Very annoyed with this RFE... not sure exactly what to send!

[FOSSLGRL 63]

I want to start by saying I exercised extreme attention to detail and went through our initial application with a fine tooth comb.

I included everything which (I thought) I could possibly include.

I followed the guildelines on this website to a "T" when I prepared the package and ensured I would be one step ahead of whoever was reviewing it.

But apparently that wasn't enough.

We received an RFE in the mail today.

They are requesting the following:

1) Proof we have met in person (prior to the application)

2) Proof that I (the beneficiary) intend to marry him once I move to the US

For #1, I already submitted like a dozen different photo's of us together with different dates. I also submitted email exchanges where we discussed things regarding where we were staying together at the time. We didn't fly across the border, we drove, so I don't have flight tickets as proof. There are a couple of hotels but they were only under one of our names and quite frankly I can't even remember where we stayed, and I doubt I could pull up proof of that now, even with a receipt, how could I prove we were both at the hotel? We stayed with my parents (who are already US citizens) initially so I don't have any actual paperwork. Our passports were NOT stamped when we crossed the border, so I can't use that.

For #2, I wrote a letter with my intent to marry him and signed it. Maybe I should have signed it in blood?

Of course I don't have any proof of wedding plans because I am not going to plan a wedding before the visa has even been approved, before I even know when the heck I'm getting back down there. Though we were planning to go to a justice of the peace immediately after my return and plan the formal ceremony for next summer. But how on earth can I prove that?

The only thing I can think to do is get statements from my parents... but even that, doesn't seem like it would be believable.

My fiancee just visited me for two wonderful weeks here in Canada so I do have that flight ticket, but they want proof that we met BEFORE the application was sent. I really have no way of proving it, but I lived with him for 6 months before returning to Canada. In fact, I overstayed in the US before deciding that the right thing to do was to come back. (we couldn't marry while i was down there because his ex wife would not cooperate with their divorce initially... (despite the fact she left him years ago)) ... anyways, that finally got settled after I came back to Canada and we sent our forms in ASAP.

I'm just highly annoyed because I've already sent everything I can. They want flight tickets or passport stamps... well that's not possible for me.

What would you all suggest I do?

[p-ana 933]

Pictures are only secondary evidence, so not enough to prove you have met within the past 2 years.

Things that could work since you don't have stamps: credit card statements with purchases made in your city, tickets.

You can write down a timeline. Ex: 1st visit 04/03/2016 to 04/10/2016 - Montreal Canada

Petitioner, xxxx, drove through the xxx border patrol to meet xxxx, beneficiary.

Copy of cc statement highlighted with a purchase in the area with a description ex bought meal for 2 at xxx restaurant at xxx city

Pictures of the 2 of you in the same city, with description

That may help.

As for the intention to marry letter, just send it again, I'd send both again, and make sure you're going to marry within the 90 days of entry

Good luck

[FOSSLGRL 63]

Pictures are only secondary evidence, so not enough to prove you have met within the past 2 years.

Things that could work since you don't have stamps: credit card statements with purchases made in your city, tickets.

You can write down a timeline. Ex: 1st visit 04/03/2016 to 04/10/2016 - Montreal Canada

Petitioner, xxxx, drove through the xxx border patrol to meet xxxx, beneficiary.

Copy of cc statement highlighted with a purchase in the area with a description ex bought meal for 2 at xxx restaurant at xxx city

Pictures of the 2 of you in the same city, with description

That may help.

As for the intention to marry letter, just send it again, I'd send both again, and make sure you're going to marry within the 90 days of entry

Good luck

Credit card statements... brilliant! Haha... I even opened a BOA account down there. Gosh I am glad I made a post here. Cheers for your advice, you have me on the right track!

And sorry for my scattered/uneasy frame of mind! I've been going crazy since I had to move away from him

[p-ana 933]

Credit card statements... brilliant! Haha... I even opened a BOA account down there. Gosh I am glad I made a post here. Cheers for your advice, you have me on the right track!

And sorry for my scattered/uneasy frame of mind! I've been going crazy since I had to move away from him

Don't let that halter you and go make sure those silly heads at uscis understand that you've met. Sometimes they need it spelled out for them...

Best of luck!

[smj59 9]

Hi Fosslgrl,

the other thing that comes on my mind regarding #2 is sending:

- inquiry conversations/ emails that you sent to wedding providers, such as photographers, jewelry places, venues, wedding cake shops

- conversations/ emails between you and your fiance where you discuss specific wedding plans, including potential dates, wedding scenarios, budget, guest list etc

- receipts of purchased wedding dress, or proof of ordered items such as wedding bands

Hope it's helpful.

Good luck!

I want to start by saying I exercised extreme attention to detail and went through our initial application with a fine tooth comb.

I included everything which (I thought) I could possibly include.

I followed the guildelines on this website to a "T" when I prepared the package and ensured I would be one step ahead of whoever was reviewing it.

But apparently that wasn't enough.

We received an RFE in the mail today.

They are requesting the following:

1) Proof we have met in person (prior to the application)

2) Proof that I (the beneficiary) intend to marry him once I move to the US

For #1, I already submitted like a dozen different photo's of us together with different dates. I also submitted email exchanges where we discussed things regarding where we were staying together at the time. We didn't fly across the border, we drove, so I don't have flight tickets as proof. There are a couple of hotels but they were only under one of our names and quite frankly I can't even remember where we stayed, and I doubt I could pull up proof of that now, even with a receipt, how could I prove we were both at the hotel? We stayed with my parents (who are already US citizens) initially so I don't have any actual paperwork. Our passports were NOT stamped when we crossed the border, so I can't use that.

For #2, I wrote a letter with my intent to marry him and signed it. Maybe I should have signed it in blood?

Of course I don't have any proof of wedding plans because I am not going to plan a wedding before the visa has even been approved, before I even know when the heck I'm getting back down there. Though we were planning to go to a justice of the peace immediately after my return and plan the formal ceremony for next summer. But how on earth can I prove that?

The only thing I can think to do is get statements from my parents... but even that, doesn't seem like it would be believable.

My fiancee just visited me for two wonderful weeks here in Canada so I do have that flight ticket, but they want proof that we met BEFORE the application was sent. I really have no way of proving it, but I lived with him for 6 months before returning to Canada. In fact, I overstayed in the US before deciding that the right thing to do was to come back. (we couldn't marry while i was down there because his ex wife would not cooperate with their divorce initially... (despite the fact she left him years ago)) ... anyways, that #### finally got settled after I came back to Canada and we sent our forms in ASAP.

I'm just highly annoyed because I've already sent everything I can. They want flight tickets or passport stamps... well that's not possible for me.

What would you all suggest I do?

Edited August 13, 2016 by smj59

[FOSSLGRL 63]

Hi Fosslgrl,

the other thing that comes on my mind regarding #2 is sending:

- inquiry emails to wedding providers, such as photographers, jewelry places, venues, wedding cake shops

- conversations/ emails between you and your fiance where you discuss specific wedding plans, including potential dates, wedding scenarios, budget, guest list etc

- receipts of purchased wedding dress, or proof of ordered items such as wedding bands

Hope it's helpful.

Good luck!

Thanks. I haven't formally inquired about anything yet, but I do know I want to get married in Seattle on a yacht. I already have the company and ship picked out, but again, haven't made any calls, I wanted to wait until I was actually down there before getting a quote etc.

I also have my engagement/wedding ring already. It's a two-in one ring. A snake that wraps twice around my finger so no need for a wedding band. The thing is, fiancee is a professional jeweler and he made it himself in his shop... so there's no receipts or out of pocket costs, he used it from his own scrap gold and diamonds. I suppose I can take a picture of it? But that seems like grasping at straws.

Still, I have a few ideas now from this thread. And you mention email exchanges about our wedding plans. Another brilliant idea!!! I've sent my mom so many emails about how I want our wedding to be... and I've also mentioned through email about justice of the peace shortly after getting back down there. So I am going to start digging through my emails right now!!

Cheers. Thanks everyone.

[Scandi 3,970]

We added the receipts for hotels even if they were only in his name. The dates showed that he had actually been in my country at the time which matched our other info about us meeting in person. No idea if it made a difference or not, but we rather wanted to send a bit too much than too little.

[Ash.1101 1,755]

I wonder if there was something wrong with the intent to marry. Did you have your fiance do an intent to marry as well? You need to send one for you and one for him.

Was the letter dated, and was the letter dated recently? Used ink and it wasn't a photocopy of the original, but the original letters themselves? It's possible they may have misplaced the letter, as for what ever reason, they do lose things.

We didn't have any plans for the wedding itself until before his interview. We had an engagement ring, but we never sent a receipt for it, nor did we send a picture.

Plans is a loose term, when my husband (fiance at the time) was asked what our plans were at his interview, he just said that we were going to get married at a church downtown with some family and friends attending. There was nothing more than that, and nothing was asked or wanted other than intent to marry letters from BOTH of us, prior to interview.

But yeah, go with credit card receipts, or bank statement and highlight purchases done in his town. While logically, you could have gone to the town and done something else, they take that as more serious evidence than a picture of you two together.

[KayDeeCee 4,891]

Without passport stamps and boarding passes from flying, you can use the affidavit from his parents stating you stayed there from date- date, bank and credit card statements showing purchases and money withdrawals while in each others cities, hotel receipts and any other receipts/tickets you can think of from your visits. If you have any photos together in front of landmarks, then use those to back up the statements/receipts.

They can misplace or overlook things, so just resend your statement of intent to marry within 90 days of entering the US via the K-1.

[Usagi_tsukino 89]

Hey! Im in a different situation but i just want to add that we received RFE twice, first time we sent pretty much same things they already had, and looks like second time we will do the same. Second time the officer hand delivered it to us, and i told her that they have pretty much all this already except for things we don't have (like a house, for example) and she said just send it anyway. Also first time they said that my husband doesn't make enough money to be my sponsor but he does and they had proof - it just means that they can make a mistake or may be lost some of you evidences, i don't know. Either way, good luck My suggestion is send whatever you already did in case they lost it, also may be write a letter explaining why you don't have stamps in your passports.

[AB loves AG 54]

As for the intention to marry letter, just send it again, I'd send both again, and make sure you're going to marry within the 90 days of entry

Good luck

Don't both the petitioner and beneficiary each need to send a letter?

[alexandaaron 13]

Thanks. I haven't formally inquired about anything yet, but I do know I want to get married in Seattle on a yacht. I already have the company and ship picked out, but again, haven't made any calls, I wanted to wait until I was actually down there before getting a quote etc.

I also have my engagement/wedding ring already. It's a two-in one ring. A snake that wraps twice around my finger so no need for a wedding band. The thing is, fiancee is a professional jeweler and he made it himself in his shop... so there's no receipts or out of pocket costs, he used it from his own scrap gold and diamonds. I suppose I can take a picture of it? But that seems like grasping at straws.

Still, I have a few ideas now from this thread. And you mention email exchanges about our wedding plans. Another brilliant idea!!! I've sent my mom so many emails about how I want our wedding to be... and I've also mentioned through email about justice of the peace shortly after getting back down there. So I am going to start digging through my emails right now!!

Cheers. Thanks everyone.

We didn't get an RFE, and we sent:

Proving we'd met within two years:

1. A detailed timeline of our meeting/spending time together/relationship history

2. Pictures of us together in various places/both countries.

3. Emails, chat logs, Skype logs, and a printed out copy of our matching Instagram accounts

Proving we intended to marry:

1. Letters from each of us stating our intention to marry and approximate date (we didn't know of course, for sure, but approximate is fine).

2. I went on paperlesspost.com and made some 'engagement announcements' {these are free to make on paperlesspost} that we would have sent to our friends and family -- we then printed one of those up and included it in our evidence

3. Emails we'd exchanged discussing the type of engagement ring I wanted, etc.

I think the timeline and the printed announcement would both help you -- of course you don't have definitive plans yet, so I think that's expected!

[carton025 38]

All I can offer is for you to do " what is asked for!" After all, you are dealing with government workers. What you have had to deal with is not uncommon. Best of luck!

[Adil & Jeanne 296]

yes, they do loose things and that is probably why you need to send new letter especially if you signed in name not on birth certificate as you could have a married (divorced ) name

just send it and remember to include the case number, both names and both DOB on the top right hand corner

get affidavits from parents

i had to send in several as i stayed with his family in Morocco and no hotel

i have tried to post on here my 4 page RFE so just be happy you didn't have to jump thru the hoops we had to like getting copies of death certificates for both dads proving why they were not in our photos

[Amy_and_Victor 159]

2) Proof that I (the beneficiary) intend to marry him once I move to the US

For #2, I wrote a letter with my intent to marry him and signed it. Maybe I should have signed it in blood?

What would you all suggest I do?

I don't have time to read everyone's response sorry, but did anyone mentioned that BOTH petitioner and beneficiary should write and sign these letters of intent? If you sent only letter from yourself, that's not enough.

- Victor from Russia