Will living together before marriage help or hurt our case?

[aloram 1]

My fiancee is a Vietnamese woman and I'm an American man, and we've started the process to get married here. We've lived together in Hanoi for 9 months or so. Since this situation is illegal in Vietnam, will us living together before getting married help or hurt our case with the HCMC Consulate? On the one hand, it shows we've known each other and been together awhile; on the other hand, it might reduce our credibility in their eyes. Any knowledge about this situation?

Thanks everyone.

Edited June 21, 2012 by aloram

[aloram 1]

Sorry, I meant to say we've started the process to get married HERE IN HANOI.

Edited June 21, 2012 by aloram

[VinceN 25]

Why are you asking this again when there was already a lengthy discussion in your other thread about the same question?

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/372586-what-if-we-dont-follow-traditions/

[ScottThuy 140]

Why are you asking this again when there was already a lengthy discussion in your other thread about the same question?

http://www.visajourn...low-traditions/

things have changed slightly,,, now they are getting married and filing, before they were looking to K1.. documentation of the long term relationship will be a great help.. what things do you have to document it?

[VinceN 25]

things have changed slightly,,, now they are getting married and filing, before they were looking to K1.. documentation of the long term relationship will be a great help.. what things do you have to document it?

Thanks Scott, I overlooked that detail. However, I think the same points from the other thread still stand, which comes down to this relationship is not the cultural norm and that could be frowned upon by the CO. Good luck OP.

[quann 26]

if you guys are getting married because of love regardless whether she gets a visa or not, then imo it makes the most sense to get that out of the way. why would you be concerned if it helps or hurts your case? if anything the process will appear stronger to the CO than a K-1 visa, not matter how uncoventional and pi$@ on VN tradition it is.

the bigger problem here is reconciling with her parents. no matter how modern and independent any girl is being shunned and estranged from your parents gotta hurt. feels like we're getting an incomplete picture of the situation.

[ScottThuy 140]

TOS post removed and 1 citing it removed.