K1 refused, now they want me to come to Vietnam

[K1visa125 3]

I have a situation that I haven't seen him before so I thought that I would post it here.

My fiancé and I have known each other for four years and we submitted all the paperwork for her K-1 visa and eventually she had her interview on January 15.

We were pretty thorough in the paperwork we submitted and sent information such as e-mails, phone calls, chat logs, photos, cards, letters - everything we thought she would need for a successful interview. I had also visited her 5 times in Vietnam.

Unfortunately she failed the interview and the reason given was that she failed to prove a real relationship.

This was very disappointing but then, 3 days ago, she received a phone call from the interpreter telling her to come back for another interview on February 16, and to bring me so that she can see my face to prove that I was a real person!!! I was just there in Nov. 2010 and I can probably go again, but it will be a huge problem for me to go half way around the world (I am in California) in only 2 weeks just to show my face for 5 minutes with no guarantee that she will get a visa.

Has anyone ever heard of this happening before?

Thanks,

Bruce

Edited January 29, 2011 by K1visa125

[KiwiBird 132]

just to show my face for 5 minutes with no guarantee that she will get a visa.

In my opinion, it's worth it. I'd fly around the world and sit in a room for five minutes if it gave us a chance for a visa. (Not saying you disagree, but this is just my perspective.)

And no, I've never heard of this happening.

[Tero 105]

I have a situation that I haven't seen him before so I thought that I would post it here.

My fiancé and I have known each other for four years and we submitted all the paperwork for her K-1 visa and eventually she had her interview on January 15.

We were pretty thorough in the paperwork we submitted and sent information such as e-mails, phone calls, chat logs, photos, cards, letters - everything we thought she would need for a successful interview. I had also visited her 5 times in Vietnam.

Unfortunately she failed the interview and the reason given was that she failed to prove a real relationship.

This was very disappointing but then, 3 days ago, she received a phone call from the interpreter telling her to come back for another interview on February 16, and to bring me so that she can see my face to prove that I was a real person!!! I was just there in Nov. 2010 and I can probably go again, but it will be a huge problem for me to go half way around the world (I am in California) in only 2 weeks just to show my face for 5 minutes with no guarantee that she will get a visa.

Has anyone ever heard of this happening before?

Thanks,

Bruce

That is quite a predicament, I feel your pain. But if her interview was Jan 15 why did you not wait till then to visit her so you could fly back together(just 2 months difference)? However, it seems they are willing to issue her a visa if that condition can be met. If you have come all this way, I'd make that last sacrifice to seal the deal. If they send your petition back to DHS for revocation, you know might have to start all over again. Just go and finalize everything so you can come back with your woman. Good luck.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Yes it does happen quite often in high-fraud countries. In fact a while back (long while) I remember reading how in certain countries you HAD to go to the interview (even though it wasn't a written rule) otherwise the visa most likely would be denied. They thought lack of USC meant lack of interest in relationship or some #######.

Maybe if you time it well enough you can be there to fly out with her? I'll see if I can locate some threads to show you this does (or used to) happen.

[TBoneTX 46,156]

If the phone call was legitimate, see this thread in the Embassy/Consulate forum:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/207292-embassy-wants-petitioner-at-next-cr-1-interview-any-advice/

Fully prepare yourself for a Stokes interview.

Another thing is strange to my admittedly non-Vietnam-educated eye: What paper was she given at the end of her interview? What exactly did it say? I would trust this official paper more than a phone call from an interpreter. I believe that you need to consult the several Vietnam experts here, particularly JimVaPhuong, before doing anything. I'll send him a PM now to alert him to this thread.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

So here are two threads talking about it happening occasionally:

- http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/279238-present-with-fiancee-at-k-1-interview/page__view__findpost__p__4245669

- http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/271285-k1-interview/

I know there's more than this but at least you can see that you're definitely not the first. Like I said, some embassies require it, some don't even allow it and some don't care either way.

[pushbrk 13,123]

I have a situation that I haven't seen him before so I thought that I would post it here.

My fiancé and I have known each other for four years and we submitted all the paperwork for her K-1 visa and eventually she had her interview on January 15.

We were pretty thorough in the paperwork we submitted and sent information such as e-mails, phone calls, chat logs, photos, cards, letters - everything we thought she would need for a successful interview. I had also visited her 5 times in Vietnam.

Unfortunately she failed the interview and the reason given was that she failed to prove a real relationship.

This was very disappointing but then, 3 days ago, she received a phone call from the interpreter telling her to come back for another interview on February 16, and to bring me so that she can see my face to prove that I was a real person!!! I was just there in Nov. 2010 and I can probably go again, but it will be a huge problem for me to go half way around the world (I am in California) in only 2 weeks just to show my face for 5 minutes with no guarantee that she will get a visa.

Has anyone ever heard of this happening before?

Thanks,

Bruce

More importantly, what will you think if she doesn't get the visa BECAUSE you didn't fly half way around the world to show your face 5 minutes?

[Messybrownhair 251]

If that is what it takes to get the visa, then go for it. It will be worth it in the end

[Al422 221]

Get on the plane. You need to give yourself every possible chance here. Sorry about the time and the expense, especially if you need the money for other things, but I don't see any other solution.

[Anh map 2,098]

I've never heard of this at HCMC. Typically there are no second interviews. And the K1 petitioners aren't a part of the interviews.

As Tbone suggested verify that this is actually what was requested. A call to an experienced HCMC immigration atty may be worthwhile as well.

Do keep us posted.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

I smell a STOKES interview. They want you there so they can separate you and grill you separately to see if you are sharing life facts at a level that satisfies them. Be prepared to be asked full names and ages for siblings and parents, prior educational institutes and jobs.

[dogspot 90]

In my opinion, it's worth it. I'd fly around the world and sit in a room for five minutes if it gave us a chance for a visa. (Not saying you disagree, but this is just my perspective.)

I agree with Kiwi...my flight would already be purchased and I would me making plans at work for an emergency absence.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

I have a situation that I haven't seen him before so I thought that I would post it here.

My fiancé and I have known each other for four years and we submitted all the paperwork for her K-1 visa and eventually she had her interview on January 15.

We were pretty thorough in the paperwork we submitted and sent information such as e-mails, phone calls, chat logs, photos, cards, letters - everything we thought she would need for a successful interview. I had also visited her 5 times in Vietnam.

Unfortunately she failed the interview and the reason given was that she failed to prove a real relationship.

This was very disappointing but then, 3 days ago, she received a phone call from the interpreter telling her to come back for another interview on February 16, and to bring me so that she can see my face to prove that I was a real person!!! I was just there in Nov. 2010 and I can probably go again, but it will be a huge problem for me to go half way around the world (I am in California) in only 2 weeks just to show my face for 5 minutes with no guarantee that she will get a visa.

Has anyone ever heard of this happening before?

Thanks,

Bruce

This is extremely unusual. It's not common for them to arrange a second interview. It's downright unheard of for them to arrange an interview after the visa has been denied. Callbacks are also usually done in writing, since the VN national is going to need a document showing they have an appointment in order to be admitted to the consulate. There are exceptions, and they keep an appointment list in the information booth for this reason.

The consulate in HCMC rarely conducts a stokes interview, though it does happen occasionally. When they have doubts about a relationship they don't usually bother to grill the petitioner and beneficiary. They just deny the visa and they're done with you. I've never heard of a stokes interview being conducted after the visa has already been denied.

What exactly did the translator say? Did she give any information that would identify her, such as information specific about the case that only someone who had access to the case file would know? Did the translator actually say that she, the translator, wanted to see you face-to-face? The translator is usually a local VN person who works for the consulate. They have no authority whatever.

I would do everything I could to confirm this before booking a flight.

First, if your fiancee lives anywhere near HCMC then I would have her go to the consulate and try to get confirmation in writing of the interview appointment. She can use any lame excuse, like you need to have a copy of the letter or your boss won't give you time off from work.

Second, contact Marc Ellis. If this tactic is at all consistent with the practices at the consulate in HCMC then he would know about it.

http://www.marcellislaw.com/contact.html

Third, call NVC and see if their computer records indicate a second interview has been scheduled.

I would be very reluctant to do anything without some sort of confirmation. It's always possible there's a jealous ex-boyfriend who'd like to kick the ####### out of you. If you do manage to get confirmation then you should be flexible with your travel requirements. Getting there after the first week in February should be relatively easy, but return flights are going to be difficult for the entire month due to people returning from Tet celebrations.

[K1visa125 3]

This is extremely unusual. It's not common for them to arrange a second interview. It's downright unheard of for them to arrange an interview after the visa has been denied. Callbacks are also usually done in writing, since the VN national is going to need a document showing they have an appointment in order to be admitted to the consulate. There are exceptions, and they keep an appointment list in the information booth for this reason.

The consulate in HCMC rarely conducts a stokes interview, though it does happen occasionally. When they have doubts about a relationship they don't usually bother to grill the petitioner and beneficiary. They just deny the visa and they're done with you. I've never heard of a stokes interview being conducted after the visa has already been denied.

What exactly did the translator say? Did she give any information that would identify her, such as information specific about the case that only someone who had access to the case file would know? Did the translator actually say that she, the translator, wanted to see you face-to-face? The translator is usually a local VN person who works for the consulate. They have no authority whatever.

I would do everything I could to confirm this before booking a flight.

First, if your fiancee lives anywhere near HCMC then I would have her go to the consulate and try to get confirmation in writing of the interview appointment. She can use any lame excuse, like you need to have a copy of the letter or your boss won't give you time off from work.

Second, contact Marc Ellis. If this tactic is at all consistent with the practices at the consulate in HCMC then he would know about it.

http://www.marcellislaw.com/contact.html

Third, call NVC and see if their computer records indicate a second interview has been scheduled.

I would be very reluctant to do anything without some sort of confirmation. It's always possible there's a jealous ex-boyfriend who'd like to kick the ####### out of you. If you do manage to get confirmation then you should be flexible with your travel requirements. Getting there after the first week in February should be relatively easy, but return flights are going to be difficult for the entire month due to people returning from Tet celebrations.

I am the original poster of this topic. To clarify things, when the translator called, she told my fiance that I would need to come so that they could see me, and to bring more supporting information on our relationship such as detailed wedding plans and that she would send a new appointment letter in the mail. Yesterday my fiance got the letter. So, it looks real, but it just seems so strange....

[Anh map 2,098]

I am the original poster of this topic. To clarify things, when the translator called, she told my fiance that I would need to come so that they could see me, and to bring more supporting information on our relationship such as detailed wedding plans and that she would send a new appointment letter in the mail. Yesterday my fiance got the letter. So, it looks real, but it just seems so strange....

Got an appointment letter or a letter requesting additional information?