Visa Denied Also

[pasaitoh 0]

Hello Everyone,

Boy I wish I found this website a week or two ago. We in a similar boat to the thread AmericanGentleman started.

My fiancee, Ngoc had her interview at the HCMC Consulate on Monday the 16th at 8 am.

We thought we were really well prepared. We ran through the instructions multiple times, made sure we had everything in duplicate. Our lawyer (US Lawyer) said our case should be open and shut no problem. We had plenty of evidence and it was well documented. Ngoc listened and practiced sample questions prepared by our lawyer, and I grilled her to make sure we were prepared.

Then disaster struck.

Ngoc was interviewed by a Asian man and a female translator. Had we known about the translators, Ngoc would have done the interview in English. We only opted for the translator, because we didn't want any misunderstandings. Big mistake.

Looking back on what was asked, these seem to be the problem:

How did you meet? = My Uncle JBV and introduced us.

How did you Fiance propose? = He gave me a diamond ring and asked me to marry him. -- this lead to two more questions

You didn't have an engagement party? = No, just proposed with the ring

What is your relationship to your Uncle? What is your Uncle's relationship to your fiance? = My uncle is my Grandmother's Sister's Son (so really 2nd cousin). Uncle JBV and my fiance are friends.

Here is the big problem - Translator still says to the interviewer that Uncle JBV is an Uncle not a Grandmother's Sister's Son.

Then the BLUE slip asking for the following:

Two Electronic DS 156 (We had two typed ones -- ok no big deal, we goofed a little on the convoluted instructions)

List of Names, dates of birth, addresses of Family in the US -- Ok we can get this together fairly easily

Timeline of relationship - Ok no problem, can have it notorized at the embassy. Only problem is I write JBV is her 2nd cousin (which is 100% true).

Petitioner - Proof of purchase of 3 trips worth of airline tickets by credit card statement (weird considering my tickets are included in the packet with our proof, but not a problem)

We rush around all morning thinking we just need to turn this in, and we will be in good shape. Go back to the embassy at 3 pm. Told by security I cannot have my timeline notorized until 8 am. Ok no biggie, what is one more day?

We go back on the afternoon of June 17th at 1pm. We figure it shouldn't take like maybe one and a half hours. Four hours later Ngoc comes out crying saying " They Said We Lied!" #######?

We got the GREEN SLIP:

Beneficiary and Petitionerstatement conflict = She says her Uncle introduced them and her uncle is friends with petitioner. Petitioner says 2nd cousin introduced them, and that Uncle is his best friend

Claim to have started communicating in March 2006, but email starts in August 2007.

Internet phone records only show billing, not phone number of petitioner or beneficiary

Photographs submitted as proof do not show the petitioner and beneficiary have spent more than 2 days together.

CASE BEING SENT BACK TO USCIS

#######?

So I call the Consulate on the cab ride, and am told I cannot speak to a CO. Our case is being returned etc. I said your CO didn't do their job. I can prove he is wrong. They say ok, bring back the GREEN sheet with your proof.

So I write a nice letter explaining everything. The translators miscue, the fact that we are talking about the same exact person, regardless if he is her uncle or second cousin or other semantic BS. I don't know why there was no email from March 2006 to August 2007. I print out our backups of the missing email. I download detailed billing from Skype and Yahoo Voice showing Ngoc's phone number and the time and cost of each call. Finally and this is the one that really annoys me is the pictures. We submitted about two hundred photos. I went and printed 800 more photos from my flickr account. Each with a date stamp showing the date the photo was taken from the EXIF information. Over 15 different days. 2 my butt.

Head back to the embassy at 8 am. Get sassmouthed by the woman at the window. I demand to speak to a CO and an American. Finally she says if I come at 1pm I can talk to one of the COs.

1pm comes around. I am first in line. Get my ticket and wait. Talk to another local at the window. Won't let me do anything without giving him our Green sheet and proof. Gives me another ticket and says wait by window number 9. 3 Hours go by and it seems everyone with Fiancee cases has been called over a hour ago. Now we are into regular immigration and work type visas from what I can tell. Only locals show their faces in the windows. So when a window opens up I jumped in before they could call the next number. THEY FORGOT ABOUT ME. Then I had to give them my Fiancee's name again, case number etc. Wait some more please. She comes back finally about 40 minutes later. Sir this visa is being sent back to the US. AHHHHHHHHH!!!!! I said I want to talk to the supervisor now. Thinking that if I can talk to an American, he will use his brain and see, duh well we had some paperwork to get cleared up, but we would have it settled. No Dice. Middle aged guy wearing glasses.

I asked him what seemed to be the problem. He said they had a "feeling" our relationship was a sham. I was like what? I said we did everything you asked us. I wrote a detailed letter. I proved everything you said was an issue wasn't. Why do you "feel" our relationship is a sham, that is very nebulous. He said yeah it is. I asked him how can I prove to you that our relationship is genuine. He said I really don't see how you can. I said well look at the letter and the evidence. He said how do I know you did this, how do I know the evidence is real. You didn't sign your letter. I didn't because the man up front took it before I could ask questions. Could I sign it now? Do you have proof of who you say you are? Is my US Passport good enough? I'll hold off on sending this back to USCIS for a few weeks and maybe I'll look this stuff you provided over. I told him I am here until the 24th. Lets get this taken care of. I can come back everyday if needed. No DON'T COME BACK (it wasn't a suggestion), I'll call your girlfriend if I change my mind.

So needless to say we are floored. I just got back a few hours ago. I've called my representative and am waiting to be called back. I don't know what else to do, all our plans were tossed away. Our deposit for wedding pictures lost. We can't make invitations, her wedding dress, my suit. My parents are having to change their vacations at work. This is messing up two familys. Nevermind me having to explain to her relatives why we aren't getting a visa.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Edited June 25, 2008 by pasaitoh

[*JG* 2]

God, I am so sorry.

[panamania79 2]

Hello Everyone,

Boy I wish I found this website a week or two ago. We in a similar boat to the thread AmericanGentleman started.

My fiancee, Ngoc had her interview at the HCMC Consulate on Monday the 16th at 8 am.

We thought we were really well prepared. We ran through the instructions multiple times, made sure we had everything in duplicate. Our lawyer (US Lawyer) said our case should be open and shut no problem. We had plenty of evidence and it was well documented. Ngoc listened and practiced sample questions prepared by our lawyer, and I grilled her to make sure we were prepared.

Then disaster struck.

Ngoc was interviewed by a Asian man and a female translator. Had we known about the translators, Ngoc would have done the interview in English. We only opted for the translator, because we didn't want any misunderstandings. Big mistake.

Looking back on what was asked, these seem to be the problem:

How did you meet? = My Uncle JBV and introduced us.

How did you Fiance propose? = He gave me a diamond ring and asked me to marry him. -- this lead to two more questions

You didn't have an engagement party? = No, just proposed with the ring

What is your relationship to your Uncle? What is your Uncle's relationship to your fiance? = My uncle is my Grandmother's Sister's Son (so really 2nd cousin). Uncle JBV and my fiance are friends.

Here is the big problem - Translator still says to the interviewer that Uncle JBV is an Uncle not a Grandmother's Sister's Son.

Then the BLUE slip asking for the following:

Two Electronic DS 156 (We had two typed ones -- ok no big deal, we goofed a little on the convoluted instructions)

List of Names, dates of birth, addresses of Family in the US -- Ok we can get this together fairly easily

Timeline of relationship - Ok no problem, can have it notorized at the embassy. Only problem is I write JBV is her 2nd cousin (which is 100% true).

Petitioner - Proof of purchase of 3 trips worth of airline tickets by credit card statement (weird considering my tickets are included in the packet with our proof, but not a problem)

We rush around all morning thinking we just need to turn this in, and we will be in good shape. Go back to the embassy at 3 pm. Told by security I cannot have my timeline notorized until 8 am. Ok no biggie, what is one more day?

We go back on the afternoon of June 17th at 1pm. We figure it shouldn't take like maybe one and a half hours. Four hours later Ngoc comes out crying saying " They Said We Lied!" #######?

We got the GREEN SLIP:

Beneficiary and Petitionerstatement conflict = She says her Uncle introduced them and her uncle is friends with petitioner. Petitioner says 2nd cousin introduced them, and that Uncle is his best friend

Claim to have started communicating in March 2006, but email starts in August 2007.

Internet phone records only show billing, not phone number of petitioner or beneficiary

Photographs submitted as proof do not show the petitioner and beneficiary have spent more than 2 days together.

CASE BEING SENT BACK TO USCIS

#######?

So I call the Consulate on the cab ride, and am told I cannot speak to a CO. Our case is being returned etc. I said your CO didn't do their job. I can prove he is wrong. They say ok, bring back the GREEN sheet with your proof.

So I write a nice letter explaining everything. The translators miscue, the fact that we are talking about the same exact person, regardless if he is her uncle or second cousin or other semantic BS. I don't know why there was no email from March 2006 to August 2007. I print out our backups of the missing email. I download detailed billing from Skype and Yahoo Voice showing Ngoc's phone number and the time and cost of each call. Finally and this is the one that really annoys me is the pictures. We submitted about two hundred photos. I went and printed 800 more photos from my flickr account. Each with a date stamp showing the date the photo was taken from the EXIF information. Over 15 different days. 2 my butt.

Head back to the embassy at 8 am. Get sassmouthed by the woman at the window. I demand to speak to a CO and an American. Finally she says if I come at 1pm I can talk to one of the COs.

1pm comes around. I am first in line. Get my ticket and wait. Talk to another local at the window. Won't let me do anything without giving him our Green sheet and proof. Gives me another ticket and says wait by window number 9. 3 Hours go by and it seems everyone with Fiancee cases has been called over a hour ago. Now we are into regular immigration and work type visas from what I can tell. Only locals show their faces in the windows. So when a window opens up I jumped in before they could call the next number. THEY FORGOT ABOUT ME. Then I had to give them my Fiancee's name again, case number etc. Wait some more please. She comes back finally about 40 minutes later. Sir this visa is being sent back to the US. AHHHHHHHHH!!!!! I said I want to talk to the supervisor now. Thinking that if I can talk to an American, he will use his brain and see, duh well we had some paperwork to get cleared up, but we would have it settled. No Dice. Middle aged guy wearing glasses.

I asked him what seemed to be the problem. He said they had a "feeling" our relationship was a sham. I was like what? I said we did everything you asked us. I wrote a detailed letter. I proved everything you said was an issue wasn't. Why do you "feel" our relationship is a sham, that is very nebulous. He said yeah it is. I asked him how can I prove to you that our relationship is genuine. He said I really don't see how you can. I said well look at the letter and the evidence. He said how do I know you did this, how do I know the evidence is real. You didn't sign your letter. I didn't because the man up front took it before I could ask questions. Could I sign it now? Do you have proof of who you say you are? Is my US Passport good enough? I'll hold off on sending this back to USCIS for a few weeks and maybe I'll look this stuff you provided over. I told him I am here until the 24th. Lets get this taken care of. I can come back everyday if needed. No DON'T COME BACK (it wasn't a suggestion), I'll call your girlfriend if I change my mind.

So needless to say we are floored. I just got back a few hours ago. I've called my representative and am waiting to be called back. I don't know what else to do, all our plans were tossed away. Our deposit for wedding pictures lost. We can't make invitations, her wedding dress, my suit. My parents are having to change their vacations at work. This is messing up two familys. Nevermind me having to explain to her relatives why we aren't getting a visa.

Anyone have any suggestions?

I know exactly how you feel.I am so sorry.Call your senator also and have him write you a letter also.

[What's next 1]

give it a couple of days. i was in the same situation. i understand the fustration and helplessness. wait a few days, then give them a call for status. you may want to advise your attorney. sorry man.

[Gradie and Jane 0]

Im sorry this happen to both of you... but there's a saying TRUE LOVE conquers all and offer this everything to God, and He will give you the answer.

[KGSodie 0]

Being the sarcastic SOB I can sometimes be, I would have latched on to him referring to your 'girlfriend', and would have said "Since you just referred to her by a term that implies a relationship of which you are aware, isn't that proof to you???"

[Kevin and 10]

Sorry to hear what happened to you, I can relate. Have you had your Attorney contact the Consulate? Have your Senator and/or Rep contact the Consulate also.

[pasaitoh 0]

Being the sarcastic SOB I can sometimes be, I would have latched on to him referring to your 'girlfriend', and would have said "Since you just referred to her by a term that implies a relationship of which you are aware, isn't that proof to you???"

Man I wish I had thought of that at the time.

[pasaitoh 0]

Sorry to hear what happened to you, I can relate. Have you had your Attorney contact the Consulate? Have your Senator and/or Rep contact the Consulate also.

My Attorney said at this point you can't fight city hall. I might as well go for a K-3. Starting to think my lawyer isn't all that great.

Still trying to get calls back from my Senators and Rep.

[brnidokiegurl 0]

get your state rep......the lawyer just sees more money...i dont know how your embassy works but some at casa have been held and process with visa in the end..refile and your looking at another year

[KimandRuss 0]

Your attorney should be your hope right now. Find another if he's not going to do anything to keep it there. It's imperative that you keep your petition in Vietnam and not let them send it back to the uscis.

Being the sarcastic SOB I can sometimes be, I would have latched on to him referring to your 'girlfriend', and would have said "Since you just referred to her by a term that implies a relationship of which you are aware, isn't that proof to you???"

that was good!

[Kevin and 10]

Sorry to hear what happened to you, I can relate. Have you had your Attorney contact the Consulate? Have your Senator and/or Rep contact the Consulate also.

My Attorney said at this point you can't fight city hall. I might as well go for a K-3. Starting to think my lawyer isn't all that great.

Still trying to get calls back from my Senators and Rep.

That's BS, this is the point where your attorney should be stepping up for you. Get rid of him/her if they won't perform the service you hired them for.

[AmericanGentleman 0]

Pasaitoh,

This may be of little consolation, but you just saved me 2000 dollars and possibly a long prison sentence in a vietnamese jail and/or a bullet from a marine.

As you may have read I have been torn between trying to go to Vietnam right now and go to the embassy in person and demand to speak to the Chief CO. Had I gone and went thru what you just did, I would have throttled the man! I am not a violent person and have not stuck a person out of anger since the 5th grade, but everyone has a breaking point and THAT would have been it for me, for sure.

I am getting no response from my congresswoman or my senators. In addition to hiring ME I am going to try to contact someone in the State Department and tell them that something is SERIOUSLY wrong at this embassy. This is so effed up.

[pasaitoh 0]

I just spoke with ME. He said in my case it might be difficult to get it turned around at HCMC, but he could help. Basically he said the CO I spoke to is the head at HCMC and isn't very nice. So here is hoping!

[DARUMA07 25]

I have nothing to add, but I just want to say I am sorry that you two have to go through this.... Fight till the end. The wheel that squeaks the most gets the grease! Good Luck to you both!