How much info is too much?

[nycheryl 0]

Hi, all I'm getting ready to send in my I-129F packet and I'm wondering how much info is "too much".

We have cell phone bills going back 2 years showing lots of calls between my fiance and I. Should we submit ALL of them? Or maybe just a portion of them from a few months throughout the 2 years? I want to make a strong case

Also, I read somewhere to highlight important info and use post-its to point things out. Is this a good idea or not? (E.G. - Should I highlight my calling card number on the bill, etc, or just black out the non-relevant data?)

Thanks in advance

[max+patricia 24]

Think quality over quantity. No adjudicator wants to go through 200 pages of phone calls, chat logs, emails, instant messages, etc. (Don't annoy the person reviewing your file, right?)

We spaced things out. Our evidence included a few emails form 2002 when we met, a few from 2007 when we started talking alot, and a few from 2009 when we first met. Phone records and Skype logs from a couple of months each year to show ongoing relationship, a few Christmas/birthday cards, a couple letters with copies of the Fedex receipts that we wasted so much money on, a few pictures - and that's it. Approved in 120 days, no RFE.

If anything, go heavy on primary evidence of meeting - such as passport stamps, boarding passes, receipts or any documentation with both of your names on it that place you together in the same country. USCIS only cares that you have proof of having MET in the last 2 years. They don't have anything to do with determining whether you have an ongoing relationship.

[nycheryl 0]

Think quality over quantity. No adjudicator wants to go through 200 pages of phone calls, chat logs, emails, instant messages, etc. (Don't annoy the person reviewing your file, right?)

We spaced things out. Our evidence included a few emails form 2002 when we met, a few from 2007 when we started talking alot, and a few from 2009 when we first met. Phone records and Skype logs from a couple of months each year to show ongoing relationship, a few Christmas/birthday cards, a couple letters with copies of the Fedex receipts that we wasted so much money on, a few pictures - and that's it. Approved in 120 days, no RFE.

If anything, go heavy on primary evidence of meeting - such as passport stamps, boarding passes, receipts or any documentation with both of your names on it that place you together in the same country. USCIS only cares that you have proof of having MET in the last 2 years. They don't have anything to do with determining whether you have an ongoing relationship.

Thank you SO much! I figured it would be better to spread out the info than bombard them with everything.

[I+H 11]

Hi, all I'm getting ready to send in my I-129F packet and I'm wondering how much info is "too much".

We have cell phone bills going back 2 years showing lots of calls between my fiance and I. Should we submit ALL of them? Or maybe just a portion of them from a few months throughout the 2 years? I want to make a strong case

Also, I read somewhere to highlight important info and use post-its to point things out. Is this a good idea or not? (E.G. - Should I highlight my calling card number on the bill, etc, or just black out the non-relevant data?)

Thanks in advance

I personally did not include very much info of our ongoing relationship. I put in copies of my boarding passes, a copy of my passport showing the visa stamps, a couple hotel receipts, a few pictures and on the back of the picture I put who was in the pic, where we were and the date. I also highlighted the dates on my boarding passes as well as our names and the dates on the hotel receipts. I also included a few receipts from gas stations and restaurants and highlighted the dates as well. I tried to include pictures taken at landmarks like the Burj al Arab, and Burj Dubai these unmistakable. So anything like that I feel is good.

The point of the intial petition is to establish the petitioner is a US citizen, you are both free to marry and that you have met in the last two years. Establishing an ongoing relationship is expected more at the interview.

Best of luck to you both on your upcoming journey!

[AlinaH 38]

For my phone bills, I just put the first page of each month. Some of them went on for pages! so that cut it down a lot. But yeah, the most important is any travel information.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Anything more than six of everything is too much.

[TBoneTX 45,522]

Not so fast. Front-loading the petition package can be helpful depending on the COUNTRY in which the interview would later take place. OP, please specify this.

[I+H 11]

Not so fast. Front-loading the petition package can be helpful depending on the COUNTRY in which the interview would later take place. OP, please specify this.

I see this term "front-loading" a lot. This may be a super dumb question, but what does that mean?

[JanaWithoutKhodor 3]

I would just like to comment that I had received advice on another board months back indicating to send "minimal" information as not to overload them. It was very bad advice for me as I am now dealing with a horrendous RFE. I would agree with the poster who indicated it somewhat depends on what country your interview will be, also the circumstances of your relationship. So, I would say send as much as you can to avoid further delays.....

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I would just like to comment that I had received advice on another board months back indicating to send "minimal" information as not to overload them. It was very bad advice for me as I am now dealing with a horrendous RFE. I would agree with the poster who indicated it somewhat depends on what country your interview will be, also the circumstances of your relationship. So, I would say send as much as you can to avoid further delays.....

For the petition stage, you need to supply enough evidence to satisfy the requirements as listed in the form instructions. If you receive an RFE, is mean you failed to satisfy one of those requirements, and therefore, did not meet the minimal requirement. As far as further down the road, the DOS guidelines do state that at least six photos, letters, emails, et cetera, are sufficient proof for any one requirement. Overloading should be avoided. Anything exceeding the requirements may not be forwarded for consulate review, and whether or not your best evidence makes the cut may be completely arbitrary.

[JanaWithoutKhodor 3]

For the petition stage, you need to supply enough evidence to satisfy the requirements as listed in the form instructions. If you receive an RFE, is mean you failed to satisfy one of those requirements, and therefore, did not meet the minimal requirement. As far as further down the road, the DOS guidelines do state that at least six photos, letters, emails, et cetera, are sufficient proof for any one requirement. Overloading should be avoided. Anything exceeding the requirements may not be forwarded for consulate review, and whether or not your best evidence makes the cut may be completely arbitrary.

FYI: I met every requirement of the initial stage, provided every bit of information they asked for. I provided emails, IM conversations, phone records, travel information, etc.. I met the requirements to prove we had met in person within the past 2 years. I was told photos are "secondary evidence" and need not be submitted so I did not as they were minimal. I am simply providing advice based on my experience.......

[TBoneTX 45,522]

For the petition stage, you need to supply enough evidence to satisfy the requirements as listed in the form instructions. If you receive an RFE, is mean you failed to satisfy one of those requirements, and therefore, did not meet the minimal requirement. As far as further down the road, the DOS guidelines do state that at least six photos, letters, emails, et cetera, are sufficient proof for any one requirement. Overloading should be avoided. Anything exceeding the requirements may not be forwarded for consulate review, and whether or not your best evidence makes the cut may be completely arbitrary.

This is mostly true, with some important qualifiers necessary. USCIS is supposed to forward to the consulate everything that you send them, and the consulate is supposed to acknowledge and respect the existence of any evidence that they know USCIS has seen. See various posts by Marc Ellis (member name "ellis-island"). This is one of the concepts behind "front-loading" (including not just the information that USCIS requires for the petition, but also evidence of bona fide relationship for the consular stage later). Posts have also been made about evidence having been brought to the interview, but not accepted. It doesn't happen often, but it's a risk.

Wisely choosing what to include as front-loaded material is important. In stories from many VJ members, it's stated that "it appeared that the CO had his mind made up even before the interview" or similar. This is why I recommend some front-loading except for the very easiest embassies & consulates. Some countries (Vietnam & China, for just two) have consulate-specific requirements that need to be heeded; see those subforums and embassy reviews for advice.

[I+H 11]

This is mostly true, with some important qualifiers necessary. USCIS is supposed to forward to the consulate everything that you send them, and the consulate is supposed to acknowledge and respect the existence of any evidence that they know USCIS has seen. See various posts by Marc Ellis (member name "ellis-island"). This is one of the concepts behind "front-loading" (including not just the information that USCIS requires for the petition, but also evidence of bona fide relationship for the consular stage later). Posts have also been made about evidence having been brought to the interview, but not accepted. It doesn't happen often, but it's a risk.

Wisely choosing what to include as front-loaded material is important. In stories from many VJ members, it's stated that "it appeared that the CO had his mind made up even before the interview" or similar. This is why I recommend some front-loading except for the very easiest embassies & consulates. Some countries (Vietnam & China, for just two) have consulate-specific requirements that need to be heeded; see those subforums and embassy reviews for advice.

I never actually thought about that. If you include too much when you initially file your petition,then that does give the consulate a reason in some cases to make up their mind about your relationship before you even get there. Do you think they actually read through your entire chat logs and your texts that you supply? I would hope not. I am a little disturbed myself about having to supply such things to them.

[TBoneTX 45,522]

I never actually thought about that. If you include too much when you initially file your petition,then that does give the consulate a reason in some cases to make up their mind about your relationship before you even get there. Do you think they actually read through your entire chat logs and your texts that you supply? I would hope not. I am a little disturbed myself about having to supply such things to them.

Well, as one very wise VJ member says, if you send WAY too much, you'll not have a chance to guide what they will read or see. Pick a few significant e-mails or chat transcripts from a month's period (tailor the amount to the length of your relationship -- the more months long, the fewer e-mails or chats), black out anything that's too personal, and include them. You may want to print a summary of the e-mails that were sent, rather than individual e-mails (such as date, time, and subject line, but no contents), and tally the number: "439 e-mails sent & received during the third quarter of 2009" or similar. Make it easy for them without causing their eyes to glaze over, si man.

[I+H 11]

Well, as one very wise VJ member says, if you send WAY too much, you'll not have a chance to guide what they will read or see. Pick a few significant e-mails or chat transcripts from a month's period (tailor the amount to the length of your relationship -- the more months long, the fewer e-mails or chats), black out anything that's too personal, and include them. You may want to print a summary of the e-mails that were sent, rather than individual e-mails (such as date, time, and subject line, but no contents), and tally the number: "439 e-mails sent & received during the third quarter of 2009" or similar. Make it easy for them without causing their eyes to glaze over, si man.

Great ideas!!!! I just didn't want to black stuff out and have them think we have something to hide.

Geeeezzz, I was thinking of printing our entire chat log from day one! That would be like 300 pages!

So you really think just bits and pieces from each month will do it?