K1: I-129F and visa interview. How tough is the embassy?

[Aelius 7]

When researching the K1 process, I see a lot of people mentioning that different embassies tend to be tougher than others. In the tougher embassies, more and better evidence tends to be required for both the I-129F (proof of having met within the last two years) and the visa interview (proof of bona fide relationship).

 

How does the Montreal embassy slot into the spectrum of strictness? I would guess that it would be pretty lenient, just because I don't imagine there's much immigration fraud coming from Canada. But it would make me a lot more comfortable to hear from people who know first-hand what to expect.

 

My concern stems from the fact that, despite being with my girlfriend for 4 years and her driving across the border from Buffalo to visit me in Canada on weekly basis, we actually don't have much in the way of evidence for either the I-129F or the visa stage. Passports don't get stamped at the CAN/US border; we never go on vacation (so no hotels, entertainment tickets, etc.); I've always hated having pictures taken; we don't use Facebook; we never split bills when we pay for stuff; chat logs don't seem like good evidence of anything because there's no proof it's her on the other side of the screen; and so on.

 

There are certainly things I can seek out to create such concrete evidence, especially for the I-129F proof of meeting within 2 years. But how much evidence I need to create depends a lot on how strict I should expect the embassy to be.

 

So, for anyone who's gone through the K1 process in Canada (or somehow knows a lot about it), what sort of evidentiary standards should I be expecting to meet, roughly?

 

Thanks!

[Crazy Cat 41,845]

I have been told by a very well respected (expert) VJ member that there is an unofficial rating among IOs:

1. Easy- Low Fraud

2. Difficult- High Fraud

3. A specific consulate/country which I shall not name.  Most people here probably know which one he mentioned. Hint:  It isn't Montreal.

 

The only thing I have heard about Montreal is that they are pretty strict about domicile.  

[Pupper 5]

When filing for the K1, my fiancé and I provided as much information as we could. We also didn't go to any hotels (I just stayed at his house during my visits) and we both also don't like our photos taken. We did provide a lot of chat logs anyway even if they couldn't prove it was us just in case. We did use facebook messenger in the beginning of our relationship so I think that might of helped. Majority of our chatlogs are from discord. I think in total we only had 3-4 photos together. Thankfully my passport was stamped once when I went from Canada to the US so we used that.  We were able to get approved, and we also got approved at the Montreal embassy too, they didn't ask for any additional proof. 

Edited August 18, 2021 by Pupper

[Kai G. Llewellyn 837]

Generally, Montreal is comparatively lenient compared to other foreign posts as Canada is low fraud. That being said, evidence can help your case.

 

You can get official travel records from the CBSA and CBP which will detail all of you and your partner's entries to the US and Canada. You can submit a Privacy Act/Access to Information Act request to the CBSA here: https://atip-aiprp.tbs-sct.gc.ca/ - If you have no active status (i.e.Citizen/PR/Visitor In Canada) in Canada and aren't physically in Canada when you submit your request, you must submit it under the Access to Information Act, which a fee is chargeable. If you can submit it under Privacy Act, it is free.

 

You can submit a Freedom of Information Act request to CBP here - https://foiaonline.gov/foiaonline/action/public/home - These are generally free to submit and you don't need to be physically in the US to do so.

Edited August 24, 2021 by Kai G. Llewellyn

[Twiz&Toz 240]

On 8/14/2021 at 3:55 AM, Aelius said:

When researching the K1 process, I see a lot of people mentioning that different embassies tend to be tougher than others. In the tougher embassies, more and better evidence tends to be required for both the I-129F (proof of having met within the last two years) and the visa interview (proof of bona fide relationship).

 

How does the Montreal embassy slot into the spectrum of strictness? I would guess that it would be pretty lenient, just because I don't imagine there's much immigration fraud coming from Canada. But it would make me a lot more comfortable to hear from people who know first-hand what to expect.

 

My concern stems from the fact that, despite being with my girlfriend for 4 years and her driving across the border from Buffalo to visit me in Canada on weekly basis, we actually don't have much in the way of evidence for either the I-129F or the visa stage. Passports don't get stamped at the CAN/US border; we never go on vacation (so no hotels, entertainment tickets, etc.); I've always hated having pictures taken; we don't use Facebook; we never split bills when we pay for stuff; chat logs don't seem like good evidence of anything because there's no proof it's her on the other side of the screen; and so on.

 

There are certainly things I can seek out to create such concrete evidence, especially for the I-129F proof of meeting within 2 years. But how much evidence I need to create depends a lot on how strict I should expect the embassy to be.

 

So, for anyone who's gone through the K1 process in Canada (or somehow knows a lot about it), what sort of evidentiary standards should I be expecting to meet, roughly?

 

Thanks!

They accept chat logs. If u use discord Skype Microsoft teams ect. Any thing u got between the two of u works group photos ect 

[mam521 2,062]

Question: since the processing times are similar, is there any reason you prefer K1 to CR1?  If she comes on a K1 to the States, she can't work and it sounds like you've been in the relationship a while. 

[JlovesA 109]

One or both of you can also access your travel history into the USA from this CBP website. Of course it isn't actual relationship evidence, but it doesn't hurt to have it and show how often one or both of you cross.