This case has been approved

ngant17 · March 22, 2006

Well, here it is, folks. Directly from USCIS online as of 21 March 2006:

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Application Type: I129F, PETITION FOR FIANCE(E)

Current Status:

This case has been approved. On March 21, 2006, an approval notice was mailed. If 14 days have passed and you have not received this notice, you may wish to verify or update your address. To update your address, please call the National Customer Service Center at (800) 375-5283.

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as for the specifics of my case:

Contrary to what some may have stated here, sending in lots of picts wasn't the clincher in my case. I submitted only one poor, dark photo of me and fiancee together. The room was poorly lit, and I didn't use the focus on my camera very well. But in fact this was never an issue for the RFE.

RFE did ask for additional evidence, though.

True, I didn't keep the Cubana airline ticket stubs for evidence, just my connections from a 'gateway' airport.

I did have other circumstantial evidence that I used to submit when RFE was sent. The church bulletin from Havana, which I saved when I went to the local church there, it had the date on the front, this was probably very helpful because it would have been difficult to forge this (Cuban paper stock is typically unique in itself). Moral of story: it's probably a good idea of visit a church while you are there in the host country of your fiancee, keep the church bulletin for future evidence. Especially if there are dates on it.

I also had my fiancee send me a statement from her friend attesting to my presence on the dates I specified on the application. Didn't hurt, either.

As a last resort, I resubmitted some old emails and copies of a airline connection flight and also some emails from company I originally bought the ticket from.

I guess a lot of worrying with the RFE is gone now. Although we still have a lot of hurdles to pass, fees to pay, the interview, English lessons, ect, ect., I am now able to focus on the reality of our life together here.

Certainly this site has been helpful, although I was never discouraged by the wannabe lawyers out there.

Thanks again in any case. Hope to keep the timeline updated.

ngant