Should I wait to file the I-129F till after another trip?

[Pythos1 24]

We have been in a relationship one year this month. I have been to the Philippines twice to be with her. We have over 25,000 messages on facebook chat plus lots more on Skype. And Skype calls. And regular phone calls. I am sending her weekly support money and paying for her sister to go to Arellano University (BA Business in Marketing, first year). I did not use my debit card while visiting her, and don't have any receipts for purchases, but I have boarding passes and my passport with Philippine stamps. I also only have 3 or 4 pictures of the two of us, one picture of us with an expatriate American and his Philippine-born dual-citizen wife when we visited Angeles City to visit them.

From all I have read, I fear I may not have enough pictures and I lack receipts. I do not want to wait to start the process, but I also don't want denied due to lack of evidence. So, should I make a third trip to visit her before I start the process? Or do I have enough evidence now?

[Shauneg 762]

I didn't have more than 3 or 4 pictures and had no problems. You'll be ok with Manila as you are. Other countries maybe not, but you're ok. Don't mention sending money or show that as they could view it as pay for play if you get me......

For lack of pictures I actually wrote a short note about the old Philippine saying that it's bad luck to take pictures with your boyfriend/girlfriend as you will break up and included a website explaining it. It's a real thing and my fiancee truly believes it, lol. But I respect it. Don't think you would need that but it's an option if you're worried about lack of pictures (which are actually secondary proof anyway).

[brien0512 61]

I didn't have more than 3 or 4 pictures and had no problems. You'll be ok with Manila as you are. Other countries maybe not, but you're ok. Don't mention sending money or show that as they could view it as pay for play if you get me......

For lack of pictures I actually wrote a short note about the old Philippine saying that it's bad luck to take pictures with your boyfriend/girlfriend as you will break up and included a website explaining it. It's a real thing and my fiancee truly believes it, lol. But I respect it. Don't think you would need that but it's an option if you're worried about lack of pictures (which are actually secondary proof anyway).

That was the most rediculous thing i ever heard bout not taking pictures with bf lmao theres no such thing like that...anyway if ur planning to visit her again just wait till after u visit her n make sure to keep all the receipt from hotel to resto or fastfood n grocery store my husband waited till he has all those evidence n dont forget to take lots of pictures just to make sure coz its always been a case to case basis some recieve rfe for luck of evidence n it will delay ur case...just to let u know i never had an rfe coz we got tons of evidence n consul just ask my name n my fiance name n now my husband during the interview n scroll on my 8 to 10 lbs of folder hes holding n he suddenly says congratulations welcome to america

[Shauneg 762]

That was the most rediculous thing i ever heard bout not taking pictures with bf lmao theres no such thing like that...anyway if ur planning to visit her again just wait till after u visit her n make sure to keep all the receipt from hotel to resto or fastfood n grocery store my husband waited till he has all those evidence n dont forget to take lots of pictures just to make sure coz its always been a case to case basis some recieve rfe for luck of evidence n it will delay ur case...just to let u know i never had an rfe coz we got tons of evidence n consul just ask my name n my fiance name n now my husband during the interview n scroll on my 8 to 10 lbs of folder hes holding n he suddenly says congratulations welcome to america

It is a legitimate thing. Not from this generation, but she lived with her grandparents. Google is your friend.....

I won't link the multiple sites but here's one....

https://anthropology.knoji.com/10-superstitious-beliefs-of-filipinos-that-influence-their-life/

Taking pictures with your boyfriend or girlfriend means engagement will be broken.

If you want to marry your boyfriend or girlfriend then avoid taking pictures with him or her. In some instances, young men and women who are just playing around with their girlfriend or boyfriend would invite their sweetheart to take pictures with them in the hope that their relationship will end. Some surprisingly achieve their wish but others end up marching to the altar

Edited September 4, 2015 by Shauneg

[brien0512 61]

By the way my husband n i lives near cincinnatti ohio i just saw ur pro.. hope to meet her someday

[brien0512 61]

It is a legitimate thing. Not from this generation, but she lived with her grandparents. Google is your friend.....

All i know its not gud to be both lovers to be godparents on same babies but never taking pictures together lol

[Shauneg 762]

All i know its not gud to be both lovers to be godparents on same babies but never taking pictures together lol

Why is the superstition my wife believes in funny, but yours ok?

[cristina16 81]

We have been in a relationship one year this month. I have been to the Philippines twice to be with her. We have over 25,000 messages on facebook chat plus lots more on Skype. And Skype calls. And regular phone calls. I am sending her weekly support money and paying for her sister to go to Arellano University (BA Business in Marketing, first year). I did not use my debit card while visiting her, and don't have any receipts for purchases, but I have boarding passes and my passport with Philippine stamps. I also only have 3 or 4 pictures of the two of us, one picture of us with an expatriate American and his Philippine-born dual-citizen wife when we visited Angeles City to visit them.

From all I have read, I fear I may not have enough pictures and I lack receipts. I do not want to wait to start the process, but I also don't want denied due to lack of evidence. So, should I make a third trip to visit her before I start the process? Or do I have enough evidence now?

Photos are just secondary evidence, a few is fine. You can provide copies of boarding passes, immigration stamps, FB wall posts and receipts from Hotels or from any restos that you guys went to eat. Did you use your credit card? your billing can be used to. You can also use your phone bills if you are calling her using your US phone. Did you sent her any cards, flowers, gifts? Photos of these and receipts in sending those can also be used. I also have postal receipts of cards/ documents that I send my fiance, I also attached those. I also used my fiance's FB posts with location/ place tagging on while he was in the country.

If you guys traveled within the Philippines, you can also include boarding passes and ticket with both of your names on it.

[Tahoma 2,292]

I believe the U.S. Embassy Manila views remittances as evidence of a bona fide relationship. I included remittance receipts with my I-129F packet, and more remittance receipts with Chinook's interview packet. There have been reports here on VJ of pre-screeners and consular officers asking for remittance receipts.

[Pythos1 24]

I believe the U.S. Embassy Manila views remittances as evidence of a bona fide relationship. I included remittance receipts with my I-129F packet, and more remittance receipts with Chinook's interview packet. There have been reports here on VJ of pre-screeners and consular officers asking for remittance receipts.

Are you saying the Western Union money I have been sending is good evidence of a bona fide relationship and not a "pay to play" relationship? I was very concerned about that part. It does show we have been in a relationship over a period of time, but I do worry about the "pay to play" aspect that could be inferred.

[Pythos1 24]

By the way my husband n i lives near cincinnatti ohio i just saw ur pro.. hope to meet her someday

I told her I need to take her to Kings Island when she gets here. I used to go there every other year, with Cedar Point being the years I didn't go to Kings Island.

[brien0512 61]

I told her I need to take her to Kings Island when she gets here. I used to go there every other year, with Cedar Point being the years I didn't go to Kings Island.

Yeap she definitely going to like kings island we live 7 mins to kings island were in mason cant wait to have a filipina fren here...

[brien0512 61]

Are you saying the Western Union money I have been sending is good evidence of a bona fide relationship and not a "pay to play" relationship? I was very concerned about that part. It does show we have been in a relationship over a period of time, but I do worry about the "pay to play" aspect that could be inferred.

Just photocopy all wester union reciept thats what i did i never had a problem on my papers the more evidence the better... my husband waited till we had enough evidence before he submit our application Edited September 4, 2015 by brien0512

[Hank_ 9,174]

We have been in a relationship one year this month. I have been to the Philippines twice to be with her. We have over 25,000 messages on facebook chat plus lots more on Skype. And Skype calls. And regular phone calls. I am sending her weekly support money and paying for her sister to go to Arellano University (BA Business in Marketing, first year). I did not use my debit card while visiting her, and don't have any receipts for purchases, but I have boarding passes and my passport with Philippine stamps. I also only have 3 or 4 pictures of the two of us, one picture of us with an expatriate American and his Philippine-born dual-citizen wife when we visited Angeles City to visit them.

From all I have read, I fear I may not have enough pictures and I lack receipts. I do not want to wait to start the process, but I also don't want denied due to lack of evidence. So, should I make a third trip to visit her before I start the process? Or do I have enough evidence now?

You don't need receipts... I didn't include any.

You only need proof of having met in person within the past two years, a few pictures are adequate. The boarding passes and your passport stamps are the important evidence.

[heo luoi 206]

We have been in a relationship one year this month. I have been to the Philippines twice to be with her. We have over 25,000 messages on facebook chat plus lots more on Skype. And Skype calls. And regular phone calls. I am sending her weekly support money and paying for her sister to go to Arellano University (BA Business in Marketing, first year). I did not use my debit card while visiting her, and don't have any receipts for purchases, but I have boarding passes and my passport with Philippine stamps. I also only have 3 or 4 pictures of the two of us, one picture of us with an expatriate American and his Philippine-born dual-citizen wife when we visited Angeles City to visit them.

From all I have read, I fear I may not have enough pictures and I lack receipts. I do not want to wait to start the process, but I also don't want denied due to lack of evidence. So, should I make a third trip to visit her before I start the process? Or do I have enough evidence now?

My opinion particularly with proof is the more evidence the better. I tried to keep receipts and make sure to ask for them because its not quite as customary as defacto in the US. The only thing is I think just cause you traveled doesnt mean you met or spent time w/ that person from a 3rd party perspective. So anything to help correlate that particularly for the specific met this person w/in 2 yrs requirement. The fact that you have been there 2x to be w/ her is admirable considering the expense in both time/money/vacation time(which is all difficult for some), somewhat odd not more paper trail. Receipts from hotels/travels I assume would help too. I purposely demanded we travel a bit to help drum that up vs just chilling w/ the family/inlaws the whole time.

But judging from a lot of people they dont want a zillion pics and stuff anyways.

I printed over 2000 pages and bound them at UPS for all receipts/chats/money transfers...etc and shipped over. Still waiting for NVC notice/interview but hopefully that is good. We knew each other virtually a couple years ago, reacquainted a year ago, and I went and visited and filed shortly upon returning. GL to you.

Edited September 4, 2015 by coldhands