K-1 interview. Do you required to have engagement party prior to interview?

[Alaska101 2]

i have a question just like the topic title. my petition has been approved from USCIS and moving along with NVC. I asked my fiancee hand of marriage through internet. We do not have the engagement party or traditional engagement due yet. Will this be a red flag at the interview? I will be in Viet Nam from April to the end of May this year of the engagement stuffs with both families. Thanks for your advice.

[Sveta & Ron 23]

engagement party from what I know is only something special for the 2 people 2 months ago i proposed to sveta over skype and plan another visit in may and then have a party mostly for her family and friends and reason not proposed when we meet in nov last year is we wanted some time to miss eachother and make sure of our feelings

[lovebirds85 12]

My fiance also proposed via Skype. I do not think that an engagement party is something mandatory. Congratulations on your NOA2

[Mrs.Proud2010 2]

I don't think it is mandatory it make sure to prove the ongoing relationship with lots of pictures with you and her and then you and her with families and friends. This way you establish to the officer reviewing your file that you are accepted by the family and friends. Or you could always just take her and her family on a dinner to celebrate it. Take lots of pics. Don't have to make a party.

[Inky 1,110]

engagement party from what I know is only something special for the 2 people 2 months ago i proposed to sveta over skype and plan another visit in may and then have a party mostly for her family and friends and reason not proposed when we meet in nov last year is we wanted some time to miss eachother and make sure of our feelings

My fiance also proposed via Skype. I do not think that an engagement party is something mandatory. Congratulations on your NOA2

Depends on the country guys. If this is a usual custom in the country then they would need to have it or the interviewer would question very hard as to why they did not follow their country customs.

[Alaska101 2]

yeah, that is what i worry about. we were talking about the formal one, but i like the western engagement style. so, we go with that. i did ask her mom for permittion too. my family is here in the US so planning a big trip with everyone is trouble some. We will have a party come May with my parents and my sister's family there. I do have photos that we ate with families and friends. i also got the ring, so i hope to get back there before the interview to formalize the engagement.

[tcTTct 37]

If you are both Vietnamese then it is almost a 100% requirement.

[Mozzer1972 7]

The Dam Hoi can be a big deal with the Consulate. They may wonder why you do not follow the VN cultural norms. If you don't do it, you will need to be prepared to explain why. If you can, I would definitely recommend that you do it and take lots of pictures as evidence to submit. In my case, we did NOT have a Dam Hoi but just a small gathering with her family when we announced we were engaged. After reading through all the past posts here in the VN section, I realized at the last minute how important the Dam Hoi can be as many people have been denied for either not having one or the CO thinks the Dam Hoi wasn't significant enough. My fiancee was approved even though we didn't have one but we might have just been lucky. Try to have one if you can.

[ScottThuy 140]

Its a VN thing and many have run into problems for not having one... getting engaged over the internet is often frowned upon by the cnsulate in VN... They really try to apply cultural norms to the relationship proccess and if things are not culturally normal, then they start to ask why... over the years I have been here, several member cases have been denied with no Dam hoi included in the list of reasons provided.

So in a nutshell, yes the Dam Hoi is important and the CO can deny the petition if it is not done.. that does not mean they will, just that they can and have in the past.

[jac_chappin 24]

Op - the consulate will find no Dam Hoi suspect. I strongly suggest you have one before interview. The CO asked us if we had engagement and presented proof we did.

I've seen denial due to no Dam Hoi.

Best wishes!

[WeatherEmperor 21]

I see that your petition has already been approved. This means that you did not get a chance to front-load proof of an engagement ceremony into your petition package. There is nothing you can do about that now but I think it would be a good idea to try to do the ceremony before your fiance's interview. This way you can bring proof to the interview and hope the CO accepts it. If the CO will deny your case for not having an engagement ceremony will probably depend on the amount of red flags you have. Red flags can be considered previous marriages, your fiance having family in the US and having close members of the family arranging the meeting between you. If you have a chance, try to get the ceremony done before your interview and wish the best of luck. Good luck

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

yeah, that is what i worry about. we were talking about the formal one, but i like the western engagement style. so, we go with that. i did ask her mom for permittion too. my family is here in the US so planning a big trip with everyone is trouble some. We will have a party come May with my parents and my sister's family there. I do have photos that we ate with families and friends. i also got the ring, so i hope to get back there before the interview to formalize the engagement.

If you are Viet Kieu then you can expect this to be a major issue at the visa interview. It's a good thing your parents will be there. It's better to do it late than not at all, but it would have been even better to do it before you sent the petition. The CO's attitude may be that you jumped the gun and filed the petition before you were officially engaged. What would your great grandmother have said if you told her you were getting married without a Dam Hoi? The CO's think pretty much the same way. They don't believe in western style engagements at the US consulate in TP HCM.

[luckytxn 2,263]

I would listen to the ones that have been through the Vietnam experience. Everyone needs a Dam Hoi or at least prepare for when they ask about why you didn't have one. It can make or break you at this consulate.

[Alaska101 2]

yeah, i talked to my uncle who did go through the process. he said not to worry about it because he did not have engagement party prior to the interview. I do not think we have any red flag. both of us have never marry before, i make way above the 125% income line. Dont you think it is stereotype to force people to get engagement party and photos. Not all vietnamese people will have party for engagement. the true meaning of engagement for vietnamese is the meeting between the parents and asking for marriage, which happened through the phone for us due to distance.

[luckytxn 2,263]

yeah, i talked to my uncle who did go through the process. he said not to worry about it because he did not have engagement party prior to the interview. I do not think we have any red flag. both of us have never marry before, i make way above the 125% income line. Dont you think it is stereotype to force people to get engagement party and photos. Not all vietnamese people will have party for engagement. the true meaning of engagement for vietnamese is the meeting between the parents and asking for marriage, which happened through the phone for us due to distance.

Yes and you asked and every single person who has also gone through the process says it is important. Thanks for asking us anyway. Good luck.