Hello all, could you please help me. I am a student in Vietnam and teach english to make money to get by on. I am going back to U.S. next fall to continue studying and want my girlfriend to come with me.

we applied for the K-1 visa and planned on using my parents to prove financial support. However we have heard from other people here in Vietnam that having your parents co-sign is not good enough. I called the consulate in Vietnam and they told me that MOST applications using a co-sponsor were denied. Why??????

I am living here with her, so we could get married and apply for the K-3 visa if that would be easier. We are not concerned about which visa we get, but we just want to go together next july.

Does anyone have any information on getting a co-sponsor for the K-1 Visa.

Move your post to Vietnam section of the forum. PM STL_HCMC, he lived and worked in HCMC for a few years, they just returned to the States with his fiance. Welcome to VJ!

"MOST applications using a co-sponsor were denied" WHY????: The key word here is MOST not ALL. Each case is reviewed individually, there is no magic formular for approval or denial of Visa. Also, it is NOT the official rule/law by the States Department or USCIS to deny applicant whose sponsor does not meet the income guideline but wish to use co-sponsor instead. Therefore, I would say: read up on the FAQ and Guides then post questions.

The bottom line is "how do I prove and convince the Consulate Officer in Ho Chi Minh City that my relationship with this vietnamese girl is REAL and we do intend to get married once she and I arrive/return to the States" with that in mind, you can collect evidence and how to best represent your story to the Consulate Officer, who ultimately will decide your girl's Visa approval or denial.

Good luck and you are in good hand here on Visa Journey.

Chuck and Kim

I was also teaching overseas while going through the process with my then fiance (now wife) and I had to use a cosponsor also. We used my brother who makes a good salary and had no problems whatsoever. As long as your cosponsor provides all the documents as instructed on the forms and makes the minimum, you should be fine. YOur best bet though is to get someone in your family who makes the most money if you can..

Is she the girlfriend or fiancee. You have to make that distinction first before the consulate makes it for you

I was a poor English teacher in HCMC and applied for a visa while living and working in VN.

I wasn't allowed to apply for a K-1 visa in VN, marriage visa only, which I'm glad we did.

Yes, I used an Affid. of Support from a Vietnam Vet friend with a limited income living in the USA.

I suggest you go to the Dept of Homeland Security in person and ask them directly, it's usually a quiet office on the 9th floor of the grey building on Le Loi and Pasteur Streets (has Maximart on 2nd floor). You'll need to go through them first before you can apply for a visa in VN.

All this info. is 2 years old, things do change.......

Good Luck!

cberg,

Better yet, read 9 FAM 40.41 (Public Charge) Notes, N4.6-3.c. Also N11.

Yodrak