We don't have pictures together. Am I screwed?

[BadAmmoWitch 213]

I would definitely include that photo also, for comedic relief. 

[Sadie.c.c 0]

16 minutes ago, BadAmmoWitch said:

I would definitely include that photo also, for comedic relief. 

I agree... It never hurts to show those tender moments..... 

[Cndn 98]

Photos are not required, however for my

K1 it was a time stamped tourist photo that I used as proof we had met within two years. We both live close to the border (both grew up in border towns just each of us on the other side) and met each other initially in person just randomly. I didn’t have any passport stamps because to see him I would only drive about an hour haha. I think any couple that is thinking about initiating an immigration application should ensure they do take photos. But no, you’re not necessarily screwed. 

Edited May 10, 2020 by Cndn

[SB5130 88]

3 hours ago, Sadie.c.c said:

Thank you for your advice. There are absolutely no photos of us. Unfortunately. We are both camera shy and weren't thinking about immigration at the time. The other documentation you sent is a great idea. Do you think it is likely they will ask?

They asked for a photo during my k1 interview. Back then, we only had 2 pictures at the time of the interview. I handed the only 2 I got (both are even taken the same day ). The CO frowned. And I explained. I told him "my fiance (now husband) dated on the couch over PS4 games. None remembered to take a selfie while watching tv and playing video games. 

 

Bottom line, they could ask for it. You can also explain. But, it's on them if they find it convincing. 

[Sadie.c.c 0]

52 minutes ago, Cndn said:

Photos are not required, however for my

K1 it was a time stamped tourist photo that I used as proof we had met within two years. We both live close to the border (both grew up in border towns just each of us on the other side) and met each other initially in person just randomly. I didn’t have any passport stamps because to see him I would only drive about an hour haha. I think any couple that is thinking about initiating an immigration application should ensure they do take photos. But no, you’re not necessarily screwed. 

Thank you! That is very reassuring

[Sadie.c.c 0]

6 minutes ago, SB5130 said:

They asked for a photo during my k1 interview. Back then, we only had 2 pictures at the time of the interview. I handed the only 2 I got (both are even taken the same day ). The CO frowned. And I explained. I told him "my fiance (now husband) dated on the couch over PS4 games. None remembered to take a selfie while watching tv and playing video games. 

 

Bottom line, they could ask for it. You can also explain. But, it's on them if they find it convincing. 

That sounds a wee bit like our dates (listening to music and drinking beers in his bedroom) no one thought to take a picture ☹️. I'm so happy you were able to get it approved! Thank you for the reasurance

[Ryan H 3,819]

Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.

[SB5130 88]

10 minutes ago, Sadie.c.c said:

That sounds a wee bit like our dates (listening to music and drinking beers in his bedroom) no one thought to take a picture ☹️. I'm so happy you were able to get it approved! Thank you for the reasurance

Thank you! I was approve on the spot. But then, not all US Embassies are created equal. Some are more difficult than others. Unfortunately I am not familiar with US Embassy in Chile.

 

Hopefully, the CO wouldn't look for it and you'll have a smooth K1 process.

 

As what others stated above, photos are secondary evidence. Maybe you can supplement it with proof that you've actually lived there for a while and explain your situation. 

[MrHanky 1,377]

2 hours ago, Sadie.c.c said:

Thank you for your insight! What do you mean by varying quality? What other portrayals would be valid? There was never a photo of us taken other than the one I posted, but there are lots of him in our apartment that I took, and lots of me with the same background apartment that he took. 

Photos with friends and family, photos at events or identifiable places, those help to connect the dots and make a more compelling story.

People will generally add captions to them.

But as others may have said if there's other strong evidence, then you wouldn't have to worry about so much with photos.

[jaysaldi 213]

I think there are two different questions here that are getting blurred.

Question 1: Is a photo together needed at the I-129F filing stage to get past the initial USCIS petition approval hurdle of showing proof of an in person meeting within two years?

 

Question 2: Is a photo together needed to convince the consular officer at the interview 7-10 months down road that the relationship is legitimate? 

 

I believe, and please correct me if I'm wrong, that the answer to Question 1 is "No." While most petitioners will include a few photos together to prove the in person meeting, it's not required. Copies of leases, copies of utility bills or mail sent to your addresses next door to each other, matching boarding passes showing you were on the same flight together, ATM/debit card/credit card records that you were at the same shop/ATM or in the same city on the same dates, passport stamps, affidavits, etc. should be sufficient. 

 

Think of every piece of evidence that could exist proving that you were at this university in this city during the time in question. Then collect that evidence and the corresponding evidence of his presence.

 

I believe the answer to Question 2 "Is a photo together needed to convince the consular officer at the interview 7-12(?) months down road that the relationship is genuine?"  has to be "Yes, probably."

 

But you can submit the K-1 application now, visit him between now and the interview (or preferably visit him and attend the interview) and then submit the new photos with the packet of supplemental evidence that people submit at the interview, which may take place 7-12 (?) months from now.

 

Or you can wait many(?) months until you are able to meet him again in person and get married and then apply for the CR1 spousal visa.

 

 

 

Edited May 10, 2020 by jaysaldi

[Sadie.c.c 0]

2 hours ago, MrHanky said:

Photos with friends and family, photos at events or identifiable places, those help to connect the dots and make a more compelling story.

People will generally add captions to them.

But as others may have said if there's other strong evidence, then you wouldn't have to worry about so much with photos.

Thank you so much! I really appreciate this. I definitely have some of that!

[JonSeattle 202]

The consular interview will ask about the evidence of your continuing relationship, so once you get to that point, they will want chat logs, etc.  Until then you might as well apply with what you have now. I think the documentation that you lived at the same address at the same time, along with pics of you separately in the same room will be fine.

[Sadie.c.c 0]

15 hours ago, jaysaldi said:

I think there are two different questions here that are getting blurred.

Question 1: Is a photo together needed at the I-129F filing stage to get past the initial USCIS petition approval hurdle of showing proof of an in person meeting within two years?

 

Question 2: Is a photo together needed to convince the consular officer at the interview 7-10 months down road that the relationship is legitimate? 

 

I believe, and please correct me if I'm wrong, that the answer to Question 1 is "No." While most petitioners will include a few photos together to prove the in person meeting, it's not required. Copies of leases, copies of utility bills or mail sent to your addresses next door to each other, matching boarding passes showing you were on the same flight together, ATM/debit card/credit card records that you were at the same shop/ATM or in the same city on the same dates, passport stamps, affidavits, etc. should be sufficient. 

 

Think of every piece of evidence that could exist proving that you were at this university in this city during the time in question. Then collect that evidence and the corresponding evidence of his presence.

 

I believe the answer to Question 2 "Is a photo together needed to convince the consular officer at the interview 7-12(?) months down road that the relationship is genuine?"  has to be "Yes, probably."

 

But you can submit the K-1 application now, visit him between now and the interview (or preferably visit him and attend the interview) and then submit the new photos with the packet of supplemental evidence that people submit at the interview, which may take place 7-12 (?) months from now.

 

Or you can wait many(?) months until you are able to meet him again in person and get married and then apply for the CR1 spousal visa.

 

 

 

Wow this is so thurough and helpful. I appreciate your help so much! It seems like the Chilean embassy isn't processing any visas right now, so I guess we will have to wait until they do and then follow your directions. Hopefully by then, international travel is more of an option

[Sadie.c.c 0]

59 minutes ago, JonSeattle said:

The consular interview will ask about the evidence of your continuing relationship, so once you get to that point, they will want chat logs, etc.  Until then you might as well apply with what you have now. I think the documentation that you lived at the same address at the same time, along with pics of you separately in the same room will be fine.

That is a very useful piece of information ! Good to know that they take into account evidence of a continued relationship.

[TBoneTX 45,777]

You can also write and include a "relationship timeline" -- a bullet-pointed or short-paragraph synopsis of when and how you met, plus dates/occasions of subsequent interactions.

 

I haven't looked recently, but in the Vietnam regional forum, there may be posts that talk about "relationship timelines for the consulate" or similar.  See if you can find relevant threads.  You need not emulate the exhaustive contents of their timelines precisely (theirs is a very high-fraud consulate), but merely seeing what they've done will give you ideas as to constructing your own.