What to bring to interview for CR1 visa to US embassy in Vietnam

[TNQA0327 3]

This question is for VJs who have gone through the interview process and visa in hand:

So, i've submitted the AOS and IV to NVC and now prepping for the next step in the process.

1. what do we need to bring to our interview? what are some items that you didnt expect but required?

2. I am the petitioner sponsoring my wife, I am also a US citizen. I do not have a vietnamese birth certificate. will my wife need to bring my birth cert to the interview?

3. it is a good idea to make word document timeline and bring it to the interview to help with important dates?

4. how many pictures is too many?

5. what are some proof of bonafide marrige, beside pictures, that you guys brought to your interview that helped your case?

[JRF 117]

This question is for VJs who have gone through the interview process and visa in hand:

So, i've submitted the AOS and IV to NVC and now prepping for the next step in the process.

1. what do we need to bring to our interview? what are some items that you didnt expect but required?

You should objectively review the facts surrounding your relationship, and use this analysis to determine what you should bring to the interview. Every case is different - my wife and I brought a lot of supplemental information to her interview but this was very specific to her situation. The CO focused on this situation (we were well prepared fortunately) and didn't spend any time looking at all of the beautiful pictures, timelines, receipts, etc. That doesn't mean you shouldn't bring these items (they are basically table stakes) but do not be surprised if they are ignored.

2. I am the petitioner sponsoring my wife, I am also a US citizen. I do not have a vietnamese birth certificate. will my wife need to bring my birth cert to the interview?

I assume you are Viet Khieu - no, you do not need your birth certificate. You've already established your legal basis for petioning your wife by verifying citizenship. No need for your birth certificate (regardless of country of birth).

3. it is a good idea to make word document timeline and bring it to the interview to help with important dates?

Sure - it's nice but the real utility comes from the fact that by creating the timeline your wife will be very familiar with the relationship chronology (which can be fuzzy over time and when under stress).

4. how many pictures is too many?

Any more than four pictures per trip is, in my opinion, plenty. I suppose though that the real limit of pictures is how many you and your wife can carry into the interview. Seriously, I think people overdo it with pictures.

5. what are some proof of bonafide marrige, beside pictures, that you guys brought to your interview that helped your case?

We had extensive documentation around each trip (receipts, boarding passes), Skype logs (excerpts, G-rated), receipts for my Vietnamese classes (kind of dissapointed those were not acknowledged by the CO...but my in-laws were impressed), and the timeline. Perhaps the best documentation of a bonafide relationship though was me smiling and standing next to my wife in the consulate.

See above - good luck.

[TNQA0327 3]

JRF, Thank you so much!

Do you mind elaborating on what the CO focused on? You can leave out anything you don't feel comfortable sharing, I just want to get an idea on what to expect.

Edited November 4, 2014 by TNQA0327