Should I wait to file the I-129F till after another trip?

[DEAbara 9]

_{WU receipts would be questionable, in my opinion. Pictures are really good to have. They will look at them in the interview process. I included every bit of evidence of a legit relationship that I could and everything has gone smoothly. We are just waiting on the interview. Married 3 years.}

[Tahoma 2,292]

Are you saying the Western Union money I have been sending is good evidence of a bona fide relationship and not a "pay to play" relationship? I was very concerned about that part. It does show we have been in a relationship over a period of time, but I do worry about the "pay to play" aspect that could be inferred.

Remittances to the fiancées in the Philippines are quite common, and the consular officers know it. I've never heard of a case where remittances led to an accusation of "pay to play."

[Mike&Imelda 3]

We have been in a relationship one year this month. I have been to the Philippines twice to be with her. We have over 25,000 messages on facebook chat plus lots more on Skype. And Skype calls. And regular phone calls. I am sending her weekly support money and paying for her sister to go to Arellano University (BA Business in Marketing, first year). I did not use my debit card while visiting her, and don't have any receipts for purchases, but I have boarding passes and my passport with Philippine stamps. I also only have 3 or 4 pictures of the two of us, one picture of us with an expatriate American and his Philippine-born dual-citizen wife when we visited Angeles City to visit them.

From all I have read, I fear I may not have enough pictures and I lack receipts. I do not want to wait to start the process, but I also don't want denied due to lack of evidence. So, should I make a third trip to visit her before I start the process? Or do I have enough evidence now?

My two cents....

What you have is sufficient to get your I-129F approved. In most cases, what you have may be sufficient for the interview. Many people on here have gotten through with the same and maybe less. That might make you feel very confident - I know I was.

My recommendation - file your I-129F and get the process rolling. You should have enough to get approved. If you are planning on coming to the Philippines again, I recommend you come and attend the interview with your fiancee. (I was overconfident and didn't). You can delay scheduling the interview just make sure your petition doesn't expire. Take some pictures with her family when you are here too as I think those are very important. Bring ALL your evidence to the interview. Follow the two extremely helpful websites linked by the pros on this board and bring the documents they recommend. My fiancee brought more than most but it still wasn't all that she could have brought - she brought lots of samples.

As for remittances, my fiancee received a 221(g) (for a K-1) asking for evidence that "we have begun to build a life together" examples of evidence included copies of wills designating the other as beneficiary, proof of establishing joint bank accounts, designating fiancee as a beneficiary of life insurance etc. I found this very odd for a fiancee as opposed to a wife. Regardless, I had done some of these and some others. They also asked for emails, chat logs, etc. I was not overconfident this time. We sent LOTS of evidence - evidence of establishing life together, hundreds of pictures and close to 1000 pages of logs. We were approved as soon as the consular looked at this package. I wish I had not been so confident and that I had attended the interview with my fiancee. I could have easily afforded it. I didn't think it was necessary.

Remember you may know that your relationship is real, but if you get a tough consular, your fiance must prove it. Don't regret not being there if you can be.

Edited September 5, 2015 by Mike&Imelda

[cristina16 81]

My two cents....

What you have is sufficient to get your I-129F approved. In most cases, what you have may be sufficient for the interview. Many people on here have gotten through with the same and maybe less. That might make you feel very confident - I know I was.

My recommendation - file your I-129F and get the process rolling. You should have enough to get approved. If you are planning on coming to the Philippines again, I recommend you come and attend the interview with your fiancee. (I was overconfident and didn't). You can delay scheduling the interview just make sure your petition doesn't expire. Take some pictures with her family when you are here too as I think those are very important. Bring ALL your evidence to the interview. Follow the two extremely helpful websites linked by the pros on this board and bring the documents they recommend. My fiancee brought more than most but it still wasn't all that she could have brought - she brought lots of samples.

As for remittances, my fiancee received a 221(g) (for a K-1) asking for evidence that "we have begun to build a life together" examples of evidence included copies of wills designating the other as beneficiary, proof of establishing joint bank accounts, designating fiancee as a beneficiary of life insurance etc. I found this very odd for a fiancee as opposed to a wife. Regardless, I had done some of these and some others. They also asked for emails, chat logs, etc. I was not overconfident this time. We sent LOTS of evidence - evidence of establishing life together, hundreds of pictures and close to 1000 pages of logs. We were approved as soon as the consular looked at this package. I wish I had not been so confident and that I had attended the interview with my fiancee. I could have easily afforded it. I didn't think it was necessary.

Remember you may know that your relationship is real, but if you get a tough consular, your fiance must prove it. Don't regret not being there if you can be.

Seriously?! You were asked to provide joint bank accoubts, wills, insurances?? Those are for AOS. That is redicolous for a K1 considering you don't even have a visa yet. They even advised not to finalize any plans such as buying tickets and would ask for those? If they will ask me for that I will definitely answer back, why are they asking me those. This is the first time I've read this and based in your timeline you were interviewed recently. Woww!

[Mike&Imelda 3]

Seriously?! You were asked to provide joint bank accoubts, wills, insurances?? Those are for AOS. That is redicolous for a K1 considering you don't even have a visa yet. They even advised not to finalize any plans such as buying tickets and would ask for those? If they will ask me for that I will definitely answer back, why are they asking me those. This is the first time I've read this and based in your timeline you were interviewed recently. Woww!

Here is exactly what was asked for on a K-1 visa 221(g)

_X_

Others:

Proof relationship:

(1) any additional photos

(2) all email correspondence since XXXXX

(3) documents showing building life together, such as Petitioner listing applicant on wills, insurance policies, joint accounts, etc;

(4) all chat records with date stamp

I believe some consulars treat a k-1 in same manner as AOS.

[Tahoma 2,292]

Bring ALL your evidence to the interview.

^^^ Agree...

[Pythos1 24]

Would screencaps of fb chats with my fiancee's sister be helpful secondary evidence of an ongoing relationship?

[cristina16 81]

Would screencaps of fb chats with my fiancee's sister be helpful secondary evidence of an ongoing relationship?

Chat with the sister? maybe yes if you are talking about your relationship. If you have FB posts or your fiancee has fb post with location tagging, you may include that too. FB posts are with location tagging so that is also a good evidence that you two are on the same location at the same time.

[Pythos1 24]

Her sister never calls me by name. She always calls me kuya, so it would be obvious to someone who knows the culture that it is a different sort of relationship than the one I have with my fiancee.

[cristina16 81]

Her sister never calls me by name. She always calls me kuya, so it would be obvious to someone who knows the culture that it is a different sort of relationship than the one I have with my fiancee.

YES, I know the word very well.. we call everyone older than us Kuya, an older brother. That is also as sign of respect.

When you crop the FB chats, make a notation such as conversation with my fiancee's sister / family.

I think you are good to go to file your I-129F. Goodluck!