Intent to Marry Letter

[TNguyen501 2]

My 129f got approved on September 2, 2015. Still have not heard anything from the NVC yet. Tried calling them but they said they have not received it and said to wait 35 days. It has been a month now. Anyway this is not my question.

So I was looking through the forum and most people said not to get marry before she goes to the US.

But, for our intent to marry statement I wrote:

Upon approval, we intend to get marry as soon as possible upon my fiancée’s arrival to the U.S. We will go to Probate Court of .............. to register for our marriage certificate. Our wedding party will be held right before my fiancée leaves Vietnam at her home: ......... There will be approximately 350 people including our families, relatives and friends. The estimated costs of our wedding will be about $20,000 U.S. dollar. There will also be a small wedding party held in the U.S. to introduce my wife to families, relatives, and friends in the U.S. We also plan on spending our honeymoon in ........, Vietnam for three weeks. I am really looking forward to start a family with my fiancee. I swear under the penalty of perjury that the above statement is true and accurate. Thank you very much for your assistance in this matter. Should you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Will this be an issue at the interview? We want to have a ceremony before she leaves Vietnam because well I am also Vietnamese, so most of her and my families and relatives are in Vietnam.

Would this be an issue? Or should I not even mention about this unless they ask about it. And if they ask about it would my reason be ok "since most of her and my families and relatives are in Vietnam?

[LionessDeon 2,060]

Oh wow that was a lot of information. I don't think I would've been talking about wedding parties and all those details. Did you see the sample letter of intent under the example forms tab? It's very short simple and to the point. Sometimes less is more. Depends on the customs and culture though.

http://www.visajourney.com/examples/Fiance_Letter_of_Intent.doc

[chillin4me 15]

you can't have a wedding ceremony in Vietnam as K1 visa is only for unmarried couple. Letter of intent should be simple, only stating that you are willing to marry your fiancee within 90days of her arrival in US

[frontgear 194]

Wedding party in VN is a no-no. Don't do it. Wait until she gets here. You can marry and get your marriage license in court, and a formal ceremony/reception can follow at a later time.

Don't volunteer too much info on the Letter of Intent. Just simply say, "I hereby promise to marry my fiancee within 90 days of her arrival into the U.S.". No more, no less.

Edited October 3, 2015 by frontgear

[Anh map 2,098]

The letter of intent is short and simple. Nothing like what you have written. Use the example letter here on VJ to create a letter of intent. LOOK HERE>>>>>>>http://www.visajourney.com/content/examples

[TNguyen501 2]

The problem is USCIS already approved my petition so what to do? I heard that during the interview you need to bring in a copy of your 129f paperwork which included the "intended to marry statement." So the consulate probably got a copy of it too from USCIS. Do I just go ahead and write a new "intended to marry statement" or If the question does come up about why are we doing a party right before she leave. How would I answer them? I was thinking and tell them that since most of our families are in Vietnam so we are just having a going away party.

Edited October 3, 2015 by TNguyen501

[Klipsch17310 17]

When I attended the interview with my fiancee ..We signed a new one with both signature on it ...Do not worry too much

[LionessDeon 2,060]

Many times an updated letter is needed at the interview. Do a new updated one using the simple example given here. If they question about the first one let them know you will not be doing any wedding celebration.

[Anh map 2,098]

An approved petition is not the same as an approved visa application. DO NOT follow advice that tells you to lie. That can have serious consequences.

In Vietnam the big party is expected and the consular officers know this. In fact they look for evidence of having the Dam Hoi / Dinh Hon. You don't need to talk about how much you spent/ will spend. That may impress friends and family but the Consular Officer isn't measuring your party expenses. Money spent does not equal love and commitment.

Yes, the interviewing officer will have the file with all that you have submitted. For the reaffirmed letter of intent just submit a simple letter with both signatures. You can't undo what you've submitted. Explain the party if needed. They are looking at whether this is a true, genuine relationship or a scam to obtain a green card. Honeymoons come after marriage. So talk of a honeymoon prior to entering the US will raise additional questioning.

[TNguyen501 2]

It is a genuine relationship. We just want to have a party before she leaves Vietnam. Since we don't really know when she will see all her family again. So it is a good way to gather everyone together. We already have our Dam Hoi/ Dinh Hon already. The money is just an estimate. I hired a lawyer to help with the paperwork. They asked me about where we will get our marry certification and how much we will spend on our wedding and where we will have our honeymoon. So I just gave them an estimate. And I help with the statement.

So don't know I guess we will see what happen.

Thank you for all the responses.

Edited October 4, 2015 by TNguyen501

[Anh map 2,098]

Your lawyer didn't give you much help it seems.

A party is great and a normal thing to do. However you are in the world of immigration and things go a bit differently. Also, HCMC being a high fraud consulate you are held to a higher standard than other places in the world. Your attorney should have known this. But that is the past.

Now you prepare as best you can. Did you frontload (supply lots of documentation of the development of your relationship, time spent together, etc.) with your initial filing? That's often helpful in HCMC. If not, begin gathering that info to have at the interview. For ideas/examples do some reading here in the Vietnam forum.

Do some reading and then ask questions here as needed.

[AmAjjD 33]

I noticed you said you plan on having a honeymoon in Vietnam. Just make sure you are aware that your fiancee cannot leave the US without a greencard or advanced parole, which will not be instantaneous. You will need to start the AOS process and either complete it or get approved for AP first. If you leave the US before having one of these issued, your fiancee will not be allowed back in and you will have to restart the process with the spousal visa.

[raven52 233]

Way too much information, but if it is done.,.,.just make the best of it.

Good luck!

[IandI 5]

Do the letters of intent need to be signed by petitioner and fiance?

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

****** One post removed for advocating lying to immigration ******