I-129F Proof of In-person meeting
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Provide documented evidence that you met your fiance(e) within the last 2 years to be eligible for the I-129F petition.
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Proving that you and your fiance(e) have met (face to face) in the last 2 years is a requirement for filing the I-129F petition. You have to submit hard evidence to the USCIS that you comply with the requirement.
For this stage, you need to simply collect documented proof of meeting in person in the recent past. The USCIS prefers verifiable proof — you know, where they don’t need to simply take your word for it.
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Part 8, in the I-129F instructions, is “Evidence for Petitions to Classify a Fiance(e) as a K-1 visa nonimmigrant”. In this part, you’re requested to show that you had an “in-person meeting.”
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What’s an “in-person meeting”?
The USCIS defines an “in-person meeting” when you and your fiance(e) are at the same place at the same time. In their words, it’s “being in each others’ presence”.
Now, if you’re clever, you can understand this to mean many things. The fiance(e) can be in a foreign country or even in the US at the time. This is one of the interesting concepts of the I-129F petition.
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What evidence of meeting must you show?
By definition (and according to I-129F instructions) you are only required to show proof of meeting. This simply means being at the same place at the same time. That’s it. Here are examples:
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- ✔ Airline tickets, boarding passes with US Petitioner’s information
. - ✔ Passport stamps, other official documents proving visit to the country, or letters from a Military commander.
. - ✔Dated or time-stamped photographs together
. - ✔ Other documented evidence: receipts, hotel bills, etc.
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Again, these should be evidence that an average person can look at and say “yes, they met”. If you read between the lines, nowhere does it say you must show that you two have a relationship. Isn’t that interesting?
However, you should take this opportunity to submit additional evidence of a bona fide relationship. This is similar as evidence of a genuine on-going relationship (which you submit during the actual K1 visa interview).
According to the USCIS, you two can even include a written statement confirming you meeting your fiance(e) in person (in the last 2 years). Include a timeline or exact date(s). Do you have photographs to prove it?
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Other evidence to meet the 2-year requirement:
- 1. Vacation receipts, tickets, passport pages (showing immigration stamps) and admission/exit from country
. - 2. Photographs: of you two together, engagement photos, engagement invitation card, others.
. - 3. Written affidavits of witnesses to your engagement or meeting. Perhaps even relatives excited about the wedding.
. - 4. Receipts and evidence of vacation together, outings, lunches, shopping, etc.
. - 5. Lots of other types in this visa class
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What’s the best proof for an “in-person meeting”?
It’s shocking sometimes. But, did you know this is one of the top reasons for an RFE or rejection? When petitioners don’t include clear evidence of meeting.
Even though the USCIS specifically asks you to submit this, most petitioners get it wrong. This is a fact, not an opinion.
There are certain things that are undeniable proofs of meeting and easily comply with the requirements. If you want help to figure this out, you should check out the I-129F tips for best chances of approval.
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If you have not met in person
Although it’s ideal for you and your fiance(e) to have actually met face to face in the recent past (last 2 years), sometimes it becomes unrealistic (or simply impossible) for some couples. How do you show a bona fide relationship? There are instances where the USCIS will waive the requirement if you can prove some sort of hardship in the fiance visa process.
But be warned, according to historical results — waivers are almost impossible to obtain.
In the USCIS’s own words, “if you believe you qualify for an exception” to the 2-year meeting requirement for the I-129F, then submit documentation. You have two criteria to establish your waiver eligibility:
- 1. Some cultures prohibit unwed couples from meeting. If your meeting violates some cultural, religious or social custom, then this is a waiver you may request from the USCIS. You need to get some document (letter or statement) from a community leader supporting this fact. It does not mean that you are not responsible for proving that you have a genuine relationship. This is especially true when it’s time for the K-1 visa interview.
- 2. If you have some hardship that prevents you from traveling or meeting your fiance(e) in his/her home country. This includes a medical condition (get an official physician’s document), physical ailment, social or political immigration restrictions (some reason you cannot travel otherwise?). Not being able to afford the travel (or fees) is NOT an exception (remember the minimum income/financial requirements in order to have a K1 visa granted?)
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Hi, I’m Prem…
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Hi Prem,
I wrote to you before my Fiance she is in Syria all commercial flights are suspended to Syria no one can fly in/out Syria since 2011 we had no way to meet in person in other countries too and no Visa will be given to Syrian citizens to travel. I hope USCIS approve my waiver for not meeting her in person.
Hi, I have a few questions I’m hoping you can help me with.
1) Regarding chat logs and phone conversations. We don’t have long conversations over messaging apps due to English being difficult for him to type and read, it’s usually just very short messages like needing something from the grocery store (when we were in the same country) or good morning (when in different countries). However, we talk on the phone almost every day, so would photos of the call history with dates of calls be a good substitute? Is there somewhere to explain why we don’t have long messenger conversations or is that not necessary?
2) Also, for dated or time stamped photos, of course they’re all taken on iPhone’s so when I print them there isn’t a date. Should these just be written on the back or somehow added with a photo editing app?
3) As far as residence goes, do you only include addresses that you had some sort of legal setup at? (i.e. contract, bills in your name, drivers license registered there, residence permit, etc.) What constitutes residency? (I travel a lot)
Thanks!
Hello, for the photo evidence is it okay to send actually photos if I have extras, or do they have to be color photocopies on copy paper, and if I can what should I write on the back of them? The date and who is in the photos? Also, should I write it in pen or pencil?
Hi Prem,
So my fiance and I have been together for almost 3 years. We met in Japan as coworkers and eventually became a couple since 2017 up to present. He moved back to the US in 2019 so we’re currently in a long-distance relationship now.
Now, I am preparing the cover letter of our K1 visa petition (him as the petitioner). We have prepared our Letter of Intent to Marry and Circumstances of Meeting (Statement of how we met). However, I am very confused about what should I put under these categories:
1. Evidence of In-Person Meeting
– Do I have to put here all our pictures together and with friends captioned and dated from 2017-2019? (We don’t have airline tickets, hotel receipts or passport stamps as we traveled by car around Japan and usually take day trips only)
2. Evidence of Bonafide/Ongoing Relationship
– Do I have to use the same photos captioned and dated from 2017-2019?
– Can I include screenshots of our video calls together, and with my family? (He hasn’t met my family in my home country yet but talked with them through video calls)
– We moved in together here in Japan early 2019 and we have a signed apartment lease (he is the cohabitant and I am the main tenant). Should I include this under this category?
– I’d like to include statement of witnesses (letter from his family, letter from my family, and letters from our friends), will these be appropriate under this category (Evidence of Bonafide/Ongoing Relationship) as well?
Hi Prem,
Thanks for your website and advice. I have a question – is a problem to fill out the i-129f partially electronically and partially by pen? Some of the spaces aren’t big enough electronically or they have the wrong format for what I need to fill in. (ex. international phone number).
Thank you!
Hi , I need Your advise, ( I’m an USA American Citizen ) I started a relationship with my fiance via facebook since may 2018, and We met in person on may 2019 ,I want to bring my fiance to USA with the K1 fiance visa, in order to apply,We must wait for 2 years of relationship before provide the I-129F ?
Thanks for your answer
I receive a letter from uscis requesting more evidence of meeting in person between June 11,2016-June 11,2018 our first meeting was on april 2018 but the second meeting was Aug 2018. would this be a problem?
Hey Prem I am working on finishing up the paperwork and evidence and I just wanted to say thank you so so much; your website has been so helpful to me. I do have a few questions: how many pages of chat messages I should send? I printed out one for every month we have been dating and put four to one page, but I feel like that is overkill. I also was curious how many photos to include? Every website says a different number. Another thing is when I fill the paperwork out on the pdf for the actual petition there are certain spaces I am not able to type in. Would it okay to type what I can on my computer and fill out the rest with pen (its only a few places) Also I got a dui five years ago and have included all the paperwork for that as well but I am so nervous that it will affect me and they will deny me. It was a while ago; I was a stupid teenager and I have completed all the necessary action required to become a productive person in society again. Should I write a small letter explaining or just put the necessary documents.
Hi Prem,
I came across your website looking for answers to questions I have about the I-129F. I am so discouraged after what I have read here. My fiance and I met a few months ago. I live in the USA and he in Nigeria. We really want to get married. We love each other very much. It seems we have so much to overcome. We have not met in person and I have a medical reason for not being able to go meet him. I was going to apply for a waiver. I do have lots of good medical records to include with the waiver. My other obstacle is my income. I am below the cutoff as I am on disability. I earn less than $15,000 a year. My fiance does want to stay here after we marry and work, he does have a college education, so we would be financially able to support ourselves eventually. What are our chances and do you have any suggestions. Thank you.
Denise
Hello,sir I need yr tips, I like to apply for k1, I had all evidence I meet him two weeks ago only thing I don’t have. Is phone record because I’m using prepay ph but I’m talking to him everyday and one more thing I had never send him any gift , I had send some money thru w.union I had receipt for he can buy his gift is that would be a problem?
I visit him last week I spent 15 days with him I had divorce and he is single also I am 9 year older then him and I am Hindu and he is Muslim but I really love him and I want to spent my life with him . We did engejment ceremony with his family and then we went to Dubai I had photos, boarding pass, travel tickets, hotel booking , also I had meet him in 2015 I still have photos for that time, u think I am eligible for filling k1.
How recent can the documents and letters be from the date we file the form I-129f? can we include letters dated one month before the date we send the application?
Hi!
I have 2 questions, me and my fiancé are filling all the documents for the K-1 visa, which USCIS address should I put in my letter of intent? the one of the USCIS office near me, or the one of the embassy near me when I will submitting my interview?
and I downloaded from the website the petition l-129f but the expiration date it’s over and they didn’t upload the new version already, is it ok to send this one?
Thank you so much!!
Hi Prem! My boyfriend and I are almost done with our petition packet but as we are reviewing everything, we started questioning ourselves, specially after reading about the K1 on other blogs.
How necessary is it to have our pictures signed? Is it necessary for the petitionary and/or beneficiary to sign every single page of the packet?
hi, my name is junior , me and my fiancé have been together for a year now, we already met 3 times , we have all the evidences for in person meeting, photo, boarding pass, etc. my question is do we have to have 2 years together to be eligible to file the i129 ? or do I have to wait for two years before I apply ?
Hi Perm,
My (US citizen) fiance and I are currently working on the I-129F petition for the K1 visa. We had a few questions that maybe you could answer:
1) Is it necessary to include an “evidence of ongoing relationship” section in the I-129F petition (in addition to the “evidence of in-person meeting”)? I’ve noticed that a lot of people who have posted on youtube have done so, but I don’t see it being requested anywhere in the I-129F instructions.
2) I (Canadian citizen) will be staying with my fiance in the US for 5 months (from July 2018 to December). We are aiming to send the I-129F petition in July a few weeks after my arrival. My question is: since I will be staying with him for a long period of time but still have a permanent address back home in Canada, what address should I write down as my “current address”?
Thank you so much!!!
helllo..we receive an rfe last month the rfe shows the two year meeting requirement we pass all the missing requested documents except for LETTERS WRITTEN TO EACH OTHER AFTER MEETING is that possible we denied if we missed that one ??thanks thanks
Hello, I applied immigrant Visa for my husband and embassy want on going relationship photos and call logs.
Do I need to label everybody name in the family pictures? If I can say only family and friend in the pictures..
Please need your advice. Thanks
Hello, I would like to know about labelling each page in my packet. Do I need to type/write my name and date of birth on EACH page of support i.e. airline tickets, call logs, etc?
Thanks Perm for answering my questions, I just had a few more and would appreciate your help.
I am using my Passport photo as part of my citizenship, but do I need just the photo and front and back cover or ALL the pages?
Secondly, I saw that we (both me and fiancé) need two 2×2 passport size photos with a white background within 30 days of the petition filing….how sticky are they on this. Hers were taken 5 months ago and mine 2 months ago…do we have to get another set of 2 x 2 photos or could we still pass for the old ones…how would they know?
Finally, when filling out the I-129F, I have noticed that there is not enough space to write out her full address and it won’t let me enter “Present” for jobs or current address….I assume I can just hand write these in or for the addresses at least, would it be better to just leave the address as it is. For example, Flat C/F Tower 14 Yang Chuen Yau Ho…….the Yao Ho does not fit in the field, so I thought about just hand writing it or should I just leave it be?
Thanks so much
Drew
Hi! I have a question and I hope you could help us.
I’m the foreign fiancee and my partner(the petitioner) has been working in my country, which is where we met. Since we are both in the same city, we have been seeing each other almost every day since we started dating and eventually we moved in together. How do we show the “circumstances of our in-person meeting”?
Thanks!
Hello thank you for your help, my question is I have never had face to face with my fiancee it was always over the phone and I have tons of messages about how much we are in love and we want to get married. Only thing is the tradition and culture doesn’t allow dating or having any type of relationship. I can prove this with a letter from a religious leader. I would like to know what my chances of getting my fiancee visa approved or can my case be approved what is the percentage of acceptance this kind of an application.
Thanks
Hello, just wanted to ask a quick question. I am doing a K1 Visa for my fiancé(e). I thought that I had to submit the I-134 Affidavit of Support with my I-129F Petition. I waited to find a job because if I did submit it I worried it might of gotten approved before I had work. Therefore, by the time I file my I-129F, it will be about 8 months after I visited my fiancé(e). I know it is within 2 years of meeting, but should I be nervous that I am not submitting it, like 1 or 2 months after meeting? Should I include that in the Cover Letter, why it took so long?
Second, I submitted a K1 Visa 10 years ago and it ended up being Marriage Fraud. Now, 10 years later am submitting another one. Should I be also concerned that this is my second time doing this?
I know I have to submit these either way, but anything I should include in the Cover Letter or anything to make them understand, so I don’t get delayed or denied?
Thanks,
Drew
Hey!
Thank you for your help with this website. So here is my question:
For the how we met portion, does both myself and my fiance have to write a letter?? I have the evidence, photos, hotel receipts, boarding pass, and passport stamps’ but is he too supposed to write hoe we met, and how we fell in love with each other???
Hello.
I met my fiance 6months ago when I was in the US and now we are planing to get married and me going there to start our lifes together. We want to applay for K1 visa but the only thing that I am worried is that we dont have any photos of us together We have a TON of daily texts and call logs but no photos. Is that gonna be the problem for us?
Hi,
I have been in a relationship with my fiancé for 4 and a half years, Should we included proof of our relationship from the start of our relationship or just focus on the past 2 years?
Thanks.
Hi Prem. thank you for email.
Can my boyfriend fiance email me his passport size photo & would that be acceptable to provide?
How many pages of chat logs should i be submitting? I was thinking 5 pages, is that too little?i have read some that were submitting 100 pages and I know for sure no one has time to read all that. Quality over quantity for sure! please advice what I should be focusing on. here is my brief story:
We started talking on facebook, we continued chatting on whatsapp as friends for couple years. We became serious 6 months ago and spoke daily. i visited him in September and i will be going again next week to visit and officially get engaged.
my question here is do I need to show them chat logs when we were friends? I prefer to focus on the last 6 months when we became a couple. i will include the facebook message to show that we’ve known each other for 3 years. what do you think?
Hi! I would like to ask if the petitioner had a police record in the past, does he/she still needs to include that in the cover letter? Thanks
Hi.
My fiance has sent our I 129F forms 3 months ago, until now we have not gotten any notification, we know our document is incomplete, such as passport style photos, photos of both of us that we do not have…
Can we send another I 129 ? .
Thanks
hello, I have a question
can i add proof of meeting after the i-129F is filed?
we haven’t met yet but we can in the next six months, before the waiting period is over
Hi Prem, I’m confused. There’s a part in I-129F question stating that “does your beneficiary have been married previously? My fiance answered yes since that’s the reality. But my problem is, do I need to attached my marriage certificate just to prove that I’ve been married? I’m using my single name not my married name. I attached my birth certificate and passport. I also attached the death certificate of my late husband since I’m a widow.
In Affidavit of Support may I know the amount of 100% or 125%
My fiance is a retired U.S. Airforce and a Social Security pensioner who got a 100% pension and he is still working. Does his income qualified in Affidavit of Support?
Hi Prem, I would like to ask about my name. In my passport I applied my single name not my married name since I’m a widow. In the I-129k visa I also used my single name. I attached the death certificate of my late husband and our marriage contract. What can you say about this?
Mirla
I read the filing instructions, and it is mentioned not to highlight the documents and forms. Is it ok to highlight the dates and names on copies of the airline tickets, hotel receipts and screenshot conversations?
Hi, we have pictures during our first meeting. They were taken through cellphone and there were no date or time stamped were they acceptable?
Hi!, I don’t have a photo of us together from the very first face to face meeting. (We had no idea, we would fall in love later) however we do have photos after the very first meeting. Will this be a problem?
Hello. I would like to know whether it is my fiance as the petitioner or me as the beneficiary who has to submit this proof of relationship or both of us?
Thank you.