Got an RFE in the mail yesterday

[payxibka 10,044]

2 minutes ago, 1point3 said:

Would a scan of her hand written letter add to some authenticity when I send it? As long as the format is okay. Header with address etc etc.

It is a signed statement,  not a letter.  Don't even need the header, etc.  You can put it in letter format but not required. 

Edited September 3, 2019 by payxibka

[Crazy Cat 39,218]

5 minutes ago, 1point3 said:

Just and update guys, I've finished my new letter of intent, printed it out and signed it. My question is, my fiancee is more comfortable hand writing it, sign it, and send it. I've checked dhl and it's pretty reasonable to ship a document from the Philippines to the United States. Do you all feel that all this necessary?

 

We are scared that if she were type it, print it, sign it, scan it, and than email it. They might not take accept it again cause itll just be a print out that is submitted. No wet ink. Or how about a scan of her hand written letter? Sorry but my paranoia is eating me away. 

Why make this process more difficult than it has to be?    

[visafrompa 9]

On 8/31/2019 at 11:10 PM, wingman23 said:

provide them your plans for the small civil wedding - reception reservations, catering reservations, party reservations. you can also attach receipts of the dress that you bought or pictures of the intended dress. invites will also be a good proof that you are going to marry each other.

yes, the intent to marry letter needs to be updated.

 

How can you make reservations when your fiance is not even in the country?   You're also told in most Consulate FAQ's to not make any arrangements until after the K-1 is issued.

 

Also 'photos of wedding shower' is contrary to posted information that you should have absolutely NO party/gathering or anything in the foreign country that could REMOTELY be considered a wedding ceremony.

 

I think 99% of the people get away with a simple two sentence letter "My name is X and I want to marry Y.  Sincerely, X"

 

[Trese 174]

5 minutes ago, visafrompa said:

 

How can you make reservations when your fiance is not even in the country?   You're also told in most Consulate FAQ's to not make any arrangements until after the K-1 is issued.

 

Also 'photos of wedding shower' is contrary to posted information that you should have absolutely NO party/gathering or anything in the foreign country that could REMOTELY be considered a wedding ceremony.

 

I think 99% of the people get away with a simple two sentence letter "My name is X and I want to marry Y.  Sincerely, X"

 

 

There seems to be more of those who don't get away with that lately...

Edited September 4, 2019 by Trese

[1point3 3]

Ok peoples, I've got everything ready and I just want to make sure what I got to do when I mail in my letters of intent from both my fiancee and I. Is a cover letter totally necessary? I will be using the included envelope to mail in my response. Thanks guys. 

[Hank_ 9,173]

11 hours ago, 1point3 said:

Ok peoples, I've got everything ready and I just want to make sure what I got to do when I mail in my letters of intent from both my fiancee and I. Is a cover letter totally necessary? I will be using the included envelope to mail in my response. Thanks guys. 

No a cover letter isn't necessary, but returning the original RFE letter is required.     Do make copies of everything

[wingman23 140]

On 9/3/2019 at 10:16 PM, visafrompa said:

 

How can you make reservations when your fiance is not even in the country?   You're also told in most Consulate FAQ's to not make any arrangements until after the K-1 is issued.

 

reservations can be made through email or a phone call and they can be cancelled if plans won't fit with no fees at all. study the timelines of approvals on each step and plan accordingly. would you rather have an RFE or make some small steps to prevent an RFE? 

 

most of us here agreed that the RFE was a mistake or weird that it was issued. even the FAQs told us so. unfortunately, it was issued contrary to what we expect. so the OP needs to have some proof that they indeed talked about the wedding, made some steps in making it happen and provide evidences (e.g. receipts such as the engagement ring/wedding ring) to satisfy and as indicated in the RFE. 

 

unluckily, the OP is part of the 1% and the 1% needs to provide proof. what's the best proof? i'd rather be part of the 99% than the 1%.

 

good luck OP!

[SalishSea 16,770]

6 hours ago, wingman23 said:

reservations can be made through email or a phone call and they can be cancelled if plans won't fit with no fees at all.

Not sure where you're from, but here on the west coast, that generally is not how it works.  Nice wedding/reception venues are at a premium, and I have never heard of one not requiring a deposit to hold the date.

[wingman23 140]

31 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Not sure where you're from, but here on the west coast, that generally is not how it works.  Nice wedding/reception venues are at a premium, and I have never heard of one not requiring a deposit to hold the date.

from the east coast but reserved a space from stratosphere, las vegas. we made a deposit but before doing so, my fiancee made sure that it's refundable. we ended up cancelling it because the date we anticipated won't happen at all. 

[visafrompa 9]

10 hours ago, wingman23 said:

from the east coast but reserved a space from stratosphere, las vegas. we made a deposit but before doing so, my fiancee made sure that it's refundable. we ended up cancelling it because the date we anticipated won't happen at all. 

 

You have to admit Vegas is not the rest of the country... you cancel on them they have 50 people lined up after you to take your place.  A local caterer/photographer/music/church has to be secured with a non-refundable deposit.   I'm sure their are exceptions... but that's a pretty standard rule.

 

Even local fire halls (we call them hosey's) have wait lists in my neck of the woods.  

 

As for the RFE, I copied the exact template off this site.  Had my fiance sign hers and scan a copy to me.

 

Dear Sir or Madam:

 

I visafrompa, do hereby state that I am legally able and willing to marry fiance , and intend to do so within 90 days of her arrival into the US using the K1 visa.

 

Sincerly

 

visafrom pa

 

 I'm leaving for Philly to fly to Shenyang 3 hours from now, guess what I used for my letter of intent?  The exact same sentence.

 

 

[wingman23 140]

5 minutes ago, visafrompa said:

 

You have to admit Vegas is not the rest of the country... you cancel on them they have 50 people lined up after you to take your place.  A local caterer/photographer/music/church has to be secured with a non-refundable deposit.   I'm sure their are exceptions... but that's a pretty standard rule.

 

Even local fire halls (we call them hosey's) have wait lists in my neck of the woods.  

 

As for the RFE, I copied the exact template off this site.  Had my fiance sign hers and scan a copy to me.

 

Dear Sir or Madam:

 

I visafrompa, do hereby state that I am legally able and willing to marry fiance , and intend to do so within 90 days of her arrival into the US using the K1 visa.

 

Sincerly

 

visafrom pa

 

 I'm leaving for Philly to fly to Shenyang 3 hours from now, guess what I used for my letter of intent?  The exact same sentence.

 

 

definitely. im not generalizing. but you were. you asked how can you make reservations if your fiancee/fiance is out of the country. i just responded on what we did. you mentioned that premium places required deposits, and my experience is a premium place but cancellation is not a problem, contrary to what you expect. so what im saying here is that there are exceptions and everyone can look for those exceptions to satisfy what is needed in our application.

 

for the RFE, good for you and me because we never received an RFE. but for the OP, he did and he need to make sure that he satisfies the CO on his response. what will you do if you are in his place - followed the template but got an RFE?

[SalishSea 16,770]

11 hours ago, wingman23 said:

from the east coast but reserved a space from stratosphere, las vegas. we made a deposit but before doing so, my fiancee made sure that it's refundable. we ended up cancelling it because the date we anticipated won't happen at all. 

LOL, okay, I wasn't talking about Vegas weddings. 

[CON 34]

On 9/3/2019 at 10:16 PM, visafrompa said:

 

I think 99% of the people get away with a simple two sentence letter "My name is X and I want to marry Y.  Sincerely, X"

 

I don't know about the percentage, most do get away with a simple intent to marry "with WET SIGNATURE," but the OP got an RFE.  At the end of the day it is at the consulates/interviewers discretion.  We all are at their mercy.  All we can do is give what they ask in order to lessen the delay of our application. Or fight it and risk it, at worst, getting denied.

 

Example of proofs you can gather:

Engagement/proposal photos

engagement ring or wedding ring receipts

save the date (even with a note saying date might change).  Evite is free and digital, would take but a short time to create.

wedding dress receipts

correspondence with caterers, hotels, DJ's asking for pricing - usually they give a quote, write on event date "TO BE DISCUSSED"

 

There are many more ideas if you research the net.  If there is a will, there is a way...

 

 

 

 

Edited September 9, 2019 by CON

[CON 34]

On 9/7/2019 at 2:25 PM, Jorgedig said:

Not sure where you're from, but here on the west coast, that generally is not how it works.  Nice wedding/reception venues are at a premium, and I have never heard of one not requiring a deposit to hold the date.

 

Not hold the date... correspondence and inquiry would suffice. Any company would provide pricing and menus for free.  High end or low end places, all over the country. 

 

On 9/8/2019 at 1:31 AM, visafrompa said:

 

You have to admit Vegas is not the rest of the country... you cancel on them they have 50 people lined up after you to take your place.  A local caterer/photographer/music/church has to be secured with a non-refundable deposit.   I'm sure their are exceptions... but that's a pretty standard rule.

 

 

Ask for a quote, have them put the bride and grooms name and the details... with date stating "to follow" or "to be discussed"

Edited September 9, 2019 by CON
add quote

[Carpe Vinum 2,310]

On 9/1/2019 at 6:45 AM, missileman said:

Normally, only intent is required in the letter.  The OP's submission was fine......feelings put into words are not necessary.  .The RFE is very strange, imo

Probably a new overly earnest adjudicator. We have the same problem in my agency. We call it developing for new information. USCIS calls it an RFE. We submitted a two or three line statement from each of us. I think my wife did mention something about me meeting her family, blah, blah but I certainly don't think a long love story is required. Ours had wet signatures on our letters of intent but I'm not sure that is required.