Evidence of meeting - too much, not enough, decisions decisions!

[Bruce n Jen 0]

Hi - So I've read an enormous amount of material here, and I'm down to assemblying my package, fine tuning the question 18 details, and finishing the cover letter.

We've been together 3 times, twice here in the US and once in South Africa. With all 3 I have plenty of overwhelming evidence, but I'm concerned that our first meeting evidence could be "thin" perhaps. We stayed at my home, didn't document much together during the 10 day stay. I do have her visa coming here, plane ticket to Florida, visa application listing me as the destination, and one trip to St Augustine FL with pictures of us there and a credit card statement showing charges I made there. As I said the other visits have much more documentation, including my travel to South Africa.

As another related question, how do you all feel about including documenting how you met online, such as online profiles, and the website home page?

Thanks much!

and congratulations to all who received their NOA2 during the past week - great to see!

Bruce

[sarah and hicham 3]

In the packet all you have to show is that you have met in the past 2 years. What I did is I sent 5 photos, passport stamps, and ticket stubs. The interview is when you need more proof to show an ongoing relationship. As long as you have met in the past 2 years then it doesn't matter if you have proof from all of your visits. Save your emails, phone bills etc. for the interview.

Good luck!

Sarah

If you met online then be honest about it- they will probably ask during the interview. A lot of people do so it's not new... especiall for couples on different continents!

Edited September 16, 2006 by sarah and hicham

[GaryC 7]

Luz and I met online so that isn't an issue. Like sarah and hicham said, at this point all you have to do is prove you met within the 2 years before you send the petition. Luz and I had been together 5 times before we filed. I included about 15 pictures from the various trips, copies of my ticket stubs and copies of my passport stamps. They seemed happy with that.

[TheZilla 0]

Hola!

I was really nervous when I sent in my I-129F too, juggling all the documentation over and over.

Like the others have said, they seem to be looking for evidence you've met in person in the past two years, to back up Question 18.

I sent 5 photos, and on the backs in felt pen I clearly wrote who's in the picture, where it was taken, and what date.

I also sent all the ticket stubs from trips together that I had, as well as copies of passport stamps from both his passport and my passport.

I didn't have access to credit card receipts or bills, but I've heard many say that if you can present credit card receipts or bills from BOTH of you, showing you two in the same place at the same time, it's pretty good documentation too.

Still, I think the photos clearly labeled, the ticket stubs, and the copies of passport stamps are probably the best stuff to include.

I've gathered emails, personal letters, phone bills, etc. for the future when the interview comes and they want proof of an ongoing relationship. My fiance and I are thinking ahead and making a point to send each other personal hand written letters while we wait since every little bit helps. So start saving for the next step, it could get here at any time!

Hope that was helpful and mucho good luck to you two!

[Caladan 19]

I included primary evidence from five meetings: passport stamps and boarding passes, ticket receipts and one bank statement. I also sent along four photographs & the engagement ring documentation.

The technical part of Q18 is to prove that you've met once in the previous two years. You need to prove an ongoing relationship only at the interview. That said, remember part of what you are trying to do is create a picture of the relationship in the interviewer's mind: is this couple for real? So keep it mainly focused on the purpose of the question, but with the broader aim in mind.

(For example, my fiancé lives outside of Edmonton, and depending on the flight plan, I either cross customs in Edmonton, Toronto, or Ottawa. A passport stamp in Toronto on its own shows I entered the country, but not necessarily that I made it to Edmonton after that. Thus the boarding passes.)

DO NOT LIE. It's okay that you met online. It's easy with the Internet these days and I'd say quite a lot of the people here did meet online without having any intention to meet someone overseas. But that said, meeting online doesn't help prove you met in person: I have two years of chat logs and they're not included in this petition as they don't help show that I ever went to Canada or that he came here.

[Bruce n Jen 0]

Thanks much everyone !

[rosyanne 0]

When it comes to evidences... you want more than enough...

[Mephys 2]

We met about 8 times and we included one picture of each time. They were all digital pictures and I had them printed in a photo store. Some of them has the digital date in the picture but I did put a sticker with date/location/and our names on the back of each picture.

We included few bills, credit card bills, airplane tickets photocopies, and hotel bills showing where we were. I included also our rings certificates with our names printed on them. But ok we got a little crazy and added a lot of cell phone bills to prove the ongoing relationship. Sure hope so we didnt include too much!

Mephys