visiting

[VudoMenudo 0]

Hello everyone,

How are you doing? I want to ask for something. I wanted to visit my girl in Vietnam in the upcoming November for about 2 weeks. I am only allowed to take off day from work in November because my boss tells me so. My girl tells me that she has to take trip to China in November because her grandparents will celebrating their anniversary during that time. Unfortunate, this will be my only trip to meet my fiance before she does interviews for her K1 visa. Do you think the Consulates will deny us when she present the proof of this trip at the interviews because we visit in China instead of Vietnam?

[Anh map 2,098]

The requirement is that you only have to meet face to face within that past two years. It doesn't matter where in the world that meeting occurs.

The reality is that at HCMC that (meeting once and not having the engagement cermony) can make things tougher. Do some reading in the Vietnam regional forum to get a sense of the norms.

[VudoMenudo 0]

Thank you mr.map. I feel a bit better now. I think maybe now my case is very good because I met my girl in Vietnam more then 1 time before I file my I-129F petition last month in August. Your support makes me not worry so much now. Thank you

[ScottThuy 140]

Map,

how do you feel about a case where the party was introduce by the beneficiary's 2nd cousin... engaged in three months... but engagement was attend by both party side of the family... mother of petitioner attended the engagement(travel from the U.S) and relatives of the petitioner had also attended the engagement(about 15 people attended because it was from Saigon to Hue). and it was their frist meeting.

Were there other meetings before the filing? They like to see at least 2... the engagement ceremony is a good thing and being introduced by relatives is not the end all for you.. look through the interview list and see what issues were reported for those that got denied..

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Map,

how do you feel about a case where the party was introduce by the beneficiary's 2nd cousin... engaged in three months... but engagement was attend by both party side of the family... mother of petitioner attended the engagement(travel from the U.S) and relatives of the petitioner had also attended the engagement(about 15 people attended because it was from Saigon to Hue). and it was their frist meeting.

Being introduced by a member of the beneficiary's family is a red flag, but it can addressed by frontloading the petition. You just need to make it clear that the introduction was for the purpose of matchmaking and not for the purpose of helping a family member immigrate to the US.

The engagement was the petitioner and beneficiary's first meeting? It sounds like the petitioner is Viet Kieu, since they had family come from Saigon to Hue. Having plenty of petitioner's family attend is good - it helps to legitimize the relationship in the eyes of the consulate. Getting engaged on the first meeting is not good, even though this was not uncommon with old fashioned arranged marriages. The consulate has a narrow view of a stereotypical Vietnamese relationship, and they expect a reasonably long period of courtship before the engagement, which includes at least of couple of face-to-face meetings.

[ScottThuy 140]

Read through the VN regional topics... there is alot of info there that will help you be better prepared and let you know what hurdles others have fased..

They dont care about the job except when it comes to financial support... they often look at 1 or 2 trips as insufficient...

not a forum admin just an organizer that moves posts that may be misplaced...

[lindal24 1]

Map,

how do you feel about a case where the party was introduce by the beneficiary's 2nd cousin... engaged in three months... but engagement was attend by both party side of the family... mother of petitioner attended the engagement(travel from the U.S) and relatives of the petitioner had also attended the engagement(about 15 people attended because it was from Saigon to Hue). and it was their frist meeting.

Kinda sounds like my case....I made it out, so it's possible!

[ScottThuy 140]

Kinda sounds like my case....I made it out, so it's possible!

He is K1 though...

[luckytxn 2,264]

I was a K1 and made only one trip and got engaged on the first meeting and only had proof that we were chatting and known each other for about 3-4 months before that. Also was introduced by her Aunt. I made it out and the Visa but you need to be very careful and do your homework. There are many things they look at and there are many things you need to be doing to strengthen the proof of relationship. I made it but others who had even more than one or two trips and same as me stuff got denied or was in AP for a long time.

Good luck and God bless.

[tcTTct 37]

It look me a while to figure out that your handle means "fat brother" or "fat husband" which is her nickname for you. Very cute

[luckytxn 2,264]

It look me a while to figure out that your handle means "fat brother" or "fat husband" which is her nickname for you. Very cute

Here I assumed it meant big husband. Don't feel as bad as my affectionate nickname is crazy old man.

[ScottThuy 140]

It look me a while to figure out that your handle means "fat brother" or "fat husband" which is her nickname for you. Very cute

Big Brother

I was a K1 and made only one trip and got engaged on the first meeting and only had proof that we were chatting and known each other for about 3-4 months before that. Also was introduced by her Aunt. I made it out and the Visa but you need to be very careful and do your homework. There are many things they look at and there are many things you need to be doing to strengthen the proof of relationship. I made it but others who had even more than one or two trips and same as me stuff got denied or was in AP for a long time.

Good luck and God bless.

They gave in when they saw the box full of chats that she towed into the consulate...

[tcTTct 37]

Big Brother

Nope, anh = big brother, or a term of respect or endearment used towards males. Map = fat

[Anh map 2,098]

Nope, anh = big brother, or a term of respect or endearment used towards males. Map = fat

I answer to all of them and assume the best of intentions.

[Anh map 2,098]

if there are other meeting in between the engagement and interview.. that would also be good correct?.. but there is not... due to vacactions and financial constraints ( god know traveling half way around the world, literally, is not cheap) that the consulate would be find acceptable, i wonder if the consulate see what jobs the petitioner hold that they would find not worth bothering look into such as a CEO of a corporation (for financial purpose), the government employee i.e military, or even a blue collar employee that make six figures...

As you can see from just the respondents here that experiences can vary. It's safer, but far from a guarantee, to have multiple meetings in a K1 situation. The meetings are just one piece of the puzzle. Documentation of consistent contact (voice, chat, email, text) is also important.

I am one to advise that the petition submission include a detailed timeline of the relationship. That way it is there when the CO in HCMC reviews the file prior to the interview. It's not a requirement, but we have seen a lot of couples get blue slipped for the relationship timeline and a list of any and all beneficiary relatives in the US. I would send both.

While it's expensive and inconvenient the CO won't "give a break" because of it. All of here would up petitioning for our SO's by choice. It's up to each couple to demonstrate a bona fide relationship.

Do some reading here in the Vietnam forum and assess the strengths and weaknesses of your case. Then prepare your submission accordingly. Keep the BIG PICTURE (pink approval slip) in mind. Better to overprepare and waste paper than get a delay. The CO can only evaluate what they see and hear.

Best of luck. Keep the questions coming.