What have been some reasons why the interviews go badly?

[CoolHand2x2y2z 0]

My wife has met a few people who didn't pass their interview, but they would not tell her of the reasons. I'm just curious as to what some of you think could be reasons for a denial? (We're just trying to prepare as best as we can.)

Also, is it more difficult to pass the K-3 interview than a CR-1 interview? Does it matter which?

[Dave_Thao 0]

Reason's for denial vary from case to case and it seems what CO looks at your case. The reason we were deniedwas:

1) the lack of evidence I had before the Dam Hoi

2) I made only 1 trip

3)we had our Dam Hoi a few days into my first trip.

They requested a timeline and ask me to provide more evidence of communication

We were also introduced by her Aunt in the USA. To the consulate, it looked like an arranged engagement. I can't really blame them because I didn't do my homework before starting our relationship. I wasn't aware that I had to keep every bit of evidence down to the last detail. No matter how real the relationship is, if you don't have the evidence, it makes it difficult for a consular to grant a pink slip. Step back and look at your case from a CO's point of view.

Some reason's for blue slips have been:

request evidence that you paid for the plane tickects.

lack of pictures

not enough trips to Vietnam

No ceremony

request birth certificates of parents(Vietnamese family in USA)

request more evidence of communication

request a timeline

the spouse or fiancee answered a question wrong

request proof that the benefiaciary and petitioner can communicate with each other(no language barrier)

Good luck to you 2x2y2z!

[CoolHand2x2y2z 0]

Thank you, Dave!

I can see things a little differently now and hopefully that will help our interview.

And it is great that you and Thao finally have a happy ending with the visa journey. Congrats!

[Melrose Plant 1]

I really wish I could offer some foolproof advice, but I can't. I think a lot of it has to do with luck. Who you get. As Dave said, he was denied in part because he and Thao had their engagement ceremony on his first visit to Vietnam. OK, you're thinking.......that's reasonable doubt. BUT. I know of a number of people who had their engagement ceremony on their first visit, and they passed just fine, không có vấn đề gì (no problem).

Mai and I did not have our engagement ceremony on our first visit, and we made a big deal about that in our petition. Plus, my parents, my sister, and brother-in-law came to Vietnam to be with us during this very important time in our lives. Perhaps that is a major reason why Mai's interview went so easily. We will never really know. Good luck to you.

[AmericanGentleman 0]

My case is almost a carbon copy of Dave's, one trip with the engaement ceremony on that trip, proof of a relationship but no proof to support that proof.

For example, I used a friends frequent flyer miles for my ticket. They were gonna expire if someone didnt use them and I did not even stop to think I would need to show proof that I paid for the ticket out of my own bank account.

As Mel said, some pass with minimal evidence, while others are required to show proof of their proof.

I think in my case, I am going to have to accept that this petition has failed and begin planning a second petition. The idea of going back to square one nauseates me profoundly, but I am getting the feeling that we simply need a stronger case.

[don2008 0]

i only took 1 trip to Vn and we had or engament party 1 week after i was there. i really think there is no cut and dry way of passing the interview. i think its how the officer feels that day.

[CoolHand2x2y2z 0]

I tell 'ya, it's really something else to depend on somebody's whim in a period of 10 or 15 minutes to decide two people's fate. And then what if one's case gets the fortune of having an interpretor with broken English and an attitude?

Depressing.

[Matt_Stevens 5]

According to the officer who interviewed my wife, the decision is made BEFORE the interview. the interview acts as a confirmation of what they want to do. They've already decided.

The numerous reasons listed above are all good ones.

You want a bullet proof vest? See each other more than once for starters. That is HUGE.

Just as huge, the Vietnamese citizen should try and travel outside of Vietnam, say to Thailand. Leave the country, then come back (preferably seeing their lover on that trip). That's big in the eyes of the powers that be.

My wife had been to Japan and had two trips to Europe. The gent who did her interview was impressed with this. Very impressed. her interview didn't even last ten minutes. maybe only five. It was super fast because the decision had already been made.

[What's next 1]

Assuming you have all your paperwok, and that the outcome has not been predetermined, the biggest failure is preparation. Sure most people review names and dates, but I think you have to know more. What high school/ college did you attend. what year you graduated. What car do you drive, what color. What city, state you live in. Can you point it out on a map? Where you work, what you do, how much you make. More important that what you answer is how you answer it.

I sometimes question if a case is predetermined. However, I firmly believe it's sometimes determinded within seconds of the interview. Attire, body language, composure are taken into considerations. It's more of an interogation that in interview. These guys are interrogators. They are trained to pick up any twiches, influction in your voice or if your looking down to your left.

Speaking of looking down to your left. Vietnamese women lie. They lie big time. They will lie to you face and you will never know about it. They don't understand the big picture and will lie about details. I believe most failed interviews were because they were caught lying. They were caught lying but they will never mention it to you. I think the officer asks them something they don't know, and instead of saying they don't know, they lie. When they tell you about what happen in the interview, they leave that part out. They will do that.

Back to preparation. These women have never had a interview/ interrogation in their life. They don't know how to act nor react. They panic. You have to grill them before the interview. Get them mad, get them frustrated, let them get angry at you. Then do it again the next day. Yell at them, make them cry. Unfortunately, that's how they learm. You have to prepare them for one of the most important days of your lives. If she fails, you fail. With regards to your paperwork, sure you have boxes full of them, but they are no good if she doesn't know what they are. Make sure she knows where your tax returns are, where your pay stubs are, where your letter of employemts are, where your bank statements are. Make sure she knows what they are as well. Try explaining income, sales and property taxes to them. They have no concept of taxes. They have know idea what a w-2 is. Explain each document and it's significance.

Almost done. On the day of the interview. Dress nicely. Simple, more in the lines of business casual. Make and keep eye contact with the officer. Maintain posture. Say Thanks, Please, Maam/Sir. Lastly, Smile!

[Matt_Stevens 5]

Wow, you will be Mr. Popular after that post!

As for the Vietnamese women all lie thing... In my experience, damned right they do. About everything! Be it to save face for them or soeone else, or to save someone some annoyance or bad feelings, they do lie. Catch them in the lie and they find a reason to justify it. This is a big issue with me and it has caused problems. I despise people who lie and want nothing to do with them.

But I am married to a Vietnamese woman. Oh boy.

It's been a struggle, but I try to have hope.

[Black Velvet 4]

My wife has met a few people who didn't pass their interview, but they would not tell her of the reasons. I'm just curious as to what some of you think could be reasons for a denial? (We're just trying to prepare as best as we can.)

Also, is it more difficult to pass the K-3 interview than a CR-1 interview? Does it matter which?

There are several reasons for a denial including criminal record, positive HIV test, and having multiple petitions filed on one's behalf. The Embassy has to be convinced that the couple is in a bonafide relationship. There are many instances in which people are paid to obtain visas. If you have proof (boarding passes, plane ticket receipts, phone records, e-mails, pictures) of a relationship, I would not worry. Just be honest with your significant other, so that there are no surprises.

[Melrose Plant 1]

Wow, you will be Mr. Popular after that post!

As for the Vietnamese women all lie thing... In my experience, damned right they do. About everything! Be it to save face for them or soeone else, or to save someone some annoyance or bad feelings, they do lie. Catch them in the lie and they find a reason to justify it. This is a big issue with me and it has caused problems. I despise people who lie and want nothing to do with them.

But I am married to a Vietnamese woman. Oh boy.

It's been a struggle, but I try to have hope.

My wife doesn't lie, and she is of course Vietnamese. But she always points out that she is from a good family with a good education, and that Mom taught her how to be a good wife.

[PeterFB 0]

What Dave_Thao and What's Next said is right on about denials, except the part about Vietnamese women lying. Some people lie rarely, some bit and some alot. You can't make blanket statements like that about Vietnamese women. One of the first things I knew about Thi is she doesn't lie. She speaks her mind just as I do. Lying isn't something either of us wants in our lives. It requires too much work.

While I don't know for sure if the Consulate predetermines the outcome before the interview, I do believe in many cases it's already decided due to missing/incomplete evidence in your I-129f and submitted docs for the interview. As I've posted here already in the "visa denied" thread, The Consulate has 2-3 months to review and study your I-129f papers and about 15 minutes to check the required docs and the mountian of papers you may bring to the interview.

Any possible problems you have in your case has to be faced and dealt with in your I-129f. That's the course I took and I was sucessful in getting Thi here in the US on the first try. The Consulate doesn't have the time to ask you to explain, they have more cases than they can handle (HCMC is K1 visa captial of the world) so it's easier for them to give a blue slip or sent your case back to the US because they have a failsafe reason. "They don't believe it's a real relationship". And there's little you can do about that unless you're in Vietnam, able to present your case in person to the Consulate Officer who can give you the pink slip and of course, convince him. So they can move on to the next case where everything is in order and nothing makes them suspect fraud.

Peter and Thi

I-129F Sent : 2007-05-26

I-129F NOA1 : 2007-06-11

I-129F RFE(s) :

RFE Reply(s) :

I-129F NOA2 : 2007-10-26

Touched: 2007-11-02

NVC Recieved: 2007-11-16

Consulate recieved ??????

Packet 3 sent 2007-12-11

Packet 3 received 2007-12-24

Packet 3 returned 2007-12-28

Packet 4 sent 2008-1-14

Email Reply with Interview Date 2008-1-23

Interview Date 2008-2-27

Passed Interview 2008-02-27

Visa Pick Up Date 2008-3-05

Received Visa 2008-2-29 (called to pick up earlier)

POE 2008-3-05 Los Angeles

Wedding 2008-4-26

[PeterFB 0]

Also, is it more difficult to pass the K-3 interview than a CR-1 interview? Does it matter which?

The requirements of proof of relationship are the same regardless of the visa you file for. Getting married, having a child, etc doesn't prove a relationship. Emails, chats, trips to see each other, time spent together, supporting each other in each's endeavors, third parties seeing you as a couple or married, etc prove a relationship whether you have known each other or been married for months or years.

Peter and Thi

I-129F Sent : 2007-05-26

I-129F NOA1 : 2007-06-11

I-129F RFE(s) :

RFE Reply(s) :

I-129F NOA2 : 2007-10-26

Touched: 2007-11-02

NVC Recieved: 2007-11-16

Consulate recieved ??????

Packet 3 sent 2007-12-11

Packet 3 received 2007-12-24

Packet 3 returned 2007-12-28

Packet 4 sent 2008-1-14

Email Reply with Interview Date 2008-1-23

Interview Date 2008-2-27

Passed Interview 2008-02-27

Visa Pick Up Date 2008-3-05

Received Visa 2008-2-29 (called to pick up earlier)

POE 2008-3-05 Los Angeles

Wedding 2008-4-26