confusedasheck

If she has internet access there, then I'm sure she's found youtube.

Are you certain they asked for the sponsor's 1040? This is contrary to what people in the B2 visitor visa are saying.

I think that "strong ties" does not have to necessary be economical or social status within Vietnam only.

I am 110% certain that they asked for the 1040 forms. I haven't seen the affadavit of support form, so I don't know that it on it. But Dai_TX is probably right in that they wanted to verify the sponsor's income.

You can request from the county or state that you live in (or lived in when your former lady arrived) for a search of marriage records for you. The county / state will send you a letter stating that they did not find a record for your marriage. You should get it notorized and maybe apostilled by the state. Include that with your letter stating that you never married.

What was the reason she was denied? If they cited that they didn't believe you two intended to marry, then how are you going to overcome that obstacle? What new evidence do you have that would change the consulate's mind? CR-1 is probably the best option.

My girlfriend's mom got a tourist visa. She got some kind of Vietnamese legal document that showed she owned the house and what it was worth, plus her bank statements. Getting the offical house document took several months. She had a letter of sponsorship and letter of invitation from her relative in the USA. She went for the interview and got a blue slip requesting the sponsor's 1040 (tax forms).

After she got those documents from her relative in the US and gave them to the consulate, she got the tourist visa.

How long is the medical exam good for? Is there an expiration date on the medical exam? I know the single status documents are only good for three months. Does Vietnam place a similar requirement on the mental / medical exam?

I thought it took 4 weeks on average to get the certificate. So by allowing 2 weeks beforehand and 4 weeks total (assuming all the paperwork is correct), I would think that would be plenty of time. Though I could be wrong since I've never done this before.

I understand the need for coffee money, which why I want a local lawyer to handle it.

Thanks for the tip on the mental exam in the US. I'll ask about that.

OK. I think I will be getting married in Vietnam next year and need to start planning. I would like to know if this plan will work.

I plan to take one month off. I will submit all the paperwork through my girlfriend through power of attorney two weeks before I arrive (We plan to use a local lawyer). She would get the paperwork (with single status) at least two weeks before I arrive in Vietnam.

I will get the physical / mental exam in Vietnam as I've read here that it's useless to get in done in the USA. We will have the dam hoi and wedding at the end of week 3 regardless of whether the marriage certificate is issued. I've read you pay a penalty for that, but is it that big a deal?

If the marriage certificate doesn't get issued in that time, then I can come back to sign it. But I would rather not do it if I don't have to.

Is this plan feasible?

Why not write the local address in Chinese and Taiwan in English with Taiwan in Chinese also written in Parenthesis?

The day of the week that you book also makes a difference. I've seen prices jump up on Friday and then drop back down on a Tuesday/Wednesday.

Well, Dau Que is right about the USC part. Plus the green card is only ten years. So either she has to renew it some time or become a USC.

I've heard some of my co-workers say magicjack plus is good, you can either hook it up to your computer or hook up a dedicated network connection (usually if you have a router). Either way, the call quality depends on your network connection.

Nice! Hope you two have a happy life together.

Don't leave anything alone on the beach. We left our sandals (cost $1 / pair) there to go in the water and they got stolen! I am amazed at what some people there will steal.

Check out

http://saigoninacup.com/2010/03/25/5-year-visa-exemption/

http://mienthithucvk.mofa.gov.vn/Default.aspx?alias=mienthithucvk.mofa.gov.vn/en

Site says 7 working days to process the 5-year visa. So express mail to and from the embassy, maybe 2-3 weeks?

Don't let him apply for a tourist visa to the US. It will likely be denied if there is a K-1 application in process for him in the system.

If he can use the Visa Waver program to enter the US, he may be denied at Point of Entry. I don't know if how often that happens. One of the more experienced posters can probably answer that.

Here's another option, not sure how realistic it is though. What about flying into Laos, Cambodia, or Thailand and then take a local regional flight to HCMC or a low budget operator like jetstar or perhaps take the bus across countries?

Though this does mean more headache for you. So the trouble might not be worth the potential cost savings.

Try VNA Travel on Bellaire if you are in Houston.

Also, try looking for flights that fly east to Vietnam from Houston. It's a bit longer, but you might find something cheaper if you are willing to endure extra flight time.

Congrats on your sucess. I hope many more follow in your footsteps.

Have you considered applying for the Vietnam visa for spouses of Vietnamese Nationals? 5-year visa, multiple entry, valid for 3 months each time you enter Vietnam.

But for your case, I think the travel agency will likely apply for a single entry visa for you when you return to Vietnam. If you don't trust them or don't want to take chances, then you can apply for a multiple entry visa (one month or three month depending on your length of stay)

I would guess that (and this is pure speculation on my part, I am not accusing you of anything.)

1) The CO thought you two were in a relationship and you had a child that wasn't his. So he's thinking that you cheated on him and you two may not marry or get divorced later due to a weak relationship. This would lead to him becoming a public charge.

2) The CO thinks you divorced the father of your child (or are still in a relationship with him) and are trying to get this guy into the USA and then will get back with your real lover later.

You can find the list of reasons for denials here. I made my guess based on your statements, these reasons, and Jamacia being a high fraud consulate.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/ineligibilities/ineligibilities_1364.html

Maybe she could go to a community college first to get the basics out of the way and then transfer to a four-year university.

If the Fiance's family is acceptable with what was held, why would the Non-Viet CO question it?

Maybe the CO thinks that her family is using the US Citizen to get their daughter into the US? Cutting out traditional ceremonies that require them to spend money might be sign they simply want a visa.

Often, the people that want just a visa skip the dam hoi because they don't want to spend the money. If the CO doesn't believe your relationship is real then s/he will cite the lack of a dam hoi (with other reasons) as a reason for visa denial.

Lack of a Dam Hoi alone will not get a visa denied, but if there are other factors which cause the CO to think the relationship is solely for the beneficary to get a visa, it will be cited as a reason for denial.

See these for reasons commonly cited

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/224353-fiance-visa-denied/page__st__15

http://www.ilw.com/articles/2006,0323-ellis.shtm

I wonder if there is more to this story. I don't understand why the wife would not give him a speedy divorce. It sounds like the woman's daughter was involved in the divorce not being finalized in some way, like maybe some immigration problems or she was trying to get child support from him and he just snapped.

So you've only had one visit and no engagement ceremony? That increases your odds of being denied. Most fiancee visas at HCMC are denied due to the CO being the relationship is fraudulent. Your case looks a bit weak honestly. Probably best to go back for the engagement ceremony and then file.

I think she cooks it more for herself so that she doesn't have to eat American food. I bet it's more likely to change once she gets used to eating our food rather than after she gets her 10yr. GC.

Depends on where you live. All the Vietnamese I know still eat Vietnamese food. They prefer to cook it and eat it over American food. Even after being in the US for 30+ years. Then will eat American food, but the prefer Vietnamese food. If that wasn't true, then the Vietnamese food areas would not still be growing. Even the second generation Vietnamese who are more Americanized still prefer Vietnamese food over American food. I don't know about the Third generation though.