the.ronin

Thanks you guys ... I swear I've read the guides over and over but still manage to overlook some parts I guess.

Not to beat a dead horse, but just to be sure, the acco fasteners you are talking about are these things right?

As to question #10 on the I-129F, I was NOT born in the U.S. but moved here with my parents when I was about 3 years old. They got naturalized and have their certificates. To my understanding, I got naturalized by default but I don't have a certificate as far as I know. After reading the advice above, I was planning on checking "Parents" and adding their certificate number, date of issuance, and place of issuance as an attachment. I was also planning on including a copy of my passport as additional proof of citizenship. Does this sound about right?

Thanks again.

4) Birthcertificate (you and him)

Per the guide ...

11. Copy of the Birth certificate (front and back) for the US Citizen or a copy of ALL pages of the US Citizen's passport issued with a validity of at least 5 years or a copy of the US Citizen's naturalization certificate (front and back). This is used to establish citizenship.

I hope this is still the case since I was planning on submitting just a copy of my passport.

My friends who just got their K1 approved and issues put a PO box.

The guides at the top of the main forum page are extremely helpful.

The I-129F application fee is about that much but all-in, I believe the cost of processing a K1 visa varies. Think about transportation fees to the consulate, medical fees, etc.

Thanks for bearing with me folks ... yes I have tried to search but coming up somewhat short.

1) My passport expires Nov 2010 ... the I-129F asks for 5 years of validity. Should I renew?

2) The current downloadable I-129F expired 12/31/06 (rev 05/23/06). The USCIS website indicates this is fine. Is a call to the USCIS or local service center to make sure in order?

3) My parents became naturalized citizens while I was about 5 years old. As far as I understad, I got naturalized by default - but was never issued a naturalization number. For #10 on the I-129F, I checked "Naturalization" **and** "Parents" and put my dad's certificate of naturalization number, date and place issued in the box. Is this kosher?

4) For proof of having met in person in past two years, I've included (i) 5 color, dated photos location labeled on the back spanning Feb 05 to Jan 07; (ii) travel agency issued airline itinerary with dates and both of our names on it; and (iii) airline boading passes with dates and our names on them.

5) For proof of ongoing relationship, I've included (i) my most recent cell phone bill showing text messages to the same number (amounting to over $100!! That monthly rate alone makes economic sense for moving in haha) and (ii) email correspondence. We're trying to find proof of her cell phone number on her end but it's tough since they use prepaid cell phone cards.

6) How'd you folks ship your application? I'm thinking plastic protectors slipped into some sort of presentation binder. Overkill?

Again, thanks for bearing with me and any feedback much appreciated.

Hey thanks so much for taking the time to respond, all ... "better not to give too much" is sound advice. I was all ready to send them our entire photo album haha. Ok ... I will keep that in mind. The proof of citizenship for a naturalized citizen is now starting to scare me. I have my passport but I think it will take some time to dig up my birth certificate.

Question - Would it be too risky to just send copies of each page of my passport? Am I just begging for an RFE? However, the form clearly states either BC or passport.

ready4One - You can cross back to the U.S. from Mexico with just a valid drivers license. Supposedly in Jan 08 you will need a passport, but they have been saying that every year since 06. I show my passport anyway just to avoid additional questioning but they never ever stamp it.

Sol - I am very well familiar with the U.S. embassy in Amsterdam. I got my hotel room broken into and my passport stolen. I never felt like such royalty - the embassy has a separate no-wait line for citizens. They were very very cordial and attentive. So now my passport is actually marked as issued by the Netherlands Consulate haha. Tot zeins.

Thank you Sol ... I loved the Van Gogh museum. I especially loved just spending a lazy afternoon in Museumplein. So beautiful. I would visit Holland quite a bit while I lived in New York.

I think I've got a handle on the Circumstances letter now ... and thank you both for clarifying the Intent letter. I did download the sample as well a while ago but I had thought it was just signed by me.

I guess I'm also reading into the ongoing relationship evidence ... I just had a hard time differentiating that and proof of having been together in last two years. I'm thinking cell phone bills ($100+ in text messages monthly ... yeah, OUCH), redacted emails, and passport stamps. Anything else?

Another question though ...

Can I, as petitioner, provide just a copy of each page of my passport? I was not born in the U.S. but moved here when I was 3 yr old and became naturalized.

Thanks again, folks.

Thank you for taking the time to reply, ready4ONE ...

In regards the Circumstances of Meeting letter, yes, I had intended on attaching a letter rather than trying to explain it all in the small space on the form itself. It would seem to me that I am reading way way way into the letter. I just don't want any unnecessary delays like what happened to my friend.

We are definitely good on the "proof of having been together in past two years" ... I've got over 1 gigabyte of photos hahaha. Also receipts for various vacations we've taken together. For the past two months, I've made sure the date stamp was activated on the camera as well (friend also got an RFE for not having dates on photos). What confuses me is the "proof of ongoing relationship" ... how does one prove that??

As for the forms, I got them directly from the USCIS website ... Form I129-F rev. 05/23/06 according to the bottom right corner and expires 12/31/06 according to the top corner.

Thanks again!

Hello all ... I've tried to search for these topics but could not find sufficient answers. I apologize in advance if I was not looking in the right places.

1) In regards the "Circumstances of Meeting" letter, I've tried to address what I would think are the obvious questions - what was I doing in the foreign country, what was she doing where we met, where did we meet, how did we meet. Try as I might, I can't condense this all into one page. My concern is that friends of ours had submitted a very brief letter and they got a RFE to expand on the letter delaying their process by 3 months. Am I reading too much into this?

2) Shoud letters such as the "Intent to Marry" and "Circumstances of Meeting" be signed by both of us?

3) The same friends had also been asked to submit a copy of her (foreign national) birth certificate along with a translation. Are there other things that people have submitted although not specified? For example, copy of each page of her passport?

4) What constitutes "proof of ongoing relationship"?

5) The latest forms appear to expire at the end of December. In all likelihood, we will hopefully have submitted our forms by then. Are there any risks in submitting it so close to the expiration? Will it be determined by postmark as opposed to when it actually gets "touched"?

Thanks so much for any advice. By way of background, I am a naturalized U.S. citizen and she lives in Tijuana, Mexico. I have been making the two hour drive to spend weekends with her for the past two years. We're ready now.