vietazn

Marriages are legally recorded. Notarized statements are not, unless they are.

One would think that if the issues were not addressed in the initial filing... buy I frontloaded documentation to address the issues.. they ignored it and are now asking for it when in fact they have these documents......

The problem is that you are providing your own documents like timeline to go against legal, recorded documents. Which one holds more weight to the government? Which means you might actually need a lawyer.

Scott, I believe Thuy was going to get this treatment regardless of anything you did or did not do in preparation for the interview. There is something about your case that they do not like and they tried to get her to make a mistake or crack. If that happened, they could white slip her without having to deal with the real issue, which you may or may not know about. We have all seen it many times here on VJ. Any interview that lasts more than 10-12 minutes is abnormal and is intentionally drawn out for a reason. Look back at the results of those interviews.

If there are some significant underlying negatives in the case, then that's the reason for the length and line of questioning. They already seriously doubt the case, and that's what they do when they doubt cases. If that's the case, then expecting a pink slip on the first try, especially in HCM, might be a bit unrealistic.

Like the consulate, the Church also required a lot of documents from each of us. It was like doing two parallel applications. The pre-marriage class requirements might have made the consulate application the less painful one.

Because they live and work in Vietnam, the COs do understand some Vietnamese. That might be why the "translator" doesn't repeat everything back word for word in Vietnamese. My fiance said the translator was mainly there to ask the questions in Vietnamese or speak Vietnamese because the CO's Vietnamese skills must not have been very good. She said the translator sometimes spoke the response back to the CO, and even then the response wasn't complete. Many times the two talk and the person outside the glass can't hear anyway. So the translator not repeating the complete response to the CO is not necessary proof of a screwjob by the consulate.

I checked them out. Catholic charities also provide services to help new immigrants with coming over to America.

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Hi all, We are hoping to get some advice about filing a visitors visa for Hai Au's mother. We are expecting a baby in April and would like to bring her mom here for that. Her family has asked some people in VN. that help with paperwork how to do it and they have gotten some different opinions. On the visa application, they ask how long the person plans on staying and what is the reason for visit. I believe a visa is good for up to 6 months stay. Some of these people say not to fill in 6 months but maybe just 3 months and then file for an extension when the person is here. On the other question, some said don't fill in reason as birth of grandchild but just put down coming for liesure travel. Also, if anyone has done this, did you include a letter summarizing plans for during the visit? We will do the I-134 affidavit of support showing ability to support person. Everyone here was a big help during the immigration visa process and we are hoping you can give us some tips on how to do this visitors visa. Good luck to all and thanks in advance for any help.

I've looked into this too. For Vietnam, she will need lots of money in the bank already (like over $100K), as well as owning house and other property, and being married with a family. And still might not get approved. The I-134 apparently is not as important as her assets in Vietnam.

Engaged on first trip, 3 months after being introduced by family. Supposedly red flags all over, but the consulate must not have thought so... That's why I propose the theory that people with no real negatives should think long and hard before frontloading. Especially if they submit an unrequested timeline, filled with bad English, bad grammar, bad spelling, or lacking focus.

Make a copy of your visa, and a copy of the front and back of the arrival/departure form, which the airport people do stamp. In other words, work with what you have.

I don't think I would be able to sleep at night if I told someone that their case was good to go and they got denied because they went on my advice rather than someone more familiar with what they were going through in their specific country... Good Gawd man.... don't these people understand the impact of what is going on here?

Isn't that what many lawyers, dich vu, and document preparers do? Couples who outsource everything without being involved will not do very well.

On issue #6, a lot of not being able to present evidence at the interview is partly due to short time frame of interview (less than 20 minutes), but there also is error by person being interviewed. It is really up to the person being interviewed to provide to the CO the evidence quickly and efficiently. My fiance spoke with others who outsourced everything and didn't know what documents were what or where. Of course I would like to think my fiance did an outstanding job interviewing because we didn't frontload anything. But what if the whole frontloading theory is not what it is built up to be? Perhaps more emphasis should be placed on organization and interview preparation.

If you're not in the Ho Khau, then you will have to register with the Ho Khau police. They will want to know why you are visiting and staying there. Registering is no big deal, but should be done if you stay there. They won't put your name in the Ho Khau because they don't want to give you the same rights as Vietnamese residents.

Hello everyone! NVC just emailed me the interview date. It is March 01, 2010. I believe I'm doing the CR1 since I'm married. Catholics Charities have been helping me with the I130 and the NVC process. Right now, I have no idea what to do next. I been lurking around but didn't contribute much because I'm clueless myself. I read about medical exam and timeline and such but dont really know the steps. Can someone help me out? Another thing, I didn't submit a lot of evidences because I recalled that CC only ask for important papers such as Marriage Certificate, Birth Certificate, and such. I have a lot of pictures, chats, call logs, etc that wasn't submitted. I created a timeline as well as a statement of relationship. If you like to take a look, PM me. Thanks a lot.

PS: I want to go back with my wife for the interview...but I might lose my job. Is it worth the risk? Give me an opinion on this please. Thanks again

Wondering how Catholic Charities is involved? They actually help with the process?

No, it is not worth losing your job especially in this environment, where the "worse is over" must be code words for unemployment will keep trickling up every month. She should be able to handle it. Start now organizing exactly what will be brought to the interview.

But if we start writing now, will that look suspicious to them in a way, consider we have never written either emailed or mailed before? Should i wait for another year to build up everything that i need to now?

Thank you.

It won't be suspicious unless you provide 3000 pages of chat and then it suddenly stops. Start writing email and some letters, continue some chatting but purge some earlier chats, and make your case portfolio more balanced.

Don't put all eggs in one basket: diversify!

Hi all,

I am working with my family, we took big hits in 2009 like everyone else here in the State. I paid those 2 trips by myself, she does have a uncle in US but they barely talk at all if that. I know my case sounds like arrange marriage for money, but its not. We are real, i have all the phone records in hand, all the chat logs in hand right now as we speak. The only thing i am considering right now is my income for this year is low, I dont know what can i do to get the NVC approved if i file this year? I am already have another job that can verify i will make more than the poverty line this year, i will be able to prove everything when its time for interviewing. Will that be ok? Should i get a co-sponsor to help me?

Thanks for replying.

Nathan

Tax returns filed is number 1 evidence for income. Of course there might be exceptions, like if you're a medical school student and your earnings are expected to jump up significantly later on.

pick up some post cards at the drug store and send one every now and then.. its less that a bck to send a post card and they get there just over a week later... its a nice surprise for her when she gets a note from you that is unexpected... have fun building the proof they need....

A 2 page letter is about a dollar, so a postcard can't be that much less. Which would look better?

Chat less and work more and it will solve issues #1 and 2. You are too heavy in chat, which they don't really care to look at anyway. Instead email and talk on phone regularly. Couldn't hurt to write a few snail mail to Vietnam too.

If you decide to provide the photos you do have, I'd caution about providing too much photos of only yourselves, as it will surely make the few photos you two took with other people like family stand out. You might get the standard reason that photos provided show you only in Vietnam for a few days. Receipts aren't that big a deal, except for receipts and boarding passes for your plane tickets. If you don't have any evidence of trips outside HCM like photos or boarding passes, it will be like you didn't go. It's up to you two to provide proof.

At the earliest you should apply at the end of 2010, because by the time the interview is scheduled your income for 2010 should be adequate for you to do the affidavit of support. But then you will probably have do 2010 taxes in early 2011 and actually copy your tax returns to give to consulate.

Your case with information you provided isn't really that bad because a lot of your concern isn't information the consulate would know about. However, you do need to earn more. Once you earn enough, you won't even have to disclose your assets. In your case, you shouldn't disclose your assets.

Timeline is requested when they have doubts that you're relationship is true. As you stated, you answered a question wrong on when you two first met. You will be guaranteeing the timeline you submit is accurate and true. Your timeline therefore will partly contradict your interview. So you plan to write a letter to the consulate to try to deflect this, which might cause more damage judging by the tone and rambling of your postings.

I plan to do joint accounts on anything going forward, and keeping anything in the past that does not really affect her the same. Which would of course mean leaving the utilities the same, and changing insurance information, opening joint bank account, and adding her as beneficiaries. I don't plan to change past real estate information either.

I am working with her when it comes to understanding exactly what they are asking and requesting clarification if there is ANY confusion... I don't think "to marry" is a smart azz answer.... IMO it is the "only reason" for the issuance of the visa and if she responded anything else it could be considered grounds for denial....

I think the difference is "What will you be doing in the USA?" vs. "Why do you want to go to the USA"? My fiance asked for clarification on the first question (the second wasn't asked), and they wanted to know what she will be doing for work in the USA. Or be safe and answer both questions in the response if the question is asked? She also asked for clarification on the "When did you two first meet" question. Because the word "meet" can mean different things to different people, like meet online, on phone, or in person. They clarified the question to be when did you two first meet face to face. Luckily, they didn't ask "When was the proposal" instead just asked "When was the Dam Hoi" because the whole proposal, meet parents, plan Dam Hoi, and Dam Hoi celebration is like one event over multiple dates.

They might ask her what will she be doing in the USA? My fiance asked for clarification, they literally wanted to know what she would be doing work-wise. They didn't want the smartass answer "to marry..."

With the age situation, who is the "em" in the relationship?

I don't know any Vietnamese person who wouldn't consider the age to be a red flag. Any Vietnamese woman older than the man is already scarce, and a 4 age difference is rare. It stands out even more with your financial situation, because they will be wondering if that has anything to do with it.

Hey Jim, thanks for the info. She was asking if she can just use yahoo with the webcam and mic to talk to her family. I know the quality of service is rocky at their home in Nha Trang but wre going to give it a try and see how it works. I've got to get a PC for home since I've been carring my laptop back and forth from work for years. I guess its time to break down and finally buy a dedicated home PC!!!!! I've been a tightwad for too long and this is a great excuse to splurge a little (not that I have much left after 4 trips to VN last year and 6 weeks the last time)!

I like localphone.com

Very cheap if you're able to use one of their access numbers without paying a local toll.

Each contact you list will have a unique access number that can be used from whichever phone lines you specify, landline or mobile. It's 3.3 cents for HCM, and 4.9 cents for mobile pay in advance, with no hidden charges. It's also flexible to allow you to change access numbers whenever you move or travel, or to use the service as a phone card. It also is transparent with the detail call history. Very simple and streamlined.

I did discuss this with my SO today and she agrees on having an engagement party. Since my family is completely opposed to going to Vietnam, I guess I will go alone. My question becomes will it be okay to have the engagement party with her entire family, but None of my family? I am also wondering if some members here have done that and if that is okay. If this is not okay, what could I do to address this red flag? Thanks,

Carl

It's OK, but don't frontload that information. My mother went to Le Dinh Hon, I didn't volunteer that information, they only glanced through the photos, and it wasn't asked. Don't address it, but make sure she can respond if it is asked in the interview. What you can do is to plan the Le Dinh Hon directly with her parents. Work with the cards you are dealt with. If you have no real negatives on file, then consider carefully what you frontload, if anything.