How much is "Enough"?

[Vera & Levi 0]

Hi Everyone!

I need some help in collecting few things.

I do understand that there is never "enough" in these kind of processes and we have to provide everything we can. However, when it concerns photos, chats, skype conversations, I am not so sure. How many photos, pages of chats are enough for the interview at the Embassy? We literally have thousands of letters, chats and etc.

Your input will be highly appreciated in this matter. Thank you so much in advance!,

[chuckandmalou 0]

8 to 10 photos together 25 pages or so of chat your boarding passes to prove you meet in person. and as Manny phone records as you have to show.. for us they dint look at any of it because she passed her questions with flying colors they have there way of knowing through the interview questions they ask how well you know your partner if there convinced then they really don't look at anything else but its best to have it there if they ask for it. a little from each month is what i used but we been together 2 years no way i was copying all that chat just be realistic hope this helps and good luck

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

Hi Everyone!

I need some help in collecting few things.

I do understand that there is never "enough" in these kind of processes and we have to provide everything we can. However, when it concerns photos, chats, skype conversations, I am not so sure. How many photos, pages of chats are enough for the interview at the Embassy? We literally have thousands of letters, chats and etc.

Your input will be highly appreciated in this matter. Thank you so much in advance!,

Ask this question...

What BAD happens if you bring it all and don't need it?

Please do not expect someone here to tell you what to leave on the kitchen table.

[SuperDuper! 230]

Ask this question...

What BAD happens if you bring it all and don't need it?

Please do not expect someone here to tell you what to leave on the kitchen table.

Wow, I love seeing common-sense, truth-laden answers around here, and not just condescension and sarcasm.

This is good advice. "So what if you bring too much?"

Better too much than too little.

Go "loaded for bear."

And, Go-Go Gadget!

Good luck.

?;^/

[Vera & Levi 0]

8 to 10 photos together 25 pages or so of chat your boarding passes to prove you meet in person. and as Manny phone records as you have to show.. for us they dint look at any of it because she passed her questions with flying colors they have there way of knowing through the interview questions they ask how well you know your partner if there convinced then they really don't look at anything else but its best to have it there if they ask for it. a little from each month is what i used but we been together 2 years no way i was copying all that chat just be realistic hope this helps and good luck

Thank you so much! Because we also have 1000 pages of chat, similar amount of letters and over 200 pictures. People here suggest to bring everything, but honestly it is indeed unrealistic.

[Aztec&Taino 144]

Thank you so much! Because we also have 1000 pages of chat, similar amount of letters and over 200 pictures. People here suggest to bring everything, but honestly it is indeed unrealistic.

Some other members have suggested to bring a range of the conversations to show a time progression. So, maybe instead of printing and bringing every-single-page-of-conversation, you could print one conversation per week. In this way, you will show how your communication has been constant and it shows your commitment to one another and your relationship. As far as the pictures, I would bring them all because they are not very heavy and they are quite easy to browse through quickly.

Best wishes!

[Vera & Levi 0]

Some other members have suggested to bring a range of the conversations to show a time progression. So, maybe instead of printing and bringing every-single-page-of-conversation, you could print one conversation per week. In this way, you will show how your communication has been constant and it shows your commitment to one another and your relationship. As far as the pictures, I would bring them all because they are not very heavy and they are quite easy to browse through quickly.

Best wishes!

Thank you so much for advice! Really appreciate that!

[KittyPollitt 284]

Wow, I love seeing common-sense, truth-laden answers around here, and not just condescension and sarcasm.

This is good advice. "So what if you bring too much?"

Better too much than too little.

Go "loaded for bear."

And, Go-Go Gadget!

Good luck.

?;^/

Just in case other ppl see this, there are some high fraud consulates where taking too much evidence can be looked upon as overcompensating. This has caused some problems with individuals on VJ that I am personally aware of. I doubt this would be the case with the OP's consulate, however..

[kennym 275]

Thank you so much for advice! Really appreciate that!

Listen, take the time to find all the evidense you can.. Search for all photos of you and your S/O and any pics with your family and S/O, you and your S/Os family.

Don't leave anything out... Think of it like your life depends on it..

I was ready for a fight for our interview.. we rehearsed, quized ourselves with all the questions they may ask and it turned out super easy and super fast with hardly any questions.. they didn't look at anything.. But when I walked in to the Embassy, I know we were ready for anything..

Good Luck

Kenny

[SuperDuper! 230]

Just in case other ppl see this, there are some high fraud consulates where taking too much evidence can be looked upon as overcompensating. This has caused some problems with individuals on VJ that I am personally aware of. I doubt this would be the case with the OP's consulate, however..

It's all a matter of good judgement, man. You can have many proofs, but just make them sensible, believable and applicable to one's case, yes?

L:^/

[baron555 934]

Thank you so much! Because we also have 1000 pages of chat, similar amount of letters and over 200 pictures. People here suggest to bring everything, but honestly it is indeed unrealistic.

The better way to look at it is........

Obviously we do not know each other......so pretend I am the Embassy CO.....

How will you prove to me that you two have a legitimate relationship, one in which you intend to marry together and you both intend for that to last forever and that you are just not doing this for visa fraud reasons?

I will not just take your word for it....I need to see evidence.... many different types of evidence....such that after I look at all the evidence, it will be obvious to me what your intentions are?

Couples who come together and get to know each other and then become in love with each other and committ to each other go through a "normal" process, with normal communications and evidences that are created. You should have some of all of these.

What are they? It can vary from couple to couple. But, you NEED to prove to a complete stranger that you have a real relationship. If you need to "generate" evidence, then you should do so.

[KittyPollitt 284]

It's all a matter of good judgement, man. You can have many proofs, but just make them sensible, believable and applicable to one's case, yes?

L:^/

In most cases, that's right, yeah.. I guess the moral of the story should be to know your consulate- research your own consulate specifically about what's best

[JimVaPhuong 4,864]

Every case is drastically different in this regard, so you have to try to look at your own case objectively.

There are indeed some consulates where bringing too much evidence can be seen as overcompensating, as squeaky mentioned. If you have 1000 photographs of you and your fiancee together, but only have documented proof of spending 10 days together, then it would be pretty obvious you spent 10 full days posing for photos. That might seem like you spent your time manufacturing evidence for the interview. On the other hand, if you'd spend several months together then 1000 photos would not be unusual. You have to be practical about the volume of evidence you bring.

Also, sort your evidence so that the very best stuff is first in line. That way, if the CO asks to see photos then you won't end up handing them the one where you're both bored waiting for a bus or train and staring off into space. Or, if they ask to see your chats then you won't give them the one where you argued for 20 minutes about politics. If there are any things that are considered essential in the social customs of your fiancee's country (meeting the parents, engagement rituals, etc.) make sure you include evidence of this, and that this evidence will be included in the sampling you pull off the top of the stack to hand to the CO. If you have any evidence that might be misinterpreted or misunderstood without an explanation, that might be a good candidate to leave on the "kitchen table", as Gary says. For example, a photo of you having lunch with her cute cousin (and your fiancee isn't there) doesn't really do anything to advance your case, and might only raise questions.

Perhaps the most important thing is to know your consulate. Make sure your evidence gives them everything they require, and doesn't raise any red flags.

[Keo 0]

As I said in another thread I took a ton of stuff, a massive document folder with as much documentation as we could find, they never even opened it. It sat there through the interview and I proudly told her about it but all she was interested in was if my fiancée had enough money to support me and I was who I claimed to be.

Take it. At worst you'll have to carry it home again

Edit:

As an afterthought my interviewer asked me a lot about my fiancées current financial status, she asked why I had no current bank statements for either myself or my fiancée. The reason I didn't was because none of the documentation asks for that and it's covered in the stuff sent with the affidavit of support. However that was 8 months old at the time of my interview and she wasn't happy about that. So despite it not being mentioned anywhere current statements for both of you might be a good thing to have as a backup.

Edited November 7, 2010 by Keo

[turtlewife 0]

my fiance and i didnt submit any phone records or emails. we didnt really save chat messages. im worried this will be a problem..