I-129F Package Layout

[Private Skylark 0]

I was wondering if anyone could tell me how they laid our their I-129F petition.

What order did you put everything in?

Did you include an index at the front?

Did you use folders to organise everything?

How many copies did you make of the folder?

Where did each copy go and did it contain exactly the same stuff as each other?

I'm a perfectionist and I'm very very ####### over organisation and presentation. I'm going the US in May and that's when my guy and I are going to fill in all the paper work and start the petition. So everything has to be perfect. I apologise if this seems odd or annoys anyone, I can't help it and really want to know about other people's organisation of their I-129F petition package. If you have any photos or whatever, that'd make me a very happy girl If you write down an index as well of the order in which you had your I-129F in, I'd be so happy.

Also, with the I-129F petition package you send off.. Do you ever get it back? I'm going to make sure my guy has a copy of the petition package, I have a copy and that all the original he also has in another folder incase anything needs to be sent off. So that'll be 3 folders of the I-129F petition and 1 folder full of all original documentation that may be required.

Am I going about this all the right way? ^^;

[brnidokiegurl 0]

You will get many varied replys im sure. I bound mine at the top with the acco fastener, dividers with tabs at the bottem. THere was a cover sheet, I made at least 3 copies (one to send to the other before interview>) the order is probably your choice: I had the fee, letter of introduction, 129, 325, birth certificate, letters of intents, divorce papers, then the extra (passports stamps,the recepts, etc whatever you have as your proof, then the pictures. I have no problems and mine went straight thru.

You wont get it back, the application your making now goes on to the interviewer, dont put this application in a folder as such, just be sure its bound together good so nothing will be lost. I also attached the small individual pictures to each 325. Names, dates and locations on the back of each picture. For the other pictures i bought some sheets that the (film) plastic cover allows you to place/remove the pictures you can place on front and back, they cant get lost.

Good luck,

[mybackpages 0]

I made a cover sheet like the sample here on VJ and put everything in the order listed there. I punched 2 holes at the top (to save time for the person putting it together. Then clipped everything together with one of those big black clips. I also used the little posted notes at the bottom of each section and labeled what was what.

I wouldnt put too many things like folders etc because they will just take it all apart and put it into their own folder. May it as simple for them as you can. I imagine I would get frustrated with a lot of extras that i have to spend time discarding. But also make it clearly organized so that they can see each document you are submitting.

Good Luck!

[Private Skylark 0]

You will get many varied replys im sure. I bound mine at the top with the acco fastener, dividers with tabs at the bottem. THere was a cover sheet, I made at least 3 copies (one to send to the other before interview>) the order is probably your choice: I had the fee, letter of introduction, 129, 325, birth certificate, letters of intents, divorce papers, then the extra (passports stamps,the recepts, etc whatever you have as your proof, then the pictures. I have no problems and mine went straight thru.

You wont get it back, the application your making now goes on to the interviewer, dont put this application in a folder as such, just be sure its bound together good so nothing will be lost. I also attached the small individual pictures to each 325. Names, dates and locations on the back of each picture. For the other pictures i bought some sheets that the (film) plastic cover allows you to place/remove the pictures you can place on front and back, they cant get lost.

Good luck,

Ohh, thank you

So really it's not sending over a folder as much as making a little pack. Good idea. A folder would be all big a bulky! I'll make a small pack for him and I'll be flying back home with my copy of the pack anyway

Would you happen to know the name of the stuff you used for the pictures? I definitely don't want them falling around and don't want them so the person can't remove them if they'd like to.

And thank you for listing the order you put the stuff in as well! I'll probably end up asking a similar question about order for when it's my time to go for the interview over here in the UK!

I made a cover sheet like the sample here on VJ and put everything in the order listed there. I punched 2 holes at the top (to save time for the person putting it together. Then clipped everything together with one of those big black clips. I also used the little posted notes at the bottom of each section and labeled what was what.

I wouldnt put too many things like folders etc because they will just take it all apart and put it into their own folder. May it as simple for them as you can. I imagine I would get frustrated with a lot of extras that i have to spend time discarding. But also make it clearly organized so that they can see each document you are submitting.

Good Luck!

There's a sample of a cover sheet? Hm, I can't believe I overlooked that! Thanks for letting me know I saw the order on the guides, but was just curious if anyone set it out differently.

And yeah, a folder is definitely looking to be a bad idea. I'll probably just keep it small and simple. And good idea about hole-punching it beforehand! I like how you think I'll probably use dividers to make a clear separation from each section. But I'm getting the idea that "simple" is the way to go forward with the I-129F petition!

Thank you very much

Edited March 24, 2007 by Private Skylark

[Turboguy 6]

They definately prefer the acco clips with the two holes at the top of the pages. That makes it easy for them to add pages for any processes they go through.

For photos I used a zip lock bag and scotch taped it on three sides to a piece of copy paper punched at the top. That way they could easily remove any photos they wanted to see.

I did not do a letter of introduction but did do an index page with all the contents listed and in the order they were in the packet.

Edited March 24, 2007 by Turboguy

[mybackpages 0]

Ohh, thank you

So really it's not sending over a folder as much as making a little pack. Good idea. A folder would be all big a bulky! I'll make a small pack for him and I'll be flying back home with my copy of the pack anyway

Would you happen to know the name of the stuff you used for the pictures? I definitely don't want them falling around and don't want them so the person can't remove them if they'd like to.

And thank you for listing the order you put the stuff in as well! I'll probably end up asking a similar question about order for when it's my time to go for the interview over here in the UK!

I put the photos in in a zip lock bag, attached the bag to a sheet of paper with 2 holes punched in on top so it could go in like the other documents. The bag was position so you can open and close it to access the pictures.

BUT I seem to remember someone who did have their peititon returned (maybe for a check or something) and it was already organized by USCIS. I think they have envelopes they put the photos in. Maybe you can do a search to find this posters thread. Seems I remember they posted a photo on VJ of how it looked after USCIS organized it. I wish I could remember the posters name.

[Otto 83]

I was wondering if anyone could tell me how they laid our their I-129F petition.

What order did you put everything in?

In pretty much the order in the Guides,

Did you include an index at the front?

Yes - both for them(USCIS), and for my own sanity - see sample, Sample Cover Letter

Did you use folders to organise everything?

No - multi-page document/forms were stapled, all else paper-clipped together, the entire package clipped together with one of those black 'bear' clips. The entire thing will be taken apart and put into a file anyway so I just made it easy for them to do that - kept it organized, but easy to separate.

How many copies did you make of the folder?

Two - one for Karin, one for me.

Where did each copy go and did it contain exactly the same stuff as each other?

The main 'original' copy went to USCIS in Ca. (in my case), one went in my important papers box, one went back with Karin.

I'm a perfectionist and I'm very very ####### over organisation and presentation. I'm going the US in May and that's when my guy and I are going to fill in all the paper work and start the petition(that's what we did). So everything has to be perfect. I apologise if this seems odd or annoys anyone, I can't help it and really want to know about other people's organisation of their I-129F petition package. If you have any photos or whatever, that'd make me a very happy girl If you write down an index as well of the order in which you had your I-129F in, I'd be so happy.

Also, with the I-129F petition package you send off.. Do you ever get it back? No - that becomes a perminent part of 'his' immegration petition..I'm going to make sure my guy has a copy of the petition package, I have a copy and that all the original he also has in another folder incase anything needs to be sent off. So that'll be 3 folders of the I-129F petition and 1 folder full of all original documentation that may be required (Good idea, he will need originals for the interview - they may/may-not ask for them, but they probably will is the concensus here..like birth certificats (both parties-just in case)..divorce decree - if applicable, etc..).

Am I going about this all the right way? ^^;

[Private Skylark 0]

They definately prefer the acco clips with the two holes at the top of the pages. That makes it easy for them to add pages for any processes they go through.

For photos I used a zip lock bag and scotch taped it on three sides to a piece of copy paper punched at the top. That way they could easily remove any photos they wanted to see.

I did not do a letter of introduction but did do an index page with all the contents listed and in the order they were in the packet.

I had to Google for what acco clips are. I know the type now so I'll be sure we have them when we do this. So do the holes go on the left side of the documents on right at the top of them? =/

I remember the zip lock bags from the airport so I'll be sure to get them and tape it to a piece of paper. (See, I wouldn't have thought of ANY of this if I hadn't asked!)

Thank you

I put the photos in in a zip lock bag, attached the bag to a sheet of paper with 2 holes punched in on top so it could go in like the other documents. The bag was position so you can open and close it to access the pictures.

BUT I seem to remember someone who did have their peititon returned (maybe for a check or something) and it was already organized by USCIS. I think they have envelopes they put the photos in. Maybe you can do a search to find this posters thread. Seems I remember they posted a photo on VJ of how it looked after USCIS organized it. I wish I could remember the posters name.

I'm going to go do that search now

I was wondering if anyone could tell me how they laid our their I-129F petition.

What order did you put everything in?

In pretty much the order in the Guides,

Did you include an index at the front?

Yes - both for them(USCIS), and for my own sanity - see sample, Sample Cover Letter

Did you use folders to organise everything?

No - multi-page document/forms were stapled, all else paper-clipped together, the entire package clipped together with one of those black 'bear' clips. The entire thing will be taken apart and put into a file anyway so I just made it easy for them to do that - kept it organized, but easy to separate.

How many copies did you make of the folder?

Two - one for Karin, one for me.

Where did each copy go and did it contain exactly the same stuff as each other?

The main 'original' copy went to USCIS in Ca. (in my case), one went in my important papers box, one went back with Karin.

I'm a perfectionist and I'm very very ####### over organisation and presentation. I'm going the US in May and that's when my guy and I are going to fill in all the paper work and start the petition(that's what we did). So everything has to be perfect. I apologise if this seems odd or annoys anyone, I can't help it and really want to know about other people's organisation of their I-129F petition package. If you have any photos or whatever, that'd make me a very happy girl If you write down an index as well of the order in which you had your I-129F in, I'd be so happy.

Also, with the I-129F petition package you send off.. Do you ever get it back? No - that becomes a perminent part of 'his' immegration petition..I'm going to make sure my guy has a copy of the petition package, I have a copy and that all the original he also has in another folder incase anything needs to be sent off. So that'll be 3 folders of the I-129F petition and 1 folder full of all original documentation that may be required (Good idea, he will need originals for the interview - they may/may-not ask for them, but they probably will is the concensus here..like birth certificats (both parties-just in case)..divorce decree - if applicable, etc..).

Am I going about this all the right way? ^^;

Just for clarification - I'm the British person and he's the American. I'm just the hellish organised one who is going to make sure everything is perfect. After all, it's technically MY petition so I want to make sure it's all perfect

Thank you for your advice, this is all so helpful

Edited March 24, 2007 by Private Skylark

[TracyTN 237]

The organization doesn't matter all that much. USCIS will arrange it the way they want it in their folders. Search for Huskerkiev's posts - he's a former NSC adjudicator and he explains things pretty well.

I used the Acco fasteners, too. Order wise, I followed the guide exactly. I used photo sleeves to put our photos in (clear holders with slots for 4 photos on them - you can get them at an office supply store) and ziploc bags for the passport photos. We didn't get an RFE so I'm guessing what I did was just fine.

[Private Skylark 0]

The organization doesn't matter all that much. USCIS will arrange it the way they want it in their folders. Search for Huskerkiev's posts - he's a former NSC adjudicator and he explains things pretty well.

I used the Acco fasteners, too. Order wise, I followed the guide exactly. I used photo sleeves to put our photos in (clear holders with slots for 4 photos on them - you can get them at an office supply store) and ziploc bags for the passport photos. We didn't get an RFE so I'm guessing what I did was just fine.

Wonderful, thank you very much

[brnidokiegurl 0]

Holes to the top not side. Also if you use the tab they go to the bottom.

Edited March 24, 2007 by brnidokiegurl

[Yodrak 7]

PvtSkylark,

See General Tips on Assembling Applications for Mailing on the USCIS web site, also posted in the VJ Guides.

Yodrak

I was wondering if anyone could tell me how they laid our their I-129F petition.

.....

[GabachaYucateca 0]

Basically, the info I found at the link Yodrak gave was excellent and I followed almost all of it.

I punched the holes in the top too far apart and almost maimed myself trying to fit the Acco fastener into the holes. After cutting myself and bleeding on the check for the fee, I gave up and sent it in without a fastener and clipped the pages together with two binder clips. No problems getting approved.

By the way, I've got 99 acco fasteners I have no use for. Anyone interested?

[Otto 83]

By the way, I've got 99 acco fasteners I have no use for. Anyone interested?

[Caladan 19]

I couldn't find an Acco fastener at our local Staples and wasn't willing to delay sending the petition for a week while they ordered it, so I just binder-clipped the whole thing together. Photos went in a baggie clipped to a sheet of paper, and I followed the order on the guides and topped the whole thing off with a cover sheet.

It came back because I misdated the check. Made out a new check, put the whole thing back in the package with no clips, and re-mailed it. No problems.