JasonGG

My wife (fiance at the time) and daughter and her son were interviewed on two separate dates, 6 months apart.  The date available to my wife and her daughter in April 2017 gave about 3 weeks notice.  We only got an interview when we did because someone cancelled and I happened to log on at exactly the right time.  We took what was available. 
 
For her son who came to the U.S. 6 months after my wife and daughter, I began looking for interview dates in mid-October.  At that time, the consulate was posting new interview dates on Fridays around 12:00-1:00pm, Vietnam time.  There were a lot more dates available, with many appearing to go unfilled.  We weren't in a hurry for my son's interview, so waited a few weeks.  We eventually reserved a date that was about 4 weeks away. 
 
Don't worry about booking the medical appointment.  In April and November, Cho Ray had appointments available the same week, even the next day when we called.  The only possible issue would be if your fiance has a child who requires a TB skin test.  My stepdaughter (age 7 at the time) needed a skin test in April, but her 11 year old son had an x-ray in November.  They need to do skin tests Monday-Wednesday, so the test results can be read by Friday. 
 
The hospital did not deliver the results to the consulate, but sent them to my wife and stepson's addresses (HCM City to Da Lat) in less than a week.  My wife and stepson both needed an immunization and those were done the same day after the exam.  Prepare for a LONG day.  My wife was at Cho Ray for 4+ hours and another 3-4 hours at Quarantine Services.  So, you should have plenty of time to choose one of the late March interviews if your fiance can go to Cho Ray early next week.  The biggest issue might be the cost of  the "last minute" airfare to Vietnam from the U.S.
 
Good luck! - Jason
 
 

Many thanks @JasonGG! Your reply answers all of my question now! 
 
Besides that, I have just heard from my fiancee that some people are required to get vaccinated/immunization (to get the 'yellow paper') in order to have medical examination. This should not be a problem though. 
 
For the plane ticket, I'm planning to flight one-way to Vietnam (costs ~430$), then both of us book another one-way ticket from Vietnam to the US after visa being issued. 
 
Thanks again Jason! 
Loc

Hi Jason, Northern VA AOS filer here...I'm waiting right along with your wife's son! I had biometrics December 26th, and my online status is "Case Received." No idea why they can't at least bother to update it so we can see the process! Good luck  

Thanks Jason...I appreciate your advice to me about the P3 a while back as well

I agree with the others that the process will be so much easier to complete once you are in the United States and the CR-1 process is complete.  I considered adopting my wife's children, but so far there has been no reason for me to pursue that route now that we are in the United States.  My wife's daughter was born after her divorce and like the original poster, my wife did not include her father's name on the birth certificate.  Her son's certificate does list his father.  I was initially concerned that not being their "father" would make health care, school, and other paperwork much more difficult because I would not be legally permitted to act on their behalf.  However in Maryland (I don't know if it is the same in other states), I became their legal guardian once their mother and I were married. 
 
When completing paperwork for insurance, school, health care, etc, I include my name in the "parent or legal guardian" or "father" section.  My daughter was admitted to the emergency room a few months after arriving in the U.S.  Once I identified myself (verbally) as her father and gave them our insurance card, I didn't have to do anything else.  I claim them both on my taxes.  We were at the IRS yesterday getting a tax ID number for my stepson because he doesn't have a SSN yet.  No issues with IRS.  I even asked if they wanted our marriage certificate or other documents from the 4-inch-think immigration folder we have.  None of that was needed.
 
Except for the USCIS where I am the "petitioner" through the 2-year conditional green card stage, I am simply "legal guardian/father" everywhere else.   There are a few estate planning issues that could arise by not adopting, but those can be taking care of with some fairly easy estate and beneficiary assignment paperwork.  Perhaps we will reconsider as time passes, but for now, my kids don't care.  I am "Daddy" to all of them regardless of biology. 
 
Congratulations on your upcoming marriage and good luck to you and your family!
Jason

Honestly I would wait until they are both here in the USA and not even think about doing it in the Vietnam. 

I also attended the interview in Vietnam with my fiance and her daughter in May 2018.  Vietnam is one of the embassies that might look favorably on the petitioner accompanying the beneficiary to the interview.  I say "might" because I think the decision to approve our case (and most others) was made before  the interview.  However,  if the CO has any questions, having the petitioner there may help.
 
Bring your passport and have it ready when you are waiting in line.  Once through security, I sat in the waiting area until my fiance completed finger printing.  When called to the window, I was sworn in with her and then asked to sit nearby.  I was not asked any questions, but my fiance was VERY happy to have me there with her.  The most important reason to attend is support.  The second most important reason is that it was another opportunity to do some shopping and eating in Ho Chi Minh City!
 
Jason
 
 

I would definitely disclose it. Not unusual to have relatives in the U.S. If they're concerned, they'll ask you. As for the interview, based on personal experience, you should do the following:
 
Stay calm. While waiting, talk to each other, smile, and don't appear nervous (even though it's natural that you are nervous). Your fiance will be interviewed without you. However, they may ask you a few questions after they are done with her. It's routine. Be honest. Keep your answers short. Look at them when answering questions and be friendly. If you don't understand the question, ask them to clarify. Make sure you know everything (when you met, where the two of you have been, her family info, etc.). They seem to care about her life in the U.S. - will she work, study, etc. Have an answer. If she speaks English, that's good. If not, don't worry. If you don't have any financial issues/concerns, have a plan for the future, and seem generally well-balanced, you will sail through it. If you have money or criminal issues, be ready for questions. I had some complicated financial documents (government employee and self-employed) and a big age gap. We clarified and explained - no problem. She'll get the visa in about a week via EMS courier. If you have any questions, just send them my way. Good luck! Enjoy the Consulate interview - it's kind of crazy! (Get to the gate at least 30 minutes early and don't talk to people on the street - they'll scam you)

My wife just got approved on January 18th and we had the green card in our hands on the 25th.   Our daughter however is still pending approval.  It looks like from what I have seen Baltimore is about a 3 -4 months wait after the interview if you were not approved on the spot.  

We prepared a list with the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of our parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, and uncles.  There were a couple that we did not know all the information so jwe ust provided what we knew.  It was not mentioned during the interview.  One reason they request this is to determine if the marriage is fraudulent and arranged to reunite family members in the U.S.  You shouldn't have any issues given that your wife is not in contact with the uncle and the distance separating you.  Still, prepare a list.  It is better to have more than you need than show up and discover you need something you didn't bring.
 
Jason

We prepared a list with the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of our parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, and uncles.  There were a couple that we did not know all the information so jwe ust provided what we knew.  It was not mentioned during the interview.  One reason they request this is to determine if the marriage is fraudulent and arranged to reunite family members in the U.S.  You shouldn't have any issues given that your wife is not in contact with the uncle and the distance separating you.  Still, prepare a list.  It is better to have more than you need than show up and discover you need something you didn't bring.
 
Jason

Congratulations!  I hope your long wait will be over very soon!!!

On a whim I just checked the USCIS site and the petition for Rose was approved yesterday!!!  Only 131 days!  The kids two petitions are still at "received".

On the 17th, my EAD was approved. My AOS was also put forward for an interview, but nothing scheduled yet.
 
154 days after NOA1

Try 8 months Administrative processing lol
August 129f 2017 filer here, updating... Feb 2018 we got the NOA2. April 2018 the interview, 221g issued,  8 months administrative processing , Dec 2018 AP completed, medical expired had to redo the medical, January 2019 picked up medical, submitted passport, got K1 visa issued, POE was two days ago JANUARY 15 2019 AND WE ARE HAPPY TO BE TOGETHER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FINALLY got a text saying USCIS received my stepson's AP/EAD/AOS!  We sent it December 24, and FedEx delivered it December 27.  USCIS acknowledges receipt as of January 14!  - Jason

FINALLY got a text saying USCIS received my stepson's AP/EAD/AOS!  We sent it December 24, and FedEx delivered it December 27.  USCIS acknowledges receipt as of January 14!  - Jason

My fiance (now wife) and her daughter had their K-1 interviews in May 2018 and came to the U.S. in early July.  Her son was uncertain about coming to the U.S. and chose to continue living with his grandparents.  As a result, he did not attend the May interview.  During the May interview, the consulate officer asked where her son was because he was listed on the I-129F, but she responded that he was not going to travel with her.   We never mentioned her son during the interview or stated that he might follow to join.
 
Her son realized he had made a mistake about not joining his mother when it came time to say good bye in July.  All we could do was promise to bring him to the U.S. in the future.
 
After my wife and her daughter got settled, we began making arrangements for her son.  Between July and November, he got most of his vaccines at the local Pasteur Clinic, which was MUCH cheaper than getting them at Quarantine Services following the interview.  Because he was included on the initial I-129F, his CEAC status still said he was "ready" to be interviewed.  We completed the DS-160 and sent a MoneyGram for the visa fee and travel money to a family friend who mailed the paperwork and paid the visa fee at Vietnam Post.  I scheduled his embassy appointment and physical from the U.S. and the family friend accompanied him to both.  He had his physical and TB test (skin test) at Cho Ray on a Wednesday and returned Friday to have the TB test read.  He required one additional shot.  I don't remember which it was, but it cost 5X (nearly 2 million) what we paid for the vaccines received at the Pasteur Clinic in his hometown!
 
At the time we scheduled his interview, my wife did not have her travel papers, so we planned for her to travel to Vietnam to accompany her son home once he had his visa and she could travel.  We mailed the same documents to the family friend (by FedEx) that we brought when my wife and her daughter interviewed in May - original birth certificates, divorce decrees, financial documents and I-134, photos (including her son with me), plus a notarized letter from my wife's ex-husband giving permission for his son to leave Vietnam.
 
There were no issues at the interview and the total wait time from entering the embassy to approval was about 2 1/2 hours.  They asked the family friend who she was before entering, but had no problems with her accompanying my wife's son.  During the interview, they asked a single question . . . "Why didn't your mother send a copy of her green card with your paperwork."  Her son responded that she received her green card just a few weeks earlier and after we sent the paperwork to Vietnam.
 
We paid for expedited shipping of the visa.  It still took 12 days to receive in Da Lat.  That was a bit nerve wracking , as my wife left for Vietnam before he had the visa in hand! 
 
The interview to leave Vietnam at the airport in Ho Chi Minh by the airline staff and then security screeners was much more detailed than at the embassy.  My wife and son were questioned about birthdays, addresses, who I am, where are they going, where have they been, etc.  They not only needed to prove the son was who he claimed and was permitted to leave, but also required my wife's birth certificate to prove that my wife was his mother.  Luckily she had these documents ready when asked.
 
They arrived at Dulles International Airport on December 23.  They landed at 9:05am and completed customs and had there bags within an hour.  The customs officer asked my wife how long she had been out of the country, but didn't ask her son any questions.  His I-94 was available the next day (with the name in the wrong order, which happens for many Vietnamese entering the U.S.) and we filed for AOS/EAD/AP the same day.
 
Hope this helps anyone in a similar situation - Jason
 
 
 
 
 

Congrats, JasonGG!

I think that the problem is that USCIS (Tier 1 + Tier 2) can't see info on the forms before Lockbox scans it and puts it in the system. That's how they explained it to me, when I kept calling and asking. USCIS can check to see if your forms pop up, but if they can't find anything, they tend to ask you to contact Lockbox. IMO it's very silly, because why can't they (USCIS CS and Lockbox) communicate between each other 😀 Why does a customer have to keep going back and forth between them. 
 
But on a positive note: I got my NOA two days after I e-mailed Lockbox. Maybe it was a coincidence or maybe it helped. So I'm hoping yours will pop up soon!

Thanks for posting.  We are still waiting for ours sent December 23.  I'm on hold for a tier 2 rep at USCIS now, but maybe ours is stuck in a pile like yours! - Jason

So we sent our package on Dec 17th and today finally got our NOA messages. EAD/AP says they did receive it Dec 18th. I-485 says they processed the fingerprint fee on Jan 8. What dates should I use for my timeline as NOA? Today's date? Or received date?

Our case number just turn from ready to schedule interview to interview is scheduled!  Waiting on it to come in the mail to see when the interview is.  This was really quick so far...much quicker then 1 year.

Thanks.  I didn't realize I could call USCIS for this before receiving the receipt # on the NOA1. - Jason

There are a couple of us who are still waiting texts/NOA letters from December. Mine was delivered Dec 18th and I'm still waiting.. We keep calling USCIS every couple of days and they tell me it can take up to 30 days to get a NOA. I also e-mailed the Chicaco Lockbox to be sure that they received my package, but haven't heard back. I do have Fedex confirmation that it was delivered. I hope you will get yours sooner, but you can call USCIS and ask Tier 2 to check their system while you wait. They can look up your application by your name and/or A-number.