Paperwork before the interview

[romanlinh 0]

Hey so a few questions,

We submitted our I-129f recently and decided to get a head start on some of the documents needed for my fiance's interview.

Do her background check, register book and birth certificate all need to be translated before the interview or can we just bring them as is?

Also any advice for getting the background check. She's a little worried about whether or not she should write every single place she has lived in the past few years (even if she was not officially registered somewhere).

any other tips for anything we can get a head start on now while we wait for our interview date are welcome!

Thanks

[romanlinh 0]

also shes originally from Bac Lieu.

Should she do her background check there? or can she do it in Ho Chi Minh City where we live?

[kris&me 572]

Every document needs to be translated into English and attached to the original

Most background checks are good for only 90 days so check into this where she lives

AS far as that is concerned, it will depend on how long she has been there. If for 5 years, then probably all you need

But every embassy is different and i am sure someone from China will tell you more if you give them a little more information like how long you have been there

How long have you been there?

Have you done income taxes for the US as the last 3 years of taxes will be requied

Do you have ties in the US like a house and residence here?

[frontgear 194]

Hey so a few questions,

We submitted our I-129f recently and decided to get a head start on some of the documents needed for my fiance's interview.

Do her background check, register book and birth certificate all need to be translated before the interview or can we just bring them as is?

Also any advice for getting the background check. She's a little worried about whether or not she should write every single place she has lived in the past few years (even if she was not officially registered somewhere).

any other tips for anything we can get a head start on now while we wait for our interview date are welcome!

Thanks

The Police Record #2 (background check) is only valid for 6 months and takes anywhere from 3 days (with coffee money) to a couple of weeks. I would wait until your I-129F is approved before proceeding with that. Coffee money goes a long way in Vietnam and that is based on our very own experience. It could shorten your wait on getting the Police Record #2 in as few as 3 days or stretch your wait to as long as a few weeks.

The Police Record #2 is done where she is registered in her Ho Khau (Household Book). If she's registered in Bac Lieu, that's where she is going to go.

As far as translation is concerned, as long as the documents are in Vietnamese or English, there is no need to have them translated. It is spelled out in the Packet 3 Instructions that you will be getting once your case is approved and transferred to the US Consulate in Saigon.

Search this Vietnam forum for link to the Packet 3 Instructions hand-out if you want to get a head-start on prep'ing the required docs.

My recommendation would be for her to start getting some of the required vaccination(s) where she lives now. Tell her to go to the local Pasteur and inquire about getting the Hep-C, Varicella, and Tetanus shots.

Also helpful is reviewing the online DS160 form from the State Dept website. There are some questions that she has to answer so get those done in advance.

Edited January 10, 2016 by frontgear

[JRF 117]

Hey so a few questions,

We submitted our I-129f recently and decided to get a head start on some of the documents needed for my fiance's interview.

Do her background check, register book and birth certificate all need to be translated before the interview or can we just bring them as is?

Also any advice for getting the background check. She's a little worried about whether or not she should write every single place she has lived in the past few years (even if she was not officially registered somewhere).

any other tips for anything we can get a head start on now while we wait for our interview date are welcome!

Thanks

She should list where she lives consistent with the household book (presumably these are consistent). This will then determine the provinces from which she requires a police check. Your fiancé should be well aware of how the process works in Vietnam, as well as the "fees" associated with everything.

As to the time required to obtain a police check - if I remember correctly the standard time is 30 days. In our experience, the police check did not move until we paid the extra "fees", and then was completed in three days. Given this required the officials in Saigon to check with another province, I have my doubts as to the "checking" the that took place prior to it all being approved. YMMV.

Best of luck!

Edited January 11, 2016 by JRF

[WandY 430]

Good advice from VJ member "frontgear." We didn't need the coffee money ($25 etc.), but she knew someone that got it done. Vaccinations for K-1 are not required and my fiancee did not get hers in VN, opting to get them in the U.S. You don't have to be extremely specific on where you've lived - just make sure to use the address that is in the registration book. Don't make it complicated and read the instructions.

[kdrayvnmc76 1]

Just for clarification regarding the Police Record #2. Is it different for CR1/IR1 immigration applicants compared to a K-1 or other visa status applicants of having the Police Record #2 good for 1 year? I have read the instructions on the Consulate website in HCMC and the instructions in the Interview letter both state that the document is good for 1 year. I have read several times people are saying that it is only good for 6 months.

Has this information changed or is it different depending on the type of visa that's being applied?

Consulate in HCMC: (dated: Oct. 2015)

11. Original Justice Record Check #2: Issued within the past year by Department of Justice office in the district where you currently reside or at your official residence as registered in your household registration book (Ho Khau). This document is required for each visa applicant aged 16 years or older. Further information about Vietnamese police certificates, please visit: http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/fees/reciprocity-by-country/VM.html.

Interview Letter:

Applicants may need to bring an additional police certificate to the interview. If the following three
items are all true, the applicant needs to bring an updated police certificate to the interview:
? He or she is more than 16 years old;
? He or she obtained a police certificate more than one year ago; and
? He or she still lives in the country that issued the police certificate.

[Longrangeshootr 20]

Just for clarification regarding the Police Record #2. Is it different for CR1/IR1 immigration applicants compared to a K-1 or other visa status applicants of having the Police Record #2 good for 1 year? I have read the instructions on the Consulate website in HCMC and the instructions in the Interview letter both state that the document is good for 1 year. I have read several times people are saying that it is only good for 6 months.

Has this information changed or is it different depending on the type of visa that's being applied?

Consulate in HCMC: (dated: Oct. 2015)

11. Original Justice Record Check #2: Issued within the past year by Department of Justice office in the district where you currently reside or at your official residence as registered in your household registration book (Ho Khau). This document is required for each visa applicant aged 16 years or older. Further information about Vietnamese police certificates, please visit: http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/fees/reciprocity-by-country/VM.html.

Interview Letter:

Applicants may need to bring an additional police certificate to the interview. If the following three

items are all true, the applicant needs to bring an updated police certificate to the interview:

? He or she is more than 16 years old;

? He or she obtained a police certificate more than one year ago; and

? He or she still lives in the country that issued the police certificate.

You are correct, the justice record 2 is good for a year, the OP can plan ahead. We had our justice record in hand little over 7 months at interview with no problem.