Any benefit to registering at the US Consulate?

[confusedasheck 21]

For HCMC (and Vietnam in general), is there any benefit if you register with the US consulate on trips if you decide to file for a finance or spousal petition in the future?

[RICARDO4EVA2 194]

For HCMC (and Vietnam in general), is there any benefit if you register with the US consulate on trips if you decide to file for a finance or spousal petition in the future?

I believe that is only so that they are able to contact you in the every of issues in that country where you'd register.  Registration has no weight that the travel took place or relationship involvement and so to answer your question I would say no.

Edited February 7, 2011 by RICARDO4EVA2

[Tuanv 2]

I would register anyway. It takes about five minutes online.

[RICARDO4EVA2 194]

I would register anyway. It takes about five minutes online.

what is the benefit..?

[luckytxn 2,264]

It doesn't benefit in the visa part but it does help if the embassy/consulate needs to get a hold of you if an emergency arises. It used to be that you couldn't register online and every time I went to a foreign country and there were a few I would always find the nearest one and go and register so they knew who I was and where I was in case of an emergency. It would also allow me to talk with them and ask certain things like areas to stay away from and things of that nature.

[confusedasheck 21]

I'm ignorant of how this works, so please excuse my ignorance. So there is no benefit to going in person to a US consulate office and registering while in Vietnam? No way that this provides proof that you've been in the country?

[RICARDO4EVA2 194]

I'm ignorant of how this works, so please excuse my ignorance. So there is no benefit to going in person to a US consulate office and registering while in Vietnam? No way that this provides proof that you've been in the country?

No.. it shows no proof of presence in any country. Presence can be proved by Airline tickets, Hotel/Car Reservations, Receipts, Photos at Landmarks for example if I took a picture with the daily paper standing in front of a US Post office then it is proof i was in the USA. In addition I have to prove who i visited. The he same would be applied to Vietnam saying you were in the country says nothing unless you are able to validate your presence and relationship with valid proof.

See the link below

http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/registration/registration_4789.html

Hope it helped to make things clearer for you,

[luckytxn 2,264]

I'm ignorant of how this works, so please excuse my ignorance. So there is no benefit to going in person to a US consulate office and registering while in Vietnam? No way that this provides proof that you've been in the country?

Yes it can provide proof that you were in country if you go in person and not do it online.

[RICARDO4EVA2 194]

Yes it can provide proof that you were in country if you go in person and not do it online.

Dont think they are given a receipt that they came to register. And besides that's not primary evidence of presence.. why did the sponsor travel..? wouldnt that be more than enough if ALL he is now trying to get proof of is being in the country.?

[luckytxn 2,264]

Dont think they are given a receipt that they came to register. And besides that's not primary evidence of presence.. why did the sponsor travel..? wouldnt that be more than enough if ALL he is now trying to get proof of is being in the country.?

When I registered I had to show my passport and then sign a book they had. They then entered the info on their computer. This is proof that you were in country. Online they can't prove it this way. Now of course we know that doesn't prove that you were there for the relationship at all but he is not asking that. For sending in proof that you went you still need to send proof that you went like airline tickets and the such. You can try to send a note and say to look it up in their files but they need that info for their own files. Of course we need to establish a relationship to the utmost and being lazy and sending in as little as possible and making as little effort as possible is a bad idea. Thew more info you send in and more effort shows that you are trying to show proof.

[confusedasheck 21]

I'm actually not trying to be lazy (believe me, after learning about the HCMC consulate, that is something that I don't intend to be). I just thought this would be another piece of evidence that could be used in addition to the other recommended evidence.

[RICARDO4EVA2 194]

I'm actually not trying to be lazy (believe me, after learning about the HCMC consulate, that is something that I don't intend to be). I just thought this would be another piece of evidence that could be used in addition to the other recommended evidence.

I told you straight up but I can tell you again - that going there to register in person is like eeeh. It's for your protection. Think about it ... So what if you were there...? Remind me again you're just trying to have proof you were in the country is that all..?

Also as mentioned above by someone else ... yea you might sign a log book but seemed there is no evidence that will be given to you.

[cedwards001 18]

I never registered any of my trips to VN with the US Consulate and my wife still got a pink slip. Focus more on building proof of a bonafide relationship and also preparing your fiance/wife for the interview. If you have not yet filed the petition, put as much proof of your trips to VN and also address any red flags with evidence. In my opinion that is more important then registering with the Consulate. I think that is only useful for emergencies such as if a Typhoon is about to hit VN or something.

[luckytxn 2,264]

I'm actually not trying to be lazy (believe me, after learning about the HCMC consulate, that is something that I don't intend to be). I just thought this would be another piece of evidence that could be used in addition to the other recommended evidence.

Maybe a poor choice of words. What I mean more is that it the USCIS is who you have to prove to when the petition is sent in that you both have met within the last two years in order to even get the petition ok'ed and pushed on. They have no way I can imagine to get into the consulates database but maybe they could. They will need to see and have the proof along with the petition to even consider it. By lazy I meant someone that just sends a note along with the petition saying to look up at the consulate for their proof that they were even in VN. After that then it will go to the consulate as you know and then the proof of a relationship kicks in.

The only real benefit of signing in is to let the consulate know you are in country and how to get a hold of you in case of emergency. Very few even register though. I do so as I was raised to do so and when I used to have to travel a lot many years ago it was required of me.

[confusedasheck 21]

Thanks for all the replies.

So it's basically useless as proof of visiting Vietnam. I wonder if the HCMC consulate would look that data up when they do investigation on a petition? Just a thought.