ToNhi

@Phamas I would take everything you see on these forums with a grain a salt. We exchanged engagement rings for our Dinh Hon and the interviewer even asked if we were currently wearing them at the interview yesterday (we were) and it wasn't a problem at all! I think the officers there are pretty much trained to know the difference between an engagement and an actual wedding ceremony. Our Dinh Hon was more like a giant party where both families were able to meet one another (my 80+ family members and her 500+ family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, teachers). They asked us if jewelry was given as engagement gifts and I showed them those photos as well and told them we had 5 American guests at the party. After the longest 30 seconds of my life hearing nothing but typing, they said we were approved. I think having the Dinh Hon party helped our case by a lot.

@TD6886 We passed! They asked us a few questions each and looked through our Dinh Hon/Engagement photos and after skimming through about 20 photos, the interviewer said we were approved!

@JasonGG We passed! Similar to your experience we had brought 3 binders full of evidence and they asked for none of it. Just looked at a couple of our Engagement/Dinh Hon photos and said we passed and will receive the passport in about 2 weeks. Compiling all of the evidence, printing out hundreds of photos and 3 stacks of paperwork, and 9 months of worrying was definitely the hardest part of the K-1 process. They had already made a decision before they even met us.

@Phamas Nhi and I are wearing the traditional red clothing for the tea ceremony (my profile pic) at the altar inside her home with just her family members in those photos. But for the photos at the dinner banquet outside her home with our 500+ family members all across Vietnam, I am wearing a tux and Nhi is wearing a red dress. Should we not show them these pictures then, even though it is evidence that we had a large engagement party with all of her family and friends in town? I've heard they usually want to see evidence of a large Dinh Hon with lots and lots of people.

Hmm @sleepynt, where did you read that one shouldn't exchange rings? I've seen others get approved since it is only "engagement rings".

Thank you so much for all of your help so far, @JasonGG! From the very beginning to now the (almost) end for the K-1 route. AOS will be another journey, lol.

Hi, we currently have a stack of 12+ inches of paperwork (photos, proof of relationship, I-134 documents, Relationship Timeline, all of the required documents, Family Tree, updated letters of intent, etc.) to give to the C.O. We know there will be a small slot at the window to handover documents to the officer. I know everything should be arranged according to Part 4 of the Packet 3 Instructions, but we weren't sure how to exactly do this. Do most people just put everything in the order that they want and hand over each document at a time? Give them one giant folder? Or should we split it all into 3 separate paper folders and hand them all 3 that way so that it fits through the window slot. Thank you!

@sleepynt Hmm, I can't go back in time and change the sign to "Le Dinh Hon", lol. What do you suggest I do at this point? We have a ton of relationship evidence and photos and chat logs. I'm just worried about the Consulate misconstruing the engagement ceremony as well and giving us a denial.

@sleepynt Thank you so much! I am definitely pretty nervous as I read that many people receive Blue Slips when going the K-1 route. The consulate should be able to know the difference between a Dinh Hon and an actual wedding though.

Thank you @Liam2021! So will I be bringing (3) I-134 +Including their supporting documentations (one for myself, one for the joint sponsor, and one for household member)? Or will it just be myself and then another (1) I-134 for both parents (only one parent is a US Citizen, the other is Permanent Resident). Thank you, thank you!

Asking for the Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Consulate (but there doesn't seem to be much on the forums). Seems like the HCMC Vietnam Forum doesn't normally allow joint sponsors. Has anyone ever used 2 joint sponsors before (I will be using my 2 parents) as we all live in the same household and I am co-owner of the mortgage on the house in California.

I've been super stressed about this too. For your suggestion, do you recommend we bring tons of photos and the Family Tree/ Spousal Relationship Evidence Form. And they want chat logs? Not screenshots??? I don't even know how to get chat logs, lol. Looks like HCMC Embassy is a tough nut to crack. Do you have any recommendations for evidences to submit. Looks like they won't even accept the evidence even if presented to them.

I saw on an earlier post about finalizing documents that you were going to bring a family tree with relationship to fiance/fiancee. Did they not accept it or something? Or is this different from the spousal relationship evidence form.

Do you remember the questions they asked you and your Fiancee? And did they allow you to be next to your Fiancee during the interview? My Fiancee and I have been so stressed over this. Lots of blue slips at HCMC Embassy.

@TD6886 Currently trying to schedule an interview at the consulate! Thanks, Yung! Hope all goes well!! Besides a Family Tree and a Relationship Timeline, are there any other evidences that you recommend we bring? Seems like the HCMC Embassy is a super pain currently and impossible to please if one did not frontload the I-129F petition with everything that they want.