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Pennycat

What documents to bring/ how get dated photos?

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I'm headed down to Costa Rica to visit by boyfriend (and soon-to-be "officially" fiance!) pretty soon and of course, I only JUST realized that it would probably be a good idea to print out/photocopy whatever documents he may need to bring with him to the visa interview. I can print easily and for free here...him there....not so much. So I may as well get chat logs/photographs/whatever we need in his hands now.

Yes, I realize that that step is probably quite some time away (and depending on when it is, I may be able to attend) but I really don't know if I'll be able to get back down there at all before this whole process is over.

I'm really pretty overwhelmed with all the information here (well, and overwhelmed with the whole "not having a place to stay there yet" logistic failure nightmare that I'm in the middle of) and can't seem to tell what document needs to be where like...does he need a photocopy of my birth cert for the embassy or is that just for the application? Also, how do you get dated photographs in this day and age? All of the copies of photos of us together are on Facebook, which has dates on IT---but no dates on the photos when you print them out. Part of me wants to cheekily take a photograph of us with the day's newspaper but I don't know if the US Government shares my sense of humor..... :rolleyes: We can very easily prove face-to-face contact within two years (we have a police report that shows that we were together from when we were robbed while on vacation in Nicaragua in October), but we have to prove an ongoing relationship, right? So chat logs/flights/photos/remittances? Anything you had to mail that you wished you'd planned ahead?

Thanks and sorry for the rambling!

Marriage/ AOS Timeline:

23 Dec 2015: Legal marriage

23 Jan 2016: Wedding!

23 Jan 2016: "Blizzard of the Century", wedding canceled/rescheduled (thank goodness we were legally married first or we'd have had a big problem!) :sleepy:

24 Jan 2016: Small "civil ceremony" with friends and family who were snowed in with us. December was a bit of a secret and people had traveled internationally and knew we *had* to get married that weekend, and our December legal marriage was nothing but signing a piece of paper at our priest's kitchen table, without any sort of vows etc so this was actually a very special (if not legally significant) day. (L)

16 Apr 2016: Filed for AOS and EAD/AP (We delayed a bit-- no big rush, enjoying the USCIS break)

23 Apr 2016: Wedding! Finally! :luv:

27 Apr 2016: Electronic NOA1 for all 3 :dancing:
29 Apr 2016: NOA1 Hardcopy for all 3
29 Jul 2016: Online service request for late EAD (Day 104)
29 Jul 2016: EAD/AP Approved ~3 hours after online service request
04 Aug 2016: RFE for Green Card (requested medicals/ vaccination record. They already have it). :ranting:
05 Aug 2016: EAD/AP Combo Card arrived! (Day 111)
08 Aug 2016: Congressional constituent request to get guidance on the RFE. Hoping they see they have the form and approve!

K-1 Visa Timeline:

PLEASE NOTE. This timeline was during the period of time when TSC was working on I-129fs and had a huge backlog. The average processing time was 210+ days. This is in no way predictive of your own timeline if you filed during or after April 2015, unless CSC develops a backlog. A backlog is anything above the 5-month goal time listed on USCIS's site

14 Feb 2015: Mailed I-129f to Dallas Lockbox. (L) (Most expensive Valentine's card I've ever sent!)

17 Feb 2015: NOA1 "Received Date"
19 Feb 2015: NOA1 Notice Date
08 Aug 2015: NOA2 email! :luv: (173 days from NOA1)

17 Aug 2015: Sent to NVC

?? Aug 2015: Arrived at NVC

25 Aug 2015: NVC Case # Assigned

31 Aug 2015: Left NVC for Consulate in San Jose

09 Sep 2015: Consulate received :dancing: (32 days from NOA2)

11 Sep 2015: Packet 3 emailed from embassy to me, the petitioner (34 days from NOA2).

18 Sep 2015: Medicals complete

21 Sep 2015: Packet 3 complete, my boss puts a temporary moratorium on all time off due to work emergency :clock:

02 Oct 2015: Work emergency clears up, interview scheduled (soonest available was 5 business days away--Columbus Day was in there)

13 Oct 2015: Interview

13 Oct 2015: VISA APPROVED :thumbs: (236 days from NOA1)

19 Oct 2015: Visa-in-hand

24 Oct 2015: POE !

15 Dec 2015: Fiance's mother's B-2 visa interview: APPROVED! So happy she will be at the wedding! :thumbs:

!

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Nigeria
Timeline

I sent in a few emails from each month along with some chat logs. I wrote the location and date on the back of each picture. I sent in travel documents as well. Remember to keep your boarding passes.

 
 
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Thanks, both. Ok, I can print out and date a few photos myself. Would flight reservations be ok? There's *6* of them. I don't have my boarding passes, I don't think.

Marriage/ AOS Timeline:

23 Dec 2015: Legal marriage

23 Jan 2016: Wedding!

23 Jan 2016: "Blizzard of the Century", wedding canceled/rescheduled (thank goodness we were legally married first or we'd have had a big problem!) :sleepy:

24 Jan 2016: Small "civil ceremony" with friends and family who were snowed in with us. December was a bit of a secret and people had traveled internationally and knew we *had* to get married that weekend, and our December legal marriage was nothing but signing a piece of paper at our priest's kitchen table, without any sort of vows etc so this was actually a very special (if not legally significant) day. (L)

16 Apr 2016: Filed for AOS and EAD/AP (We delayed a bit-- no big rush, enjoying the USCIS break)

23 Apr 2016: Wedding! Finally! :luv:

27 Apr 2016: Electronic NOA1 for all 3 :dancing:
29 Apr 2016: NOA1 Hardcopy for all 3
29 Jul 2016: Online service request for late EAD (Day 104)
29 Jul 2016: EAD/AP Approved ~3 hours after online service request
04 Aug 2016: RFE for Green Card (requested medicals/ vaccination record. They already have it). :ranting:
05 Aug 2016: EAD/AP Combo Card arrived! (Day 111)
08 Aug 2016: Congressional constituent request to get guidance on the RFE. Hoping they see they have the form and approve!

K-1 Visa Timeline:

PLEASE NOTE. This timeline was during the period of time when TSC was working on I-129fs and had a huge backlog. The average processing time was 210+ days. This is in no way predictive of your own timeline if you filed during or after April 2015, unless CSC develops a backlog. A backlog is anything above the 5-month goal time listed on USCIS's site

14 Feb 2015: Mailed I-129f to Dallas Lockbox. (L) (Most expensive Valentine's card I've ever sent!)

17 Feb 2015: NOA1 "Received Date"
19 Feb 2015: NOA1 Notice Date
08 Aug 2015: NOA2 email! :luv: (173 days from NOA1)

17 Aug 2015: Sent to NVC

?? Aug 2015: Arrived at NVC

25 Aug 2015: NVC Case # Assigned

31 Aug 2015: Left NVC for Consulate in San Jose

09 Sep 2015: Consulate received :dancing: (32 days from NOA2)

11 Sep 2015: Packet 3 emailed from embassy to me, the petitioner (34 days from NOA2).

18 Sep 2015: Medicals complete

21 Sep 2015: Packet 3 complete, my boss puts a temporary moratorium on all time off due to work emergency :clock:

02 Oct 2015: Work emergency clears up, interview scheduled (soonest available was 5 business days away--Columbus Day was in there)

13 Oct 2015: Interview

13 Oct 2015: VISA APPROVED :thumbs: (236 days from NOA1)

19 Oct 2015: Visa-in-hand

24 Oct 2015: POE !

15 Dec 2015: Fiance's mother's B-2 visa interview: APPROVED! So happy she will be at the wedding! :thumbs:

!

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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Kenya
Timeline

I'm really pretty overwhelmed with all the information here

Read the Guides and Follow the Example Forms.

..does he need a photocopy of my birth cert for the embassy or is that just for the application?

No and Yes

Also, how do you get dated photographs in this day and age?

Use a pen and write on the back.

All of the copies of photos of us together are on Facebook, which has dates on IT---but no dates on the photos when you print them out. Part of me wants to cheekily take a photograph of us with the day's newspaper but I don't know if the US Government shares my sense of humor...

Works for most.

We can very easily prove face-to-face contact within two years (we have a police report that shows that we were together from when we were robbed while on vacation in Nicaragua in October),

Only need proof of one meeting within the last two years of your filing date. No extra credit for additional meetings.

but we have to prove an ongoing relationship, right? So chat logs

Depends on what you talk about. It's all about content and not quantity.

/flights/photos/remittances?

Those just show you travelled together....on their own, they do nothing to prove a valid relationship.

Phil (Lockport, near Chicago) and Alla (Lobnya, near Moscow)

As of Dec 7, 2009, now Zero miles apart (literally)!

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I'm really pretty overwhelmed with all the information here

Read the Guides and Follow the Example Forms.

..does he need a photocopy of my birth cert for the embassy or is that just for the application?

No and Yes

Also, how do you get dated photographs in this day and age?

Use a pen and write on the back.

All of the copies of photos of us together are on Facebook, which has dates on IT---but no dates on the photos when you print them out. Part of me wants to cheekily take a photograph of us with the day's newspaper but I don't know if the US Government shares my sense of humor...

Works for most.

We can very easily prove face-to-face contact within two years (we have a police report that shows that we were together from when we were robbed while on vacation in Nicaragua in October),

Only need proof of one meeting within the last two years of your filing date. No extra credit for additional meetings.

but we have to prove an ongoing relationship, right? So chat logs

Depends on what you talk about. It's all about content and not quantity.

/flights/photos/remittances?

Those just show you travelled together....on their own, they do nothing to prove a valid relationship.

Yep, the guides are what's overwhelming at the moment when I'm just trying to figure out what I should print to bring to leave with him.

And about the chat logs----personal stuff then? Pull out...what? All the romantic squishy stuff? Great.

Marriage/ AOS Timeline:

23 Dec 2015: Legal marriage

23 Jan 2016: Wedding!

23 Jan 2016: "Blizzard of the Century", wedding canceled/rescheduled (thank goodness we were legally married first or we'd have had a big problem!) :sleepy:

24 Jan 2016: Small "civil ceremony" with friends and family who were snowed in with us. December was a bit of a secret and people had traveled internationally and knew we *had* to get married that weekend, and our December legal marriage was nothing but signing a piece of paper at our priest's kitchen table, without any sort of vows etc so this was actually a very special (if not legally significant) day. (L)

16 Apr 2016: Filed for AOS and EAD/AP (We delayed a bit-- no big rush, enjoying the USCIS break)

23 Apr 2016: Wedding! Finally! :luv:

27 Apr 2016: Electronic NOA1 for all 3 :dancing:
29 Apr 2016: NOA1 Hardcopy for all 3
29 Jul 2016: Online service request for late EAD (Day 104)
29 Jul 2016: EAD/AP Approved ~3 hours after online service request
04 Aug 2016: RFE for Green Card (requested medicals/ vaccination record. They already have it). :ranting:
05 Aug 2016: EAD/AP Combo Card arrived! (Day 111)
08 Aug 2016: Congressional constituent request to get guidance on the RFE. Hoping they see they have the form and approve!

K-1 Visa Timeline:

PLEASE NOTE. This timeline was during the period of time when TSC was working on I-129fs and had a huge backlog. The average processing time was 210+ days. This is in no way predictive of your own timeline if you filed during or after April 2015, unless CSC develops a backlog. A backlog is anything above the 5-month goal time listed on USCIS's site

14 Feb 2015: Mailed I-129f to Dallas Lockbox. (L) (Most expensive Valentine's card I've ever sent!)

17 Feb 2015: NOA1 "Received Date"
19 Feb 2015: NOA1 Notice Date
08 Aug 2015: NOA2 email! :luv: (173 days from NOA1)

17 Aug 2015: Sent to NVC

?? Aug 2015: Arrived at NVC

25 Aug 2015: NVC Case # Assigned

31 Aug 2015: Left NVC for Consulate in San Jose

09 Sep 2015: Consulate received :dancing: (32 days from NOA2)

11 Sep 2015: Packet 3 emailed from embassy to me, the petitioner (34 days from NOA2).

18 Sep 2015: Medicals complete

21 Sep 2015: Packet 3 complete, my boss puts a temporary moratorium on all time off due to work emergency :clock:

02 Oct 2015: Work emergency clears up, interview scheduled (soonest available was 5 business days away--Columbus Day was in there)

13 Oct 2015: Interview

13 Oct 2015: VISA APPROVED :thumbs: (236 days from NOA1)

19 Oct 2015: Visa-in-hand

24 Oct 2015: POE !

15 Dec 2015: Fiance's mother's B-2 visa interview: APPROVED! So happy she will be at the wedding! :thumbs:

!

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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Kenya
Timeline

Yep, the guides are what's overwhelming at the moment when I'm just trying to figure out what I should print to bring to leave with him.

Read through the Sticky Notes....many folks have compiled a listing of all the things one needs at each stage. It's really not that hard.

And about the chat logs----personal stuff then? Pull out...what? All the romantic squishy stuff? Great.

The chat logs should be part of your bulk of evidence that when examined by a complete stranger should indicate that you two have a real relationship and intend to marry and live a long time in the US.

I suggest to purposefully generate all kinds of evidences.

Your evidence should support what I like to call the Evolution of Our Relationship. Most all relationships follow a usual pattern....in beginning it's get to know you what you like, dislike....then leading to more intimate conversations (the romantic stuff should be included or else your relationship might be viewed as not normal...agree?).....then to agreement to marry then to planning the new life here.

Phil (Lockport, near Chicago) and Alla (Lobnya, near Moscow)

As of Dec 7, 2009, now Zero miles apart (literally)!

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Thanks, good idea on the chat logs....I can sift through and find each stage very easily (especially the important turn). But...panic time...in English? We text in Spanish and Skype and/or interact face-to-face in English. I *really* don't want to have to translate the chat logs for these people but.....is that in my future?

Marriage/ AOS Timeline:

23 Dec 2015: Legal marriage

23 Jan 2016: Wedding!

23 Jan 2016: "Blizzard of the Century", wedding canceled/rescheduled (thank goodness we were legally married first or we'd have had a big problem!) :sleepy:

24 Jan 2016: Small "civil ceremony" with friends and family who were snowed in with us. December was a bit of a secret and people had traveled internationally and knew we *had* to get married that weekend, and our December legal marriage was nothing but signing a piece of paper at our priest's kitchen table, without any sort of vows etc so this was actually a very special (if not legally significant) day. (L)

16 Apr 2016: Filed for AOS and EAD/AP (We delayed a bit-- no big rush, enjoying the USCIS break)

23 Apr 2016: Wedding! Finally! :luv:

27 Apr 2016: Electronic NOA1 for all 3 :dancing:
29 Apr 2016: NOA1 Hardcopy for all 3
29 Jul 2016: Online service request for late EAD (Day 104)
29 Jul 2016: EAD/AP Approved ~3 hours after online service request
04 Aug 2016: RFE for Green Card (requested medicals/ vaccination record. They already have it). :ranting:
05 Aug 2016: EAD/AP Combo Card arrived! (Day 111)
08 Aug 2016: Congressional constituent request to get guidance on the RFE. Hoping they see they have the form and approve!

K-1 Visa Timeline:

PLEASE NOTE. This timeline was during the period of time when TSC was working on I-129fs and had a huge backlog. The average processing time was 210+ days. This is in no way predictive of your own timeline if you filed during or after April 2015, unless CSC develops a backlog. A backlog is anything above the 5-month goal time listed on USCIS's site

14 Feb 2015: Mailed I-129f to Dallas Lockbox. (L) (Most expensive Valentine's card I've ever sent!)

17 Feb 2015: NOA1 "Received Date"
19 Feb 2015: NOA1 Notice Date
08 Aug 2015: NOA2 email! :luv: (173 days from NOA1)

17 Aug 2015: Sent to NVC

?? Aug 2015: Arrived at NVC

25 Aug 2015: NVC Case # Assigned

31 Aug 2015: Left NVC for Consulate in San Jose

09 Sep 2015: Consulate received :dancing: (32 days from NOA2)

11 Sep 2015: Packet 3 emailed from embassy to me, the petitioner (34 days from NOA2).

18 Sep 2015: Medicals complete

21 Sep 2015: Packet 3 complete, my boss puts a temporary moratorium on all time off due to work emergency :clock:

02 Oct 2015: Work emergency clears up, interview scheduled (soonest available was 5 business days away--Columbus Day was in there)

13 Oct 2015: Interview

13 Oct 2015: VISA APPROVED :thumbs: (236 days from NOA1)

19 Oct 2015: Visa-in-hand

24 Oct 2015: POE !

15 Dec 2015: Fiance's mother's B-2 visa interview: APPROVED! So happy she will be at the wedding! :thumbs:

!

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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Kenya
Timeline

Thanks, good idea on the chat logs....I can sift through and find each stage very easily (especially the important turn).

We were given a 221 g form at her interview asking for more evidence. The next day as I shifted through the reams of stuff it dawned on my that we had indeed followed a normal path of evolution and drafted the same document (about two and a half pages) which I thought would help guide the CO through the evidence. I resent some of the same over again. Within two days of submittal we were approved.

But...panic time...in English?

Yes, unless your Embassy specifically states that native language documents are OK as-is.

We text in Spanish and Skype and/or interact face-to-face in English. I *really* don't want to have to translate the chat logs for these people but.....is that in my future?

Check the Embassy web page or email them.

Phil (Lockport, near Chicago) and Alla (Lobnya, near Moscow)

As of Dec 7, 2009, now Zero miles apart (literally)!

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
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The K-1 guide on this site is perfect. I know a lot to comprehend, but just take one thing a day, and try to get that one. Then one the next.

As for pictures, take a No.2 pencil, date, place, and who is in the photos, on each one, put in a plastic see through individual slot binder, and if the beneficiary, can "ad-lib" about each photo, it will help in my opinion. It certainly did my wife.

Just try not let the K-1 guide "overwhelm" you, just take a step or two a day.,.,.,"the guide is perfect" to get all the info. to pass an interview.

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