Does too much documentation slow the process down?

[william_wallace 8]

I was having a conversation with my fiance and she was talking to a person who worked for the USCIS in Vermont. He recently just moved down there and lives on the same street. She talked to him a few times and mentioned that she was filing the K1. Now this person so called gave her advice on how to file properly. 1 thing that she did really take notice of was that he said dont give too much documentation when you file at first. All that is needed is boarding passes, hotel receipts photos, the letter of intent to marry and a letter explaining how you met. They dont want emails, chat logs, letters as there for the Embassy interview. All Vermont and California is after is that you both have met in person in the last 2 years and that your free to marry. Be interesting to see what everyone else thinks.

[Zee Bee 61]

I agree.

What the USCIS employee is talking about is primary evidence to prove you met in the last 2 years. That is what USCIS wants.

E-mails, phone calls, chat logs, etc only establish an ongoing relaitonship and are considered secondary evidence. They do not prove you have met in the last 2 years.

[Alexandra_v 0]

My lawyer said the some thing to me! But I didn’t believed him!

now I understand....

That sounds reasonable!

Thank you!

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

This is a debate that has been going on for some time now on VJ.

Too much vs. too little.

I believe you should just send what they request of you and perhaps a tiny bit more.

Beyond what was asked, I sent 3 emails total, two cards we had mailed each other and 6 photos.

I've read of people sending in like 12 pound petitions, with literally 100's of emails and chat logs.

I think that's total overkill and may ultimately effect the processing time of your petition.

Just as Zee said, chat logs, emails, even pictures don't prove that you have met in the last two years and are only needed for the interview. Send in what they require and you should be good to go.

Edited April 25, 2008 by ~Laura and Nick~

[45495 1]

it sounds right.

but when we gathered our documentation (i hadnt discoverd this amazing website yet) i called USCIS and asked a lady what they wanted. she said pictures and wedding invitations. as we're still nowhere even close form invitations i asked what else was possible, she aswered ANYTHING that shows you have a relationship (including emails and letters) . seems to me that even the people at USCIS dont know what they really want.

[pugsly 0]

Well I included many emails, phone bills and chat logs in mine. It's probably about an inch and a half thick. The reason why I did this is becouse we have some "red flags". I wanted to make sure the evidence was included in the original petition.

I have heard of some consulates not accepting some peoples evidence or just shoving it aside when they get to the consulate stage. Then saying they are sending it back to uscis to be reviewed becouse of lack of evidence. I know uscis is not really interested in that kind of evidence at that stage. But i wanted to make sure there was something in our petition in case it was sent back. Who knows what the consulates do with our evidence once we give to them to review. Especially if your CO comes from a high fraud country.

[payxibka 10,044]

E-mails, phone calls, chat logs, etc only establish an ongoing relaitonship and are considered secondary evidence.

I am not even sure I would call it secondary evidence... I would call it superfulous, unnecessary and time wasting evidence .....

[pushbrk 12,248]

it sounds right.

but when we gathered our documentation (i hadnt discoverd this amazing website yet) i called USCIS and asked a lady what they wanted. she said pictures and wedding invitations. as we're still nowhere even close form invitations i asked what else was possible, she aswered ANYTHING that shows you have a relationship (including emails and letters) . seems to me that even the people at USCIS dont know what they really want.

I've seen Marc Ellis recommend sending some bona fides evidence to address red flags. The idea is that the Consulate is not to re-adjudicate issues already approved by the service center. Since USCIS must evaluate every document you send, things that address red flags can help you. If no red flags, the extra documents require more time to evaluate, so they can hurt your timeline.

[SnowyTater 0]

I sent in a whole ton of secondary evidence and got a really fast approval. But I don't think that's necessarily because of all the surplus.

I really don't think it matters, unless as others have said you have red flags, then yeh it might be better to provide a bit more.

Besides obvious fluctuations and a bit of luck, etc., I think probably what slows people down is 1. being unclear or ambiguous when you answer questions and 2. not organizing the packet well so the adjudicator can easily find everything. Like I said I sent a bunch of secondary, but I separated it and sectioned it off and marked it and everything else. If they didn't "need" to see it then all they had to do was not look.

[moroccousa 0]

I do wonder whether this might depend on the Consulate/Embassy you are filing with. I had this same debate when mailing our petition in, but everything I read about the Casablanca Embassy indicated that you have one shot -- they don't even glance a the evidence you bring in on interview day -- so you need to make a strong case initially in the I-129F. I don't think we did overkill at all, but I did send in about 6 emails or so to show proof of an ongoing relationship (which is required as well). The interview with a Service Center employee (lost the link) here on VJ did also mention that while huge amounts are unnecessary, you do want to include evidence of ongoing relationship.

Those are my thoughts.

it sounds right.

but when we gathered our documentation (i hadnt discoverd this amazing website yet) i called USCIS and asked a lady what they wanted. she said pictures and wedding invitations. as we're still nowhere even close form invitations i asked what else was possible, she aswered ANYTHING that shows you have a relationship (including emails and letters) . seems to me that even the people at USCIS dont know what they really want.

I've seen Marc Ellis recommend sending some bona fides evidence to address red flags. The idea is that the Consulate is not to re-adjudicate issues already approved by the service center. Since USCIS must evaluate every document you send, things that address red flags can help you. If no red flags, the extra documents require more time to evaluate, so they can hurt your timeline.

[Zee Bee 61]

I sent in a whole ton of secondary evidence and got a really fast approval. But I don't think that's necessarily because of all the surplus.

[....]

Your fast approval is because you filed with VSC

E-mails, phone calls, chat logs, etc only establish an ongoing relaitonship and are considered secondary evidence.

I am not even sure I would call it secondary evidence... I would call it superfulous, unnecessary and time wasting evidence .....

I agree.

[payxibka 10,044]

I've seen Marc Ellis recommend sending some bona fides evidence to address red flags. The idea is that the Consulate is not to re-adjudicate issues already approved by the service center. Since USCIS must evaluate every document you send, things that address red flags can help you. If no red flags, the extra documents require more time to evaluate, so they can hurt your timeline.

According to a former USCIS adjudicator:

As an adjudicator, I know what exactly I’m looking for, what’s relevant and what’s not needed to be looked at right at the moment. I’d check the things I needed to check and basically ignore the rest, (unless I needed to find a specific piece of info that I thought might be included within your packet). Otherwise, it all stays in the file, but unless its something I’d deal with to make a determination on your case I wouldn’t bother (unless it was a real slow day and I wanted some entertainment or something to talk about at lunch with the co-workers. “Hey Mary, you should’ve seen the packet I got today…” Just kidding. We usually never talked shop and because we’re always busy, time to browse doesn’t usually happen.

[Dakine 26]

For the initial submission alls you have to have is the documents required for your case and proof you've met in the last 2 years.

Proof of a bonafide relationship will come at the embassy interview.

I sent a couple emails plus a photo showing us in front of her airport sign.

I've been on immigration forums for years and have yet to see any peeps denied or RFEd on the initial petition from lack of communication records.

Remember also that what you submit will end up at your interview at the embassy.

So if you do submit surplus evidence be sure you have copies as what you said in the originals may generate questions from the CO at your interview!

Edited April 25, 2008 by Haole

[RobertM 0]

So a couple of olks have mentioned "red flags" but I have seen a list of red flags on the site. Do people know some of the red flags? And if so, what are they?

Thanks

PS already sent in my package, but it would be nice to know if I need to start finding a way to overcome something if folks know its a "red flag"

[msu17 0]

it sounds right.

but when we gathered our documentation (i hadnt discoverd this amazing website yet) i called USCIS and asked a lady what they wanted. she said pictures and wedding invitations. as we're still nowhere even close form invitations i asked what else was possible, she aswered ANYTHING that shows you have a relationship (including emails and letters) . seems to me that even the people at USCIS dont know what they really want.

THe people at the call center are useless. They give the most random information. I was once told that K1's don't go to NVC... Really they have no clue half the time.