2nd Interview

[robertwdalton 0]

Hello everyone,

I would like to see if anyone has an idea of what my fiancée and I have as far as not getting a blue slip again for second interview.

Here is our story. We had an interview in May of 2008. My fiancée was asked only four questions.

1) Do you have any relatives in the US – answer yes

2) Do you know your fiancée email address? – She could not remember it because she did not have it memorized. She usually just used the reply button to respond to emails. My fiancée is not that savvy when it comes to technology and computers.

3) What are your wedding plans – She responded that we do not have specific plan because we can not make arrangements until we get visa but we will be married within 90 days.

4) How many visits did your fiancée make to Vietnam? – answer 1

After interview we received a request for additional information using Section 221(g)

1) Names and proof of address of relatives in US

2) Detail timeline of relationship

3) Name and address of my ex-wife

We provide notarized documentation of everything that was asked for. After a review of this information we received notice in July 2008 that our visa would not be issued because:

1) Beneficiary could not discuss wedding plans

2) While substantial emails were presented, beneficiary did not know petitioner’s email address

3) Petitioner made only one trip to Vietnam

We were told that our case is being reviewed by the Chief of the Visa unit and that we will be informed of the decision.

In October of 2008 we received a notice from the Consulate that our case would be sent back to the USCIS and that the consulate officer had determined under FAM 42. 43 N2.2 that the petition is a sham to evade immigration law.

At this point we were expecting that we would hear from the USCIS and so we began to prepare a rebuttal. Just when we were beginning to think that we would not hear from the USCIS and perhaps contact them and ask how we go about filling a rebuttal, we get a notice in the mail stating that our case has been re-affirmed and it is being forwarded backed to the consulate in HCM. This was in July 2009. We were wondering did anyone have their case re-affirmed without submitting a rebuttal.

Since our first interview I have made another more trip to visit my fiancée and family. I will make another trip when she is scheduled for her interview. That would be three trips each lasting two plus weeks.

We have completed the paperwork for packet 3 and the consulate has acknowledged receipt of it. The said we should check with them at the end of each month to see when we will be scheduled for our interview.

I speak with my fiancée and family everyday using a webcam and we are able to see each other. So even though I have only made 3 trips our communication is constant and frequent.

Any thoughts or insight anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Robert and Mai

[Anh map 2,098]

On this past trip did you two have a Dam Hoi/Dinh Hon? That's a biggie with HCMC.

[robertwdalton 0]

On this past trip did you two have a Dam Hoi/Dinh Hon? That's a biggie with HCMC.

Hello Anh Map, Thanks for your quick reply. We had our Dam Hoi/Dinh Hon before our first interview back on June 18, 2007. This occured during my first visit to Vietnam.

[urch 0]

Hi,

you may want to go thorugh likely questions that can be asked with your fiance becos she needs to be very prepared for the second interview. She needs to know as much info about you as possible and be able to give direct answers when asked.

Wish you the very best!

[sachinky 465]

If you can make it then I suggest you be there at the interview. And she should know EVERYTHING about you. Especially the basics (email address, phone number, address, parent's names, brother/sister, job, job duties, education, birthdate) etc.

Have notarized statements from family and friends, tons of pictures, phone records, chat logs, emails, snail mail, cards.

[wratran 0]

here are over 200 questions my fiance memorize about me...

Q_A_interview.pdf

[BinhJerome 14]

Hello everyone,

I would like to see if anyone has an idea of what my fiancée and I have as far as not getting a blue slip again for second interview.

Here is our story. We had an interview in May of 2008. My fiancée was asked only four questions.

1) Do you have any relatives in the US – answer yes

2) Do you know your fiancée email address? – She could not remember it because she did not have it memorized. She usually just used the reply button to respond to emails. My fiancée is not that savvy when it comes to technology and computers.

3) What are your wedding plans – She responded that we do not have specific plan because we can not make arrangements until we get visa but we will be married within 90 days.

4) How many visits did your fiancée make to Vietnam? – answer 1

After interview we received a request for additional information using Section 221(g)

1) Names and proof of address of relatives in US

2) Detail timeline of relationship

3) Name and address of my ex-wife

We provide notarized documentation of everything that was asked for. After a review of this information we received notice in July 2008 that our visa would not be issued because:

1) Beneficiary could not discuss wedding plans

2) While substantial emails were presented, beneficiary did not know petitioner's email address

3) Petitioner made only one trip to Vietnam

We were told that our case is being reviewed by the Chief of the Visa unit and that we will be informed of the decision.

In October of 2008 we received a notice from the Consulate that our case would be sent back to the USCIS and that the consulate officer had determined under FAM 42. 43 N2.2 that the petition is a sham to evade immigration law.

At this point we were expecting that we would hear from the USCIS and so we began to prepare a rebuttal. Just when we were beginning to think that we would not hear from the USCIS and perhaps contact them and ask how we go about filling a rebuttal, we get a notice in the mail stating that our case has been re-affirmed and it is being forwarded backed to the consulate in HCM. This was in July 2009. We were wondering did anyone have their case re-affirmed without submitting a rebuttal.

Since our first interview I have made another more trip to visit my fiancée and family. I will make another trip when she is scheduled for her interview. That would be three trips each lasting two plus weeks.

We have completed the paperwork for packet 3 and the consulate has acknowledged receipt of it. The said we should check with them at the end of each month to see when we will be scheduled for our interview.

I speak with my fiancée and family everyday using a webcam and we are able to see each other. So even though I have only made 3 trips our communication is constant and frequent.

Any thoughts or insight anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Robert and Mai

When did this happen?? Just last month my attorney got through to the USCIS and proved that the Co handeling our case intentionally overlooked evidence, and made false statements in regards to his reasons for denial. They also said that at that time they could not reverse the decision, only send it back to HCMC for another interview or we could simply refile if that was our choice. With what happened with the attorney we decided not to do either and for me just to move to Vietnam, since the same CO would probably handle our case again or make sure his buddies denied us once more. Maybe with what just went on with our case USCIS is reviewing all the cases that our CO touched to make sure that more injustices were not handed down, the last thing that USCIS wants is a lawsuit from hundreds of people stating they took their money and were scammed by the CO's. Food for thought, I am not saying this is what happened, but my attorney said my case was the 5th case this year alone that he handled and got the same response from in HCMC.

Good Luck Jerome

[Anh map 2,098]

She wants to be comfortable and confident when she interviews again. Have a conversational discussion about your relationship and how it developed. I'm sure she knows a lot more of the minutiae about your life now after your first interview. She doesn't want to seem to be rattling off a list of facts and dates. That would probably cause a CO to wonder.

You've had another visit and will be there when the interview takes place. While you can't go in, you ought to give her your passport to show the CO that you are there in country.

Have your timeline updated to as close to interview day as possible.

Just be sure she's not feeling overwhelmed going in. That's tough, especially on the second interview.

Remember advice given by others:

If she doesn't know an answer - say so. Better than creating an answer and then being inconsistent with follow up questions.

If she doesn't understand - ask for the question to be repeated

If she's telling a true story of how you met and built your relationship the legitimacy will be evident.

[robertwdalton 0]

Hello everyone,

Thanks to all who have replied to my post.

Anh map – your advice is well reasoned and insightful. We are spending a lot of time reviewing timelines and interview questions to help my fiancée (who gets nervous very easily) feel comfortable and relaxed. I will make sure that she has my passport to show the CO when he goes into interview.

Jeroomebinh - Sorry to learn about your difficulties. I must admit that the thought of the CO handling your case intentionally overlooking evidence, and making false statements troubles me very much. We hope and pray that we are given a fair chance to tell our story and that they will see that our relationship is genuine. For us the option of myself moving to Vietnam is not realistic at this time given commitments and responsibilities which I have.

Sachinky - Thanks for the tip. We are spending a lot of time making sure that all the basic facts about our relationship and my personal details will be able to be answered naturally and easily.

Wratran – Thanks for the list of questions. We have added many of your questions to a list we have compiled and now feel very confident that we have a good list of basic questions to study from

[BinhJerome 14]

Hello everyone,

Thanks to all who have replied to my post.

Anh map – your advice is well reasoned and insightful. We are spending a lot of time reviewing timelines and interview questions to help my fiancée (who gets nervous very easily) feel comfortable and relaxed. I will make sure that she has my passport to show the CO when he goes into interview.

Jeroomebinh - Sorry to learn about your difficulties. I must admit that the thought of the CO handling your case intentionally overlooking evidence, and making false statements troubles me very much. We hope and pray that we are given a fair chance to tell our story and that they will see that our relationship is genuine. For us the option of myself moving to Vietnam is not realistic at this time given commitments and responsibilities which I have.

Sachinky - Thanks for the tip. We are spending a lot of time making sure that all the basic facts about our relationship and my personal details will be able to be answered naturally and easily.

Wratran – Thanks for the list of questions. We have added many of your questions to a list we have compiled and now feel very confident that we have a good list of basic questions to study from

Dont worry about it, and try not to think the CO is not fair, just because they did what they did to us does not mean that is going to happen to you. What happens to one does not mean it will happen to you. We could have almost identical cases, and prepare the exact same way and maybe even get the same CO and our results can be different. That is what sucks about this entire system, and why I think it is funny that some people say do this or do that, and you will get a visa, no one can tell you what to or not to do to get you a visa, it all depends on the CO, and the interview. SO what I try to tell everyone is to do what you FEEL is right, if you choose to listen to some of the things I say great, but make sure it is what you want to do, this way if you get a unfavorable decision, you can live with it, just try to never live life with regrets, this just makes it that much harder, go to the interview confident, make sure she knows everything possible about you, send her your g-325 form and make sure she knows what was on it, if you have a timeline, make sure she knows what is on it as well. Have her know your phone number by heart, and your email, your job, family member names ect ect. This shows that she knows about you, if she can not answer simple questions it could cause a denial, and as Anh Map said, if she does not know the answer to be honest, this way she does not get caught up. I feel that a "I do not know" is better than a yes and a no on the same question asked 2 different times. I have no problems with how we have handled our case, should it have gotten approved yes, but it didnt, and there is nothing we can do about it. I plan on moving there and we always planned on retireing there anyway, so this just gets us closer to retirement than we had planned, I mean what is not to love about Vietnam??? No snow, great food, good job oppertunities, and my fiancee?? everything about Vietnam sounds great, and I have loved every minute I have spent there in the past so the future should not be different. Good luck, and just remember be confident, and if they ask 2 questions at once trying to trick her, have her ask them at the same time. At our interview they asked Binh this question

CO: Do you have any FRIENDS AND FAMILY in the United States?

Binh: Yes I have Friends and Family in America.

CO: Where does your family live?

Binh: My friends live in Ohio, and in Texas, my family lives in California

Where the mistake was made, the CO did not understand it was her FRIENDS not FAMILY living in Ohio and Texas, or Binh did not understand the question and some how or another they got confused and the answers wrong. The problem with this is that the CO lied and said she said it was family living in Texas and Ohio, now if Binh was nervous and did not make it clear that if anyones guess, but with the other lies of me making only one trip, and I was at the embassy 13 days before our denial asking about our case, that was a clear lie, as well as his statement of 102 engagement photos, and 107 personal photos is what were in his notes along with 300 plus pages of Chat logs, emails, and various other communications, and then he said only proof of ongoing relationship was phone records. But now I am rambeling on, just make sure she is prepared, and if they ask what she would consider a trick question to ask for them to repeat it, and if it seems there is 2 questions in one, to answer one question at a time, and make sure she states what answer is for what question, and you should be fine. Good Luck Jerome

[wratran 0]

every single questions they ask my SO...is from our timeline. Make sure...your fiance is very specific of the dates and events in her answer. My SO noticed he was looking at our summary timeline to check her answers.

Edited December 9, 2009 by wratran

[Matt_Stevens 5]

90% of the time, they have made up their mind before the interview. However, anyone who is nervous might as well not show up because if you look and appear nervous, they hold it against you and that comes straight out of the mouth of the CO who interviewed my wife.

To the CO's, if you and your lover are genuine, you have no reason to be nervous. When Anh (my wife) showed up for her interview, she was calm, relaxed and not the least bit scared. She was amused that all the other ladies were either holding their breath, hyperventilating or in tears. NOBODY passed that day, other than my wife. She saw one after another get shut down.

So for the love of God, just don't be nervous is the best advice one can give here. Just know the facts, be confident in who you are and make sure you have covered all the bases in your packet.

[lindal24 1]

90% of the time, they have made up their mind before the interview. However, anyone who is nervous might as well not show up because if you look and appear nervous, they hold it against you and that comes straight out of the mouth of the CO who interviewed my wife.

To the CO's, if you and your lover are genuine, you have no reason to be nervous. When Anh (my wife) showed up for her interview, she was calm, relaxed and not the least bit scared. She was amused that all the other ladies were either holding their breath, hyperventilating or in tears. NOBODY passed that day, other than my wife. She saw one after another get shut down.

So for the love of God, just don't be nervous is the best advice one can give here. Just know the facts, be confident in who you are and make sure you have covered all the bases in your packet.

This may be a problem for alot of Vietnamese people. The reason I say this isn't a lack of confidence, but because many just aren't used to interviewing like the CO is used to. Just because they may be comfortable and relaxed around you,their SO, doesn't mean it'll be the same in front of a CO.

I witnessed this first hand with my husband when he was with me during my mental health checkup before we got married. He didn't have to be in the room, but since he was there, he went in with me and ended up being asked a couple of questions. Immediately, I could tell he was really shocked and nervous about the way I interviewed because I acted "normal". I didn't allow the interviewer to talk down to me, and I answered each of the questions to the point and confidently.

It's hard to change the way one interviews regardless of how prepared they are. You just have to remind your SO to be calm and confident and that no matter what result, you'll still love them.