Requirement of meeting face-to-face at least once

[vietazn 1]

Should there be a problem if I have only met my fiance on only one trip overseas? Spent a month with her overseas already, but some advisors are recommending that I take another trip...

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Once within the last two years is the minimum. It is recommended you make more than one trip, to prove bona fide relationship.

[Anh map 2,098]

For HCMC it is much better if you have made more that one trip. You should have a dam hoi/dinh hon also.

[vietazn 1]

For HCMC it is much better if you have made more that one trip. You should have a dam hoi/dinh hon also.

I did the Le Dinh Hon when I was over there. Did they ask or request information about visiting more than once? By the way, was any part of the interview in English?

[Hell0W0rld 10]

For HCMC it is much better if you have made more that one trip. You should have a dam hoi/dinh hon also.

I did the Le Dinh Hon when I was over there. Did they ask or request information about visiting more than once? By the way, was any part of the interview in English?

the more trips the better, English can be done in either Vietnamese or English...

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

For HCMC it is much better if you have made more that one trip. You should have a dam hoi/dinh hon also.

I did the Le Dinh Hon when I was over there. Did they ask or request information about visiting more than once? By the way, was any part of the interview in English?

You really should ask these questions in the Asia: East and Pacific regional forum. That's where all the VN folks hang out. In fact, you should read through the threads in that forum. It's an eye opener.

The fact that you spent a month there is good. The fact that you met for the first time and had a formal engagement ceremony in that same month is not so good. That goes against cultural norms in Vietnam.

They'll conduct the interview in English or Vietnamese, but if you don't speak Tiếng Việt then they will expect her to speak at least some English.

Here are some things that will cause the consulate in HCM to look more closely at your case:

1. Only one or two visits.

2. Short period of time between first meeting and proposal.

3. No formal engagement ceremony, or short period of time between proposal and formal engagement ceremony.

4. Introduced by a member of beneficiary's family in the US.

5. Trips funded, fully or partially, by beneficiary's family member(s) in the US.

6. No common language.

7. Petitioner has insufficient income and requires a co-sponsor. This is almost certain to result in a denial. HCM rarely accepts co-sponsors.

8. Recent divorce by petitioner or beneficiary.

9. Large age difference between petitioner and beneficiary. Again, goes against local customs.

There are probably more that I'm not recalling at the moment.

[SAVM 0]

Should there be a problem if I have only met my fiance on only one trip overseas? Spent a month with her overseas already, but some advisors are recommending that I take another trip...

Beyond meeting the visa requirements, maybe you should actually invest some more time in your relationship before taking up USCIS's time (that they could be spending processing people's paperwork who have actual relationships).

[Anh map 2,098]

Should there be a problem if I have only met my fiance on only one trip overseas? Spent a month with her overseas already, but some advisors are recommending that I take another trip...

Beyond meeting the visa requirements, maybe you should actually invest some more time in your relationship before taking up USCIS's time (that they could be spending processing people's paperwork who have actual relationships).

Idle, random comments do not add anything to the conversation.

For HCMC it is much better if you have made more that one trip. You should have a dam hoi/dinh hon also.

I did the Le Dinh Hon when I was over there. Did they ask or request information about visiting more than once? By the way, was any part of the interview in English?

Spend some time in the Asia East Regional forum to get a sense of the HCMC norms. This seems to be one of the tougher consulates due to years of fraud and corruption.

[ScottThuy 140]

More trips are needed as is more reading in The local discussions..

Edited July 15, 2009 by ScottThuy

[SAVM 0]

Should there be a problem if I have only met my fiance on only one trip overseas? Spent a month with her overseas already, but some advisors are recommending that I take another trip...

Beyond meeting the visa requirements, maybe you should actually invest some more time in your relationship before taking up USCIS's time (that they could be spending processing people's paperwork who have actual relationships).

Idle, random comments do not add anything to the conversation.

For HCMC it is much better if you have made more that one trip. You should have a dam hoi/dinh hon also.

I did the Le Dinh Hon when I was over there. Did they ask or request information about visiting more than once? By the way, was any part of the interview in English?

Spend some time in the Asia East Regional forum to get a sense of the HCMC norms. This seems to be one of the tougher consulates due to years of fraud and corruption.

Nice adjectives, but actually my comment was quite serious and topical - people, such as the OP, should think long and hard about their decision to move forward with this sort of thing as it does, in fact, have repercussions on the lives of everyone else trying to go through the process.

[payxibka 10,044]

For HCMC it is much better if you have made more that one trip. You should have a dam hoi/dinh hon also.

I did the Le Dinh Hon when I was over there. Did they ask or request information about visiting more than once? By the way, was any part of the interview in English?

the more trips the better, English can be done in either Vietnamese or English...

I think English is only done in English...

The interview can be done in either Vietnamese or English...

[BinhJerome 14]

For HCMC it is much better if you have made more that one trip. You should have a dam hoi/dinh hon also.

I did the Le Dinh Hon when I was over there. Did they ask or request information about visiting more than once? By the way, was any part of the interview in English?

You really should ask these questions in the Asia: East and Pacific regional forum. That's where all the VN folks hang out. In fact, you should read through the threads in that forum. It's an eye opener.

The fact that you spent a month there is good. The fact that you met for the first time and had a formal engagement ceremony in that same month is not so good. That goes against cultural norms in Vietnam.

They'll conduct the interview in English or Vietnamese, but if you don't speak Tiếng Việt then they will expect her to speak at least some English.

Here are some things that will cause the consulate in HCM to look more closely at your case:

1. Only one or two visits.

2. Short period of time between first meeting and proposal.

3. No formal engagement ceremony, or short period of time between proposal and formal engagement ceremony.

4. Introduced by a member of beneficiary's family in the US.

5. Trips funded, fully or partially, by beneficiary's family member(s) in the US.

6. No common language.

7. Petitioner has insufficient income and requires a co-sponsor. This is almost certain to result in a denial. HCM rarely accepts co-sponsors.

8. Recent divorce by petitioner or beneficiary.

9. Large age difference between petitioner and beneficiary. Again, goes against local customs.

There are probably more that I'm not recalling at the moment.

It is against Viet cultures if you live with your fiance without Dam Hoi from the very first time. Lots of prejudices! Binh