Assembling evidence

[canuck_amuck]

Hi,

I am in the process of collecting all of the evidence of my and my wifes relationship. Ive got all sorts of papers, documents, receipts and pictures and its very chaotic. My question is how should I go about organizing this evidence? Are we allowed to use staples or paperclips? I know it says not to send anything mechanical im guessing because they do a metal scan on the envelopes they receive. But would staples and paper clips be acceptable? What about taping things together?

Could anyone who has submitted their application share how they went about organizing their paperwork and evidence?

And when I mail the application, should I put my wifes part in a separate envelope, within my envelope? Or just put it all together?

Thanks

 

[LCS]

Mechanical in the dictionary is defined by machinary or moving parts.

Absolutely you can use staples and paper clips to attach the various sections or groups of paper together so they are in the correct order and groups intended. Taping would mean they have to tear the tape off and then you run the risk of whatever papers or objects not remaining in the original order.
I used a large metal butterfly clip to hold the 50 or so calling cards I sent in. I also used a soft plastic CD jacket (not a jewel case) to hold and protect the photos I submitted, and wrapped an elastic around it. Everything else was just stapled and paperclipped in the order required.
With the application, forms and letters, calling cards and photos the package was almost 2 inches thick. I then put all of that inside a plastic expanding folder that closed with a string wrapped around a disc on each flap in a figure 8. (There's also the kind that has an elastic cord attached to the flap that wraps all around itself). That way then EVERYTHING was contained inside it's own secure folder when it's mailed inside another large manilla envelope.
Hope that gives you some ideas.

 

[canuck_amuck]

Thanks so much! That helps allot!

 

[Anatolia]

Spiraling a book (made with your proof) with a table of contents works really nice. Make it nice and catchy. Something pleasant and organized. It has worked for me twice already.

 

[canuck_amuck]

Oh wow really?

I thought they didnt want that kind of thing. I guess I just got that impression when they said they didnt want photo albums...

 

[Anatolia]

I think they don't want anything heavy, that adds poundage to an already heavy application and but if you only have something to just keep everything and organized together, it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[PMM]

Hi

Spiraling a book (made with your proof) with a table of contents works really nice. Make it nice and catchy. Something pleasant and organized. It has worked for me twice already.

Read the instructions, they don't want books, binders, dvds, cds, bulldog clips, staples, paper clips only.

PMM

 

[canuck_amuck]

Read the instructions, they don't want books, binders, dvds, cds, bulldog clips, staples, paper clips only.

That was a little unclear, did you say paper clips were allowed?

 

[canthai]

Hey canuck_amuck,
I don't know if PMM will respond but I think he means paper clips are ok and the others he mentions (from the guide) are not ok.

Hope that helps!

canthai

 

[LCS]

There is soooo much paperwork I don't know how you can avoid using binder clips or other methods of holding it together. I don't know why they would object to receiving free stationary supplies like that when they'll just be removing them and using them internally again. Think of the free supplies we're giving them! hahahha

 

[canuck_amuck]

Well I had though that they just didn't want any metal since Im sure they will scan it through a metal detector X-Ray for security purposes. But then in an X-ray they could easily tell what a paperclip is right?

As long as I can use paperclips, I can use small and large ones and it should be enough. And I can put groups of things in envelopes. Although I have heard of problems where the officers will get all the documents and evidence all mixed up and out of order, and it causes allot of confusion. That makes me want to staple things together, but they would probably just take those out anyway...