Failed interview !!

[pwolocen 2]

I have some questions that VJ members may be able to answer. Is the vn language translater also a CO? The CO was an American who had a Pink in front of him, smiled at all our pictures and only asked 2 questions. Then the translator lady started asking questions that were impossible to answer and talked the CO into giving us a blue! Who makes the decision, the CO or the translator? The translator lady kept asking questions until my fiance could not answer! Example: You say you will honeymoon in Las Vegas, what is the room cost per night? As everyone knows you cannot get a room rate until you make a reservation. Cannot make a reservation until you have a visa! You see where the translator lady was giong with this!! This is only an example of what she was trying to do. She succeeded!!

They also failed us for a timeline that we had and they would not accept! What happens now, after we submit the documents to window B? It says on the blue sheet that you can submit early, does that do any good?

They state that all new documents be notarized. The consulate fee for a notary stamp is $50.00 each. Is there any way to get a notary in vn for less than that very high fee?

[luckytxn 2,264]

What does the blue say. Just a timeline? If she can't answer a question then just say that she don't know. My wife was asked a few idiot answers and she just said that there was no way of knowing that and it was fine. We determined that they were just trying to see if she was lying by how she answered. In other words by trying to break her but my babe stays cool under anything do it was fine. We were asked for a timeline and list of relatives and we submitted and got a pink.

I doubt the consulate will accept a notary in VN but when I tried to find one when there for something I couldn't find one anyway but I was in the boonies so someone may be able to help you that knows the city. If one is needed though and that is the price of it then pay it and get the paperwork there.

If she failed the interview they would have given her an outright denial I am sure and not a blue stating they needed more documents.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

The translator is not a CO. They are an employee of the consulate, usually a local VN citizen. It's fairly well known that many of the local employees treat the visa applicants like #######. I'm not sure what's up with that. Maybe it's a good cop/bad cop thing. Maybe it's a streak of jealousy. I don't know the reason, but I know it's pretty common.

I've also heard a lot of people have had problems with the translators, but I've not heard of a case where the translator basically commandeered the interview like this. The biggest problem is usually when the translator intentionally mis-translates something to make it appear the beneficiary is giving the wrong answer. It sounds like your fiancee was unfortunate enough to have gotten a CO who doesn't understand VN very well, and a translator who took advantage of the situation.

The good news is that the translator is likely out of the picture now. Unless another interview is needed, which is unlikely, the CO won't need any further input from the translator.

A notary stamp is just a legal witness to a signature. If they're asking for any documents from you then you would need to stand in front of the notary when you sign the document. If you're in VN then I recommend getting the documents notarized at US Citizen Services at the consulate. I know it's expensive, but the CO won't question a notary stamp from another consular officer. They may question a notary stamp from anywhere else in VN. If you're in the US then you can get any notary in the US to witness your signature and stamp your documents.

Are they really asking for any new documents to be notarized? Even proof of relationship stuff? I've never heard of that before.

[ScottThuy 140]

When Thuy went to submit the last two docs a couple of weeks ago, the CO had no questions... the pink was sitting in front of him.. the translator asked her several questions as if it were an interview... we later found that the visa had been approved two days before they issued the pink... so she was done when she showed up and the translator just wanted to be a tool and make things difficult... give them the documents that they want and go from there... Curtis went early and had no issue, others went early and got blue...

The only thing I have heard them asking to be notarized is the timeline... I remember someone posting here that there was a cheap way to get things notarized at the consulate... its been a while since that was posted so it may take some looking to find it..

dont consider it a failed interview. just a hurdle along the way....

[BurningFinger 5]

It's not over yet. In my opinion, they were just trying to ruffle your feathers. Examine the blue slip closely and supply the Consulate with what they want, when they want it. A friend of mine mentioned he heard this happening to a few people while we were eating lunch one day....

[Huong and Phung 0]

Don't be so hard on yourself or even your better half. It's not getting a blue sheet is the end of the world. Most of us hanging around are those who were handed blue and in AP for up to months. Just give them time and you guys don't stop living your life. Hang in there man and you'll be there. We hit a rough road but we're rolling again. Keep your head up.

About documents notarize, I would suggest you to get it notarize in the embassy. If you're a USC then you can just walk in and get a notarize seal from them. They charge you with a reasonable price and it's legit. Good luck on your case and be ready.

[lindal24 1]

I have some questions that VJ members may be able to answer. Is the vn language translater also a CO? The CO was an American who had a Pink in front of him, smiled at all our pictures and only asked 2 questions. Then the translator lady started asking questions that were impossible to answer and talked the CO into giving us a blue! Who makes the decision, the CO or the translator? The translator lady kept asking questions until my fiance could not answer! Example: You say you will honeymoon in Las Vegas, what is the room cost per night? As everyone knows you cannot get a room rate until you make a reservation. Cannot make a reservation until you have a visa! You see where the translator lady was giong with this!! This is only an example of what she was trying to do. She succeeded!!

They also failed us for a timeline that we had and they would not accept! What happens now, after we submit the documents to window B? It says on the blue sheet that you can submit early, does that do any good?

They state that all new documents be notarized. The consulate fee for a notary stamp is $50.00 each. Is there any way to get a notary in vn for less than that very high fee?

I wonder if I can go to VN with my notary stamp and charge $50 for every signature?!

...$6 for VJ members of course!

[luckytxn 2,264]

I wonder if I can go to VN with my notary stamp and charge $50 for every signature?!

...$6 for VJ members of course!

I bet you could.

[BinhJerome 14]

I wonder if I can go to VN with my notary stamp and charge $50 for every signature?!

...$6 for VJ members of course!

I never thought of thatB-) I think I might have to look into doing something like that. Great way to make tons of extra cash........ As far as your Blue slip goes, just make sure that you read it very carefully and give them everything they ask for, and if there is anything they did not keep that you think they should of, give it to them at the same time as well. As far as turning it in early, you can do that without any problem, if they have already made a decision you will get a pink or a real denial, if they have yet to make your decision it will be a blue placing you in AP, but if they dont have the decision made by the date they said to resubmit you will still get the blue. Try to make as few as trips there as possible meaning submit everything at once, I think Frank who has been in AP for a really long time has said his file was touched about the same time they submitted extra evidence, and they say everytime you add things to your file, it gets moved to the back again. My friend who is a CO there also states it is always better in his mind when people submit early. Either way it is your choice. Good luck! Jerome and Binh

[luckytxn 2,264]

I never thought of thatB-) I think I might have to look into doing something like that. Great way to make tons of extra cash........ As far as your Blue slip goes, just make sure that you read it very carefully and give them everything they ask for, and if there is anything they did not keep that you think they should of, give it to them at the same time as well. As far as turning it in early, you can do that without any problem, if they have already made a decision you will get a pink or a real denial, if they have yet to make your decision it will be a blue placing you in AP, but if they dont have the decision made by the date they said to resubmit you will still get the blue. Try to make as few as trips there as possible meaning submit everything at once, I think Frank who has been in AP for a really long time has said his file was touched about the same time they submitted extra evidence, and they say everytime you add things to your file, it gets moved to the back again. My friend who is a CO there also states it is always better in his mind when people submit early. Either way it is your choice. Good luck! Jerome and Binh

Since it is a state seal one would have to have a address in the state where the seal was from so having an overseas address would preclude you. For Lindal it would work when she is visiting to be able to do it as I have never heard of them saying that one could only notarize in the state the seal was registered in. I do know a paralegal that has to take her seal with her when out of state on business but that was years ago so not sure if that is still done.

[Timeline 0]

What does the blue say. Just a timeline? If she can't answer a question then just say that she don't know. My wife was asked a few idiot answers and she just said that there was no way of knowing that and it was fine. We determined that they were just trying to see if she was lying by how she answered. In other words by trying to break her but my babe stays cool under anything do it was fine. We were asked for a timeline and list of relatives and we submitted and got a pink.

I doubt the consulate will accept a notary in VN but when I tried to find one when there for something I couldn't find one anyway but I was in the boonies so someone may be able to help you that knows the city. If one is needed though and that is the price of it then pay it and get the paperwork there.

If she failed the interview they would have given her an outright denial I am sure and not a blue stating they needed more documents.

Hi there,

What is meant here by timeline that they asked for? Please advise. Thanks.

[luckytxn 2,264]

Hi there,

What is meant here by timeline that they asked for? Please advise. Thanks.

Scott answered before but it is a timeline of the relationship as it has developed from start up to the present time. Like it can start off and say how y'all met and then list each achievement like when both decided to meet and then each meeting and then the decision date of when got engaged and then any ceremonies like engagement party and wedding and sending of the visa and so on like this in chronological order. The consulate looks for abnormal things and/or uses it for the interview to ask questions.

The Vietnamese consulate requires almost all to submit this timeline and maybe a few others in the world ask for it but most do not so you need to go into your regional section and find out if it is a requirement or even needed for your own situation. Vietnam consulate is a high fraud for visa so the apply a higher standard and things that most other embassies and consulates do not ask for.

[michael7oanh 1]

Perhaps it was because we were lucky enough to find a really nice CO at the Citizen Services department, but we were able to get our revised timeline and a list of my previous addresses notarized there for free. It helped that we addressed the documents to the US Consulate in HCM City so he decided to cut us a break as both documents were being requested by the consulate itself.

[Darnell 8,478]

what is the blue slip asking for, exactly ?

[luckytxn 2,264]

Perhaps it was because we were lucky enough to find a really nice CO at the Citizen Services department, but we were able to get our revised timeline and a list of my previous addresses notarized there for free. It helped that we addressed the documents to the US Consulate in HCM City so he decided to cut us a break as both documents were being requested by the consulate itself.

I have also heard many that said the notary there will not charge for doing paperwork but was not sure if that meant the timeline as the other paperwork was Government forms being requested.