap, etc. etc.)

[Redicent 14]

I already told you that frontloading or not does NOT change your processing time. The time has to do with current petition load at the service centers and changes from month to month. There is not a way to go faster.

Furthermore, speed should NOT be the goal. The goal should be getting a visa, which is the whole point of the process. Sending in a bare bones petition for the idea that it will go faster, just to be denied your visa at the end for lack of a bona fide relationship is pure foolery.

Thanks for your opinion. It's the opinion of one person. Some may share your opinion, some may not. I'm looking for facts, not only opinions.

You have expressed your opinion. What you haven't done is to show facts. You said something about mail not being accepted. Here is the website with mailing address for the US Consulate in Jerusalem. If they dont accept mail, why do they publish a mailing address?

http://jerusalem.usconsulate.gov/contact.html

My questions are for all who care to answer. The questions don't stop after you have said thus and so.

Now, back to the diversity university of VJ...