ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresQuestion on translating supporting doc such Emails
I personally don't think it's necessary to translate. I use English with my wife and VN with my father in law. I'm not planning on doing any translating - they can see the history of contact and my wife can handle during the interview. Doubt it will come up though.
JRFMaleVietnam2014-01-06 14:59:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHelp w/ I-129F, Question about addresses

So...I looked on the map and can see the road and the ward (phuong) in TP Soc Trang (Soc Trang city).  I would put the street number and name as indicated in the previous post, followed by Khom 3 Phuong 4 as indicated.  You have a street number and this is definitely in the city so you should be fine.

 

Soc Trang (same as city) province.

 

Your address is somewhere on the east side of TP Soc Trang.

 

 


Edited by JRF, 07 January 2014 - 11:29 PM.

JRFMaleVietnam2014-01-07 23:27:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresI-134
Shouldn't be an issue given the pay stubs and employment letter. You'll soon receive your w-2 so you'll have that as well.

Congrats on everything...marriage and job!


JRFMaleVietnam2014-01-11 11:56:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresPhone Records and Excel Sorting

Hi everyone, 

 

I am wondering if anyone who has already gone through this process has some advice about phone records and Excel. My phone company sent my records to me on a CD which contains an excel sheet of 190 pages. It lists all my text messages over a 6 month period, both with my fiance and other people. Since I know that I can't submit the CD and will need to print the records, I am wondering if it is best to print all 190 pages or to sort based on numbers first and then print out only the relevant phone calls. I am a little nervous to sort them because I do not want the excel sheet to look modified (since it is not on official company letterhead or anything). 

 

Any advice? Should I sort or print out all 190 pages and highlight the appropriate calls?

 

Thanks so much!

 

 

I am sure you can sort, as opposed to printing 190 pages and highlighting.  After all, if they want to know about your call records its not as if they don't already have that information...


JRFMaleVietnam2014-02-02 09:52:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresScanned letter of support? Or do we need an original?

These do not carry much weight - I decided the cost and effort was not worth the trouble - but like you I had letters and people offering to provide them.  I wanted to get all the evidence I could possibly muster.

 

As long as you can document visits with passport stamps, boarding passes, pictures, etc. these letters are of relatively little use.  If you think about it, why would the USG place much weight on a statement from a non-official person, especially if they are not a US citizen?  

 

I've seen people say notarizing is necessary, and others say it is not.  I am sure someone in Cambodia could notarize, all it would likely take is paying a fee and applying a stamp.  But you'd need to translate it...

 

Lot of trouble...but your call.  Best of luck!


JRFMaleVietnam2014-02-16 23:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresForm DS-160. Problem uploading photo
Sounds like they need to take the site down and restart it from the wording of the error. Nothing you can do on the client (your) side.

I'll save the comparisons to healthcare.gov...


JRFMaleVietnam2014-01-12 13:55:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCan I send DVD Videos to the embassy as proof of relationship?

Hi VJ.

 

After haven sent in all we have to proof our relationship, I am still asked again for the second time after my interview to bring "proof of relationship".

I was told it's not advisable to send in Videos CDs or DVDs, but right now I'm left with no choice but to do so.

 

I have several intimate  videos of me and my fiance together. Can I send them to the CO as proof of relationship?

 

 

OP...you were given a lot of good advice on prior threads over the past two weeks regarding your situation.  In my opinion simply submitting stills from a DVD will not help much, if at all.  Per your prior posts you've already given plenty of pictures, yet the CO asked for more support of a bona fide relationship.  This is another way of saying he doesn't care about the pictures as much as he suspects you are potentially defrauding the USC petitioner.  NOTE that I am not accusing you of doing this - I am merely stating what is likely given the relatively high rate of visa fraud in Cameroon (as stated by posters with experience in that country).  

 

One thing that struck me from your earlier posts is the fact that you submitted a wedding dress bill, wedding ring receipt, and wedding INVITATION as evidence.  This confused me at the time but I assumed Cameroon custom is to have a wedding ceremony for the benefit of relatives who cannot travel to the US for the legal wedding.  I don't know Cameroon customs...but including these items in your evidence wouldn't seem to me to help at all.  Such ceremonies are common in a country like Vietnam (where I am very knowledgeable about customs) but my advice to K-1 filers in Vietnam is to focus on the engagement ceremony and not any wedding ceremony (however benign) as it can only lead to a suspicion you are trying to short-circuit CR-1 wait times.

 

So...to reiterate...I am NOT accusing you of anything...I am merely suggesting you look back over your prior posts and determine whether you are realistically able to overcome the suspicions of the USG.  You need to be realistic - as other posters to your prior threads have indicated the reality may be that you have to legally marry your fiancé and apply for a CR-1.  More waiting?  Sure.  But you need to be realistic about what it will take to move here and join your fiancé.  Submitting stills from a DVD is, in my opinion, a waste of time.  Just my opinion however.

 

I wish you the best of luck!

 

JRF


JRFMaleVietnam2014-03-02 12:42:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureswant to apply for fiance visa..

Worrying about co-sponsors is an epic case of the cart before the horse.

 

To say this has red flags is a vast understatement...all it needs is for the male beneficiary to be far younger than the female USC.  

 

Either that, or an exercise in creative writing...

 

 


JRFMaleVietnam2014-02-09 13:20:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSame Sex K-1 Visa

Wishing you all the best - you can prepare things for filing upon your return from visiting her in June of 2014.  


JRFMaleVietnam2013-12-26 18:43:00
PhilippinesLetter of Intent (or when submitting for interview?)
Once again I thank you all for taking the time to answer our questions. Believe me when i say were appreciative and grateful.

I'll use the Texas lockbox address for the I129F and for the interview the embassy address in case they even ask.


AlexOzNot Telling02014-02-06 10:38:00
PhilippinesLetter of Intent (or when submitting for interview?)

 

United States Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

[ADDRESS OF FILING LOCATION]

 

or when submitting for interview

 

United States Department of State
United States Consulate,
[name of country where Embassy is located]
[Embassy Address]

 

Hello all again. So my fiancee and I are currently working on the letters of intent for a K-1 Visa and are pretty confused. We're using an example downloaded from this site and needed some assistance. So where it reads above "or when submitting for an interview," when i check the K-1 Visa guide here I don't see anything regarding this letter being necessary for the interview? Just for the I129F, Which has me wondering when and why we would use this for the interview? I tried looking all this up but couldn't find a good answer. I'm the USC and shes coming from the Philippines. We figure for the first package we both use the TEXAS lockbox address for address of filing location.

 

Thank you all again.


AlexOzNot Telling02014-02-03 10:03:00
PhilippinesQuick question on Japanese Embassy Manila
Thank you everyone. She's looking to go first thing in the morning. A chance opened up for her to visit today so she wants to take advantage of that. They're closed right now so she wouldn't be able to speak to anyone. I'll have her call first thing ahead. Maybe an automated system will mention times to visit. :)
AlexOzNot Telling02014-04-21 12:43:00
PhilippinesQuick question on Japanese Embassy Manila
Hello all, my fiancee is in need of a Japanese police certificate for the K1 visa. Since she needs to find time to go, we were wondering the best day and hr to visit? Thank you greatly and wishing everyone the best.
AlexOzNot Telling02014-04-21 10:56:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDo I need an Immigration Lawyer?

I travelled to the states as a tourist (esta, visa waiver), got married and went back home. How else should you be married to file for the cr1 visa? Or all the people flying in to get married in Vegas are not doing anything wrong eiither. It's only illegal to travel into the states with the intention to stay.
Now still she shouldn't tell the immigration officers right away that she will get married to a USC because he might suspect she wants to stay afterwards. (I took my engagement ring off, told the officer I'm visiting my boyfriend (only when he asked who I'm going to) and had binding ties to Germany with me (nobody wanted to see those)

Long story short, you guys really don't need a lawyer!


Thank you again Selina for taking the time to write. I find your experience very useful and appreciate it. After much discussion, she decided to go K-1 Visa after all. Shes figuring if we're married then we really shouldn't be apart. Shes gonna be without work for some time once here.


AlexOzNot Telling02014-02-03 09:48:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDo I need an Immigration Lawyer?

Thank you Selina, I appreciate your response. It doesn't seem we need one for the paperwork but the fact we are getting married on her tourist visa seems to be an issue regardless if she leaves home after getting married. I'll start a new question for that. Thank you again. 


AlexOzNot Telling02014-01-26 22:56:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDo I need an Immigration Lawyer?

Hello all, 

Sorry for asking any questions that may have been asked thousands of times already.

 

My fiancée is coming very soon so we can have a civil wedding.

She holds a tourist Visa. Now I?m aware of fraud when marrying on a tourist visa but she is not staying. She is coming on vacation leave from work. Then she returns after 3 wks.

 

I will then pursue a spousal Visa (CR-1), I understand the K1 Fiancee Visa would be quicker and perhaps easier. She wants to take care of a lot of things in the Philippines and does not want to do the K1 visa which would have her wait on a work permit before she could look for work once we're married. She wants to be able to search for work as soon as possible. Hit the ground running as we can say. So thus the CR-1 visa route. I?m also aware it could be quite sometime before she could receive a CR-1 Visa and we both know she?d lose the tourist visa once we apply.

 

So do I need an immigration lawyer or just follow the CR-1 completion guide? Or is the point of these forums to skip lawyers?

 

If by any chance I?ve missed anything, I apologize in advance. I also thank everyone ahead of time for reading.


AlexOzNot Telling02014-01-22 00:58:00
VietnamHome Preps to ease Cultural Differences

One of the first things we plan for my wife to do upon arrival from VN is get her driver license.  It will be an adjustment - people in So Cal drive fast - but not nearly as chaotic as traffic in Vietnam (hmm...I guess the 101 in the Valley is pretty chaotic).

 

Same with food - she prefers VN food (and we never eat Western food in Vietnam, too expensive and almost always bad to my taste) but realizes that she is going to have to adjust to new foods.  I think the biggest adjustment for her will be the seperation from family.  Skype is a great thing but let's face it, it doesn't match being there in person.  Like many Vietnamese women she is very close to all of her extended family.  I think that adjustment will be far harder than anything else.  Oh, that and living with me.  Can't forget the basic adjustments involved when you start living with someone else.  :)


JRFMaleVietnam2013-06-17 14:09:00
VietnamK1 visa for same sex

I remember a recent post with this same question (seems to me the OP was in Illinois).  Suggest you do a search for that thread. Agree with Darnell -  immigration is a federal benefit - as long as the individual is legally married (people go to Las Vegas all the time to get married even if they live elsewhere, why would this be any different) they are free to file.

 

Best of luck and congratulations to your relative!


JRFMaleVietnam2013-08-20 15:23:00
VietnamCalling and Contact Guide for Vietnam K1s

Moderator can we pin this for future reference?

 


JRFMaleVietnam2013-08-22 23:50:00
VietnamWHERE CAN I OBTAIN BIRTH CERTIFICATE??? URGENT...PLEASE HELP!!!

Hi..sorry for the delay in responding.  As others have posted there are ways to do what you need to do absent a birth certificate.  I would imagine you can get one in absentia by having someone go to the People's Committee on your behalf...anything is possible I am sure...

 


JRFMaleVietnam2013-08-10 09:58:00
VietnamWHERE CAN I OBTAIN BIRTH CERTIFICATE??? URGENT...PLEASE HELP!!!

Try the people's committee office in the town in which you were born...they should be able to obtain a certified copy for you.  I assume you were born in Vietnam, correct?


JRFMaleVietnam2013-08-08 22:04:00
VietnamLOOKING FOR BEST HOTELS NEAR US CONSULATE IN VIETNAM

I like the Oscar Siagon hotel.  Reasonable rates, and I always get a nice room.  Convenient location (just down the street from the Rex).  Check out agoda for best rates.


JRFMaleVietnam2013-08-30 09:56:00
VietnamReplacement Marriage Certificate

You can get it from the Dept of Justice in HCMC - it's much quicker to get if you know the marriage register number, book number and date of your marriage certificate.  As T&T&T indicates, it's best to have a photocopy of the certificate that you submit with the forms....

 

Rough overview of the process: 

1) Turn up to the Dept of Justice, there should be a inquiry desk near the entrance,  ask the official staffing that for the right forms, s/he will direct you to elsewhere in the building to get the right forms,

2) go & get the forms (you'll need to pay for the forms),

3) come back, talk to the official again so that you get the right ticket and wait.  

4) Fill in the forms while you wait, submit the forms & pay when called.  

 

If I recall correctly, it took approx 2 weeks to get the official copies (the Dept of Justice folks will tell you when to pick them up) but you're not done yet....

5) turn up, get a ticket, queue, pick up the copies

6) and then go back to take another ticket to submit forms to be translated/notarized.  

7) Actually pay & submit the copies to be translated/notarized.  

8) Finally pick up the notarized/translated copies. 

 

It usually takes 3-5 days to get the documents translated and no, they don't make it easy as in a "1-shot" process to actually get the official documents AND translated/notarized in one go (even though the window for submission of documents to be translated is 2 windows down....)

 

I suggest your wife does this as if they ask for ID, her Vietnamese ID card number will match what's on the marriage certificate (at the very least, the address will match if she's renewed her ID card recently).  I tried to do this on my own and ran into the problem that my passport number (and citizenship) changed - they wouldn't release the documents to me..... 

 

Given the process, I would strongly suggest getting multiple copies done at the same time.  We got 8 total - 4 translated/notarized with the rest being the official copies only.  You'll probably need some more notarized/translated copies in the future e.g. for removal of conditions, naturalization etc and it will be a real pain to get when you're both in the US....

 

You won't actually need to be there to sign the official copies so she can do this herself - the official copy will have "Da ky" for the signatures (signed) - and the translated/notarized copy will make this obvious with name (signed) 

 

 

Thank you very much for the detailed response!


JRFMaleVietnam2013-09-16 21:33:00
VietnamReplacement Marriage Certificate

where did you get the marriage certificate in US or Vietnam ? 

 

We were married in Vietnam.  The certificate was issued at the Department of Justice in HCM.  


JRFMaleVietnam2013-09-16 00:51:00
VietnamReplacement Marriage Certificate

Hello

 

We received two copies of our marriage certificate - one was sent to NVC and the other was lost.  My wife wants to have another copy to take to the interview.  She has been told that she will need it for comparison purposes by embassy staff.  Not sure whether that is true or not but assuming it is (I can't change her mind...so no sense in trying) can anyone tell me the procedures for obtaining a replacement copy in Saigon?  Will I need to sign or will they simply create a duplicate version without signatures?

 

Thanks!


JRFMaleVietnam2013-09-16 00:39:00
VietnamOur Interview Experience @SGN

Congratulations!


JRFMaleVietnam2013-08-23 15:57:00
Vietnam156K evidence

An engagement party is common in VN, so if you have any pictures of that suggest you include them.  Not everyone has a formal party (depends upon the family and economics) so if you don't just include documentation supporting visits, constant communication with your fiancé (chat logs, etc.), etc. etc.  


JRFMaleVietnam2013-09-20 12:17:00
VietnamVietnam Visa
HI Bruin

I did not indicate anything other than vacation on my visa applications - I intentionally chose not to disclose anything to the VN government (not obligated, therefore I didn't). It won't have any bearing on your CR-1 process anyways...as soon as you get married apply for the five-year waiver in VN. Much much cheaper than one or three-month visas.

JF

quote name='bruins' timestamp='1364250602' post='6077743']
Should I put vacation or marriage for purpose of my visit to Vietnam on the visa application if we are intending to get married?



Thanks
[/quote]
JRFMaleVietnam2013-04-01 17:41:00
VietnamOnline program to learn English in Vietnam

Nevermind, i googled VPN, lol. I've heard of it, and understand the basics of how it works, but i am clueless as to how, or what it takes to set up a VPN. Could you clue me in?

 I use a couple of VPNs - VPN express on an iPad and Hotspot Shield on a Macbook Air.  I've used both in VN and not had any issues.  Both are easy to set up and use.  I am not an IT expert and they work for me...so they will work for anyone.

 

The VN government sometimes blocks access to Facebook or Skype.   Using a VPN can allow you to get around this sort of restriction.  More importantly they provide an additional layer of security from someone snooping on web traffic (i.e. accessing financial information).  Lastly I've used them to get access to the Apple store while in VN - and also to provide that security.  I would be especially cautious about public WIFI networks anywhere, not just VN.

 

Not saying it will work for sure, but it might be worth looking into.  


Edited by JRF, 27 October 2013 - 06:36 PM.

JRFMaleVietnam2013-10-27 18:28:00
VietnamOnline program to learn English in Vietnam

Cannot access in VN...have you tried using a VPN?


JRFMaleVietnam2013-10-27 16:11:00
VietnamVisa fee for tourist visa

 

Yes, I am waiting for my passport to arrive so I can send it out. If I have to pay extra, I will. Well, if it takes only about 5 days for processing/shipping then I'm okay. My buddy who is going with me has already received his passport and he wanted to wait until I had mine before sending his. So many things I still have to do for my trip though. Thank you for the information.

Let us know when you receive the Visa, ConGau1981. At least I would like to know. Hehe.

 

 

Take a look at visa on arrival as an earlier poster suggested.  Easy to do..you send a scanned copy of your passport, pay a fee online, pay another fee when you arrive. The additional fees aren't bad.  You can expedite the process with the consulate or embassy but I think you will find (check) it's cheaper to go the visa on arrival route.  

 

I have done visa on arrival and taken my passport to the embassy in Washington.  I was always a bit nervous about mailing my passport but that's just me.


JRFMaleVietnam2013-11-15 16:10:00
VietnamVisa fee for tourist visa

 

My brother just submit 5 years of Visa for my mom only cost $25.  (SF-CA)
 

 

 

True this is a great deal...its a visa waiver.  I have the same because I am married to a VN citizen.  Also available to Viet Khieu...I'm not entirely familiar with those rules.  Anyways, I doubt the OP qualifies.  Nice deal though if you can get it.


JRFMaleVietnam2013-11-15 16:07:00
VietnamCR-1 Interview Scheduling - HCM consulate

Thanks all who responded...both my wife and I are expecting it to take two to three months to schedule the interview.  Perhaps it will be faster and for that we will be happy.  


JRFMaleVietnam2013-11-08 00:26:00
VietnamCR-1 Interview Scheduling - HCM consulate

FInallly..our case cleared NVC.  Two month wait to get to NVC and then three months to clear (one of those was my fault for incorrectly completing the AOS).  Can anyone provide a sense for when our interview might be scheduled and when the interview might occur (i.e. any hope for December or are we looking at January/February)?

 

Thanks!


JRFMaleVietnam2013-11-06 16:35:00
VietnamMy Son is a US citizen today:)

I think a lot of westerners make this mistake when filling out forms for there spouses. My insurance company actually changed the wife's name around when I put her on my company health and life plan to the way the embassy wanted it. I thought they made a mistake but I guess not. 

 

Anyway the CO just asked the wife how she says her first name which is My Hanh. What ever is left counts as the middle name. I guess it makes sense. I just call her Hanh.

 

I used the wife's family name as my sons middle name. I got him the Vietnam birth certificate stating that he is a Vietnamese citizen and Vietnam passport just to make things easier for traveling. I got all this done before filling for the US passport as Vietnam doesn't recognize dual citizenship, I figured doing it in this order I wouldn't have to lie. One of the wife's relatives is a long since retired cop. He suggested I insert a Vietnamese name in order to get the baby Vietnamese citizenship and passport. Vietnamese law requires a Vietnamese name somewhere in the name if one of the parents are foreigners for the purpose of citizenship and issuing of the passport. He was right; the justice department issued the birth certificate with no fuss but the immigration office said they couldn't issue the passport to a person with a western name. The wife pointed out that the baby did have a Vietnamese name for the middle name and issued the passport. I guess this is why there only seems to be 10 different names in Vietnam.   

 

Fascinating story...and I can picture in my head the animated conversation in the office while they sorted through your son's name and whether it met VN law.  

 

I just call my wife Vo.  Anything else and I get a glare.  Sometimes I use Nhu but only if I am prepared for the glare...


JRFMaleVietnam2013-12-27 11:33:00
VietnamMy Son is a US citizen today:)

Thanks for the advice...I can understand my wife's name in Vietnamese, but I am constantly worried about how it translates thru in the Visa process.  I find it's the Thi Thanh in the middle (in between family name and given name) that causes the problems - do the Thi and Thanh stick together, do they go with the family name, the given name...oh the USG and it's forms...

 

:)


JRFMaleVietnam2013-12-26 12:36:00
VietnamInterview Scheduled - CR1

 

JRF you were correct. We got notice this week that our interview date has been scheduled for Feb 25th. Exciting!

 

Wishing you both the best of luck!


JRFMaleVietnam2014-01-01 21:21:00
VietnamInterview Scheduled - CR1

 

Hi JRF. Congrats on getting an interview date. I do have a question for you. You said you called NVC weekly to ask about the interview date. Just to clarify because I have heard of people calling NVC and calling the US Consulate here in HCMC. Which one did you call weekly? We just cleared out case at NVC today and I was thinking it would be a couple months to get an interview date. Maybe I should call weekly like you.

 

Hi - I called NVC - and not the consulate.  It took just under a month to get an interview date, which is about what I expected.  Supposedly interviews are scheduled the last week of the month and the first week of the month following.  Not sure if that is true but in any event ours was scheduled during that time.  If I had to guess (always risky) I would expect you will have a February interview...maybe March...depends upon how busy they are in HCM.

 

Good luck!


Edited by JRF, 14 December 2013 - 06:39 PM.

JRFMaleVietnam2013-12-14 18:39:00
VietnamInterview Scheduled - CR1

Case cleared NVC on 5 November, called NVC today (was calling weekly) and learned my wife's interview is 28 January - a year and 6 days after NOA1.  Although I'm a bit bummed we aren't together for our anniversary in late December I'm happy this is moving along and eager to see her thru customs at LAX.  

 

Best of luck to all on your journey.


JRFMaleVietnam2013-12-02 22:50:00
Vietnamstatement in-lieu of certificate of non-impediment to marriage - NEW document required in VN
You will need to read up on apostile. Fancy term for having things certified and paying a fee.

So...you get the Secretary of State of the state in which you are located certify the notary's stamp. If you are lucky the Vi?t Nam government will accept this level of certification. If not you need the DoS to certify the state seal.

Or..you can do what I did and pay someone in Little Siagon here in OC to magically handle everything. For that matter there are folks in Siagon (big) who will similarly handle...for a fee.




JRFMaleVietnam2014-01-05 12:20:00