Pictures or secondary evidence needed to file I-129F?

[phunguy 0]

Hi, do I need pictures of myself and my fiancee together in order to file the I-129F for a K-1 visa? I have done a lot of research here on VJ and have not been able to find anyone who has filed an I-129F without pictures to back up their primary evidence.

The only primary proof I have of having met my fiancee within the past two years are plane ticket stubs and receipts for those tickets. We didn't take any pictures together and don't have hotel receipts or anything like that. The only secondary proof we do have are some recent chat logs and e-mails that I have just started to save.

My question is, will I be able to start the application process and file the I-129F without having any pictures of us being together? Can I proceed with only the primary proof and worry about taking pictures later before my fiancee's interview? Will I receive a RFE for not having secondary proof?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[KimandRuss 0]

Pictures are secondary evidence but most of us have sent them with the petition. You are dealing with an extremly difficult Consulate so I would suggest sending anything you can.

good luck.

[YuAndDan 153]

Pictures together don't establish that you met within past 2 years, other evidence is for that, pictures together only establish the fact that you have been together. Example, in theory: I could travel to China one time, then meet someone online a month or so after coming home from China and file an I-129F for that person without having in fact met that person.

USCIS will most likely RFE for a picture together to prove the case that you actually met the person.

[pushbrk 13,611]

Pictures together don't establish that you met within past 2 years, other evidence is for that, pictures together only establish the fact that you have been together. Example, in theory: I could travel to China one time, then meet someone online a month or so after coming home from China and file an I-129F for that person without having in fact met that person.

USCIS will most likely RFE for a picture together to prove the case that you actually met the person.

On the USCIS end, the evidence of being in country is almost always sufficient but this petitioner should also have passport stamps to include along with the boarding passes.

For HCMC, I would advise at least one more visit. Take some pictures this time. You'll need them for the interview.

[phunguy 0]

Thank you all for your replies.

I do understand that I will need pictures and proof of a bona fide relationship later at HCMC. I'm taking one or two more trips to visit my fiancee next year so I'm not too worried about having pictures and proof then.

However, I am concerned about what I really need in order to file the I-129F and get the application process started sooner rather than later. Has anyone filed their I-129F without submitting secondary evidence such as pictures, emails, etc. ?

[pushbrk 13,611]

Thank you all for your replies.

I do understand that I will need pictures and proof of a bona fide relationship later at HCMC. I'm taking one or two more trips to visit my fiancee next year so I'm not too worried about having pictures and proof then.

However, I am concerned about what I really need in order to file the I-129F and get the application process started sooner rather than later. Has anyone filed their I-129F without submitting secondary evidence such as pictures, emails, etc. ?

Yes, lots of people have done so successfully. Do you have those passport stamps? They are more important than pictures at the petition approval stage.

[Dakine 26]

Normally doesn't take much to get the initial approval for a K1 as other's have implied. You almost HAVE to make another trip and get pictures including you with her and her FAMILY. More trips the merrier!

That's a TOUGH embassy.

My question is, will I be able to start the application process and file the I-129F without having any pictures of us being together? Can I proceed with only the primary proof and worry about taking pictures later before my fiancee's interview?

You got it! Keep all records of communication. Phone records are best. After that, emails, chats and screen print outs. Money recepts you sent also.

PICTURES are still number one! Snail mails still count also. Takes a LOT more effort to write a letter and mail it than to rip out a email and punch send!

Always say how much you love each other. Juicier the better.

[PeterFB 0]

Hi, do I need pictures of myself and my fiancee together in order to file the I-129F for a K-1 visa? I have done a lot of research here on VJ and have not been able to find anyone who has filed an I-129F without pictures to back up their primary evidence.

The only primary proof I have of having met my fiancee within the past two years are plane ticket stubs and receipts for those tickets. We didn't take any pictures together and don't have hotel receipts or anything like that. The only secondary proof we do have are some recent chat logs and e-mails that I have just started to save.

My question is, will I be able to start the application process and file the I-129F without having any pictures of us being together? Can I proceed with only the primary proof and worry about taking pictures later before my fiancee's interview? Will I receive a RFE for not having secondary proof?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

In order to have the easiest time of having a successful K1 Petition that ends in a pink slip (Visa), you have to make sure you have the best possible evidence prepared properly in your I-129f. Pictures are an important part of that but not the ony part. It is easy to get USCIS approval of your petition if you have visa stamps, airline tickets and baggage claims, and other evidence to prove you met in person in the last two years and of course have filed out the forms correctly.

However, HCMC Consulate is a different story as you can see from many of the posts here about getting USCIS approval then being told your relationship is a sham by the HCMC Consulate. Most of the blue slips people have gotten can be traced back to not having a strong I-129f petition. It is that petition the HCMC has the most time to review, if they do review it before the interview. You have to lay out your I-129f evidence of meeting and relationship there. If you wait until the interview, you risk getting a blue slip because the Consulate rarely looks at the evidence you bring to the interview if your evidence seems incomplete to them in your I-129f. That doesn't mean you won't get approved but it does mean it will take longer.

Based on your post, I feel you should take more time to get the proper evidence before filing. A second trip to Vietnam with pictures would be a great help since you're lacking hotel, sightseeing, dinner, etc receipts, pictures from the first trip. While having an engagement party isn't required, it would show the Consulate a progression of your relationship because of the emails, chats, etc that would lead up to the engagement. The Consulate wants to see a reasonable progression of a relationship which usually means, gifts for special occassions, contact with other family members from both familes even if you don't get engaged. Remember they are Americans, if you're serious about getting married you do meet the folks!!

I'm not saying you have to do the above to get a K1 visa from HCMC Consulate but you do have to make the Consulate believe you have a relationship that any reasonable person, based on what you give the Consulate in your I-129f and at the interview, would conclude is real.

Good Luck

Peter and Thi

I-129F Sent : 2007-05-26

I-129F NOA1 : 2007-06-11

I-129F RFE(s) :

RFE Reply(s) :

I-129F NOA2 : 2007-10-26

Touched: 2007-11-02

NVC Recieved: 2007-11-16

Consulate recieved ??????

Packet 3 sent 2007-12-11

Packet 3 received 2007-12-24

Packet 3 returned 2007-12-28

Packet 4 sent 2008-1-14

Email Reply with Interview Date 2008-1-23

Interview Date 2008-2-27

Passed Interview 2008-02-27

Visa Pick Up Date 2008-3-05

Received Visa 2008-2-29 (called to pick up earlier)

POE 2008-3-05 Los Angeles

Wedding 2008-4-26

[phunguy 0]

Let's say I send in my petition and receive an RFE for additional proof. Is there a deadline for submitting the additional information requested? If so, does anyone know how much time I will be given to do so?

It sounds like it would be a better idea for me to wait until after my next visit to start the process. But, my next visit probably won't be until 2009. ARGHH!!!

[Nanusia & Lukaszek 0]

If you decide on another trip to see your fiance, take a pic of you together holding a current day's newspaper. We did it, and they loved seeing it at my husband (then fiances) interview at the consulate. It places you together, the time & the place

[Dakine 26]

If you decide on another trip to see your fiance, take a pic of you together holding a current day's newspaper. We did it, and they loved seeing it at my husband (then fiances) interview at the consulate. It places you together, the time & the place

Hahhahaha!

I did that my first time arouund and was denied. I guess it looks to "staged".

[PeterFB 0]

Let's say I send in my petition and receive an RFE for additional proof. Is there a deadline for submitting the additional information requested? If so, does anyone know how much time I will be given to do so?

It sounds like it would be a better idea for me to wait until after my next visit to start the process. But, my next visit probably won't be until 2009. ARGHH!!!

It's not the USCIS that's the problem. The USCIS is concerned that you have proof that you meet in person first. Having a relationship means showing that you have been talking, chatting, emailing, writing letters, sending presents to each other, etc. The kind of things you expect to see in a relationship. The USCIS usually will ok you if you file the forms honestly and correctly. It's easy to give them only a little evidence and get an approval. The HCMC Consulate is much tougher. You I-129f is the best evidence vehicle for HCMC Consulate. They can review it before your interview to get a picture of your relationship. That's why it's important to make it as complete and easy to understand as possible what your relationship is, how it began, the course of events in your relationship up to filing your I-129f and explain any "red flags" so the Consulate won't have questions at the interview. IF the Consulate has no questions and your fiancee answers her questions easily and honestly at the interview, you will get a pink slip.

From what you have posted so far, waiting until your next trip, making sure you get all the evidence you can of your trip and documenting your relationship from when it began to when you file after your trip will make getting your visa easier.

It may seem hard to wait but it's better to wait now then get a pink slip at your interview than to get a blue slip and go thru those worries, and emotional trials.

Good Luck

Peter and Thi

I-129F Sent : 2007-05-26

I-129F NOA1 : 2007-06-11

I-129F RFE(s) :

RFE Reply(s) :

I-129F NOA2 : 2007-10-26

Touched: 2007-11-02

NVC Recieved: 2007-11-16

Consulate recieved ??????

Packet 3 sent 2007-12-11

Packet 3 received 2007-12-24

Packet 3 returned 2007-12-28

Packet 4 sent 2008-1-14

Email Reply with Interview Date 2008-1-23

Interview Date 2008-2-27

Passed Interview 2008-02-27

Visa Pick Up Date 2008-3-05

Received Visa 2008-2-29 (called to pick up earlier)

POE 2008-3-05 Los Angeles

Wedding 2008-4-26