What if you go a little overboard on organization?

[nyssa]

I know some of you have sent pounds of evidence and have sent off very well organized applications. I'm just wondering if it's possible to over-do the organization... if that would irritate the IO to have tabs on the folders (paper clip tabs, not stick tabs) and such and a LOT of paperclips. They could pick the folders apart if need be, but they may get confused if it's taken out of order (things are numbered and lettered, for example.)

 

[ColorMePanda]

I am sure you will be fine.
As unfortunately none of us are IO's (which would make things easier lol) so we can't tell you what they will think.

In my head, I just want to organize it how it best suits me. Whether that may seem crappy to them or not is their opinion.
I figure though that it is about the evidence not so much the organization of it that will help get you approved or not.
If that was the case then we would all be organizing it a certain way or the same way so that we would get approved too.

I do feel that it will help them refer back to the necessary documents they need to find easier but in the end I figure they will organize it however best suits them which makes sense.

But don't worry dear, I am sure yours will do just fine.
Though I know how hard it is not to worry because when it comes to immigration you are ALWAYS going to second guess yourself even if you know deep down nothing is wrong. All we can do is try to stay strong and be patient. Only time will tell unfortunately. Best of luck to you and your partner.

 

[Karlshammar]

You will neither get denied nor approved based on your clips.

As long as all the information is included you'll be fine regardless of how you organize it.

I know some of you have sent pounds of evidence and have sent off very well organized applications. I'm just wondering if it's possible to over-do the organization... if that would irritate the IO to have tabs on the folders (paper clip tabs, not stick tabs) and such and a LOT of paperclips. They could pick the folders apart if need be, but they may get confused if it's taken out of order (things are numbered and lettered, for example.)

 

[nyssa]

Thanks. I already assumed that to a point... but as I kept going I realized I have a near 10lb package: 9 folders total (1 is a very large folder) and a bunch of tabs in each. It's not messy, just... a lot. I imagine it could do the opposite of what I want it to (take longer because there's too much)... hopefully that's not the case.

 

[Karlshammar]

Must be the folder of all folders.

I don't think it will increase the length of processing. They already take months and months, so they have more than enough time to check everything they need to check. I don't see why additional supporting information would change that.

That being said, I'm not a consular/immigration officer, so I'm just reasoning here.

 

[nyssa]

Advice is always appreciated, thank you.

Right now, all the folders are loose. Not sure if I'm going to put them in one big binder-type folder or just... leave them as are in order.

 

[AllisonVSC]

I wouldn't go for the "binder-type folder" as it reminds me of the stipulations NOT to send photo albums, etc.
The system of folders and clips you have devised will be just fine! Go with it.

 

[Suin]

we had all of them in order and put into an paper folder bought in Staples to keep them all together.

 

[nyssa]

My 9 folders are the 2-inch expandable folders. I am going to try to stuff the Communications in the 2-inch expandable folder lol, I hope it fits. If not, I saw some 4-inch ones, I think.

Okay. I will probably just leave the folders loose in the box, but individually clipped so the pages don't fly out. Each folder clearly states "FOLDER #_" in giant letters anyway.

 

[ColorMePanda]

Oh man you make me feel like such a failure when it comes to this.
I will NEVER have this much evidence. But congrats to you having this much.
But then again my partner and I have only been together for a year and a few months and have some things saved up.
We bought this plastic drawer that you can stack for storage but instead just bought one to put all or anything we fill is important towards the application in. So far it is already almost filled. I hope this will be a good thing for us.

Well who knows, maybe we will have a ton more by the time we mail out our application which if all goes well will be next year in the summer. We plan on having a summer wedding on my grandparents anniversary July 3rd since I always wanted fireworks for my anniversary but we will just be one day earlier. Plus my grandpa passed away last year and he was the dad I never got to have. During the time he passed away I felt I couldn't go on with life and then I found my partner who gave me a reason to live. Plus he reminds me a lot of my grandpa. Anyway I figure a few months before then I will gather the clearances and medical exams etc. then a few days after our wedding mail it off. Plus here you can get your marriage certificate in less that 20 minutes. Sounds good to me. I just hope I do as well as you but you got me a bit worried now. Lol.

 

[AlanWales]

My wife and I met about 7 1/2 years ago online, she visited me in 2004 and 2006 and I visited her twice in 2008, second time was to get married. For a good few years he job enabled us to chat from the time she got up, to the time I went to bed, (8 hr time difference), most of it in Wap (mobile internet) so there was no chat logs, or way to save all the PMs.
About five months after we got together in 03 we both got computers, which enabled us to share photos, emails, have msn video chats etc.

When it came to the application, I just sent a selection of emails from over the years (I had saved some going right back to 2003), I put together little presentations of our holidays, including a few photos of each time we had been on holiday together, photocopies of hotel receipts, plane tickets, tickets for places we had visited, and a write up of the holiday. I made out a detailed timeline of our relationship, giving significant events.
I would say my application was just under an inch thick, when collected together and easily went into a large envelope.

I think it is quality, not so much quantity when it comes to evidence, and to be honest, if there is too much, it is sometimes hard to see the wood from the trees. I could have easily put a lot more in, but it would have just repeated what had already been shown. I really didn't see the need to give pages and pages of msn logs, which I had, because I honestly didn't think they would have added any further weight to the argument (but would have added considerable weight to the envelope ).

As it happened, we didn't need to have an interview, so they must have been happy with the evidence we gave and didn't question it. I think what you have to think of is that these people are doing this job all day, they can 9 times out of 10 work out if an application is genuine or not quite easily and giving them too much to read could go the other way, because there is no way they could read everything and it could be better to give more solid evidence, but less general chit chat.

That's just my ten cents anyway.

 

[Karlshammar]

Yes, definitely quality more than quantity. We just had photos and letters from friends and family verifying the authenticity of the relationship. Then we each wrote down a narrative of how our relationship started and developed. I now have my PR and was not interviewed.

 

[Suin]

we sent various evidence of our relationship, but not too much - they are always more interested in quality.

 

[nyssa]

Oh man... well, it's not all that bad... it's just a lot because there's so much. There's a lot of pictures but we're only sending 2-3 per event. There's just a lot of events! And our communication is huge but not really... I couldn't leave out any phone records because I'd called him at least once per page. And we don't have any e-mails or well, much for communication. Except for our text messages. He doesn't have a computer or a house phone. (I'm scared to death they'll deny me for that reason. It's our major weakness out of the application.)

The folders also add a lot of weight (literally). And there is a lot, I know... we also included some diary entries and such with each others' comments. And I just didn't know what to do. I heard for the most part people say "just send in everything" so I did... minus the 300 pictures. We did pick quality over quantity for pictures. But I also put in receipts and a bus ticket collage from when I'd visit him after work (I know those don't hold much weight, but I figured, why not?)

It's difficult when everyone says different things. All of you were approved with less evidence... then there are many posters who say "send it all!" I tried my best and am still trying to put together a well organized application (it just has a lot of outlines and tabs and A LOT of paperclips). But it is well organized. I will definitely slow down on throwing in everything under the sun. Thank you all for your help!

 

[AlanWales]

I think at the end of the day, go with your gut feeling, that is all any of us can do. Every one's application is different, there is no set way of doing it.

A good idea, would be to let someone you know, read it. Someone you can trust, who will give feedback on how easy it is to understand etc.