Beginning K1 journey

[brener69 114]

Hello, 

 

I have really learned a lot of information from this site. I had a couple questions about the Consulate in Vietnam. I am planning my first trip to Vietnam in May and we are hoping to file the I-129F when I return. I plan to propose to her while I am there and we will have a small engagement party with her family. I would like to go back for her interview if I am able. 

 

1) Does the Consulate frown upon small engagement parties? I am not able to afford a full Đám Hỏi as I am saving up just to be able to make the trip and file the paperwork. 

2) How big is the Consulate on multiple trips to see my fiancee and would they count me coming to the interview as a second trip?

 

Thanks for your advice.

[Andrea&Henry 311]

Ummm no experience with Vietnam but in most cases, the embassy has no issues with a small engaged ceremony. My now husband and I had ours and it was ok. BUT make sure it doesn’t look like a religious ceremony. I’ve seen cases in india and a few african countries were engagement celebrations comes with blessings and some embassies take this as weddings even if it not a legal ceremony. Forcing couples to pursuit different routes.

 

you must comply with “meeting in person within 2 years” BUT you should definitely have more than one, preferred. My fiance and I applied after 2 months into dating (long distance) so we had like 4 trips together. Unless that 1st trip was for a month of more, try to visit at least one more time before the interview 

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

53 minutes ago, brener69 said:

Hello, 

 

I have really learned a lot of information from this site. I had a couple questions about the Consulate in Vietnam. I am planning my first trip to Vietnam in May and we are hoping to file the I-129F when I return. I plan to propose to her while I am there and we will have a small engagement party with her family. I would like to go back for her interview if I am able. 

 

1) Does the Consulate frown upon small engagement parties? I am not able to afford a full Đám Hỏi as I am saving up just to be able to make the trip and file the paperwork. 

2) How big is the Consulate on multiple trips to see my fiancee and would they count me coming to the interview as a second trip?

 

Thanks for your advice.

There is a regional section on this forum and it has Vietnam specific questions that can more than likely be answered there.

[brener69 114]

1 minute ago, Andrea&Henry said:

Ummm no experience with Vietnam but in most cases, the embassy has no issues with a small engaged ceremony. My now husband and I had ours and it was ok. BUT make sure it doesn’t look like a religious ceremony. I’ve seen cases in india and a few african countries were engagement celebrations comes with blessings and some embassies take this as weddings even if it not a legal ceremony. Forcing couples to pursuit different routes.

 

you must comply with “meeting in person within 2 years” BUT you should definitely have more than one, preferred. My fiance and I applied after 2 months into dating (long distance) so we had like 4 trips together. Unless that 1st trip was for a month of more, try to visit at least one more time before the interview 

Thank you very much. I am going to be with her for 9 days so I have to use up all of my vacation time and I will not have more until November which I am guessing would be around the time of her interview. I would like to make 1 more trip but I am not sure if I need to be there for the interview or not. I would like to be there for her and I know she would like me to be there as well. My company accrues vacation on a 6 months basis so i would only ever be able to go twice a year. If I go in November I wouldn't be able to go again until May assuming I use all my vacation to visit her in November.

[brener69 114]

4 minutes ago, Chris Duffy said:

There is a regional section on this forum and it has Vietnam specific questions that can more than likely be answered there.

Thanks Chris, I was trying to figure out where to post but I did not see the Vietnam forum.

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

17 minutes ago, brener69 said:

Thanks Chris, I was trying to figure out where to post but I did not see the Vietnam forum.

When you start asking specific question regarding embassy and consulate your will probably find a quicker and correct answer here.  http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/136-vietnam/

 

This area tends to be more generic questions

[brener69 114]

1 minute ago, Chris Duffy said:

When you start asking specific question regarding embassy and consulate your will probably find a quicker and correct answer here.  http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/136-vietnam/

 

This area tends to be more generic questions

Thank you very much! I will ask it there.

[Andrea&Henry 311]

16 minutes ago, brener69 said:

Thank you very much. I am going to be with her for 9 days so I have to use up all of my vacation time and I will not have more until November which I am guessing would be around the time of her interview. I would like to make 1 more trip but I am not sure if I need to be there for the interview or not. I would like to be there for her and I know she would like me to be there as well. My company accrues vacation on a 6 months basis so i would only ever be able to go twice a year. If I go in November I wouldn't be able to go again until May assuming I use all my vacation to visit her in November.

If you cannot make another visit before the interview I strongly recommend you to gather qs much proof of a bonafide relationship as you can for the interview. There are guidelines here with idea of items, documents, etc that can support your case.

 

and yes, having your fiance there helps a lot!! My now husband, decided to joined me in my k1 interview and it made a world of a difference in my case. He made me feel extremely confident plus it kept me company foe the 5.5 hours we were there. We had another k1 visa applicant on the same day we had our interview. She was by herself and it because it was an open booth right in front of us, We heard her whole interview and it was looooong. She got approved. When my turn came, after 2-4 questions the IO noticed my then fiance was there and called him. She asked him 2 questions and we were approved on the spot. Super quick! I think his presence helped our case and saved me 200 questions

[brener69 114]

1 minute ago, Andrea&Henry said:

If you cannot make another visit before the interview I strongly recommend you to gather qs much proof of a bonafide relationship as you can for the interview. There are guidelines here with idea of items, documents, etc that can support your case.

 

and yes, having your fiance there helps a lot!! My now husband, decided to joined me in my k1 interview and it made a world of a difference in my case. He made me feel extremely confident plus it kept me company foe the 5.5 hours we were there. We had another k1 visa applicant on the same day we had our interview. She was by herself and it because it was an open booth right in front of us, We heard her whole interview and it was looooong. She got approved. When my turn came, after 2-4 questions the IO noticed my then fiance was there and called him. She asked him 2 questions and we were approved on the spot. Super quick! I think his presence helped our case and saved me 200 questions

I think I am leaning towards going to the interview rather than make a second trip and having her do the interview alone. Like you said it made a big difference having your fiancee there. I think that shows a lot of commitment being there for the interview too. Thank you so much. I start looking at everything we must do and get a little overwhelmed sometimes. I am so glad I found VJ as it gives me confidence hearing from people who have made the journey themselves! Good luck to you both.

[Ontarkie 14,275]

~~Moved to the Vietnam forum, from K1 P&P. Also removed the Dupe thread that had no replies.~~

[frontgear 194]

I don't think they care how big the engagementceremony or reception is, as long as you don't have a wedding  

 

I met my then-fiancee once and filed the I-129F right after. I came back the 2nd time to attend the interview with her. You don't need to have multiple trips as long as your relationship is genuine, there is nothing to worry about.

[WandY 430]

Agree with frontgear. I strongly advise that you attend the interview. My second trip was for the interview. Small engagement party is good. Attend the interview.

[poh 125]

On 2/11/2018 at 4:31 PM, brener69 said:

Hello, 

 

I have really learned a lot of information from this site. I had a couple questions about the Consulate in Vietnam. I am planning my first trip to Vietnam in May and we are hoping to file the I-129F when I return. I plan to propose to her while I am there and we will have a small engagement party with her family. I would like to go back for her interview if I am able. 

 

1) Does the Consulate frown upon small engagement parties? I am not able to afford a full Đám Hỏi as I am saving up just to be able to make the trip and file the paperwork. 

2) How big is the Consulate on multiple trips to see my fiancee and would they count me coming to the interview as a second trip?

 

Thanks for your advice.

My first trip was with a tour group and met her for the first time.  My second trip was to meet her and her family in the country side and to take photos to use as evidence for relationship.  I filed I-129 once I returned and used the pictures as evidence.  3rd trip was to attend the visa interview and once she passed the interview my wife wanted to take pictures wearing a wedding gown and have a small family gathering/dinner.   At the interview my wife was asked if she had a wedding or ceremony.  She told them she did not but will eventually have one soon.  She passed the interview without any wedding ceremony or party.    The 4th trip I visited her to escort her to U.S. and have the Vietnamese wedding ceremony and party with her friends/family and more wedding picture in her native wedding gown.  I used these pictures for AOS.   The picture taken on my 3rd trip was put in a big frame to be displayed at the wedding party.  In retrospect, everything all worked out without any planning.  Just go with the flow.

 

Good luck to you.

Edited March 12, 2018 by poh