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Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam | Review on August 14, 2013: | hodao22
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Rating: | Review Topic: K1 Visa
We got to the Le Duan Street at around 6:30 A.M. The sun was breaking through the morning fog (a good omen), and we felt confident about our chances but not like we were out of the woods. The little service industry that popped up across the street from the consulate seemed to be acting as an unofficial liaison, with some guy touting, when we arrived, that the consulate didn't open until 7:00 A.M. and that no one is allowed to wait outside the gates before then. Therefore, we should just wait across the street, where it just so happens we can conveniently buy something to eat and drink. Hmmm...
My fiancee and I were skeptical, but this in fact is true. We were sternly motioned by a menacing Vietnamese guard to wait on the other side of the street. He blew the whistle at us twice. I wanted to get moving before he blew it again a third time, but my fiancee told me not to worry as she gathered what she needed from the motorbike before finally releasing me to scurry off to look for parking.
We waited across the street for about 15 minutes before the same guy who accosted us the first time told us to start lining up. Then at his command we walked in two lines across the street to enter the consulate. We didn't enter right away, but waited approximately 10 more minutes in our lines before two consulate police arrived to usher us into the large control room, but not before the tout had long disappeared and a few more dozen stragglers filed in behind us. We were lucky to be near the very front. I turned around to see that the line had grown quite long. We were happy that we were first, but still a little nervous about what lay ahead.
When we sat waiting across the street, my fiancee asked me a couple of final review questions including: "What are the requirements for a K-1 visa?" She knew the answer, but wanted to be sure, so in good humor I answered her. When we got inside we lined up according to the type of Visa we were applying for before going through another security check.
Once they are in the consulate, beneficiaries are finger printed electronically, then each is given a number. When your number is called the first time, you go up to the window and submit all your paperwork. When your number is called a second time, you are sworn in and the interview takes place.
We waited no more then an hour before I started getting that familiar sensation in my stomach, so I excused myself to the restroom. When I returned my fiancee was already nearing the end of her interview. They allowed me to be present for the remainder of it. The C.O. that interviewed my fiancee was tall, skinny and fair skin, with a handsome face. My fiancee began the interview speaking in English, but then was told to speak in Vietnamese. It turned out that the C.O. understood Vietnamese. The interview questions however, were asked by the Vietnamese interpreter. The questions were:
1)What does you fiance do for a living?
2)When did you first meet him?
3)How many times have you met him?
4)How did you meet him?
5)Do you have any children?
6)Does he have any children?
and just as I came walking around the corner the last question they asked my fiancee was...
7)What are the requirements for a K-1 visa?
At this point the C.O. was convince. He motioned with his hand and said we're good. He looked at a few photos of our engagement ceremony but nothing else from our oversize bag of evidence. It happened so fast, the excitement didn't fully hit us until we were walking out of the consulate. The euphoria was like getting an apron from Gordon Ramsey. My fiancee said it was one of the most exciting process she had ever experienced. We had waited a long time and spent hours and hours and hour preparing. Good things come to those who wait.
Good luck too all!
Approved baby! javascript:emoticon(' ')
(updated on January 26, 2016)
(updated on January 26, 2016)
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