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

[N-o-l-a 7,168]

30 minutes ago, JonJulia said:

No, actually I think (as well as a couple of others) that people inadvertently bring suspicion upon themselves by 'overdoing' their application, even front loading to the point of suspicion.  Submissions to the Embassy for interviews are different than the initial vetting, in my opinion.  Sometimes less is more.  

 

I'll tell you exactly what I'm going to do.  I'm going to follow the instructions.  I am sending pictures of us standing in front on the US Embassy in Moscow (they should like the humor), Red Square, etc., and most importantly, pics of us holding dated receipts, etc., that without-a-doubt ties us together within the last 2 years (as they want).  I am also sending pictures of us in her home town, with the same kind of dates tied to the pictures.  Then of course, the boarding passes and passport will match with those dates.  Lastly, I am going to send pictures of us with her wearing her engagement ring, which my wholesale + 10% markup is almost $20K...and those receipts will be copied as well.  As well as the insurance policy on it. The simple fact of the matter is that fraudulent cases don't invest that kind of $$ in a relationship.  

 

I'm not going to put a million pictures in there or a thousand pages of whatever.  I'm going to put a few in there that say everything that needs to be said.

 

We have a weird case, but for the approved I-129F, we just did passport stamps/boarding passes and maybe 3 or 4 photos with dates written under them.  That was it.    On the other hand our I-130 that we used later on had no evidence.   Yep, no chat logs, no front loading, none of that.

 

My first ring was less than $300 and cz.  #truelove.  My current one is moissanite.    If you've got the cash, you should do whatever makes you happy, but I don't think $$$$ for a ring is going to be quite the evidence you are hoping, especially with that region of the world or anywhere.  It could prompt questions of gold-digging or whatever on her part.

[Lemonslice 4,994]

19 minutes ago, JonJulia said:

I'd like to see that.  If you're Russian and want to get here, you can do it without this process and for a heck of a lot less than $20K.

Foreign students around here are offering quite a deal to be able to stay.  All that to say, $20K is pocket change for some who want a link to citizenship (see also baby delivery packages), and the price of the ring does not prove anything but that you had the resources to get the ring. 

[geowrian 22,338]

22 minutes ago, JonJulia said:

I'd like to see that.  If you're Russian and want to get here, you can do it without this process and for a heck of a lot less than $20K.

http://www.topsecretwriters.com/2013/05/how-marriage-fraud-in-immigration-works-and-is-difficult-to-catch/

http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-craigslist7dec07-story.html (Only $15,000 this time)

https://cis.org/Report/Hello-I-Love-You-Wont-You-Tell-Me-Your-Name-Inside-Green-Card-Marriage-Phenomenon

[JonJulia 5]

11 minutes ago, N-o-l-a said:

 

We have a weird case, but for the approved I-129F, we just did passport stamps/boarding passes and maybe 3 or 4 photos with dates written under them.  That was it.    On the other hand our I-130 that we used later on had no evidence.   Yep, no chat logs, no front loading, none of that.

 

My first ring was less than $300 and cz.  #truelove.  My current one is moissanite.    If you've got the cash, you should do whatever makes you happy, but I don't think $$$$ for a ring is going to be quite the evidence you are hoping, especially with that region of the world or anywhere.  It could prompt questions of gold-digging or whatever on her part.

Ha, she's not paying for it.  I'm sure she'd be happy with a $300 CZ.  If questions of gold-digging get brought up, then the IO would believe she's American.

[Scandi 4,186]

9 hours ago, JonJulia said:

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.

 

 

Just search for "RFE circumstances of meeting" and you'll find tons of threads about people getting RFEs for not telling their stories about "the circumstances under which the petitioner and beneficiary initially met to establish the relationship", not to be confused with "meeting in person".

[JonJulia 5]

20 minutes ago, Scandi said:

Just search for "RFE circumstances of meeting" and you'll find tons of threads about people getting RFEs for not telling their stories about "the circumstances under which the petitioner and beneficiary initially met to establish the relationship", not to be confused with "meeting in person".

I just did that search and I didn't find much.  From what I gathered, it seems as though some filers brought the RFEs upon themselves....they told their story but it raised questions.

[gregcrs2 1,778]

SO... you can afford to spend 20K on a ring and now you are a "Do It Yourself" 129F filer.  Smells like BS.

[Naes 12,205]

26 minutes ago, gregcrs2 said:

SO... you can afford to spend 20K on a ring and now you are a "Do It Yourself" 129F filer.  Smells like BS.

I myself wouldnt trust a lawyer after what I heard and would do it myself even if I had millions to spare..

 

if you want something right, do it yourself.

 

Everyone has a different view on how to spend their money.

[R&OC 374]

13 hours 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.

I am very interested in the content of this threat. I don't recall any of the questions asking us about how we met but provide evidence of the bona fide status of our relationship. We filed for the i-130, though? Are both forms and requirements THAT different? We never answered the question on HOW we met, just how many times, pictures, family gatherings etc.

[geowrian 22,338]

17 minutes ago, R&OC said:

I am very interested in the content of this threat. I don't recall any of the questions asking us about how we met but provide evidence of the bona fide status of our relationship. We filed for the i-130, though? Are both forms and requirements THAT different? We never answered the question on HOW we met, just how many times, pictures, family gatherings etc.

Yes, the I-129F and I-130 are different here. I-130 is for a spouse, which does not have have IMBRA restrictions.

[Interfan 6]

I wrote I met my fiancèe on a pokemon online game, if they have the courage to send me a RFE asking if it's an IMBRA website I'm gonna respond yes and put Pikachu as the IMB's name.

[csk2b1 44]

45 minutes ago, Interfan said:

I wrote I met my fiancèe on a pokemon online game, if they have the courage to send me a RFE asking if it's an IMBRA website I'm gonna respond yes and put Pikachu as the IMB's name.

Look forward to reading about the subsequent adjudication if this is how it plays out

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

9 hours ago, JonJulia said:

  Lastly, I am going to send pictures of us with her wearing her engagement ring, which my wholesale + 10% markup is almost $20K...and those receipts will be copied as well.  As well as the insurance policy on it. The simple fact of the matter is that fraudulent cases don't invest that kind of $$ in a relationship.  

 No comment on your particular situation but this statement  at face value is somewhat naive. One partner spending a lot of money is not in any way proof of the other’s bona fide intentions. The whole M.O. of romance scams, immigration and otherwise, involve one partner thinking it’s the real deal and expending copious amounts of money and energy on the other. Again  I’m in no way saying you are being duped, just that by itself you buying a $20k ring doesn’t prove her side. 

[JonJulia 5]

2 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

 No comment on your particular situation but this statement  at face value is somewhat naive. One partner spending a lot of money is not in any way proof of the other’s bona fide intentions. The whole M.O. of romance scams, immigration and otherwise, involve one partner thinking it’s the real deal and expending copious amounts of money and energy on the other. Again  I’m in no way saying you are being duped, just that by itself you buying a $20k ring doesn’t prove her side. 

It's not naive.  It is what it is.  The divorce rate is like 50% anyway...never mind the K1 route.  Including evidence of a bona fide relationship is just that, and I will.  If the petitioner believes it, it's not fraudulent, now is it? Being duped is not fraud....it's being duped.  Am I being duped? No.  Could I use a ring from a crackerjack box and she wouldn't care? Yes.  But if I did that then the IO would think the commitment level is non-existent....a red flag.  The more effort....aka money...you spend, whether it be plane tickets, hotel stays, rings, etc., not only does it show a relationship, but it puts the 'cheap frauds' to bed.  If I was an IO....any petition that only had one meeting and the overall costs were nil, I'd RFE that sucker...especially if it were from a high fraud country.  I happen to have recently found that reality show "90 day fiance'" on TLC, IIRC.  You want to talk fraud, there is a couple of OBVIOUS frauds front and center broadcast for all to see.

[JonJulia 5]

7 hours ago, Naes said:

I myself wouldnt trust a lawyer after what I heard and would do it myself even if I had millions to spare..

 

if you want something right, do it yourself.

 

Everyone has a different view on how to spend their money.

No truer words have ever been spoken.  I hired a lawyer once in a civil suit about 10 years ago over a real estate dispute.  I won on appeal representing myself after he lost the case at the trial level.  Lawyers ain't all that.  The rest is history.

 

I'd rather spend my money on my woman than give it to a lawyer who will undoubtedly drag his feet....since he likely will charge by the hour.  They lack incentive to get your case done as fast as possible.