Family in the USA

[WeatherEmperor 21]

Hey guys,

I have yet another question. Today I was chatting with Thu about both our families. Then I remembered reading on VJ that eventually we will need to create a list of family members in the USA. I ask her if she has any family living in the US and she says no. But then she says that some of her great grandmother's family came to Canada and the US on a ship many many years ago but her family in VN has no connection or knowledge of them. I hope I am not in trouble here but how do I track these people down? We are still many months away from filing the I-129F but I am a bit nervous.

<CARRICK>

[redglasses 1]

I wouldn't be much worried about it if they are not her direct ancestors/family members.

[lindal24 1]

my husband and i only mentioned our immediate relatives...

[Huong and Phung 0]

no need to worry too much man. I'm happy to hear that you are holding on to file your petition. Dont rush into it. You be more sucessful.

[WeatherEmperor 21]

Thanks guys. I guess I worry about the craziest things. I guess I would just write NONE for any relatives she has here in the US. Thanks guys. I really appreciate your time and help!

<CARRICK>

[ScottThuy 140]

From the way you are talking.. you are thinking the right way to get this approved... Dont obsess over these things but the better you plan ahead, the better the interview will go. Most of the recent denials I have heard about were not prepared.. and I dont mean a little unprepared... One of the best things you can do is get to know each other very well...

[BinhJerome 14]

I would front load the fact that you do not know of any family members in the USA, maybe get a sworn statement from your fiancée and maybe even her parents as well stating this, because if they are still handing out the blues when yours comes up this will probably be one reason. But when you get the sworn statement, I would have them make 2 identical ones and have them both notarized, front load one, then have the other with your evidence when you get to the interview, this way you have it there as well, and make sure they see it. No need for them to simply give a blue requesting something that you do not have.

Jerome

[lindal24 1]

I would front load the fact that you do not know of any family members in the USA, maybe get a sworn statement from your fiancee and maybe even her parents as well stating this, because if they are still handing out the blues when yours comes up this will probably be one reason. But when you get the sworn statement, I would have them make 2 identical ones and have them both notarized, front load one, then have the other with your evidence when you get to the interview, this way you have it there as well, and make sure they see it. No need for them to simply give a blue requesting something that you do not have.

Jerome

Since they're going to be asking for the SO's family members in the USA, I'd recommend you make sure you get it "notarized/sworn" by the Vietnamese authorities in VN. Your SO is going to have to do this and provide it to you...I only recommend this because they're asking for her family, not yours...

...it similar to the time line...they want you the US citizen to provide this, not the SO in Vietnam...so it'd have to be written and notarized with your signature...

[ScottThuy 140]

I would front load the fact that you do not know of any family members in the USA, maybe get a sworn statement from your fiancee and maybe even her parents as well stating this, because if they are still handing out the blues when yours comes up this will probably be one reason. But when you get the sworn statement, I would have them make 2 identical ones and have them both notarized, front load one, then have the other with your evidence when you get to the interview, this way you have it there as well, and make sure they see it. No need for them to simply give a blue requesting something that you do not have.

Jerome

Since they're going to be asking for the SO's family members in the USA, I'd recommend you make sure you get it "notarized/sworn" by the Vietnamese authorities in VN. Your SO is going to have to do this and provide it to you...I only recommend this because they're asking for her family, not yours...

...it similar to the time line...they want you the US citizen to provide this, not the SO in Vietnam...so it'd have to be written and notarized with your signature...

There wont be a list if they dont even know who is here because they are so distant a relative... Easiest just to put a comment in the timeline that mentions that there is no family here that anyone is in contact with or knows where they are.....

[WeatherEmperor 21]

Scott,

First, thank you for emailing me the question list. Second, if I do put a comment on my timeline that mentions there is no family that Thu is in contact with or even knows where they live in the US, wouldn't HCMC just look at that, give us a blue slip and say "hey you aren't sure if you have family here, please do research on this issue and get back to us because we need more evidence" I don't know if I am looking at this the correct way but this could be possible, correct?

I would front load the fact that you do not know of any family members in the USA, maybe get a sworn statement from your fiancee and maybe even her parents as well stating this, because if they are still handing out the blues when yours comes up this will probably be one reason. But when you get the sworn statement, I would have them make 2 identical ones and have them both notarized, front load one, then have the other with your evidence when you get to the interview, this way you have it there as well, and make sure they see it. No need for them to simply give a blue requesting something that you do not have.

Jerome

Since they're going to be asking for the SO's family members in the USA, I'd recommend you make sure you get it "notarized/sworn" by the Vietnamese authorities in VN. Your SO is going to have to do this and provide it to you...I only recommend this because they're asking for her family, not yours...

...it similar to the time line...they want you the US citizen to provide this, not the SO in Vietnam...so it'd have to be written and notarized with your signature...

There wont be a list if they dont even know who is here because they are so distant a relative... Easiest just to put a comment in the timeline that mentions that there is no family here that anyone is in contact with or knows where they are.....

[ScottThuy 140]

they want to know who her relatives here are so they can look to see if any of them are suspected of fraud to tie you guys to that type of activity... I really dont think they would ever tell anyone to go research for distant relatives so we know who you are related to in the US.... If she had a cousin or an uncle or brother that lived down the street from you that may be a big deal... but that isnt the case...

What I meant by in the timeline was something like... on ##/##/## Thu told me that her family was happy that we were so in love and that they were comfortable with her moving to the US and marrying me since she does not have any relatives in the US. They know that she will be safe with me in Florida.

[BinhJerome 14]

they want to know who her relatives here are so they can look to see if any of them are suspected of fraud to tie you guys to that type of activity... I really don't think they would ever tell anyone to go research for distant relatives so we know who you are related to in the US.... If she had a cousin or an uncle or brother that lived down the street from you that may be a big deal... but that isn't the case...

What I meant by in the time line was something like... on ##/##/## Thu told me that her family was happy that we were so in love and that they were comfortable with her moving to the US and marrying me since she does not have any relatives in the US. They know that she will be safe with me in Florida.

They did not ask Binh about any family of hers in the USA, and we got a blue and that was the only thing we did not have that they asked us for. I feel if they were to get a signed and notarized affidavit it would be better than simply putting in the time line they mentioned that. Better to be safe than sorry, this way they will have something that is signed by someone other thant he petitioner. I understand his time line will be notarized as well, but I would not risk it, if they do not read through all the time line they might miss it. Better safe than sorry. That is my opinion, just choose to do what you feel is right.

Jerome

[David-Hien 11]

The most important thing is you can make CO to believe on your relationship or not by your petition file. The relatives are not important if your relationship is not introduced by them.

I have one uncle living in California, I told them so. Then, they asked me how we met? Did my uncle introduced him to me?

That is the point, if I said YES and if the truth is YES, I may face problem. But it is lucky that my uncle lives in CA while my husband lives in WA and they never know each other.

Therefore, I think you don't need to mention about relatives in your file. They will ask her if they want, and if she say NO, it will be ok in this point.

[WeatherEmperor 21]

Good advice. Thank you. Somehow I was under the impression that we have to make a list of the beneficiaries relatives in the US and then the CO will look for any phone, mail, email records to see if communication ever existed between both sides, just to see if what you say on the list of relatives is true or not. I really do not think they would go that far but I could be wrong. Maybe the CO just wants to know that, to see if you were introduced to your SO by the family or if the family has any fraudulent activity that they can try to link you to. I feel much better now because I know for a fact that Thu and I were not introduced to each other by any family members and also none of her family in VN has any communication with people in the US. I could be wrong, but that is what it looks like to me

<CARRICK>

The most important thing is you can make CO to believe on your relationship or not by your petition file. The relatives are not important if your relationship is not introduced by them.

I have one uncle living in California, I told them so. Then, they asked me how we met? Did my uncle introduced him to me?

That is the point, if I said YES and if the truth is YES, I may face problem. But it is lucky that my uncle lives in CA while my husband lives in WA and they never know each other.

Therefore, I think you don't need to mention about relatives in your file. They will ask her if they want, and if she say NO, it will be ok in this point.

[Anh map 2,098]

Remember that each case/couple is unique. Draw on the similarities of others to guide your preparation.

Like Thu, Linh has a couple of distant relatives here in the US that no one really communicated with. So that wasn't an issue for us as they are in CA and we are in MA.