Is there such thing as not enough evidence?

[Enzo221 0]

I sent my fiance's i29f last week, but I just found these threads where people share their actual experiences! I lived in the Philippines for a couple of years where I met my fiance she is 24 and I am 29. We have been dating for a year and a half now and we just decided to move to the states (if and when she gets approved). I've been reading and everyone seems to have sent tons of evidence for a bona fide relationship like hundreds of pictures call logs and emails and plane tickets! All I sent in was our intent to marry statements, about five pictures (one website said max of 5) passport stamps where we both traveled to hong Kong and singapore for vacation. I sent a photocopy of my passport that had been stamped when I first moved there back in 2013, then I stayed there. I met her towards the end of 2015 so I didn't think I needed to send in copies of our text messages or chat logs since I was living in the same city as her. I also flew back there back in may to talk to her about our marriage plans but no engagement rings or an engagement party or anything. Could I possibly get denied? I know I've been scaring myself by reading horror stories of people getting denied despite having mountains of evidence. Oh we're both Filipinos, my family immigrated here in 2001.

[JFH 12,195]

Welcome to the forum.

Each case is different. What the adjudicators are looking for is evidence of an ongoing, genuine relationship. You actually have the strongest evidence of all in that you lived in the same city and presumably saw each other on a daily or almost daily basis. The reason some people "front load" their applications with a stack of photos, months of text messages, etc is that they do not have evidence of much time spent together in person. So they need to add as much of the additional forms of evidence as they can think of. I think some people send too much. I've heard claims here of petitions weighing several pounds. I can't imagine that this would be necessary for anyone, but you never know.

Also, if a couple has "red flags" in their case (previous overstays or denials, several previous marriages, large age difference, cultural or religious differences) they need to send a lot of evidence to convince the adjudicator that the relationship is real and not just to gain immigration benefits.

In short, you have to convince a total stranger that has never met you before that you and your girlfriend are genuinely in love. Added to that, the stranger you are trying to convince has been employed by USCIS to work on the assumption that your girlfriend is only involved with you for a green card. The burden of proof is always on you, not USCIS. They will assume that every case that comes through the door is someone who just wants a green card. Your job is to convince him/her that your primary aim is to live together as man and wife.

Your case sounds fine - no big age gap, spent time together in person, lived in the same city, similar background. I assume you've met her family too?

[Unidentified 2,930]

A benefit of front loading your application is that you can get away with sending in the bare minimum to USCIS and get approved by them but then when you get to the embassy stage you get denied because they won't look at any evidence you might bring to the interview. They just look at the evidence you sent in to USCIS and decide your faith based on that and if you didn't send in anything substantial then it's back to square one.

But you have a big plus in that you lived together and I'm assuming you sent in evidence showing that?. Me and my now husband met when I was an au pair and then lived together a year while I was studying. We sent in proof that we had lived together, maybe 5 pages of chat printouts and a few pictures and we were approved without any issues at all. Plus of course boarding passes showing we've traveled together and passport stamps.

Good luck on your journey!

[Enzo221 0]

Welcome to the forum.

Each case is different. What the adjudicators are looking for is evidence of an ongoing, genuine relationship. You actually have the strongest evidence of all in that you lived in the same city and presumably saw each other on a daily or almost daily basis. The reason some people "front load" their applications with a stack of photos, months of text messages, etc is that they do not have evidence of much time spent together in person. So they need to add as much of the additional forms of evidence as they can think of. I think some people send too much. I've heard claims here of petitions weighing several pounds. I can't imagine that this would be necessary for anyone, but you never know.

Also, if a couple has "red flags" in their case (previous overstays or denials, several previous marriages, large age difference, cultural or religious differences) they need to send a lot of evidence to convince the adjudicator that the relationship is real and not just to gain immigration benefits.

In short, you have to convince a total stranger that has never met you before that you and your girlfriend are genuinely in love. Added to that, the stranger you are trying to convince has been employed by USCIS to work on the assumption that your girlfriend is only involved with you for a green card. The burden of proof is always on you, not USCIS. They will assume that every case that comes through the door is someone who just wants a green card. Your job is to convince him/her that your primary aim is to live together as man and wife.

Your case sounds fine - no big age gap, spent time together in person, lived in the same city, similar background. I assume you've met her family too?

My only problem is that I don't have tangible proof that I did live in that city. Its a small city and contracts and leases aren't a big deal and I didnt realize then that I would need it now. I did send pictures (1 from 2014, 2 from 2015 and 1 from 2016) I really thought overdoing the whole pictures thing is a no no. If I had known I could've sent an entire photo album. And yes, I did send a picture of us with her family while we were all on vacation. I'm pretty sure the packet I sent was less than half a pound hahahaha. If only I knew these forums existed before I sent my i29f.

[lacolinab13 86]

If you had passport stamps, then they know how long you were in the country.

I lived with my fiance for over a year and a half in his country before we sent in the petition. I'd also visited his country twice before that. I wasn't on the lease or bills, and didn't really have any proof of us living together, but I did have proof that I was a legal resident of his country and sent that in, as well as all the relevant passport stamps. A few plane and train tickets that had us in the same time/place, and then 10 pictures.

For the embassy stage, I sent more pics, a bunch more plane tickets for both as us as we'd been traveling a lot together, and cards congratulating us on our engagement from family. I never submitted any chats or calls.

I know it's all embassy-dependent, but it doesn't seem from what I read on here that the embassy in Manila is very tough on couples. For all K-1s, the rate of approval is extremely high, and lots of evidence only seems to be necessary for high-fraud countries or to overcome some serious red flags.

I would just gather more evidence to present to the embassy - even though they don't have to look at it, again, it seems they most often are happy to.

[aurpol 17]

Supposedly there is but then again, we just dont know what enough evidence really is. This, may be due to anxiety or "fear" or we just want to be so sure that they will not ask for more (RFE) that would only delay the process. When I filed for Adjustment of Status, I sent voluminous docs and I guess it helped and never had any RFE. I had my USC interview few weeks ago and when I saw an ISO holding a THICK folder, I just smiled and said to my wife that IM NEXT (just because i saw that thick folder). True enough, the ISO called my name. So, I think It didnt bother USCIS accepting all those docs and making that very thick folder.

Edited July 9, 2016 by aurpol

[AP16 30]

It shouldn't be necessary to frontload the petition with personal records of your relationship, but since US immigration is anything but reasonable and they work with the illegal and unconstitutional presumption that you're trying to pull a fraud, plus the fact that the CO simply ignores all the evidence you take to the interview, as if they were able to read your mind in less than 5 minutes just by asking short questions, you can never be too careful.

[Unidentified 2,930]

It shouldn't be necessary to frontload the petition with personal records of your relationship, but since US immigration is anything but reasonable and they work with the illegal and unconstitutional presumption that you're trying to pull a fraud, plus the fact that the CO simply ignores all the evidence you take to the interview, as if they were able to read your mind in less than 5 minutes just by asking short questions, you can never be too careful.

In some countries it's a valid assumption. Immigration is a privilege, not a right.

And you say it shouldn't be necessary to front load and the same time you're upset about them not checking the evidence you brought.... A lot of times they look at what you sent to USCIS. That's why a lot of people, especially the ones who've been here a while, tell people to front load their application. Then the new people come and try to tell people it's not necessary and that they should only send in the bare minimum and then get upset when they are denied because of lack of evidence.

[AP16 30]

In some countries it's a valid assumption. Immigration is a privilege, not a right.

And you say it shouldn't be necessary to front load and the same time you're upset about them not checking the evidence you brought.... A lot of times they look at what you sent to USCIS. That's why a lot of people, especially the ones who've been here a while, tell people to front load their application. Then the new people come and try to tell people it's not necessary and that they should only send in the bare minimum and then get upset when they are denied because of lack of evidence.

This assumption is not valid in any democratic country in the world. There's a basic principle in pretty much every legal system stating that everyone's innocent until proven guilty. Potential immigrant or not, it doesn't matter, everyone means everyone, as stated also by the principle of no discrimination of any kind. This is in US Constitution and in my country's Constitution.

And I did not contradicted myself as you suggested. I'm saying it shouldn't be necessary to frontload your I129-F petition because the K-1 process is basically divided into 2 parts, and within this time new evidence is likely to be produced by the couple, with new visits. It is indeed my case: only after our petition was sent, I met my fiancee's family and we exchanged rings (since it's common in my country for both to wear engagement rings). So, there we go, new evidence. That's why I'm saying evidence should be looked at both by the USCIS and by the CO at the interview, since the relationship is not halted while parts wait for the visa to be processed.

Just my thoughts. It's my job to look into legal details, sorry. I hope USCIS or the DOA are not peeking at Visa Journey ?

Edited July 9, 2016 by AP16

[Enzo221 0]

Opinion question for those who have been here a while: Do you guys think I'm going to have problems with not having enough evidence for a bona fide relationship or other grounds for denial?

[AP16 30]

Opinion question for those who have been here a while: Do you guys think I'm going to have problems with not having enough evidence for a bona fide relationship or other grounds for denial?

I have not been here for a while, but I don't think you'll have problems. You guys lived together, there's no way someone can just assume there's not enough proof of relationship. You're fine.

Good luck, by the way.

[Hank_ 9,174]

I sent my fiance's i29f last week, but I just found these threads where people share their actual experiences! I lived in the Philippines for a couple of years where I met my fiance she is 24 and I am 29. We have been dating for a year and a half now and we just decided to move to the states (if and when she gets approved). I've been reading and everyone seems to have sent tons of evidence for a bona fide relationship like hundreds of pictures call logs and emails and plane tickets! All I sent in was our intent to marry statements, about five pictures (one website said max of 5) passport stamps where we both traveled to hong Kong and singapore for vacation. I sent a photocopy of my passport that had been stamped when I first moved there back in 2013, then I stayed there. I met her towards the end of 2015 so I didn't think I needed to send in copies of our text messages or chat logs since I was living in the same city as her. I also flew back there back in may to talk to her about our marriage plans but no engagement rings or an engagement party or anything. Could I possibly get denied? I know I've been scaring myself by reading horror stories of people getting denied despite having mountains of evidence. Oh we're both Filipinos, my family immigrated here in 2001.

For the I-129F petition you need evidence of having met in person within the past 2 years - THAT'S IT. You do not need chat logs, emails and such (at this time). For USEM there is absolutely no reason for front loading the petition.

If you included what is required by USCIS for the petition that is enough. Never DO-DO when DO will DO.

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-129finstr.pdf

https://www.uscis.gov/i-129f

Completed I-129F (34, 34a for sure answered)

G-325A from both of you

Letter of Intent to Marry from both of you

2 X 2 passport photos from both of you

Proof of U.S. citizenship from you

Proof of having met in person within 2 years. (pictures, passport stamps, receipts, boarding passes, ... etc.)

Both free to marry at the time of filing the petition. With evidence if needed - divorce decree or such.

Don't think I missed anything, read the instructions I linked.

[TedA 3]

My fiance went into interview and she was asked a few questions but they didn't hardly ask for any proof of anything and she has her visa now. This was manila so im sure different embassy are different.

[Shauneg 763]

Opinion question for those who have been here a while: Do you guys think I'm going to have problems with not having enough evidence for a bona fide relationship or other grounds for denial?

You are fine.

[p-ana 933]

As others said, you are fine. The embassy in Manilas been so good they're not even asking the i134 most of the time now.