Help for new member KenN (CR-1)

[Bernie C 24]

I received the PM below from Ken but we were K-1, his questions are CR-1 specific. Can some of the family please help him out. I advised him to post in the VN Portal in the future so more can see the questions.

Thanks Everyone - Bernie

My name is Ken and I'm filing CR1 for my wife in Vietnam. I just joined VJ for a few weeks and glad to know you. (I'm Vietnamese ). Could you please answer me a few questions?

1. In form DS-3032 (Choice of Address and Agent): Who was appointed? Your wife came to a service agent in VN to do it?

2. Should we really need petitioner's birth certificate on the interviewing day? (US Passport and Naturalization Cert can be substituted?)

3. Could you please tell me how you did all the paper work? Or show me how you did it?

I'm planning to follow instructions that I read in this forum (DS-3032 will be sent to me and I will pay all the fees). Any suggestions from you will be helpful. I'll be grateful for your help..Thanks a million.

PS- Ah, I also added your YIM. Mine is kenneth_d_n

Thanks again

--------------------

Story Begin:

12/31/2007 Met my wife thru a friend of mine (1st trip)

04/30/2008 Back to US

09/01/2008 another trip to VN (2nd trip)

09/18/2008 Our Wedding

10/15/2008 Back to US

05/24/2009 Welcome new member to our family (my little daughter)

09/02/2009 Trip to VN again (3rd trip)

10/20/2009 Consulate for CRBA and passport for the baby

11/25/2009 Back to US again

12/10/2009 Received CRBA certificate and baby's US passport in VN

01/12/2010 Got CRBA Cert and passport in the mail box (was sent to me by my wife)

01/14/2010 Applied baby's SSN

01/28/2010 Received baby's SSN

USCIS

01/25/2010 I-130 Sent

02/03/2010 I-130 NOA1 hard copy received in mail

xx/xx/2010 NOA2 hard copy received in mail

NVC

xx/xx/2010 : Case Number Assigned

xx/xx/2010 : E-Mails Given to NVC Operator

xx/xx/2010 : Received DS-3032 and AOS Bill

xx/xx/2010 : DS-3032 Sent by E-Mail

xx/xx/2010 : Pay AOS Bill Online

xx/xx/2010 : AOS and Documents Sent

xx/xx/2010 : AOS Accepted

xx/xx/2010 : Receive IV Bill

xx/xx/2010 : Pay IV Bill

xx/xx/2010 : Return Completed DS-230 and Documents

xx/xx/2010 : Log-In Failed

xx/xx/2010 : Case Completed at NVC

xx/xx/2010 : Interview Date Assigned

EMBASSY

xx/xx/2010 : Medical Exam

xx/xx/2010 : Interview Date

xx/xx/2010 : Visa Received

[sdw 10]

1. In form DS-3032 (Choice of Address and Agent): Who was appointed? Your wife came to a service agent in VN to do it?

I appointed my USC husband

2. Should we really need petitioner's birth certificate on the interviewing day? (US Passport and Naturalization Cert can be substituted?)

On interview day no, you need to provide proof of citizenship with the I130

3. Could you please tell me how you did all the paper work? Or show me how you did it?

We followed the guides, and asked questions here.

[KenN 0]

Thanks Bernie for posting my questions here. ..and thanks anyone who's reading this.

I also have a few questions. Should I need a time-line for my case? In I-130 for evidence of a Bonifide Marriage, I submitted CRBA of our daughter only. Was that enough? Can my wife bring other evidences such as: letters, emails, phone bills (I call my wife everyday ), pictures, airline tickets, etc. on the interviewing date later?

A friend of mine also told me that I should need receipts of all other things such as: hotels, our wedding... Should these receipts be needed? I don't have any receipts at all. Will it be a problem at all?

Edited February 5, 2010 by KenN

[KenN 0]

Thanks SDW for quick replying...I got those answers.

[sdw 10]

No problem, feel free to ask anything else you need.

I sent in affidavits from friends with my I130, and it approved fine. If anything else is requested they will lwt you know.

Edited February 5, 2010 by sdw

[Bernie C 24]

No problem, feel free to ask anything else you need.

I sent in affidavits from friends with my I130, and it approved fine. If anything else is requested they will lwt you know.

One thing you must consider when going through HCMC Consulate is that their is a higher degree of burden placed on the applicants to provide proof of bonifide relationship (does not matter K-1, CR-1 etc...)

You will want all the proofs you can gather. What they will ask for varies greatly from case to case so you want to be prepared for anything.

Pictures from your visits, wedding, with friends and family.... boarding passes, passport stamps, any receipts you can find, receipts from wedding, emails, chat logs, phone records, You just never know how much they will ask for.

In our case they only asked for and looked at some boarding passes and some pictures.

Also - you will want a timeline of relationship. This is not stated in the consulate information but it is a requirement at HCMC. Create a timeline from the time you met to the current time - take it all the way up to just before the interview (and have it notarized). You should include the dates and places you were together. There is some debate on how personal to get (I sent 5 pages). I can send you a copy of what I sent as an example. Everyone does it a little different.

I'll leave the CR-1 specific replies to others with better knowledge.

Good Luck and Welcome!

[sdw 10]

Oh I plan on taking other evidence to my interview. Was just saying what was sent in with I130.

[Bernie C 24]

Oh I plan on taking other evidence to my interview. Was just saying what was sent in with I130.

Sorry, didnt mean to imply anything there, appreciate you helping our new friend. I'm just trying to cover some more bases. Best Wishes and Good Luck to you too "sdw"!

[KenN 0]

Thanks Bernie, That's wonderful if you can send me your time-line as example. After I create my time-line, get it notarized then just hang on to it until the interview?

[sdw 10]

Sorry, didnt mean to imply anything there, appreciate you helping our new friend. I'm just trying to cover some more bases. Best Wishes and Good Luck to you too "sdw"!

No worries didn't take it as anything other than give more information. You dealing with the same consulate, would know more what they are looking for.

[ScottThuy 140]

HCMC Timelines

[Bernie C 24]

Thanks Bernie, That's wonderful if you can send me your time-line as example. After I create my time-line, get it notarized then just hang on to it until the interview?

Sample_Timeline_of_Relationship.rtf

Here is the sample timeline. This was for fiancee so you'd have to modify it a bit for spouse/wife.

I did something a little different. I updated my timeline until two weeks before the interview then had it notarized and scaned and emailed it to the consulate requesting that they put it into my file for review by the consular officer. I received a reply that they had done this. At the interview the CO didnt even ask for the original notarized timeline. For me it worked well. However I did take the original notarized timeline and a copy with me to VN for her to take into the interview. It is advised to always have origianals and copies with you of everything.

I included more detail than some recommended but we all have to decide what we thinl is best for us, it is our case. Like I said, we had no problems with this and it all worked out well.

What you include and what you say is really up to you. Just make sure you establish the facts, dates, places and things.

I've got to run - take care!

HCMC Timelines

Hey Brother Scott - Hope you have a great weekend!!!!!

[ScottThuy 140]

Always remember that The VNC is accountable for everything in the timeline when it comes time for the interview... create it together so both of you are very familiar with every aspect of it and there is no confusion or misunderstanding...

Thanks Bernie.. front just came through and I am hoping for a day of fishing on Sunday... two more weeks until I am back in VN.

[KenN 0]

@Scott: Thanks for link

@Bernie: What a useful timeline. I think if we write the time-line like yours, it's easier for CO to follow than writing an essay. I thought of writing an essay, but now I just changed my mind... . Thanks again

[KenN 0]

@Scott: Thanks for the link

@Bernie: What a useful timeline. I think if we write the time-line like yours, it's easier for CO to follow than writing an essay. I thought of writing an essay, but now I change my mind... . Thanks again

Ah, Can I get it notarized at the bank instead of notary public? Is it possible for me to send the time-line with IV Package? (of course I have to request them to put it in my files for CO to review it later) or I have to send it separately?

Edited February 6, 2010 by KenN