Jump to content
Lynkali

Question about frontloading and packaging I-129F

 Share

10 posts in this topic

Recommended Posts

Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Finland
Timeline

Hi all, first time posting here but have been browsing for a month or more. I'm just a few days away from sending off our first packet, the I-129F initial petition and I'm getting pretty nervous about doing everything right, like I'm sure we all do!

I'm planning on frontloading all/most of the information about our ongoing relationship, because Mikko and I have met in person 5 times, and THREE of those trips to meet were in the last two years -- so I think it's best to include documentation for all of those meetings in the last two years, which makes for a pretty hefty packet (plane boarding passes, photos of us together, credit card receipts, my roaming cell phone charges from his city, hotel reservations, everything from three different visits!). Once I included all that, I just went ahead and added in a few extra things about how we initially got to know each other and some chats/phone logs, etc from our six-year relationship. Seems easier to get that ALL done now, so we won't have to supplement with more information later.

However, now I worry about presentation and if the USCIS people will not want to look through all of our info.

So my question is: I am planning to make one small plastic folder of just the forms and birth certificate, letters of intent, all the main things, but put ALL of the 'proof' and documentation of our meetings in person into a separate larger folder. I also have written, both on the I-129 form and in the cover letter, a sentence stating that the documentation for visits together is in the larger packet. The larger packet is clearly labeled and has a table of contents so they can glance to where the info they need is.

But is there any reason to make a THIRD packet with only the boarding passes, photos, etc that provide proof of our last meeting (in July 2012) to prove ONLY that? Anyone actually taking time to look through our material will find the info they need (more than they need, I think!), but I just worry that they might not look through the larger packet and think I didn't document the most recent trip, since it's at the end of a long packet? I know USCIS is most concerned right at first with the meeting-in-person requirement, so how can I make that proof obvious, without creating a whole duplicate of our 'ongoing relationship' documentation?

Obviously I think I'm overanalyzing and worrying too much (as I usually do), but when other people frontload the relationship material, do they include the meetings-in-person or keep that separate?

Thanks for any advice!

- Nancy (USA) and Mikko (Finland)

Relationship since April 2006

K-1 Visa: I-129F filed November 6, 2012, NOA2 May 17, 2013, Interview and Approval July 24, 2013

POE San Diego, September 13, 2013, Wedding October 25, 2013

AOS filed November 19, 2013, EAD/AP received January 30, 2014, interview and AOS Approval on February 27, 2014.

ROC filed December 3, 2015, NOA1 12/4/15, Biometrics 12/31/15, ROC Approval on June 16, 2016, 10-Year Green Card received June 22, 2016.

N400 filed September 14, 2023, same day acceptance and Biometric Reuse notice, Interview on 2/13/24: Passed and same day oath. ALL DONE WITH USCIS.

No RFE at any stage, thanks to VisaJourney!

Detailed Timeline Below!

 

Relationship:
2006 April 01: Met online, music site, 2007 February 20: Met in person, Finland, 2007 - 2012 met several times in Finland and California

K-1 Visa:
2012 November 06: Sent I-129F (NOA1 on 11/9/2012)
2013 May 14: Contacted Congressman
2013 May 17: I-129F NOA2 Approved
2013 June 03: NVC Received (NVC left 6/6/13)
2013 June 10: Consulate Received, 2013 June 13: Medical, 2013 June 25: Sent Packet 3/4
2013 July 24: Interview in Helsinki, 2013 July 27: Visa Received
2013 September 13: POE to USA, San Diego

AOS:
2013 October 22: SSN Received
2013 October 25: Wedding, San Marcos, CA
2013 November 19: AOS, AP, EAD sent (NOA 1 on 11/22/13)
2013 December 17: Biometrics, San Marcos, CA, 2013 December 24: Online status changed to Testing/Interview

2014 January 23: Interview notice mailed (for 2/27), 2014 January 24: EAD card production, AP approval (card received 1/30/2014)

2014 February 27: Interview and Approval, GC in production (card received March 6, 2014)

 

ROC:

2015 December 03: mailed I-751 package

2015 December 04: NOA1 extension letter, 2015 December 31: Biometrics appointment

2016 June 16: Approval - Online status changed to Document Production, mailed 6/20/16

2016 June 22: 10-Year Green Card Received, done with USCIS for a while!

 

N-400 Citizenship:

2023 September 14: filed N-400 online

2023 September 14: same day acceptance notice and "Biometrics Reuse" notice

2023 December 28: notice of interview scheduled for February 13, 2024

2024 February 13: naturalization interview (five-year rule) passed, same day oath - now a US Citizen and done with USCIS!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Your idea for using plastic folders may be a good one, however, they will be thrown out and your file will be placed in a top clip USCIS binder for review. All that effort you are going to make in keeping things seperate will probably make no difference in the long run. It may even confuse the reviewer when he/she looks over your petition. Most posts I've seen say to use paperclips or large clamps to hold your petition together.

A lot of long time members for VJ have said that front loading with an over abundance of material is not needed and could confuse the reviewer. Use of several pieces of evidence from each visit over the span of your relationship might be a better idea. Keep it simple for the petition and save all the proof of ongoing relationship for the CO interview.

Don't over think it, follow the K1 guide here on VJ! Good luck!! :thumbs:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ecuador
Timeline
Your idea for using plastic folders may be a good one, however, they will be thrown out and your file will be placed in a top clip USCIS binder for review. [...] use paperclips or large clamps to hold your petition together.
This is accurate advice.
A lot of long time members for VJ have said that front loading with an over abundance of material is not needed and could confuse the reviewer. Use of several pieces of evidence from each visit over the span of your relationship might be a better idea.
In general, yes, but let's add important clarifications. The amount of front-loading (beyond what USCIS requires) depends on the consulate where the interview will occur. For some consulates, no front-loading is necessary. For others, front-loading is crucial, because the CO can refuse to accept evidence brought to the interview and then claim that the existing evidence is insufficient.
Don't over think it, follow the K1 guide here on VJ!
This, plus read the "Embassy Info" and "Reviews: Embassy" (links atop every VJ page) for YOUR consulate.

06-04-2007 = TSC stamps postal return-receipt for I-129f.

06-11-2007 = NOA1 date (unknown to me).

07-20-2007 = Phoned Immigration Officer; got WAC#; where's NOA1?

09-25-2007 = Touch (first-ever).

09-28-2007 = NOA1, 23 days after their 45-day promise to send it (grrrr).

10-20 & 11-14-2007 = Phoned ImmOffs; "still pending."

12-11-2007 = 180 days; file is "between workstations, may be early Jan."; touches 12/11 & 12/12.

12-18-2007 = Call; file is with Division 9 ofcr. (bckgrnd check); e-prompt to shake it; touch.

12-19-2007 = NOA2 by e-mail & web, dated 12-18-07 (187 days; 201 per VJ); in mail 12/24/07.

01-09-2008 = File from USCIS to NVC, 1-4-08; NVC creates file, 1/15/08; to consulate 1/16/08.

01-23-2008 = Consulate gets file; outdated Packet 4 mailed to fiancee 1/27/08; rec'd 3/3/08.

04-29-2008 = Fiancee's 4-min. consular interview, 8:30 a.m.; much evidence brought but not allowed to be presented (consul: "More proof! Second interview! Bring your fiance!").

05-05-2008 = Infuriating $12 call to non-English-speaking consulate appointment-setter.

05-06-2008 = Better $12 call to English-speaker; "joint" interview date 6/30/08 (my selection).

06-30-2008 = Stokes Interrogations w/Ecuadorian (not USC); "wait 2 weeks; we'll mail her."

07-2008 = Daily calls to DOS: "currently processing"; 8/05 = Phoned consulate, got Section Chief; wrote him.

08-07-08 = E-mail from consulate, promising to issue visa "as soon as we get her passport" (on 8/12, per DHL).

08-27-08 = Phoned consulate (they "couldn't find" our file); visa DHL'd 8/28; in hand 9/1; through POE on 10/9 with NO hassles(!).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is accurate advice.In general, yes, but let's add important clarifications. The amount of front-loading (beyond what USCIS requires) depends on the consulate where the interview will occur. For some consulates, no front-loading is necessary. For others, front-loading is crucial, because the CO can refuse to accept evidence brought to the interview and then claim that the existing evidence is insufficient.This, plus read the "Embassy Info" and "Reviews: Embassy" (links atop every VJ page) for YOUR consulate.

Thanks for the clarification! :thumbs:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Finland
Timeline

Thanks for the advice ... to both of you!

Most posts I've seen say to use paperclips or large clamps to hold your petition together.

I'll try this, I guess ... but some other posts here showed pics of folders and tabs labelled for easy reference, which just seemed perfect to me. Worried about pages falling out and getting lost if it's just a clip!

Use of several pieces of evidence from each visit over the span of your relationship might be a better idea.

That's exactly what I have (a few pieces of evidence from each visit), but with 5 lengthy visits, it does add up to a fair number of pages, there's no way a simple paper clip will suffice!

follow the K1 guide here on VJ! Good luck!! :thumbs:

The K1 guide is a lifesaver and I'm following it to the letter, INCLUDING the part that states "There is no minimum, but the more you can provide the less likely you are that you will receive an RFE" and talks about frontloading proof of ongoing relationship! So, doing that I think won't hurt, based on a month of browsing old posts here ... and it only adds like 3 pages to the entire thing to just include one screenshot of skype call logs and a 3 scanned postcards and packages.

I really don't think I'm going that far overboard, just that there's a TON of proof of us actually having met for lengthy visits in the last two years, which is the most important proof at this stage.

But I guess a heavy duty clip would work .. still think labelled tabs on the pages might be helpful, does anyone disagree?

Relationship since April 2006

K-1 Visa: I-129F filed November 6, 2012, NOA2 May 17, 2013, Interview and Approval July 24, 2013

POE San Diego, September 13, 2013, Wedding October 25, 2013

AOS filed November 19, 2013, EAD/AP received January 30, 2014, interview and AOS Approval on February 27, 2014.

ROC filed December 3, 2015, NOA1 12/4/15, Biometrics 12/31/15, ROC Approval on June 16, 2016, 10-Year Green Card received June 22, 2016.

N400 filed September 14, 2023, same day acceptance and Biometric Reuse notice, Interview on 2/13/24: Passed and same day oath. ALL DONE WITH USCIS.

No RFE at any stage, thanks to VisaJourney!

Detailed Timeline Below!

 

Relationship:
2006 April 01: Met online, music site, 2007 February 20: Met in person, Finland, 2007 - 2012 met several times in Finland and California

K-1 Visa:
2012 November 06: Sent I-129F (NOA1 on 11/9/2012)
2013 May 14: Contacted Congressman
2013 May 17: I-129F NOA2 Approved
2013 June 03: NVC Received (NVC left 6/6/13)
2013 June 10: Consulate Received, 2013 June 13: Medical, 2013 June 25: Sent Packet 3/4
2013 July 24: Interview in Helsinki, 2013 July 27: Visa Received
2013 September 13: POE to USA, San Diego

AOS:
2013 October 22: SSN Received
2013 October 25: Wedding, San Marcos, CA
2013 November 19: AOS, AP, EAD sent (NOA 1 on 11/22/13)
2013 December 17: Biometrics, San Marcos, CA, 2013 December 24: Online status changed to Testing/Interview

2014 January 23: Interview notice mailed (for 2/27), 2014 January 24: EAD card production, AP approval (card received 1/30/2014)

2014 February 27: Interview and Approval, GC in production (card received March 6, 2014)

 

ROC:

2015 December 03: mailed I-751 package

2015 December 04: NOA1 extension letter, 2015 December 31: Biometrics appointment

2016 June 16: Approval - Online status changed to Document Production, mailed 6/20/16

2016 June 22: 10-Year Green Card Received, done with USCIS for a while!

 

N-400 Citizenship:

2023 September 14: filed N-400 online

2023 September 14: same day acceptance notice and "Biometrics Reuse" notice

2023 December 28: notice of interview scheduled for February 13, 2024

2024 February 13: naturalization interview (five-year rule) passed, same day oath - now a US Citizen and done with USCIS!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Colombia
Timeline

I actually used a few paperclips in my package. I kept similar items together by paperclip, and just had them in order based on the cover letter. I think as long as you have everything in order, you won't need labeled tabs. I never used them. My package altogether was maybe 40 pages.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I actually used a few paperclips in my package. I kept similar items together by paperclip, and just had them in order based on the cover letter. I think as long as you have everything in order, you won't need labeled tabs. I never used them. My package altogether was maybe 40 pages.

:thumbs:

Good luck to you!! :dance:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I used paper clips with tabs attached to them, to separate each item. I also had a table of content for all of the visits, for we had 5.

K-1
03/09/12 - NoA1
10/04/12 - NoA2 (210 days)

AoS

01/25/13 - NoA1
08/15/13 - NoA2 (199 days)
 

RoC
05/21/15 - NoA1

11/02/15 - NoA2 (164 days)
 

N-400

08/18/16 - NoA1
03/14/17 - Interview

03/16/17 - Oath Ceremony (217 days)

US citizen

Total time start to finish: 5 years, 12 days (1,838 days)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Finland
Timeline

No need to front-load for Finland. Just make sure that after looking through your evidence, no sane person can legitimately claim that you have NOT met in person over the past 2 years. The minutiae of your relationship is none of the USCIS' concern. And one more thing: DO include copies of ALL pages of BOTH of your passports!

Edited by pddp

“The minute I heard my first love story I started looking for you, not knowing how blind that was.
Lovers don't finally meet somewhere.
They're in each other all along.”


Jalal ad-Din Rumi

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline

I used paper clips with tabs attached to them, to separate each item. I also had a table of content for all of the visits, for we had 5.

I frontloaded also and used paperclips with the big clip holding it all with a good cover page for content.

Front load all you want but keep the presentation simple.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
- Back to Top -

Important Disclaimer: Please read carefully the Visajourney.com Terms of Service. If you do not agree to the Terms of Service you should not access or view any page (including this page) on VisaJourney.com. Answers and comments provided on Visajourney.com Forums are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Visajourney.com does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. VisaJourney.com does not condone immigration fraud in any way, shape or manner. VisaJourney.com recommends that if any member or user knows directly of someone involved in fraudulent or illegal activity, that they report such activity directly to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You can contact ICE via email at Immigration.Reply@dhs.gov or you can telephone ICE at 1-866-347-2423. All reported threads/posts containing reference to immigration fraud or illegal activities will be removed from this board. If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by contacting us here with a url link to that content. Thank you.
×
×
  • Create New...