I-129F Cover Letter sample (K-1 visa)
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Although not required, it’s really important to introduce your I-129F Petition for fiance K-1 visa to the USCIS with a Cover letter.
Below is a sample of how you should frame the I-129F Cover Letter when first beginning your Fiance(e) K1 visa case.
This document becomes the table of contents of what’s included in your submission package.
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Download this I-129F Cover Letter Sample
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How to write a I-129F cover letter
*The following are suggestions, not requirements*
The cover letter is simply a piece of paper you write to give an overall summary of your fiance(e) visa petition. It should be the first page the USCIS officer sees when they open your I-129f packet.
The paper itself can be any size, but go with letter size (8.5 x 11). You should submit an original I-129f cover letter with your signature, but keep copies for yourself.
Keep the cover letter formal, short but concise. Use bullet points to list the contents of your petition package. There isn’t a template that the USCIS requires using when submitting anything to them, so use your best judgement.
A good example of how to write up the I-129F cover letter is using a sample cover for a job.
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What to include in your I-129F Cover letter
The main purpose is going to be to describe the purpose of your petition submission. You’re going to request the USCIS to review your K-1 visa petition. The style of writing is formal (memo) statement.
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- 1. Your contact information on top to start off the introduction.
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- 2. USCIS address. Latest USCIS information (address) next.
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- 3. Your full name as petitioner, Your fiance(e)’s full name as beneficiary, What you’re petitioning for (I-129F). Tell them you ultimately want a K-1 visa for the beneficiary fiance.
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- 4. Supporting documents. Indicate that you’re attaching supporting documents (Example: Letter of Intent to Marry)
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- 5. List. Bullet list of all documents in your I-129F petition packet
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- 6. Sign and date
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- 7. Don’t Reveal too much information. I’ll explain why in my step-by-step I-129F approval guide. It has a breakdown on things that really affect your approval.
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Addressed the letter to the Dep’t of Homeland Security USCIS officer. Be sure to mention documents are true, photocopies or originals, unaltered, translated if needed, etc. Sign with wet signature.
Be respectful, kind and thank them for their time.
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The next step…
Now that you’ve got your cover letter all done for a quick I-129f approval, it’s time to understand what things you need to put into your evidence of in-person meeting.
Also, sign up for my email for step-by-step instructions and tutorials:
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Recent Comments from readers…
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Hi, Prem…
You stated that we should not reveal too much information in the cover letter. However, I was thinking it would be a good idea to mention what I am sure will be a red flag being our age difference.
After all,… One of the first things they will see are our photos. They will see an age difference right there, so I want them to also see that being addressed right away in the cover letter by referring them to other sections where we speak to this issue.
Thoughts?
Hello Tim,
Thanks for getting in touch.
The cover letter is not a required piece of document.
That’s why there’s a huge possibility for the USCIS adjudicator to ignore this particular proof.
So, to make sure such an important topic will be read, we recommend that you write about your red flag within the “circumstance of in-person meeting” statement.
Avoid talking about an important topic in the cover letter, then.
-Cris (Visa Tutor Team)
Hello, thanks for having this page, it has been very useful for me. Do you know about the birth certificate? There is confusion, in YouTube videos it says that it should be added. On visaJourney too. But in the USCIS they do not mention until the second stage. Thanks!
Hello Karolina,
For the I-129F, a birth certificate of the beneficiary is not required unless you need it to show proof of a legal name change.
A birth certificate of the US petitioner may be needed if you’re using it as proof of US citizenship (instead of a passport). So you see, there are different situations where you may need it or may not need it. You will have to figure out for your own case if you need it or not. Don’t be quick to accept whatever you find on YouTube videos or forums. Although some of them are helpful, it’s important for you to be cautious.
-Prem
Hello! Thank you so much for your helpful advice. It is most appreciated! I have a question regarding the section about the beneficiary’s previous travel to the U.S. The form says to complete those item numbers only “if your beneficiary is currently in the United States,” but some information I’ve read seems to imply I should fill this out if my beneficiary has EVER been to the U.S., even if he’s not there now. Can you help to clarify this for me? Thanks again.
Hey Alison,
The question about the “currently in” versus “ever been” gets everyone confused. The question and the instructions mismatch. It’s one of the 20 technical problems with the I-129F that I’ve dealt with a lot. In fact, I wrote a whole article on it. Take a look here: https://www.visatutor.com/form-i-129f-petition-mistakes/
I’ve developed a way to answer this question without harming your case. And the solution isn’t a simple “just write it down and hope the USCIS figures it out”. Instead, you have to explain it clearly to them otherwise they may think you’re hiding information or your fiance is still here on an expired visa (inadmissibility).
However, with a proper supplemental statement, you can bypass the confusion and let the USCIS know exactly how the situation is. And you can avoid a denial in that case. By the way, my I-129F online course teaches you how to ‘fix’ this question and problem https://www.visatutor.com/i-129f-guide/
Please keep in touch and let me know how it turns out
-Prem
Thanks for great work… my question is about the documents i need to request my fiance to mail them to me before i apply, for instance , do she need to send me “passport photo” by mail? or i can just print it out?
Ayman,
I suggest you get your fiance to mail you the passport photos. Printing them out usually causes quality problems and they’re not clear. But it’s up to you.
-Prem
Hi, this website is really helping me out a lot. I was just wondering if I need to add descriptions on the pictures of our proof of relationships and also how many screen shots of text messages should I put in the file?? thanks!
Hey Chris,
You should include descriptions and labels under your photos to help explain what they are.
You can include a variety of samples of your text messages and screenshots to show that you keep in contact over the months. Samples are fine, you don’t have to include everything.
-Prem
Hi, IS this still valid do i still need these requirements as a petitioner as of august 2018?
Hey Brian,
This cover letter is made in 2018. So, these are the most up-to-date requirements. Notice that not all these will apply to every case. This is a template and you should modify it to suit your own case. To make sure you have all the documents required, I suggest you sign up to get my I-129F checklist.
-Prem
I am retired and my income is Social Security, however, the I-129F ask for employment. I am not employed. where do I tell them that I am retired?
Hello Jerry,
For anyone retired, you’re technically not employed. For the sections pertaining to employment, you will leave those sections blank – or simply write “retired” or “unemployed” in those areas.
-Prem
Hello,
my boyfriend (from serbia) over stayed in america ) for about 10 days, his Ds form was cancelled. It has been 5 years since he has been in America and I have been travelling over seas to see him
Is there still an equal chance of us getting Accepted for the k1 visa?
Hello Jasmine,
Do you know if he has been barred from the US? he overstayed several days, which would automatically cancel his visa, however, it wouldn’t necessarily bar him because it was only 10 days. You can read more about it in the tourist visa section https://www.visatutor.com/do-tourist-visa-denials-affect-my-k-1-visa/
But, to answer your question, Yes, he’s eligible for a K-1 visa, however, they will ask about the overstay and may even cause a slight problem.
-Prem
hello do I still need to file the form g-325A?
Hi Adilene,
The G-325A is no longer required as part of your I-129F paperwork.
-Prem
hi, im karen from philippines. i have 3 kids and all of them are in legal aged 23, 22, and 20.. my concern is do i need to include them to beneficiary biographic info even they are all in legal age and the age 20 daughter was living with her boyfriend and she had one kid..if so?.. do i need to present their birth certificate to the consular office with me for the interview?…..hope i can get an answer with this stuff..thank you and God bless
Hi Karen,
You must list all children regardless of age whether or not they intend to apply for a K-1 visa. But, you must know that k2 visas are only eligible for children under 21 years old. Some of your children may not be eligible. You will only bring the birth certificates of the children who are applying for a k-2 visa. https://www.visatutor.com/fiancee-k-1-visa/k2-visa/
-Prem
What is a ‘8. Personal check/money order ( Dollar amount $)’? I’ve never seen in the I-129F’s instruction.
Is it requirement?
Hi Tim,
the fee to file the I-129F is currently at $535. You can check it at the USCIS.gov/I-129F site.
-Prem
Hello,I just ask if do we still need to include the G-325A biographic data forms…thank you
Hello Romaper,
You’re not required to have the G-325A for the I-129F.
-Prem
Where do you clip the passport pictures to? I was going to put them in a Ziploc Bag and clip them in front of the I-129F form. and I was going to clip the Check in front of the G-1145 form. Not sure what order they are looking for.
Joulie,
It’s perfectly fine to place them in a ziploc bag and use a paperclip to attach it to the front of the packet. They’re looking for a particular order, however, it won’t affect anything if you’re slightly out of order.
On the I-129F Petition for an Alien Fiance(e) number #11 mentions
11. Documentation of IMBRA requirements or Criminal history (XX pages) Do I have to conduct a criminal history of my self to submit to USCIS as the petitioner or is the beneficiary?
12. Proof of Beneficiary’s US travel if applicable (e.g. I-94) (XX pages) What this actually means is it a separate form?
Hey Edward,
Welcome back.
(11) You (or your beneficiary) do not have to conduct a criminal history on yourself. Unless you have to disclose history because you have a “specified” crime background, you do not have to do your own background scan. If it doesn’t apply to you, leave it out of the cover letter.
(12) This means if your fiance has ever traveled to the US, they were issued a form I-94. If so, you can retrieve it from the Customs and Border Protection website (for free). If it doesn’t apply to you, leave it out.
-Prem
What if I’ve never married before do I still have to include a form to fill out?
Hi Edward,
If you’ve never married before, the only difference would be that you don’t submit previous divorce documents in your I-129F petition.
So that being said so I still don’t have to write it down on the cover letter
Of course not. If it doesn’t apply to you, you won’t include it.
This cover letter is comprehensive. It’s got situations that may or may not apply to everyone. For example: criminal history. So, there’s no need to include it or mention it.
-Prem
Hi! On USCIS website – Form Filling tips, they use a different order than in you cover letter : check, Form G-1145, form being filled (here I-129F). Is it really important to follow this order ?
Thank you for you for help!
Hi Marie,
It’s perfectly fine to have a slightly different order. They recommend using a specific order so it’s easier for them to sort out your documents quickly in their sorting facility. It won’t affect your eligibility, chances of approval or cause any problems. Don’t worry if it’s not exactly the same.
Hi ! This website is really helping me a lot through the whole process. Do I need to include in the package the G-935A Biographic Information for both petitioner and beneficiary ? I think I read it somewhere but I’m not sure about it.
Hi Marie,
You’re not required to submit the G-325A anymore for the petition. It has been discontinued. That’s why I don’t reference it in the website or checklist. The questions have been incorporated into a new I-129F since June 2017. Be sure to sign up for the checklist to know which documents are required.
Cheers
-Prem