kennym

All
I beleive the reason for the RFE is obvious... There isn't any suggestion that photos alone are sufficient evidense of meeting in person in the last 2 years.. It has always been secondary evidense.. nothing has changed from USCIS Perspective.. Primary Evidense is Boarding Passes, Passport stamps, hotel & Credit Card Reciepts.. Photos are necessary, but is secondary evidense and should never be excluded from you initial submittal..
As far as birth certificates, it is the same as always.. Copies are fine.. If they need the original, they will ask for it at the interview.. Always send copies of your personal documents and evidense. The originals can be shown at the Interview...
Repeat:
Nothing has changed.. it appears the confusion is with the OP thinking that photos were sufficient proof of meeting in person in the last two years.. Photos alone has never been considered as primary evidence...
Repeat for all new-members: Nothing has changed..
ONE OTHER CRUCIAL DISTINCTION IS:
THere is a huge diference between "proof of meeting in person within the last 2 years" and "Proof of ongoing relationship"... To be succesful, you must keep that distinction clear and separate..
You need to show proof of Meeting in Person within the last two years for your Initial Petition (I-129-F) This include both Primary Proof and Secondary Proof..
Then after the Petition is approved...
You will need to show proof of On-going relationship to the Conusalte Officer durring the interview.. You will also need forms of Primary Proof as well as forms of secondary proof...
Any Questions?

All
I beleive the reason for the RFE is obvious... There isn't any suggestion that photos alone are sufficient evidense of meeting in person in the last 2 years.. It has always been secondary evidense.. nothing has changed from USCIS Perspective.. Primary Evidense is Boarding Passes, Passport stamps, hotel & Credit Card Reciepts.. Photos are necessary, but is secondary evidense and should never be excluded from you initial submittal..
As far as birth certificates, it is the same as always.. Copies are fine.. If they need the original, they will ask for it at the interview.. Always send copies of your personal documents and evidense. The originals can be shown at the Interview...
Repeat:
Nothing has changed.. it appears the confusion is with the OP thinking that photos were sufficient proof of meeting in person in the last two years.. Photos alone has never been considered as primary evidence...
Repeat for all new-members: Nothing has changed..
ONE OTHER CRUCIAL DISTINCTION IS:
THere is a huge diference between "proof of meeting in person within the last 2 years" and "Proof of ongoing relationship"... To be succesful, you must keep that distinction clear and separate..
You need to show proof of Meeting in Person within the last two years for your Initial Petition (I-129-F) This include both Primary Proof and Secondary Proof..
Then after the Petition is approved...
You will need to show proof of On-going relationship to the Conusalte Officer durring the interview.. You will also need forms of Primary Proof as well as forms of secondary proof...
Any Questions?

Gary.
Its not about how correct your answer is. I find you know your stuff. Its how you deliver your answer.
I never saw the op argue with anyone about thier replies, the only issue I saw was the belittling.
I hope you really give this some thought rather than get defensive. You have lots of valuable answers. But the benefit is diminished with the tone of your posts.
Kenny

Boy do I hate to see this kinda treatment of decent people posting legitimate questions..
I don't think the point is how much anyone knows, or who turns out to be right it is about arrogance.. It is possible to reply and make your point, without being a jerk
Legitimate questions shouldn't be met with ridicule..
Gary, you've had some wonderful advise on here, but sometimes, your replies are just insulting..
To me, some people feel they can come on VJ or other forums and throw their attitude around becuase they can hide behind thier computer, but no one deserves to be treated disrespectfully no matter what you think about the question or how little you feel they know.
There isn't a single person on this thread that should feel they can be arrogant and rude to others..
I see this kind of response often from many on VJ and it's really ashame we cant simply answer a legitimate question without trying to belittle the OP for asking..
sometimes you just wonder if the replies on here are from grown-ups...
This is a public forum, unless this forum is your little toy, people should be able to post their questions without the pointless feedback.

I did read your posts, and I will say this more clearly, so you can understand better..
To maintain residency, you must follow the rules.. You stated you know the requirements, but then you said they've changed so when people tell you the requirements, you said not to tell you something you already know.. You're sending some mixed feedback.. If you know the rules, then you know you need to follow them.. If you don't know the "new" rules, then we're tried to politely share them with you, but you tell everyone you already know the rules..
so what's the real story?
do you know the rules?
do you want to follow the rules?
do you want to keep your green card?
one small piece of advice, it helps if you tone down the attitude if your seriously looking for helpful feedback from the forum..
Kenny

I did read your posts, and I will say this more clearly, so you can understand better..
To maintain residency, you must follow the rules.. You stated you know the requirements, but then you said they've changed so when people tell you the requirements, you said not to tell you something you already know.. You're sending some mixed feedback.. If you know the rules, then you know you need to follow them.. If you don't know the "new" rules, then we're tried to politely share them with you, but you tell everyone you already know the rules..
so what's the real story?
do you know the rules?
do you want to follow the rules?
do you want to keep your green card?
one small piece of advice, it helps if you tone down the attitude if your seriously looking for helpful feedback from the forum..
Kenny

Ok, I see you're not playing any games, but you're clearly aware of the requirements for the Green Card, but you don't want to follow the rules. You can't find a job in the US if you aren't here looking and you can't work here if you don't have legal status.
What do you mean by Personal Experiences? The rules are the the rules... people are trying to tell you that you're not following the rules, but as you stated, you already knew that.. Maybe what you mean by "personal experiences" is how to circumvent immigration rules, well, it's doubtful you'll find advise here on how to get around the rules...
If your are not going to live in the US, even though you know the residency requirements, then clearly the Green Card won't work for you.. If you want a double passport, I beleive at minimum you need to meet the requirements for your citizenship and that will only happen if you follow the rules...

I did read your posts, and I will say this more clearly, so you can understand better..
To maintain residency, you must follow the rules.. You stated you know the requirements, but then you said they've changed so when people tell you the requirements, you said not to tell you something you already know.. You're sending some mixed feedback.. If you know the rules, then you know you need to follow them.. If you don't know the "new" rules, then we're tried to politely share them with you, but you tell everyone you already know the rules..
so what's the real story?
do you know the rules?
do you want to follow the rules?
do you want to keep your green card?
one small piece of advice, it helps if you tone down the attitude if your seriously looking for helpful feedback from the forum..
Kenny

Ok, I see you're not playing any games, but you're clearly aware of the requirements for the Green Card, but you don't want to follow the rules. You can't find a job in the US if you aren't here looking and you can't work here if you don't have legal status.
What do you mean by Personal Experiences? The rules are the the rules... people are trying to tell you that you're not following the rules, but as you stated, you already knew that.. Maybe what you mean by "personal experiences" is how to circumvent immigration rules, well, it's doubtful you'll find advise here on how to get around the rules...
If your are not going to live in the US, even though you know the residency requirements, then clearly the Green Card won't work for you.. If you want a double passport, I beleive at minimum you need to meet the requirements for your citizenship and that will only happen if you follow the rules...

I did read your posts, and I will say this more clearly, so you can understand better..
To maintain residency, you must follow the rules.. You stated you know the requirements, but then you said they've changed so when people tell you the requirements, you said not to tell you something you already know.. You're sending some mixed feedback.. If you know the rules, then you know you need to follow them.. If you don't know the "new" rules, then we're tried to politely share them with you, but you tell everyone you already know the rules..
so what's the real story?
do you know the rules?
do you want to follow the rules?
do you want to keep your green card?
one small piece of advice, it helps if you tone down the attitude if your seriously looking for helpful feedback from the forum..
Kenny

Ok, I see you're not playing any games, but you're clearly aware of the requirements for the Green Card, but you don't want to follow the rules. You can't find a job in the US if you aren't here looking and you can't work here if you don't have legal status.
What do you mean by Personal Experiences? The rules are the the rules... people are trying to tell you that you're not following the rules, but as you stated, you already knew that.. Maybe what you mean by "personal experiences" is how to circumvent immigration rules, well, it's doubtful you'll find advise here on how to get around the rules...
If your are not going to live in the US, even though you know the residency requirements, then clearly the Green Card won't work for you.. If you want a double passport, I beleive at minimum you need to meet the requirements for your citizenship and that will only happen if you follow the rules...

I did read your posts, and I will say this more clearly, so you can understand better..
To maintain residency, you must follow the rules.. You stated you know the requirements, but then you said they've changed so when people tell you the requirements, you said not to tell you something you already know.. You're sending some mixed feedback.. If you know the rules, then you know you need to follow them.. If you don't know the "new" rules, then we're tried to politely share them with you, but you tell everyone you already know the rules..
so what's the real story?
do you know the rules?
do you want to follow the rules?
do you want to keep your green card?
one small piece of advice, it helps if you tone down the attitude if your seriously looking for helpful feedback from the forum..
Kenny

Here is interesting Link.. Keeping the Green Card Valid...
She might be looking for this; *note advice on US Tax Returns
HOW TO KEEP YOUR GREEN CARD
This document describes certain precautions for U.S. permanent residents ("green card" holders) to take in order to maximize the chances of being able to maintain permanent residency status, i.e., "keeping your green card." Please note that the purpose of this document is to help law-abiding persons avoid common pitfalls that could cause them to inadvertently lose their green card. It is not intended for anyone who should not legally be able to keep their green card.
GENERAL RULE
It is very important to realize that U.S. Immigration law requires that a green card holder must NEVER abandon the INTENTION of continuing to reside permanently in the United States. Once, a green card holder abandons that intention, e.g., by intending to reside permanently in some other country, that person loses the right to keep their green card.
This means that ANYTIME a green card holder leaves the U.S., that person is subject to being accused by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (I.N.S.) of having abandoned the intention of living in the U.S., and is subject to having the greencard taken away--on the spot. Therefore, green card holders must always take certain PRECAUTIONS in order to be able to prove to the I.N.S. that they have never abandoned the intention of living in the U.S. permanently. However, simply returning to the U.S. once a year for several weeks to use the Green card is NOT enough!!! Many green card holders have lost their green cards--even though they returned to the U.S. once a year.
PRECAUTIONS
Consequently, it is very important that other precautions, such as the following, be taken:
1. OBTAIN A REENTRY PERMIT
* If you will be leaving the U.S. for more than one year, but less than two years, it is advisable to obtain a reentry permit prior to leaving the U.S.
* Note that if you continue to request a number of reentry permits (one after the other) the I.N.S. is likely to deny your application.
2. FILE TAX RETURNS
* ALWAYS FILE A U.S. RESIDENT TAX RETURN, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER APPLICABLE STATE, CITY, OR LOCAL TAXES.
* Be sure to file resident tax returns, e.g., 1040, and not a non-resident tax return!
* Note that this does not necessarily mean that you must actually pay U.S. income taxes, it only means that you must file a resident tax return and declare your worldwide income on that return, even if most of this income is exempt from taxation. Consult a tax adviser where applicable.
* Keep copies of all tax returns you have filed as a resident, and BRING THESE COPIES WITH YOU WHEN ENTERING THE UNITED STATES.
3. MAINTAIN A U.S. ADDRESS:
* Maintain a U.S. Address, even if the address is the home of a friend or relative.
* If possible, do not use "in care of" for your address.
* DO NOT have a U.S. address which is a resort or hotel.
4. MAINTAIN U.S. BANK ACCOUNTS
* You should leave open and continue to use U.S. Bank accounts.
* For example, some employers, when assigning an employee overseas, will continue to pay the employee in U.S. dollars, depositing the amount directly into the employee's U.S. account.
5. MAINTAIN U.S. DRIVER'S LICENSE:
* You should continue to RENEW your U.S. Driver's license.
* Be sure that the address on your license is the same as that recorded on any immigration documents.
* Carry your driver's license when entering the U.S.
6. MAINTAIN U.S. CREDIT CARD ACCOUNTS
7. OWNERSHIP OF U.S. PROPERTY
* If possible, continue ownership of U.S. property, e.g., houses, condominiums, businesses, automobiles, etc.
* For example, a person assigned abroad may want to rent, rather than sell, his or her U.S. residence.
8. DOCUMENT REASONS FOR LONG STAYS ABROAD
* EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS: Before leaving the U.S. on long assignments abroad, it is advisable to obtain a written employment contract, or letter, from your employer.
* The contract or letter should specify the terms and length of employment.
* If the employment will lead to a transfer back to the U.S., or to a U.S. based affiliate of the foreign employer, the contract or statement should include this fact.
9. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
* Be sure to maintain your social security card, and carry it with you on your return to the U.S.
* If you have not yet done so, be sure to apply for the type of social security card which permits you to work in the U.S.
10. SELECTIVE SERVICE
* For persons of applicable age, be sure to register with selective service.
11. KEEP YOUR GREEN CARD VALID:
* Be sure to renew your green card when it expires.
* Children who reach the age of fourteen (14) must file an application to replace their green card unless the prior card will expire before they reach age 16.
12. THINGS TO AVOID (which may unintentionally create the appearance of having abandoned the INTENTION of continuing to reside permanently in the United States):
* DO NOT return to the U.S. using any form of non-immigrant visa. For example, if you stay outside the U.S. for longer than one year, without having obtained a reentry permit, do NOT return to the U.S. on a tourist visa; instead, apply to the U.S. consulate for a Special Immigrant Visa.
* DO NOT arrive via a chartered air carrier where nearly all passengers are nonimmigrant.
* DO NOT return to the U.S. with a spouse and or children who are neither citizens nor green card holders, especially if they will be in the U.S. only a short time.
* DO NOT arrive at a port of entry functioning as a gateway to a resort area.
* DO NOT enter the U.S. on a round-trip ticket which terminates outside the U.S.
---------------------
NOTE: That even if you take all of the above precautions, there is NO GUARANTEE that the U.S. immigration inspector will not exclude you from the U.S. for other reasons, e.g., such as for committing a crime involving moral turpitude. The above information is intended solely as general reference information. It is not legal advice. Consultation with an immigration attorney is recommended. In addition, please note that Immigration Laws frequently change.

I did read your posts, and I will say this more clearly, so you can understand better..
To maintain residency, you must follow the rules.. You stated you know the requirements, but then you said they've changed so when people tell you the requirements, you said not to tell you something you already know.. You're sending some mixed feedback.. If you know the rules, then you know you need to follow them.. If you don't know the "new" rules, then we're tried to politely share them with you, but you tell everyone you already know the rules..
so what's the real story?
do you know the rules?
do you want to follow the rules?
do you want to keep your green card?
one small piece of advice, it helps if you tone down the attitude if your seriously looking for helpful feedback from the forum..
Kenny

Ok, I see you're not playing any games, but you're clearly aware of the requirements for the Green Card, but you don't want to follow the rules. You can't find a job in the US if you aren't here looking and you can't work here if you don't have legal status.
What do you mean by Personal Experiences? The rules are the the rules... people are trying to tell you that you're not following the rules, but as you stated, you already knew that.. Maybe what you mean by "personal experiences" is how to circumvent immigration rules, well, it's doubtful you'll find advise here on how to get around the rules...
If your are not going to live in the US, even though you know the residency requirements, then clearly the Green Card won't work for you.. If you want a double passport, I beleive at minimum you need to meet the requirements for your citizenship and that will only happen if you follow the rules...

"one small piece of advice, it helps if you tone down the attitude if your seriously looking for helpful feedback from the forum..
Kenny"

I did read your posts, and I will say this more clearly, so you can understand better..
To maintain residency, you must follow the rules.. You stated you know the requirements, but then you said they've changed so when people tell you the requirements, you said not to tell you something you already know.. You're sending some mixed feedback.. If you know the rules, then you know you need to follow them.. If you don't know the "new" rules, then we're tried to politely share them with you, but you tell everyone you already know the rules..
so what's the real story?
do you know the rules?
do you want to follow the rules?
do you want to keep your green card?
one small piece of advice, it helps if you tone down the attitude if your seriously looking for helpful feedback from the forum..
Kenny

Hey Diana
You always seem to be soo helpful...
I also live in Texas.. It is my understanding that Citizens of certain foriegn countries can drive of to one year on thier valid foreign driver license... Also, I don't beleive the K-1 is considered an Immigrant Visa...
Kenny

It is what it is. Write what is appropriate and correct. Alla was born in "Ukraine SSR" a country that no longer exists. But that is what it says on her birth certificate and I can't change it.
My forms contained references to "USSR", "Ukraine SSR", "Russian Confederation of Independent States", and "Ukraine" All of which were at one time or another the name of Alla's country during her lifetime! Alla and her two sons have lived in the SAME city all their lives yet ALL THREE were born in different countries! Alla in the USSR, Sergey in the Russian CIS and Pasha in Ukraine. Never had a problem.

BTW, you really should contact the local prosecutor about the Father in Law, he is committing a crime by doing this.
It is perfectly legal for him to change his mind on supporting your AOS as a result of the problems in your marriage but for him to offer you compensation in return for perjuring yourself under oath in a criminal matter is a crime.
This is also further evidence of abuse at the hands of this man (and his family).

What!?!? VAWA is so that someone in her situation can Adjust Status without the abusive spouse.
If money is tight she should contact the local Battered Woman's Shelter, they can put her in touch with resources, legal and otherwise, to assist her in her situation. Catholic Charities is also known for helping battered women with lawyers for VAWA.

To the poster..
This is, first off, a relationship issue which is way more complex than the capabilities of this website.. You really need to get your arms around your relationship, because part of the descision, really is dependant on the future of your relationship..
So, in my humble opinion, you priority is to focus on your husband and decide if you relationship is going to get through this.. Once you know that, then you can discuss what is best for you from an immigration standpoint..
None of us have the needed information to advise you since this is pretty complex personal matter first then secondly an immigration matter..
That's my opinion...
Kenny

To the poster..
This is, first off, a relationship issue which is way more complex than the capabilities of this website.. You really need to get your arms around your relationship, because part of the descision, really is dependant on the future of your relationship..
So, in my humble opinion, you priority is to focus on your husband and decide if you relationship is going to get through this.. Once you know that, then you can discuss what is best for you from an immigration standpoint..
None of us have the needed information to advise you since this is pretty complex personal matter first then secondly an immigration matter..
That's my opinion...
Kenny

To the poster..
This is, first off, a relationship issue which is way more complex than the capabilities of this website.. You really need to get your arms around your relationship, because part of the descision, really is dependant on the future of your relationship..
So, in my humble opinion, you priority is to focus on your husband and decide if you relationship is going to get through this.. Once you know that, then you can discuss what is best for you from an immigration standpoint..
None of us have the needed information to advise you since this is pretty complex personal matter first then secondly an immigration matter..
That's my opinion...
Kenny

hi to all VJers..
i got here in the states last august under K1 visa and got married the same month, due to unfavorable circumstances, we just recently managed to gather all the necessary documents we needed for my AOS. Last week, the 2nd, we finally sent all the documents (THANK GOD!)... here's the thing: my I-94 will be expiring after TOMORROW!! and now, i found myself asking these.. AM I GONNA GET IN TROUBLE? AM I GONNA BE OUT OF STATUS? i mean, i know that i always carry my passport and a copy of our marriage certificate, but paranoia just hit me.. thats because i dont have a proof that i already sent my papers for adjustment of status. i need your advice. i am so puzzled right now after realizing this. Thank you very much..