Proof of visits to see husband

[Michell 3]

I live in California and my husband is in Tijuana, Mexico. Since there are no flights from California to Tijuana, what else can i save to show proof that i have been visiting him for evidence? I use my U.S. passport but it never gets stamped since you don't need it to go into Tijuana.

I normally drive to Tijuana and the only thing i can save are receipts of gas (using my credit card under my name)that i purchase right at the border. Should i save the receipts of currency exchange? Meals in Tijuana? Can anyone else think of any other ideas? We don't stay at hotels since he is staying with relatives. He would be travelling from time to time to visit his mother in another part of Mexico where i would most likely be visiting with him. In these cases, i or we would be flying there.

Any other ideas would be appreciated.

Thank you!

[Ryan H 3,793]

I normally drive to Tijuana and the only thing i can save are receipts of gas (using my credit card under my name)that i purchase right at the border. Should i save the receipts of currency exchange? Meals in Tijuana?

Yes, you should save the gas receipts at the border and receipts from meals in Tijuana. Have you asked Mexican border control personnel to stamp your passport? They may not do it but it doesn't hurt to ask.

[Dan C. 18]

My wife is from Tijuana, and I did fly many times to see her, but to San Diego, not TJ. In all the times I've crossed (too many to count) I've never once gotten a passport stamp in Tijuana; it's a "border free" zone, so you don't need a stamp from the Mexican authorities, and CBP doesn't give you one on re-entry -- which is probably a good thing, otherwise the line would take even longer.

I would focus on other ways of proving that you two are together. We printed out lots of photos of us together and with family, complete with date/time stamps (digital cameras store timestamps in the image file, and there's software that will put them on the photos). We also submitted phone call records and email correspondence. I'd say that your receipts of gas from the border area, along with restaurants in the city, etc. will only help to support your case.

[Michell 3]

My wife is from Tijuana, and I did fly many times to see her, but to San Diego, not TJ. In all the times I've crossed (too many to count) I've never once gotten a passport stamp in Tijuana; it's a "border free" zone, so you don't need a stamp from the Mexican authorities, and CBP doesn't give you one on re-entry -- which is probably a good thing, otherwise the line would take even longer.

I would focus on other ways of proving that you two are together. We printed out lots of photos of us together and with family, complete with date/time stamps (digital cameras store timestamps in the image file, and there's software that will put them on the photos). We also submitted phone call records and email correspondence. I'd say that your receipts of gas from the border area, along with restaurants in the city, etc. will only help to support your case.

We have been together for almost 8 years and we are actually engaged. We are getting married soon in Tijuana and i will file soon after. We have tons of photos together and with family. I have some with the date stamped but a lot of them do not. The software that you mentioned, where can you get it or if you have the name of it. Would this work to timestamp the current photos that i already have without the date? or am i not understanding correctly?

Because he technically lives in Sinaloa but is staying with relatives in Tijuana and is looking for a job there(so we can be closer to each other), do you think this will cause a problem? He would be going from time to time back to Sinaloa to visit his family and i would be travelling with him on occasions, should we book flights to/from Sinaloa showing both of us on the same itinerary and use that as proof as well?

Thanks for all your feedback!

[Dan C. 18]

Lots of photos? That's good!

Right, if you have the original digital pictures, the date and time should be embedded in the file, so all you need is some software to add it to the photo itself. There's no shortage of options; do a Google search for "add time and date to photo" and you'll get plenty of options, both free and paid. If you have Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, I believe that you can add the date and time stamp when you print out a photo.

I used the instructions here -- they provided a free solution, and I like free -- but if you're not technically inclined, you may opt to pay $10-30 for a program that will do it for you.

http://dptnt.com/2009/04/how-to-add-date-time-stamp-to-jpeg-photos-using-free-software/

Be aware that if you don't have the original files, the data that contains the date/time may have been stripped out. Facebook, for example, strips that information out of the file.

I don't think it'll cause a problem that he travels back and forth from Sinaloa. If you book flights together, that'll only strengthen your case.

Good luck.

[Michell 3]

Lots of photos? That's good!

Right, if you have the original digital pictures, the date and time should be embedded in the file, so all you need is some software to add it to the photo itself. There's no shortage of options; do a Google search for "add time and date to photo" and you'll get plenty of options, both free and paid. If you have Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, I believe that you can add the date and time stamp when you print out a photo.

I used the instructions here -- they provided a free solution, and I like free -- but if you're not technically inclined, you may opt to pay $10-30 for a program that will do it for you.

http://dptnt.com/2009/04/how-to-add-date-time-stamp-to-jpeg-photos-using-free-software/

Be aware that if you don't have the original files, the data that contains the date/time may have been stripped out. Facebook, for example, strips that information out of the file.

I don't think it'll cause a problem that he travels back and forth from Sinaloa. If you book flights together, that'll only strengthen your case.

Good luck.

Thank you very much!! I will definately look into this!

[TBoneTX 43,290]

Photos are considered secondary evidence, and the date/time stamps can be manipulated. However, you can pose for a couple of them in front of a building or sign that identifies where you are, holding the day's daily newspaper, si man (rather like a ransom-for-hostage situation, but...).

A better idea is to take a trip together within Mexico, saving your train or plane receipts, and stay at a hotel for a night or two, being SURE that the front desk has both of your names on the registration form or the receipt, si man.