Meeting Evidence

[Aezda 0]

I'm not the most organized person. My Russian fiancé and I had a wonderful trip to Mexico last month, and I'm pretty sure I crumpled my boarding pass up and threw it away along with some other trash in our AirBnb. Then I was given a small receipt after I got through the airport in Cancun instead of a stamp, and I forgot it when it was time to depart. I had to go to some office there and fill out a form saying I didn't receive the stamp on my passport, and when I asked if I get a stamp after that they said no. I got home, didn't think about filing the petition for awhile, and now I don't know where that form is. Or my return boarding pass. I have flight receipts but after reaching out to Spirit, they can't send me a copy of old boarding passes. I have the AirBnb receipt, I have transactions in Mexico, pictures, my fiancé has his boarding passes...how screwed am I?

Edited March 24, 2023 by Aezda

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

You must have the email confirmation and/ or the transaction from when you purchased the flights. 

 

And you should not worry much. The requirement is that you met; you fulfill it and you're providing evidence.

[Aezda 0]

7 minutes ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

You must have the email confirmation and/ or the transaction from when you purchased the flights. 

 

And you should not worry much. The requirement is that you met; you fulfill it and you're providing evidence.

I do have the transactions, but they don't have the flight dates, just the date of purchase, and I'm feeling a little nervous about that. 

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

You shouldn't. 

 

Is that the only time you've met?

[Crazy Cat 41,845]

5 hours ago, Aezda said:

I'm not the most organized person. My Russian fiancé and I had a wonderful trip to Mexico last month, and I'm pretty sure I crumpled my boarding pass up and threw it away along with some other trash in our AirBnb. Then I was given a small receipt after I got through the airport in Cancun instead of a stamp, and I forgot it when it was time to depart. I had to go to some office there and fill out a form saying I didn't receive the stamp on my passport, and when I asked if I get a stamp after that they said no. I got home, didn't think about filing the petition for awhile, and now I don't know where that form is. Or my return boarding pass. I have flight receipts but after reaching out to Spirit, they can't send me a copy of old boarding passes. I have the AirBnb receipt, I have transactions in Mexico, pictures, my fiancé has his boarding passes...how screwed am I?

To be blunt, you need to develop better habits if you want a smooth immigration journey.  The immigration process demands a degree of forethought, organization and planning. The fact is that you MUST have solid proof of meeting evidence by dated evidence.  Itineraries are not good proof as they can be changed before traveling.  The receipts and a few pictures together MIGHT be enough. This process requires knowledge, planning, time, patience, and money.  Good luck.  I wish you well on this journey. 

Edited March 24, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Mike E 11,739]

Really surprised that Spirit never emailed you a flight itin.

 

With my I-129F, I did not submit a single boarding pass or a passport stamp. For each meeting (at least 10), I just had:

 

* flight itins of my fiancee and me

* hotel reservation in my name

* at least one photo of us together

 

Whether USCIS was convinced by the volume of what some would say is weak evidence, or was convinced by any single meeting, I cannot say.

 

Since it has been a while, simple remedy: meet again, and document better.
 

Better yet  before you meet, get married online. After you meet, file I-130.

[AndiB 677]

10 hours ago, Aezda said:

I'm not the most organized person. My Russian fiancé and I had a wonderful trip to Mexico last month, and I'm pretty sure I crumpled my boarding pass up and threw it away along with some other trash in our AirBnb. Then I was given a small receipt after I got through the airport in Cancun instead of a stamp, and I forgot it when it was time to depart. I had to go to some office there and fill out a form saying I didn't receive the stamp on my passport, and when I asked if I get a stamp after that they said no. I got home, didn't think about filing the petition for awhile, and now I don't know where that form is. Or my return boarding pass. I have flight receipts but after reaching out to Spirit, they can't send me a copy of old boarding passes. I have the AirBnb receipt, I have transactions in Mexico, pictures, my fiancé has his boarding passes...how screwed am I?

can you request an itinerary or ask them a way you can obtain it? I assume you have your booking code or similar reference number?
It is weird they never emailed you the itinerary with flight times and such. It's not uncommon to need that info, my dad has to show when he was out of country and how long and purpose as he's on indefinite leave to remain (like a greencard) and he travels a lot for business. The record of you booking in more detail exists somewhere, I'm sure it can be provided or found online. I just included my itineraries instead of boarding passes as I only use digital. 

Honestly, I think your partners boarding passes + proof of your presence in mexico (your card + photos + airbnb and whatever else) should suffice. Like theoretically not all LDRs fly to meet up so not everyone has boarding passes to prove they were together, they are prob the most straight forward evidence though.

[Mike E 11,739]

1 minute ago, AndiB said:

It is weird they never emailed you the itinerary with flight times and such

I am wondering how OP knew what time to leave for the airport without such an itin. 

[SalishSea 17,827]

14 hours ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

You must have the email confirmation and/ or the transaction from when you purchased the flights. 

 

And you should not worry much. The requirement is that you met; you fulfill it and you're providing evidence.

Purchasing tickets is not adequate as evidence of meeting.   Passport stamps and boarding passes are.

[SalishSea 17,827]

3 hours ago, AndiB said:

can you request an itinerary or ask them a way you can obtain it? I assume you have your booking code or similar reference number?
It is weird they never emailed you the itinerary with flight times and such. It's not uncommon to need that info, my dad has to show when he was out of country and how long and purpose as he's on indefinite leave to remain (like a greencard) and he travels a lot for business. The record of you booking in more detail exists somewhere, I'm sure it can be provided or found online. I just included my itineraries instead of boarding passes as I only use digital. 

Honestly, I think your partners boarding passes + proof of your presence in mexico (your card + photos + airbnb and whatever else) should suffice. Like theoretically not all LDRs fly to meet up so not everyone has boarding passes to prove they were together, they are prob the most straight forward evidence though.

Itinerary will not be adequate.   It doesn’t ‘prove’ that anyone travelled or met.

 

Boarding passes and passport stamps are a critical piece to this.

[AndiB 677]

5 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Itinerary will not be adequate.   It doesn’t ‘prove’ that anyone travelled or met.

 

Boarding passes and passport stamps are a critical piece to this.

I haven't seen that as a requirement. What if you drive to meet cause they're only in Canada/Mexico??

 

I've seen people been approved without including boarding passes. Not everyone meets with intention to file and therefore starts storing evidence. Will their case be less reliable? Yes. Does it mean they have zero evidence? No.

 

It's not a court, they just need to convince the officer they'd met. Worst case they get an RFE for meeting evidence but it's unlikely. 

 

I can get a boarding pass without boarding the plane. 

Edited March 24, 2023 by AndiB

[AndiB 677]

I also don't get passport stamps when I travel and nor does my bf. Stamps are not common anymore. I travel internationally a couple times a yr and only two countries give me a stamp or proof of entry.

[SalishSea 17,827]

3 minutes ago, AndiB said:

I haven't seen that as a requirement. What if you drive to meet cause they're only in Canada/Mexico??

 

I've seen people been approved without including boarding passes. Not everyone meets with intention to file and therefore starts storing evidence. Will their case be less reliable? Yes. Does it mean they have zero evidence? No.

 

It's not a court, they just need to convince the officer they'd met. Worst case they get an RFE for meeting evidence but it's unlikely. 

 

I can get a boarding pass without boarding the plane. 

What I mean is:  using an emailed itinerary in lieu of passport stamps or boarding passes will not work.  People book flights and do not travel all the time.   Can you get a printed boarding pass and check your luggage and then fail to board the plane?   Yes.   But, realistically does that happen?

 

Historically, boarding pass and passport stamp have been widely accepted as evidence.   

Passport stamps may be requested at any border.

[SalishSea 17,827]

4 minutes ago, AndiB said:

I also don't get passport stamps when I travel and nor does my bf. Stamps are not common anymore. I travel internationally a couple times a yr and only two countries give me a stamp or proof of entry.

Ask for stamps, if you want them.   Or an electronic document showing admission (similar to our I-94).   Believe it or not, there is a record of your admissions/departures from other countries.

[AndiB 677]

1 minute ago, Jorgedig said:

Ask for stamps, if you want them.   Or an electronic document showing admission (similar to our I-94).   Believe it or not, there is a record of your admissions/departures from other countries.

Then why don't they just do that for Mexico?

 

I've asked for a stamp, as did they and have been denied