visiting your fiancee more than once does not mean bonafide?

[BinhJerome 14]

As I read many posts about amount of times of visiting your fiance/fiancee, in my opinion which does not mean true relationship?

It depends on all the true documents of both sides and evidences between of you and how you respond at the interview faithfully. There are many factors to decide that the relationship is true or not? Every case is very different to another.

Many cases are rejected in Vietnam which make me worried and my fiance can not be at my interview because of his work. Is that the big problem not to get visa?

[Cuchita 1]

I can only say it dependes on luck!. So If you are confident you will pass then go ahead and you will succeed.

Good luck!

[Ed+Cindy 1]

and my fiance can not be at my interview because of his work.

I've said this before in other posts....what are your priorities? I understand people need their jobs, but we are talking about your job verse your spouse (who you hope to spend the rest of life with). I don't get it.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

and my fiance can not be at my interview because of his work.

I've said this before in other posts....what are your priorities? I understand people need their jobs, but we are talking about your job verse your spouse (who you hope to spend the rest of life with). I don't get it.

In all fairness, for some people giving up the job means also giving up the spouse. No income = no sponsorship. For some people, it can also be a critical time in their career where walking out could mean blowing that one good chance you get at being really successful. I think you should assume that the petitioner has thought this through, and has valid reasons for not being able to walk away from his/her job right now. On the other hand, he should probably do everything he can to at least get a few days off.

To jeromebinh: Unfortunately, the CO's in HCM can't read your mind and determine if you're really in love, or if you're just trying to immigrate to the US. Sadly, visa fraud is very VERY common in Vietnam. All of us with legitimate relationships have this stigma we have to compete with.

The CO's in HCM do consider all of the evidence they have available, and they do consider the number of trips the USC sponsor has made to Vietnam. A USC sponsor who is being paid to bring a VN beneficiary to the US would NOT pay for multiple trips to Vietnam. You can counter this bias against you if you waited a bit after the first meeting before getting engaged. One trip immediately followed by engagement and I-129F submission looks VERY suspicious to them. It helps even more if you had a dam hoi on a subsequent trip. The sponsor being present in Vietnam for the interview isn't essential - they can't even attend the interview with you. But the CO's do consider this a bonus when determining if the relationship is legitimate.

If there's any way your sponsor can get a few days off and come to HCM for the interview, it will help your chances a lot.

[moonhunt 1]

If possible, ask him for his vacation schedule, and push your interview date to match with his schedule.

It's better to be there together.

Especially K1/CR-1/IR-1 will be depending on a lot of things such as how you react to US consular officer, and because of cultural difference, they may inteprete differently from what you intent.

So better be together, and if possible, your fiancee can jump in if there is any misunderstanding happening.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

So better be together, and if possible, your fiancee can jump in if there is any misunderstanding happening.

Sponsors can't attend the interview in Ho Chi Minh City with the beneficiary. They aren't even allowed on the consulate grounds. They have to wait across the street. However, it helps a lot if she can bring his passport into the consulate to show that he's there and supporting her.

[Hell0W0rld 10]

yes, be there IF possible and yes it does show bonafide relationship, if you are there it shows that you care, regardless if you can sit in on the interview or not. for example, i came back from China about 3 months ago, but i did enough begging to my supervisor and he let me off for about 1 week and a half, so i will be in China again when June rolls around...

[moonhunt 1]

Sponsors can't attend the interview in Ho Chi Minh City with the beneficiary. They aren't even allowed on the consulate grounds. They have to wait across the street. However, it helps a lot if she can bring his passport into the consulate to show that he's there and supporting her.

Depending on Consular office, spouse may not allowed to be with for interview.

But at least spouse can be reachable if necessary.

Also if there is any problem, spouse can walk in for futher discussion to clear any issue.

Usually US Embassy allow walk-in for US citizen.

Besides, spouse can perform reheasal for interview from consular officer viewpoint, and go through review of the data submitted to US Embassy together.

[Hell0W0rld 10]

Sponsors can't attend the interview in Ho Chi Minh City with the beneficiary. They aren't even allowed on the consulate grounds. They have to wait across the street. However, it helps a lot if she can bring his passport into the consulate to show that he's there and supporting her.

Depending on Consular office, spouse may not allowed to be with for interview.

But at least spouse can be reachable if necessary.

Also if there is any problem, spouse can walk in for futher discussion to clear any issue.

Usually US Embassy allow walk-in for US citizen.

Besides, spouse can perform reheasal for interview from consular officer viewpoint, and go through review of the data submitted to US Embassy together.

i've been doing this for about 2 months now, my fiancee is not as nervous, compared to before...

[Anh map 2,098]

In HCMC the USC cannot go inside the interview area. As Jim said we wait across the street. Some on here have said that they have given their passport to their fiance(e) to take inside with them to show that they (USC) are present. That can't hurt.

To answer your question: no, it is not a problem if the fiance is not there.

For HCMC ,get serious about preparing your case. Do not approach this by trying to out think the CO's. Better to think like the HCMC CO's. If your case has holes, fix them now. If you've been introduced by family members, be prepared to address it completely. If your income doesn't meet the requirements get busy fixing that also. HCMC hasn't been welcoming co-sponsors for the K visa.

Multiple trips are seen as a good thing. Engagement ceremonies (Dam Hoi/Dinh Hon) are a big plus. Have people been approved without these things, yes. Have many people been denied for not having these things, yes. The overall opinion of folks going through HCMC is multiple visits help a lot. Engagement parties help alot.

You get ONE interview, make it a good one. It is the VN fiance(e)'s responsibility to tell your "love story" completely and believably. As others have stated, do some rehersals. The CO's will ask the same questions multiple times to see if the answers are consistent. Be prepared for this. If the finace(e) can speak English well enough, they should not use the translator.

Do some reading in the Asia: EAst and Pacific regioinal forum. You can get a lot of good info there. WE just had a successful interview this week and there are more coming up in the next few weeks.

Bestr of luck to you on your journey.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Sponsors can't attend the interview in Ho Chi Minh City with the beneficiary. They aren't even allowed on the consulate grounds. They have to wait across the street. However, it helps a lot if she can bring his passport into the consulate to show that he's there and supporting her.

Depending on Consular office, spouse may not allowed to be with for interview.

But at least spouse can be reachable if necessary.

Also if there is any problem, spouse can walk in for futher discussion to clear any issue.

Usually US Embassy allow walk-in for US citizen.

Besides, spouse can perform reheasal for interview from consular officer viewpoint, and go through review of the data submitted to US Embassy together.

I've been to the consulate in HCMC before. You stand in a line along a rope to get inside. They let people in through the door only as fast as the security checkpoint can process them. While you're waiting in line, a guard walks up and down the line checking documents and asking each person what they are there for. If you tell them you're there for the visa unit then they'll ask to see your appointment letter. I saw two people instructed to leave the consulate grounds because they didn't have the letter.

I was there to get some documents notarized at US Citizens Services. The guard asked to see my passport and the documents I wanted to get notarized. My fiancee was with me, and the guard was ready to ask her to leave the consulate grounds until I showed her that one of the documents I wanted to get notarized had to be signed by my fiancee.

Once we got through security, we passed through a second set of doors into a hallway. Down the hall to the right was the visa unit, and standing in the doorway was another guard checking papers. We went straight ahead to the US Citizens Services.

Yes, they'll let a US citizen walk in if they have business at the consulate, but I don't think a US citizen will be able to get into the visa unit unless they're specifically asked to come in.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

As I read many posts about amount of times of visiting your fiance/fiancee, in my opinion which does not mean true relationship?

It depends on all the true documents of both sides and evidences between of you and how you respond at the interview faithfully. There are many factors to decide that the relationship is true or not? Every case is very different to another.

Many cases are rejected in Vietnam which make me worried and my fiance can not be at my interview because of his work. Is that the big problem not to get visa?

Fortunately (or unfortunately) there is no particular things which prove a relationship "bona fide" It is purely a judgement call by a person who does not know you and has maybe a few minutes, at most, to decide based on some documents you pass through the window to a clerk. As I understand HCMC does not allow your fiance into the interview, but I think you can bring his passport in to show he is waiting across the street.

The more you have the better, and visits are considered a very strong part of the evidence. Certainly many couples have received a visa after only meeting once...and many have been denied. From now until your interview, collect as much information as you can that you conduct yourselves as a couple in a relationship. Emails are fine, but I write many emails to many people every day and I certainly would not be considered for a matrimonial visa with them. It is not just that you collect 100 emails, 200 phone calls, 2 visits and a birthday card. The CO needs to feel it is a genuine relationship

Consider the culture and customs of the country, have you evidence of that? Have you conducted yourselves as an engaged couple in Viet Nam would? I mean, for some countries, and for some individuals, that is really nothing, but the goal is to show your are a couple with an ongoing relationship that leads to marriage. You do not need to show you are "pen pals".

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

and my fiance can not be at my interview because of his work.

I've said this before in other posts....what are your priorities? I understand people need their jobs, but we are talking about your job verse your spouse (who you hope to spend the rest of life with). I don't get it.

Exactly! Double exactly!

I cannot tell you how many posts I have read of "problems" that stem from a persons poor decisions or poor priorities. Simple as that. This will be your WIFE (or husband) and they need to be #1 (A big factor in exactly what type of relationship it is, if you ask me) I went to Ukraine 6 times between "Yes, I will marry you" and the day she arrived, including the interview (that is borderline excessive) and it meant lots of unpaid days off, but I did it anyway, and it wasn't because I needed to generate "evidence", it was because I needed to be with my fiancee and she needed help in getting all the correct documents. For most foreign fiancees it is confusing and they really have no idea what to do and it can be difficult to tell them from 8000 miles away.

If you wish to have success, you basically need to surrender yourself and commit yourself to the process and to the person who will be your spouse. Your fiance should tak to his employer, let them know he is in this process and will need some time off. I think most people are understanding. I had no trouble with this, but faced the "double cost" of travel expense and unpaid leave...hey, "in for a penny, in for a pound".

In a couple years you will be at another job and you will have the same wife (one would hope) and you will see that a good wife is 10,000 times harder to get than a good job.

[hniHnitsuJ 8]

In HCMC the USC cannot go inside the interview area. As Jim said we wait across the street. Some on here have said that they have given their passport to their fiance(e) to take inside with them to show that they (USC) are present. That can't hurt.

To answer your question: no, it is not a problem if the fiance is not there.

For HCMC ,get serious about preparing your case. Do not approach this by trying to out think the CO's. Better to think like the HCMC CO's. If your case has holes, fix them now. If you've been introduced by family members, be prepared to address it completely. If your income doesn't meet the requirements get busy fixing that also. HCMC hasn't been welcoming co-sponsors for the K visa.

Multiple trips are seen as a good thing. Engagement ceremonies (Dam Hoi/Dinh Hon) are a big plus. Have people been approved without these things, yes. Have many people been denied for not having these things, yes. The overall opinion of folks going through HCMC is multiple visits help a lot. Engagement parties help alot.

You get ONE interview, make it a good one. It is the VN fiance(e)'s responsibility to tell your "love story" completely and believably. As others have stated, do some rehersals. The CO's will ask the same questions multiple times to see if the answers are consistent. Be prepared for this. If the finace(e) can speak English well enough, they should not use the translator.

Do some reading in the Asia: EAst and Pacific regioinal forum. You can get a lot of good info there. WE just had a successful interview this week and there are more coming up in the next few weeks.

Bestr of luck to you on your journey.

Totally agree. My Wife just had her interview on Monday. She did fine without me there. Like A MAP said. Reheasals, reheasals. Go over again, and again about your love story? How well your finacce knows about you? What you do at work? How you met, when and where? Your family member name? All pictures, when and where? Who is in the pictures, and etc.. Cover all the necessary information, and details about you. Good luck. I am sure she will do fine.

Best of lucks.

[Dai. 7]

I've been to the consulate in HCMC before. You stand in a line along a rope to get inside. They let people in through the door only as fast as the security checkpoint can process them. While you're waiting in line, a guard walks up and down the line checking documents and asking each person what they are there for. If you tell them you're there for the visa unit then they'll ask to see your appointment letter. I saw two people instructed to leave the consulate grounds because they didn't have the letter.

I was there to get some documents notarized at US Citizens Services. The guard asked to see my passport and the documents I wanted to get notarized. My fiancee was with me, and the guard was ready to ask her to leave the consulate grounds until I showed her that one of the documents I wanted to get notarized had to be signed by my fiancee.

Once we got through security, we passed through a second set of doors into a hallway. Down the hall to the right was the visa unit, and standing in the doorway was another guard checking papers. We went straight ahead to the US Citizens Services.

Yes, they'll let a US citizen walk in if they have business at the consulate, but I don't think a US citizen will be able to get into the visa unit unless they're specifically asked to come in.

I have also been to the US consulate in HCM several times. I went there and was allowed to talk to them about my case. I went there a total of 4 times and all times I was allowed to go the the immigration area to the right. USC are allowed to talk to CO during certain times:

http://hochiminh.usconsulate.gov/contact/consular.html

From the website:

From 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, a Consular Section staff member is available to answer questions concerning the status of immigrant visa cases. Petitioners may submit documents for cases not closed administratively by the Consulate but reviews will take place later. Applicants will not be re-interviewed and cases closed administratively by the Consulate will not be re-opened or reviewed during this time.

I used this time 3 times and was able to inquire about my case. From what I've seen other USC entered and talked to the CO, They let you submit additional evidence if you get the blue paper, whitepaper or explain your case to a co and they let you clear things up. The most recent time I went there I went at 1:00pm M-F and was able to get my wife's appointment letter and my wife waited outside while I talked to them and got the appointment letter earlier than expected for her medical. I think it's quite easy for a USC to enter the consulate. I have never been denied to go in there. On the day of my wife's interview it might be different but I think if I wanted to, I could get it.