I-129F question 18 - Meeting in person

[Cherieish 0]

I have a question about the bit where I "explain how we've met in person for the last two years." The website doesn't give an example of this and I'm a bit stumped about what exactly they want. Dates that we visited each other, of course, but like... what else? Do they want to hear how we went to the zoo and stuff? lol. I can't figure out what sort of information they want me to provide here. Has anyone else done this form (or a similar one) who won't mind sharing theirs so I can see an example? Thanks.

[Cherieish 0]

Oh, and one more question - How do I figure out which American embassy or consulate where my fiancé will apply for his part? Googling shows that there's one in London, but he's pretty far from there. Is there another closer to Lincolnshire?

[KiwiBird 132]

Passport stamps showing visiting each other's countries, boarding passes showing you got on those planes, receipts from you both showing you were in the same place at the same time. Photos wouldn't hurt, but aren't considered primary evidence since anyone can Photoshop those nowadays.

As for the Embassy... I don't know.

[Cherieish 0]

Passport stamps showing visiting each other's countries, boarding passes showing you got on those planes, receipts from you both showing you were in the same place at the same time. Photos wouldn't hurt, but aren't considered primary evidence since anyone can Photoshop those nowadays.

As for the Embassy... I don't know.

Yes, I have all of that evidence already, but I don't know what they want me to write on the form itself. I'm supposed to attach a sheet where I "describe the circumstances under which [we] met." I don't really understand what that means. :/

[max+patricia 24]

Yes, I have all of that evidence already, but I don't know what they want me to write on the form itself. I'm supposed to attach a sheet where I "describe the circumstances under which [we] met." I don't really understand what that means. :/

We typed up a sheet with 4-5 short paragraphs about how, where, when we were together - titled it accordingly, and wrote something on the form in the space provided ("See Attached Form: Supplement Info", etc)

Spare them the romantic details and include specifics, since that's what they're looking for in particular. Anything that you can tie to the proof that you're sending in, such as boarding passes, hotel receipts, etc, will look good. (And don't forget to list the supplementary attached sheet on your main cover letter, so they know what's what)

[Cherieish 0]

Hmm, do you think this would be sufficient?

Adam flew from Manchester, UK to Los Angeles, US to visit Jessica from 05/25/2010 to 06/08/2010. On this visit, we spent time with Jessica’s son, went to the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific on May 27, and took a trip to San Diego from June 2-June 3. In San Diego, we went to the San Diego Zoo and visited the U.S.S. Midway.

Jessica visited Adam in England from November 1, 2010 to November 16, 2010. We attended a birthday party for Adam’s friend on November 6. On November 8, we visited the Donna Nook Grey Seal Colony. The next day, we purchased engagement rings and Adam proposed. We took a trip to York on November 10-11 and visited Jorvik, the Castle Museum, the York Dungeon, Clifford Tower, and the York Museum. On November 12, we drove to Leeds and went to Tropical World. We went ice skating in Hull on November 15.

Adam came for a short visit from December 27, 2010 to January 2, 2011. We spent most of the visit hanging out at home and seeing some friends, then took Jessica’s son to the Orange County Zoo on December 31, 2010.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Yes, I have all of that evidence already, but I don't know what they want me to write on the form itself. I'm supposed to attach a sheet where I "describe the circumstances under which [we] met." I don't really understand what that means. :/

Attach a separate sheet? Where did you read that?? There is no requirement for that.

We wrote: "Vanessa and I met in person in October 2008 when Vanessa travelled to the United States and stayed in Houston, Texas with me for sixty-five (65) days before returning to Australia." That's all that's required. No big details. No big story. Some countries might require that but the UK isn't a high-fraud country just like Australia isn't.

For the record, approved with no RFE's or issues.

Edited January 4, 2011 by Vanessa&Tony

[ameribrit 37]

Oh, and one more question - How do I figure out which American embassy or consulate where my fiancé will apply for his part? Googling shows that there's one in London, but he's pretty far from there. Is there another closer to Lincolnshire?

London Embassy will be where he has to go for his interview.

[Cherieish 0]

I think that the separate sheet is optional if you can fit all the details in the box on the main form, but we've had a couple of visits, so I'm attaching a supplemental sheet so I can add more detail. I'd rather be too detailed than not detailed enough, even though logically, you're right and someone coming to the US from the UK probably won't be scrutinized super closely.

@Ameribrit - I was afraid of that! Ah well. Thanks anyway.

[max+patricia 24]

Hmm, do you think this would be sufficient?

I can't tell you what's good or bad - neither can anyone else here. It's all entirely up to whoever reviews your petition. Our attached sheet included a brief summary of how we first met, where, when - and when and where we met up after that. It was 1/3 of a page, at most, and covered dates and durations more than specifics about what we did.

To touch on what Vanessa&Tony said, attaching a separate sheet definitely isn't required. We did it thinking "better safe than sorry" about giving too much info as opposed to not enough.

[Nich-Nick 3,355]

Hmm, do you think this would be sufficient?

I think what you wrote sounds great.

[Minya's wife 25]

The personal statement is for the purposes of documenting that the petitioner and beneficiary met at least once in the two years before (preceeding) the filing of the petition. It does not really require 'romantic' details. Ours was one paragraph...it stated that date and circumstance under which we met (w/ the date being w/in the two year guideline). The separate sheet is advised if you do not have enough space for your statement in the text box provided for this question (#18) and given the small size of the box, most people use a separate sheet, title it with the question # and proceed to write as much or as little as they see fit.

For the record (as well) we were approved at USCIS in a timely manner w/ no RFE's.

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

I have a question about the bit where I "explain how we've met in person for the last two years." The website doesn't give an example of this and I'm a bit stumped about what exactly they want. Dates that we visited each other, of course, but like... what else? Do they want to hear how we went to the zoo and stuff? lol. I can't figure out what sort of information they want me to provide here. Has anyone else done this form (or a similar one) who won't mind sharing theirs so I can see an example? Thanks.

"While returning from a trip to Ukraine I met Alla in the airport in Prague CZ Republic while waiting in line to buy bus tickets" That's it. I attached ONE photo of us together and passport stamps from both of us to prove we were both in Prague at the same time.

They need you to describe the circumstances of meeting at least one time in the last two years. You do not need to describe each time (if more than once) or what you did or anythung related to NOT meeting. Saying you met online and exchnaged emails for 14 years means nothing. Saying "Then I flew to London where he met me at Heathrow airport" is what they need to hear.

[DiZZyLoX 114]

Personally, I wrote a little story of how we met. It made it more fun to write, it had all the facts n ###### that they needed, and was a pleasant experience for me. It's up to you how you want to explain how you met. Stay honest. Do your thing. You'll be fine.

[baron555 934]

Hmm, do you think this would be sufficient?

No it's way too long. The size of the box on the form is the length they are expecting. I used two sentences:

We met online on October xx, 2008 and corresponded using various mediums almost daily. We met together in Kiev, Ukraine from Feb 14, 2009 to Feb 24, 2009.