Emailing Documents to Your Fiance in Philippines

[Blueblood 5]

I am currently putting together my Affidavit of Support and supporting documents for my fiancé to take with her to the embassy. As everyone reading this knows, she might be asked for them by the CO during her interview. As most of you also probably know, these documents include my 1040, W2's, and pay stubs.

Needless to say, if any of those documents get into the hands of a fraud artistic, I'm screwed. They have all the information any criminal needs to completely steal my identity, and from there, well, you can guess the rest.

At this point my plan is scan the documents and email them to her, but not before first blacking-out my SSN. It will be a hassle as I already have soft copies of most of these items, but this is not a small matter. Conversely, of course the CO could, if they so choose, reject any partially blacked-out document as incomplete/insufficient evidence.

So I'm asking fellow petitioners, What did you do? How did you handle this portion of the process? Any tips? Suggestions?

As always, TIA and everyone have a lovely weekend!

[Pitaya 2,577]

The I-134 must be an original document with a "wet signature." However, the supporting documents can be copies. There may be other original documents required. I have redacted all but the last four digits of my SSN in all of my "sensitive" documents , and had no issues.

Check Embassy Info page for more info.

YMMV.

Good luck on your immigration journey.

Edited February 8, 2015 by A&B

[Blueblood 5]

Thanks, A&B. I suppose I could try to snail mail her the "original" I-134, but her interview is coming soon. Will have to think about that...

It's interesting bc at least one very recent Filipina here on VJ fiancé wasn't even asked for the I-134 and supporting doc's by the CO. But yes, I know, we still need to be ready to produce pretty much whatever they ask for.

[Blueblood 5]

Well, I see not having an original I-134 was a problem at least for one VJer, back in 2011: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/303492-original-copy-of-i134-nightmare/

But in the thread he says the instructions clearly state copies are ok (???).

[Pitaya 2,577]

Check out this info link from USEM: http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/325288/packets/K1%20and%20K2%20Interview%20Preparation%20Instructions%20-%20English%20_updated%2004%20Feb%202014_.pdf

A lot of folks use express courier services rather than snail mail during these situations.

[Blueblood 5]

Yeah, I did. In typical government fashion, it's actually legally unclear what is required. Here's the exact wording (emphasis added):

"A completed I-134 Affidavit of Support Form with original signature will be useful to the consular officer to evaluate your petitioner’s ability to be financially responsible for you."

Interesting, "will be useful." To me that approximates, "recommended." Hence the other VJer who recently wasn't even asked for to submit it, and conversely the VJer in my link who was required to send in the original after the interview.

[Greenbaum 12,260]

Blueblood, on 07 Feb 2015 - 9:58 PM, said:

I am currently putting together my Affidavit of Support and supporting documents for my fiancé to take with her to the embassy. As everyone reading this knows, she might be asked for them by the CO during her interview. As most of you also probably know, these documents include my 1040, W2's, and pay stubs.

Needless to say, if any of those documents get into the hands of a fraud artistic, I'm screwed. They have all the information any criminal needs to completely steal my identity, and from there, well, you can guess the rest.

At this point my plan is scan the documents and email them to her, but not before first blacking-out my SSN. It will be a hassle as I already have soft copies of most of these items, but this is not a small matter. Conversely, of course the CO could, if they so choose, reject any partially blacked-out document as incomplete/insufficient evidence.

So I'm asking fellow petitioners, What did you do? How did you handle this portion of the process? Any tips? Suggestions?

As always, TIA and everyone have a lovely weekend!

Two things here, first the embassy already has your SSN and or can look it up... It's the US Government. Second, don't use snail mail with anything that is important to you and that you don't what to fall in the wrong hands, because it will. Use DHL or FedEx to send your documents.

[luckytwo15 13]

Yeah, I did. In typical government fashion, it's actually legally unclear what is required. Here's the exact wording (emphasis added):

"A completed I-134 Affidavit of Support Form with original signature will be useful to the consular officer to evaluate your petitioners ability to be financially responsible for you."

Interesting, "will be useful." To me that approximates, "recommended." Hence the other VJer who recently wasn't even asked for to submit it, and conversely the VJer in my link who was required to send in the original after the interview.

If it's required the USEM could use words like required, must, shall, etc. But they don't.

Also, the time restrictions of less than 6 months for the NBI and CENOMAR could be added to the USEM letter.

All of those things not followed can lead to a 221g, which means delay.

We found success by reading here in VJ. Also my fiancee actively followed one of the FB groups, which is primarily Tagalog.

Best of luck!

[Al422 221]

We are talking here about the US Government. The IRS has your SS number. And so does your employer, your bank, every company that issued a credit card to you, whoever holds a mortage on your house, and the list goes on and on.

Now the Department of State wants your SS number. I would not worry about it. They have much more sensitive information on citizens than that on file.

Tip: Although the Philippine's CFO office also wants your tax return, they do not need your SS number. So on the tax return your fiance hands to them, block your SS out with a black marker pen. I did it, and no problems.

Anything that does not require an original inked signature or an original government issued document can be emailed. But ladies living there do not always have easy access to printers like we do here. If they use an internet cafe, printing costs can get seriously out of hand for them. Just consider this when you decide if email or paper mail would be a better choiice.

For paper mail of critical documents, my money is on DHL. They are the gold standard for international shipping. FedEx actually hands envelopes off to DHL to ship, and then DHL hands it back to them in the destination country. DHL costs a bit more, maybe $100 instead of $80, but $20 is a silly amount of money with the thousands you already invested in this visa. So pay the extra $20.

If you plan the mailing of the documents carefully, you will not have to do it often. I paid for DHL a total of three times over the course of the whole process. $300. No big deal. You are already spending thousands. Now spend $300 so critical documents will be where they need to be when they need to be there.

[luckytwo15 13]

We are talking here about the US Government. The IRS has your SS number. And so does your employer, your bank, every company that issued a credit card to you, whoever holds a mortage on your house, and the list goes on and on.

Now the Department of State wants your SS number. I would not worry about it. They have much more sensitive information on citizens than that on file.

Tip: Although the Philippine's CFO office also wants your tax return, they do not need your SS number. So on the tax return your fiance hands to them, block your SS out with a black marker pen. I did it, and no problems.

Anything that does not require an original inked signature or an original government issued document can be emailed. But ladies living there do not always have easy access to printers like we do here. If they use an internet cafe, printing costs can get seriously out of hand for them. Just consider this when you decide if email or paper mail would be a better choiice.

For paper mail of critical documents, my money is on DHL. They are the gold standard for international shipping. FedEx actually hands envelopes off to DHL to ship, and then DHL hands it back to them in the destination country. DHL costs a bit more, maybe $100 instead of $80, but $20 is a silly amount of money with the thousands you already invested in this visa. So pay the extra $20.

If you plan the mailing of the documents carefully, you will not have to do it often. I paid for DHL a total of three times over the course of the whole process. $300. No big deal. You are already spending thousands. Now spend $300 so critical documents will be where they need to be when they need to be there.

Your post reminded me of the process at Internet cafes. All 3 that we used in the PI had some sort of process where the files that needed to be printed had to be moved to some sort of shared network folder. It wasn't a standard spooling you'd see in the USA at a library or such. I thought it a bit strange that I was able to look at other people's documents while mine printed. And it was way more documents than there were people in the cafe, so the files were not routinely deleted.

After the printing was done I asked the person to delete the files, but who knows who has access to the Internet cafe printing ....

Edited February 8, 2015 by luckytwo15

[Hank_ 9,174]

Thanks, A&B. I suppose I could try to snail mail her the "original" I-134, but her interview is coming soon. Will have to think about that...

It's interesting bc at least one very recent Filipina here on VJ fiancé wasn't even asked for the I-134 and supporting doc's by the CO. But yes, I know, we still need to be ready to produce pretty much whatever they ask for.

Embassy instructions letter clearly states the I-134 must have an ORIGINAL signature... hard to provide that with a copy With that said quite a few have not been asked for the I-134, but SOME still are being asked, this isn't Las Vegas but if you like gambling ..

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/1178798/29DEC2014/K1%20and%20K2%20Interview%20Preparation%20Instructions%20-%20English%20_updated%2029%20DEC%202014_.pdf

Well, I see not having an original I-134 was a problem at least for one VJer, back in 2011: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/303492-original-copy-of-i134-nightmare/

But in the thread he says the instructions clearly state copies are ok (???).

The old instructions letter stated copies are OK when an original is NOT asked for... some people seem to like playing words games (at the wrong time) The new instructions letter doesn't even state copies are OK.

[kipper_22 2]

Fiancee sent 1-134 supporting docs (W2s, 1040, paystubs w/SSN) via Fedex international express and tagging as sensitive document. Expensive but they took very good care of the documents and I got the package in 4 days.

[Blueblood 5]

Embassy instructions letter clearly states the I-134 must have an ORIGINAL signature... hard to provide that with a copy With that said quite a few have not been asked for the I-134, but SOME still are being asked, this isn't Las Vegas but if you like gambling ..

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/1178798/29DEC2014/K1%20and%20K2%20Interview%20Preparation%20Instructions%20-%20English%20_updated%2029%20DEC%202014_.pdf

The old instructions letter stated copies are OK when an original is NOT asked for... some people seem to like playing words games (at the wrong time) The new instructions letter doesn't even state copies are OK.

I'm not "playing word games," Hank. Thank you

[Blueblood 5]

We are talking here about the US Government. The IRS has your SS number. And so does your employer, your bank, every company that issued a credit card to you, whoever holds a mortage on your house, and the list goes on and on.

Now the Department of State wants your SS number. I would not worry about it. They have much more sensitive information on citizens than that on file.

Tip: Although the Philippine's CFO office also wants your tax return, they do not need your SS number. So on the tax return your fiance hands to them, block your SS out with a black marker pen. I did it, and no problems.

Anything that does not require an original inked signature or an original government issued document can be emailed. But ladies living there do not always have easy access to printers like we do here. If they use an internet cafe, printing costs can get seriously out of hand for them. Just consider this when you decide if email or paper mail would be a better choiice.

For paper mail of critical documents, my money is on DHL. They are the gold standard for international shipping. FedEx actually hands envelopes off to DHL to ship, and then DHL hands it back to them in the destination country. DHL costs a bit more, maybe $100 instead of $80, but $20 is a silly amount of money with the thousands you already invested in this visa. So pay the extra $20.

If you plan the mailing of the documents carefully, you will not have to do it often. I paid for DHL a total of three times over the course of the whole process. $300. No big deal. You are already spending thousands. Now spend $300 so critical documents will be where they need to be when they need to be there.

With regards to my earlier post, and specifically my concern about emailing documents containing both my full name and SSN, I of course wasn't concerned about "giving my SSN to the DoS." That would make no sense on any level. Various, if not all, departments of the federal government already have access to my SSN, which was, of course, assigned to me by the federal government...Specifically the Social Security Administration.

Thanks for everyone's input and have a great week ahead!

[Hank_ 9,174]

I'm not "playing word games," Hank. Thank you

Oh.. sorry, I was not referring to you I was referring to the link where the guy was saying copies were fine...