Just starting out...

[Dan & Tien 0]

Hello Everyone!

After reading a bunch of the posts on this site, I must say that I am a lot more fearful then I was before.

Here is my situation:

Tien and I met during a trip I took with my friends back in May 2008. She is the cousin of my coworker, who has also been a close friend to me during the time we have worked together. My coworker wanted to have someone to show my friends and I around Ho Chi Minh City, and since she has cousins there near our age, she said we should look them up when we are there. We met three of my coworkers cousins after we arrived in Ho Chi Minh. One of the three cousins was Tien. Tien and I did not expect anything to click between us. Who ever does expect things like this to happen? But all the same we got along really well and there was this spark that I just can not describe. Over the course of my trip I got to know Tien better and better, even to where I was spending all of my time with her and none with my friends towards the end of the trip. Friendship and attraction grew quickly to love, and the Saturday before I left I told her that I could not live without her and wanted to marry her. She accepted, and I have never been so happy.

All of this happened within the just over two weeks I was in Vietnam. Some people say that is way too fast, but it just feels right. I have never been so sure about anything before. I was always a firm believer that you can not love someone until you know them for quite some time, but now I have proved myself wrong.

However, because of the time frame for things I fear that we may be way short in what we need to get everything approved for a K1 visa. That is where I need anyones help and advice. Due to the time frame, we have not had an actual engagement ceremony. However, I did ask her parents permission to marry her. Has anyone had success with knowing someone this short of time and not having had an engagement ceremony? We were so consumed with just being together and enjoying eachothers company that we do not have many pictures, and the pictures that we do have are not dated. We simply were not thinking about any of this, all we were thinking about was how happy we were right then together. I want to take another trip to Vietnam, but unfortunately she is about to get a new job as an English teacher, so she can not take off any time until Tet (Vietnamese New Year). We talk three to four hours a day, mostly by chatting. I am keeping all records of our phone calls, emails, and chats. I am just so worried after reading some of the things posted on this site that we are going to have a difficult road ahead. Any advice regarding some of the things we may need to do that is outside of what is posted in the normal government websites is appreciated. I can not stand to be without Tien. Every day without her has felt like an eternity, and we are only just at the beginning.

Thank you all

Edited July 1, 2008 by Dan & Tien

[frostysoftyeaton 6]

everyone has fears and the best thing to do is face them the sooner you start your journey the sooner you can be reunited several couples have met only once face to face and you have your passport as evidence of the picture dates i am not an exspert but the best you can do is start your process and get going down the road we never had an engagement party a lot of people meet on dating sites as we did the best thing you can do is get the paperwork together and file for your k-1 fiance visa or get married over there and file for k-3 but the longer you worry about what others may say or think the longer you are apart

[Teacher Mark 53]

Hello Everyone!

After reading a bunch of the posts on this site, I must say that I am a lot more fearful then I was before.

Here is my situation:

Tien and I met during a trip I took with my friends back in May 2008. She is the cousin of my coworker, who has also been a close friend to me during the time we have worked together. My coworker wanted to have someone to show my friends and I around Ho Chi Minh City, and since she has cousins there near our age, she said we should look them up when we are there. We met three of my coworkers cousins after we arrived in Ho Chi Minh. One of the three cousins was Tien. Tien and I did not expect anything to click between us. Who ever does expect things like this to happen? But all the same we got along really well and there was this spark that I just can not describe. Over the course of my trip I got to know Tien better and better, even to where I was spending all of my time with her and none with my friends towards the end of the trip. Friendship and attraction grew quickly to love, and the Saturday before I left I told her that I could not live without her and wanted to marry her. She accepted, and I have never been so happy.

All of this happened within the just over two weeks I was in Vietnam. Some people say that is way too fast, but it just feels right. I have never been so sure about anything before. I was always a firm believer that you can not love someone until you know them for quite some time, but now I have proved myself wrong.

However, because of the time frame for things I fear that we may be way short in what we need to get everything approved for a K1 visa. That is where I need anyones help and advice. Due to the time frame, we have not had an actual engagement ceremony. However, I did ask her parents permission to marry her. Has anyone had success with knowing someone this short of time and not having had an engagement ceremony? We were so consumed with just being together and enjoying eachothers company that we do not have many pictures, and the pictures that we do have are not dated. We simply were not thinking about any of this, all we were thinking about was how happy we were right then together. I want to take another trip to Vietnam, but unfortunately she is about to get a new job as an English teacher, so she can not take off any time until Tet (Vietnamese New Year). We talk three to four hours a day, mostly by chatting. I am keeping all records of our phone calls, emails, and chats. I am just so worried after reading some of the things posted on this site that we are going to have a difficult road ahead. Any advice regarding some of the things we may need to do that is outside of what is posted in the normal government websites is appreciated. I can not stand to be without Tien. Every day without her has felt like an eternity, and we are only just at the beginning.

Thank you all

You would be better off if you go back, have the engagement party, document the trip, etc. You may be fine, but this is not your average Consulate. What applies at most of the others does not apply here.

Welcome to HCMC. Good luck.

[Dakine 26]

Keep recording ALL your communications. Get in touch with others here who have done the immigration trip in Vietnam.

Best if you make another trip or attend the interview. Sounds silly but both of you write love letters [snail mails].

Don't use phone cards unless you can get printouts of the numbers called.

Get a long distance account [AT+T is OK]. Make short calls with the loing distance company for the record. Phone records have a bit more power than emails and chats. Harder to fake.

You and your fiancees "jobs" are to do one better than the scammers.

Her being a cousin of a friend helps for how you met but may hurt a little as relatives do get caught for paying someone to bring a relative here.

They look a bit closer if petitioner is a lot older , fat and ugly!!

[Dan & Tien 0]

They look a bit closer if petitioner is a lot older , fat and ugly!!

Haha! I am 26, and she is 20, so I do not think there is an "older, fat, and ugly" clause.

[Dakine 26]

They look a bit closer if petitioner is a lot older , fat and ugly!!

Haha! I am 26, and she is 20, so I do not think there is an "older, fat, and ugly" clause.

Good ! One red flag you don't need to worry about.

You know you guys are "for real" but you have to convince the CO you are.

Doesn't say anywhere in the instructions you have to convince USCIS you are in love but that's what the COs are looking for.

Keep the communications "rolling" and record!

[J & Q 0]

They look a bit closer if petitioner is a lot older , fat and ugly!!

Haha! I am 26, and she is 20, so I do not think there is an "older, fat, and ugly" clause.

Good ! One red flag you don't need to worry about.

You know you guys are "for real" but you have to convince the CO you are.

Doesn't say anywhere in the instructions you have to convince USCIS you are in love but that's what the COs are looking for.

Keep the communications "rolling" and record!

Exactly right, you are guilty until proven innocent. Sad that this is a representation of what America stands for.

My best advice for the both of you is to never forget your goal and what is important and to be supportive for each other. This can be a very emotional roller coaster, especially if the CO starts looking for problems so the both of you will need to be mentally prepared.

[PeterFB 0]

There are no rules about finding love or when love finds you. The best news is you have found love.

It's true HCMC Consulate is one of, if not the hardest Consulates to get a K1 visa. Those who are truly in love and have relationship get their visa. Sometimes it takes longer and is harder than planned. The good news is you have found VJ. Reading the posts here will educate you to avoid mistakes and plan your I-129f so it will be approved by and USCIS and your fiancee's interview will be a success.

You've started to carefully look at your relationship the way the Consulate will, that's good. You do have some pluses, the main one is that Tien speaks English well enought to be an English Teacher. The bad is you have just met..... The pictures you have without dates isn't a problem, most people write the dates on the back of the pictures. The lack of evidence of your first trip can be explained as you did, you weren't planning on falling in love.

As Wide Awake said, you should plan on going back to Vietnam to have an engagement party. The more trips you make and the extra evidence from it will help establish your relationship as real with the Consulate. Now you can further your case by sending her gifts and she can send you ones as well. You just do the normal things two lovers do when they are far apart. Also the sooner the rest of her family and yours start communicating would be helpful.

The most important part of this process is your I-129f. You have total control on how the USCIS and Consulate will see your case in it. Use it to explain and answer any problem there could be, ie your co worker introducing you to her cousins. The Consulate will be concerned why she suggested that ,etc. Answer it now and they won't ask about it at the interview.

Good luck!!

Peter and Thi

I-129F Sent : 2007-05-26

I-129F NOA1 : 2007-06-11

I-129F RFE(s) :

RFE Reply(s) :

I-129F NOA2 : 2007-10-26

Touched: 2007-11-02

NVC Recieved: 2007-11-16

Consulate recieved ??????

Packet 3 sent 2007-12-11

Packet 3 received 2007-12-24

Packet 3 returned 2007-12-28

Packet 4 sent 2008-1-14

Email Reply with Interview Date 2008-1-23

Interview Date 2008-2-27

Passed Interview 2008-02-27

Visa Pick Up Date 2008-3-05

Received Visa 2008-2-29 (called to pick up earlier)

POE 2008-3-05 Los Angeles

Wedding 2008-4-26