Why Are People Getting RFEs for Websites (IMBRA) with I-129F Submissions?

[Diane and Chris 651]

5 hours ago, JonJulia said:

Did you include anything in the initial filing to provoke the RFE? Was that the latest I-129F (2017) form? Did you check 'yes' on question 55?

 

Thanks

Perhaps you should look at her timeline. Then you would know what forms she did or didn’t fill out. Please, be kind and respectful. 

[JonJulia 5]

X_driven_X    I've read the IMBRA statutes.  I've also read the underlying code of federal regulations for the I129F.  I'm sure that's rare.  I simply want to see examples whereby someone didn't tell their story and got dinged with a RFE.

 

That's not a hard question.  

 

Of the two examples I've researched from the RFE master list, it was obvious the filers told their story but brought it upon themselves since they weren't specific.  High fraud countries, I can see why a RFE is issued for no rhyme or reason.

 

 

Edited November 12, 2017 by JonJulia

[JonJulia 5]

18 minutes ago, Eu_Sou_Douglas said:

To the OP - I hired an attorney for this process just to have guidance in the event something went wrong.  We filed at the end of June and have not received our NOA2 or any RFEs yet.  My attorney strongly advised me to include specific information regarding the site where my fiance and I met, specifically:

 

- Name of the website

- Terms of Service  (if not available, an email from their support / customer service indicating they ARE NOT IMBRA)

- Membership Fees paid / dates of paid membership

- Evidence(s) of contact on/through website, if available, to establish origin of relationship and that we were not introduced by a 3rd party or offered anything to begin the relationship

- A notarized letter, one written by me and one written by her, clearly stating HOW we met, WHEN we met, our PLANS TO MARRY, and how much we love each other.  These points were crystal clear - HOW, WHY, PLANS to MARRY.

 

He did not give specifics but mentioned a prior case he learned that dating sites are becoming a targeted point of interest for USCIS and he expects social media to be brought under the investigation scope umbrella for these applications as early as Q2/Q3 of next year. (2018)  In fact, this information was requested on his Evidence Letter that clearly listed everything he required to submit our 1-29F.  While I understand that you have a very specific, black and white approach to your question, if you just alienate other members you won't receive the direct answer you seek.  A little respect goes a long way in a community like this.  While this is not the concise answer you are looking for, I felt it was relevant to factor into your decision on how you will proceed with your petition.  Best of luck to everyone out there.  Thank God this is only a one time process.

A notarized letter, now this I can see.  But anyone can make up a story....no matter how compelling your story is, if it's not a sworn statement, it's hearsay.  

[gregcrs2 1,778]

3 minutes ago, JonJulia said:

A notarized letter, now this I can see.  But anyone can make up a story....no matter how compelling your story is, if it's not a sworn statement, it's hearsay.  

A sworn statement can be complete lie too.

Seems like nobody here didn't tell their story and got dinged with an RFE.  So here's your opportunity to try it and you can let everyone on VJ know how successful or not you were.

[Eu_Sou_Douglas 75]

6 minutes ago, JonJulia said:

A notarized letter, now this I can see.  But anyone can make up a story....no matter how compelling your story is, if it's not a sworn statement, it's hearsay.  

Actually, he required that we include a prepared statement at the end of all letters/statements such as the 'Our Relationship' letter, Intent to Marry, etc.  I don't have a legal background, but perhaps this is similar to a sworn statement.  The exact language was:

 

"I, ______________________________, swear or affirm under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is
true and correct."

 

Hope this helps.  While anyone can lie, I believe the goal was to weed out those people who got stage fright knowing they could be federally prosecuted if their lies were uncovered.  The feds get really, really mad when you lie to them.

Edited November 12, 2017 by Eu_Sou_Douglas

[usmsbow 802]

2 hours ago, JonJulia said:

Actually, I asked a very specific question, and you can't give a specific answer.  Adding 'fluff' to an application can lead to problems just as it can lead to benefits.  Anything you say can and will be used against you if they don't like what you said.

 

Now, once again, is there anyone out there who didn't tell their story of how they initially met......if it is different than their 'in person' meeting....like, for example, they met online.....that got a RFE for NOT telling this 'not asked for information' when they filled their I129-F??

 

This is what I wrote (this thread made me curious, so I looked at our I-129f):

 

"We met in her hometown for 5 days in October 2013 and for 3 weeks in February 2014."

 

That was it. Provided passport stamp copies and boarding passes that were proof of those visits. No story about how we met online, just how we met in person. No RFE.

 

 

[JonJulia 5]

26 minutes ago, usmsbow said:

 

This is what I wrote (this thread made me curious, so I looked at our I-129f):

 

"We met in her hometown for 5 days in October 2013 and for 3 weeks in February 2014."

 

That was it. Provided passport stamp copies and boarding passes that were proof of those visits. No story about how we met online, just how we met in person. No RFE.

 

 

THANK YOU!!  We have a winner.

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

1 hour ago, JonJulia said:

THANK YOU!!  We have a winner.

I thought you were looking for ppl who did get rfe's? Or were you just looking for stories that re-affirm your notion of how it should be?

[JonJulia 5]

22 minutes ago, Suss&Camm said:

I thought you were looking for ppl who did get rfe's? Or were you just looking for stories that re-affirm your notion of how it should be?

I'll take either....just as long as the answer isn't "just follow our blind advice with no supporting information or scenario".   I'm looking for real world RFE's because they didn't include this information (that most responders say is necessary, although the instructions don't ask for it) or the lack thereof for not including their story....

[Happytobe 164]

Here’s my two cents.... if you had met on a dating site, but marked “no” to the question and omit that information from your story.... if/when they see that you did meet on a dating site, that would be material misrepresentation. They look and find out more about you and the beneficiary than what meets the eye. So, do what you want. Be honest and cover your bases, or not. If the government discovers at any point that they were given misinformation, benefits can be revoked. You say you’re plenty familiar with laws... so there you go. (If I’m off on any of this, someone will come and correct me)

[JonJulia 5]

2 minutes ago, Happytobe said:

Here’s my two cents.... if you had met on a dating site, but marked “no” to the question and omit that information from your story.... if/when they see that you did meet on a dating site, that would be material misrepresentation. They look and find out more about you and the beneficiary than what meets the eye. So, do what you want. Be honest and cover your bases, or not. If the government discovers at any point that they were given misinformation, benefits can be revoked. You say you’re plenty familiar with laws... so there you go. (If I’m off on any of this, someone will come and correct me)

Just to clarify, there isn't a question about regular websites, only marriage broker (IBM) websites.  If you mark 'no' on question 55 and met on match.com, etc., then that's not a misrepresentation.

[Happytobe 164]

36 minutes ago, JonJulia said:

Just to clarify, there isn't a question about regular websites, only marriage broker (IBM) websites.  If you mark 'no' on question 55 and met on match.com, etc., then that's not a misrepresentation.

Just to clarify, there have been several requests for the IMBRA disclosures that I’ve seen on here for “regular “ websites. Why risk having issues when you can cover your booty upfront?  Use the search tool and you’ll come across plenty of these topics on here. I’ve seen people on here that walked in to their Consulate interviews where the IO had pics and other things that were not submitted. Why not disclose everything vs taking a risk? 

[mskinner 6]

@JonJulia I'm right there with you. I had always been wondering why people were disclosing using a dating site in the I-129F. I was always under the impression that it was best to concisely answer the questions that are asked, and nothing more.

 

My NOA1 date is May 30th, so I'm expecting to get some kind of notification in the next couple weeks. I'll let you know if it's an RFE, though I'm not expecting it will be.

[Naes 12,205]

1 minute ago, matthewskin said:

@JonJulia I'm right there with you. I had always been wondering why people were disclosing using a dating site in the I-129F. I was always under the impression that it was best to concisely answer the questions that are asked, and nothing more.

 

My NOA1 date is May 30th, so I'm expecting to get some kind of notification in the next couple weeks. I'll let you know if it's an RFE, though I'm not expecting it will be.

Exactly! 

 

After reading in this site. I think the cause of RFE is for example saying you met on Facebook or tinder. These are not IMBRA so you check the box "no" this is not omitting information. By statin these when not asked causes RFEs to prove they are not IMBRA but nobody asks how you met unless it is an IMBRA they ask when and how you met in PERSON.

[Naes 12,205]

5 minutes ago, matthewskin said:

@JonJulia I'm right there with you. I had always been wondering why people were disclosing using a dating site in the I-129F. I was always under the impression that it was best to concisely answer the questions that are asked, and nothing more.

 

My NOA1 date is May 30th, so I'm expecting to get some kind of notification in the next couple weeks. I'll let you know if it's an RFE, though I'm not expecting it will be.

Btw in the same boat cause we said we met on Facebook through a mutual friend so please let me know if I should prepare anything 😊