Evidence of visits - don't have passport stamps

[arae 81]

Hi all,

This is my first time posting so I apologize if this topic has been covered.

 

My fiance lives in Canada. When I visit, I typically fly from Chicago to Detroit and then cross the border in Michigan. The border agents don't automatically give stamps - you have to ask. Admittedly, I've been remiss in asking for stamps. Usually I'm just trying to get through to see my fiance.

 

So my question is: are my boarding passes for flights to and from Detroit evidence that I should include? Obviously Detroit is not where my fiance lives. But I could include an explanation that I fly to Detroit because it's ultimately closer to where he lives than any other airport.

 

Or should I only include direct evidence of being in Canada?

 

Any insight is appreciated!

[payxibka 10,045]

4 minutes ago, Ahuntington said:

Hi all,

This is my first time posting so I apologize if this topic has been covered.

 

My fiance lives in Canada. When I visit, I typically fly from Chicago to Detroit and then cross the border in Michigan. The border agents don't automatically give stamps - you have to ask. Admittedly, I've been remiss in asking for stamps. Usually I'm just trying to get through to see my fiance.

 

So my question is: are my boarding passes for flights to and from Detroit evidence that I should include? Obviously Detroit is not where my fiance lives. But I could include an explanation that I fly to Detroit because it's ultimately closer to where he lives than any other airport.

 

Or should I only include direct evidence of being in Canada?

 

Any insight is appreciated!

Direct.   A flight to Detroit doesn't get it done 

[arae 81]

1 minute ago, payxibka said:

Direct.   A flight to Detroit doesn't get it done 

Figured as much.

 

I have a TON of other evidence - receipts from hotel stays, infinite pictures of us both, together, in the us and canada with friends and family, cards, emails, texts and phone logs, etc.

 

I've also seen you can request your passport history, but it takes 8-12 weeks. I'd love to get my petition filed sooner than that...but if the passport history would really help, perhaps I request it?

[LionessDeon 2,060]

Yes it’s tough. I asked for a stamp at Canadian border and on my return border patrol had 1,000 questions. “Why is your passport stamped? what were you doing?”  

I was held up almost 1/2 hour over it. 

All you can do is your best. Keep receipts of everything and take pics at landmarks. 

I don’t think flying direct is going to make a big difference. You have to do what’s best for your budget. Canada isn’t a high fraud state. You should be fine. You’ve got good evidence. Passport stamps aren’t the end of the world. 

Edited August 22, 2019 by LionessDeon

[payxibka 10,045]

1 minute ago, Ahuntington said:

Figured as much.

 

I have a TON of other evidence - receipts from hotel stays, infinite pictures of us both, together, in the us and canada with friends and family, cards, emails, texts and phone logs, etc.

 

I've also seen you can request your passport history, but it takes 8-12 weeks. I'd love to get my petition filed sooner than that...but if the passport history would really help, perhaps I request it?

As long as the hotel folio receipt has your name on it.   Pictures are secondary and are of little utilitarian value.   Email,  text and chats don't prove face to face meeting so are not good evidence 

[LionessDeon 2,060]

2 minutes ago, payxibka said:

As long as the hotel folio receipt has your name on it.   Pictures are secondary and are of little utilitarian value.   Email,  text and chats don't prove face to face meeting so are not good evidence 

Pictures at landmarks are good when you need evidence proof of visits. Secondary or not. 

Emails, texts, and chats are all good ongoing relationship correspondence evidence too. OP you’re doing right collecting these things. Keep doing what you’re doing. 

[arae 81]

6 minutes ago, LionessDeon said:

Yes it’s tough. I asked for a stamp at Canadian border and on my return border patrol had 1,000 questions. “Why is your passport stamped? what were you doing?”  

I was held up almost 1/2 hour over it. 

All you can do is your best. Keep receipts of everything and take pics at landmarks. 

I don’t think flying direct is going to make a big difference. You have to do what’s best for your budget. Canada isn’t a high fraud state. You should be fine. You’ve got good evidence. Passport stamps aren’t the end of the world. 

The first and only time I asked for a passport stamp (which I honestly just did because I wanted to see the Canadian stamp), the agent was extremely irritated and ended up telling me no, then told me I needed to go have my car searched and could ask the agents searching my car for a stamp if I still wanted one.

 

This, knock on wood, was the only time I've been stopped and searched. So I didn't make a habit of asking for more stamps.

[TandClaudia 330]

@Ahuntington

 

Do you have ANY stamps in the past 2 years?  All you need is 1.  Or does your fiancé have a stamp from coming into the US within the past 2 years to see you?

Edited August 22, 2019 by TandClaudia

[arae 81]

Just now, TandClaudia said:

@Ahuntington

 

Do you have ANY stamps in the past 2 years?  All you need is 1.  Or does she has a stamp from coming into the US within the past 2 years to see you?

I have exactly ONE stamp. It's my only one because asking for it got me stopped and searched for nearly an hour. The agent was very irritated that I asked.

[payxibka 10,045]

Just now, LionessDeon said:

Pictures at landmarks are good when you need evidence proof of visits. Secondary or not. 

Emails, texts, and chats are all good ongoing relationship correspondence evidence too. OP you’re doing right collecting these things. Keep doing what you’re doing. 

I disagree,  those pictures don't prove the when.  Since it has to be within the previous two years it doesn't get done.   Time stamps can be added after so it doesn't work 

[TandClaudia 330]

One in the last 2 years is all you need. 

[payxibka 10,045]

Just now, Ahuntington said:

I have exactly ONE stamp. It's my only one because asking for it got me stopped and searched for nearly an hour. The agent was very irritated that I asked.

You only need to prove ONE meeting not a hundred 

[BlueberryMuffin 2]

As long as you have that 1 stamp and some hotel receipts and other evidence you both were together at the same time (ie: bank statements with charges in the same area around the same time, photos together that prove a where and when they were taken, anything with both your names on it like an Airbnb receipt) you should be fine. You can provide the other evidence you have for other visits, but you only need that 1 stamp from the 2 years before filing the petition. Does your partner have stamps to the US and/or an I-94?

They approve people who only knew each other via the internet for 6 months before getting engaged and have only met in person once; if your relationship is genuine, don't sweat it.

Best of luck on your visa process!

Edited August 22, 2019 by BlueberryMuffin
Typo

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,092]

2 hours ago, payxibka said:

I disagree,  those pictures don't prove the when.  Since it has to be within the previous two years it doesn't get done.   Time stamps can be added after so it doesn't work 

Yeah, but all passport stamps and boarding passes and the like can prove is that you were in the same city or country at about the same time, not that you've actually met (other than having adjacent seats on somewhere you flew together). Especially if you met in a major international tourist or business travel destination where tens of thousands of foreigners pass through every day.

[Hank_ 9,174]

4 hours ago, Ahuntington said:

Figured as much.

 

I have a TON of other evidence - receipts from hotel stays, infinite pictures of us both, together, in the us and canada with friends and family, cards, emails, texts and phone logs, etc.

 

I've also seen you can request your passport history, but it takes 8-12 weeks. I'd love to get my petition filed sooner than that...but if the passport history would really help, perhaps I request it?

For filing the petition you need evidence of having met in person WITHIN 2 years of filing the I-129F  ... and you are both free to marry .. that's it!    Relationship evidence is for later for the embassy interview.