Question about evidence (Picture together)

[dolphinmoo 0]

Hi all,

My name is Brian and I have a special case here. I was born in the US and grew up in Hong Kong. I met my girlfriend couple years ago in China and we started our relationship. The good news is, we are planning to get married next year. However, the bad thing is, we do not have enough evidence to prove our relationship.

Here's our story:

I am 24 and I met my girlfriend in November 2005 in a trip to China. Our relationship didn't start until September 2006. From the day the relationship started, I have spent couple weeks with her in China. Due to the fact that I am also a resident in Hong Kong, I do not need to apply any visa when I visit Hong Kong and China. So my passport is completely clean. Fortunately, I still have my plane tickets for my Hong Kong and China trip. I also have all my phone bills and emails proves dated all the way from November 2005.

Here's a huge problem. We decided to get married recently and we do not have any pictures taken together. From what I have heard, it is the most important evident to prove our relationship. I am going to visit her again this November and I will make sure I will take some pictures with her and my family as well.

Please let me know if this is a good time to submit my I-129 application or should I wait until I take some pictures in November. What are the chances of getting my application approve without a couple picture?

I am planning to get married during mid 2008 and is it too late to file the I-129 in December 2007?

Thanks in advance.

Best Regards,

Brian

[nane1104 146]

I would not be worried too much about the picture issue. Pictures are only seconday evidence, your boarding passes,...are just as important, if not more important.

Maybe you have pictures of you and her not together but taken at the same location? Phone bills and emails are fine, maybe some copies of letters with their envelopes where you can see when they were postmarked.

I think you should be fine, if not, they will send you an RFE to send in more evidence.

If you feel more comfortable and you have the time, you can wait until November and take pictures together, but as I said before, they are only secondary evidence, supporting your other evidence.

If you file in November and plan a mid 2008 wedding..that sounds reasonable to me.

[dolphinmoo 0]

Nane - Thanks for the reply, I feel way more comfortable and confident now.

[Dan J 277]

Hi all,

My name is Brian and I have a special case here. I was born in the US and grew up in Hong Kong. I met my girlfriend couple years ago in China and we started our relationship. The good news is, we are planning to get married next year. However, the bad thing is, we do not have enough evidence to prove our relationship.

Here's our story:

I am 24 and I met my girlfriend in November 2005 in a trip to China. Our relationship didn't start until September 2006. From the day the relationship started, I have spent couple weeks with her in China. Due to the fact that I am also a resident in Hong Kong, I do not need to apply any visa when I visit Hong Kong and China. So my passport is completely clean. Fortunately, I still have my plane tickets for my Hong Kong and China trip. I also have all my phone bills and emails proves dated all the way from November 2005.

Here's a huge problem. We decided to get married recently and we do not have any pictures taken together. From what I have heard, it is the most important evident to prove our relationship. I am going to visit her again this November and I will make sure I will take some pictures with her and my family as well.

Please let me know if this is a good time to submit my I-129 application or should I wait until I take some pictures in November. What are the chances of getting my application approve without a couple picture?

I am planning to get married during mid 2008 and is it too late to file the I-129 in December 2007?

Thanks in advance.

Best Regards,

Brian

With the K-1 you do need a US address. You can file from overseas, but you do need an address in the US for notices to be sent to.

It looks like filing a visa through China may take about 8-9 months. Maybe a bit shorter of your petition goes to VSC. Any AP/AR will cause your case to take more time. You may not have enough time if your plan is to get married in mid 2008. You can however file now, but you don't have to use the visa right away, it will be valid for 6 months.

[pushbrk 14,507]

Hi all,

My name is Brian and I have a special case here. I was born in the US and grew up in Hong Kong. I met my girlfriend couple years ago in China and we started our relationship. The good news is, we are planning to get married next year. However, the bad thing is, we do not have enough evidence to prove our relationship.

Here's our story:

I am 24 and I met my girlfriend in November 2005 in a trip to China. Our relationship didn't start until September 2006. From the day the relationship started, I have spent couple weeks with her in China. Due to the fact that I am also a resident in Hong Kong, I do not need to apply any visa when I visit Hong Kong and China. So my passport is completely clean. Fortunately, I still have my plane tickets for my Hong Kong and China trip. I also have all my phone bills and emails proves dated all the way from November 2005.

Here's a huge problem. We decided to get married recently and we do not have any pictures taken together. From what I have heard, it is the most important evident to prove our relationship. I am going to visit her again this November and I will make sure I will take some pictures with her and my family as well.

Please let me know if this is a good time to submit my I-129 application or should I wait until I take some pictures in November. What are the chances of getting my application approve without a couple picture?

I am planning to get married during mid 2008 and is it too late to file the I-129 in December 2007?

Thanks in advance.

Best Regards,

Brian

Pictures aren't the primary evidence of having met. Boarding passes or hotel receipts will help. For more China specific support, I recommend you go to http://www.candleforlove.com

[dolphinmoo 0]

Dan + Gemvita - I do live in US now, so I shouldn't have any problem filing K1 with a US address.

[nane1104 146]

I guess you are good to go then. Don't wait too long with filing...

[Paul & Kerri 0]

In some cases, like ours, they never asked to see photos or anything. We had this prepared to bring to my hubby's interview, but they never asked to see anything. What is also strange is at the time of his interivew they talked to me and asked me more questions than my hubby. His interview was in his country of Czech Republic and I know other Embassies handle things differently. Some places wont even let their spouse in for the interview. I was shocked that they talked to us through a window in the lobby and not somewhere more private.....LOL.

Best of luck to you both!

Paul & Kerri

[~Nini~ 2]

I am planning to get married during mid 2008 and is it too late to file the I-129 in December 2007?

Are you two planning a formal wedding for mid-2008? While you're leaving a reasonable time frame between December 2007 and mid-2008, it's not recommended to have set wedding plans before the K1 is approved, since delays can often happen in the process. USCIS will not usually expedite petitions for couples who have made the preparations for a formal wedding.

As pushbrk mentioned, you can file now and choose to use the visa later, since it is valid for 6 months.

Good luck!