yellow123

Thank you everyone for thier inputs. After reading I think we've met all the requirements and will continue on toward naturalization. Again, Thank you.

Thank you everyone for thier inputs. After reading I think we've met all the requirements and will continue on toward naturalization. Again, Thank you.

Thank you everyone for thier inputs. After reading I think we've met all the requirements and will continue on toward naturalization. Again, Thank you.

Hi, my wife's friends were able to apply for Naturalization after only 2 years and 9 months upon recieving thier permanent resident card. They all are married to a US citizen. Is this still true for 2011 or has there been a rule changed ? I can't find any information regarding this on the USCIS website. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks.

If all hopes fail, then go for the CR1. That was exactly what we did.

Yellow123,

a few questions.

Did you and your wife decide to have a child intentionally, thinking that the Counsulate would issue you a visa because of that fact?

Can you give us a timeline of what the process is like? example, when the child was born, did you have to start a new petition? what type of paperwork is involved? how long did it take? the cost involved?

Thanks

During the K3 process, I was constantly emailing the consulate asking them the best way to get my son to be with me in the US. They told me to file for a CRBA (consulate report of birth abroad) certificate. With this certificate acting like a US birth certificate my son can obtain his passport and social security at the same time with the CRBA. This is the fastest way.

About 2 weeks after my son’s birth, we called in to schedule his CRBA appointment. The appointment was scheduled for about 2 months later. As you see, there’s a backlog in the CRBA department as well. I was in Vietnam at the time and requested an earlier date so I can go to the appointment with my son, but they refused. They did tell me that there has to be at least one parent and the child there at the appointment. My advice is that to call in and schedule the CRBA about 1 month ahead of the child’s birth so you don’t have the long waiting time. All that was needed for an appointment is the baby’s name and the mother’s name.

The time came, and my wife had all the evidences and paperwork that was needed. I thought that since we had so much evidences that the C.O. won’t make us have a DNA test. I was wrong again. I guess that the K3 department redflagged us and passed it on to the CRBA department. If you passed the CRBA, then they wouldn’t make you take the DNA test. I guessed we failed again during the long journey. During the interview, a lot of people were turned back and didn’t even get a chance for an interview because they were missing a paperwork or two. The paperwork were a lot, but I personally filled out each one and make sure everything was in order.

So on to the DNA test. My wife mailed me the instructions for the DNA testing after the interview. The process is fairly straight forward. On the paper that the C.O. gave us, there was a list of accredited DNA testing places that we had to choose one from. Once there, they took two cotton swabs and rubbed the inside of my right and left cheek. A collection kit was then sent to the consulate in Vietnam and about 3 weeks later my wife and child was called to do the same thing. The samples in Vietnam were then sent back for analysis in the US. About 1 ½ weeks later, I received the result from the DNA testing place. The letter actually said that the probability that I am the biological father of my son is 99.99%. I forgot to add that the cost was around $900 for the whole thing. It also varies by state and testing sites.

It's been along time and I can't exactly remember the timeline, but I've put it back as best I could remember. Hope this help in any sort of way.

Thanks everyone for the warm home welcoming. A lot of people come here for the information, but I found out during the whole journey your emotional support is as valuable as any information found in here.

We finally made it to the US. It's been a long and heart wreching journey. You can see from my timeline that we petitioned for the K1 visa, and failed. We also petitioned for the K3 and almost failed. During the time that I knew my wife I went to vietnam a total of 5 times and have countless evidences, but still recieved the blue paper everytime my wife went to the interview. The only thing that helped our case was that we had a baby and that's about all they looked at. We were required to have DNA testing on my son to verify that he's my biological son. The DNA testing took about 2 months to complete. I went to the consulate and personally turned in the DNA paperwork myself after it was completed, but to my disappointment they issued us another blue slip and told us to come home and wait. It took about another 2 months for them to email us saying that our case has been approved. During that time it was Tet so we had to wait an addition 3 weeks for the visa to be issued. I talked to an Asian American consular officer while I was there, and she basically told me that there's nothing to worry about if there's a common child between the petitioner and beneficary and that I should enjoy my stay in Vietnam. My love is genuine and I did almost everything I could to bring my wife home to live with me.

I know I should have wrote this a long time ago. it's a post that I owe to everyone in here, but to tell the truth everytime I come in here it brings back a lot of depressing memories and heartaches. I remember there are some nights that I post in here where I dont have any energy left for life because it has been so disappointing. I hope you guys can take it from me and be persistent, knowing that if it's true love then the visa will come eventually.

Thanks guys. I called in yesterday and they told me I have the right to talk to a C/O but I would need to first submit a paper requesting the interview. The C/O would then schedule an appointment with the earliest being within 3 days and the longest being thier discretion. Too bad I live in Hue and have to fly in just to turn in that paper.

Has anyone successful set up an appointment with a C/O from HCMC and be able to meet them in the consulate ? if yes, then please show me how. I talked to a C/O last time I was in the consulate, but she was very busy and only answered a few questions.

16 days and counting ... and still haven't heard anything from the consulate yet. I really hope I could bring my wife and son home with me this time.

When I was in there about 2 weeks ago, i saw a lot of people having to wait 2 weeks for thier visa, although, i did see some having to wait only 1 week.

We took the whole family to the consulate (my wife, son, and I) and waited in line, but then the security guard told me that only 1 person can enter. I presented the security guard with the blue paper and he let me in. Once in, I handed the blue paper to the front window woman and was told to wait. About an hour later the woman called me up to turn in my son's birth certificate and passport and then was told to come to window 12 and wait again. 5 hours of waiting later, I got the green slip and was told that no more paperwork is needed and to enjoy my trip in VN. I asked the CO why is this and she basically replied that today was so busy and a lot of the staff members were at a meeting that they needed more time to process our case. She was very polite and told me not to worry since we have a son together already. She told me we could recieve the outcome in a day or a few weeks.

Yes, we are married and have a marriage certificate. We married on my 3rd trip to Vietnam. By the way, a trip to Vietnam is about 30 hours long from the place I live and I've made 5 trips. I've spent much energy and effort trying to get my wife and son to unite with me. During the past 2 years I've tried almost everything to make this happen.

I didn't know that people are so negative in here. Maybe I wanted to write a quick post and didn't word it correctly. All I wanted to know from people who have experienced this was how much did having a baby factor in on the final decision ? I specifically appreciate your post, kalina.

I would appreciate if people would read the whole thread before posting anything.

I wrote this earlier on the first page of this thread, but to clarify, I'll write it again. We have plenty of evidences. I've visited my wife a total of 5 times, we stayed at her house and went everywhere together. We have numerous letters & post cards, countless hours spent on Yahoo and on the phone together. I've stayed at her house for so long that I can identify almost about anyone in her neighborhood. We also have several hundred pictures together.

With all respect, Reda speaks the truth. A baby (on its own) is not proof of an ongoing or even valid relationship. It only shows that two people engaged in a sexual relationship. I don't consider Reda believes your realtionship is necessarily not genuine. She is only pointing out the same thing as I. Babies have been used as pawns before. It is sad but true. You need to bring more to the table then, "Look we had a baby." No one is picking on you, just trying to help you understand the thinking of the C/O.

Zackly! Its happened before, it'll happen again. Woman wants to get to America, gets pregnant, dupes man into green card, then splits. C/Os are well aware of this, so if your only "evidence" of a relationship is a baby, I wouldn't count your chickens just yet.

Hi Jackie, how you doing sweetie?

I would never even imagine the scenario above to happen. It would be very inhuman. To those of you who thinks that those who have children to satisfy the "bonafide evidence" requirement are those that don't have any other evidences then you are mistaken. Usually those are the people that have known each other for a long time and have as much evidence as anybody, but is just dealing with a very hard consulate that requires 3 times as much as a normal consulate. Read some of the situations at visajourney and you'll see.

When people are genuine about thier relationship they will do everything to be together. If a couple is facing the "bonafide evidence" requirement then having a baby will sigificiently help, at least, that's what in the mind of people like us.

I have talked to a CO about this matter and she informed me that usually there will not be a problem obtaining a visa once the child gets his DNA tested with a positive result.

If you talked to a CO about this, it's beyond me why you asked about it here. I don't expect there will be a problem either but I would think people in a bona fide relationship may or may not want a baby, before or after the visa or whether a visa is needed or not. If the relationship is bona fide, it's usually sufficiently demonstrable with or without a baby.

Some of us are past that place in our lives and get visas anyway.

So, good luck and here's hoping your wait is not long.

The reason why I asked the CO and here as well is that I wanted to reassure myself with the experiences of people who have went before me. It has been a long 2 years of waiting and I want to prepare myself as much as possible. I also wanted to know why the CO made us wait if we had all the paperwork that was asked and also get feedback from those that have been through the same scenario.

When people are genuine about thier relationship they will do everything to be together. If a couple is facing the "bonafide evidence" requirement then having a baby will sigificiently help, at least, that's what in the mind of people like us.

I have talked to a CO about this matter and she informed me that usually there will not be a problem obtaining a visa once the child gets his DNA tested with a positive result.

a baby is only evidence that you've had sex at least once. Not evidence of a genuine marriage.

Reda

Saying unmindful things like this really tick me off. If your relationship is genuine then you wouldn't mind having a baby to support your case. I'm willing to guess that those who have children between them is more likely to stay together longer than those who dont.

By the tone of your text, it sounds like you're assuming that we're not genuine. Let me tell you that I've visited my wife 5 times, stayed in her house and traveled everywhere with her. We have several hundreds pictures, many letters and post cards, and also countless of hours on Yahoo and through the phone.

I would appreciate it if you were more mindful the next time you post things.

Our K3 interview ended up with the blue paper asking for "bonifide evidence". Our son was born before the interview, but didn't get his DNA testing done in time to show the interviewing CO. His paperwork is now completed and we've turned it in to show proof of "bonifide evidence". To our dismay we recieved a green paper stating "Your case requires additional processing in our office. You do not need to submit further documents. We will contact you when we have finished processing your case"

My question is that has anyone in here have a baby just to show proof of bonafide evidence and how did it work out ?

It's just as the CO told you. They need more time to review the new evidence and come to a decision. That could happen tommorrow or in a month. I would not sit around waiting for their call if you have other things to do in Vietnam. When they do get around to your case, they will issue an information slip of some kind and mail it to your wife's address anyway, in addition to any phone call you might or might not receive. Hang in there and you will get an answer eventually. We found that in the past year they usually process additional evidence in a month or less. Hopefully your case will get a review soon. Good luck, and good to see you back on VJ again!

wait4ever,

I'm curious for those who are told to wait for additional processing and then is issued an information slip, what kind of information does it usually contain ? And is it likely that they will ask for more paperwork ? Hopefully not, but I dont know what to expect from the HCMC Consulate.

I'm petitioning for a K3 visa for my wife right now. With me being a US citizen, my son will automatically get citizenship and passport and doesn't have to apply for a visa. It does take a while to go through DNA testing inorder to get my son's citizenship. My wife recieved a blue slip a while back and was told to turn in my son's CRBA and passport when it's available. We have now turned in the CRBA and passport, but to our surprise, we were asked to wait. The exact wording on the paper was "Your case requires additional processing in our office. You do not need to sumbit further documents. We will contact you when we have finished processing your case. " I'm praying for the best.

Thanks for all the warm welcomes. I was so disappointed with the K1 outcome that I didn't want to talk to anyone. I tried hard not to come in here since it will bring back memories of my K1 visa. We've now switched to the K3 and also have a baby son. Our son's CRBA and passport is done and now we're just waiting for my wife. Let's see how it'll end this time now that we have a baby. I'll try not to expect so much so I wont be so disappointed again.

Our DNA testing is done and also CRBA and passport. I sure hope it's just 15 minutes away from being approved (K3 visa) because we turned in the CRBA and passport a few days ago and was told to wait. It's been 3 days and we havent heard anything.

DNA testing is done and we've recieved our son's CRBA and also passport.