Got REF, need some help...

[bigtailbear 0]

Recently, I got the REF mail as following:

"REQUIREMENT THAT PETITIONER AND BENEFICIARY HAVE MET IN PERSON: It mus be established that the petitioner and beneficiary have met in person and/ or have been in each other's physical presence at any time during the two years immediately preceding the filing of this petition.

Last Personal Meeting-Submit evidence of meeting the beneficiary in person within the two-year period preceding the filing of the petition (3/32/2009 TO 3/23/2011). Primary evidence may include airline ticket stubs and receipts (that indicate month, day, and year), copies of passport pages that show the identification page and admission stamps, military order(s), letter from Commanding Officer, or any evidence that will help the USCIS to determine that the petitioner has met the beneficiary with the two years. Secondary evidence may include film-dated photographs of the petitioner and beneficiary together. The following DOES NOT constitute evidence of meeting: disc, videos, emails, letters, phone bills, and greeting cards. "

I have several questions:

1. I did submit the copies of passport pages which show the identification page and admission stamps. However, I got my citizenship on February 2011 and I used my Chinese passport for traveling. Do I need to do notary for it?

2. I did not keep the airline tickets stubs and all my tickets were booked by travel agents. They sent me the receipts and e-tickets via emails. Can those receipts and e-tickets be counted as evidence?

3. My fiancée and I did not take many photos together. In some of the pictures(took when we visited SHANGHAI EXPO last year), she was wearing sunglasses. Can those photos be counted as evidence?

4. Last question... During the time I visited my fiancée, She and I had a 3-day trip in China. I saved the hotel and the airline ticket receipts. I did not do translation for those receipts and I am going to do word-for-word English translations. Do I need to do notary for the translations?

I am kind of nervous and I keep calling uscis but do know which option shall I choose...

sorry guys...I have so many questions...If you can help or give me some advice, I really appreciate it.

[Andie 147]

Recently, I got the REF mail as following:

"REQUIREMENT THAT PETITIONER AND BENEFICIARY HAVE MET IN PERSON: It mus be established that the petitioner .

Last Personal Meeting-Submit evidence of meeting the beneficiary in person within the two-year period preceding the filing of the petition (3/32/2009 TO 3/23/2011). Primary evidence may include airline ticket stubs and receipts (that indicate month, day, and year), copies of passport pages that show the identification page and admission stamps, military order(s), letter from Commanding Officer, or any evidence that will help the USCIS to determine that the petitioner has met the beneficiary with the two years. Secondary evidence may include film-dated photographs of the petitioner and beneficiary together. The following DOES NOT constitute evidence of meeting: disc, videos, emails, letters, phone bills, and greeting cards. "

I have several questions:

1. I did submit the copies of passport pages which show the identification page and admission stamps. However, I got my citizenship on February 2011 and I used my Chinese passport for traveling. Do I need to do notary for it?

2. I did not keep the airline tickets stubs and all my tickets were booked by travel agents. They sent me the receipts and e-tickets via emails. Can those receipts and e-tickets be counted as evidence? Not as good as the actual boarding stubs as they proved you actually travelled, but I would send them anyway.

3. My fiancée and I did not take many photos together. In some of the pictures(took when we visited SHANGHAI EXPO last year), she was wearing sunglasses. Can those photos be counted as evidence? Yes send photos as secondary evidence

4. Last question... During the time I visited my fiancée, She and I had a 3-day trip in China. I saved the hotel and the airline ticket receipts. I did not do translation for those receipts and I am going to do word-for-word English translations. Do I need to do notary for the translations?

I am kind of nervous and I keep calling uscis but do know which option shall I choose...

sorry guys...I have so many questions...If you can help or give me some advice, I really appreciate it.

Sorry, I don't know about the notary, but I would send as much proof as you can... you have plenty, but now just give them as much to fill in any gaps as possible to build a picture of your visits. Best of luck.

Edited June 20, 2011 by Andie

[bigtailbear 0]

Just called uscis...and the representative asked me to find an attorney and she could not answer my questions ( i did not even ask the questions...)

Andie, thank you for your reply. As long as the REF does not ask for notary, I think word-for-word translation for those documents are enough... actually, I have already submitted the things they ask for (except the translation and film-date photos). Sony's camera does not have the function to show date. I have to use the software to put the date on...

[Love Eth 14]

I hope you got the evidence to show them the proof. what you need do is to organize the documents to make clear that you were with your fiancee. They don't do investigation to check it. they want to get the documents and evidences up front. In some cases, you should have to explain in writings.

[bigtailbear 0]

I hope you got the evidence to show them the proof. what you need do is to organize the documents to make clear that you were with your fiancee. They don't do investigation to check it. they want to get the documents and evidences up front. In some cases, you should have to explain in writings.

Ye, I did make a checklist and use post-it sticker to indicate what is what...do not know what's wrong with my application...That's why I am really nervous.

Edited June 20, 2011 by bigtailbear

[Ryan H 3,790]

I have several questions:

1. I did submit the copies of passport pages which show the identification page and admission stamps. However, I got my citizenship on February 2011 and I used my Chinese passport for traveling. Do I need to do notary for it?

This one confuses me, you entered China using a Chinese Passport. Is it standard for China Immigration Inspection personnel to stamp passports of Chinese citizens?

2. I did not keep the airline tickets stubs and all my tickets were booked by travel agents. They sent me the receipts and e-tickets via emails. Can those receipts and e-tickets be counted as evidence?

Those only show you bought a ticket, not that you actually went. The actual boarding passes (which by your own admission, you do not have) are proof you actually showed up for the flight.

3. My fiancée and I did not take many photos together. In some of the pictures(took when we visited SHANGHAI EXPO last year), she was wearing sunglasses. Can those photos be counted as evidence?

Photos are secondary evidence. The photos you describe can be used and should be submitted.

4. Last question... During the time I visited my fiancée, She and I had a 3-day trip in China. I saved the hotel and the airline ticket receipts. I did not do translation for those receipts and I am going to do word-for-word English translations. Do I need to do notary for the translations?

Submit copies of the original receipts and keep the original receipts. Whether or not you translate them is up to you.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Flight itineraries, and any receipts would be helpful. For pictures, they want pictures of you together, and with her family.

[bigtailbear 0]

This one confuses me, you entered China using a Chinese Passport. Is it standard for China Immigration Inspection personnel to stamp passports of Chinese citizens?

Sorry for making you confused...I got my U.S. citizenship on Feb 15th 2011. What I mean is that I used the Chinese passport went back to China last year(2010). And they do stamp Chinese passports whenever you go in or out of Chinese border.

By the way, I keep one airline ticket stub from my last trip. However, the flight is one-stop flight and the stub is used for travelling from Shanghai to Guangzhou. The flight number is exactly the same as the receipt I got from the travel agent.

Edited June 20, 2011 by bigtailbear

[Andie 147]

Sorry for making you confused...I got my U.S. citizenship on Feb 15th 2011. What I mean is that I used the Chinese passport went back to China last year(2010). And they do stamp Chinese passports whenever you go in or out of Chinese border.

By the way, I keep one airline ticket stub from my last trip. However, the flight is one-stop flight and the stub is used for travelling from Shanghai to Guangzhou. The flight number is exactly the same as the receipt I got from the travel agent.

Maybe you need to resend the copy of stamps in your Chinese passport and give an explanation of why you travelled on that passport with information about your US Citizenship only occurring in February 2011. In other words providing a timeline of events with attachments of copies of itinerary showing all flights (attach ticket stubs for those you have) and send dated photos with details of where they were taken etc. People in the photos (fiancee's family etc). Could be that they want clarification of the information and are confused by what you have sent? Build an explanation and case from the ground up.

[san diego 407]

Flight itineraries do not constitute primary evidence as they may be created by anyone in MS Word. Primary evidence for a flight actually taken place are boarding passes. Try to send them copies of boarding passes

Copies of Chinese passport visa stamps with explanation should be sufficient. Just make sure that this is clear and evident that this is YOUR passport,even chinese

Pics do not constitute primary evidence. You have to be able to provide above evidence. Pics are good supplement.

[Faith & Andz 3]

Try not to worry too much. I think if you can print something showing you paid for the tickets, including the date of the flights, and if you give them those pictures, it should be enough. Do you have receipts showing where and when you stayed when you were in China? That would definitely be good evidence. Also, I'm not sure if this is possible, but maybe you could contact the airline you used to see if they can give you a copy of your old boarding pass.

[extremerecluse 32]

Recently, I got the REF mail as following:

"REQUIREMENT THAT PETITIONER AND BENEFICIARY HAVE MET IN PERSON: It mus be established that the petitioner and beneficiary have met in person and/ or have been in each other's physical presence at any time during the two years immediately preceding the filing of this petition.

Last Personal Meeting-Submit evidence of meeting the beneficiary in person within the two-year period preceding the filing of the petition (3/32/2009 TO 3/23/2011). Primary evidence may include airline ticket stubs and receipts (that indicate month, day, and year), copies of passport pages that show the identification page and admission stamps, military order(s), letter from Commanding Officer, or any evidence that will help the USCIS to determine that the petitioner has met the beneficiary with the two years. Secondary evidence may include film-dated photographs of the petitioner and beneficiary together. The following DOES NOT constitute evidence of meeting: disc, videos, emails, letters, phone bills, and greeting cards. "

I have several questions:

1. I did submit the copies of passport pages which show the identification page and admission stamps. However, I got my citizenship on February 2011 and I used my Chinese passport for traveling. Do I need to do notary for it?

2. I did not keep the airline tickets stubs and all my tickets were booked by travel agents. They sent me the receipts and e-tickets via emails. Can those receipts and e-tickets be counted as evidence?

3. My fiancée and I did not take many photos together. In some of the pictures(took when we visited SHANGHAI EXPO last year), she was wearing sunglasses. Can those photos be counted as evidence?

4. Last question... During the time I visited my fiancée, She and I had a 3-day trip in China. I saved the hotel and the airline ticket receipts. I did not do translation for those receipts and I am going to do word-for-word English translations. Do I need to do notary for the translations?

I am kind of nervous and I keep calling uscis but do know which option shall I choose...

sorry guys...I have so many questions...If you can help or give me some advice, I really appreciate it.

First establish that you were there; airline tickets, boarding pass, copy of your bank statement showing purchases made with your credit card. Next establish that you were their with her; hotel receipt showing both of your names and photos (if you had taken any). Good luck!!!

[torrell17 0]

Don't worry I had the same RFE a few weeks ago as well. I submitted our passports with some additional hotel information. I also called the bus company were they had her records for coming to the US. She wrote a letter explaining the additional information and we got approved about 6 days after it was submitted. We didn't send anything notarized anything! Dont waste your time calling USIC your just going to get upset and the run around. It's not as bad as you think. But email me if you have any question.

[san diego 407]

Try not to worry too much. I think if you can print something showing you paid for the tickets, including the date of the flights, and if you give them those pictures, it should be enough. Do you have receipts showing where and when you stayed when you were in China? That would definitely be good evidence. Also, I'm not sure if this is possible, but maybe you could contact the airline you used to see if they can give you a copy of your old boarding pass.

I agree. Try to contact airline. I would try to obtain copy of boarding passes or some official document from the airline that you actually boarded the flight both ways.

[itsmekmia 0]

hi, we have the same situation. we also received RFE and it's because we lack the letter of intent to marry and requirement that petitioner and beneficiary met in person. i already sent the documents we lack to my fiance(petitioner) in hawaii. another similarity we have is that my fiance became american citizen only last march 2011.

now my question is( to those who can answer): do you think the USCIS might question my fiance(the petitioner) because he is planning to pass his original philippine passport(he has to send it to USCIS coz the passport stamps are in it and it's an evidence that he really went to visit me last february 2011 which is a proof that we met in person within the last 2 years before filing K1 visa.)? by the way he has a new passport when he became an american citizen that's why he is thinking it's ok for him to pass his original philippine passport(instead of a photocopy of it) since the USCIS will also return it afterwards? do you think it's the right thing to do? thanks in advance..