Are they allowing petitioners to attend their spouses' visa interviews?

[Bill Hamze 89]

I'm helping my wife prepare for the interview using this link.

 

In one section it says: 

 

Quote

 

Accompanying persons

The following persons may accompany a visa applicant to their interview:

Applicants may bring ONE interpreter if they do not speak English or Vietnamese well enough to participate inan interview.

Applicants may bring ONE person to help if they are elderly, disabled, or a minor child.

 

 

It doesn't say that applicants can bring their petitioning spouse. 

 

I've always imagined that petitioners can attend the interview (and that helps the case), but with covid, are they still allowing this or not?

 

Edited March 30, 2022 by Bill Hamze

[PaulaCJohnny 713]

56 minutes ago, Bill Hamze said:

I'm helping my wife prepare for the interview using this link.

 

In one section it says: 

 

 

It doesn't say that applicants can bring their petitioning spouse. 

 

I've always imagined that petitioners can attend the interview (and that helps the case), but with covid, are they still allowing this or not?

 

Depends of the Consulate. You can send a mail and ask.

 

[Redro 4,611]

58 minutes ago, Bill Hamze said:

I'm helping my wife prepare for the interview using this link.

 

In one section it says: 

 

 

It doesn't say that applicants can bring their petitioning spouse. 

 

I've always imagined that petitioners can attend the interview (and that helps the case), but with covid, are they still allowing this or not?

 

Read reviews from Vietnam. 

https://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php?cnty=Vietnam 

But, situation might have change. 

 

Seoul Consulate has the same message but recent reviews seem to suggest the petitioner can enter the consulate. 

[Stein 276]

I attended my wife's interview in HCMC in November 2020.  Heck, I answered most of the interview questions for her!  It was rare to see a spouse there because it was during covid and most petitioners had been living in US during the application process and could not come for the interview because the border was closed.  I was the only one there the day we went.  I guess that put it as a rubber-stamp for bona-fide since I had to have been in country most of the year because the border was closed in March.

 

Are you currently living in country or are you planning to travel to attend the interview and help her move back?  They are JUST NOW starting to issue tourist visas to come.  Now if you got a VEC or TRC since you are already married then getting in isn't a problem.

Edited March 30, 2022 by Stein

[Bill Hamze 89]

10 hours ago, Stein said:

I attended my wife's interview in HCMC in November 2020.  Heck, I answered most of the interview questions for her!  It was rare to see a spouse there because it was during covid and most petitioners had been living in US during the application process and could not come for the interview because the border was closed.  I was the only one there the day we went.  I guess that put it as a rubber-stamp for bona-fide since I had to have been in country most of the year because the border was closed in March.

 

Are you currently living in country or are you planning to travel to attend the interview and help her move back?  They are JUST NOW starting to issue tourist visas to come.  Now if you got a VEC or TRC since you are already married then getting in isn't a problem.

I’ve been in the country since 2017, when we started dating and have a TRC. 
 

So 5 years in country, not worried about bona fide, but more about domicile. If I can get in, then I expect to get grilled about it. 

[Stein 276]

1 hour ago, Bill Hamze said:

I’ve been in the country since 2017, when we started dating and have a TRC. 
 

So 5 years in country, not worried about bona fide, but more about domicile. If I can get in, then I expect to get grilled about it. 

I don't understand, grilled about domicile?  Don't you live together?

[Bill Hamze 89]

19 minutes ago, Stein said:

I don't understand, grilled about domicile?  Don't you live together?

Yeah we live together, which pretty much seals the proof of bona fide relationship. 

 

But I've been out of the U.S. for 6 years. Having domicile in the U.S. pretty much means living in the U.S., so I hope that I did a good job of maintaining domicile there while away... like keeping my driver's license and voter registration up to date, maintaining my U.S. bank accounts, and keeping a permanent U.S. address (my sister's house). 

I can imagine them asking "so you haven't been living in the states for 6 years... why go back now?"

[Redro 4,611]

4 minutes ago, Bill Hamze said:

Yeah we live together, which pretty much seals the proof of bona fide relationship. 

 

But I've been out of the U.S. for 6 years. Having domicile in the U.S. pretty much means living in the U.S., so I hope that I did a good job of maintaining domicile there while away... like keeping my driver's license and voter registration up to date, maintaining my U.S. bank accounts, and keeping a permanent U.S. address (my sister's house). 

I can imagine them asking "so you haven't been living in the states for 6 years... why go back now?"

What plans have you made to return to the States? 

Are you planning on living with your sister when you first arrive? 

Do you have a letter from her? Or have you been looking for housing/ a job?

 

Not sure about the Vietnamese embassy though. They might be pretty easy going when it comes to domicile. 

 

 

Edited March 31, 2022 by Kor2USA

[Bill Hamze 89]

Just now, Kor2USA said:

Are you planning on living with your sister when you first arrive? 

Do you have a letter from her? Or have you been looking for housing/ a job?

 

 

Actually, we're going to stay at my Mom's house for a couple of months and I have a signed letter of invitation from her. 

 

Then we're going to look for a place of our own. I have a few print outs of apartment rental options, car max quotes, and auto insurance quotes. 

 

As for my job, I have my own business, which is based in the U.S. and that income will continue after we move there.

[Redro 4,611]

2 minutes ago, Bill Hamze said:

Actually, we're going to stay at my Mom's house for a couple of months and I have a signed letter of invitation from her. 

 

Then we're going to look for a place of our own. I have a few print outs of apartment rental options, car max quotes, and auto insurance quotes. 

 

As for my job, I have my own business, which is based in the U.S. and that income will continue after we move there.

You should be fine then... 

P.S Could you possibly send the letter your mom wrote? We are going to be living with the inlaws when we first arrive and I'm not happy with the samples I've found online... 

Edited March 31, 2022 by Kor2USA

[Bill Hamze 89]

2 minutes ago, Kor2USA said:

You should be fine then... 

P.S Could you possibly send the letter your mom wrote? We are going to be living with the inlaws when we first arrive and I'm not happy with the samples I've found online... 

Sure, I can PM you a sample, but it's highly contextual. Not sure how well it's going to fit your situation. 

[Stein 276]

29 minutes ago, Bill Hamze said:

Actually, we're going to stay at my Mom's house for a couple of months and I have a signed letter of invitation from her. 

 

Then we're going to look for a place of our own. I have a few print outs of apartment rental options, car max quotes, and auto insurance quotes. 

 

As for my job, I have my own business, which is based in the U.S. and that income will continue after we move there.

So based on everything you said in the earlier messages and now have US business that I assume you pay US taxes on I really don't think you will have much issue with domicile.   They may ask a question or two but I doubt you will get pink slipped for it.  You have a reasonable plan for someone who has been living abroad for a couple of years.

[Bill Hamze 89]

56 minutes ago, Stein said:

So based on everything you said in the earlier messages and now have US business that I assume you pay US taxes on I really don't think you will have much issue with domicile.   They may ask a question or two but I doubt you will get pink slipped for it.  You have a reasonable plan for someone who has been living abroad for a couple of years.

Thanks, this makes me feel better. Been organizing my domicile papers this morning and I feel more prepared now. 

[Stein 276]

26 minutes ago, Bill Hamze said:

Thanks, this makes me feel better. Been organizing my domicile papers this morning and I feel more prepared now. 

When is the interview?  Good luck!

[Bill Hamze 89]

19 minutes ago, Stein said:

When is the interview?  Good luck!

Next Tuesday!