New here - About to mail in I-129F

[carlovee 0]

Hello all,

I was just about to mail in my I-129F package but I want to make sure its ok.

I have all the basic documents listed on the guide, so I think I'm ok there. My main concern is with the Proof of Meeting within 2 years and Proof of Ongoing Relationship.

With the Proof of Meeting I have passport showing Vn stamps and bank statement showing many Vn purchases including dates and places. I also included 6 photos but they are color photocopy printouts, do you think that's ok? They're high quality printouts if that helps. I have many more photos.

For the Proof of Ongoing Relationship I have...

Printout of emails sent to Hao.

Printout of received emails from Hao.

Printout of our first email communication April 21st 2008.

Shipping receipt from the box of gifts Hao sent to me on Oct. 13th 2008.

Western Union receipt of money sent to Hao.

What do you think? Is this sufficient? We chat everyday using yahoo messenger but I don't know how to show proof of that.

Any suggestions?

Any things to watch out for specific to Vietnam?

Hao lives in Hcmc btw.

I'm glad to have found this site and thank you all in advance for any help or advice you can offer.

cheers,

carlovee

Edited November 14, 2008 by carlovee

[Jack & Xuan 0]

Include a through time line too. And try to make sure your photos show you in different clothes. If you are wearing the same clothes in all the photos they will think you only spent a short time on your visit. I have heard that it is an issue.

Good luck

[LilLoveBug 0]

Hello all,

I was just about to mail in my I-129F package but I want to make sure its ok.

I have all the basic documents listed on the guide, so I think I'm ok there. My main concern is with the Proof of Meeting within 2 years and Proof of Ongoing Relationship.

With the Proof of Meeting I have passport showing Vn stamps and bank statement showing many Vn purchases including dates and places. I also included 6 photos but they are color photocopy printouts, do you think that's ok? They're high quality printouts if that helps. I have many more photos.

For the Proof of Ongoing Relationship I have...

Printout of emails sent to Hao.

Printout of received emails from Hao.

Printout of our first email communication April 21st 2008.

Shipping receipt from the box of gifts Hao sent to me on Oct. 13th 2008.

Western Union receipt of money sent to Hao.

What do you think? Is this sufficient? We chat everyday using yahoo messenger but I don't know how to show proof of that.

Any suggestions?

Any things to watch out for specific to Vietnam?

Hao lives in Hcmc btw.

I'm glad to have found this site and thank you all in advance for any help or advice you can offer.

cheers,

carlovee

How many days have you spent with her in person so far? Those are great forms of proof and I only sent photo print outs too! I don't even have the "real" photo, my camera is digital! I didn't print out emails or chats either, because they are all in Vietnamese - instead just showed my inbox and sent folder and PHONE BILLS. Do you have any phone bills?

Bug

[Anh map 2,098]

Is 6 photos all that you have? Did you visit only one time? Did you have a dam hoi or marriage ceremony? Those are huge. Show photos from every visit. Show photos with family. Show hotel and amusement park (Dam Sen in Saigon, Suoi Tien outside Saigon for example) receipts. Photos in different clothes is right. You want to show that it is a true relationship. Remember, the can only evaluate what is submitted. HCMC is a big time fraud location. So you need to show that this is the real thing, not a scam. It's not about the amount of money spent. It's about proving a relationship. If it looks fishy or weak to you, it will look that way to USCIS. When in doubt, include it.

Don't be lazy about what you submit! Keep the big picture, a pink slip, in mind. This is a process. You as a US citizen are not entitled to any special privilege. Your fiance has to prove that your relationship is legit in the interview. When you get frustrated, don't get mad, get busy. DO NOT blame your fiance for mistakes!! Keep things positive.

Read all the guides here on VJ. Ask as many questions as needed. There is a lot of experience here. USE IT.

Best of luck to both of you. Enjoy the journey. Think Pink!!!!!

[hniHnitsuJ 8]

Here's where you can find all the chat archive from yahoo. Hope this help.

C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\Profiles

[LilLoveBug 0]

Is 6 photos all that you have? Did you visit only one time? Did you have a dam hoi or marriage ceremony? Those are huge. Show photos from every visit. Show photos with family. Show hotel and amusement park (Dam Sen in Saigon, Suoi Tien outside Saigon for example) receipts. Photos in different clothes is right. You want to show that it is a true relationship. Remember, the can only evaluate what is submitted. HCMC is a big time fraud location. So you need to show that this is the real thing, not a scam. It's not about the amount of money spent. It's about proving a relationship. If it looks fishy or weak to you, it will look that way to USCIS. When in doubt, include it.

Don't be lazy about what you submit! Keep the big picture, a pink slip, in mind. This is a process. You as a US citizen are not entitled to any special privilege. Your fiance has to prove that your relationship is legit in the interview. When you get frustrated, don't get mad, get busy. DO NOT blame your fiance for mistakes!! Keep things positive.

Read all the guides here on VJ. Ask as many questions as needed. There is a lot of experience here. USE IT.

Best of luck to both of you. Enjoy the journey. Think Pink!!!!!

Hi Anh Map, forgive me if I seem stupid but I don't understand how the fiancee/beneficiary can PROVE their feelings. I know I can prove it by my amount of trips to Vietnam, the money spent, the photos, receipts, sending of money, and my letter to the USCIS. But how does HE prove it? I realize he will have the interview, but what does that prove? "Hello, yes, I love her, for real, I don't just want to get to the states." ????? The only other proof I have are 2 love letters he sent me to America but they are in Vietnamese, not in English. Same goes for our chats and emails. This is the part that confuses me. Thanks for not thinking I am that ngu (truly stupid)

Bug

Is 6 photos all that you have? Did you visit only one time? Did you have a dam hoi or marriage ceremony? Those are huge. Show photos from every visit. Show photos with family. Show hotel and amusement park (Dam Sen in Saigon, Suoi Tien outside Saigon for example) receipts. Photos in different clothes is right. You want to show that it is a true relationship. Remember, the can only evaluate what is submitted. HCMC is a big time fraud location. So you need to show that this is the real thing, not a scam. It's not about the amount of money spent. It's about proving a relationship. If it looks fishy or weak to you, it will look that way to USCIS. When in doubt, include it.

Don't be lazy about what you submit! Keep the big picture, a pink slip, in mind. This is a process. You as a US citizen are not entitled to any special privilege. Your fiance has to prove that your relationship is legit in the interview. When you get frustrated, don't get mad, get busy. DO NOT blame your fiance for mistakes!! Keep things positive.

Read all the guides here on VJ. Ask as many questions as needed. There is a lot of experience here. USE IT.

Best of luck to both of you. Enjoy the journey. Think Pink!!!!!

Hi Anh Map, forgive me if I seem stupid but I don't understand how the fiancee/beneficiary can PROVE their feelings. I know I can prove it by my amount of trips to Vietnam, the money spent, the photos, receipts, sending of money, and my letter to the USCIS. But how does HE prove it? I realize he will have the interview, but what does that prove? "Hello, yes, I love her, for real, I don't just want to get to the states." ????? The only other proof I have are 2 love letters he sent me to America but they are in Vietnamese, not in English. Same goes for our chats and emails. This is the part that confuses me. Thanks for not thinking I am that ngu (truly stupid)

Bug

p.s. I have film of our time together with lots of kissing and what not, but I did not send that to the USCIS ... this I should send it in now, regardless?

Bug

[Anh map 2,098]

Bug,

There are separate steps in this process. Getting to the interview, and passing the interview. To get our finaces here to the US we have to give the USCIS evidence to prove that we really do know them, can communicate, shared our life story with them, etc.

The folks at the USCIS and consualte have heard every story, true and false. If it won't pass the "smell test" with your friends, why do you think your story will convince the interviewer? Do your homework, prepare the documents, and stay positive. But don't think that telling the INS that you really love each other will get your fiance in the country. Following the steps will get him or her here.

First step shows that there is a basis to have an interview. Proving that you have met in person, showing that you communicate "regularly" and "normally' as anyone would if they lived in the same town, state, country. Showing that you meet the criteria for the visa, etc.

Second step is the interview where the Consular Officer is able to talk with the person applying for the visa face to face and to determine if they are truthful and that the circumstances are as they have been presented in all the applications. Our fiances prove the realtionship is genuine by knowing about us, our families, etc. Read through the recaps of the interviews here on VJ to learn about the questions.

I can't say enough that it's better to give them more to evaluate than less. Each of our circumstances is different. Some of us sailed through with little problems. Other had, and continue to have, big challenges to bring our loved ones to the US. The key here is to remember the big picture -> getting the pink slip.

[carlovee 0]

Thanks for all the replies. It really helps.

I did find the ym chat archives and I'll include those. Thanks. I'll also include a few more photos, I actually have many.

As for the other stuff, well let me explain a little more...

I visited Vn for 12 days in early summer this year and Hao and I hit it off very well. I was certainly thinking of marriage in the future but I thought the sensible thing would be to fly her here so she could see where I live, decide if that was what she wanted, then take it from there. Hah! Shows how naive I was about the process. We tried twice to get a tourist visa for her (B visa) and failed each time. We finally realized that there was no way they were going to give Hao a tourist visa and that's when we started working on the K-1 Visa.

So the problem is that, while we did take many photos, we weren't really thinking of 'proof of relationship' or anything like that. For instance, I met her brother but we never got a photo of us all together because we weren't thinking of that (doh!). So there are no photos of me with her family, no engagement party, and only a little in the way of receipts and whatnot that we saved.

So that's the skinny...I guess I could go back to Vn again and get much better evidence but I'm not rich and I already used up my vacation time this year when I visited the first time. Still if it means the difference between success and failure then I'll do it of course.

Your thoughts?

thanks again,

carlovee

Edited November 15, 2008 by carlovee

[LilLoveBug 0]

Thanks for all the replies. It really helps.

I did find the ym chat archives and I'll include those. Thanks. I'll also include a few more photos, I actually have many.

As for the other stuff, well let me explain a little more...

I visited Vn for 12 days in early summer this year and Hao and I hit it off very well. I was certainly thinking of marriage in the future but I thought the sensible thing would be to fly her here so she could see where I live, decide if that was what she wanted, then take it from there. Hah! Shows how naive I was about the process. We tried twice to get a tourist visa for her (B visa) and failed each time. We finally realized that there was no way they were going to give Hao a tourist visa and that's when we started working on the K-1 Visa.

So the problem is that, while we did take many photos, we weren't really thinking of 'proof of relationship' or anything like that. For instance, I met her brother but we never got a photo of us all together because we weren't thinking of that (doh!). So there are no photos of me with her family, no engagement party, and only a little in the way of receipts and whatnot that we saved.

So that's the skinny...I guess I could go back to Vn again and get much better evidence but I'm not rich and I already used up my vacation time this year when I visited the first time. Still if it means the difference between success and failure then I'll do it of course.

Your thoughts?

thanks again,

carlovee

Hello again - first off, are you Vietnamese born in America?

Second, how EXACTLY did you meet Hao?

Thirdly and most IMPORANTLY: If I was you, I would go back to VN now before you file the petition. Even if it just for 2 weeks. AMOUNT OF TRIPS MATTER. And you *may* have a harder than average case because she applied for a tourist visa twice (showing she REEEEEEALLY wants to go to America).

If you really love her as you say, it would be worth it in the long run... or you can MARRY her in Vietnam and instead file the I-130 which is slightly more certain. Then you will have pics of a wedding and all her family, etc.

In Vietnam these days, one trip doesn't seem to cut it.

Bug

[Anh map 2,098]

OK, here are some assumptions/thoughts. If I am wrong, please don't take offense.

You met online or via a friend of hers. You two can communicate in English and/or Viet. You went to VN to see if you hit it off. You decided after spending a couple of weeks together once to get married. No luck on the tourist visa (stinks about the average VN). Now you can't wait to be together.

I hope that you've read all the guides on here and have gone back through a lot of the different posts here on this thread. That will answer a lot of questions and raise all the pertinent issues. Vietnam has a history of family visa fraud. So you will have to withstand a lot of scrutiny. Don't take short cuts, and get ready for a different kind of paperwork and process.

What are your fiance's motivations for coming to the US? Is there family here? Close to where you live? You need to answer this for yourself as well as for the USCIS. We all love our finaces and spouses. I'm not questioning your love. But you must be prepared to show how you made a significant life decision in this amount of time with someone half a world away.

Are you of Viet heritage? Are you two close in age? Has she ever had a I-129 submitted on her behalf before? Have you ever submitted a I-129 for someone else before? Can you meet the income requirements for the Affidavit of Support? All of these can lead to different issues for you two to address.

One meeting is not as good as more. The Dam Hoi or marriage there helps. You can only submit the photos that you have. Just find a pic or two of different things you did, with as many other folks as you can. Go ahead and submit e-mails that seem boring and mundane. The type that just talk about life. Similar to if you were both talking about your days over dinner.

Go ahead and get her working on the documents that you need from VN. Have the translated there. Get a couple stamped copies of each official document. You can photocopy as many as needed, but you don't want to have to wait to get another doc from VN if you lose, damage the only original that you have.

Get your docs (birth cert., W-2's, tax returns) together. Do you have all your receipts from your trip over there? Boarding pass, hotel, ATM, restaurants, etc.?

Get ready, it's all worth it in the end when you two are together.

[Anh map 2,098]

I agree with Bug. Another trip would be a big help. And a whole lot of fun (except for the plane ride)

[carlovee 0]

Hello and thanks everyone for your advice.

Here are some more details about Hao and I so you have a clear picture...

I am a US born and raised caucasian, Hao is Vietnamese. She speaks english well. My language ability is limited to English alas.

Hao and I met on a dating website, asianeuro.com back in April of this year.

She is 31, I am 47.

We did try to get a B Visa before as I mentioned, but she hasn't ever tried for a K-1.

I'm not rich but I'm certain I can meet the Support requirements.

Hao has a few friends in the US on the West coast and Las Vegas, but we'll live on the east coast (upstate NY). Her family are all in Hcmc.

I dug through my old travel bag and found an odd assortment of receipts from my trip - score!

We also have a ton of email and chat documentation, plus I'll print out several pages of thumbnail photos to go along with the other large photos I have. Not a lot in the way of phone records because we use email and chat so much.

I'm not adverse to taking another trip to Vn but it would have to wait until February and Hao and I would hate to delay the start of the I-129F for another 4 months.

Given all that I've mentioned above do you still feel that its advisable to take another trip to Vn to substantiate our relationship?

If I sent the I-129F in now then took a trip in Feb. to see Hao would that help our cause?

thanks again,

cheers

[Anh map 2,098]

Go get some more of the photos printed, not just pages of thumbnails. Regular size photos are easier for them to see. Get as diverse as you can with regard to places, people, etc. And just a blurb to describe what, where, with whom.

The 4 months additional wait is rough. I feel you on that. The added visits/time together would probably help both for the visa and for yourselves. When it comes interview time she is going to have to explain why she's interested in someone so much older. (BTW, same for Linh and I) More time together will help that. Of course the next trip back will be beofre interview day even if you send in the I129 today. I would urge you to have the Dam Hoi at that time too.

Good luck, think Big Picture, and ask away with any questions!!!

Hello and thanks everyone for your advice.

Here are some more details about Hao and I so you have a clear picture...

I am a US born and raised caucasian, Hao is Vietnamese. She speaks english well. My language ability is limited to English alas.

Hao and I met on a dating website, asianeuro.com back in April of this year.

She is 31, I am 47.

We did try to get a B Visa before as I mentioned, but she hasn't ever tried for a K-1.

I'm not rich but I'm certain I can meet the Support requirements.

Hao has a few friends in the US on the West coast and Las Vegas, but we'll live on the east coast (upstate NY). Her family are all in Hcmc.

I dug through my old travel bag and found an odd assortment of receipts from my trip - score!

We also have a ton of email and chat documentation, plus I'll print out several pages of thumbnail photos to go along with the other large photos I have. Not a lot in the way of phone records because we use email and chat so much.

I'm not adverse to taking another trip to Vn but it would have to wait until February and Hao and I would hate to delay the start of the I-129F for another 4 months.

Given all that I've mentioned above do you still feel that its advisable to take another trip to Vn to substantiate our relationship?

If I sent the I-129F in now then took a trip in Feb. to see Hao would that help our cause?

thanks again,

cheers