Avoid unnecessary RFEs! (same sex marriage I-129F petitions)

[flowershoes 2]

Congrats flowershoes and mstewart! I am so happy for you guys!

I'm seeing more and more same-sex K-1 applications getting approved really quickly. Based on the last seven same-sex K-1 applications I've seen, the I-129F's were approved in about 60 days (average) from the NOA1 date.

Below are their timeline links:

• Keith and Haris http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?cfl=&id=163981
• S and R http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?cfl=&id=164741
• Peter and Bonieke http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?cfl=&id=165089
• Sarah and Nichelle http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?cfl=&id=165674
• Ray and Andy http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=150442
• Tracie and Nikki http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=164438
• Texas and Mathiew http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=165034

If you would like to be added on this list, please let me know. I'm sure VJ members would appreciate seeing ​​​others' progress on here. Personally, this gives me really good vibes. There's so much love and support in the VJ community. It makes this long waiting process bearable.

Again, congrats to everyone approved and good luck to the rest of us!

- Donna

Donna, this list is fabulous. Thanks for putting it together - will definitely be following everyone and sending everyone out good vibes!

[rjbntsk 5]

Congrats flowershoes and mstewart! I am so happy for you guys!

I'm seeing more and more same-sex K-1 applications getting approved really quickly. Based on the last seven same-sex K-1 applications I've seen, the I-129F's were approved in about 60 days (average) from the NOA1 date.

Below are their timeline links:

• Keith and Haris http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?cfl=&id=163981
• S and R http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?cfl=&id=164741
• Peter and Bonieke http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?cfl=&id=165089
• Sarah and Nichelle http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?cfl=&id=165674
• Ray and Andy http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=150442
• Tracie and Nikki http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=164438
• Texas and Mathiew http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=165034

If you would like to be added on this list, please let me know. I'm sure VJ members would appreciate seeing ​​​others' progress on here. Personally, this gives me really good vibes. There's so much love and support in the VJ community. It makes this long waiting process bearable.

Again, congrats to everyone approved and good luck to the rest of us!

- Donna

Hi Donna, you're more than welcome to add us to the list!

Cheers,

Randy

[espared12 52]

Our petition was just APPROVED! I got the NOA2 email!

AWESOME news! Congratulations! Woo-hoo!

My fiance lives in Georgia, and gay marriage is not legal there, but we did not receive an RFE! YAY!

[zerra08 0]

This is not a 'silly and unnecessary' RFE. It is a requirement of the I-129F that you have met in person within the 2 years prior to filing. Photos are only secondary evidence and do not work alone as proof of meeting. You need primary evidence such as the passport stamps, boarding passes, hotel receipts, etc. This is posted about often here on VJ and proof of meeting is a common RFE. The K-1 guide here on VJ lists what evidence can be used for proof of meeting.

hi.. we havent filed our I-129f cuz we are still waiting for my requirements to arrive in the u.s. my partner lives in MA. ur post is very informative.. we only have like pictures when we travelled. i think i need to check the itineraries during our vacations.. argh thats a tedious work..i need to check thousand of emails lolz..but of course it's nothing if it means were gonna be together thanks for that info

[Ralphiey 13]

hi.. we havent filed our I-129f cuz we are still waiting for my requirements to arrive in the u.s. my partner lives in MA. ur post is very informative.. we only have like pictures when we travelled. i think i need to check the itineraries during our vacations.. argh thats a tedious work..i need to check thousand of emails lolz..but of course it's nothing if it means were gonna be together thanks for that info

hi, we did submit our itineraries however it was not enough, it was stated in the RFE that they need boarding passess & passport stamp due to the latter doesn't prove that the travel was completed. fyi & goodluck!.

Edited October 21, 2013 by Kerry and Ralph

[zerra08 0]

hi, we did submit our itineraries however it was not enough, it was stated in the RFE that they need boarding passess & passport stamp due to the latter doesn't prove that the travel was completed. fyi & goodluck!.

thanks a bunch! best wishes

[ivanalex1980 34]

Hello every one

i need your help, i know what i am gonna ask you maybe has nothing to do with this thread but anyways.

i sent my response to RFE to USCIS to their PO Box by USPS. USPS site says that the mail is available for pick up.it says that since yesterday.

has any one experienced the same? since my mail is in USCIS PO Box it means USCIS has to go to post office and get it?

if any one experienced the same please tell me when USCIS took the mail from PO Box

i really need your help guys thanks very much

[Nikkosan 127]

We just got APPROVED!!! It took TSC 65 days, so I can't really complain, knowing it will (hopefully) be a smooth transition to NVC and US Consulate.

For the record, we will reside in FL (no same-sex marriage) and will marry in MA (my partner is originally from there). We did NOT provide them with any laws pertaining to same-sex marriage in MA, and we did not receive any RFE.

To all of those who haven't received any news yet, hang in there!!!

[Stymie 0]

We just got APPROVED!!! It took 96 days. Hopefully be a smooth transition to NVC and US Consulate.

For the record, we did NOT provide them with any laws pertaining to same-sex marriage, and we did not receive any RFE. But after reading the experiences of others I would include this info. I had a few weeks of worry about RFEs.

Good luck everyone

[ivanalex1980 34]

Congratulations

it is really nice to hear as many same sex approval

they just got our response to RFE, it was about in which state we plan to marry

[jens_prodigy 13]

We just got APPROVED!!! It took TSC 65 days, so I can't really complain, knowing it will (hopefully) be a smooth transition to NVC and US Consulate.

For the record, we will reside in FL (no same-sex marriage) and will marry in MA (my partner is originally from there). We did NOT provide them with any laws pertaining to same-sex marriage in MA, and we did not receive any RFE.

To all of those who haven't received any news yet, hang in there!!!

Congrats! i'm so happy for you. It seems that you've been with your partner almost as long as I've been with mine. We turn 8yrs next month! What a great almost-anniversary gift for you both. I can't wait til we have the same good news.

[Nikkosan 127]

Congrats! i'm so happy for you. It seems that you've been with your partner almost as long as I've been with mine. We turn 8yrs next month! What a great almost-anniversary gift for you both. I can't wait til we have the same good news.

Thank you, ladies!

Yes, we're right there in the anniversaries' department; about time we put a ring on it! LOL

As for the great "almost anniversary" gift, well, in three days it'll be MY birthday (I'm the beneficiary), I'll gladly accept that as my birthday gift!

Wish you the BEST of luck for a speedy approval!!!

[kmiami15 8]

Thank you, ladies!

Yes, we're right there in the anniversaries' department; about time we put a ring on it! LOL

As for the great "almost anniversary" gift, well, in three days it'll be MY birthday (I'm the beneficiary), I'll gladly accept that as my birthday gift!

Wish you the BEST of luck for a speedy approval!!!

happy (early) birthday!!! and what a gift!!!! hahaha... hopefully I get a bday gift like that too..... mine is in a couple of weeks... haha... congrats again... keep us posted....

[iamnate 0]

i just got an RFE regarding this. Ugh !

I'm wondering if my fiance and I (the petitioner) will both need to re-submit our letter of intent. Or I alone could send it. Also, we're planning on getting married in NY. Anyone knew where I could find their "relevant state's law of marriage"?

Sincerely,

Nathan

Hi fellow VJ'ers -

It may be worth updating the VJ website regarding two specific requirements for same sex marriage I-129F petitions to help prevent others from encountering the RFE that we just received today.

We filed our I-129F on June 28, 2013, just two days after DOMA's Supreme Court smackdown. Shortly after this, we read on websites like Immigration Equality that same sex couples should include verbiage in their "Intent to Marry" letters declaring the US state in which they plan to marry, specifically a state that allows legal same sex marriage.

Since we had already sent off our petition without it, we were hoping that including the intended marriage state was merely a "friendly suggestion" to help reduce the likelihood of generating an RFE. Unfortunately, we've learned today that omitting this info *will* generate an RFE.

However, in addition to asking us to "identify the state in which we intend to marry", the RFE also asked us for something we had not read anywhere else: to provide a "copy of the relevant state's marriage laws permitting people of the same gender to legally marry."

Since we are getting married in Maryland, we included a copy of Maryland's House Bill (438) that legalized same-sex marriage, as well as a USA Today /AP press article that identified that legal same sex marriage had begun. We contacted Immigration Equality who suggested providing both the legal documentation as well as a public article from an established news source.

Hopefully, this will help any of you who are starting out your journey, and I hope that VJ will update the FAQ's to point out this important requirement distinction for same sex couples.

Best of luck to all!

Rob and Adrian

i just got an RFE regarding this. Ugh !

I'm wondering if my fiance and I (the petitioner) will both need to re-submit our letter of intent. Or I alone could send it. Also, we're planning on getting married in NY. Anyone knew where I could find their "relevant state's law of marriage"?

Sincerely,

Nathan

[Nikkosan 127]

happy (early) birthday!!! and what a gift!!!! hahaha... hopefully I get a bday gift like that too..... mine is in a couple of weeks... haha... congrats again... keep us posted....

You will, and I hope it comes early for you as well!!! ;-)