Proof of Evidence Confusion - K-1 (help appreciated)

[Orientalelf 50]

Hello Everyone, 

 

I apologize in advance as this question has been asked a thousand times, but as a newbie finding research for the K-1 Visa I would truly appreciate any feedback/advice for my noob inquiry!

 

Inquiry: What evidence needs to be SENT and WHEN?

Am I right in understanding: 

1. At the time of sending the I-129F packet during the USCIS period,  I'm only meant to submit evidence of meeting within the past 2 years? 
- This includes compiling photocopies of boarding passes, passport stamps, photo's of my fiancee and I in the States, receipts and misc items for gifts + activities. 

 

2. At the time of the interview stage, I'm only meant to submit evidence of an on-going relationship from the time of when the I-129F was filed and the date of the embassy interview?

- This includes compiling photocopies and screenshots of social media chat logs, receipts and misc items for gifts etc. (plus engagement oriented content). 

 

I've read very varied responses to what couples have compiled, some literally novels of evidence and others a few pictures and receipts? I've only known my fiancee for 9 months (met once) so I'd rather provide MORE than they're asking for - but is necessary? Should the evidence in the I-129F packet have (question 2. evidence) included in it too? (vice-versa).

If so, is there any particular way I should be compiling/formatting the evidence? Is creating a relationship timeline a good idea?

 

Thank you all for your time!
_ _ _

 

Info about me: 
I'm Half Thai/UK (born in Britain) engaged to an American.
Live in Thailand  permanently.  
Met through gaming
9 month relationship
Met once 

[dentsflogged 352]

40 minutes ago, Orientalelf said:

Hello Everyone, 

 

I apologize in advance as this question has been asked a thousand times, but as a newbie finding research for the K-1 Visa I would truly appreciate any feedback/advice for my noob inquiry!

 

Inquiry: What evidence needs to be SENT and WHEN?

Am I right in understanding: 

1. At the time of sending the I-129F packet during the USCIS period,  I'm only meant to submit evidence of meeting within the past 2 years? 
- This includes compiling photocopies of boarding passes, passport stamps, photo's of my fiancee and I in the States, receipts and misc items for gifts + activities. 

 

2. At the time of the interview stage, I'm only meant to submit evidence of an on-going relationship from the time of when the I-129F was filed and the date of the embassy interview?

- This includes compiling photocopies and screenshots of social media chat logs, receipts and misc items for gifts etc. (plus engagement oriented content). 

 

I've read very varied responses to what couples have compiled, some literally novels of evidence and others a few pictures and receipts? I've only known my fiancee for 9 months (met once) so I'd rather provide MORE than they're asking for - but is necessary? Should the evidence in the I-129F packet have (question 2. evidence) included in it too? (vice-versa).

If so, is there any particular way I should be compiling/formatting the evidence? Is creating a relationship timeline a good idea?

 

Thank you all for your time!
_ _ _

 

Info about me: 
I'm Half Thai/UK (born in Britain) engaged to an American.
Live in Thailand  permanently.  
Met through gaming
9 month relationship
Met once 

You won't get any conclusive answers here, I'm afraid.

 

Some people swear by "front loading" the application (providing way more evidence than is required).  In some cases, that's probably wise (when there are red flags such as a huge age gap, major religious and/or cultural differences, no common language or very broken communication in a shared language, very little face time together - like a few days and so on) and in many it's probably barely looked at - especially since USCIS only look for what they need to look for to approve the petition - that is, proof that the Petitioner is a USC, proof neither of the parties is legally married, and proof that you have been in the same place at the same time at least once in the last 2 years.  The rest of it may be nice to have sitting in your file when you go to Interview, but I doubt that anyone at USCIS will sit there and read through anything thats not directly related to them approving or denying the petition.   Some people have been approved that sent the absolute bare minimum. 

 

And as for further evidence at the interview... again, it depends. Is it nice to have? Yes, it is. It shows you are prepared and taking the whole thing seriously.  Will it be looked at and taken into account... maybe? 

 

There are tonnes of anecdotal stories of the Beneficiary walking in, answering a few basic questions, and being approved.  Then there are some where the information is looked at thoroughly, the Beneficiary gets a huge grilling and they're put into AP for months before being denied. 

For a more specific answer maybe check out the reviews of the embassy where you'll be applying and read through those for more specific information. There's also region specific forums for Thailand that may be helpful

[Perfect two 💑 1,147]

48 minutes ago, Orientalelf said:

Hello Everyone, 

 

I apologize in advance as this question has been asked a thousand times, but as a newbie finding research for the K-1 Visa I would truly appreciate any feedback/advice for my noob inquiry!

 

Inquiry: What evidence needs to be SENT and WHEN?

Am I right in understanding: 

1. At the time of sending the I-129F packet during the USCIS period,  I'm only meant to submit evidence of meeting within the past 2 years? 
- This includes compiling photocopies of boarding passes, passport stamps, photo's of my fiancee and I in the States, receipts and misc items for gifts + activities. 

 

2. At the time of the interview stage, I'm only meant to submit evidence of an on-going relationship from the time of when the I-129F was filed and the date of the embassy interview?

- This includes compiling photocopies and screenshots of social media chat logs, receipts and misc items for gifts etc. (plus engagement oriented content). 

 

I've read very varied responses to what couples have compiled, some literally novels of evidence and others a few pictures and receipts? I've only known my fiancee for 9 months (met once) so I'd rather provide MORE than they're asking for - but is necessary? Should the evidence in the I-129F packet have (question 2. evidence) included in it too? (vice-versa).

If so, is there any particular way I should be compiling/formatting the evidence? Is creating a relationship timeline a good idea?

 

Thank you all for your time!
_ _ _

 

Info about me: 
I'm Half Thai/UK (born in Britain) engaged to an American.
Live in Thailand  permanently.  
Met through gaming
9 month relationship
Met once 

1) Yes, your understanding is right. You should submit meeting within 2 years with the petition packet. You can submit on-going relationship evidence together with this too. It is not the requirement. But, we did submit it too to show that we not only meet and stop just like that, we have continuing relationship. Frontloading is depended on the embassy, some need to frontload, some no need to do that.

2)Yes, it is correct too. You will bring on-going relationship evidence to the interview. The officer might look at it and might not even asking for it. But, bring it with you will not cause any harm.  

Relationship timeline is great. And while compiling for the evidence, you can put a description on each picture. Such as date and where the picture is taken

[JFH 12,191]

In many, if not all, cases the evidence of an ongoing relationship is gathered by the officer at the embassy by a series of questions at the interview and assessing your responses to these questions. This can be a better way to "test" whether the relationship is genuine than a series of nicely presented chat messages and other stuff that can be prepared and edited in advance. 

 

I had an IR-1 interview so there are some differences but many similarities. He didn't look at anything I brought with me to the interview except my husband's J&S but the questions asked were very fast and I could see that he was trained to study my facial expressions and body language (he kept glancing at my hands, for example) as I responded. He fired the questions very quickly at me and I could tell he was expecting instant responses, without hesitating and trying to think of an answer. He was certainly trained to spot nervousness, hesitation, etc. Almost all of the questions he asked he already knew the answer to because it was in the paperwork we submitted. He was just testing me that my answers matched. For example he asked if we communicated only electronically or if we had ever sent each other anything by regular mail. This was a very interesting question because some of the photos we included with our petition were of the envelopes of cards my husband sent me. He's an artist and used to decorate the envelopes very elaborately and detailed - they are true works of art! So the officer had obviously seen the photos of these envelopes and wanted me to comment on them.

 

Anybody can craft together pages of photos, messages, etc. Nothing to it in this day and age of technology. They are not interested in your photoshop or copy and paste skills. But to be able to answer questions quickly like that, without having time to think of the answer... that's hard if you're not genuine. 

Edited January 21, 2018 by JFH