about to submit my timeline (affidavit)

[hong tran 0]

below is my timeline that I will submit for my affidavit, Please give me advice. I will file for K1 (fiancee). My grammer not that perfect, so if anybody who can be generous help me in this, that would be great.

Affidavit of Phuoc

The Beginning

April 19 - 24, 2006. On April 19, 2006, I went to Vietnam for one week to attend my brother’s engagement ceremony. During this time in Vietnam, I had chance to meet a beautiful and adorable girl that now is my fiancée. Her name is Hanh ****

Today she is the woman that I love, the person that can listen to me when I have problems, the person that can share tears with me when I sad, and the person that I knew that I can live the rest of my life with.

April 22, 2006, I met Hanh** at my brother’s engagement celebration. My Hanh was a beautiful and an adorable girl. 7:00 am. I saw My Hanh was walking toward the gate of the place where the celebration held and she stood across from me. I got attracted by her beauty and adorable in the first look, and that made me wanted to get to know her, but I was to shy. Later on around 9:00 am during banquet, I was thanks to God that Thao, who is My Hanh’s cousin, introduced me to My Hanh, and we then had the conversations. And through that time of the conversation, I had chance to know her phone number, so that I could later call her to ask for a date with me. I had two days left in Viet Nam before I went back to United State; there fore I kept sending phone text messages and asked her to have a date with me. I finally received a reply from her that she accepted my invitation. Our appointment was to meet at Ho Con Rua Circle,

April 23, 2006. We kept our appointment that to meet at Ho Con Rua at 4:00 pm. My Hanh was little late, she arrived at 4:30pm. I then offered her a dinner, and we decided to have Pho (noodle soup). We went to Pho 24 restaurant. We had a great conversation, and I found out that My Hanh and I had a lot in same commons. My Hanh and I have in same commons that we both are the Youth group leaders in church. Also, we both do the voluntary working for church on every Sunday. After the dinner, we took a walk around the downtown. The conversations were very good, and I found that My Hanh also has great personality. I told her that I’m very glad to know her as a friend and she’s a great person to talk. I told her that we can keep in touch in Yahoo instant messenger or email. So we exchange the yahoo screen name. At that time, I really wanted to keep this friendship.

April 24, 2006 I left Vietnam and returned back to US.

May 2006 – August 2007. I kept in touch with My Hanh mostly through yahoo instant messengers and exchanged pictures through emails. I was starting to do research on My Hanh’s personality and her family. I asked my sister-in-law who is knew about her family background and so forth. I had found out a lot of positive in personality of My Hanh and her family orientation that leaded me to be in love with My Hanh more. I later found out that My Hanh also did the same that she had been doing the research to know more about my personality and family.

Express the Feeling

August 10, 2007, I asked My Hanh what type of person that she likes and then I started to express my feeling to My Hanh that I have feeling for her and want her to be my girl friend, my lover. I was so happy that she accepted my love and she told me that she also had feeling for me. I told her that I will be back to Vietnam in summer July 2008 to see her again. I then started to save my vacation days so that I could spend time with her more in my summer vacation 2008.

From Aug 2007– July 2008- During this period of time, we had been shared our happiness and sadness that had happened to us in daily conversations. We talked about things had happened to us everyday. We talked about our friends, family things, and so forth. We also discussed about our life experiences and religious believe. My Hanh had called to wake me up to work in several mornings, so I did the same that gave called her to wake her up to school. Any time during my break hour from work, I always used that time to talk to My Hanh.

The Promise to Visit

July 05, 2008, I went to Vietnam as scheduled. I arrived in Tan Son Nhat International airport with an exciting to see My Hanh again. My flight arrived at Tan Son Nhat at 11:00 pm, where My Hanh had been waiting for me at the gate for long time. I could easily recognized her from far away, her beautiful eyes, smile on her face had not been changed since I first met her in April 2006. We talked hours at the air port, and then I gave her a ride home with a cab. On the way to her house, we planed out what we will do for tomorrow. The taxi stopped at her house, and after I seen My Hanh got in the house safely, I then headed to my aunt house, where I stayed during my vacation in Vietnam. Before I went to bed, My Hanh’s images kept in side my head. I made a phone call to her and we talked hours. After hung up phone with My Hanh, I could not sleep that night. There were two reasons, one was because the time zone was difference from US and Vietnam, and the second was, I kept thinking of My Hanh. That night, I thought a lot about the future of me and My Hanh.

July 06, 2008, I planned to meet My Hanh and we went to my father’s tombstone, afterward she took me to introduce with her parents. I had lunch together with her family at My Hanh’s house, and I had chance to talk to her parents and her siblings. I had a good time with her family. Everyone treated me as a member of the family. After dinner My Hanh and I went to church together and then we went to Cay Xanh Park to have a walk. Before I went back to my aunt’s house, I made a first kiss on her lips, which was the precious moment that we had.

July 08, 2008. At 9:00 am, I took My Hanh to introduce with my relatives, and we decided to spend time at my aunty Sinh’s house to have dinner with her. My Hanh was helping my aunt to cook and ready for the dinner. After 7:00 pm, we went to have ice cream and drove around Saigon. Every night after 10:00pm, I took My Hanh home, gave her a good bye kiss, and watched her got in her house safely, and then I went back to my aunt house.

July 10-25, 2008. During the time, My Hanh and I had been in Vung Tau, Dam Sen, Suoi Tien, Café’ shops, and many other places. In these periods of time, we discussed about our future. I also knew more about her true personality. These opportunities had given us chances to love each other more deeply. I told her that my love is faithful to her and asked her to put her trust in me as I’m put my trust in her. We also had gone to church and prayed together. We asked God to guide us and delivery us from any temptation that could caused us to separate.

July 23, 2008- I told My Hanh that I wanted between us have something to hold our memory, I wanted an object that every time she miss me, she could look at to reflect our time together. So we decided to have rings that we could wear them. We called these rings are promise rings. We went to a Jewelry shop at Go Vap district and bought us two rings.

July 26, 2008. The night before I went back to United State, My Hanh and I took a walk on river side. We stopped and sat down on a stone bench close to the river, I felt her sadness and I saw tears were dripping from her eyes. She tried to hide them, but she couldn’t hide her sadness. I know that My Hanh also felt my sadness. I could not talk much even though there were still many things that I want to tell her. She told me that after tomorrow, she would not see me again. I promised her that I would come back Vietnam to visit her again. That night I took her home as the ordinary thing that I always did, but I felt the time gone so fast, I stopped in front of her house, gave a farewell kiss to her and told her that I will keep my promise, I will be truthful to her and she must trust in me as I trust in her, and that is only way that will keep us together. My flight scheduled tomorrow night. I told her that we still have one day to spend time together. I will come to see her in morning.

July 27, 2008. Few more hours before boarding time, My Hanh was helping me packaging, then I took her home early because she said that she wants to cook Kim Pak (sticky rice) for me to bring on airplane to eat when I get hungry. My Hanh came to airport at 10:00 pm to give me farewell with the Kim Pak that she made. She gave me kiss and told me that to keep my promise to her. I could see her eyes were turning red and tears were dropping on her cheeks. I love her so much, I really didn’t want to leave her at this moment, but she told me that I have to look forward for our future, that I must go back US and hard work on my job, but keep my promise to visit her again. 11:00 pm, I gave My Hanh my last hug and kiss, after that I walked to custom gate.

On the Plane, I never stopped from thinking about My Hanh and all the things that had happened to us in past three weeks. My Hanh images kept appearing when I closed my eyes. I wanted the time could fly fast, so that I could see her again.

Aug 2008 – April 2009. In this early period of time, the few months after I got back to US, I miss her so much. I kept looking at the promise ring on my finger and pictures of us had been together. To help me less missing her, I kept my regular schedule of calling her to wake her up every morning. I called her any time I have free time during work, and we appointment to talk on instant messenger every night, so that she and I could seen each other face on webcam before I went to sleep. We talked to each other via phone, instant messengers, and mostly on yahoo/ msn voice chat. We also made facebook.com accounts so that we could update our pictures and networking to our friends. The facebook.com kept us to know each other more during the time we far way from together. During this period of time, we also discussed about our future and talked to each other how we missed each other.

Keep the promise.

April 28, 2009- I kept my promised to My Hanh that I came back Vietnam to visit her. My fight got to Tan Son Nhat at 12:00 am. Same happened last year when I got to Vietnam that My Hanh was waiting for me at the gate. I felt so happy that I could hug and kiss her again. It was late and raining, I did the same thing that took My Hanh home with a cab and watched her got in her house safely.

April 29, 2009. I woke up so early in morning 5:00 am to visit her family again, after that, My Hanh and I went to visit my father’s tombstone.

May 01, 2009. Again, I took My Hanh to visit some of my close relatives in My Tho.

May 02, 2009. My Hanh also took me to introduce to her close relatives and friends.

May 03-15, 2009. We went to many other places with friends and family, and also we went back to some places that we were there in my l2008 visiting to reflecting our precious memories. This visiting was to build up our love relationship stronger and to put more trusting in each other. I love My Hanh from her truthful personality. My Hanh loves me because of my honesty. This visiting in Vietnam was to give My Hanh and I have more time spending together and to understand more about each other.

To Propose

May 10, 2009. I propose to My Hanh that to marry me at a coffee shop name “Tram”, which we usually called with other name “Café Nen”. I told her that I will always make her happy and take care of her to the rest of my life. I will be honest with her and faithful to her love. I also told her that I will talk to my mother that our relationship is stronger and time for us to take to next step of marriage life. My Hanh was so happy and accepted my proposing. I told her that I will be back to Vietnam in summer 2010.

May 14, 2009. A day before I go back to U.S, My Hanh told me that she was really sad and didn’t want me to go. She said that she didn’t like the feeling that she will be missed me tomorrow. This sad feeling had happened to her last year on my last day at Vietnam. I told her that the most important thing in marriage is love and be loved. I definitely find it in her. I told her that I will be back next year to keep my promise.

May 15, 2009. Same scenarios like last year before I left Vietnam in 2008. My Hanh made Kim Pak for me to eat on airplane. She arrived to the airport. I saw the sadness and tears on her face. I tried to comfort her that I will keep my promise and she must be trusted in me like she had always been. One hour left before the boarding time. I gave My Hanh fairway kiss and I started to heading into custom door.

My Hanh Tran and I still remain in contact while we’re apart from each other. We also intend to marry and look forward to starting our lives together as husband and wife when My Hanh Tran arrives here in U.S.

[hniHnitsuJ 8]

Welcome to VJ family. Your love story is very sweet.

The outline is beautiful, but I think you should take out the last visit. FOR EXAMPLE : I TOOK HER TO INTRODUCE MY RELATIVE, AND SHE TOOK ME TO INTRODUCE HER RELATIVE. Telling more about your love story, and what experienced both of you did share.

good luck,

Loi and Suong

[Anh map 2,098]

When did you have the engagement ceremony? If you have it planned then include that date in your timeline. No sense front loading your timeline and leaving out one of the more important milestones in the eyes of the HCMC Consular Officers.

[hong tran 0]

When did you have the engagement ceremony? If you have it planned then include that date in your timeline. No sense front loading your timeline and leaving out one of the more important milestones in the eyes of the HCMC Consular Officers.

thank you for the advice, We planed to have the engagement celerbration this July 2010. Should I wait to submit the application to CIS after the ceremony established? I want to submit the application as soon as posible. Please advice.

[Anh map 2,098]

thank you for the advice, We planed to have the engagement celerbration this July 2010. Should I wait to submit the application to CIS after the ceremony established? I want to submit the application as soon as posible. Please advice.

No need to wait. I submitted the K1 petition prior to the engagement party.

If you've got it planned include that in your document. Even if you do not have an exact date. This lets the CO know as they review the file that she will have evidence of the ceremony. Some people have said that the CO will use the timeline as a reference during the interview. By including that info it can help the conversation at the interview to naturally talk about the Dinh Hon/ Dam Hoi.

[luckytxn 2,264]

For a love story it will do.

[vietazn 1]

Opinions on whether frontloading a timeline with numerous grammatical errors... can it be beneficial?

[lambchop4life 6]

Opinions on whether frontloading a timeline with numerous grammatical errors... can it be beneficial?

why don't you help fix the grammar,instead of yapping about it?

[vietazn 1]

That was a serious question. I wonder if very poor grammar can hurt a case. In which case the petitioner should consider whether to submit such documents, if optional. Or at least find someone who can proof the document.

[BinhJerome 14]

Poor grammer will hurt anything that is supposed to be professional, it does need to be fixed, I started to but there were so many mistakes that I stoped after the third paragraph, if the OP wants someone to grammer check it, get your final version done, then pm me and I will run it through my spell check and help with other errors, so just PM me and I will send you my email. Jerome

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

That was a serious question. I wonder if very poor grammar can hurt a case. In which case the petitioner should consider whether to submit such documents, if optional. Or at least find someone who can proof the document.

If English is a second language for the author, and if the text can be understood, I don't think the grammatical errors are a big deal. I don't see any problem with people helping someone determine what to include or leave out, or what general format to follow, but I think the end result should be the petitioner's own words, even if there are a few blemishes.

I met a new friend on my first trip to Vietnam. He came over to my house the other day to show me his petition package and get some suggestions. He also included a timeline, at my suggestion. Because English was also a second language for him, his timeline was loaded with grammatical and spelling errors. I told him to spell check the document, and fix a few minor mistakes (like not capitalizing the first letter of each sentence), but to leave the grammar alone. It was easy enough to understand what he was saying, and he covered all of the important things that needed to be covered. Reading it was like listening to him speak, and it seemed genuine and sincere because of that.

[BinhJerome 14]

If English is a second language for the author, and if the text can be understood, I don't think the grammatical errors are a big deal. I don't see any problem with people helping someone determine what to include or leave out, or what general format to follow, but I think the end result should be the petitioner's own words, even if there are a few blemishes.

I met a new friend on my first trip to Vietnam. He came over to my house the other day to show me his petition package and get some suggestions. He also included a timeline, at my suggestion. Because English was also a second language for him, his timeline was loaded with grammatical and spelling errors. I told him to spell check the document, and fix a few minor mistakes (like not capitalizing the first letter of each sentence), but to leave the grammar alone. It was easy enough to understand what he was saying, and he covered all of the important things that needed to be covered. Reading it was like listening to him speak, and it seemed genuine and sincere because of that.

I agree leaving in the grammar errors does bring a "personal" feel to the timeline, but facts are facts, not trying to get down on anyones grammar, but when a person reads something that has many grammar mistakes, the person that is reading USUALLY makes an assumption, maybe not a bad one, but maybe it is bad. When people do things that are silly, or dumb and you are watching them the first thing that comes to MOST peoples mind is "what a dumb a@@" It is human nature to judge people not from who they are, but how the present themselves, this is a sad but true fact in todays society. But as in everything that is posted on VJ it is up for debate on what does have an affect and what does not, and we will NEVER know what is bad and what is not bad, just as in the case of red flags, we can only ASSUME what they are, just as in what we ASSUME people would think about a document with countless grammar errors. I for one would want things corrected before I would submit, if not for the general purpose of the correction, but also to possibly help a person with poor grammar, if we help it get corrected and the person pays attention to what was changed it will also help them with their grammar so for me it is something that I would do. Once again this is simply my opinion Jerome

[hong tran 0]

Honestly, I personaly thanks to all the advices in this forum. I have a friend that already went throught my papers. My question is any important items that I missed out in this timeline?. I still need for the advice. thank you

[BinhJerome 14]

Honestly, I personaly thanks to all the advices in this forum. I have a friend that already went throught my papers. My question is any important items that I missed out in this timeline?. I still need for the advice. thank you

It looked good, you can add detail to some of the entries like you did with the sticky rice, this can work both ways, it gives them more questions to ask, but at the same time you are giving them details of your love, things that you remember and not just the big things, but the little things as well. Good luck, and the timeline does look good. Jerome

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

I agree leaving in the grammar errors does bring a "personal" feel to the timeline, but facts are facts, not trying to get down on anyones grammar, but when a person reads something that has many grammar mistakes, the person that is reading USUALLY makes an assumption, maybe not a bad one, but maybe it is bad. When people do things that are silly, or dumb and you are watching them the first thing that comes to MOST peoples mind is "what a dumb a@@" It is human nature to judge people not from who they are, but how the present themselves, this is a sad but true fact in todays society. But as in everything that is posted on VJ it is up for debate on what does have an affect and what does not, and we will NEVER know what is bad and what is not bad, just as in the case of red flags, we can only ASSUME what they are, just as in what we ASSUME people would think about a document with countless grammar errors. I for one would want things corrected before I would submit, if not for the general purpose of the correction, but also to possibly help a person with poor grammar, if we help it get corrected and the person pays attention to what was changed it will also help them with their grammar so for me it is something that I would do. Once again this is simply my opinion Jerome

No doubt that people are judged by the words they use. It's also very probable that my reading of my friend's timeline was affected by the fact that I knew him already, and I could hear him speaking in my head as I read it. The CO will not know my friend, and won't hear the same voice in his head when he reads the timeline. In my friend's case, I thought it was pretty clear from the grammar that English was not his first language, and that was the primary reason for the grammatical errors, and not because he was a native born American with a double digit IQ. In other words, he didn't come across as uneducated - just not very well versed in English.

It also occurred to me that my friend might have reasons to contact the consulate at some point. If the CO reads his correspondence and compares that with what is written in his timeline then the grammar should be consistent, and the CO won't be wondering who wrote the eloquent prose in his timeline.