K-1 Visa | Passport Stamps and Boarding Passes

[holdingonforhope 16]

I'm stressing out a bit here. I'm usually a pack rat and I can find boarding passes / luggage tickets a long time after I've traveled, but I'm not finding them.

 

I've called Lufthansa 3 different times, and gotten 3 different answers as to how much they can provide for me in terms of proof of my September 2019 trip. Anyone with experience in these matters know what kind of phrasing to use or what kind of department to ask to speak with? Trying to get solid documentation and have the I-129F sent in rush mail by July 3rd.

 

I do have my passport, but unfortunately ever time I've visited I've only gotten Passport Control / Stamped in Germany.  After Germany, they let me board to Poland and there's no stamping going on in Poland. Same going back, I get stamped in Germany and USA but not in Poland.

 

I do have my Itineraries (which I understand from other posts that they don't amount to much in terms of proof). I have digital boarding passes on my iPhones' Apple Wallet, though. Would it be worth printing those out?

 

No receipts for purchases in Poland, to speak of. I got one very small cash withdrawal in Poland my Checking Account statement for the appropriate dates, for whatever that's worth. Should I include it in my packet?

 

Thanks in advance to anyone with some insight and helpful tips.

 

[xxlian 100]

I just filed (this week!) and literally had the same dilemma -- for the same country, even. I submitted photographs, a scan of my passport stamps, travel itinerary, and a written statement about the visit. From my understanding, we only got passport stamps in Germany and not in Poland because Germany was when we entered the Schengen Area (therefore, Germany to Poland would be traveling within the Schengen Area, so no passport stamp required); I'm just hoping/expecting that USCIS will recognize that as well. I also called the airline, but no real help there...

[holdingonforhope 16]

21 minutes ago, xxlian said:

From my understanding, we only got passport stamps in Germany and not in Poland because Germany was when we entered the Schengen Area (therefore, Germany to Poland would be traveling within the Schengen Area, so no passport stamp required); I'm just hoping/expecting that USCIS will recognize that as well. I also called the airline, but no real help there...

That's my understanding too. But even one of the Lufthansa agents was raising eyebrows at it: "There should have been customs in Poland for you."
 

I'm still going to try to keep pushing with Lufthansa (squeaky wheel gets the grease) to see if I can get something from them, but if it comes down to it, I'm hoping the person reviewing the package can accept the explanation about arriving within the Schegen Area.

 

PS: Best of luck you and your loved one, xxlian. I hope you're together soon.

Edited June 19, 2020 by holdingonforhope

[JFH 12,189]

Print the boarding passes from your phone. Do you have further evidence of being in Poland? ATM transactions? Credit card transactions? 

[holdingonforhope 16]

18 minutes ago, JFH said:

Print the boarding passes from your phone. Do you have further evidence of being in Poland? ATM transactions? Credit card transactions? 

Fortunately, two tiny withdrawals (About $100 USD in Sept and $20 USD in October), and one debit purchase of $20 in October as well. They are hidden amongst dozens of recurring payments in my statements, but thankfully they are there. I'll include the statement (8 pages long -- hope the auditor won't be upset), highlight them, underline them, and add a post-it note.

Edited June 19, 2020 by holdingonforhope

[Greenbaum 12,258]

12 hours ago, holdingonforhope said:

Fortunately, two tiny withdrawals (About $100 USD in Sept and $20 USD in October), and one debit purchase of $20 in October as well. They are hidden amongst dozens of recurring payments in my statements, but thankfully they are there. I'll include the statement (8 pages long -- hope the auditor won't be upset), highlight them, underline them, and add a post-it note.

The goal should be the proof and you have it with your bank statements Use a yellow highlighter and one post it note with your explanation. Believe me when I say this the USCIS adjudicator has seen many of these so they have a good understanding so no need to do more than what do will do. Good luck and stay engaged. 

[Fr8dog 312]

You are looking for the flight manifest data and don't worry about it because they are not going to give you that anyway.

 

The itinerary, passport stamps, digital boarding passes, bank statement and maybe a picture or 2, will paint the picture that you met. That is all they are looking for.

Assuming you are using Poland as the embassy, there is no need to front load your petition.

[holdingonforhope 16]

9 hours ago, Greenbaum said:

The goal should be the proof and you have it with your bank statements Use a yellow highlighter and one post it note with your explanation. Believe me when I say this the USCIS adjudicator has seen many of these so they have a good understanding so no need to do more than what do will do. Good luck and stay engaged. 

Thank you, Greenbaum. I really appreciate it.

 

3 hours ago, Fr8dog said:

Assuming you are using Poland as the embassy, there is no need to front load your petition.

Fingers crossed that's still the case. I just don't want to mess things up and delay our reunion a minute longer than it has to be. Thank you.