K-1 Visa Approved without Front-Loading

[ToNhi 21]

Just curious to see if anyone else had been approved for a K-1/CR-1 or any other types of marriage-based visas from the Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam Embassy (a high fraud consulate) without front-loading and also submitting the bare minimum. My immigration consultant that I used had worked for the Ho Chi Minh City embassy as a Visa Supervisor 20 years ago but she basically sent the most minimum barebone packet for our K-1 application. We did not include a relationship timeline, a family tree, chat logs, socia media screenshots, statements from family members, or any photos of our Dinh Hon/engagement party and were approved anyways.

The only thing that she sent into USCIS for our petition was:

I-129F petition itself,

Our 2x2 photos,
Non-long form birth certificates,

~20 photos of us together at non-landmark locations and photos with family and friends from before our engagement party (non-dated and no names or names of location included in the back)

Copies of passport stamps + boarding passes

No hotel/travel receipts and chat records were included

The interviewer literally asked us a few questions each (petitioner and beneficiary) and we were approved. They maybe looked through about ~20 of our Dinh Hon/engagement photos when I forced them through the window slot nearing the end of the interview before she gave us the results. 

Just curious to see if anyone else has had this easy of an experience. All of the stories that I read about Vietnam being super difficult was untrue. 

[EatBulaga 315]

@ToNhi Not Ho Chi Minh. And not sure what you are asking? Be glad for your smooth approval.

 

Congratulations on your K1. But you still have long processes ahead of you: US entry, AOS, etc., of which any number of things can happen if you lose focus or not prepared for the details. As the football coaches say, focus on your next play.

Edited October 5 by EatBulaga

[ToNhi 21]

@ I was told to frontload for the HCM Embassy, as many people have received OF-194 Refusal Blue Slips for not bringing things like a Family Tree, Relationship Timeline, Proof of Purchase of Airline Tickets (Credit Card Statements), Statements of Relationship from Family Members/Friends, Not Having a big engagement party, Getting engaged too quickly, Not spending more than 1+ year together before sending the I-129F, etc. I had done none of these and was still approved. 

[smilingstone 175]

3 hours ago, ToNhi said:

All of the stories that I read about Vietnam being super difficult was untrue. 

 

37 minutes ago, ToNhi said:

I had done none of these and was still approved. 

 

So be thankful that you got lucky. Just because your experience was (positively) different, that doesn't make all previous stories "untrue".

[Liam2021 583]

On 10/5/2024 at 8:06 AM, ToNhi said:

Just curious to see if anyone else had been approved for a K-1/CR-1 or any other types of marriage-based visas from the Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam Embassy (a high fraud consulate) without front-loading and also submitting the bare minimum. My immigration consultant that I used had worked for the Ho Chi Minh City embassy as a Visa Supervisor 20 years ago but she basically sent the most minimum barebone packet for our K-1 application. We did not include a relationship timeline, a family tree, chat logs, socia media screenshots, statements from family members, or any photos of our Dinh Hon/engagement party and were approved anyways.

The only thing that she sent into USCIS for our petition was:

I-129F petition itself,

Our 2x2 photos,
Non-long form birth certificates,

~20 photos of us together at non-landmark locations and photos with family and friends from before our engagement party (non-dated and no names or names of location included in the back)

Copies of passport stamps + boarding passes

No hotel/travel receipts and chat records were included

The interviewer literally asked us a few questions each (petitioner and beneficiary) and we were approved. They maybe looked through about ~20 of our Dinh Hon/engagement photos when I forced them through the window slot nearing the end of the interview before she gave us the results. 

Just curious to see if anyone else has had this easy of an experience. All of the stories that I read about Vietnam being super difficult was untrue. 

USCIS only need bare minimum evidence to approved a petition. Everything will come down to the consular/embassy since they familiar with local culture. There are a lot of factors can decide the outcome of the case: age different, culture different, relationship history. Overall, HCM is hard, but it not hard if you prepare yourself with evidence. 

[ToNhi 21]

@Liam2021 Sorry for the confusing title. We passed our interview and Fiancee received her K-1 Visa by mail 2 days ago despite myself not front-loading the petition. We did not include a relationship timeline, a family tree, chat logs, socia media screenshots, statements from family members, or any photos of our Dinh Hon/engagement party. C.O. maybe looked through 20 of our Dinh Hon photos at the interview. 

[Th3Practitioner 0]

Can you DM me the Contact Info of the Consultant Office that you use? I would like to use it for my case too. Thanks

[Phamas 10]

On 10/7/2024 at 2:55 PM, ToNhi said:

@Liam2021 Sorry for the confusing title. We passed our interview and Fiancee received her K-1 Visa by mail 2 days ago despite myself not front-loading the petition. We did not include a relationship timeline, a family tree, chat logs, socia media screenshots, statements from family members, or any photos of our Dinh Hon/engagement party. C.O. maybe looked through 20 of our Dinh Hon photos at the interview. 

I am planning to do the same thing as well.  I have 2 binders prepared.  One with all the required documents then any other supporting documents will be ready when requested.  I think being prepared is important but frontloading too much information will just overwhelm them but makes you appeared nervous.