JasonGG

If I remember correctly, you said earlier that you front loaded you application.  You'll want to bring new letters of intent for each of you to the interview.  Prepare a "family tree" as some couples are asked for it including a VJ member fairly recently in this forum.  We provided one that included grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents, and siblings with birth and death dates, addresses, and phone numbers.  When we applied (2017) and interviewed (2018) there were several VJ members in the Vietnam forum who had difficulty and received blue slips, home visits, and extended administrative processing.  We corresponded with many of them and even though they had a difficult time getting their K1 or CR1 in Vietnam, everyone we talked to at that time eventually got approved.
 
When I attended the interview with my fiance, we brought a LOT of paper in two 6 inch, clear folders that included emails, receipts, chat logs, photos, travel itineraries, airline tickets, etc. for the time between our application and interview. I had no expectation that anyone wanted to see it.  We brought that paper to give the appearance that we were ready to provide them with anything they could possibly ask for.  The evening after the interview, we shredded it all at our hotel's business center.  Don't bother with the translation of your chats.  If they really want to read them, they have the expertise nearby to read them in Vietnamese.
 
I found that some of the best advice came from the HCM City consulate reviews.  I can only share my experience from 2017-18, but you will get the most up-to-date advice and recommendations from these reviews -
 
https://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php?cnty=Vietnam&page=1&dfilter=5&topic=
 
Jason
 
 
 

I am writing this thread to help my fellow vietnamese about this process and maybe it will become a permanent to keep updated procedures.
 
My mother in law has been in the states  since Feb. 29th, 2024.  She immigrated as a parent of over 21 US citizen.  I flew to vietnam and traveled with her to get to the US last month.
 
Normal paperwork with USCIS until medical exam.  We got notice to interview and at that point one can schedule the medical exam with interview notice.  
 
Mother in law's son was diagnosed with TB September -October 2023.  Her interview was in november.  We had her visit a doctor in Da Lat and she had what is called Latent TB.  One has the virus but it is not active to be contagious.  It can wake up and she can have TB and contagious.  I do not know who has to do the test because I had another far relative do a K1 fiance and she did not have to deal with TB headaches.  Vietnam with another 10 or so countries have been flagged as high TB countries.  My wife who did the K1 came to US without TB issues.  I think if one is asked being exposed to TB and answers yes or x rays at medical shows questionable stuff then one would have to do the spitum test like mother in law did.
 
She went to medical in saigon and had to stay 3 days to do 3 consecutive days of spitum test.  She  had to go to a facility and gag up spitum to be tested.  She then a few weeks later did her interview. 
 
Interview was simple.  Two questions  Who is sponsoring her and what state does she remember will be living in the US.
 
After 8 weeks she received notice she was negative and sent her passport.  She then received a 2 1/2 month visa to travel.  From what I researched TB spitum test are as follows if after 6 weeks and the cultures are still negative then one gets a negative notice in 8 wks and can travel.  If after 10 weeks and culture has grown more since the 6 weeks then notice received 12 weeks and one has to go through six months of hell to be treated for TB in Vietnam.
 
Now that she has arrived in the US she received 10 yr green card March 27th, 2024.  I took her to apply for a SSN and they declines saying her visa type will be automatically mailed an SSN after green card issued.  I will wait 2 month from now and if not then go apply at SS office.
 
 

I took my K1 beneficiary to get her Social Security Card yesterday via walk in.  She arrived in the US February 16th.  All we needed was her passport/visa and her I-94.  Anyone running into difficulties, just go to a different office where they know what they are doing.  After research here and elsewhere, it seems it is easier to get SSN upon arrival and then change the name following marriage so as to not run into difficulties with the name on the marriage cert not matching Visa/Passport.  At any rate, we were in and out in less than 30 minutes.  Bloomington, Indiana.  
 
God speed to all
 
Seth

Just wanted to provide an update . . . USCIS tier 2 called this morning.  She confirmed that yes, we need to hold on to my son's 10-year green card even though he has a U.S. passport now.  The passport proves that he is a U.S. citizen to the State Dept. and most federal agencies, BUT it does not prove legal entry into the United States.   The State Dept. computers have recorded him as a citizen, but the USCIS system has not.  She recommended he carry the green card in his passport until he receives the certificate of citizenship.  The certificate "may be needed" when applying for financial aid or dealing with social security.
 
Ugh . . . just when we though USCIS was behind us and now we have another step to complete!
 
Thanks everyone for you responses.  They were very helpful. - Jason

Just wanted to provide an update . . . USCIS tier 2 called this morning.  She confirmed that yes, we need to hold on to my son's 10-year green card even though he has a U.S. passport now.  The passport proves that he is a U.S. citizen to the State Dept. and most federal agencies, BUT it does not prove legal entry into the United States.   The State Dept. computers have recorded him as a citizen, but the USCIS system has not.  She recommended he carry the green card in his passport until he receives the certificate of citizenship.  The certificate "may be needed" when applying for financial aid or dealing with social security.
 
Ugh . . . just when we though USCIS was behind us and now we have another step to complete!
 
Thanks everyone for you responses.  They were very helpful. - Jason

I posted this in the US Citizenship tracking forum but figured this might be a good place for people to read about the experience:
 
Here is our experience with the U.S. citizenship application (N400).  Our local office is in New York City.
 
We filed online on 9/26/2023, about 3 months before the 3 year anniversary date of entry to US.
 
Interview was scheduled for 1/5/2024.  Interview was fine but the person handling the case had zero experience with people who have multiple names as their first name and could not give much practical advice as we wanted to fix my wife's name format.  For example in Vietnam, a woman's name may be formatted as such: LastName,  1stFirstName 2ndFirstName 3rdFirstName.
 
We wanted to make sure that the format would match how it should be in Vietnam.  Unfortunately, USCIS/State Dept/whoever, in their infinite wisdom only used my wife's 1stFirstName for her First Name, and assigned 2ndFirstName and 3rdFirstName as her middle name when she was given her green card.   This is the typical experience if you're Vietnamese unfortunately.
 
The interviewer suggested a name correction, but a name correction has no paper trail to show that the name was corrected.  Our main concern with this option is that my wife has several accounts and documents that may contain the wrong formatted name, and it would be nice to have paper documentation that the name format was corrected. 
 
Option 2 was to opt to change her name to a more "western" name, which she already uses for work.  Unfortunately, we heard that name changes requires an oath ceremony with a judge and appointments with judge may take longer than an oath with a USCIS officer.  The interviewer said that's not necessarily true but did not tell us how long it would usually take get scheduled an oath ceremony with a judge.  So we opted not to legally change her name, as weren't sure how long it would take and we also wanted to travel in the Spring.
 
Well lo and behold, we were scheduled for an oath ceremony at the Brooklyn Federal District Court with a judge on 1/30/2024, less than 30 days, even though my wife opted to not change anything with her name... so some advice for NYC residents, if you do want to legally change your name, you should consider doing it because you might have to wait for a court oath ceremony anyway.
 
Ceremony day/morning was kind of long.  They take your phones before you enter.
 
They tell you to arrive at 8 AM but people were still strolling in at 9-9:30 AM.  Family had to wait in the third floor cafeteria while my wife and other soon to be US citizens were in the courtroom making sure their paperwork were correct.  No possibility to request name to be changed at this point unfortunately.
 
Family was then permitted to sit in the courtroom to watch the ceremony at around 10:30-11 AM.  Judge arrived and made a speech and we left at around 11:30 AM-12 PM.
 
 
 
Regarding the name correction/change.  My wife my opt to change her name legally via a court proceeding in the future when we have time.  But it obviously will cost money to do so.

Good idea to have one of those.

Do not throw it away!
 
Either put it in a drawer for the record and never touch it again until asked OR return to USCIS.
 
Does the kid have certificate of naturalization?
 
I wouldn't do anything about GC until certificate is in hand.
 
Passport sometimes is not sufficient to prove US citizenship.

Just wanted to update on this post for anyone else who might have questions about bringing the baby to the consulate.
 
So I attended my wife's interview and we found a friend who would watch our baby while we were at the consulate. We were there for a few hours and the interview went well. Wife's visa was approved!
 
I wanted to let anyone considering to bring their baby to the interview that THEY WILL NOT LET YOU BRING THE BABY INSIDE unless that baby is applying for a visa!!
 
While my wife and I were waiting in line outside the consulate to get our documents checked, we witnessed a couple ahead of us get told that the baby would not be allowed to enter..
 
So, just a heads up for anyone thinking of doing this. your baby isn't allowed in and you will need to make arrangements for someone to watch your baby if you're planning to attend your spouse's interview.

I have never seen anyone on the VIetnam board overthink something as much as you are.  There are tons of non-Vietnamese Americans that have had successful K1 applications without an engagement party.  Probaly more than those that have for fear of it being viewed as a wedding ceremony and having to re-file as a CR-1.  Being Vietnamess American you are already in a better position than most non-Vietnamese American couples as far as the consulate goes.  Just relax and let your fiance go to the interview.  Better yet if you can attend with her.  It's going to be fine.

You’ll be fine.  Bring it to the interview.  The ceremony doesn’t seem to be as important now as it was years ago. - Jason 

Congratulations!  Best of luck to both of you - Jason

Our appointment was January 8, 2023 at 7:30 am.  I am the petitioner and attended the interview. We booked a room at the Muong Thanh Saigon Centre Hotel, right across the street from the Consulate.  The room was $80.  We scouted out the area the night prior to get an idea of where to go in the morning.  We walked 2 blocks in the morning to the area directly opposite the entrance. There was no issue with the Red Chair people as I had read in previous reviews.  We paid 70k VND for us both to sit and have coffee and wait.  
 
At about 7 on the dot a guard came outside, and the "rush" to the line outside the entrance began.  We were maybe 2/3 of the way toward the end of the block, with probably 30 people in front of us.  3 people came outside and began verifying ID, passport, Appointment Confirmation, DS160 Confirmation, and 2 Visa Photos. They also checked my passport.  ** Have your documents arranged in order per part 4 of the Instruction Package.**  Many people did not and got very flustered trying to find what was required, as the people checking were all business and no nonsense and were understandably impatient.  
 
At 7:20 we were in the entrance, where a guard swept everyone with a metal detector.  We spent maybe 10 minutes in line, turned our cell phones in (they give you a placard you use to get them back when leaving), and arrived at the main area, where we were separated by a male staffer.  I waited in a seat while she was in line.  They verified the Pkt3 letter, that she had the medical envelope, and her birth certificate.   Then gave her a slip with our number on it, 2041, and told her to go sit and wait.  
 
We waited together for our number to be called, probably 15 minutes or so.  We got called to Window 5, where she was asked to supply copies of her passport, original and copy of my birth certificate and divorce decree, her justice record, etc from the required documents list.  The originals of everything were returned once they verified the copies were correct.  ***We were required to supply the DS-160 receipt, which is not listed on the instruction packet.  Luckily we had it or would have been sent away ***
          We were told to go have a seat and wait for our number to be called.  They have an automated system that calls out numbers and windows, as well as a display that scrolls the numbers as they are called.  They do not go in numerical order.  there are 20 something windows total.  **Sidenote, bay/window 11 has a door into a booth.  We saw 3 people get called there, and each was there a good bit.  I have no idea what it was for.**  They were calling 1000 and 2000 series numbers at a pretty good clip.  A few people did not hear or see their number called and staff located them, so do not worry if it's too loud to hear well, although how anyone could miss their number on the display is beyond me.
 
After maybe an hour our number was called and we went to bay 14. There was a young man with a tattoo on his arm and a female Vietnamese interpreter.  He asked Hoa if she spoke english.  She said a little.  They swore her in in Vietnamese.  The interpreter was telling her to place her fingers on a scanner outside the window, which she did, but her hands were too sweaty.  They passed her a tissue and had a good laugh about it, which broke the tension a little bit.  The interviewer then told her in Vietnamese to scan her thumbs as well.  That dude speaks Vietnamese like a native.  
 
Here are the questions they asked, as best as I can recall: 
 
To her:  Where was she going to live when she went to the US?
            What is my job?
            What is my address?
            Do I have kids?  How many?  
            
            Does she have any family in the US?
 
*** The interviewer was asking her the questions in english and was typing as the interpreter and Hoa talked in Vietnamese.  
 
Then he turned to me:
 
How did we meet? (Vietnam Cupid.  He did not ask for the IMBRA)
When did we meet? 
When did I divorce?
What was Hoa's job in Vietnam (she's currently laid off so I explained)
Has Hoa talked to my children?
Has Hoa talked to my mother?
Have I ever sent her money?  (I said yes.  He did not ask for any supporting info). 
They then switched back to Hoa and he asked her if she had any kids?  Something went amiss with the interpreter, and Hoa told her 3, thinking she was asking about mine.  He then jumped in and spoke to her in Vietnamese and clarified and they all 3 laughed.  
Does she have any family in the US? 
I was telling him she had distant family in California and a niece in Iowa and he asked if I had ever met her?   I said no.  He then asked Hoa the same thing in Vietnamese.  She answered and he said "Congratulations, your Visa is approved.  Have a nice day and enjoy your time in the US" and stamped the appointment confirmation with a blue stamp.
 
It took maybe 5 minutes tops at the window.  They did not ask to see any evidence of our relationship at all, or the I-134.  He typed the entire time as we answered each question.  If there was anything they asked that was not straight off of the I-129 I cannot remember what it was.  
 
In summary, I do believe they decide in advance whether or not they are going to approve the Visa.  The questions were preloaded on the computer and he was reading the questions and typing our answers in as we went.  They were very nice and relaxed, which helped, as Hoa was very nervous.  I was eyeballing the entire time looking for a slip in our packet and didn't see anything.
 
If your relationship is genuine and you submit a good 129 package there is nothing to worry about.  I read horror stories all over the place how terrible the consulate in Ho Chi Minh is, how the petitioner should not attend the interview, sending money is looked at as human trafficking, show up 2 hours early because of how bad the line is, people getting yelled at, etc etc.  None of that was true.  
 
We were the 3 hours total.
 
Jan 8 2024 interview/verbal approval
Jan 9 CEAC status APPROVED
Jan 10 CEAC status ISSUED
 
God Speed to everyone.  Feel free to PM me if needed.  
 
Seth
 
 
 
 
 
 

My son got a new blue passport in March and it only shows the province also. - Jason 

-You can bring Dam Hoi's pictures in case they ask for it.
-Yes, the decision already made before the interview since they already take a look at the case beforehand. 
Important: Get a family's tree on hand and ready. It will save you a lot of hassle. 

Yes, you can - and you are encouraged - to accompany your fiance to the appointment in Vietnam.  There were lots of couples and families having visa interviews with infants when I attended with my fiance.  Most were pretty unhappy and noisy after a few hours in that waiting room. 
 
Best of luck to you - Jason

Yes, you can - and you are encouraged - to accompany your fiance to the appointment in Vietnam.  There were lots of couples and families having visa interviews with infants when I attended with my fiance.  Most were pretty unhappy and noisy after a few hours in that waiting room. 
 
Best of luck to you - Jason

Thank you so much. I’ll start focusing more on those times. Much appreciated! 

My wife was in a similar situation this past January with a naturalization interview and approval 10 days before a planned overseas trip.  She told the USCIS interviewer about her travel at the interview.  Although the interviewer made a note on the account of our travel, we still got a ceremony confirmation letter 2 days before we left.  The letter notes that pre-planned travel IS a valid reason to reschedule.  We sent a letter requesting a new ceremony date along with the original scheduling letter and proof of travel (plane ticket confirmations from months earlier).  We asked for a date after our return.  As instructed we sent this to the field office where the ceremony was scheduled.  Within a week - while we were overseas - her online status changed to "ceremony cancelled / to be rescheduled."
 
Soon after we returned from travel, we got a letter confirming her rescheduled ceremony.  No problems at all. 
 
I read that some suggested traveling on a naturalization certificate and green card.  Your green card is no longer valid as soon as you take your oath.  At the ceremony, they will require you to surrender it.  (Two people at my wife's ceremony were denied the oath and rescheduled because they did not bring their green cards with them to surrender.)  The USCIS agent specifically told my wife that the naturalization certificate would not be acceptable for travel.  You must have a US passport after taking the citizenship oath.
 
Just an FYI - my wife applied for her US passport in March.  You will need to send your original naturalization certificate with the application.  Approaching week 13 and still waiting for the passport and return of her documents.
 
Jason

My wife was in a similar situation this past January with a naturalization interview and approval 10 days before a planned overseas trip.  She told the USCIS interviewer about her travel at the interview.  Although the interviewer made a note on the account of our travel, we still got a ceremony confirmation letter 2 days before we left.  The letter notes that pre-planned travel IS a valid reason to reschedule.  We sent a letter requesting a new ceremony date along with the original scheduling letter and proof of travel (plane ticket confirmations from months earlier).  We asked for a date after our return.  As instructed we sent this to the field office where the ceremony was scheduled.  Within a week - while we were overseas - her online status changed to "ceremony cancelled / to be rescheduled."
 
Soon after we returned from travel, we got a letter confirming her rescheduled ceremony.  No problems at all. 
 
I read that some suggested traveling on a naturalization certificate and green card.  Your green card is no longer valid as soon as you take your oath.  At the ceremony, they will require you to surrender it.  (Two people at my wife's ceremony were denied the oath and rescheduled because they did not bring their green cards with them to surrender.)  The USCIS agent specifically told my wife that the naturalization certificate would not be acceptable for travel.  You must have a US passport after taking the citizenship oath.
 
Just an FYI - my wife applied for her US passport in March.  You will need to send your original naturalization certificate with the application.  Approaching week 13 and still waiting for the passport and return of her documents.
 
Jason

My wife was in a similar situation this past January with a naturalization interview and approval 10 days before a planned overseas trip.  She told the USCIS interviewer about her travel at the interview.  Although the interviewer made a note on the account of our travel, we still got a ceremony confirmation letter 2 days before we left.  The letter notes that pre-planned travel IS a valid reason to reschedule.  We sent a letter requesting a new ceremony date along with the original scheduling letter and proof of travel (plane ticket confirmations from months earlier).  We asked for a date after our return.  As instructed we sent this to the field office where the ceremony was scheduled.  Within a week - while we were overseas - her online status changed to "ceremony cancelled / to be rescheduled."
 
Soon after we returned from travel, we got a letter confirming her rescheduled ceremony.  No problems at all. 
 
I read that some suggested traveling on a naturalization certificate and green card.  Your green card is no longer valid as soon as you take your oath.  At the ceremony, they will require you to surrender it.  (Two people at my wife's ceremony were denied the oath and rescheduled because they did not bring their green cards with them to surrender.)  The USCIS agent specifically told my wife that the naturalization certificate would not be acceptable for travel.  You must have a US passport after taking the citizenship oath.
 
Just an FYI - my wife applied for her US passport in March.  You will need to send your original naturalization certificate with the application.  Approaching week 13 and still waiting for the passport and return of her documents.
 
Jason

My wife was in a similar situation this past January with a naturalization interview and approval 10 days before a planned overseas trip.  She told the USCIS interviewer about her travel at the interview.  Although the interviewer made a note on the account of our travel, we still got a ceremony confirmation letter 2 days before we left.  The letter notes that pre-planned travel IS a valid reason to reschedule.  We sent a letter requesting a new ceremony date along with the original scheduling letter and proof of travel (plane ticket confirmations from months earlier).  We asked for a date after our return.  As instructed we sent this to the field office where the ceremony was scheduled.  Within a week - while we were overseas - her online status changed to "ceremony cancelled / to be rescheduled."
 
Soon after we returned from travel, we got a letter confirming her rescheduled ceremony.  No problems at all. 
 
I read that some suggested traveling on a naturalization certificate and green card.  Your green card is no longer valid as soon as you take your oath.  At the ceremony, they will require you to surrender it.  (Two people at my wife's ceremony were denied the oath and rescheduled because they did not bring their green cards with them to surrender.)  The USCIS agent specifically told my wife that the naturalization certificate would not be acceptable for travel.  You must have a US passport after taking the citizenship oath.
 
Just an FYI - my wife applied for her US passport in March.  You will need to send your original naturalization certificate with the application.  Approaching week 13 and still waiting for the passport and return of her documents.
 
Jason

They probably didn't keep her passport because it doesn't have enough time on it for her to leave the country.  I am assuming they are going through their approval process, but will contact her to supply a new passport.  You don't want them to stick her visa into a passport she can't use!

They probably didn't keep her passport because it doesn't have enough time on it for her to leave the country.  I am assuming they are going through their approval process, but will contact her to supply a new passport.  You don't want them to stick her visa into a passport she can't use!

From experience . . . she will need to have a new passport to leave Vietnam if it is expiring in September.  My son had 5 months and 3 weeks left on his Vietnamese passport when we tried leaving Vietnam in February.  He was not permitted to leave even though we showed his green card.  They were enforcing the 6-month requirement strictly.  No negotiating.  It took 3 weeks to get his new ID (required because he's 16) and then passport expedited . . . and a lot of "fees!"  Without the fees, it would have been 2+ months. Airport officials in Hanoi were not interested in negotiating the rule. 
 
There were 2 options for the new passport.   If you are in a hurry, get the one without the chip since those take longer.  He did not get his old passport back and the new number is different from the old one.  Luckily he was not traveling on green card stamps in his passport like my wife and daughter. 
 
Jason