need advice for initial I-129 filing for K1 visa

[roger&meiya 0]

Been reading the sites here a lot, hope to get some advice specific for getting K1 in China. I'm putting together all the material for filing I-129 (finally got the G325A form signed by my fiancee in the mail). I read some people front-load their I-129F, is this also recommended for K1 in China? For those who have done it successfully, I wonder how much material do you put in? I got lots of pictures of my fiancee and me together for the two times I went to China to see her, a few letters, tons of chat transcripts (we chat online everyday), call records, boarding passes/plane tickets, etc.

Another question, I got lots of tickets for movies, museums, parks, tourist attractions, bus, train in China. But these all don't have our names on them (unlike say, a plane boarding pass). So, are these things useful to include?

Thank you very much.

roger&meiya

[Matt&Cui 0]

We sent around 6 pics they were of us with here family, my family, us at landmarks in china(greatwall-temple of heaven) and pics of a vegas trip we took when she visited. We did not send every email or chat but we did send a good selection showing our sustained relationship over time. all plane tickets to visit her or her to visit me we sent too. We sent a few photocopied tickets from events we attended together and attached a pic of us at the event for example a Nuggets b-ball game, Cirque-du-soleil in Vegas and Forbidden City tickets and pic.

I wouldent say we front loaded ours but we gave them enough to know that we had a bona fide relationship.

It never hurts to front load so send what you see fit to prove no doubt your relationship is true. We did load up on proof for our interview most of which was not needed but better safe than sorry.

good luck

[Darnell 8,478]

For China, many (myself included) think that FrontLoading is a boon, almost required.

There is never concept of 'when is enough enough' except for when you start to show mixing of financial resources (bad form, for fiancee visa).

Be sure to write up, also, an evolution of relationship letter, submit it with the I-129F and have new version available on interview day. Use a timeline format, but also write small paragraph about HOW you two communicate (I'll post some links about this, later). IF you have any 'red flags' to cover, briefly discuss those in the EOR letter, and submit anything else supporting the red flags with initial submittal.

The ONLY THING I HATE about 'evidence' for the I-129F -

is IF

the casefile is sent over, solely, via SAFEFILE. All of that evidence is tossed.

It's been hit or miss, these last 15 months, for SAFEFILE USAGE. The I-130's use it, 100 percent, because of the new NVC Electronic Processing System, but about 1/3 of the K-1s are being bundled up with SAFEFILE, as well.

IF the casefile is sent out from NVC via DHL - then ALL of the evidence you submit WILL make it over to Guangzhou, to be IN the casefile prior to interview day (which is the Golden Egg that you want, in the first place).

Also, if you want some speed at P3 stage - have a read? http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/GUZ_P3_Shortcut

Edited March 18, 2010 by Darnell

[Matt&Cui 0]

yes EOR letter also

[Darnell 8,478]

here's the red flag discussion, still current -

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/234971-red-flag-list-for-visa-denial/page__hl__appointment

[pushbrk 12,968]

For China, many (myself included) think that FrontLoading is a boon, almost required.

There is never concept of 'when is enough enough' except for when you start to show mixing of financial resources (bad form, for fiancee visa).

Be sure to write up, also, an evolution of relationship letter, submit it with the I-129F and have new version available on interview day. Use a timeline format, but also write small paragraph about HOW you two communicate (I'll post some links about this, later). IF you have any 'red flags' to cover, briefly discuss those in the EOR letter, and submit anything else supporting the red flags with initial submittal.

The ONLY THING I HATE about 'evidence' for the I-129F -

is IF

the casefile is sent over, solely, via SAFEFILE. All of that evidence is tossed.

It's been hit or miss, these last 15 months, for SAFEFILE USAGE. The I-130's use it, 100 percent, because of the new NVC Electronic Processing System, but about 1/3 of the K-1s are being bundled up with SAFEFILE, as well.

IF the casefile is sent out from NVC via DHL - then ALL of the evidence you submit WILL make it over to Guangzhou, to be IN the casefile prior to interview day (which is the Golden Egg that you want, in the first place).

Also, if you want some speed at P3 stage - have a read? http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/GUZ_P3_Shortcut

The SAFEFILE issue is one good reason to keep your extra evidence to a minimum. I'm all for sending a few photos together and boarding passes or passport stamps for all visits. One trick would be to include your initial evolution of relationship as part of your letter of intent.

Definitely read the red flag discussion and address any in your case both in the front-loading and in materials for the interview.

[roger&meiya 0]

Thank you all for the advice. I read through the red flag discussion. It looks like we don't have much red flags. This is the first marriage for both of us, so no prior divorces, kids, etc. I'm 8 years older than her. Her English is ok, but I'm bilingual in Chinese and English, so we normally communicate in Chinese. The only concern I have is the financial support part. My income has reduced a lot since I was laid off from my main job early last year. I'm looking into getting a co-sponsor, but I guess I don't have to worry about this until later when I'm sure I'll turn to here again with more questions.

How do you guys present your photos and bound your material, stapling, paper clip? I'm the nit-picky type so I want to get every detail right...

About the EOR, can someone tell me more about it? Is it suppose to be the story of how we fell in love? How detailed and how long should it be?

I'm amazed at how wonderful and helpful this site is. I really appreciate all the advices, they relieve a lot of my nerves. Thank you.

roger

[Darnell 8,478]

hey roger - we've a kick@ss search engine here. You can search for 'evolution relationship' , use my name, and find the 'list' of stuff to include. Good Luck !

[pushbrk 12,968]

Thank you all for the advice. I read through the red flag discussion. It looks like we don't have much red flags. This is the first marriage for both of us, so no prior divorces, kids, etc. I'm 8 years older than her. Her English is ok, but I'm bilingual in Chinese and English, so we normally communicate in Chinese. The only concern I have is the financial support part. My income has reduced a lot since I was laid off from my main job early last year. I'm looking into getting a co-sponsor, but I guess I don't have to worry about this until later when I'm sure I'll turn to here again with more questions.

How do you guys present your photos and bound your material, stapling, paper clip? I'm the nit-picky type so I want to get every detail right...

About the EOR, can someone tell me more about it? Is it suppose to be the story of how we fell in love? How detailed and how long should it be?

I'm amazed at how wonderful and helpful this site is. I really appreciate all the advices, they relieve a lot of my nerves. Thank you.

roger

I recommend using a paper clip or binder clip. USCIS will build a two-hole punched file no matter what you do and they'll swear at you as they remove staples. For photos with the petition, I recommend printing in color on full sheets of plain paper with as many as nine photos per page. A couple page of 9 is plenty, IMO.

[justashooter 430]

if you have lived in china your EOR letter should start with this information in a short paragraph. short paragraph should also note your fluency in putonghua (or guandonghua), and give a brief explanation of how you acquired this. these two things will add credibility more than anything else. otherwise use an outline format giving a single line description of event and a date or period (Include any time lived in china prior to meeting spouse). include note of any interaction with spouses family, as this is also very important.

multiple pictures can be inserted into text boxes with annotations in a word doc and printed in color by page. pics of the two of you in different places and with different haircuts or other obvious change are good. pics of you with her family are gold. pics in homes of chinese friends are fab. pics of you in workplace with other chinese are good background. pics in tourist attractions are worthless. KTV house pics should be appropriately censored (LOL).

too many guys marry chinese women without any understanding of china, and their relationships suffer for this. sounds like this is not your case. good luck in your process. a good chinese wife is worth more than anything else you can gain, but a bad one is worse than anything else you can suffer.

[roger&meiya 0]

Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and advices. This site is so helpful. After hearing your advices and reading the info here, I, too, decided to frontload my I-129 package. I'm almost done with it, just have to double check all the signatures, dates, etc. This is what I have enclosed. I hope you guys can tell me if there's anything wrong, or too much/too little information, or anything else I should enclose... Thank you very much.

I. The necessities:

1. I-129F

2. I-129F supplement for part B, question 18 - kept short and simple, just a few sentences on each of my trips, mostly just dates and length of my stay, what I/we did, very little emotional stuff

3. G-325A and passport photo from both of us

4. letters of intent to marry from both of us

5. copy of my Certificate of Naturalization

II. Support material to show we have met in person in the last two years:

1. passport stamps showing entry/exit

2. boarding passes for my trips

3. photos - combined with photos in the next section

III. Support material to show ongoing and genuine relationship:

1. EOR letter - a history of our relationship, much more detailed than the I-129F supplement, with emotional description

2. more photos - total of about 40, printed in color on 5 pages, 8 per page, besides photos of us together, there are photos of us with her family, her with my mom, us with my relatives in China

3. photo of the engagement ring and receipt

4. a few emails, postcards, letters, holiday/Valentine's day cards between us, with translation when needed

5. a letter I wrote to her parents in Chinese, with translation

6. holiday card from my family to her family

7. phone card logs showing dates/duration of calls I made to her

8. video chat logs showing dates of video chat

9. selected MSN chat transcripts

[Darnell 8,478]

Roger - I'd say yer done, mon.

BUT

MAKE 2 copies of everything.

Keep one safe somewhere, and send the other set to yer lass in China, prior to Interview Day.

Ya never know - something might get lost in the jump across the pond - so a complete copy is useful.

Good Luck !

[roger&meiya 0]

Thank you. Yes, I've made 2 copies of everything, and will send one set to my fiancee. Finally mailed the package today (Priority mail with Delivery Confirmation), hope the ball gets rolling now.

Roger - I'd say yer done, mon.

BUT

MAKE 2 copies of everything.

Keep one safe somewhere, and send the other set to yer lass in China, prior to Interview Day.

Ya never know - something might get lost in the jump across the pond - so a complete copy is useful.

Good Luck !

[Darnell 8,478]

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