Passport Stamps

[Mmelon 8]

Please forgive me for all my nit-picky posts. I am really nervous about getting everything right the first time to avoid wasting time with an RFE. Since I don't have any boarding passes, my passport stamps are my main proof that I was in Costa Rica and have been with my fiancé within the last two years. Some of the stamps are very clear and readable, but some of them are quite fuzzy and cannot be deciphered. I made photocopies of all the pages of my passport. Since the stamps are in Spanish, should I write what each stamp says in English below the copy? I am sure they are quite used to seeing blurry stamps in other languages, but I just want to ask to be sure. Also, the second time I visited, I got a stamp upon entry to Costa Rica, but I didn't get an exit stamp, or a stamp upon entry to the U.S. I am assuming that it won't be a problem since the stamps from the previous visit are still within the last two years, right? And if I do provide clarification, should I write it on a sticky note and attach it to the proper page, or write directly on the sheet below the page? All my stamps are squished onto about four pages, but again, I would think they are probably used to seeing that.

Thanks Everyone!

[RomaSkirsky 6]

Hi,

For your proof of relationship if you have any photos you can write on the back explaining them. The passport stamps I would write on them, preferably in english explaining what they are and how they're proof of your relationship. Stamps for entering the country will serve as proof but they may not be enough. I would also send in the recommended letter of intent to marry signed by both the petitioner and the beneficiary as well. If you have phone records or emails, or facebook messages between you an your Fiancé, that will also serve as proof. Also, I wrote directly on the page and put arrows and things like that to show them what I was referring too, just don't cover the stamp, write below or wherever there's space. Best of luck-

Edited April 7, 2013 by RomaSkirsky

[Mmelon 8]

Hi,

For your proof of relationship if you have any photos you can write on the back explaining them. The passport stamps I would write on them, preferably in english explaining what they are and how they're proof of your relationship. Stamps for entering the country will serve as proof but they may not be enough. I would also send in the recommended letter of intent to marry signed by both the petitioner and the beneficiary as well. If you have phone records or emails, or facebook messages between you an your Fiancé, that will also serve as proof. Also, I wrote directly on the page and put arrows and things like that to show them what I was referring too, just don't cover the stamp, write below or wherever there's space. Best of luck-

=) I have all that other paperwork that the I-129F requires, as well as a few photos, emails, phone records, transcripts from when I was studying abroad there, etc. I just read that boarding passes and passport stamps are "primary" evidence and the rest only counts as secondary evidence. Since I didn't keep the boarding passes, it makes the passport stamps kind of important.

Thanks for your comments and help!

[RomaSkirsky 6]

=) I have all that other paperwork that the I-129F requires, as well as a few photos, emails, phone records, transcripts from when I was studying abroad there, etc. I just read that boarding passes and passport stamps are "primary" evidence and the rest only counts as secondary evidence. Since I didn't keep the boarding passes, it makes the passport stamps kind of important.

Thanks for your comments and help!

No problem. Any proof you have will serve, and it's better to send in more then receive a denial for not enough. I didn't send them any passport stamps from me entering and leaving the country, but I sent a copy of my passport with every page in it so if they needed it they saw it there. For proof of relationship my Fiancé and I had stamps from when we traveled together and I sent that too. I think you'll be just fine! Feel free to ask any questions you need! My Fiancé and I are now heading to the interview part of the process this May so we'd be happy to answer any questions. Best of luck

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

=) I have all that other paperwork that the I-129F requires, as well as a few photos, emails, phone records, transcripts from when I was studying abroad there, etc. I just read that boarding passes and passport stamps are "primary" evidence and the rest only counts as secondary evidence. Since I didn't keep the boarding passes, it makes the passport stamps kind of important.

Thanks for your comments and help!

Yes, passport stamps and boarding passes are primary evidence of meeting face to face within the 2 years prior to filing. Photos are secondary. Chat and phone logs, Facebook messages and Skype logs are not really proof of meeting or even required with the I-129F petition. Those things show an ongoing relationship. It is not bad to put a few of those in with your I-129F petition, but they are not used to prove meeting, which is one of the main requirements of the I-129F.

A copy of the entire passport is not needed if you are sending in a copy of your birth certificate to prove citizenship because that is what the entire copy of your passport would be for. They want a copy of the birth certificate OR a copy of all pages of the passport. If you want to go ahead and make a copy of all the pages to show your stamps, you can but just a copy of your biographical page plus the pages with the stamps should be enough if not using the passport to prove your citizenship. Just copy them as clear and legible as you can make them.

[Mmelon 8]

Yes, passport stamps and boarding passes are primary evidence of meeting face to face within the 2 years prior to filing. Photos are secondary. Chat and phone logs, Facebook messages and Skype logs are not really proof of meeting or even required with the I-129F petition. Those things show an ongoing relationship. It is not bad to put a few of those in with your I-129F petition, but they are not used to prove meeting, which is one of the main requirements of the I-129F.

A copy of the entire passport is not needed if you are sending in a copy of your birth certificate to prove citizenship because that is what the entire copy of your passport would be for. They want a copy of the birth certificate OR a copy of all pages of the passport. If you want to go ahead and make a copy of all the pages to show your stamps, you can but just a copy of your biographical page plus the pages with the stamps should be enough if not using the passport to prove your citizenship. Just copy them as clear and legible as you can make them.

Ok. I have the birth certificate, so I will just use the relevant passport pages. The copies I made are very clear, its just that two of the original stamps are really blurry and pretty impossible to read. Should I write below the copy what it says, or leave that to them to decipher? There are other stamps that are very clear and readable, and all are within the two year time limit, so maybe the fuzzy ones don't really matter anyway?

[vbtwo 54]

I wrote in what the stamps were as they were in Ukrainian on the page with the copy. Just write it in, it won't hurt and can only help. The less work they have to do to understand your petition, the better.

[RomaSkirsky 6]

Yes, passport stamps and boarding passes are primary evidence of meeting face to face within the 2 years prior to filing. Photos are secondary. Chat and phone logs, Facebook messages and Skype logs are not really proof of meeting or even required with the I-129F petition. Those things show an ongoing relationship. It is not bad to put a few of those in with your I-129F petition, but they are not used to prove meeting, which is one of the main requirements of the I-129F.

A copy of the entire passport is not needed if you are sending in a copy of your birth certificate to prove citizenship because that is what the entire copy of your passport would be for. They want a copy of the birth certificate OR a copy of all pages of the passport. If you want to go ahead and make a copy of all the pages to show your stamps, you can but just a copy of your biographical page plus the pages with the stamps should be enough if not using the passport to prove your citizenship. Just copy them as clear and legible as you can make them.

Yes this is true. I sent in a copy of the passport and birth certificate but it's not necessary. I just added a lot of extra stuff in the original petition in case cause I was nervous. lol. You'll do great though!