Din Hon requirement?

[Nemesiser 69]

It's not a requirement, but if it increases your chances of getting approval. Would you do it? The answer is up to you. Same thing applies to this question. Would you attend the interview with your fiance if it increases your chances of approval even though it's not required? There are people go through this process without Dinh Hon ceremony, without attending the interview, without having financial stability and still got approved, but it doesn't mean it would apply to you, every case is different. For our case, anything helps and makes it go smoother, I would do it rather than dealing with getting denied and all the hassle it comes with. Don't put any doubt in the mind of the IO in my opinion. 

[poh 125]

After we got her visa, I returned to Vietnam to escort my fiancee back to the states and while I was there we had the engagement ceremony and party.   if you do have a wedding ceremony in Vietnam, be prepared to spend about $2000 or more for dowry and few thousand dollars  more for the party where she will invite all of her family ,relatives and friends!  You can buy it with your fiancee at the local jewelry shop.  Her and her family expect you to to give her a gift such as  a set of gold ring, earring, bracelet and necklace to the bride.  Either you do it now or later.  According to my fiancee, traditional Vietnamese girls want some sort of engagement ceremony because she will be frowned upon by her relatives or neighbors for leaving her family with a stranger.   Be prepared for long  wedding photo sessions, too.  Your fiancee probably want pictures taken.

Edited December 29, 2017 by poh

[rafaeltost 1]

3 hours ago, poh said:

After we got her visa, I returned to Vietnam to escort my fiancee back to the states and while I was there we had the engagement ceremony and party.   if you do have a wedding ceremony in Vietnam, be prepared to spend about $2000 or more for dowry and few thousand dollars  more for the party where she will invite all of her family ,relatives and friends!  You can buy it with your fiancee at the local jewelry shop.  Her and her family expect you to to give her a gift such as  a set of gold ring, earring, bracelet and necklace to the bride.  Either you do it now or later.  According to my fiancee, traditional Vietnamese girls want some sort of engagement ceremony because she will be frowned upon by her relatives or neighbors for leaving her family with a stranger.   Be prepared for long  wedding photo sessions, too.  Your fiancee probably want pictures taken.

yeah   i heard about all of that.  

[rafaeltost 1]

3 hours ago, poh said:

After we got her visa, I returned to Vietnam to escort my fiancee back to the states and while I was there we had the engagement ceremony and party.   if you do have a wedding ceremony in Vietnam, be prepared to spend about $2000 or more for dowry and few thousand dollars  more for the party where she will invite all of her family ,relatives and friends!  You can buy it with your fiancee at the local jewelry shop.  Her and her family expect you to to give her a gift such as  a set of gold ring, earring, bracelet and necklace to the bride.  Either you do it now or later.  According to my fiancee, traditional Vietnamese girls want some sort of engagement ceremony because she will be frowned upon by her relatives or neighbors for leaving her family with a stranger.   Be prepared for long  wedding photo sessions, too.  Your fiancee probably want pictures taken.

I actually have a quick question about her entry to the states.   I plan to escort mine here also.   Were you allowed to go with her together when the customs officer goes through her paper work and visa  or did you have to go in the seperate line designated for US Citiezens.  In my airport  IAH  U S Citizens go to a seperate line.  My seem like a dumb question but just curious because i would like to be in the same line as her and talk with the officer together if he has any questions.

[frontgear 194]

22 hours ago, rafaeltost said:

I actually have a quick question about her entry to the states.   I plan to escort mine here also.   Were you allowed to go with her together when the customs officer goes through her paper work and visa  or did you have to go in the seperate line designated for US Citiezens.  In my airport  IAH  U S Citizens go to a seperate line.  My seem like a dumb question but just curious because i would like to be in the same line as her and talk with the officer together if he has any questions.

You go with her.

[stringpuller 74]

On 12/28/2017 at 9:57 AM, Nemesiser said:

It's not a requirement, but if it increases your chances of getting approval. Would you do it? The answer is up to you. Same thing applies to this question. Would you attend the interview with your fiance if it increases your chances of approval even though it's not required? There are people go through this process without Dinh Hon ceremony, without attending the interview, without having financial stability and still got approved, but it doesn't mean it would apply to you, every case is different. For our case, anything helps and makes it go smoother, I would do it rather than dealing with getting denied and all the hassle it comes with. Don't put any doubt in the mind of the IO in my opinion. 

What about employment obligations and visitations that cant be made prior to? Is it a good idea to have an employer stated restriction of vacation time and cannot attend interview? 

[TBoneTX 45,297]

Read previous responses carefully and interpret them literally.

[cyclone27 710]

You don’t need to attend the interview if your relationship is genuine supported by your evidence. 

[poh 125]

On 12/28/2017 at 7:05 PM, rafaeltost said:

I actually have a quick question about her entry to the states.   I plan to escort mine here also.   Were you allowed to go with her together when the customs officer goes through her paper work and visa  or did you have to go in the seperate line designated for US Citiezens.  In my airport  IAH  U S Citizens go to a seperate line.  My seem like a dumb question but just curious because i would like to be in the same line as her and talk with the officer together if he has any questions.

Good question.  i was curious about this as well and on recent  trip from Vietnam prior to escorting my wife , i checked out the area of my airport where Port of Entry took place.   I asked the airport security staff where my Vietnamese  fiance need to go and to submit her brown envelope when she arrives .  The airport  staff was nice enough to show me where i need to go. They told me i can accompanied my wife when she arrives.   Basically, at my airport, there was a seperate line with dedicated CBP officers  where "visitors" without U. S. passport enter U. S.  This is where they seperated us and asked  us few questions about how, where we met, etc. The CBP advised us to get married soon because  she  will be subject to deportation after the visa expiration.  this is where you submit brown envelope.  

 

They stamped her vietnamese passport and my U. S. passport and bypassed the normal line i would use to enter U. S.

 

Since airports operate little differently, once you land at your POE with your wife, just ask one of the airport staff where you and your fiance need to go.   they should be able to help you.  It should be easy.  Good luck. 

Edited April 10, 2018 by poh

[poh 125]

18 hours ago, stringpuller said:

What about employment obligations and visitations that cant be made prior to? Is it a good idea to have an employer stated restriction of vacation time and cannot attend interview?

if you never visited her and not accompany her to the visa interview then it may raise eyebrows.  if you never visited her then best you try make it but if your circumstances prevent you from doing so then you can't.  I doubt they will look at the letter from your employer since it is not one of the required documents you need to bring to the interview.   I recall any documents they didn't need was returned to me prior to the interview.  

Edited April 10, 2018 by poh