US Immigration from Vietnam

Hi Everyone,

Back in 2018 I had my name legally changed because the name on my ID did not match my SSC or birth certificate because of an apparent clerical error from when i was born.

To make it less confusing i will say my "real" name is Gary and the incorrect name was Geary. I know how stupid that sounds but it is actually really close to what the actual mistake was.

I found out in 2017 and went through the process of getting it changed and a new SSC.

I have went by "Gary" my whole life, it's on my ID, school records, lease documents. And most importantly my criminal record.

I was arrested in 2015 and the record says "Gary" and not "Geary" what my legal name actually was at that time. Since my name change document is from 2018 saying i changed my name to Gary and the arrest is from 3 years earlier, will that be a problem?

I (petitioner) am preparing my i-129f and have a question regarding criminal history. The only arrest i have is for possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) but I was released with no charges being filed. I do have a copy of the arrest record and a separate document showing my conviction history (which has nothing on it).

Those are the only documents I could get regarding the case. There are no court records, anything showing I was released without charges being filed, or why i was released with no charges filed. I asked the arresting precinct and city clerk and there was nothing else.

Should I include the reason of being released without charges in Part 3 Section 4b? Or just give the circumstances of the arrest and that is was released without charges?

Would the 2 documents be sufficient?

Just curious to see if anyone else had been approved for a K-1/CR-1 or any other types of marriage-based visas from the Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam Embassy (a high fraud consulate) without front-loading and also submitting the bare minimum. My immigration consultant that I used had worked for the Ho Chi Minh City embassy as a Visa Supervisor 20 years ago but she basically sent the most minimum barebone packet for our K-1 application. We did not include a relationship timeline, a family tree, chat logs, socia media screenshots, statements from family members, or any photos of our Dinh Hon/engagement party and were approved anyways.

The only thing that she sent into USCIS for our petition was:

I-129F petition itself,

Our 2x2 photos,
Non-long form birth certificates,

~20 photos of us together at non-landmark locations and photos with family and friends from before our engagement party (non-dated and no names or names of location included in the back)

Copies of passport stamps + boarding passes

No hotel/travel receipts and chat records were included

The interviewer literally asked us a few questions each (petitioner and beneficiary) and we were approved. They maybe looked through about ~20 of our Dinh Hon/engagement photos when I forced them through the window slot nearing the end of the interview before she gave us the results.

Just curious to see if anyone else has had this easy of an experience. All of the stories that I read about Vietnam being super difficult was untrue.

Hi everyone,

Thank you so much for your time helping us. Over a month ago, I posted on the forum asking for advice on my immigration case. Over a month ago, USCIS sent me a letter requesting me to send them page 2 of my I-129F. 6 month ago, USCIS lost page 2 of my application. They made me wait 5 months before reviewing my case. I sent page 2 of my application to them as soon as I received that letter. The USCIS deadline was 9/23. I mailed USCIS. The second page on 8/26 via priority certified mail. The USPS tracking record shows my document was picked up at USCIS PO Box on 8/29. My USCIS account status has never been updated since. Last week before the due date, I asked my congresswoman office to help me contact USCIS regarding the status and whether they received my document. Over a week later, USCIS emailed the congresswoman office saying they didn t receive my document. It has already been 10 days past the deadline. Today I filled out the second page again and wrote a letter explaining to USCIS why I was resending them the second page. I also included a copy of the USPS certified mail receipt and a copy of USPS tracking record in the envelope. I sent them via certified mail. What else could I do? Will USCIS deny my case? It has been 17 months since I submitted my application. I am so sad and frustrated. Thank you so much for your advice!

I am planning to request my wife to be to come to the states with a K-1. What would I use for her daughter?