Skype, Hangout, Viber, FaceTime, Whatsapp Logs

[a+i 1]

Hello All,

This forum has been super helpful and so happy to so many people were/are in the same boat as my fiancee and I. So we are preparing the I-129F package, and I'm gathering all the logs. We talk everyday and as much we can when both of us are awake. That being said, throughout the day we go from FaceTime, Viber, Whatsapp, Google Hangout and Skype. How much log is too much? I'm doing screen captures for Skype and FaceTime and downloading chat logs as much as possible. Most of the time we leave voice messages via Whatsapp. Any thoughts on how much I should include? I thought a reasonable amount would be 3 pages of log per applications. I have ability to combine 9-15days worth of logs per page, which yields about 27-45 call history from the past year per application. Should that be sufficient? Thanks in advance for all your help!

- i

[JIJourney 96]

We did Skype and Viber, but we stuck with mainly Skype logs for our petition. We started from the beginning of our relationship to the main points in the middle and big events like holidays and birthdays all the way to our present and current relationship. USCIS likes to see the evolvement of such a beautiful thing and relationship. Good luck!

[a+i 1]

Thanks! This part of the process is much harder than I anticipate. What is the average number of pages of chat logs do most of you have? Whatsapp alone I have 150+ pages!! Is it necessary to show all? Or should I just do like 2 pages per month or something?

[Sweetmelissa 82]

USCIS likes to see the evolvement of such a beautiful thing and relationship. Good luck!

USCIS is really only concerned with evidence to prove there has been a face-to-face meeting within the last two years. Can still include them, esp if you wish to front load your petition, but relationship evidence is better suited for the interview and consulate stage of the process. Like pictures, they only supplement primary evidence that should be included in the original petition.

[JIJourney 96]

USCIS is really only concerned with evidence to prove there has been a face-to-face meeting within the last two years. Can still include them, esp if you wish to front load your petition, but relationship evidence is better suited for the interview and consulate stage of the process. Like pictures, they only supplement primary evidence that should be included in the original petition.

As someone who likes to always make sure we always "overdo" anything just in case there is any question. I would suggest if you had the relationship evidence (like this couple does) than definitely frontload the petition and it definitely reduces the chance for an RFE. We thought we had all the evidence we can provide but we still got an RFE so I am speaking from experience. Relationship evidence is well suited for both the petition and interview. Just when it comes to the interview, provide more recent also.

[phd1974 17]

I agree that USCIS would not be interested in that ... only the embassy during your interview. I did not provide any chat logs or Facebook screen captures and received no RFE. I did print out about 40 pages of a 900+ page WhatsApp conversation of over 1 1/2 years. But when the interview came, the consular did not care about seeing them. So I was approved without even presenting any type of chat history or phone call history.

I can almost guarantee that you will not get an RFE from not providing chat logs for your petition. If you do, it will for something else, as chat logs is only secondary evidence of having a relationship and not considered primary evidence.

[a+i 1]

Thanks again for everyone's comment. I think I'll just do like an exert of chat logs. So far my fiancee and I have seen each other 3 times within the year. And I anticipate to visit her again during the visa process. So hopefully that should "do the trick".

[bonyari 2]

As far as our experience goes, the photos are the most convincing evidence. Try to include some setting into your photos. For example, on one of the trips I made to visit my gf, we went out for a movie. We had a friend took our photos in front of a movie poster which showed the date of release and so on. No better time stamp than that. Another good idea is to include other family members, friends, or relatives into your photos.

Of course, just to be safe, we included selected pages of our Skype chat logs, YIM chats, emails.

It's more important to include the emails/chat/... that show how your relationship evolves (like someone above suggested). We did exactly that. For example, we printed the facebook mesage that I sent my gf (that's how our conversation started). Also the emails that mark the first time I said I had feelings for her. Sound corny and maybe personal to you, yes. But I think that's what it takes to convince them.

[steve n songsang 45]

to be clear, the I-129-F petition requests only proof of having met within 2 years AND that both parties are free to marry at the time of filing. The only relationship evidence we filed was proofs of my entries to Thailand (6 times over a 2yr. period) and photos of us together, mainly with her family(I personally feel this is most important).She brought phone and text message records to the interview and they would not take them but the consular officer DID look at every additional photo that my fiancée brought to the interview and asked questions about them. The rest of the interview I would equate to a school exam, with the I-129-F being the textbook....re...if you have studied the I-129-F and I-134 then you can ably answer any question the CO asks, he or she`s questions come directly from these forms in one way or another. I know that many "onetime" petitions are approved but I feel that multiple meetings along with many family photos hold the most sway and that a consular officer does not have the time and is not interested in reading page after page of texts, Skype, whatever....my opinion only, im sure others may disagree...best of luck to all legitimate I-129-F filers....

[a+i 1]

Definitely glad we took loads of pictures when she came to visit over Christmas, also with her friends when I was visiting few months ago!

[a+i 1]

So I'm making really good progress with all the logs, but one question I have. We message in mix Chinese and English. Do I need to translate anything that were written in Chinese?

[Theboz 10]

So I'm making really good progress with all the logs, but one question I have. We message in mix Chinese and English. Do I need to translate anything that were written in Chinese?

I wouldn't think you would have to translate chat logs only official Documents need translations.

[JIJourney 96]

So I'm making really good progress with all the logs, but one question I have. We message in mix Chinese and English. Do I need to translate anything that were written in Chinese?

Nope not at all !

Just official documents

[Mike-eeh and Odie 193]

You dont need much, just a few pages from each chat program each month. You dont need to send the entire chat log from every day. My wife and I used Viber and LINE and submitted 1-2 pages from each program from a random day of the corresponding month. Example

February 1-2 pages of chat logs from Viber and Line on February 14th

March 1-2 pages of chat logs from Viber and Line on March 31st

etc.

It's not quantity, it's quality. So choose logs where you talk about the future, wedding, kids, etc.

[austin22 0]

I sent 5 pictures of us together, copies of my flight tickets, and passport stamps. Skype logs and all of that other stuff aren't necessary at this point. They would be good to bring to the embassy at the time of the interview. Best of luck to the both of you.