RFE received help please

[H Al 20]

Hi,

We received RFE in the mail today. They are asking for proof that I have met my fiance during the last two year. I provided my itinerary and passport stamps but it seems they are not sufficient.

They are asking for pictures or messages and I can't provide those. My fiance asked my hand after I came to US so in our traditions there is no way I can take pictures with him before that, I even deleted our old messages and was unable to restore them back.

So if I ask for a statement from a religious authority to confirm my excuse would that work? 

 

Thanks for your time. 

[LarryHickman 181]

Your going to need proof you met in person atleast twice two years before your petition submission and those two years have to be contiguous (example-filed petition July 1 2018, you would have to have met twice in person between July 2016 and July 2018. 

 

Second the passport stamps mean less if you don’t have pictures, you could have been in the same town as beneficiary or for any other reason for all the USCIS knows.

 

Simple chat logs show dialog between the both of you.

 

You might be correct in all you say and honest but the USCIS doesn’t work on the honor/honesty system. 

 

My my opinion you need these basics:

 

proof of meeting twice in person within two years of petition submission 

pictures of the two of you together 

passport stamps

hotel itinerary 

airfare itinerary 

a few mundane chat logs from some valid source 

 

Good luck

 

 

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

Is it common in your country to not take photos with non-relatives? 

 

Some things to include-

You and /or your fiancés passports with stamps, plane tickets, itinerary’s, showing you were at the same place. 

Does your fiancé have photos of you two?

Affadavits that are notarized stating you two met/visited on such and such a date

religious reason why photos aren’t included? (If this is the case)

Did your fiancé delete the messages as well? Maybe he has them and can be submitted.

if you can’t prove any of this maybe you will need another meeting to take photos/show more face time.

 

[EandH0904 1,184]

9 minutes ago, LarryHickman said:

Your going to need proof you met in person atleast twice two years before your petition submission and those two years have to be contiguous (example-filed petition July 1 2018, you would have to have met twice in person between July 2016 and July 2018. 

You don't have to have met twice - only once. 

 

To the original poster - you didn't take a single photo together when you met each other? Passport stamps and travel itineraries only prove that you were in their country - not that you met each other. 

 

You could have friends/family write that you have met each other if they met you when you were in their country - that may not count though, as they could have lied. 

 

Even if you are religious (my husband and I are both Muslim) you can meet in public, you can take photos together, etc. 

For some countries, even though you met the meeting requirement, one visit may not be enough. I've noticed you've taken time to ensure your country is concealed so if you don't want to let us know wher eyou are from there is only a certain amount of information we can help you (or the beneficiary if you are the petitioner). 

 

No chat messages, facebook posts, no ability to retrieve them via your computer? (you can retrieve anything deleted off a phone if you try!)

[Crazy Cat 39,215]

There is no requirement to have met more than once within 2 years prior to applying. , although more face time together is better.  Passport stamps and travel itineraries prove you were in a particular place, but do not prove you actually met.  I suggest pictures together in addition to travel documents.

[CharleneB 112]

Do you have any pictures at all? Even individual pics in the same place? Not that that would suffice, just an idea.

 

Also do you have any chats where you referenced the trip? I know you said you deleted older messages but anything recent? How long ago did you meet in person?

 

I think the letter you mentioned may be your best bet in terms of responding to the rfe but may not be enough in the end. 

 

Good luck. 

[H Al 20]

2 hours ago, LarryHickman said:

Your going to need proof you met in person atleast twice two years before your petition submission and those two years have to be contiguous (example-filed petition July 1 2018, you would have to have met twice in person between July 2016 and July 2018. 

 

Second the passport stamps mean less if you don’t have pictures, you could have been in the same town as beneficiary or for any other reason for all the USCIS knows.

 

Simple chat logs show dialog between the both of you.

 

You might be correct in all you say and honest but the USCIS doesn’t work on the honor/honesty system. 

 

My my opinion you need these basics:

 

proof of meeting twice in person within two years of petition submission 

pictures of the two of you together 

passport stamps

hotel itinerary 

airfare itinerary 

a few mundane chat logs from some valid source 

 

Good luck

 

 

Thanks a lot for your response. I visited him once before we submitted our petition but we didn't take pictures as I said it is traditionally not allowed so if it's happened to be in someone's hand it means problem for us.

[H Al 20]

2 hours ago, Luckycuds said:

Is it common in your country to not take photos with non-relatives? 

 

Some things to include-

You and /or your fiancés passports with stamps, plane tickets, itinerary’s, showing you were at the same place. 

Does your fiancé have photos of you two?

Affadavits that are notarized stating you two met/visited on such and such a date

religious reason why photos aren’t included? (If this is the case)

Did your fiancé delete the messages as well? Maybe he has them and can be submitted.

if you can’t prove any of this maybe you will need another meeting to take photos/show more face time.

 

Thanks for your response. Yes it's not allowed to take pictures with non relatives, like it's ok if we take pictures in public events but not like my situation, we are both from Iraq but from different cities and when I was there we weren't engaged so we couldn't take pictures for no reason. I submitted a statement written by my brother saying me and my fiance have met but it wasn't notarized. Do you think I have to ? My fiance doesn't have pictures or messages for the same reason I mentioned. It is a conservative society and we weren't engaged so we couldn't keep any reference.

Thanks a lot for your time and help. 

[H Al 20]

2 hours ago, EandH0904 said:

You don't have to have met twice - only once. 

 

To the original poster - you didn't take a single photo together when you met each other? Passport stamps and travel itineraries only prove that you were in their country - not that you met each other. 

 

You could have friends/family write that you have met each other if they met you when you were in their country - that may not count though, as they could have lied. 

 

Even if you are religious (my husband and I are both Muslim) you can meet in public, you can take photos together, etc. 

For some countries, even though you met the meeting requirement, one visit may not be enough. I've noticed you've taken time to ensure your country is concealed so if you don't want to let us know wher eyou are from there is only a certain amount of information we can help you (or the beneficiary if you are the petitioner). 

 

No chat messages, facebook posts, no ability to retrieve them via your computer? (you can retrieve anything deleted off a phone if you try!)

Thanks a lot for your response.  I said that my fiance has asked my hand after I returned to US therefore, I couldn't take pictures with him when I was in Iraq (where we are both from) in our society we can't talk or go out with non relatives for no reason. 

I'm trying to retrieve deleted messages and i hope i will reach to something.

 

Thanks 

[EandH0904 1,184]

2 minutes ago, H Al said:

Thanks a lot for your response.  I said that my fiance has asked my hand after I returned to US therefore, I couldn't take pictures with him when I was in Iraq (where we are both from) in our society we can't talk or go out with non relatives for no reason. 

I'm trying to retrieve deleted messages and i hope i will reach to something.

 

Thanks 

You will likely have a very difficult time then. I suggest you get married and do CR1 if you cannot prove you met in person. 

 

I understand what you are saying about it being a cultural thing but you could have taken photos with a group of people or with one of your families all in the photos too. 

[H Al 20]

2 hours ago, missileman said:

There is no requirement to have met more than once within 2 years prior to applying. , although more face time together is better.  Passport stamps and travel itineraries prove you were in a particular place, but do not prove you actually met.  I suggest pictures together in addition to travel documents.

Thanks a lot for your response. I hope we could have taken pictures.

[H Al 20]

2 hours ago, CharleneB said:

Do you have any pictures at all? Even individual pics in the same place? Not that that would suffice, just an idea.

 

Also do you have any chats where you referenced the trip? I know you said you deleted older messages but anything recent? How long ago did you meet in person?

 

I think the letter you mentioned may be your best bet in terms of responding to the rfe but may not be enough in the end. 

 

Good luck. 

Thanks a lot for your time. Yes we have pictures but not for both of us together. I last met him was last year and I have known him for many years but what can we do. I honestly didn't know USCIS will ask for such thing otherwise I would have saved the messages.

 

Thank you. 

[Going through 5,668]

9 hours ago, H Al said:

I provided my itinerary and passport stamps but it seems they are not sufficient.

That would only be proof that you traveled to the country....not proof that you two actually met in person.

 

Where did you stay while visiting?  Do you have a hotel receipt?

You don't have photos together----but do you have any photos of you and his family together?  Him and your family together?

 

[Mr.Jose 64]

6 hours ago, H Al said:

Thanks for your response. Yes it's not allowed to take pictures with non relatives, like it's ok if we take pictures in public events but not like my situation, we are both from Iraq but from different cities and when I was there we weren't engaged so we couldn't take pictures for no reason. I submitted a statement written by my brother saying me and my fiance have met but it wasn't notarized. Do you think I have to ? My fiance doesn't have pictures or messages for the same reason I mentioned. It is a conservative society and we weren't engaged so we couldn't keep any reference.

Thanks a lot for your time and help. 

What you talking about, you can simply take pictures then delete after immigrating.

There are hundreds of people here that religion forbids them from taking pictures, however, they had no choice but to follow K1 policy.

It’s temporary anyway, take pictures, submit K1 package, go to interview, get visa, delete pictures.

 

Don’t take passport picture or drivers license pictures and see what happens.

[Mr.Jose 64]

10 hours ago, H Al said:

Hi,

We received RFE in the mail today. They are asking for proof that I have met my fiance during the last two year. I provided my itinerary and passport stamps but it seems they are not sufficient.

They are asking for pictures or messages and I can't provide those. My fiance asked my hand after I came to US so in our traditions there is no way I can take pictures with him before that, I even deleted our old messages and was unable to restore them back.

So if I ask for a statement from a religious authority to confirm my excuse would that work? 

 

Thanks for your time. 

Not providing photos, maybe you can get away with it, but no communication evidence at all?

 

To me unfortunately, it looks like you’re trying to avoid requirements and you’re using religious authority to help you bypass required documents.

 

Its like this, you traveled to a country for whatever reason and came back. Now you  found someone online or recommendation from a family member to marry, unfortunately in my view you never saw that person and only communicated via skype. Now for whatever reason you can’t travel, maybe tourist visa denial.

 

Passport stamps proove entrance to a country and not evidence for seing someone.