JasonGG

that's really great! Thank you so much for your insight!  That makes me feel more relaxed. 

I agree with @Hoa Nguyen.  The visa interview was the easiest part of the process!  The hardest part is the waiting, anxiety, worrying, and preparation of paperwork.  The worry and anxiety helped us prepare much more than was necessary.  Even though we front loaded our I-129F with travel documents, texts/emails, photos, etc, we spent hours (probably more than 100 hours over 10 months) preparing and photocopying documents, arranging and labeling files, and printing e-mails and texts.  We arrived at the embassy with 1000s of pages of paper, photos, travel receipts and tickets, and other "proof of relationship" documents.  We practiced answering hundreds of questions about each other.  After submitting the required documents on the day of the interview (household book, passport, photos, most recent tax transcript, etc), the officer didn't ask for a single photo or other proof of our relationship.  Just a few routine questions . . . How did we meet?  When did we meet?  How many times have I visited?  That evening we celebrated by shredding all that paper at the hotel so I wouldn't have to carry it home on the airplane! 
 
Hanoi is not an option for the interview. You can get the medical exam done at one of the IOM sites in Hanoi, but visa interviews are only conducted at the consulate in Ho Chi Minh City. 
 
We did have an engagement ceremony prior to submitting the I-129F.  We included a couple photos and mentioned it in the "relationship timeline" we included with the 129F.  It was a traditional ceremony . . . outfits (see my profile pic), red offering trays presented to the women in my fiance's family, etc.  None of my family attended because, like you said, it is just too far and costly.  If asked, simply tell the CO your plan to marry in the U.S. and return to Vietnam for a second ceremony.  If you don't have a dam hoi/din hon, just bring some photos of you with her parents, siblings and other friends to show that you are "part of the family."  Prepare to name the people in the photos.  It wasn't necessary for the visa interview, but I was asked to name people in our photos during my wife's green card interview.
 
There are advantages to the K1 and CR1.  We chose the K1 simply because we wanted to be together sooner.  My wife was lucky because she got her green card VERY fast . . . about 3 1/2 months after applying.  It would have been much more difficult if she had to wait 6 months for her EAD/AP and a year or more for her green card.  Some states won't issue a driver's license without the EAD or green card.   Approval for a K1 over a CR1 won't make much difference if you have a legitimate relationship and are prepared to prove it.
 
I don't think Vietnam is a difficult consulate if you prepare to over-prepare.  Take this process VERY seriously.  Study each others' lives and test each other.  Bring lots of paper because even the appearance of bags full of documentation will be noticed by the CO.  Vietnam does have an issue with visa fraud, so your documents will be scrutinized more closely.  Again, this won't be a problem for legitimate couples.
 
My wife worried herself sick for months.  When it was over, we couldn't believe it was so easy and that we had worried as much as we did.  You will breathe your own sigh of relief soon.  Remember, you have another (slightly more difficult) interview for AOS coming, so the visa interview is great practice!   😁
 
Good luck to both of you - Jason
 

An engagement party in Vietnam is perfectly acceptable and even expected in Vietnam.  We included photos of our engagement ceremony with our K1 application. 
 
A marriage ceremony (official or unofficial) is not acceptable.  The K1 requires you to be married after arrival in the US.
 
Search the Vietnam forum for engagement ceremony or dam hoi.  Good luck!
 
Jason
 
 

This is what I assumed, but I wanted to double check it. I am fine with an engagement party and I have expressed that to my fiancee that it can in no way be anything official, like a marriage ceremony, exchanging vows, signing documents, etc. She's from a small village and they just wanted a party with family members.
 

sounds like true love right there dude.
 
meanwhile, those of us who are in genuine relationships have very lengthy immigration and AOS processes because of 'situations' like yours.
 
thanks.

So they are all looking for a gateway to America and green card. 😛 Your second post raise even more flags. But you do you, dude. 

We just did our interview late April HCMC CR-1. No fee paid at consulate/ fee should be paid at NVC.  One full passport copy is good (just in case they ask).
 
The was a lady assigned to review my wife's original docs: birth certificate,  marriage certificate, and household record + take my wife passport.  Later, interviewer returned original docs after the interview. They did not ask for copy of any kind. In fact, they did not ask for anything (no financial docs, no evidences, no pictures) beside asking us a few questions.
 
I was with my wife at the interview. We were unsure who should respond but got confirmation that it would not matter if my wife or I responded  : so we took our turn to answer the questions.  The interview was a little bit rude but I guess he just tried to be cold for his job. Anyway, after a few questions, the interpreter told us: we got our visa and asked if my wife had read the information on sexual abuse and domestic violence flyer (given between document review and interview section).
 
 
 
 
 

Yeah, I got appointment after 10 days consulate sent required documents. Thanks

Never ceases to amaze me how many people pay good money for an attorney,  but yet come to a free site to get validation (or worse, correction) of advice 

I just came back from Vietnam with my wife.  Her name: Nguyen Thi Thuy An on Vietnamese passport (It does not really distinct Last and First Name, just Full Name) . We booked 3 legs fare with An Nguyen. No issue with Tan Son Nhat, Hong Kong, Newark. 

It would certainly be prudent to get several certified copies of this important consent document at that time. Getting such a document later could be very hard if not impossible to obtain in the future.

Since you listed your fiance's daughter on the I-129F, the NVC and consulate will prepare for both.  My wife's son did not initially plan to come to the U.S., but we still listed him on the I-129F.  He was assigned a case number just as my wife and her daughter and was included on the consulate interview invitation.  At the interview,  my wife said her son was not coming to the U.S., so they set his file aside.  We were lucky that they handled it this way, because he changed his mind days before we left.  He was able to "follow to join" 6 months later.
 
Once you have the case number for your fiance from NVC, you can track the progress online.  You will notice that the K2 case number is "attached" to the K1.  As noted, the K2 is not guaranteed because it is based on the K1.  However, if your fiance is approved, her daughter's K2 will be approved . . . assuming the medical exam is OK and required documents are provided.
 
For my wife's son, we got a notarized letter from his father acknowledging that his ex-wife and son were immigrating to the U.S. and he gave his permission for his son to leave the country.  Get 2 copies of this letter.  The embassy will need one copy and if they do not return it, you may need the second at the airport when you leave.  In Vietnam, the airline asked for this letter and his birth certificate, and passport.
 
Good Luck! - Jason

You're good to go. It will come by courier to the address listed. My wife was not home when her passport/visa was delivered - no problem. It wouldn't surprise me if you return before the delivery - depends where she lives. My wife is from very rural area outside Hanoi. I think she got it in about 10-12 days.

Thanks for the detail response and suggestion Jason. They are very helpful. Within an exception of one maybe two days since my fiancee and I decided to be together, we video call each other every day! Have a great day.

There’s your reason - IO thinks (and could be likely) that her family set you up together so she can bypass long wait times in family based category for immigrant visa. 
It doesnt help that you’re working for her aunt. 

my online case status for the EAD and AP remains the same - "case received" but the status of me AOS application changed after the biometrics appointment to "case ready to be scheduled for an interview" - I'm under the impression my EAD and AP is still in the process.  I had my Bio appointment on 4th March.

The NBC is currently processing a wide range of applications from September 2018 to even some who applied in March 2019.
USCIS reports the wait is 5 to 7 months with many having to wait much longer yet a few still, much shorter.
I've seen the range of 140 days to 170 days most common.
Yes, many ppl receive cards that just show up in the mail without any status updates on either of the official USCIS case tracker sites but I would not make any plans to expect anything for him. 
There is no way to guess. 
 

In May, my wife and her daughter received their passports/visas in 11 days going from the consulate to Da Lat.  Her son's visa/passport took 14 days in late November, but there was a holiday and closure for George Bush's funeral.  We paid for expedited delivery both times, but I don't think it mattered. - Jason

We sent ours with the 129F and brought an updated version to the interview.  We were not asked for evidence, photos, or paperwork at the interview.  They just asked few questions.  Others have been asked for one.  Creating a timeline can help you prepare for questions even if the consulate officer does not ask for it.  Most of the questions asked of my wife were answered by the timeline, for example how and when we met, dates we were together in Vietnam, and places we visited when together.  My wife "studied" our timeline and other evidence to prepare for the interview.  Don't underestimate how nervous you or your spouse will be when interviewed.  It can be a very intimidating process for the beneficiary, so having even the most obvious information written down may be helpful as the interview approaches.
 
As many people on the board have said in the past, it is better to prepare one and not need it, than to need it and not have one.  Good luck! - Jason

Congratulations!  Your interview should be within the next 4 weeks!  Good luck!

Congratulations!  Your interview should be within the next 4 weeks!  Good luck!

In September, my wife got her letter 10 days after the online status changed to scheduled.  I know of a few others going through Baltimore since the start of 2019 who have waited about the same time (7-10 days).
 
You can also call USCIS, ask for a tier 2, and they should be able to give you the interview date.  We did that last year. They had the date, but not the time.  If the tier 2 says it's not available, try again the next day until you either get the answer or the letter arrives.
 
Good Luck! - Jason

From our experience at Cho Ray and Quarantine Services, there is no need to give anything to anyone at the hospital.  It might be difficult to determine who to give the money to.  My wife saw a half dozen or more assistants, doctors, nurses, etc.  The speed of delivery is more the result of the courier service or postal system.  Still, 7 days or less is a pretty fast turn around for a physical report,  blood tests, and TB x-ray review.
 
Is your fiance in HCM City?  If so, she should get the results quickly.  My wife's results (and later her son's who followed 6 months later) were delivered to Da Lat in days. Even if the results aren't available, your fiance can still attend the interview and get a conditional approval pending receipt of the medical results.  If the result aren't available, bring the exam receipt and confirmation to show the consulate officer during the interview.
 
Good Luck to you and your fiance!  - Jason

Wow! Thank you all for great suggestions. 
 
We we are trying to determine whether the altar can be broken down. If so, then the airline may be able to take it. More than likely, we’re going to have some other things to take, so a shipping company is looking more and more likely. 
 
I’m back in the states, so she’s going to look into the shipping companies there. And we’ll definitely check into Bamboo Express. Thank you USS_Voyager for posting the contact info for them, also. 
 
I also want want to say that it is so refreshing that there are still forums where people really do care and help each other out. We were a bit lost and worried before I posted my question, but I think we are now heading in the right direction. She was so concerned that she couldn’t bring the altar. It has so much meaning, and I thank you all again for your kind replies. 
 
John

Bamboo Express: 0973.945.427 Viber, Zalo, SMS
 
My mom just sent two huge wooden crates from HCMC. Got here in a week. Call them. Should be in the neighborhood of $5-$6/kg. They can pick up from her house for free and do all the crating and packing.
 
Couple years ago, my friend also shipped a whole sugar cane machine thingy (you know the one they use to juice the sugar cane on the street with the little wheel and like two rolls thing) for his phở restaurant in San Jose.