Evidence for I-129F petition

[bakofoil 27]

Hi,

I've been reading through the forum and found it extremely useful as I have just returned from the US having met my boyfriend for the first time in person and subsequently got engaged!

Whilst I was out there, as an avid photographer, I took lots of photos but it never occured to me to have photos taken of myself and my fiance together as I am generally photo-shy, but also because we simply hadn't thought this far ahead. Sounds silly but we were more intent on finding out if the depth of feeling we had for one another for months online was a reality in person.

I have loads of photos of him and his family but none of us together. A friend of ours did, however, take at least one shot of us together and I am trying to get him to forward the photo as soon as possible. The advice on general websites has been that three photos are required.

I don't want us to start the process of filing the I-129F petition only to find that we have insufficient evidence to support our meeting. I would be grateful if anyone who has been through this part of the procedure would give me some advice on this.

Many thanks

[pnd629 0]

Photos are only one example of evidence--you can also send copies of letters, cards, e-mails, and telephone bills. Also, copies of your ticket stubs or reciepts from restaurants, hotels, cash machines, etc. could also be evidence that you visited the U.S.

Did anyone in his family take any pictures of the two of you together? Not even when you announced/celebrated your engagement? Are you or your fiance going to visit one another soon? If so, be sure to take some photos together during that visit.

[bakofoil 27]

Photos are only one example of evidence--you can also send copies of letters, cards, e-mails, and telephone bills. Also, copies of your ticket stubs or reciepts from restaurants, hotels, cash machines, etc. could also be evidence that you visited the U.S.

Did anyone in his family take any pictures of the two of you together? Not even when you announced/celebrated your engagement? Are you or your fiance going to visit one another soon? If so, be sure to take some photos together during that visit.

We didn't announce the engagement because we were concerned people would think we were rushing into things. But, in a sense, it was great because we hadn't even looked into the process of actually getting together permanently by that point. So, it was very much a heartfelt decision.

Since I got back we've been looking into things more seriously and discovered the issue with photographic proof. I don't want to get to the embassy interview stage and have them say that we don't have sufficient evidence of a genuine relationship. So we're looking into the possibility of another visit.

As regards the embassy interview, do both parties have to be present or just one?

Thanks for your help.

[Arnold_and_Joan 0]

Photos of you together would've helped. Photos of just him and his family or him alone, you can't really tell if you took the picture - anyone else could've done it. Just as mentioned above, check if anyone in his family took photos of you two together, even just of you and his parents or anyone else in his family would be evidence that you were there. Receipts are helpful in case there are no photos. Specially if you or your fiance used a credit card and the credit card copy has your names on it and would match the total or name on the restaurant receipt copy. I always included both. Start writing each other - letters, postcards, etc. and write in English to forego the translation requirements. When I went back to U.S. we sent each other greeting cards and letters every week. E-mails are also good or phone bills. I enrolled and used SKYPE to call my fiance and I could easily print out a list of all my calls to her. Plane tickets and boarding passes will have your names on them, hopefully you saved them.

I hope that helps - Good Luck!!

[Arnold_and_Joan 0]

Photos are only one example of evidence--you can also send copies of letters, cards, e-mails, and telephone bills. Also, copies of your ticket stubs or reciepts from restaurants, hotels, cash machines, etc. could also be evidence that you visited the U.S.

Did anyone in his family take any pictures of the two of you together? Not even when you announced/celebrated your engagement? Are you or your fiance going to visit one another soon? If so, be sure to take some photos together during that visit.

We didn't announce the engagement because we were concerned people would think we were rushing into things. But, in a sense, it was great because we hadn't even looked into the process of actually getting together permanently by that point. So, it was very much a heartfelt decision.

Since I got back we've been looking into things more seriously and discovered the issue with photographic proof. I don't want to get to the embassy interview stage and have them say that we don't have sufficient evidence of a genuine relationship. So we're looking into the possibility of another visit.

As regards the embassy interview, do both parties have to be present or just one?

Thanks for your help.

Just notice that you're from UK - so letters and cards will be in English DOH! It helps if your fiance can be with you for the interview. Ours went really smooth when I was there and they asked me some questions too. Another visit would help if you feel you don't have enough evidence, i've read somewhere here before that some peoples submitted just 4 photos and they were fine. We gave about 20 or so with the petition and had more for the interview which they didn't even look at and just gave back to me. So a few photos would be good - I your fiance's family took pics, even 2 or 3. The pre-screener at the interview ASKED us for pictures when she was putting our file together for the consul interview. I guess if you can afford to go back and visit him again - take loads of pics together and make sure you set your camera to print DATE on the pictures. Good Luck!

[TimsDaisy 0]

Photos are secondary evidence and by themselves would not have been enough to prove your meeting. Primary evidence sought by USCIS is things like your boarding pass to the States and copies of your stamped passport from visiting here. Receipts from hotel stays or anything else that's sort of "harder" evidence than more touchy-feely photos is good. If there's a photo of you standing anywhere obviously American, even if he isn't in it, include it.

Don't sweat the lack of a photo. Unless you're coming back over, or he's going there prior to when you want to mail it off, don't let it stop you from getting started with the process. There are other ways besides the photo, ways prefered, as described above, that will serve you just as well if not better.

Read the guides here and look around the site for what other people sent in for evidence.

[MM_MS 0]

Photos are secondary evidence and by themselves would not have been enough to prove your meeting.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Having a photo with one's fiance does not prove having met in person?????? That's absurd.

To assert that ... "Photos are secondary evidence and by themselves would not have been enough to prove your meeting ..." is not only false, it's ridiculous - and contradicts the assertion. A photograph certainly doesn't prove that a genuine relationship exists, nor does it prove that the the meeting took place within the previous two years. Other evidence will be needed for those issues.

Photographs prove at the very least that two people have met in person.

[Cry_Tuff 0]

To back up what TimsDaisy is saying... The reason being is trick photography and photoshop.... It may prove that the two of you have met in person...but it does not substantiate an ongoing relationship. Telephone bills, letters, emails, screen prints of the two of you talking on web cam, birthday cards, and pictures all SUPPORT the relationship. The guaranteed evidence is the passport and airplane ticket stubs....also keep any receipts from items purchased in your fiance(e)s home country.

[CountryBoy 0]

Photos are secondary evidence and by themselves would not have been enough to prove your meeting. Primary evidence sought by USCIS is things like your boarding pass to the States and copies of your stamped passport from visiting here. Receipts from hotel stays or anything else that's sort of "harder" evidence than more touchy-feely photos is good. If there's a photo of you standing anywhere obviously American, even if he isn't in it, include it.

Read the guides here and look around the site for what other people sent in for evidence.

I agree with the above.

Definately read the guides.

CB

[bora bora 1]

We only sent six pictures. But I suggest you do send that one you have - if you can get it.

You can send copies of e-mails, letters, phone bills, presents, etc.

[bakofoil 27]

Thanks to all who have replied to this thread. Your advice has been very helpful.

[Krikit 1,165]

If you met his parents or other family members while you were there, perhaps they could send you a note saying "nice to have met you, welcome to the family". (not verbatim, of course, but you get the picture.) Make sure you keep the envelope with the date-stamp.

[bakofoil 27]

If you met his parents or other family members while you were there, perhaps they could send you a note saying "nice to have met you, welcome to the family". (not verbatim, of course, but you get the picture.) Make sure you keep the envelope with the date-stamp.

I have received emails from his mother and sister to this effect. I'm never sure whether emails are as 'good' as snailmail. We rarely use snailmail simply because we communicate by phone, IM and/or email on a daily basis. I do have archives and phone records to support this.

[Nagishkaw 510]

It does not take much time to write a little something and fire it off snail mail. If the two of you can write a few letters a month, that would be great evidence. As KriKit mentioned, be sure to retain the envelopes as proof.

[bakofoil 27]

It does not take much time to write a little something and fire it off snail mail. If the two of you can write a few letters a month, that would be great evidence. As KriKit mentioned, be sure to retain the envelopes as proof.

This forum is great. I'm so glad I found it. Thanks