Declaration of how you met. Question 18 of 129F

[TonyC88 0]

Sorry in advance for the long post!

So this is my fiancee's letter of declaration of us meeting in the last two years.

It's long, but we have had, as you'll see, a lot of short and long periods of seeing each other. Is this too wordy, too formal, too informal? I really just want any advice as I feel this is the most do it yourself part of the petition and I don't know if it's on track.

The references mostly refer to e-tickets and boarding passes etc, so evidence of travel.

Anything that gives too much information i've deleted for the purpose of this post. Also, if there's a problem with me posting this, please let me know and i'll delete it right away!

Evidence of having met in the last two years:

Myself (Jasmine *********) and Antonio ******** met on June 27th 2010 when both of us attended the Vans Warped Tour music festival in Ventura.

Antonio had flown to Los Angeles on June 21st 2010 with friends (See REF1 included in this package) for a road trip around the West Coast of the USA.

After spending the day and evening of June 27th together, we proceeded to speak via text messages and when he returned to the United Kingdom on August 20th 2010, we were able to continue our conversations via E-mail and Facebook. These conversations have continued throughout our relationship and were also accompanied by Skype and AIM conversations and IM’s.

After 4 months of daily conversation, on January 9th 2011, Antonio booked a flight for me to fly to London Heathrow to stay with him for 3 weeks. My outbound flight was February 16th 2011 and Return flight was scheduled for March 9th 2011. (See REF2 Included in this package) Our relationship was made official on my arrival on February 17th 2011 (See REF3 Included in this package) After dreading our time apart we decided that I would extend my stay by another 20 days, changing my return flight from March 9th 2011 to March 29th 2011 (See REF4 Included in this package.)

During my stay with Antonio between February 17th and March 29th 2011, I stayed with him for the full duration at (Address)

After returning to the US on the revised date, our relationship continued once again through AIM, E-mail and Skype amongst other online methods of keeping in touch.

In June of 2012, Antonio was scheduled to be a part of a music tour in the US from June 24th 2011. Despite the tour starting in Dallas, TX, (See REF5 Included in this package) Antonio flew to Los Angeles on June 14th 2011(See REF6 Included in this package) to stay with me for 7 days before driving to the first date of the tour in Texas.

On June 29th, I travelled to Las Vegas Via Greyhound (See REF6 Included in this package) To meet with Antonio, who was performing in Las Vegas (See REF5 Included in this package.)

We spent the day together, and a night staying at the MGM Grand Hotel Las Vegas (See REF7 Included in this package) before renting a car in Las Vegas (See REF8 Included in this package) to drive back to Pomona, California where I would go to the next date of the show (See REF5 Included in this package) and then return home, Antonio would continue on the tour.

The tour finished on August 14th 2012 in Hillsborough, Oregon and Antonio travelled back down the coast to stay with me for 3 days until his scheduled return flight on August 19th 2011 from LAX to London Heathrow (See REF6 Included in this package)

After returning to the UK Antonio took a short trip to Baltimore, MD on September 23rd 2011 which was unrelated to our relationship.

On October 6th 2011, Antonio flew to LAX once again (See REF9 Included in this package) to stay with me for 90 days, until January 3rd 2012. (See REF10 Included in this package.)

During Antonio’s stay with between October 6th 2011 and January 3rd 2012, he spent the full duration of the trip with me at (address)

On January 23rd 2012, Antonio flew out to LAX (See REF11 Included in this package) to visit me for 4 days, before driving down to Las Vegas, NV, to begin another music tour starting on January 27th, which would end in Pomona, California on February 18th 2012. (See REF 12 Included in this package) Antonio would stay with me again, for 11 days until February 29th (See REF11 Included in this package) when Antonio returned to the United Kingdom.

During the most recent visit, on February 17th, while I attended the band’s performance in Pomona, California (See REF12 Included in this package) Antonio proposed and I accepted, one year on from the arrival of my first visit on February 17th, 2011.

Antonio returned to the United Kingdom on February 29th 2012, and is currently there while we submit this application.

From my initial visit to the UK to see Antonio on February 17th 2011, we have spent a total of 157 days together.

Please see further included, annotated References in this package for further evidence of our time together and our ongoing relationship.

[Inky 1,110]

Way way way way too long. Cut out all of it and only put how you met within the last 2 years. They don't want an essay or a novel they just want a couple of lines on how you met in the last two years.

[kate&javi 26]

Mine was only 2 paragraphs long. I only put the important facts and the date!

[Oksana & Max 94]

Way too long, what they want to see is a proof of meeting.

Just put the dates you visited each other with appropriate evidence. No need for a story, they will not read it anyway. They only thing you need to proove, that you've met each other at least once in last 2 years.

I had only few paragraphs and thats it.

[Peter_Pan 661]

Myself (Jasmine *********) and Antonio ******** met on June 27th 2010 when both of us attended the Vans Warped Tour music festival in Ventura.

That should be enough methinks.

[baron555 934]

Way too long, what they want to see is a proof of meeting.

Just put the dates you visited each other with appropriate evidence. No need for a story, they will not read it anyway. They only thing you need to proove, that you've met each other at least once in last 2 years.

I had only few paragraphs and thats it.

And that's way too long also. The size of the box is indicative of how long the answer should be, about two sentences. That's all we used and were approved with no RFEs. Too long of an answer only can serve to confuse the adjucator and make that part of the process longer than needed.

[TonyC88 0]

I totally agree my initial post was WAY too long.

I'll write out an alternative, but if I include the different occasions we have been together, it's hard to not make it longer than a few lines.

[TonyC88 0]

How does this look? It says on the guide on this site to attach a sheet for this answer and refer to it, so I guess it's acceptable to not be able to get it all in the box?!

Myself (Jasmine ***) and Antonio *** met on June 27th 2010 when both of us attended the Vans Warped Tour music festival in Ventura. (See REF1 Included in this package)

February 16th 2011, I flew to the UK to stay with Antonio until March 9th 2011 (See REF2)

We decided to extend my stay and my return flight was altered to March 29th 2011 (See REF3)

June 14th 2011, Antonio flew to Los Angeles, CA to stay with me until June 21st before leaving to tour. (See REF4)

June 29th 2011, I travelled to Las Vegas, NV to meet Antonio on the tour for two days. (See REF5)

August 16th 2011, Antonio stayed with me at the end of the tour before returning to the UK on August 19th 2011. (See REF4)

October 6th 2011, Antonio flew to Los Angeles, CA to stay with me for 90 days, returning to the UK on January 3rd 2012. (See REF6)

January 23rd 2012, Antonio flew to Los Angeles, CA to stay with me for 4 days before leaving to tour. (See REF7)

February 18th 2012, Antonio stayed with me for 11 days at the end of the tour before returning to the UK on February 29th, 2012. (See REF7)

[X Factor 1,110]

How does this look? It says on the guide on this site to attach a sheet for this answer and refer to it, so I guess it's acceptable to not be able to get it all in the box?!

Myself (Jasmine ***) and Antonio *** met on June 27th 2010 when both of us attended the Vans Warped Tour music festival in Ventura. (See REF1 Included in this package)

February 16th 2011, I flew to the UK to stay with Antonio until March 9th 2011 (See REF2)

We decided to extend my stay and my return flight was altered to March 29th 2011 (See REF3)

June 14th 2011, Antonio flew to Los Angeles, CA to stay with me until June 21st before leaving to tour. (See REF4)

June 29th 2011, I travelled to Las Vegas, NV to meet Antonio on the tour for two days. (See REF5)

August 16th 2011, Antonio stayed with me at the end of the tour before returning to the UK on August 19th 2011. (See REF4)

October 6th 2011, Antonio flew to Los Angeles, CA to stay with me for 90 days, returning to the UK on January 3rd 2012. (See REF6)

January 23rd 2012, Antonio flew to Los Angeles, CA to stay with me for 4 days before leaving to tour. (See REF7)

February 18th 2012, Antonio stayed with me for 11 days at the end of the tour before returning to the UK on February 29th, 2012. (See REF7)

Still overkill. But if you have boarding passes, tickets etc of each of dates shown above then that should be good.

[TonyC88 0]

Still overkill. But if you have boarding passes, tickets etc of each of dates shown above then that should be good.

I have all of the documents to back up that I was there, she was here etc, so I'd rather include all of the times we met, as I figure it just solidifies the legitimacy of the relationship.

Thanks for your replies, I really would be lost without this forum.

[dalatian 4]

I took the advice of "Gary and Alla" and wrote a two-sentence paragraph describing where, when, and how we met. All fit comfortably in the provided space of the I-129f form. No detailed attachments of any sort. In fact, my entire I-129f package (including photos) was within a regular envelop. As Gary and many others have pointed out, responding exactly to what the USCIS asks will get your petition approved, not extra details nor how pretty things look. It worked for us. Hope it will work for you. Good luck!

Edited March 19, 2012 by dalatian

[baron555 934]

I totally agree my initial post was WAY too long.

I'll write out an alternative, but if I include the different occasions we have been together, it's hard to not make it longer than a few lines.

If you met multiple times, there is no need to list each one. You only need to provide evidence for proof for one of those meetings. You can mention that you have met multiple times but we have included evidence for the time we both met in City, Country from the Date of to the Date of.

You need to solidify the relationship for the interview, not the K-1 petition. Save it for the interview.

[OurHappyEnding 3]

How does this look? It says on the guide on this site to attach a sheet for this answer and refer to it, so I guess it's acceptable to not be able to get it all in the box?!

Myself (Jasmine ***) and Antonio *** met on June 27th 2010 when both of us attended the Vans Warped Tour music festival in Ventura. (See REF1 Included in this package)

February 16th 2011, I flew to the UK to stay with Antonio until March 9th 2011 (See REF2)

We decided to extend my stay and my return flight was altered to March 29th 2011 (See REF3)

June 14th 2011, Antonio flew to Los Angeles, CA to stay with me until June 21st before leaving to tour. (See REF4)

June 29th 2011, I travelled to Las Vegas, NV to meet Antonio on the tour for two days. (See REF5)

August 16th 2011, Antonio stayed with me at the end of the tour before returning to the UK on August 19th 2011. (See REF4)

October 6th 2011, Antonio flew to Los Angeles, CA to stay with me for 90 days, returning to the UK on January 3rd 2012. (See REF6)

January 23rd 2012, Antonio flew to Los Angeles, CA to stay with me for 4 days before leaving to tour. (See REF7)

February 18th 2012, Antonio stayed with me for 11 days at the end of the tour before returning to the UK on February 29th, 2012. (See REF7)

I think this is fine. It is detailed but it isn't too long. We wrote about 3 paragraphs discussing how we meet.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I have all of the documents to back up that I was there, she was here etc, so I'd rather include all of the times we met, as I figure it just solidifies the legitimacy of the relationship.

Thanks for your replies, I really would be lost without this forum.

The legitimacy of the relationship is determined at interview, not with the petition. The petition just wants your details and to prove that you met in person in the last 2 years and intend to marry each other.

Mine was: "Vanessa and I met in person in October 2008 when Vanessa travelled to the United States and stayed in Houston, Texas with me for sixty-five (65) days before returning to Australia."

I too was approved without RFE and my K1 interview was about 5 mins. You're making it harder than it has to be. When was the last time you met in person, that's all they want to know. That box is to confirm that you met in person in the last 2 years. That is all.

Edited March 19, 2012 by Vanessa&Tony

[litlmina 40]

You didn't specify what your REF documents were, but I will highly suggest photocopying your passport/his passport with the entrance/exit stamps. I drew an arrow next to the stamp and specified "TRIP 1" next to the stamp. I had to do this for an RFE, so I re-photocopied the front page of both passports, too.

And like everyone has said, you could just include the most recent trip (or two) with solid primary evidence and be fine.