How many times did you meet prior to filing?

[Longrangeshootr 20]

Thanks longrangeshootr, I appreciate it. Curious I know the relationship timeline is pushed on VJ a bit specially in the VN region forums. I guess I still maybe missing this and its significance. It seems to be pretty nuanced to me. Most anyone on here met in say less orthodox ways then conventional otherwise we'd probably not be here. I tried to put a timeline but struggled to what milestones and stuff could really manifest in the conventional sense. I never 'proposed' as I couldn't fly there to simply propose and honestly wouldnt have unless I already knew for sure we were committing to each other one way or the other...etc. We discussed maturely which direction to go k1/k3...so we had a broad general casual dialog about it. We have kind of always openly talked about the possibility of our relationship from the get go I think thats natural for those w/ these type of long distance relationships. Eventually it just finally turns into a commitment and theres non real bullet item I would think, at least min my case.

I guess im pretty curious how you were able to curate a 3 page timeline?? I do agree is a good step for people very early on to get in the practice/habit of but still kind hard to understand how these manifest for some people on here.

For that trip I went one time for ~ 19 days. This way i could have comfortable timing to visit her entire maternal family and some of my extended family ..etc w/o rushing everywhere or such. Had I known my physical attendance at the interview would have been permitted I may have broken those up and came back for it however at the time I was under the impression it wasn't permitted. Must have missed that in all my prelim consults / research or i didnt corroborate it enough. I opted at the the time to make a lengthier trip as, as I'm sure you are aware its a long haul and kinda beats/wears you out...aside from the time off work and fiscal costs.

I'm sure you will be just fine. When I first started this journey I read up on the scandal at the Vietnam consulate. I'm not sure how many people are aware of Michael Sestak and the corruption that with millions of dollars in bribes for visas. Anyways he's in jail with others and the Vietnam consulate had some new faces take over. If you look at the Vietnam reviews of the last couple of years there has been some fundamental changes your not seeing a lot of the denials you would have seen In earlier years. Say for instance 1 meeting, no engagement party. I'm not saying by any means not to prepare. Just looking at reviews from 4 to 5 years ago to the last couple of years the consulate seems to have lightened up. Maybe with Sestak and his bunch in jail. Maybe with the new leadership there have been some positive changes to get away from the social norm.

[Longrangeshootr 20]

http://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/us-consulate-official-pleads-guilty-receiving-more-3-million-bribes-exchange-visas-scheme

Here's the link , you can't tell me Ho Chi Minh consulate wasn't corrupt.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

http://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/us-consulate-official-pleads-guilty-receiving-more-3-million-bribes-exchange-visas-scheme

Here's the link , you can't tell me Ho Chi Minh consulate wasn't corrupt.

I remember that article and like to post it once in a while when certain people insist there are no corrupt- crazy- as -heck CO's and that they

are always right and never wrong. There was another one years ago, have to look for it....

Edited October 31, 2015 by Ebunoluwa

[NikaMo 39]

Worried if we will have issues since we hadn't 'met' a lot. Hopefully others have been successful w/o issue...than just got curious, how many 'times' have you met prior to filing, assuming more than a weekend or something for those that are rather far away.

First physical visit December 2010 and got engaged in January 2011. Filed K-1 and by the interview time of September 2011,, visited her 2 more times and both of us visited 2 other countries together same airline shared same hotel rooms. Still got denied for unknown reasons although had mountains of evidence of relationships. Fought back got married refiled I-130 and by the next interview in September of 2013 I had 8 visits with again multiple countries travelling together boarding passes together visas in different countries in both of our passports etc all the evidence in the world for evidence. This time was treated like VIP and easy approval. By the way by that time, I found out it's virtually impossible to get approved at this embassy if you get engaged or married on your first actual visit. So I guess it depends on country. Not sure about Vietnam but Cambodia is neighboring country. It's also a high visa fraud black listed country. I saw in the news they recently arrested a CO in Vietnam embassy for taking bribes in exchange for visa approval. So it could potentially get difficult. Be ready to answer why did you get engaged to a person after meeting for first time in person in just few days.

[heo luoi 206]

Understand your points and see both perspectives.

I guess I'd say cause I wasn't going to fly my butt 1/2 across the planet without already knowing for sure I was going to. We communicated for hours 2x / day which is likely a lot more than all my USC friends here (many of whom are divorced, or wish they were or otherwise miserable ) Hopefully they get that and realize my being gainfully employed, upstanding tax paying USC is a better utilization of my time and money than flying back/forth excessively. Personally we want to start a family (together) the sooner together, the sooner that could (hopefully) happen.

Honestly why have a fiance visa at all then? ammiright? Just require a K3/CR1 and be done w/ it.

Argh, can it just be WED already.

First physical visit December 2010 and got engaged in January 2011. Filed K-1 and by the interview time of September 2011,, visited her 2 more times and both of us visited 2 other countries together same airline shared same hotel rooms. Still got denied for unknown reasons although had mountains of evidence of relationships. Fought back got married refiled I-130 and by the next interview in September of 2013 I had 8 visits with again multiple countries travelling together boarding passes together visas in different countries in both of our passports etc all the evidence in the world for evidence. This time was treated like VIP and easy approval. By the way by that time, I found out it's virtually impossible to get approved at this embassy if you get engaged or married on your first actual visit. So I guess it depends on country. Not sure about Vietnam but Cambodia is neighboring country. It's also a high visa fraud black listed country. I saw in the news they recently arrested a CO in Vietnam embassy for taking bribes in exchange for visa approval. So it could potentially get difficult. Be ready to answer why did you get engaged to a person after meeting for first time in person in just few days.

Edited October 31, 2015 by heo luoi

[heo luoi 206]

Kudos to your persistance NikaMo. Humbled for sure. Thats a long time for your resolve.

First physical visit December 2010 and got engaged in January 2011. Filed K-1 and by the interview time of September 2011,, visited her 2 more times and both of us visited 2 other countries together same airline shared same hotel rooms. Still got denied for unknown reasons although had mountains of evidence of relationships. Fought back got married refiled I-130 and by the next interview in September of 2013 I had 8 visits with again multiple countries travelling together boarding passes together visas in different countries in both of our passports etc all the evidence in the world for evidence. This time was treated like VIP and easy approval. By the way by that time, I found out it's virtually impossible to get approved at this embassy if you get engaged or married on your first actual visit. So I guess it depends on country. Not sure about Vietnam but Cambodia is neighboring country. It's also a high visa fraud black listed country. I saw in the news they recently arrested a CO in Vietnam embassy for taking bribes in exchange for visa approval. So it could potentially get difficult. Be ready to answer why did you get engaged to a person after meeting for first time in person in just few days.

[NikaMo 39]

They are interviewing 20/30 people a day for years and I am sure lot of them have very similar story like you. Embassy know that as well for dealing with them everyday. But you are not allowed to talk or bring it up. They are the one asking and you are not allowed to talk other then what they ask. Not all the embassies like that, just the high fraud listed ones. But people brought it themselves doing massive fraud in the past and embassy co's are liable if they issue visa which turned out to be fraud. Anyway I am sure most people have very similar story like you. Personally I was with my wife 7/8 hours a day on skype for about a year before I went to meet her even when we weren't talking we were connected via Skype 24/7 being she had wifi skype on all the time and I had unlimited internet on my phone. Everything you mentioned about you about citizenship, paying taxes, jobs....I mean I am in my same job for 24 years always paid taxes...never had any issues with anything...but it doesn't matter. They don't look at that or focus on it. All they focus on it few red flags in those high visa fraud countries and getting engaged or married on first visit is the most damaging red flag in my experience. Low risk visa fraud countries it doesn't matter. They don't even want to hear or look at other evidence showing long standing relationship when they focus on that issue. I am not very familiar with Vietnam though. But Vietnam is next door to Cambodia.

[heo luoi 206]

yeah I hear you. its what I'm afraid of. But its all out of my hands, I've given every bit of evidence i can think and I wont be there so Ill i can do i wait and keep the faith for once things stay on schedule for me. I was there 24 days and hopefully that will be of value vs multiple shorter trips or something.

It is interesting to see that a significant chunk of people have several trips though. Again would be cooler if granularly knew the distances/consulates involved.

They are interviewing 20/30 people a day for years and I am sure lot of them have very similar story like you. Embassy know that as well for dealing with them everyday. But you are not allowed to talk or bring it up. They are the one asking and you are not allowed to talk other then what they ask. Not all the embassies like that, just the high fraud listed ones. But people brought it themselves doing massive fraud in the past and embassy co's are liable if they issue visa which turned out to be fraud. Anyway I am sure most people have very similar story like you. Personally I was with my wife 7/8 hours a day on skype for about a year before I went to meet her even when we weren't talking we were connected via Skype 24/7 being she had wifi skype on all the time and I had unlimited internet on my phone. Everything you mentioned about you about citizenship, paying taxes, jobs....I mean I am in my same job for 24 years always paid taxes...never had any issues with anything...but it doesn't matter. They don't look at that or focus on it. All they focus on it few red flags in those high visa fraud countries and getting engaged or married on first visit is the most damaging red flag in my experience. Low risk visa fraud countries it doesn't matter. They don't even want to hear or look at other evidence showing long standing relationship when they focus on that issue. I am not very familiar with Vietnam though. But Vietnam is next door to Cambodia.

[Project_Harajuku 28]

We lived in the same country for over a year prior to filing. I think that helped our case and will help me at the interview since I know him inside out lol. Thankfully though my consulate is known to be one of the easier ones.

[NikaMo 39]

yeah I hear you. its what I'm afraid of. But its all out of my hands, I've given every bit of evidence i can think and I wont be there so Ill i can do i wait and keep the faith for once things stay on schedule for me. I was there 24 days and hopefully that will be of value vs multiple shorter trips or something.

It is interesting to see that a significant chunk of people have several trips though. Again would be cooler if granularly knew the distances/consulates involved.

You will be fine. Although you should have attended interview in my opinion

[TBoneTX 45,288]

the scrutiny level of our Consulate and Manilla is significantly different

This is an understatement.

OP, the only responses truly germane to your situation are those from experienced Vietnam filers.

The worst reviews from HCMC will be most instructive.

See "Embassy Reviews" (link atop any VJ page).

Because it's too late to adhere to every recommendation in the Vietnam forum, fingers crossed.

Edited November 1, 2015 by TBoneTX

[Longrangeshootr 20]

Thanks longrangeshootr, I appreciate it. Curious I know the relationship timeline is pushed on VJ a bit specially in the VN region forums. I guess I still maybe missing this and its significance. It seems to be pretty nuanced to me. Most anyone on here met in say less orthodox ways then conventional otherwise we'd probably not be here. I tried to put a timeline but struggled to what milestones and stuff could really manifest in the conventional sense. I never 'proposed' as I couldn't fly there to simply propose and honestly wouldnt have unless I already knew for sure we were committing to each other one way or the other...etc. We discussed maturely which direction to go k1/k3...so we had a broad general casual dialog about it. We have kind of always openly talked about the possibility of our relationship from the get go I think thats natural for those w/ these type of long distance relationships. Eventually it just finally turns into a commitment and theres non real bullet item I would think, at least min my case.

I guess im pretty curious how you were able to curate a 3 page timeline?? I do agree is a good step for people very early on to get in the practice/habit of but still kind hard to understand how these manifest for some people on here.

For that trip I went one time for ~ 19 days. This way i could have comfortable timing to visit her entire maternal family and some of my extended family ..etc w/o rushing everywhere or such. Had I known my physical attendance at the interview would have been permitted I may have broken those up and came back for it however at the time I was under the impression it wasn't permitted. Must have missed that in all my prelim consults / research or i didnt corroborate it enough. I opted at the the time to make a lengthier trip as, as I'm sure you are aware its a long haul and kinda beats/wears you out...aside from the time off work and fiscal costs.

Before the first trip I read the forums and knew the scrutiny at the Vietnam consulate. My main forms of communications with my then fiancée were tango and Viber. When I sent my I-129f in it weighed 7.5 lbs over 1000 pages and 250 pics. I know some people say quality is better than quantity, but I tried to paint a picture. I had 7 months of Viber texts which I made my timeline from which I inserted page numbers for reference to events. Anything from getting my passport to purchasing airline tickets. I continued the timeline in Vietnam with pics actually showing us picking out rings and our engagement party. I also traveled to phu Quoc island and added everything we did everyday and had pics to back it up, from visiting the pearl farms, to the fish sauce company and the prison. I also had a 3 page of how we met. I took a lot of time preparing my petition and many hours researching what others did, all I can say is it worked for us.

[heo luoi 206]

Fiance said lots of blue slips today. Shes was virtually the only one w/o the petitioner there and that made her super nervous. They asked. She explained why I wasn't there, that I was there for 3.5 wks when I did go. Others told her their petitioner visited upwards of 5x...and was blue slipped. I agree everyone should likely front load. I think maybe i was just lucky but I'll take it. More and quality face time(time together) certainly goes a long way, hopefully that can be conveyed however it can be.
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/574112-visa-approved-thanks-heres-my-what-i-did-and-why-how-i-did-it/

Thanks for everyones insights, I'll try to be more judicious continuing forward.

[Pitaya 2,577]

daily via Skype, four times in person

[heo luoi 206]

wow daily skype, not sure i could handle that.