RFE Notice Question (Passport Style Photo)

[molibya 1]

I just received my RFE notice in the mail and it said that I need to provide a passport style photo of me and my fiance. However, I did indeed attach a passport style photo to each corresponding g-325a form. Is this a misunderstanding on there part? Should I call them to request clarification?

[SunflowerSweet 1,321]

Is it at all possible that it was sized or aligned wrong or not on white background? If you got them done professionally it's unlikely, but if you tried to recreate it on your own it's possible they just weren't up to criteria.

Also, when you say you attached them to the g-325a form, what do you mean by this? According to the guides, you are suppose to:

"Write the full name of the US citizen on the back. Place in a plastic bag and label the bag "Photo of <Insert US Citizen's Name>". Attach the bag to a sheet of paper and place behind the corresponding G-325a."

If you physically attached it TO the g-325a maybe they either missed them or, depending on how you fastened it, they were damaged when they tried to remove them.

This is all just speculation by the way, your best bet is just to send new copies in as soon as you can. Calling USCIS to get more info may help you figure out what happened, but you are most likely going to need to send new photos in anyways.

[Anh map 2,098]

What exactly does the RFE say?

[B and H 18]

See the passport photo requirements here: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/photos/photos.html

A few of the requirements for a passport photo differ from the I-129F / I-130 instructions.

• White background (passports allow off-white)
• Glossy finish (passports allow matte finish)
• Photo taken within 30 days (passports allow 6 months)

Make sure the overall dimensions of the paper and the facial dimensions are within the guidelines.

[kmids 10]

Is it at all possible that it was sized or aligned wrong or not on white background? If you got them done professionally it's unlikely, but if you tried to recreate it on your own it's possible they just weren't up to criteria.

Also, when you say you attached them to the g-325a form, what do you mean by this? According to the guides, you are suppose to:

"Write the full name of the US citizen on the back. Place in a plastic bag and label the bag "Photo of <Insert US Citizen's Name>". Attach the bag to a sheet of paper and place behind the corresponding G-325a."

If you physically attached it TO the g-325a maybe they either missed them or, depending on how you fastened it, they were damaged when they tried to remove them.

This is all just speculation by the way, your best bet is just to send new copies in as soon as you can. Calling USCIS to get more info may help you figure out what happened, but you are most likely going to need to send new photos in anyways.

OMG. I didn't want to write on the pictures so i just put them in a bag and put the name of the person on top. Not "Photo of". Do you think that will cause an RFE?

[molibya 1]

Is it at all possible that it was sized or aligned wrong or not on white background? If you got them done professionally it's unlikely, but if you tried to recreate it on your own it's possible they just weren't up to criteria.

Also, when you say you attached them to the g-325a form, what do you mean by this? According to the guides, you are suppose to:

"Write the full name of the US citizen on the back. Place in a plastic bag and label the bag "Photo of <Insert US Citizen's Name>". Attach the bag to a sheet of paper and place behind the corresponding G-325a."

If you physically attached it TO the g-325a maybe they either missed them or, depending on how you fastened it, they were damaged when they tried to remove them.

This is all just speculation by the way, your best bet is just to send new copies in as soon as you can. Calling USCIS to get more info may help you figure out what happened, but you are most likely going to need to send new photos in anyways.

Thanks for the helpful replies. I did exactly that, I placed each corresponding photo in a plastic bag and wrote the names on the back of each. I then attached the plastic bag via a paper clip to each corresponding G-325a form. I guess I'll just do it again. I'm thinking they may have misplaced the photos.

[molibya 1]

OK guys I am opening this post again. The RFE that they sent me on December 9 said that I need to provide a passport style photo of me and my fiance. No details were given on what exactly was wrong with the original copies. Therefore, I sent the RFE with the two photos attached.

On February 23, I received an email stating my petition was DENIED . I received a letter today stating that the reason for denial is that my passport photos were too large (Instead of 2x2 they were 2.5x3). A little trivial if you ask me to deny a whole petition because the passport photos were an inch larger. I wish they told me the exact reason for the RFE instead of being so vague. Anyway, it is what it is.

So my questions to this helpful community

1. Should I file an appeal along with the correctly sized passport photos and cough up the $630 or should I start a new petition?

2. What are the benefits of filing an appeal vs. starting a new application? Is it faster?

3. What is the probability that the USCIS will come up with something else to RFE if I go the appeal route? Or is this issue the only issue with my petition.

Edited February 27, 2016 by molibya

[molibya 1]

Ok what I have gathered from reading people's previous experiences on this forum and elsewhere is to just reapply again. It is cheaper and less time consuming.

But what about this waiver form that I need to include in the petition now? Because I applied for a K1 already and it was denied and I am not allowed to apply for another? May I get some clarification please from an experienced member?

[Pandova 17]

Wow I can't believe you got denied because of the pictures! That's insane!

[molibya 1]

Wow I can't believe you got denied because of the pictures! That's insane!

Extremely insane. Just don't make my mistake. I have to start all over again.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Ok what I have gathered from reading people's previous experiences on this forum and elsewhere is to just reapply again. It is cheaper and less time consuming.

But what about this waiver form that I need to include in the petition now? Because I applied for a K1 already and it was denied and I am not allowed to apply for another? May I get some clarification please from an experienced member?

Yes, you need to file again. And there is no waiver needed.

[baron555 934]

I just received my RFE notice in the mail and it said that I need to provide a passport style photo of me and my fiance. However, I did indeed attach a passport style photo to each corresponding g-325a form. Is this a misunderstanding on there part?

They may have lost them; it does happen. Just send two new photos.

Should I call them to request clarification?

You can't. Just send the photos.

[SunflowerSweet 1,321]

His petition was denied, he can no longer just send the pictures in.

[baron555 934]

OK guys I am opening this post again. The RFE that they sent me on December 9 said that I need to provide a passport style photo of me and my fiance. No details were given on what exactly was wrong with the original copies. Therefore, I sent the RFE with the two photos attached.

Great, sometimes they lose things.

On February 23, I received an email stating my petition was DENIED . I received a letter today stating that the reason for denial is that my passport photos were too large (Instead of 2x2 they were 2.5x3). A little trivial if you ask me to deny a whole petition because the passport photos were an inch larger.

Nothing trivial at all. They weren't passport photos because they didn't meet the size requirements. One can get these anywhere, so very easy to obtain.

I wish they told me the exact reason for the RFE instead of being so vague. Anyway, it is what it is.

Yes

So my questions to this helpful community

1. Should I file an appeal along with the correctly sized passport photos and cough up the $630 or should I start a new petition? New, appeal will be useless since you didn't supply them with what they asked for.

2. What are the benefits of filing an appeal vs. starting a new application? Is it faster? Faster will be new petition... And where do you get $630 from? I thought the 129f filing fee is $340. Do better homework.

3. What is the probability that the USCIS will come up with something else to RFE if I go the appeal route? Or is this issue the only issue with my petition. Always a possiblility especially if you don't following the instructions.