Interview in Ho Chi Minh City

[banjoruth 8]

We got our NOA 2, and we were approved!

So excited, now I am getting everything ready for the next stage.

I had a question, has anybody done their interview in HCMC Vietnam?

I am considering flying out for the interview to be with my fiancé. But i have heard that i will not be allowed to attend the interview, I was told that I would wait outside while she was interviewed?

The plane ticket and time off are difficult. I have made three visits this year and it is costly. Let me know if anyone has any experience or suggestions. Thank you.

[Girl from Celebes 588]

We got our NOA 2, and we were approved!

So excited, now I am getting everything ready for the next stage.

I had a question, has anybody done their interview in HCMC Vietnam?

I am considering flying out for the interview to be with my fiancé. But i have heard that i will not be allowed to attend the interview, I was told that I would wait outside while she was interviewed?

The plane ticket and time off are difficult. I have made three visits this year and it is costly. Let me know if anyone has any experience or suggestions. Thank you.

The petitioner is not allowed to join the interview unless it is stokes interview that requires both parties to attend. You can come inside the US embassy building but you have stay in waiting room.

Edit: My husband came to Jakarta to be with me at the interview. He was allowed come inside the complex but had waited during the interview. When I told the CO that my fiance was waiting outside the room, he stopped asking me questions and I got approved.

Edited September 5, 2014 by Girl from Celebes

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from K1 Process to Vietnam Regional Forum~

~Inquiry is country-specific~

[Torete 121]

OP,

It is for a K-1 visa?

Check out this link:

http://hochiminh.usconsulate.gov/iv/faq/info.html

17. I am a petitioner. May I accompany the beneficiary to the Consulate for the interview?

If the petitioner is in Ho Chi Minh City at the time the beneficiary’s visa interview, the petitioner may accompany the beneficiary. However, please note that the interview is scheduled specifically to evaluate the beneficiary’s eligibility, and the petitioner may be asked to wait in the waiting area. The interviewing officer will speak to the petitioner only if he/she determines it is necessary for the assessment of the case.

Please forgive me in advance if the link isn't applicable or I've posted inaccurate information.

Regards.

[frontgear 194]

Yes, you're allowed to accompany your fiancee to her interview. You may be asked to remain in the waiting area during the interview and the CO will speak to you if he/she determines that it is necessary for the assessment of the case.

In fact, I am scheduled to fly to HCMC in roughly 2 1/2 wks to be with my fiancee at her interview.

Below is a snippet of the reply I received from the consulate when asked about attending the interview.

[T&T&T 31]

My take on it: " please note that the interview is scheduled specifically to evaluate the beneficiary’s eligibility" this is a quote from the form email sent by the consulate in HCMC to answer this question. The beneficiary can be interviewed in English or Vietnamese. If you are confident your petition is solid, no red flags, in my opinion you do not need to be at the interview. I say this because you state that time off from the job and finances are difficult. Most K1 visa are approved in HCMC without the fiancé being present. Save your time and money for a trip to HCMC to get married and file an I-130 in case your petition is denied.

[JRF 117]

You will be permitted inside the consulate but unless the interviewer has a need to speak with you (i.e., some sort of red flag) it's unlikely you'll be of much help. At best (assuming no red flags) you might make a favorable impression but at the cost of a round trip ticket and time off work. My advice is to save your money if it's a straight-forward case. You'll need that money once she arrives, to (among other things) adjust status.

[T&T&T 31]

update.... just returned from the interview, I was not allowed at the window during the interview. I was asked to take a seat and was never called during the interview. Approved...

[skyking02 11]

update.... just returned from the interview, I was not allowed at the window during the interview. I was asked to take a seat and was never called during the interview. Approved...

congratz!!!!!!!!!!

[banjoruth 8]

Thanks to all for your replies. So far our case has been straight forward.

It is the waiting that is the most difficult.

She is completing her DS-160 online.

and reieved form 135 in the mail today. Thanks again.

[banjoruth 8]

update.... just returned from the interview, I was not allowed at the window during the interview. I was asked to take a seat and was never called during the interview. Approved...

Happy to hear you were approved. Did they require a birth certificate from you?

[frontgear 194]

I accompanied my fiancee to her interview this past Tuesday. While we were waiting for her number to be called, we saw numerous people exiting the interview with a blue slip. Many left weeping. I would say 8 out of 10 left with a blue slip. I went up to the window with my fiancee but was told to take a seat and would be called if needed. The interviewing officer was a middle-aged gentleman who speaks Vietnamese fluently. He was polite, courteous, and easy going. He spent about 8 mins asking my fiancee 5-6 questions and told her that her visa would be ready in 2 weeks. He then asked to speak with me and told me about the visa printing issue and that we shouldn't be worried. My fiancee had told him that I had already bought the ticket for her.

He never asked about my birth certificate or even the relationship timeline that I had prepared in advance.

Edited September 25, 2014 by frontgear

[natalie.le 10]

congrats frontgear! thanks for your help!

[frontgear 194]

congrats frontgear! thanks for your help!

Thank you, natalie. Wishing you best of luck with your journey!

[heo luoi 206]

Anyone offer insights as to the type of questioning at the interview?

Do they have translaters, and have any bias if in vietnamese vs english?

Just curious to the verbosity / comprehensiveness of the questioning... or something to better gauge expectations