I-129F: Issues

[cedwards001 18]

Hey guys,

I will submit my I-129F petition in just a few weeks and I have some issues I would like to get some help with.

Money Transfers: I setup a Visa Green Dot debit card for myself and sent another one to her. I sent her small amounts of money several times. She uses the money to pay for internet and food since she lost her job a while back (which I will get into later on). I wired her over $500 for my last trip to VN but this was so that she can take the money so we can pay for all our activities together while I was there such as parks, dinners, birthday party supplies, karaoke bar events, taxi's etc. so its not like I was just sending her money for fun. I have receipts to prove I paid for most of these things but not for the taxi expenses but oh well. I know there is a member named "Andrew D" that said he included money wired receipts with his I-129F petition and his K1 was approved. However, I am worried that since I am going for the K1 visa that this may be a problem. Would it be a good idea to also include my money transfer receipts and then also explain in a few paragraphs why I did the money transfers or should I leave all of that out of my petition?

Job: My fiance lost her job recently

Fortunately she has lived with her parents her entire life so she is not homeless or anything. She started doing salon services from her house but obviously it is not an "official" job. She just purchased all these hair/nail salon equipment and turned her living room into a mini....salon. It's not a registered business but just way to offer a cheap service to which ever customers stop by. Would this be considered self-employment or would she be considered unemployed? This could have implications on the G-325A when I have to fill out her employment history.

I will file my petition in a few weeks. Any help would be much much appreciated! Thanks guys

Carl

[WeatherEmperor 21]

That's interesting. Because I am in a very similar situation. Maybe I should open my mouth and ask more questions here hahaha.

Anyways, I don't know about the money transfers. You don't have to put it in the petition but if you do want to do it don't dwell too much on it. Maybe just briefly mention it in a couple of sentences why you sent the money along with a receipt or two and leave it at that. This is what I am thinking about doing for my case as well and I hope it works

<CARRICK>

Edited March 25, 2010 by WeatherEmperor

[BinhJerome 14]

There should not be any problem with giving them proof that you have been helping to support her, as long as it is not tons of money. As for her being "out of work" I would not worry so much about that, as you said she is basically self employed, if you are worried about this aspect, have it that she is staying at home to help with her relatives or something along that line. These are little things that have little affect on the visa process, more trivial things for us to worry about. I am sure that if you add evidence of that it will be fine, but in most cases they do not look at many of the reciepts accept for the plane ticket or hotel ones. It is to easy to have a handful of movie ticket stubs or taxi reciepts that anyone could have gathered. Good luck Jerome

[cedwards001 18]

There should not be any problem with giving them proof that you have been helping to support her, as long as it is not tons of money. As for her being "out of work" I would not worry so much about that, as you said she is basically self employed, if you are worried about this aspect, have it that she is staying at home to help with her relatives or something along that line. These are little things that have little affect on the visa process, more trivial things for us to worry about. I am sure that if you add evidence of that it will be fine, but in most cases they do not look at many of the reciepts accept for the plane ticket or hotel ones. It is to easy to have a handful of movie ticket stubs or taxi reciepts that anyone could have gathered. Good luck Jerome

So for the money transfers, it would be ok if I decide not to put proof of that with my petition? I was thinking about that as a red flag I would need to address but maybe it's nothing to really worry about??

Carl

[toddandhien 2]

So for the money transfers, it would be ok if I decide not to put proof of that with my petition? I was thinking about that as a red flag I would need to address but maybe it's nothing to really worry about??

Carl

What's the red flag that you are trying to address? Self-employed stylists are common in VN and I would avoid the money thing. Focus on your visits there and the documentation of your relationship. And why are you sending her money so she can pay for things when you are there? Just bring USD and convert to VND upon arrival.

[ScottThuy 140]

So for the money transfers, it would be ok if I decide not to put proof of that with my petition? I was thinking about that as a red flag I would need to address but maybe it's nothing to really worry about??

Carl

To me it can be double edged, it shows youmake enough to send her money and still get by. It can be seen as she' s only in it for the $ and for immigration alone. I don't agree with it 100% as cr1 cases really should show that they support their spouse and I don't see much difference between the commitment between the two levels of relationship. I often send $ but she has never asked me to send any even when it was needed to address an immigration issue.

Many of us feel like we should do everything we can for our family abroad. From having a western toilet installed to buying a new motorbike to getting a new roof installed. The drop in the bucket of my income but it makes a huge impact on the quality of life there.

Save the wire transfers till later IMO

[cedwards001 18]

To me it can be double edged, it shows youmake enough to send her money and still get by. It can be seen as she' s only in it for the $ and for immigration alone. I don't agree with it 100% as cr1 cases really should show that they support their spouse and I don't see much difference between the commitment between the two levels of relationship. I often send $ but she has never asked me to send any even when it was needed to address an immigration issue.

Many of us feel like we should do everything we can for our family abroad. From having a western toilet installed to buying a new motorbike to getting a new roof installed. The drop in the bucket of my income but it makes a huge impact on the quality of life there.

Save the wire transfers till later IMO

Scott,

So you have sent money to Thuy without any problems at the interview? I am assuming you did not put the wire transfers in your petition? Well in that case I feel better about this. I will do just as you say and save the wire transfers for later. I won't put them with my petition but I will bring them to the interview just in case the CO asks for it. Otherwise I won't show it.

As for her working from home, I guess I will put "self-employed" on the G-325A. Does this sound good?

Carl

[garfield529 47]

My fiancee is from China, but I have noticed something with the Vietnamese fiancees that can raise questions at the interview stage that you may want to focus on over her employment situation and the money you send. It seems that an engagement ceremony is a big deal in Vietnam? (Dam Hoi?) Did you do this, and document it with her family? Pictures with her family on different days in different clothes and locations is a big plus if they feel that maybe you are not legit. Second is the number of visits and time together; you seem to have put in this time..so great! If you front load this information I don't think receipts for taxis are going to matter or if she is running a small salon out of her home. Don't lie, but also don't stress. Show the relationship..and front load since you are dealing with a high-fraud suspect country. China is the same way...I heard so many "blue" and "white" stories with girls who met their fiancee once and barely spoke English...BUT still had proof of support and 1000 emails. The VO doesn't care about emails or a million Skype calls if your foundation is weak. They will just knock you legs out from under you. Good luck.

[ScottThuy 140]

Scott,

So you have sent money to Thuy without any problems at the interview? I am assuming you did not put the wire transfers in your petition? Well in that case I feel better about this. I will do just as you say and save the wire transfers for later. I won't put them with my petition but I will bring them to the interview just in case the CO asks for it. Otherwise I won't show it.

As for her working from home, I guess I will put "self-employed" on the G-325A. Does this sound good?

Carl

Your fiancé is self employed. We had problems at the interview, but I attribute them to how our relationship started and that we were both technically married at the time. Add to that thefact that Thuy knew everythingabout me IMO more than normal made it a very long interview. We did not mention money aside from stubs for flights attractions or hotel just to document events in the timeline. I didn't submit the wire transfers at all even after we got AP.

[vietazn 1]

If you are concerned, then leave the money receipts out of application, but have her bring them to the interview if asked and be ready to explain why. I would also consider it to be unemployment if she is actively looking for other work.

[kweenbee 0]

the immigration cares more about the relationship being genuine. I think mentioning it in the petition would give the consul more reason to question it. But bringing the money transfer receipts won't hurt. When I had my interview there were girls who brought thick folders with their money transfer receipts and I didnt have any because he only sends me money for bdays and other occasions and not on a regular basis. I had pictures, emails, chats and had known my fiancee back then for 5 years and that was more important, I think. Coz I my interview lasted 2 mins and the other girls took like 30 mins in there. There were girls who had no jobs at all and were approved. So I think a genuine relationship is the most important.

[cedwards001 18]

Hey guys

Thanks for the replies. Scott, its good that at least the co did not grill thuy about the money transfers you had. But it still sucks though. I will not put receipts of money transfers in my petition but I will bring it to the interview and give them only if they ask for it. As for my fiance's job situation, I don't know. Technically she is working because she does salon services from her house but its not registered or anything so I don't know if it counts as employment or not.

Carl

[Anh map 2,098]

As stated earlier being a self employed person in VN is very normal. Just put the truth on the form so that if the CO chooses to ask about it will not be a stressful question for your fiancee. Having your fiancee in a calm, confident mood during the interview is very important. Don't add potential stress points.

Most of us have sent/given money for various reasons. In our case we did not include it for the reasons stated earlier.

[luckytxn 2,264]

My babe had always been self employed and we put it that way on the petition and it was never even asked at the interview. It was very common there. I sent money a few times and never even turned the receipts in that I had done so. It is actually quite common for us to do this so it will not raise any eyebrows.

[BurningFinger 5]

I would really like to know how to go about getting the notarized time-line submitted at the interview stage. I have heard some members email a PDF version directly to the Consulate and some others give it at the interview window. Some were never even asked to give it and got pink slips anyways. Would it be better to email it to them or just bring it to the interview and hope they accept it there?