Got the RFE in the mail today!

[littlechicken 0]

Some of you might know the story because I posted a few times. We filed on May 20 and on Dec. 1 I got notification of a RFE and it came today. I'm thankful to finally see something out of the USCIS, so I want to make sure I get this EXACTLY right.

1) Beneficiary's intent to marry you in the USA. The statement says a letter will suffice. In our packet submitted back in May I included a simple letter that states we intend to marry within 90 days of his entry. I wrote it and signed. I guess he needs to sign one.....

2) Circumstances of meeting. In the intent to marry letter I explained how we met. I guess I need more...

3) Last personal meeting. a) Written statement of meeting and the containing details to include dates. b) copy of airline ticket stubs and receipts. c) copies of passport pages

****Please note that in my original petition package I included record of our joint bank account, all my airline stubs for 2015 (6 flights), all pages of my passport.

******We did not include photos or emails as it's secondary evidence but maybe I will this time.

I'm a little surprised that the RFE is asking for some items already included back in May. I still have copies so it's easy for me to capture again.

Can you guys give me recommendations of how to highlight and prove our intent, circumstances of meeting, and last personal meeting?

[cmrobles 0]

Hi, there!

Because every case is different (so they say... although I believe it is more accurate to state that every adjudicator has their own way of "seeing" things) I cannot point a finger at what you may have missed, but I will tell you what we included in ours, and maybe that will be of some help/guidance. Ours was approved right off the first strike, with no RFEs. –THANK GOD.

• We both included a letter of intent to marry –individually. We both went to a public notary and had it notarized (although that may not be required, we thought it gives more validity and responsibility to the statement being made) – Ours was quite simple (3 lines). We used a template from the ones found within VJ.

• Circumstances of having met in person within the last 2 years –which is actually one of the questions on your application... For this one, we decided to not answer it on the application itself (as there are only about 5 tricky lines left for something they apparently expect to get 2 pages.) We referred them to "see attachment" on that specific question, and added a 2 page long statement of 1) how/when we first met, 2) the many times we have seen each other ever since the first time (being as specific as possible) and 3) providing information as to how we have maintained our relationship. This statement was signed by the petitioner.

• For every event we mentioned in the above-mentioned statement (trips, hotel stays, etc...) we included supporting evidence such as: (lots of) pictures of us and our families together during those trips, hotel reservation print-out, boarding passes from petitioner (when visiting beneficiary), credit card statements showing purchase of flight tickets, receipts from purchases made by the petitioner while at the beneficiary´s country, etc...)

• We also included many, many, many pages of E-mails exchanged with wedding planners and venue rentals, where conversations about details of our wedding were documented... Catering service, cake order, hall rental, etc... all that may pertain to your particular plans.

• We included phone records for about 4 months, where both incoming and outgoing calls were highlighted.

• We sent proof of moneys sent by petitioner to beneficiary (receipts, a certification by the money transferring company stating beneficiary receives money from petitioner; as well as copies of transactions directly debited from petitioner´s bank account (when using Xoom to send money to beneficiary).

• We sent all passport pages (for the petitioner), showing stamps from the trips referenced in our statement of having met in person.

I doubt ours is the thickest packet they have received, but certainly not the thinnest one either. I would say to keep it to a medium point, always keeping in mind that the more evidence you submit, the better. –That said, if there is ANYTHING you have to proof that 1) you have been together (in person) within the last two years, 2) that you continue to have a relationship and 3) that it is your plan to get married upon the approval of the K1-visa; then send it.

I hope this is helpful to you. If you have any specific questions, please don't hesitate to ask. We all have been through this, we all understand how important this is. And, although not everyone gets an RFE, EVERYONE fears of them and does try their best not to get one, so, the least one can do when someone gets one, is help. –So I am here to help in whatever I can.

Later!

V

[littlechicken 0]

Thanks V for the details of your petition!

QQ-it is faster if my fiancé writes the letter of his intent to marry me and fax it to me. BUT that means it's a copy. Do you think a copy of his letter will work or should we take the time for the original to arrive to me in the mail?

[cmrobles 0]

Hello again!

I believe it is best to send an original. I don´t know if that is a requirement but, why trigger another RFE over something so minimal? –We were so careful with what we sent, that, for the letter of intent the beneficiary sent, he actually went to the U.S. Embassy in his country and had it notarized by a U.S. notary (that may have been an extra mile, and definitely not needed, but hey... one can only do all that one can to avoid an RFE)

Point is, I think you should just maybe have the original sent overnight or something. And make sure it´s signed with bright blue ink (that´s a joke)

Regards,

V

[littlechicken 0]

Yes, why risk the chance of another RFE! Thanks for the tips.

[cmrobles 0]

Glad to help –THE BEST OF LUCK TO YOU!

Edited December 8, 2015 by cmrobles