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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #25670
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Review on February 25, 2019:

WFinished

WFinished


Rating: 		Review Topic: K1 Visa

HCMC, Vietnam US Consulate Review

My Fiancee and I arrived around 05 something. The usual people you read about in reviews were there trying to carral you into chairs that sit directly across from the Consulate but you do not have to as they charge you for it and then when they learn that you know of there little scheme they pretty much tell you to go away cause if we stand around then others will follow suit. Basically, it was bad for their business.

It will seem like you cannot wait across the street but you actually can. If you are standing in front of the Consulate and looking at it then you will notice the left half has zero barriers while the right half has a barrier that covers the entire right side and even wraps around as well. I had my Fiancee ask if we were actually allowed on that side and he did not care. Only thing I did not ask was if we were allowed within the barrier (just poles). From the center leading to the right are multiple entrances. The door furthest to the right is marked Entrance/Visas. I assume that if you ignore the people trying to place you into a chair and actually ask the Guards that most likely, you can wait and be the first in line.

After you line up to enter the premises.
Beneficiary needs to have at the ready 1x Passport, 1x Interview Confirmation Page with the Case # written largely (not small like mine or they have you redo it lol) at the top right corner, and 1x visa photo.
Petitioner if there needs to have Passport at the ready for ID Checks.
They will start a 2nd line but unsure what that line is actually for.

Entering the premises:
The newly created 2nd line enters first, they wand down each person, tell you to turn off any cell phones and to keep them in your hands and then check any bags/backpacks/shoulder bags that you might have.
Then the 1st line that formed enters in the same fashion.

Security Checkpoint:
Once you enter the premises you are filed line after line into 4 main lines. Then, starting with the far left you’re slowly filed into the security checkpoint where they will scan your bags, you walk through a metal detector and hand over your cell phones where they will give you a nice big plaque so you can retrieve your phones before exiting the premises.

Check-In:
After you go through security you are directed to the left where there is a lonely desk with a single person. This is where the Beneficiary initially checks in and then you are directed back down passed the security doors.



Next Steps:
Once passed the security doors the Beneficiary is directed into a new line (not sure what this is actually for) and the Petitioner if there is directed to go sit down. Feel free to have the Petitioner go sit down as none of the documents will be needed at this point. I think here the Beneficiary still only needs the passport, visa photo, and interview confirmation page still and that's it. At this Window, the Beneficiary is issued a Number. This number is very important as it is the number they will call you guys on.
Windows 1 through 7 seems to be where they want only the required Documents. Once called upon, the lady asked me these questions:
Are you the Petitioner? - Yes
What do you do for a living? - Currently Unemployed Veteran.
Oh, you are a Veteran? - Yes.
Please have a seat. - Not till I help her pull all these documents out of the bag for her.
Her issued number was 2031 and then when it was called on this is where it got really stressful for my Beneficiary because I had all the documents listed in order per the Revised 2018 edition and within classified folders. This person made her remove everything from the binders quickly to where she started placing documents out of order and then getting confused. I made her hold them and took them from her after that point because they made her come sit back down. I told her to relax and I took the rest of the papers out and she only took to them what they requested. She almost snapped under the pressure from this lady. She is glad I was there.
To add a small note here:
We had an Engagement Ceremony on 11/25/2018 and immediately within that week or two I had us do update Intent to Marry Letters stating we were still single and willing to get married. I also had her get a freshly updated Eligible to Marry Letter as well.
Wouldn’t you know it? They actually requested her Eligible to Marry Letter So I am glad that we spent the time and money to get her a new and updated and translated Eligible to Marry Letter.
Afterward, we went deeper into the room where windows 11 through 20 were. I noticed there were 3 cameras. 1 at the far end of each part of the room and another almost in the center. I decided to pass th time by embarassing and teasing the hell out of my Fiancee because she was that nervous. Especially, after what the first window had put her through making her stress out and almost snap under the pressure. I also reorganized her documents for her so she could have an easy time. Finally, after an unknown amount of time had passed. Her number was called.
We went up to Window number 15 where a lady with red hair and an interpreter awaited us. I greeted them and told them who we were. I was never told to go sit down but this is where it got funny…
Redhead: “Are you ready?”
Fiancee: “Yes.”
Redhead: “Did you read the pamphlet that was handed to you on Domestic Violence?”
Fiancee: “Yes.”
Redhead: “Do you have any relatives in the U.S.?”
Fiancee: ”No.”
I cock my head and look at her funny with that “You silly girl” look. lol
Redhead: “How did you meet your Fiance?”
Fiancee: “I met him through my Cousin **** who introduced him to me over Facebook so I could have someone practice English with me but I fall in love with him instead and I don’t know why.”
I just smirked and was like shit and once I started to laugh a little the Redhead giggled a little to…
Redhead: “Let’s go back. Are you sure you do not have any relatives in the U.S.?”
I was like omg now she is able to correct herself…
Fiancee: “Umm..”
I am thinking like omg come on… :’( lol
“Redhead: “What about your Cousin?”
Fiancee: “She lives in Columbus, Ohio. Oh shit. I forgot.”
I lost it at that point and was just like omg we are so doomed and I slapped my forehead but I couldn't stop myself from laughing…
Redhead: “When did you first meet?”
My Fiancee looked at me and I just said no worried I barely heard her too and I asked her to repeat the question because neither of us could hear her clearly from where she didn't realize she was too far back. She apologized.
Redhead: “When did you First meet?”
I looked at her and said “Come on. You got this I know you know it.”
Redhead: “You can answer it if you know it.” As she looked at me.
I grinned. “We first started talking on or around October 13th, 2017 when her Cousin first introduced us.
Redhead: “How about in person?”
Me: “The very next month. November 2017 when I flew there to meet her in person.”
Redhead: “Wow. You guys fell in love pretty fast eh?”
Me: “Hahaha yeah.”
Fiance: “I love him though.”
Redhead started laughing and then said: “Congrats. Your visa has been approved.”
My Fiancee jumped and cheered with joy as she nudged me and told me that was a lot easier than she expected and told me good job on my Interview since I ended up answering her questions for her and that she was jealous because she wanted to answer them cause she did know the answers.. Roflmao.
After that, we heard a "good luck guys" from this couple that went the Spousal route and they had just passed their Interview as well. I was like "Woah hold up. We just got approved too". The two girls gave each other hugs of congrats and we made lunch celebration plans or well they did before we could even ask them if they would like to celebrate together. We headed for the exit and turned in the plaque to get our phones back and then exited the premises.


Notes:
Back in 2018, people were handed an Approval Slip and then told to go see that lonely person at the lonely desk as I described from the beginning for the Check-in. This was where you reported last and could request to expedite your Visa to about 1 week instead of the 2 weeks. Now for 2019, you can choose premium shipping to expedite,as well as update the shipping address all at once upon scheduling your K1 Visa Interview online.
Here on VisaJourney, I have a private chat with 9 of us total.
Only 6 if the 9 of us have had Interviews so far from January 2019 to Feb. 25th, 2019.
Here are the odds of Approvals, Blue Slips, & Denials:
Approvals: 3
Blue Slips with Approvals: 3
Blue Slips with Denials: 0
Denials: 0
We even had one couple in the group to where the Petitioner could not attend the Interview due to Work and his Fiancee soloed the Interview and was Approved.
So the odds are about 50/50 for a Blue Slip but do not lose face as wants you to give them what they want you will end up most likely getting an Approval.
Questions for the Petitioner Overall:
Are you the Petitioner?
What do you do for a living?
When did you first meet?
When did you first meet in person?
Questions for the Beneficiary Overall:
Did you read the Pamphlet about Domestic Violence?
Do you have any relatives in the U.S.?
How did you meet your Fiance?
I’ve noticed some people post about the heat and what to wear. I wear dress pants with a long sleeve dress shirt. I dressed to impress for my Fiancee. They have ceiling fans and it still felt cool. It was not that hot and we were there up till about 11-ish or something like that.

I hope this helps for those of you doing the K1 Visa Interview for 2019.


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