Photos of Engagement Party

[Hurry&Wait 92]

Hi All,

 

I have spent many hours reading about the K-1 Process over the past few months and have used it to begin preparing our application. This site provides a wealth of information!

 

I am in Vietnam for the second time, and we just had our engagement ceremony. Now, I have a couple concerns/questions before sending in the I-129F application, which I hope you may help us with as we begin this journey.

Others have stressed the importance of having an engagement party that is representative of one’s income or status in the USA. Her parents also seemed to want to have a large gathering, so we went for it! Looking back, I realize that ours almost went overboard with about 400 people in attendance (so many considering her hometown does not have a stoplight), went for [almost] two full days, an MC, band, translators…OK, you get the point. Now, I am concerned about this appearing as a wedding when we [eventually] go to the interview. As I choose photos to send in with the application, what “flags” or “signs” that this is not just an engagement should I look for in the photos? We are only engaged, but as an American, it even felt a lot like a wedding!

 

The second concern I have is the number of photos to prove our relationship is "real". There are older and newer posts that elude to the number of photos being too few or too many. What number do recent successful petitioners suggest?

 

Thank you in advance for your assistance!

[KULtoATL 1,551]

Skip the engagement party photos because even just by reading what you posted, it almost sounded like a wedding to me too  Just use photos of the both of you together, with her parents, siblings and a few close friends in a normal surrounding.

 

Since my fiancé and I only could manage 3 real life meetings, we posted a bunch of photos taken at different time and place from all the meetings. I can't really tell you what's a good number because we frontloaded as a precaution.

[Ryan_Chialien 15]

For K1 you only have to prove you've met in person once in the last 2 years.   I think we only sent in about 8 photos from different things we did plus copies of a couple of cruise passes from cruises we took and travel information for her.  You don't need to go overboard with photos sent in for a K1.  Just follow the guide here and what it says to mail in and you'll be fine.  From reading here it's more important to have things like airline tickets or event tickets for both of you proving you were in the same place at the same time. Photos are considered secondary evidence and don't establish date and location.   There is no requirement to have an engagement party at all to begin with.  Your applying for K1 you still have to get married once you arrive in the US so I really don't think it matters if you had a party in Vietnam or not because there's no marriage certificate issued in the US.  If you were married you'd be applying for a different visa type anyways.

[Hurry&Wait 92]

Thank you both for your responses! It seems that I may have been too worried about the prevelance of visa fraud, or the opinion that it exists in Vietnam. Now, I think that we should have completed the application about six weeks ago after I returned from my vacation in Vietnam. Well, a few weeks is not much in the long term. Also, her father is here in HCMC now and is VERY happy that we had the party. Status-wise, it makes him look great in his community! I will only include a few photos of the Dinh Hon since we have them, but it seems that we did not need to have the extravagant party (per the US Government's expectations)!

 

Thanks again, 

Nathan

[frontgear 194]

I would send a few pics of the engagement party with both of you, you and her family, relatives, friends, etc. Don't send too many.

 

Not to rain on your parade, but If her family thinks the size of an engagement party is representative of your wealth and/or status in the U.S., then I can't imagine what they would want from you when she arrives. My wife has only been here 2 and 1/2 yrs and her father back home has already asked her to buy a car and ship it back home for him to drive. **shaking my head**

[Chi&Clint 203]

I thnk you should send a few photos of your engagement party, not too much. Some of VNese parents they do really care about how big a wedding party is, because they want their friends and their neighbours admire them haha. Marrying a VNese wife cost too much money (j/k)  

[Anh map 2,098]

The interviewer will expect to see some photos of the Engagement party.  It's all about showing that you have a true relationship where the family is aware and approves.   

 

Your fiancee will know which pics to use.  Be sure to show the engagement part with the two families meeting (or whomever you had speaking for your side).  The big wedding party style gathering isn't a big deal.  In cases where the spouse/fiance lives overseas it's usually a one shot deal.  If you didn't sign the book at the government office, you didn't get married in VN.  

 

There are a lot of well meaning members here on VJ, but HCMC is a tougher nut than most.  Follow members who have passed through the Consulate here for the best guidance.  

[Hurry&Wait 92]

On 3/25/2017 at 8:25 AM, Anh map said:

The interviewer will expect to see some photos of the Engagement party.  It's all about showing that you have a true relationship where the family is aware and approves.   

 

Your fiancee will know which pics to use.  Be sure to show the engagement part with the two families meeting (or whomever you had speaking for your side).  The big wedding party style gathering isn't a big deal.  In cases where the spouse/fiance lives overseas it's usually a one shot deal.  If you didn't sign the book at the government office, you didn't get married in VN.  

 

There are a lot of well meaning members here on VJ, but HCMC is a tougher nut than most.  Follow members who have passed through the Consulate here for the best guidance.  

Thank you for the concise explanation! I have been carrying the application packet around with me for a few days and decided to send it in right after reading your post yesterday. The photos you suggested were in the folder and photos that include my mother in the engagement as well as interacting with Thuy's family are there. We postponed the engagement so that my mother could obtain her visa and attend. This was a wonderful experience for all of us! Now, it seems that we will be patiently waiting for a while.

 

Thanks again!!!

[Mike & Tuyen 598]

So glad to have found this forum!  Tuyen and I just got engaged in February, so we are getting all of our ducks in a row.  I will devour all the information I can get.  I have the packet all put together, and will do a review once more before sending it off.  So IF everything goes well, I'm guessing 6 - 8 months if I'm understanding the timelines right.

 

Mike & Tuyen