Timeline Help!

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

When they issue a blue slip requesting a timeline it will say something like this:

PETITIONER: In a sworn, notarized statement, please provide a detailed chronology (timeline) of your relationship. Please explain clearly when and how you first met, how you were introduced and began corresponding with each other, when you felt your relationship became serious, date and circumstances of marriage proposal (location, time, place, situation, setting, etc...). Did spouse/fiance(e) propose in person or by phone? Where were you when s/he proposed (give exact location)? Did you accept immediately or ask for time to think about it? If s/he did not officially propose, when did you first discuss marriage? How many trips did you make to Vietnam to visit your spouse/fiance(e)? How many times have you seen him/her in total? How long did you stay each visit? Please give as many details as possible.

If all you provide is a bullet list timeline that says "date abc - did xyz" then you may not answer all of these questions, at least not without making the CO add up the visits and length of each visit, and you certainly wouldn't be giving the detail that they're asking for. Look, one of the statements at top of these 221(g) notices is:

consular officers do not believe that there is a bona fide fiance(e)/spousal relationship.

They're not looking for a daily agenda. They DO want a detailed statement of your relationship, and they specifically want it to answer the questions above. I doubt they care what format you use - a letter like luckytxn's, a bullet list with date and details, or just a list of the specific questions they want answered along with the detailed answer to each. As long as you answer every question with the level of detail that will satisfy them, you should be good to go.

I also think it's risky to presume that a specific format and content that works for one person is necessarily going to work for someone else. If you get a blue slip for the timeline then there's obviously something they find suspicious about the relationship. The timeline submitted by someone else that got them a pink slip might have addressed the suspicions in THEIR case, but that doesn't mean they're going to address the suspicions the CO has in YOUR case. I think you need a pretty good sense for what red flags the CO sees in your case, and then write a timeline that wins them over. It's kind of like writing a winning resume - it has to be tailored to what makes you unique. If you're going to submit a timeline before the interview, then you need a pretty good sense for what red flags you have before the interview if you expect your timeline to seal the deal.

For example, were you introduced by a relative of your fiancee? That's a red flag, so you should go into great detail about how you know that relative, and what involvement they had in the progression of your relationship. That's what luckytxn did in his timeline, and it was evidently enough to convince the CO that the relative's involvement was innocent enough.

[David-Hien 11]

They're not looking for a daily agenda. They DO want a detailed statement of your relationship, and they specifically want it to answer the questions above. I doubt they care what format you use - a letter like luckytxn's, a bullet list with date and details, or just a list of the specific questions they want answered along with the detailed answer to each. As long as you answer every question with the level of detail that will satisfy them, you should be good to go.

I also think it's risky to presume that a specific format and content that works for one person is necessarily going to work for someone else. If you get a blue slip for the timeline then there's obviously something they find suspicious about the relationship. The timeline submitted by someone else that got them a pink slip might have addressed the suspicions in THEIR case, but that doesn't mean they're going to address the suspicions the CO has in YOUR case. I think you need a pretty good sense for what red flags the CO sees in your case, and then write a timeline that wins them over. It's kind of like writing a winning resume - it has to be tailored to what makes you unique. If you're going to submit a timeline before the interview, then you need a pretty good sense for what red flags you have before the interview if you expect your timeline to seal the deal.

For example, were you introduced by a relative of your fiancee? That's a red flag, so you should go into great detail about how you know that relative, and what involvement they had in the progression of your relationship. That's what luckytxn did in his timeline, and it was evidently enough to convince the CO that the relative's involvement was innocent enough.

I completely agree with you. The Statement of Relationship and timeline are not the main problem, the problem is that you cannot make them believe your relationship by paperwork and by what your fiance said in the interview, in generally.

[luckytxn 2,265]

Actually mine was the timeline I submitted after I got the blue slip requesting a detailed timeline and it was accepted. Timelines can be in different formats. There are no set guidelines except to answer what is called for in the blue slip. This is also what she had brought to the interview but was not asked for but just given a blue slip asking for a detailed timeline and a list of relatives in the U.S.. I did take the timeline I had saved on my puter and added two things. A specific date and an addition that was asked for in the blue slip. If the blue slip had asked for more stuff like where we went or something then I would have added our two trips we took besides going to HCMC. They did not ask and I did not add it as I do not volunteer any info. I think that it is best to keep it as simple as possible. I did know that a huge red flag was being introduced by her cousin here in the states and made sure to mention it but I also brought it up at the very beginning on the 129F. I even was ready for them to question this point more by having letters from the cousin and affidavits from long time friends and even a well known politician I know well attesting to my character but did not need them at all so did not use them.

I did have other red flags I knew might come up, such as only going to Vietnam one time to meet and even that we only knew each other about 4 months really when we met in Vietnam and then got engaged on that first trip but for some reason I did not have to jump through that hoop. Also I was married once and to a Korean girl amd was expecting something more on that but maybe because I was divorced and single for almost 15 years made them not go much into that. Also I sent way more then I needed to on finances such as proof of my well funded 401K's and even sent a copy of my deed on my house and copies of two pieces of land I own. These were not asked for as I made way enough in my work to qualify and had a nice bank that they did ask for but sent anyway to show my stability

I think the interview took care of most things and she was even more prepared then even I imagined as they asked many things that I never expected such as about my best friend. She fended off the question about my ex wife very well. My hobbies and my work. I was prepping her more about the life here where she was going to live and family and things like that. I had talked about the other stuff but was surprised that she had remembered that stuff so well and came up with the right answers so well. I did go over the things like our relationship and what we did and all also.

In any case one can see I added what they asked for in the blue slip and only what they asked for and in chronological order. It got us the pink. Of course others will need to do what they think is best and mine in a letter format may not be the best for them.

[hniHnitsuJ 8]

Lately they are asking for a "detailed" timeline.... with wheres whens whos etc...

That is why there is the Statement of Relationship. It is a kind of "detailed" timeline.

If you submit the Statement of Relationship, it will be more simple. We only submitted Statement of Relationship, no timeline.

Hien,

You are confusing lot of people in here. WE ARE CR1 don't need a timeline, however we want to make sure our wife is 100% with all the paperwork with a PINK SLIP. I never heard what STATEMENT OF RELATIONSHIP. Just use the same terminology TIMELINE, so we all understand what we talking about.

[David-Hien 11]

Lately they are asking for a "detailed" timeline.... with wheres whens whos etc...

That is why there is the Statement of Relationship. It is a kind of "detailed" timeline.

If you submit the Statement of Relationship, it will be more simple. We only submitted Statement of Relationship, no timeline.

Hien,

You are confusing lot of people in here. WE ARE CR1 don't need a timeline, however we want to make sure our wife is 100% with all the paperwork with a PINK SLIP. I never heard what STATEMENT OF RELATIONSHIP. Just use the same terminology TIMELINE, so we all understand what we talking about.

I'm sorry if I made all of you confusing. The timeline I did according to Ellis's explanation in year 2007. I seems that the defination and the concept of timeline nowaday in Consulate is changed.

[David-Hien 11]

Lately they are asking for a "detailed" timeline.... with wheres whens whos etc...

That is why there is the Statement of Relationship. It is a kind of "detailed" timeline.

If you submit the Statement of Relationship, it will be more simple. We only submitted Statement of Relationship, no timeline.

Hien,

You are confusing lot of people in here. WE ARE CR1 don't need a timeline, however we want to make sure our wife is 100% with all the paperwork with a PINK SLIP. I never heard what STATEMENT OF RELATIONSHIP. Just use the same terminology TIMELINE, so we all understand what we talking about.

I'm sorry if I made all of you confusing. The timeline I did according to Ellis' explanation in year 2007. I seems that the defination and the concept of timeline nowaday in Consulate is changed.

[David-Hien 11]

Lately they are asking for a "detailed" timeline.... with wheres whens whos etc...

That is why there is the Statement of Relationship. It is a kind of "detailed" timeline.

If you submit the Statement of Relationship, it will be more simple. We only submitted Statement of Relationship, no timeline.

Hien,

You are confusing lot of people in here. WE ARE CR1 don't need a timeline, however we want to make sure our wife is 100% with all the paperwork with a PINK SLIP. I never heard what STATEMENT OF RELATIONSHIP. Just use the same terminology TIMELINE, so we all understand what we talking about.

I'm sorry if I made all of you confusing. The timeline I did according to Ellis' explanation in year 2007. I seems that the defination and the concept of timeline nowaday in Consulate is changed.

[David-Hien 11]

Example of one kind of timeline from Vietnamese fiancee, I re-post here for your reference:

"I would like to make this declaration regarding my relationship with my fiance,...... (fiance's name)

1. Nowadays, internet is very common for people to use as a communication means to talk and send emails to their friends, to study, to look for a friend, to send emails for business, to work, etc... (fiance's name) and I met and got to know each other on internet. It was happened when I wanted to (learn English, look for some friends, enjoy the free time) on internet ... in ... (month and year)

2. In ... (month and year), he was... (his career).

Say the reason why your fiance wrote to you (or chat with you)

3. After the first conversation, we still kept in touch by email (chat) .......

4. Finally, he had a chance to go to Vietnam for business / vacation on (day-month-year).... We was very happy to have this big chance to meet together.

5. During this (years and months), from (month-year) to (month-year), it was the period of time we started to love and study more about our mutual love. We had time to get to know and understand more about each other through the internet line, email, chat, phone calls..

6. In (month-year)..., by the phone conversation / his trip to Vietnam, we confirmed our love after a period of time of styding about our lives and developing our relationship. Our ceremony was on .... with the attendance of more than ... (number) relatives and friends of both sides.

7. I hope that the above explanation helps you understand more about the details of our relationship.

Yours sincerely,

Name (in Vietnamese: “Name”) and signed."

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that this statement is true.

Edited July 28, 2009 by Hien

[hniHnitsuJ 8]

Example of one kind of timeline from Vietnamese fiancee, I re-post here for your reference:

"I would like to make this declaration regarding my relationship with my fiance,...... (fiance's name)

1. Nowadays, internet is very common for people to use as a communication means to talk and send emails to their friends, to study, to look for a friend, to send emails for business, to work, etc... (fiance's name) and I met and got to know each other on internet. It was happened when I wanted to (learn English, look for some friends, enjoy the free time) on internet ... in ... (month and year)

2. In ... (month and year), he was... (his career).

Say the reason why your fiance wrote to you (or chat with you)

3. After the first conversation, we still kept in touch by email (chat) .......

4. Finally, he had a chance to go to Vietnam for business / vacation on (day-month-year).... We was very happy to have this big chance to meet together.

5. During this (years and months), from (month-year) to (month-year), it was the period of time we started to love and study more about our mutual love. We had time to get to know and understand more about each other through the internet line, email, chat, phone calls..

6. In (month-year)..., by the phone conversation / his trip to Vietnam, we confirmed our love after a period of time of styding about our lives and developing our relationship. Our ceremony was on .... with the attendance of more than ... (number) relatives and friends of both sides.

7. I hope that the above explanation helps you understand more about the details of our relationship.

Yours sincerely,

Name (in Vietnamese: “Name”) and signed."

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that this statement is true.

yeap, that's a timeline.. thank you Hien.