preparation for the incoming interview on Aug. 19

[Huanyen 0]

Dear all,

I need your help to prepare for this incoming interview. There are a few things that I 'm not clear about this interview process.

Let me describe my situation:

In November 2007 I submitted the I-130 and G-325a with the following evidences:

1. Marriage certificate

2. Insurance Policy that my wife is the beneficiary

3. A photocopy of my passport

In April 2008, our case was approved and forwarded to the NVC. I submitted the following along with required forms:

A. DS 230 part 1 and 2 for my wife

1. Birth Certificate

2. Marriage Certificate

3. A photocopy of my wife's passport

4. Police Records

B. AOS I-864:

1. Employment letter

2. Pay stubs from the most recent three months

3. 2007 Federal Tax Return and W2

4. 2006 Tax Transcripts

5. 2005 Tax Transcripts

Preparation for Aug. 19 Inteview:

1. Our relationship timeline : 3 pages long

2. Wedding pictures and other pictures we took when we were together. We did not have the engagement ceremony.

3. Emails from 2004 to 2008. we have a lot of emails; over 500 emails

4. Phones Records from the past 7 months. Unfortunately, I did not keep the phone records from the beginning. However, we have one month phone records in Jan. 2006.

5. Phone Bills from 2005 to 2008

6. Letters (with postmarks and without postmarks because they were hand-delivered by my friends who go back to Vietnam)

7. Birth Certificates of our Parents ( We do not have the same last names; I was born in the South; my wife was born from the Central of Vietnam)

8. Boarding pass of three visits to Vietnam

9. Credit Card statements show I made the ticket purchases. ( One ticket I bought with cash, so I do not have credit statement for that. However, we have travel agency receipt for the purchase)

10. The VoIP phone we use to make calls everyday

Note: My wife does not have any relatives that currently live in the US so we do not need to prepare for the list of relatives.

We were introduced by a mutual friend who currently live in the US. However, she lives in CO. I live in CA.

Here are a few questions that I have:

1. Do I need any other supported evidence that you think I may need?

2. During the interview process, when does the C.O. request to see evidence? Should we submit them during check-in before the actual interview?

3. If we were given the blue slip and we have the requested evidence at hands, should we turn them in immediately? Or should we return the next day to submit them?

4. If we were given the blue slip, when would that happen? Before or After reviewing the evidence my wife brings???? From reading many posts in here, I have an impression that blue/pink slips are prepared before the interviews.

5. My 2005,2006,2007 tax returns are below the poverty line (below $17,500). However, my (2008) current salary ($60K) is well above the poverty line. Should I worry about the tax returns? If so, what do you suggest us to do to avoid unexpected results due to the troublesome tax returns?

Thank you very much in advance for providing answers

Edited August 4, 2008 by Huanyen

[Huanyen 0]

Another note about our relationship timeline: It is a typed notarized document. Do I need a handwritten version?

[Huanyen 0]

By the way, I made 3 visits to Vietnam. I plan to visit again in mid Octorber if my wife still does have the visa.

[Melrose Plant 1]

Another note about our relationship timeline: It is a typed notarized document. Do I need a handwritten version?

There seems to be some debate about this. I submitted a typed, non-notarized timeline, and we were successful on the first try. I was told that I didn't need to get the document notarized because I was there (waiting across the street from the consulate). If you are not able to be there for the interview, it has to be notarzied (which yours is).

Some have said it needs to be hand-written, which I really can't see the sense of. That just makes it harder for the person to read and understand. We did submit some other hand written documents, and now that I look back on it, that seems silly, too. It just gave me a chance to use my fountain pen.

[chuckandkim 0]

Another note about our relationship timeline: It is a typed notarized document. Do I need a handwritten version?

There seems to be some debate about this. I submitted a typed, non-notarized timeline, and we were successful on the first try. I was told that I didn't need to get the document notarized because I was there (waiting across the street from the consulate). If you are not able to be there for the interview, it has to be notarzied (which yours is).

Some have said it needs to be hand-written, which I really can't see the sense of. That just makes it harder for the person to read and understand. We did submit some other hand written documents, and now that I look back on it, that seems silly, too. It just gave me a chance to use my fountain pen.

Nothing to debate about this! It's very irrelevant if you think about it, what does public notary mean? "Yes, I am a PN Clerk, who see you SIGN the (fill in the blank) document in front of me is the person whom you say you are (check ID's)" Done, nothing more nothing less!

Only notarize what required! (financial support document etc.)

To Huanyen,

I would cut back the emails to "The Top 20's" best emails - Make sure they best represent your relationship timeline. Here is why: C.O. won't have time to read your 500 random emails. Only the important onces (Hint: Wedding plan, Children plan, Life in America plan and discussion. You do talk about these kind of things in your emails and daily conversation, don't you?)

Blue/Green: Usually, more often than not these days, prepared before the interview, however, there are cases where the fiance was able to change the C.O.'s mind for a PINK on the 10 short mins of the interview!

Pink: Prepared before hand for cases, IMHO, similar to your case. Read: less complication! (no same-last-name, no relatives-introduction, no complex family-tights, no divorces) Pink also gets issued on the spot!

Think "BIG PICTUTRE" Huanyen Your financial situation isn't the ONLY thing that makes or breaks the case. I lost my job right after I applied for Kim's Visa, that whole year leading to the interview, I was collecting unemployment (it was sweet!!!!!!!). total income was nowhere near what I'm making now but still above porverty line. However, C.O. will look at your total financial support ability to gage whether or not you can and will be able to support your honey when she is here. $60K/year is a lot in someplace with low rent and cheap cost of living, (Think - New York, Los Angeles vs. here in Philly) But it's all relative. You will be just fine, you have a solid job, with steady income, then previous year's lack of income will be overlooked.... NOBODY can guarantee they will have the job tomorrow! C.O. knows that!

Everything else seems OK!

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

chuck and kim

[CoolHand2x2y2z 0]

From my understanding, DO NOT submit the timeline until it is asked for (to compare with what the spouse said if they didn't like the answers). Also, if it is asked for, it needs to be notarized after the date it was asked, otherwise they may think something is not right.

I told my wife to take ours out of the evidence package.

Edited August 4, 2008 by 2x2y2z

[chuckandkim 0]

Can you give me a good reason why would people remove the timeline from their file?

You should already submit your application and prepare all document and evidence in support your petition in a chronological order, WITH the timeline and "List of Items" included. Read: this helps the Vietnamese staff and C.O. to quickly advance and review through your file.

You know why they keep asking people to submit a timeline these days? Think, if you were a Vietnamese staffer and C.O., this timeline would be very helpful.

[LuckyDucky 0]

We were given the green slip on our first interview. One of the requests was to include a timeline of our relationship, despite the fact that I had already prepared one for the interview. I edited the original to include more details as well as my feelings throughout our courtship. It was typed and I had it notarized with the statement swearing that all I had stated herein was true under penalty of perjury, etc. etc. We were given a pink slip the second time around.

Lately, however, it seems they've requested a hand-written statement. Not sure why except that it will probably take longer to write out and maybe they consider it more "personal"? I'm not sure.

[Teacher Mark 53]

Another note about our relationship timeline: It is a typed notarized document. Do I need a handwritten version?

There seems to be some debate about this. I submitted a typed, non-notarized timeline, and we were successful on the first try. I was told that I didn't need to get the document notarized because I was there (waiting across the street from the consulate). If you are not able to be there for the interview, it has to be notarzied (which yours is).

Some have said it needs to be hand-written, which I really can't see the sense of. That just makes it harder for the person to read and understand. We did submit some other hand written documents, and now that I look back on it, that seems silly, too. It just gave me a chance to use my fountain pen.

Nothing to debate about this! It's very irrelevant if you think about it, what does public notary mean? "Yes, I am a PN Clerk, who see you SIGN the (fill in the blank) document in front of me is the person whom you say you are (check ID's)" Done, nothing more nothing less!

Only notarize what required! (financial support document etc.)

To Huanyen,

I would cut back the emails to "The Top 20's" best emails - Make sure they best represent your relationship timeline. Here is why: C.O. won't have time to read your 500 random emails. Only the important onces (Hint: Wedding plan, Children plan, Life in America plan and discussion. You do talk about these kind of things in your emails and daily conversation, don't you?)

Blue/Green: Usually, more often than not these days, prepared before the interview, however, there are cases where the fiance was able to change the C.O.'s mind for a PINK on the 10 short mins of the interview!

Pink: Prepared before hand for cases, IMHO, similar to your case. Read: less complication! (no same-last-name, no relatives-introduction, no complex family-tights, no divorces) Pink also gets issued on the spot!

Think "BIG PICTUTRE" Huanyen Your financial situation isn't the ONLY thing that makes or breaks the case. I lost my job right after I applied for Kim's Visa, that whole year leading to the interview, I was collecting unemployment (it was sweet!!!!!!!). total income was nowhere near what I'm making now but still above porverty line. However, C.O. will look at your total financial support ability to gage whether or not you can and will be able to support your honey when she is here. $60K/year is a lot in someplace with low rent and cheap cost of living, (Think - New York, Los Angeles vs. here in Philly) But it's all relative. You will be just fine, you have a solid job, with steady income, then previous year's lack of income will be overlooked.... NOBODY can guarantee they will have the job tomorrow! C.O. knows that!

Everything else seems OK!

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

chuck and kim

Once again, tell that to the Consulate. They do request that it the timeline be notarized from time to time. Why sweat it, just do it. I'd give them both a hand written and a typed copy, both notarized.

I would also request a copy of the receipt for the ticket(s) from the airline.

[What's next 1]

Make a copy of everything, especially phone, email and chat records, writen mail, reciepts. Once you hand over records to the consulate, consider them gone. Have them ready just in case.

[Jack & Xuan 0]

I am getting a packet ready to send to Xuan of items like more phone records and proof of payment for my tickets and such. Since I found out that my bank will do the notory for free, I am notorizing everything I can.

[RalphandHanh 1]

I'm very interested in knowing what happens. I also have had two or three (have to check 2005) bad years financially but, so for this year is rocking. But I'm partners in commercial real estate that is worth a Lot... and have been partners in this for years. I was hoping that one of the pieces was going to sell before I have to disclose my finances but by the time we have our interview it will and I will have a significant amount of money in the bank. This is really the only part of the process that its really concerning me. As soon as we get our package, I'm going to consult Mark Ellis to make sure of what I have to do. I know my employer that I'm with now will be happy so write a letter if needed and I plane to go back in Oct to visit again (2nd time) and hope I can be there for the interview in Nov as well. Please let us know what happens.

[hope2018 25]

I think your ready to go Make sure she has her stuff in order and ready to hand over to the Consulte Good luck

[chuckandkim 0]

I'm very interested in knowing what happens. I also have had two or three (have to check 2005) bad years financially but, so for this year is rocking. But I'm partners in commercial real estate that is worth a Lot... and have been partners in this for years. I was hoping that one of the pieces was going to sell before I have to disclose my finances but by the time we have our interview it will and I will have a significant amount of money in the bank. This is really the only part of the process that its really concerning me. As soon as we get our package, I'm going to consult Mark Ellis to make sure of what I have to do. I know my employer that I'm with now will be happy so write a letter if needed and I plane to go back in Oct to visit again (2nd time) and hope I can be there for the interview in Nov as well. Please let us know what happens.

Hi RalphandHanh,

I can only assume you are a commercial real estate agent/investor! That's your profession, that's your business and that's what you do for a living! Good and bad years in running and owning a business is nothing new or strange to us. C.O. knows that! Just make sure you meet the poverty guideline, somewhere in the $17.5K/yr.

Your annual incomes will be considered but it's not the only reason where it will make it or break case. Here is an example I always give to people on VJ, if you were a Medical student, who made next to nothing in your years of studying to become a doctor while trying to petition for your fiancé to come to the US, knowing that you will graduate and become a MD next year. VS. McDonald's Burger Manager at your local restaurant, who makes a bit above the poverty guideline, steady incomes for the past 5 years!

Who do you think would get a better chance when it comes to financial support evidence for their petition? The answer is NEITHER, their chances are equally good! Key here is: you must meet the minimum amount of the poverty guideline. You do, don't you?

Good luck and sell that real estate

[RalphandHanh 1]

Hmmm... I'm not an agent and not really an investor per say. It's a family company and we have two properties. Money that is received from tenants is rolled over to pay off the mortgage faster. One property is paid off... but I get something like a dividend at the end of the year. I mean... the money is there if and when I need it. For the past two year... no I didn't quite make the poverty level and I used some of the money from the property that I'm invested in... see... its complicated. But like I said, this year is going great and I'm sure I can get a letter from my employer. And when we have the interview, I can show my bank statement with more than enough to live on for a few years. But either way, I will be contacting Mark Ellis to try and get a handle on how to show my investment/family business.