blacking out more personal stuff look suspicious?

[chicurious 0]

I am including some emails (even though we have been in the same city) between my partner and me. I read on this site that it is ok to black out personal stuff but I wonder if that looks questionable or suspicious to an adjudicator. Putting my love life on display and having to prove it to the US government is a sacrifice I'm willing to make, of course, but I'd rather not have Uncle Sam know some personal things that many of them contain. I'd rather keep one of the letters in the bunch that has info I'd like to black out.

Is that a red flag that I'll regret later?

[YuAndDan 153]

We just provided emails that did not have personal intimate notes. They just want to see that you can communicate, and perhaps volume, We included a log of emails, showing dates and message headers.

[KarenCee 3]

I am including some emails (even though we have been in the same city) between my partner and me. I read on this site that it is ok to black out personal stuff but I wonder if that looks questionable or suspicious to an adjudicator. Putting my love life on display and having to prove it to the US government is a sacrifice I'm willing to make, of course, but I'd rather not have Uncle Sam know some personal things that many of them contain. I'd rather keep one of the letters in the bunch that has info I'd like to black out.

Is that a red flag that I'll regret later?

Can't you include emails that are not of a personal nature? I sent emails with my then fiancé as proof of our ongoing relationship that were just plain emails, no need to black anything out. The only things in there that showed affection were the I love you's throughout the emails and the frequent "I miss you so much" phrases. You don't have to put your love life on display.

Edited July 18, 2007 by KarenCee

[pushbrk 13,899]

I am including some emails (even though we have been in the same city) between my partner and me. I read on this site that it is ok to black out personal stuff but I wonder if that looks questionable or suspicious to an adjudicator. Putting my love life on display and having to prove it to the US government is a sacrifice I'm willing to make, of course, but I'd rather not have Uncle Sam know some personal things that many of them contain. I'd rather keep one of the letters in the bunch that has info I'd like to black out.

Is that a red flag that I'll regret later?

I would simply focus on providing evidence of a bonafide ongoing relationship. To do so does not require you to disclose that you call your SO snookums and have a toenail fetish. You can accomplish the purpose without turning over all communication and without disclosing portions you deem too personal.

The rule I used was to select example items that best showed our relationship was bonafide and ongoing and that it included other family members on both sides. Quantity and frequency were demonstrated with logs. If you think a particular email or letter containing some highly personal information will be critical to demonstrating your relationship is bonafide and it will do so without the personal information then black it out and use it. Otherwise make other selections.

So focus on the ultimate goal of providing the documentation and act accordingly, instead of worrying about what doesn't get you to the goal.

[TimsDaisy 0]

Based on your other posts, it doesn't seem you've filed yet. If you haven't yet filed, then your best bet is to not worry about the emails at all. They satisfy no requirement in the I-129F. (Some members feel unnecessary evidence will help later on at the interview, but strictly speaking they are specifically cited as NOT HELPING. So if you have a concern, leave 'em out).

This is what USCIS wants to see:

Submit evidence of meeting the meneficiary in person within the two-year period preceding the filing of the petiition. The primary evidence may include airline ticket stubs and receipts (that indicate month, day, and year), copies of passport pages taht show the identification page and admission stamps, military order(s), letter from Commanding Officer, or any evidence that will help the USCIS to determine that the petitioner has met the beneficiary within the two years. The secondary evidence may be film dated photographs of the petitioner and the beneficiary together. The following DOES NOT constitue evidence of meeting: disc, videos, emails, letters, phone bills, and greeting cards.

[chicurious 0]

Based on your other posts, it doesn't seem you've filed yet. If you haven't yet filed, then your best bet is to not worry about the emails at all. They satisfy no requirement in the I-129F. (Some members feel unnecessary evidence will help later on at the interview, but strictly speaking they are specifically cited as NOT HELPING. So if you have a concern, leave 'em out).

This is what USCIS wants to see:

Submit evidence of meeting the meneficiary in person within the two-year period preceding the filing of the petiition. The primary evidence may include airline ticket stubs and receipts (that indicate month, day, and year), copies of passport pages taht show the identification page and admission stamps, military order(s), letter from Commanding Officer, or any evidence that will help the USCIS to determine that the petitioner has met the beneficiary within the two years. The secondary evidence may be film dated photographs of the petitioner and the beneficiary together. The following DOES NOT constitue evidence of meeting: disc, videos, emails, letters, phone bills, and greeting cards.

Right, but I've also read here that they pretty much decide whether you are getting the visa or not before the interview (the consulate). So, I think I'll include about three and leave the more personal stuff out.

[TimsDaisy 0]

Based on your other posts, it doesn't seem you've filed yet. If you haven't yet filed, then your best bet is to not worry about the emails at all. They satisfy no requirement in the I-129F. (Some members feel unnecessary evidence will help later on at the interview, but strictly speaking they are specifically cited as NOT HELPING. So if you have a concern, leave 'em out).

This is what USCIS wants to see:

Submit evidence of meeting the meneficiary in person within the two-year period preceding the filing of the petiition. The primary evidence may include airline ticket stubs and receipts (that indicate month, day, and year), copies of passport pages taht show the identification page and admission stamps, military order(s), letter from Commanding Officer, or any evidence that will help the USCIS to determine that the petitioner has met the beneficiary within the two years. The secondary evidence may be film dated photographs of the petitioner and the beneficiary together. The following DOES NOT constitue evidence of meeting: disc, videos, emails, letters, phone bills, and greeting cards.

Right, but I've also read here that they pretty much decide whether you are getting the visa or not before the interview (the consulate). So, I think I'll include about three and leave the more personal stuff out.

You've said that before - and it's still wrong now.

There are TWO departments of the federal government at work here, each with distinct jobs and jurisdictions. Confusing the two will lead you to . . . well, more confusion.

USCIS's approval is required to get to the point where you'd get a visa approved BUT USCIS approval doesn't mean you'll get your visa.

You can include whatever you want. Just make sure you pay attention to what you NEED to include to make the cut. They'll just ignore the rest.

[kitkat 0]

In my case, I only sent emails that showed we communicate but nothing personal were in them.

I called immigration and the lady that spoke to me specified not to cross anything out. I had already crossed out numbers on my phone bills that did not apply to my finace or me, and I had to start over with those. Instead she adviced I mark with a dash on the side of the phone calls that pertained to each other. I did so and on a cover page in front of that I explained so.

They just want to see that you communicate.

I hope this helps.

[ken and mintra 0]

I am including some emails (even though we have been in the same city) between my partner and me. I read on this site that it is ok to black out personal stuff but I wonder if that looks questionable or suspicious to an adjudicator. Putting my love life on display and having to prove it to the US government is a sacrifice I'm willing to make, of course, but I'd rather not have Uncle Sam know some personal things that many of them contain. I'd rather keep one of the letters in the bunch that has info I'd like to black out.

Is that a red flag that I'll regret later?

I would send them all the steamy emails that you have. It might add some much needed excitement to their day. Problem is, if you both are very descriptive writers they might RFE you for more email evidence. Yes, you can black out personal information/acts/wishes/dreams/etc. but I would follow the advice of all the others here and just send in the ones without the personal stuff, assuming you have some of those! I had over 700 emails we sent back and forth and picked out about 2 per month from the first ones till the last ones to show that we have been talking for a long time. Good luck!!!!

[Dakine 26]

Submit evidence of meeting the meneficiary in person within the two-year period preceding the filing of the petiition. The primary evidence may include airline ticket stubs and receipts (that indicate month, day, and year), copies of passport pages taht show the identification page and admission stamps, military order(s), letter from Commanding Officer, or any evidence that will help the USCIS to determine that the petitioner has met the beneficiary within the two years. The secondary evidence may be film dated photographs of the petitioner and the beneficiary together. The following DOES NOT constitue evidence of meeting: disc, videos, emails, letters, phone bills, and greeting cards.

Could you please send this to all the COs at all the embassys in the world so they could get their act together and not ask for emails, letters, phone bills, and greeting cards.

Every CO has their own different things they ask for a LOTs want snail mails, emails and phone records.

Main thing is still pictures tho.

Combination of all is the best!

Edited July 19, 2007 by beckypua

[kitkat1 5]

Right, but I've also read here that they pretty much decide whether you are getting the visa or not before the interview (the consulate). So, I think I'll include about three and leave the more personal stuff out.

They couldn't possibly make a decision before the interview. What would the point of the interview be if that was possible? All they have at that point is your approved petition and the proof of having met in the prior two years, since that's all that is required (along with proof that you are a USC and therefore eligible to file the petition in the first place).

At the interview, your fiance should be prepared with a pile of relationship evidence going back as far as possible and a small photo album. K1 interviews in Ciudad Juarez go smoothly most of the time, but sometimes the IO gets picky and difficult and requests to see more proof.

BTW, it's your right to cross out any information you want -- I would never send a credit card bill showing the charges for a plane ticket, hotel etc. when I visited my fiance without blacking out my account number. There are WAY too many unscrupulous people out there to take that kind of chance. Additionally, personally I would never put any weight in what some lady on the USCIS misinformation line says. You can certainly use a highlighter on phone bills -- I did that -- as anything that makes it easier on the adjudicator makes sense.