Visa Coach

[fluffykim 333]

Hi All

 

I received my package back from the Visa Coach, I did hire him to review that and prep my fiance for the interview.  He has different "plans" to choose from.  I felt like i was in good shape based on the boards and feedback and didnt need his full service.  WOW...the things he advised I would never have thought of.  I have spent another 6 hours fixing my application package and will be mailing TOMORROW to USCIS Dallas Texas

 

Things he pointed out that I wanted to share with other newbies:

 

1.  Proof photos...make sure they have time stamp on them if printed from a phone and assembled on a Word Document (I cropped out to make look nice...mistake).  Otherwise could be from anytime (doh)

2.  Proof photos, making sure good sampling with friends and families

3.  .  Being very specific with references to dates, names, places and making sure they thread through consistently (application, labels on photos, etc)

4.  Whats app chat logs:  each month you have known each other, but only excerpts from 1 or 2 days.  He indicated that the duration of the relationship (number of months) is more important than the conversations itself 

 

I hope this helps others.  So far I have been pleased working with him.  If you have a little extra money I think hes worth it...the proof will be in pudding after I hear from government of course

[K & R 343]

9 minutes ago, fluffykim said:

Hi All

 

I received my package back from the Visa Coach, I did hire him to review that and prep my fiance for the interview.  He has different "plans" to choose from.  I felt like i was in good shape based on the boards and feedback and didnt need his full service.  WOW...the things he advised I would never have thought of.  I have spent another 6 hours fixing my application package and will be mailing TOMORROW to USCIS Dallas Texas

 

Things he pointed out that I wanted to share with other newbies:

 

1.  Proof photos...make sure they have time stamp on them if printed from a phone and assembled on a Word Document (I cropped out to make look nice...mistake).  Otherwise could be from anytime (doh)

2.  Proof photos, making sure good sampling with friends and families

3.  .  Being very specific with references to dates, names, places and making sure they thread through consistently (application, labels on photos, etc)

4.  Whats app chat logs:  each month you have known each other, but only excerpts from 1 or 2 days.  He indicated that the duration of the relationship (number of months) is more important than the conversations itself 

 

I hope this helps others.  So far I have been pleased working with him.  If you have a little extra money I think hes worth it...the proof will be in pudding after I hear from government of course

You don’t have to have a time stamp on your photos. All of our photos did not. Instead we wrote who was in the photos, the date they were taken and where they were taken. No issues whatsoever for K1 or AOS. We had itineraries and plane tickets to back up our photos and dates. 

 

You also dont need to have chat logs from every single month you’ve been together. You can but it’s not necessary. We had about 10 pages of chat logs from Facebook messenger just taken from a variety of dates over the time we dated this was sufficient for them. Again, no RFEs or any issues for us. 

 

Ive never heard of a visa coach but unless you have a really complex case, for the most part, these kind of services are a waste of money. Just a little self research goes a long way. The guides on VJ got me through our process. I also double checked info on various websites to make sure things added up.

 

 If you have the extra money to spend to each their own I guess but they can’t gaurentee any sort of approval. 

 

 

[fluffykim 333]

I think it makes sense with the date and time stamps on the photos.  while you may have not had any issues (which is great) others may have a harder time so I am sharing.  Proof is Proof...so without stamps on the photos they could be any time any date not within the 2 years.  its just to make the case STRONGER....not saying you are wrong at all..again..trying to share what I have learned.  

 

For me, its less about the complexity and more about the perceived fraud from my fiance country, so I am very happy and feel more comfortable having a second set of eyes on my package. 

 

Glad you had a great experience so far, I am sharing mine and found him helpful to ME

[Kiolas 103]

For some people it is good to have another pair of eyes to review everything and double check for any mistakes. However, for majority of people, including myself, it is a very expensive and unnecessary service. Most of the answers can be found here, on this forum. Also, anyone can ask any questions here absolutely free.

 

I agree with K&R, that time stamp on the photos is not a requirement. We wrote down all information on the back of each photo. It was accepted and approved.

 

I'm glad Visa Coach worked out for you well. However, I encourage all people to utilize this forum first and save hard earned money for the family💜

[K & R 343]

Just now, fluffykim said:

I think it makes sense with the date and time stamps on the photos.  while you may have not had any issues (which is great) others may have a harder time so I am sharing.  Proof is Proof...so without stamps on the photos they could be any time any date not within the 2 years.  its just to make the case STRONGER....not saying you are wrong at all..again..trying to share what I have learned.  

 

For me, its less about the complexity and more about the perceived fraud from my fiance country, so I am very happy and feel more comfortable having a second set of eyes on my package. 

 

Glad you had a great experience so far, I am sharing mine and found him helpful to ME

I mean if they have time stamps I don’t see why you should crop them out definitely leave them. What I’m saying is don’t just omit submitting photos because they don’t have them. There are instructions to write on the backs of all of the photos with times and dates they were taken and who with/where etc. 

 

as with proving the meetings within two years it’s crucial to have photos and itineraries and receipts (preferably hotel receipts and such with both names on them) we submitted tickets from a game we went to on the same day that had both of our names on it. We also submitted copies of both of our passport pages with stamps. All of this together makes a strong case. 

 

What is your fiance’s Country? (I’m on phone and can’t see it). I’m glad he was helpful to you. 

[debbiedoo 2,339]

nearly all of that is totally unnecessary.

 

none of our photos had date stamps on them.

i didnt include any chat messages (we talk on the phone not text or apps)

photos we did include were only of us, with a couple of exceptions that included my son as well

dates were approximate (july 2018, jan 2017, etc)

 

approved with no RFE.

 

what is important is concrete proof of meeting (photos are accepted as secondary evidence because timestamps can be added and photoshop can make anything seem real. I could add a timestamp to any photo).

 

passport stamps, boarding passes from flights, etc is far more important.

We also have over 40 visits spanning 3 years, all easily documented by passports and electronic I94s. i did include photos but also knew it was a simple case of frontloading and not needed (and as mentioned did almost none of the things your service advised you to do)

 

the duration of the relationship is NOT important (unless from a high fraud country). They just want to know you met at least once in person within the 2 years before you filed. the requirements are stupidly simple and easy.

 

 

Hiring a service is a waste of time and money for the majority of cases.

[fluffykim 333]

Agreed, hence why I said it was good for ME...we have a perceived high fraud country and the double check of eyes was a godsend and could be useful/helpful to others.  My $200 fee for my piece of mind is priceless.

 

Hope that I have given some good information/referral to those that want it.  

 

If you didnt or doesnt interest you thats cool too...good luck in your journey!

 

[Valmabe 254]

2 hours ago, fluffykim said:

Agreed, hence why I said it was good for ME...we have a perceived high fraud country and the double check of eyes was a godsend and could be useful/helpful to others.  My $200 fee for my piece of mind is priceles

 

 

My experience. We printed our pictures and glue them (about 5 pages) handwrititten dates and locations, most pictures of us; on the how we met question, we just used the space given on the form, two lines we used, no more, also copies of passport stamps, airline reservations and hotel bookings.  I must said that I've been several times to the US since we met and by the time we sent the application I was in the US. Approved with RFE, incomplete documents, nothing to do with proof of our relationship.

 

Regarding the Visa Coach, there are several reasons for people paying for the service, I do not understand why is so difficult for some to understand that, not only here, I've seen it in other forums in VJ. 

 

We did the application ourselves, following the instructions sheet provided, which are very clear and easy to follow.

 

Good luck with your application.

 

[Boiler 45,657]

I am not familiar with Visa Coach, some of the others have caused VJ members all sort of problems.

 

Dating photos makes sense, hand written or printed.

 

Also do not text Whats App etc so that was not applicable.

[JAMROCKJNJ 9]

Jamaica is not a high fraud country. Date/time stamps are good and can also be written but keep in mind photos are secondary evidence, as well as WhatsApp or text messages. Also, the conversation is equally important. The embassy wants to know you are a bonafide couple so conversations about everyday life matters are important versus just saying I love you and can’t wait to see you, especially important if you don’t have longevity. A simple search of this website could’ve told you 1-4 and saved you $200. This process really isn’t hard unless you have a complicated case. Focus on submitting primary evidence... evidence that shows plenty of FaceTime such as boarding passes, copies of passport stamps, receipts with both of your names and also maybe if you have any joint accounts submit that. We went through a few years ago and I also know other people who came from Jamaica. If the relationship and evidence are solid, you’re good to go! Good luck!😉

Edited December 3, 2018 by JAMROCKJNJ

[Pinkrlion 2,724]

9 hours ago, fluffykim said:

Hi All

 

I received my package back from the Visa Coach, I did hire him to review that and prep my fiance for the interview.  He has different "plans" to choose from.  I felt like i was in good shape based on the boards and feedback and didnt need his full service.  WOW...the things he advised I would never have thought of.  I have spent another 6 hours fixing my application package and will be mailing TOMORROW to USCIS Dallas Texas

 

Things he pointed out that I wanted to share with other newbies:

 

1.  Proof photos...make sure they have time stamp on them if printed from a phone and assembled on a Word Document (I cropped out to make look nice...mistake).  Otherwise could be from anytime (doh)

2.  Proof photos, making sure good sampling with friends and families

3.  .  Being very specific with references to dates, names, places and making sure they thread through consistently (application, labels on photos, etc)

4.  Whats app chat logs:  each month you have known each other, but only excerpts from 1 or 2 days.  He indicated that the duration of the relationship (number of months) is more important than the conversations itself 

 

I hope this helps others.  So far I have been pleased working with him.  If you have a little extra money I think hes worth it...the proof will be in pudding after I hear from government of course

JA is not going to focus on pics and whats app.  They want proof of relationship, focus on how u met, started a relationship, and continued the relationship until he proposed.  Also, how are u continuing the relationship.  You stated you were concerned of him getting a one year ban.

 

FYI, did the Visa Coach warn you about terms of endearment in your conversations will get your K-1 denied.  

 

No one is judging that you went to a Visa Coach, some people hire lawyers, its the same.  Just make sure you are receing sound judgement.  Cause whomever gave you the concept that JA is a high fraud country is wrong.

[CEE53147 559]

If you want another person to review your application, get an experienced family immigration attorney.

[ThomasNC1988 762]

I didn't put any kind of captions on my photos dates times location people nothing. Not saying that's the right thing to do. In fact if I came here and told someone not to do it because I didn't that would be irresponsible much like we have seen people doing above. I agree with some of them that you wasted your money. There is no one right way to do it. Best bet is to go through the 129f instructions line by line and make sure you checked off everything it says.

[Ryan H 3,812]

***Hijack post removed; if you have your own question, you need to start your own thread.***

[geowrian 22,337]

Timestamped photos likely have no more value than photos without a timestamp. Anybody can add in (fake) timestamps afterwards in just minutes. There is very rarely a way to verify the date a photo was taken.