Proof of relationship in last 2 years for I-129F

[nertilduraku 2]

I want to ask you a question, i have viber, whatsapp and skype logs with my wife, but do i need to translate them in english, or they can be in our native language?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Just wondering with regards to filing the I-129F, should I or shouldn't I include copies of emails and phone bills? As mentioned above, I plan on sending copies of my boarding passes for the trips made in the past two years, all flight itineraries, some hotel bills and also photographs of the two of us together.

Should I hold off on sending copies of the emails and phone bills and keep them for the actual interview, or would it be a good idea to include them with the initial filing of the I-129F?

You won't need them at a London interview. They don't want to see ANY relationship evidence or photos. They will browse briefly through your petition and see what photos were already sent. If you want it in your file, then send now. I wouldn't send emails and phone bills, but you are fresh and new and scared so do what makes you happy.

[ChasUno 101]

You won't need them at a London interview. They don't want to see ANY relationship evidence or photos. They will browse briefly through your petition and see what photos were already sent. If you want it in your file, then send now. I wouldn't send emails and phone bills, but you are fresh and new and scared so do what makes you happy.

Yes, I am fresh and new, but no, I am not scared. I am though anxious to get the application RIGHT first time, and though this forum is a fantastic source of information and guidance, there is also some occasionally conflicting advice either in the guides or from people's posts.

I am using this VJ checklist guide to assemble the I-129F:

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide#proof

And here it states when providing proof of meeting and of ongoing relationship:

"Documentary Proof of Having Met in Person in the Past Two Years and an Ongoing Relationship:

Use as many of these items are possible. There is no minimum, but the more you can provide the less likely you are that you will receive an RFE. Additionally, please note that providing proof of your ongoing and genuine relationship in this package may benefit you by allowing the consulate to have access to this information prior to them formally contacting the non US Citizen fiance. Many high risk consulates approach cases with a skeptical eye and providing this information early on in the original I-129F package will help them in their preliminary review of your case."

Thus it is not a question of doing what makes me "happy", but rather doing what is going to give our application the best chance of going through without a hitch. In view of the fact that I am supplying most boarding passes for the 5 transatlantic trips I have made in the past two years (including copies of itineraries), hotel bills both in the USA and USA, plus photographs of us together, that was why I questioned whether I should or should not include copies of emails and phone bills too.

Like many, this is all very new to me and I haven't gone through anything like this before. I am willing to learn, and have a lot to learn, and this is also why I joined and participate in this forum. Some people say that the more evidence supplied the better, others say that at this stage (filing the I-129F) there is no need to supply copies of emails and/ or phone bills. If the latter is the case, should I take these with me when I get called for the interview or just not worry about them at all? Just looking for some clarity as I am sending all my documents to my USA fiance today, and once received my fiance will assemble the pacakage and then formally submit the I-129f application.

[baron555 934]

I want to ask you a question, i have viber, whatsapp and skype logs with my wife, but do i need to translate them in english, or they can be in our native language?

Anything submitted to USCIS or the Embassy must be translated unless the Embassy states otherwise.

USCIS for sure yes.

[-Shana- 152]

Yes, I am fresh and new, but no, I am not scared. I am though anxious to get the application RIGHT first time, and though this forum is a fantastic source of information and guidance, there is also some occasionally conflicting advice either in the guides or from people's posts.

I am using this VJ checklist guide to assemble the I-129F:

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide#proof

And here it states when providing proof of meeting and of ongoing relationship:

"Documentary Proof of Having Met in Person in the Past Two Years and an Ongoing Relationship:

Use as many of these items are possible. There is no minimum, but the more you can provide the less likely you are that you will receive an RFE. Additionally, please note that providing proof of your ongoing and genuine relationship in this package may benefit you by allowing the consulate to have access to this information prior to them formally contacting the non US Citizen fiance. Many high risk consulates approach cases with a skeptical eye and providing this information early on in the original I-129F package will help them in their preliminary review of your case."

Thus it is not a question of doing what makes me "happy", but rather doing what is going to give our application the best chance of going through without a hitch. In view of the fact that I am supplying most boarding passes for the 5 transatlantic trips I have made in the past two years (including copies of itineraries), hotel bills both in the USA and USA, plus photographs of us together, that was why I questioned whether I should or should not include copies of emails and phone bills too.

Like many, this is all very new to me and I haven't gone through anything like this before. I am willing to learn, and have a lot to learn, and this is also why I joined and participate in this forum. Some people say that the more evidence supplied the better, others say that at this stage (filing the I-129F) there is no need to supply copies of emails and/ or phone bills. If the latter is the case, should I take these with me when I get called for the interview or just not worry about them at all? Just looking for some clarity as I am sending all my documents to my USA fiance today, and once received my fiance will assemble the pacakage and then formally submit the I-129f application.

It can't hurt your application to submit emails and phone bills, so go for it. Nich-Nick was saying that you don't need ADDITIONAL evidence to take with you in person to the London interview, while other consulates do require it. The scared comment, I'm sure, was just because a lot of people get a bit stressed out about the process at the very beginning when it's so new. I know I was panicky while I was learning, we know you're not literally shaking in your boots! So slap as much evidence as you want for your I-129f until you feel satisfied.

I put in my I-129f:

- Pictures of us together, 12 in total spanning the 12 years of knowing each other. Showing different landmarks was what I aimed for.

- Copies of flight itineraries from the past and also one upcoming itinerary showing he was going to see me over Christmas (after I-129f filing)

- Scans of our passport pages that had US/UK stamps in + trips we had taken together.

- Facebook friendship page screenshot (showed we had been friends since 2007, that there are 100's pics tagged of us, that we went to the same Uni)

- One screenshot of us talking on Facebook (to show we were still in contact after I left Japan where we lived together)

- Relevant to us: scans of our Japan visas and resident cards to show we were in Japan together.

We were approved with no request for additional information. Head on over to the United Kingdom forum and come meet fellow UK VJers! There's a progress update thread where you can share your experience and ask any question you want. We're awesome

Edited February 11, 2015 by shana.mike

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Yes, I am fresh and new, but no, I am not scared. I am though anxious to get the application RIGHT first time, and though this forum is a fantastic source of information and guidance, there is also some occasionally conflicting advice either in the guides or from people's posts.

I am using this VJ checklist guide to assemble the I-129F:

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide#proof

And here it states when providing proof of meeting and of ongoing relationship:

"Documentary Proof of Having Met in Person in the Past Two Years and an Ongoing Relationship:

Use as many of these items are possible. There is no minimum, but the more you can provide the less likely you are that you will receive an RFE. Additionally, please note that providing proof of your ongoing and genuine relationship in this package may benefit you by allowing the consulate to have access to this information prior to them formally contacting the non US Citizen fiance. Many high risk consulates approach cases with a skeptical eye and providing this information early on in the original I-129F package will help them in their preliminary review of your case."

Thus it is not a question of doing what makes me "happy", but rather doing what is going to give our application the best chance of going through without a hitch. In view of the fact that I am supplying most boarding passes for the 5 transatlantic trips I have made in the past two years (including copies of itineraries), hotel bills both in the USA and USA, plus photographs of us together, that was why I questioned whether I should or should not include copies of emails and phone bills too.

Like many, this is all very new to me and I haven't gone through anything like this before. I am willing to learn, and have a lot to learn, and this is also why I joined and participate in this forum. Some people say that the more evidence supplied the better, others say that at this stage (filing the I-129F) there is no need to supply copies of emails and/ or phone bills. If the latter is the case, should I take these with me when I get called for the interview or just not worry about them at all? Just looking for some clarity as I am sending all my documents to my USA fiance today, and once received my fiance will assemble the pacakage and then formally submit the I-129f application.

I gave you my opinion as a person who has been to a K1 interview in London and read every post in the UK forum since early 2008...seven years. The guides written on here are also opinions of members. They go above and beyond what is actually required for a petition approval to cover people from every country. Some of those people met in person one time for a week and don't share the same native language. Some are from countries known for people desperate to get to America who don't have much relationship. The valid relationships have more to prove...how often they speak and message and their communication abilities in English. Your consulate is not a high fraud country. You have met in person many times. You are both from English speaking countries.

You asked if you should save out some things to show to the consulate. I replied that your consulate (London) will not look at new things at the interview. So saving out for the consulate in your case is not a valid plan. If you want them glanced at by the interviewing office in the minute it takes from your number being called until you approach the window, then they should be in the petition file. Nobody in London reviews your file prior to the moment of the interview, except to make sure you have submitted a DS-160, medical results, and a Readiness for Interview form. When they see you have done those three things, they issue you an interview date. Nobody pre-adjudicates your file.

My further opinion is I personally wouldn't send hundreds of pages of emails or phone bills. Some people send a petition that requires a box to mail it. My opinion is that merely clutters the file with so much, that the real requirements for petition approval can be hard to find.

But this is your petition, so you ultimately use your logic, the I-129F instructions, and internet opinions to put together a good file. "What makes you happy" was a casual choice of words, but I mean whatever makes you confident that your petition is solid and meets the requirements stated in the law--

One is a US citizen (passport or birth certificate)

You have met face to face (passport stamps, boarding passes, receipts, photos, etc)

Both are free to marry (divorce decrees)

Each is free to marry and intends to marry within 90 days of US entry (signed statement from each party)

And that is yet another opinion from a stranger, so consider the source and take it or leave it.

Edited February 11, 2015 by Nich-Nick

[ChasUno 101]

Nich-Nick, thank you for the greater clarity, it is much appreciated. I guess one problem is that with so many different Embassies and also differing international relations with the USA, plus each I-129F application being unique, the guides can't be a one size fits all though they likely do a good job in coming close. Apologies if I was coming across somewhat challenging, though that comes from my 'critical thinking' background (I am a University graduated Registered Nurse). When I am unsure or see a conflict of statements and advice I never 'assume' or take things at face value, and as you're new to me I was unaware of your experience and knowledge. Now that I know of your wisdom on the subject of UK based I-129F applications I am grateful for your advice. Thank you again.

[ChasUno 101]

It can't hurt your application to submit emails and phone bills, so go for it. Nich-Nick was saying that you don't need ADDITIONAL evidence to take with you in person to the London interview, while other consulates do require it. The scared comment, I'm sure, was just because a lot of people get a bit stressed out about the process at the very beginning when it's so new. I know I was panicky while I was learning, we know you're not literally shaking in your boots! So slap as much evidence as you want for your I-129f until you feel satisfied.

I put in my I-129f:

- Pictures of us together, 12 in total spanning the 12 years of knowing each other. Showing different landmarks was what I aimed for.

- Copies of flight itineraries from the past and also one upcoming itinerary showing he was going to see me over Christmas (after I-129f filing)

- Scans of our passport pages that had US/UK stamps in + trips we had taken together.

- Facebook friendship page screenshot (showed we had been friends since 2007, that there are 100's pics tagged of us, that we went to the same Uni)

- One screenshot of us talking on Facebook (to show we were still in contact after I left Japan where we lived together)

- Relevant to us: scans of our Japan visas and resident cards to show we were in Japan together.

We were approved with no request for additional information. Head on over to the United Kingdom forum and come meet fellow UK VJers! There's a progress update thread where you can share your experience and ask any question you want. We're awesome

Thank you shana.mike for your help and advice also. I think the problem of submitting the emails and phone bills is that I have literally pages of them, which easily quadruples the size of the package. From what I am now understanding (thanks to yours and Nich-Nicks responses), our application will include the following:

- Pictures of us together (taken over the past two years though we will have been a couple and seeing each other for 4 years this coming June) - 12 pictures in total, same number as yours! (can fit 6 to a photosheet). Also, like yours, ours shows us with a number of famous landmarks or clearly identifiable locations in the picture (i.e. Tower Bridge London, The Shard London, Sarasota Opera House Florida etc.).

- Copies of all my flight itineraries of trips in the past 2 years (5 x trips Stateside), and copies of most boarding passes for these flights. My fiance is also going to include some of their flight itineraries (they didn't keep hold of the boarding passes).

- Copies of hotel receipts, both UK and in the USA over the past two years.

- Question 34a: An additional sheet stating that we have met 14 times since first meeting in June 2011, and then detailing the 7 times we have met in the past two years giving dates and locations.

By the sounds of it, that should be more than sufficient (I hope!)

I'm also still negotiating my way around the forum and have yet to check out the UKVJers section. I will now so!

Edited February 12, 2015 by ChasUno

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Nich-Nick, thank you for the greater clarity, it is much appreciated. I guess one problem is that with so many different Embassies and also differing international relations with the USA, plus each I-129F application being unique, the guides can't be a one size fits all though they likely do a good job in coming close. Apologies if I was coming across somewhat challenging, though that comes from my 'critical thinking' background (I am a University graduated Registered Nurse). When I am unsure or see a conflict of statements and advice I never 'assume' or take things at face value, and as you're new to me I was unaware of your experience and knowledge. Now that I know of your wisdom on the subject of UK based I-129F applications I am grateful for your advice. Thank you again.

I understand your thinking. I personally didn't trust anybody in a forum. I used it to guide me toward further research. I have to find my answers from government instructions, memoranda, adjudicator's field manual, the Foreign Affairs Manual, etc. And after hearing about 500 people tell about their interview in London, I believe the common experiences. And sometimes I just apply my own brand of logic as to exactly why something is needed and why not. I suppose it is critical thinking. My university degree is in education. I tend to give links for people to get the info from official sources when possible. The teacher in me wants to teach a person to find their answers rather than spoon feed an answer. But I have discovered some obviously can't read and others can't be bothered to click a link. Sometimes my teacher voice just paraphrases government language into a fifth grade level and I'm sure people get bored with my long explanations. But I try to help.

Two tips since you are new. Both are common problems.

1) Your timeline says your consulate is Armenia instead of London.

Go to your timeline.

Click edit/add to timeline.

Scroll down about a dozen boxes until you see "US Embassy"

Pick London in the "L" section not "U" for UK.

If you don't scroll down, Armenia is the bottom of the list that opens so you got that by not scrolling maybe. (Oh God, that sounds fifth grade, but it's a cut/paste I have saved)

2) Your Service Center is not Texas Service Center (yet). Yes, you file at the Texas or Dallas Lockbox like all K1 petitions. But a Lockbox does not equal a Service Center.

A Lockbox is a mailroom of sorts where contractors open the mail, review for big blunders like no check or forgetting to sign forms, organizing into a standard ordered folder, and issuing a receipt (called NOA1 on here). Then your file will be sent out to a Service Center where real USCIS employees will eventually review it's merit. Your NOA1 will inform you of your assigned Service Center. It could be Texas Service Center, but if it is California then don't forget to change your timeline.

[-Shana- 152]

Thank you shana.mike for your help and advice also. I think the problem of submitting the emails and phone bills is that I have literally pages of them, which easily quadruples the size of the package. From what I am now understanding (thanks to yours and Nich-Nicks responses), our application will include the following:

- Pictures of us together (taken over the past two years though we will have been a couple and seeing each other for 4 years this coming June) - 12 pictures in total, same number as yours! (can fit 6 to a photosheet). Also, like yours, ours shows us with a number of famous landmarks or clearly identifiable locations in the picture (i.e. Tower Bridge London, The Shard London, Sarasota Opera House Florida etc.).

- Copies of all my flight itineraries of trips in the past 2 years (5 x trips Stateside), and copies of most boarding passes for these flights. My fiance is also going to include some of their flight itineraries (they didn't keep hold of the boarding passes).

- Copies of hotel receipts, both UK and in the USA over the past two years.

- Question 34a: An additional sheet stating that we have met 14 times since first meeting in June 2011, and then detailing the 7 times we have met in the past two years giving dates and locations.

By the sounds of it, that should be more than sufficient (I hope!)

I'm also still negotiating my way around the forum and have yet to check out the UKVJers section. I will now so!

I would say if you were going to include the email/phone bill pick one of each, perhaps the most recent one. I've seen Youtube videos of people sending their ENTIRE chat history, which amounted to what looked like multiple novel transcripts, so that's a bit ridiculous! Must have costed a fortune to send too and also would have been very annoying for USCIS people to deal with. But otherwise sounds like you've got solid evidence and I'm sure you'll be fine!