Help!...4 page RFE received

[Aly174 9]

Optimistically, hoping for our NOA2..I opened the mailbox today to find a rather thick envelope containing a 4 page RFE for our I-130....I am so frustrated and upset right now...We have been married for a little over 2 years and I sent in an almost 1 and a half inch thick package full of supporting evidence with the petition. I have even lived most of the last 2 years over there with my husband...and yet they still need more proof of our ongoing relationship? Luckily, I am planning on going to visit him in a few weeks because some of the stuff they want there is no other way I could get it. Also they have on the RFE that I indicated that he entered the US on July8, 2001 and they want a copy of the I-94 and his passport pages along with any authorization to work....He has never been in the US, he has never been outside of Egypt or on a plane for that matter!!! I just spoke with an officer at USCIS and explained this..he kind of laughed and said that is weird, I don't know where they got that from..it is our mistake...just write a little note with your other evidence explaining what you just told me and providing his address and wherabouts at that time...-VERY PROFESSIONAL USCIS, r we mixing up petitions now??? Some of the other evidence they are requiring:

-81/2"x 11" color photo of each of us

-a current color photo of the two of us together holding a recent newspaper with the date clearly visible in the photo

- a current I-864 (yes, an 864 for and we are only in the petition stage)

-both of our bank statements and any credit card statements from Feb 09-April 09

-both of our employer's names and contact info along with our last 3 paystubs

-copies of any joint accounts/insurance policies or leases- we don't have any of this...that is why we provided affidavits from friends and family as well as all supporting evidence such as mailings, emails, chat logs, phone records, travel receipts for the past 3 years.

-a detailed explanation of how we met, if online they want credit card statements- it was a freakin chat room for god's sake!

-a detailed explanation as to why we didn't have a big wedding celebration or a honeymoon

-a statement detailing the store name, address and phone number where my wedding ring was purchased along with a credit card statement or receipt.

Does this seem a little excessive to anyone else? I am more than a little overwhelmed right now and wishing I had just stayed in Egypt back in August and done DCF route.

[Darnell 8,478]

oh boy - Egypt? Sorry, you've gotten pegged.

USCIS smells a rat, and is applying the 'hard test' with that RFE.

Yer not the first one, alas -

[mandyu1 5]

Wow that seems a bit much, especially coming from USCIS. But I didn't file for the CR1 so I'm not sure if you're suppose to provide all that from the beginning. I can only imagine how frustrated you are...good luck!!

[rodceasar 34]

It seems that you have been targeted by USCIS which is very strange and unusual. Not sure if its the times or if they anticipate fraud due to where your spouse is coming from. Good luck and hope some of the experienced VJer's can provide you some good advice!

[Me and my wife 9]

They are asking for I-864. Have your petition been approved?

[FormerlyKnownAs 17]

I am so sorry.

This seems very excessive to me especially given the length of the marriage and the frequency and length of your visits to Egypt. I would be overwhelmed as well and this is one of the reasons I keep thinking it might be better in the long run if I just go live in Egypt and avoid this whole process altogether.

I hope someone here can help you. Be strong, you and yours will get through this. It just seems like so much right now, especially with how worried we already feel about what's going on in the country.

[Aly174 9]

They are asking for I-864. Have your petition been approved?

No we are still in the petition phase waiting for the final approval and NOA2...that is what seems so weird, I've never heard of USCIS requesting the I-864.

Thank you to all who have responded so far...I literally felt like someone punched me in the stomach when I opened and read the letter...I have known several people over the past few years who have been through this process even with Egyptian spouses and fiances and some of them have had difficulties but I've never heard anything like this...Our relationship is so evident and we provided above and beyond what they ask for for proof, so this really came out of left field....We will be working on the evidence package to send them when I go there, my trip now for early March is definitely on as we both feel it's not longer an option but a necessity...

I would appreciate any insight, advice or help that anyone can offer...Thanks!

[Used to be broken 143]

Optimistically, hoping for our NOA2..I opened the mailbox today to find a rather thick envelope containing a 4 page RFE for our I-130....I am so frustrated and upset right now...We have been married for a little over 2 years and I sent in an almost 1 and a half inch thick package full of supporting evidence with the petition. I have even lived most of the last 2 years over there with my husband...and yet they still need more proof of our ongoing relationship? Luckily, I am planning on going to visit him in a few weeks because some of the stuff they want there is no other way I could get it. Also they have on the RFE that I indicated that he entered the US on July8, 2001 and they want a copy of the I-94 and his passport pages along with any authorization to work....He has never been in the US, he has never been outside of Egypt or on a plane for that matter!!! I just spoke with an officer at USCIS and explained this..he kind of laughed and said that is weird, I don't know where they got that from..it is our mistake...just write a little note with your other evidence explaining what you just told me and providing his address and wherabouts at that time...-VERY PROFESSIONAL USCIS, r we mixing up petitions now??? Some of the other evidence they are requiring:

-81/2"x 11" color photo of each of us

-a current color photo of the two of us together holding a recent newspaper with the date clearly visible in the photo

- a current I-864 (yes, an 864 for and we are only in the petition stage)

-both of our bank statements and any credit card statements from Feb 09-April 09

-both of our employer's names and contact info along with our last 3 paystubs

-copies of any joint accounts/insurance policies or leases- we don't have any of this...that is why we provided affidavits from friends and family as well as all supporting evidence such as mailings, emails, chat logs, phone records, travel receipts for the past 3 years.

-a detailed explanation of how we met, if online they want credit card statements- it was a freakin chat room for god's sake!

-a detailed explanation as to why we didn't have a big wedding celebration or a honeymoon

-a statement detailing the store name, address and phone number where my wedding ring was purchased along with a credit card statement or receipt.

Does this seem a little excessive to anyone else? I am more than a little overwhelmed right now and wishing I had just stayed in Egypt back in August and done DCF route.

[Used to be broken 143]

Sorry, hit reply before I typed

I rarely say this, but it might be one of those rare instances where contacting your Senator might actually be helpful.

It sounds like from what you are saying that USCIS has sent this off to the fraud unit for some reason, or as you mention the July 2001 date and they think he was here, they may in fact have inadvertently merged two files, or did some kind of security check and his name came up .. which is fairly common in that part of the world for same-name hits. You can ask your Senator to have the immigration admin person in his/her office inquire and ask USCIS supervisor to review the file and make sure your file has not been blended with someone else's file at some point in the process. Give them the copy of the RFE where it says you indicated he was here in July 2008 as your "proof" they have mixed the files up.

Asking for the 8 1/2 x 11 Color photo sounds like they want to run it through facial recognition software...????

Or... it could be some RANDOM audit they do internally to "test" the system like IRS does and you just happen to be the unlucky couple.

4 page RFE ? Wow, is it single or double spaced typing?

Good luck

[mandyu1 5]

No we are still in the petition phase waiting for the final approval and NOA2...that is what seems so weird, I've never heard of USCIS requesting the I-864.

Thank you to all who have responded so far...I literally felt like someone punched me in the stomach when I opened and read the letter...I have known several people over the past few years who have been through this process even with Egyptian spouses and fiances and some of them have had difficulties but I've never heard anything like this...Our relationship is so evident and we provided above and beyond what they ask for for proof, so this really came out of left field....We will be working on the evidence package to send them when I go there, my trip now for early March is definitely on as we both feel it's not longer an option but a necessity...

I would appreciate any insight, advice or help that anyone can offer...Thanks!

I would definately call back in the morning and request a supervisor and be persistant until you speak with one. The people that answer the phone really have no clue as to what is going on and are pretty much helpless. I know USCIS does do some security checks, but from what I understand in CR1 cases, most of the security checks are done at the NVC. I would think you would be more likely to get a request like this from them if something didn't seem right. As you stated they probably messed up your file somewhere along the line. You said you lived in egypt for almost 2 years, but what concrete evidence did you provide them with? Sorry I couldn't be of more help

Keep us updated, good luck!!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Sorry, hit reply before I typed

I rarely say this, but it might be one of those rare instances where contacting your Senator might actually be helpful.

It sounds like from what you are saying that USCIS has sent this off to the fraud unit for some reason, or as you mention the July 2001 date and they think he was here, they may in fact have inadvertently merged two files, or did some kind of security check and his name came up .. which is fairly common in that part of the world for same-name hits. You can ask your Senator to have the immigration admin person in his/her office inquire and ask USCIS supervisor to review the file and make sure your file has not been blended with someone else's file at some point in the process. Give them the copy of the RFE where it says you indicated he was here in July 2008 as your "proof" they have mixed the files up.

Asking for the 8 1/2 x 11 Color photo sounds like they want to run it through facial recognition software...????

Or... it could be some RANDOM audit they do internally to "test" the system like IRS does and you just happen to be the unlucky couple.

4 page RFE ? Wow, is it single or double spaced typing?

Good luck

I agree with this. They may have matched his name with someone else's (hence the request for I-94 for 2001 that doesn't exist) and that may have elicited such a response.

[mahboula 11]

I remember at least two other members getting huge RFE's not too long ago(i believe they were identical), both beneficiaries from Egypt.

Here's one,LINK, I don't remember who the other member was.

[pepper 34]

I too remember at least 2 members who received an RFE like that and if I was not mistaken it was samonline(he's from Egypt too) and lisamarie whose husband is from Morocco....

[Lisamarie 79]

SamOnline, another member from Egypt, another member petitioning for her Moroccan husband, and we got a 4-page RFE (that I know of). Ours were all identical, but completely different from yours, from what I can see. They asked for very different documents than they are asking from you. It almost sounds like they didn't believe you were in Egypt, or they completely got you mixed up with someone else.. I think you should call and try to get to the bottom of it, because it seems like something might not be right. And also, I have never heard of anyone being asked for the I-864 at the USCIS stage. It's very strange. I would call tomorrow for sure. Best of luck to you;)

I too remember at least 2 members who received an RFE like that and if I was not mistaken it was samonline(he's from Egypt too) and lisamarie whose husband is from Morocco....

[Angel Eyes Yuseef 5]

See this scares the ####### out of me. The basics are not always what they want. So how does one know they submitted all that they would need.

Optimistically, hoping for our NOA2..I opened the mailbox today to find a rather thick envelope containing a 4 page RFE for our I-130....I am so frustrated and upset right now...We have been married for a little over 2 years and I sent in an almost 1 and a half inch thick package full of supporting evidence with the petition. I have even lived most of the last 2 years over there with my husband...and yet they still need more proof of our ongoing relationship? Luckily, I am planning on going to visit him in a few weeks because some of the stuff they want there is no other way I could get it. Also they have on the RFE that I indicated that he entered the US on July8, 2001 and they want a copy of the I-94 and his passport pages along with any authorization to work....He has never been in the US, he has never been outside of Egypt or on a plane for that matter!!! I just spoke with an officer at USCIS and explained this..he kind of laughed and said that is weird, I don't know where they got that from..it is our mistake...just write a little note with your other evidence explaining what you just told me and providing his address and wherabouts at that time...-VERY PROFESSIONAL USCIS, r we mixing up petitions now??? Some of the other evidence they are requiring:

-81/2"x 11" color photo of each of us

-a current color photo of the two of us together holding a recent newspaper with the date clearly visible in the photo

- a current I-864 (yes, an 864 for and we are only in the petition stage)

-both of our bank statements and any credit card statements from Feb 09-April 09

-both of our employer's names and contact info along with our last 3 paystubs

-copies of any joint accounts/insurance policies or leases- we don't have any of this...that is why we provided affidavits from friends and family as well as all supporting evidence such as mailings, emails, chat logs, phone records, travel receipts for the past 3 years.

-a detailed explanation of how we met, if online they want credit card statements- it was a freakin chat room for god's sake!

-a detailed explanation as to why we didn't have a big wedding celebration or a honeymoon

-a statement detailing the store name, address and phone number where my wedding ring was purchased along with a credit card statement or receipt.

Does this seem a little excessive to anyone else? I am more than a little overwhelmed right now and wishing I had just stayed in Egypt back in August and done DCF route.