WeatherEmperor

Thank you guys. Great advice all around. One question though. If any of you have any experience with Yahoo Messenger. There is an option to Archive all of your conversations. I do have that option setup. But to make it easier to print these, I copy and paste the IM conversations between Thu and myself into a Microsoft Word document and save it there. Is this a good idea to do that? What I plan to do is, when I am ready to file the I-129F, I will print all the pages (I estimate over 1,000 pages by that time) and then I will print a short statement certifying that all the information in the conversations are true and to the best of my knowledge and then sign it and Thu sign it as well. How do you call that, a sworn affidavit or something? Is this a good idea or should I try something different?

BTW, Jerome for how long are you planning to visit VN next month?

<CARRICK>

Calling cards. That is a great idea! I cannot believe Thu and I did not think about that. hahaha. We were both worried about running up our phone bills, that we basically just chat every single day with Yahoo Messenger and emails too. (dont worry. we archive every single chat and email). So basically I can keep a photo copy of the phone calling cards and submit that as evidence? Awesome. I learn something every day I will take your advice. Trust me!

<CARRICK>

You two have been doing some reading here on VJ. Spend some time and read back a year or more is this regional forum to see stories from as many couples as possible to help you plan for the petition.

It will be your first trip to VN, but your second meeting. A good thing. Don't forget that isn't about only trips to Vietnam, it's about the entirety of your relationship.

As you go forward be sure to keep all evidence of your continuing relationship. Save calling cards if that is how you talk on the phone. Be sure to log any chats. Any packages, mail, etc. that are sent between the two of you should be kept.

Hey guys,

I have been doing a lot of studying at VJ the past couple of weeks or so. Thu and I have decided to back off the I-129F petition......for now. We are not ready yet. We have known each other for almost 2 months which is still very early. We met in Singapore and I have yet to make my first trip to VN (she lives in Tay Ninh). Basically we are discussing about having an engagement ceremony in VN in February next year. That will be my first trip to VN. After the ceremony, we plan to file the I-129F for the K1. I am a little bit worried that 1 trip to VN will not be enough for the HCMC consulate....if our application will ever get that far. Thu and I are trying to make some adjustments to our plans for the K1. We basically want to do everything.....or as much as possible before filing the I-129F. We already have the initial meeting in Singapore, then we plan to have the engagement ceremony in VN. I am hoping to take some more trips to Tay Ninh after that but I cannot get a lot of vacation time. Only 2 paid weeks per year *ouch*. My question is, should 1 visit to VN be enough or do I need more? I want all these trips and ceremonies to take place before I file. This way I can submit everything to the USCIS before HCMC ever sees it. Are Thu and I on the right path or should we make some more tweaks to our plans?

<CARRICK>

Hey there,

Sorry for the confusion. I have not yet applied for the K-1. I was about 1-2 weeks away from filing the I-129F but I put it on hold. I won't apply for K-1 for a while longer. This is why I inquired about Thu coming from Vietnam to Florida on some tourist/visitor visa. Scott informed me that option is next to impossible. I hope it can still work but it might be better for me to just fly to Vietnam and see her there. I would have to fly to Ho Chi Minh City. Thu lives in Tay Ninh which is about 50-55 miles away.

<CARRICK>

Scott,

I live on the east side of the state in Broward County so we are not that far apart. Thats cool. One thing I did not mention before. I actually met Thu is Singapore on vacation. She went to Singapore on a vistor type visa to visit friends. I actually saw the visa stamp on her passport. I think it said something like Immigration Singapore Visit Pass permitted to enter and remain in singapore for 30 days for social visit only. I remember reading that. She was even able to extend the visa for 1 more month while in singapore. She returned to Vietnam when the visa expired. Shouldnt this establish some sort of track record that she is first, able to obtain a visa to travel abroad, and second to prove that she will honor the visa? Would this improve her chances of landing a visitor visa to visit me in Florida or am I smoking too much of the good stuff?

The relative list seems to be a standard request when both are Viet.

Every person applying for a visa is assumed to have immigrant intent. That is how the USCIS approaches things. Most typical Vietnamese citizens cannot show strong enough ties to home to make the CO's feel confident that they will return to VN. If she has a good paying job, owns a home, owns a business, and has a good amount of money in teh bank, she may be successful in getting a visa. Many of us have explored the visitor visa and saw the futility of even applying.

Go visit her while the tickets are cheap man.. Around 750 RT from Ft Myers was a great deal for me... I had 50 students apply for tourist visa last month to come here for graduation.. 21 were denied... they dont give visas away there... its like winning the lotto... so dont count on her getting a visa to the US to visit..

There is NO WAY for her to come to US by tourist visa if you have filed K1 visa for her. When US Consulate knows that she had a boyfriend in the USA, they will deny her tourist visa application.

Scott,

I live on the east side of the state in Broward County so we are not that far apart. Thats cool. One thing I did not mention before. I actually met Thu is Singapore on vacation. She went to Singapore on a vistor type visa to visit friends. I actually saw the visa stamp on her passport. I think it said something like Immigration Singapore Visit Pass permitted to enter and remain in singapore for 30 days for social visit only. I remember reading that. She was even able to extend the visa for 1 more month while in singapore. She returned to Vietnam when the visa expired. Shouldnt this establish some sort of track record that she is first, able to obtain a visa to travel abroad, and second to prove that she will honor the visa? Would this improve her chances of landing a visitor visa to visit me in Florida or am I smoking too much of the good stuff?

The relative list seems to be a standard request when both are Viet.

Every person applying for a visa is assumed to have immigrant intent. That is how the USCIS approaches things. Most typical Vietnamese citizens cannot show strong enough ties to home to make the CO's feel confident that they will return to VN. If she has a good paying job, owns a home, owns a business, and has a good amount of money in teh bank, she may be successful in getting a visa. Many of us have explored the visitor visa and saw the futility of even applying.

Go visit her while the tickets are cheap man.. Around 750 RT from Ft Myers was a great deal for me... I had 50 students apply for tourist visa last month to come here for graduation.. 21 were denied... they dont give visas away there... its like winning the lotto... so dont count on her getting a visa to the US to visit..

Let me ask you a question. I read your timeline and you seem to have done everything right. How come they placed you on the AP list? Also how come my fiance' would not be able to get a visitor visa to come to the US?

<CARRICK>

Scott,

That sounds excellent. The more I reading I do at VJ, the more I realize that Thu and I need more time. I am starting to think that right now is not the time to begin filing for the K-1. Thu and I just need to be patient. We need more research and more time. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that I am abandoning the K-1 Visa. I just think that we need more time. Scott, I met Thu in Singapore while we were both on vacation. So while we put the K-1 Visa on hold, would you recommend that I go visit her in Vietnam or if she visits me in Florida? Would that be ok for now is that bad?

<CARRICK>

She wont be able to visit you in FL until she gets a visa. Best chances are you visiting her in VN. I'd recommend taking it slow. I'm one of those in AP but it doesn't bother me too much cause it gives me a reason to take long vacations!!

I am so sorry guys. I realize I have a similar topic over at the Asia: East Pacific forum. I was basically saying that the more I read articles at VJ and the more I talk with you guys, the more I realize that Thu and I need to take more time. Now may not be the right time to file for the K-1. Right now I just want to focus on our relationship like visiting each other in each the US and Vietnam. While that is going on, Im just gonna keep adding and adding more documentation and evidence and learning more and more. Scott, you can also email me if you like. I think you are a great help to me.

<CARRICK>

Scott,

That sounds excellent. The more I reading I do at VJ, the more I realize that Thu and I need more time. I am starting to think that right now is not the time to begin filing for the K-1. Thu and I just need to be patient. We need more research and more time. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that I am abandoning the K-1 Visa. I just think that we need more time. Scott, I met Thu in Singapore while we were both on vacation. So while we put the K-1 Visa on hold, would you recommend that I go visit her in Vietnam or if she visits me in Florida? Would that be ok for now is that bad?

<CARRICK>

Scott,

In your personal opinion do you think I should ditch my attorney based on what he told me about the letter of intent? I mean he basically said I don't need it. As for the timeline, who did you use to notarize your document? I am thinking about using Pak Mail to notarize my timeline. Would this be a good idea? Here is one more interesting piece of information. Would getting pregnant complicate or destroy our hopes of getting the K-1? She is definitely not having a baby but I just want to cover all the bases. What are you doing in your petition to make sure you can prove to the Vietnam Consulate that your relationship is real because it almost feels like whatever people around here do, they get stuck in AP. I just want to know what your setup is to see if I can try some of your ideas as well.

<CARRICK>

Hey guys,

I have been doing alot of reading the last day or so on VJ and oh boy was I in for a rude awakening. My fiance' (Thu) is currently in Vietnam and I told her that the entire K-1 Visa process from the day I submit the I-129F to the day she gets the K-1 will take about 6-7 months......but then I learned about the horror stories from some of you in terms of being stuck on the AP list for months and months. I am about a week away from having my I-129F packet ready for submission and I have big time questions about the required Time Line and Relative Lists:

First, do I submit the Time Line with my I-129F or at a later day? If at a later date, what date would that be or in what phase of the process would this be?

Second, I have seen posts of members that say they got the Blue Sheet because they did not include a Relative List. I am assuming this Relative List is for the beneficiary(in this case my fiance'). Should this list include the beneficiary's family inside the US or inside Vietnam?

Lastly, I understand I have to include a Letter of Intent to marry my fiance' within 90 days of entry in the US. My attorney told me that I do not have to submit this. He advised me and my fiance' to write a letter on how we met, what made us fall in love. We signed it, then scanned and emailed it to my attorney.

I don't really want to go through this alone so I decided to join VJ and ask you guys for help. I hope that is okay.

<CARRICK>

Here is my perception of things...

1. Include a timeline of relationship with the 129F because in theory anything that USCIS is aware of already can't be used against you at HCMC. Save an electronic copy as you will continue your timeline until you complete it to be taken with her to the interview. Be sure that what is in the initial version corresponds with that content in the second version. She will need to know everything that is in the timeline when it comes to the inteview.

2. Her relatives in the US, where they live, and any relationship that you have with any of them.. Its common to have the USC know the family of the VNC and that is how they met.. if its the case.. they will needs to know the details to understand that it is not a fraud arrangement.

3. Attorney? man o man..whats he doin for ya?. it is very common for people to use the letter of intent to marry. An original signed letter from each submitted with the original petition. You will also submit two more copies later at the interview, but they will have been dated to correspond with the interview.

It is best to frontload the timeline and list of relatives to address the issue before you get to HCMC. Document everything all along the way and stay well organized. Getting through USCIS will be the easy part.. the big hurdle will be the consulate... Think about the entire journey when you prepare the initial petition. try to think like a CO whenever you put things together to submit them...

Keep reading as much as you can here and be sure that she knows everything about you and your family when the time comes.... If you have not had any engagement ceremony in VN it is a good idea to have one... it could be the difference between getting a visa and not getting it. There are plenty here to help you get things in order before you file... keep asking questions and take your time making sure everything is in order.. all check boxes checked, all spaces that need NA or none having the correct response... make sure everything that needs to be signed is signed and an original signature when required...

I see alot of members here at VJ get placed on the AP list for the HCMC Consulate for more processing. My question is, how does one go about proving to HCMC that you do have a real, serious relationship with your SO? I mean all I can think of is repeated visits to Vietnam, multiple love letters, long phone calls (this would kill the phone bill). But I see that for many of you this is still not enough. I mean what does HCMC expect couples to do? Make babies and use them as proof?? I haven't even submitted my I-129F and I am already starting to freak out about this. How can we prove it??

<CARRICK>

Hey guys,

I have been doing alot of reading the last day or so on VJ and oh boy was I in for a rude awakening. My fiance' (Thu) is currently in Vietnam and I told her that the entire K-1 Visa process from the day I submit the I-129F to the day she gets the K-1 will take about 6-7 months......but then I learned about the horror stories from some of you in terms of being stuck on the AP list for months and months. I am about a week away from having my I-129F packet ready for submission and I have big time questions about the required Time Line and Relative Lists:

First, do I submit the Time Line with my I-129F or at a later day? If at a later date, what date would that be or in what phase of the process would this be?

Second, I have seen posts of members that say they got the Blue Sheet because they did not include a Relative List. I am assuming this Relative List is for the beneficiary(in this case my fiance'). Should this list include the beneficiary's family inside the US or inside Vietnam?

Lastly, I understand I have to include a Letter of Intent to marry my fiance' within 90 days of entry in the US. My attorney told me that I do not have to submit this. He advised me and my fiance' to write a letter on how we met, what made us fall in love. We signed it, then scanned and emailed it to my attorney.

I don't really want to go through this alone so I decided to join VJ and ask you guys for help. I hope that is okay.

<CARRICK>

Hello everyone,

My name is Carrick. My fiance' (Thu) and I are in the process of getting all the required documentation for the I-129F ready for filing. I am still in the learning process but I want to know basically if the Letter of Intent to marry in 90 days has to be an original signed document or can it be a copy of that signed document. I want to know this for both myself and my fiance'. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!

<CARRICK>