ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Asia: East and PacificRefiled question
If you had to amend the story of how you met after all this time and on your second attempt, I do not think that will be viewed well at USCIS or at the consulate. The "how you met" story is one of the most critical aspects of the HCM interview. The fact that you could not describe it correctly will make them suspicious, in my opinion, and will cause them to scrutinize your wife very thoroughly. PLEASE prepare her well for the upcoming interview.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-06-10 12:07:00
Asia: East and PacificMedical EXam for K1
QUOTE (hniHnitsuJ @ Jun 12 2009, 11:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (toddandhien @ Jun 12 2009, 08:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
John, I did a detail summary of Hien's medical here


Todd, good one. Is there a way for us to storage this useful information in our Vnese Forum. So, in the future all these information will be helpful to all the new comer.

I don't know but that is a great idea. If all of the interview questions, timelines, reviews of medical, etc could be archived by consulate, that would be a wonderful thing for newcomers. searching old posts when you don't really know what you are looking for is not easy. And reading hundreds of old posts is not practical because many times good info is 2 or 3 pages deep in a topic. How could we contact a moderator to ask?
toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-06-12 12:14:00
Asia: East and PacificMedical EXam for K1
John, I did a detail summary of Hien's medical here


toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-06-12 10:25:00
Asia: East and Pacifictimeline?
I agree that having the timeline notarized is not required. Of course, the timeline itself is not required. My advice with anything dealing with this process is go the extra mile. They cannot complain if it is notarized but if it is not they could ask for it to be re-done and notarized. I would encourage anyone that if they are in doubt, do the extra little bit. You will never be sorry.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-06-12 17:27:00
Asia: East and Pacifictimeline?
Yes, your timeline must be notarized. It is an official statement to the consulate and they will require it to be properly notarized. Just prepare your timeline and bring it to a notary public who will do what is required. Formats for notarization vary from state to state so check the internet for anything special neeeded for where you live.

The CO looked very closely at my timeline while Hien was being interviewed so be sure to put a good effort into this document.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-06-09 09:59:00
Asia: East and Pacificwife's interview in less than 24hrs
QUOTE (Dave 'n' Hai Au @ Jun 12 2009, 04:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
That makes sense Dai, there are so many conspiracy theories for these interviews. In your case, wouldn't it have been better for your wife to do interview in English so she could communicate with CO directly? It sounds like her English is fairly good. My wife is going to do hers in English to eliminate the "middle man" and deal with the CO directly. Any thoughts anyone?

Hien was prepared to do the interview in either language. I told her that if given a choice, do it in English to speak directly to the CO. But I had heard that sometimes they do not give them the choice and will speak in VN. As it turned out, they did not ask her if she spoke English and did not speak with her in English at all. They went straight to VN and stayed there. She switched to answering in English halfway through because it was easier but they kept asking the questions in VN, even though they could understand her answers perfectly well.

By the way, do not be fooled about the language capabilities of the COs. Hien said that the American CO guy could understand and speak VN perfectly. he was nodding his head as she answered in VN before the translator gave him the English answer. Also spoke to her in VN at the end and she said his VN was VERY good.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-06-12 15:41:00
Asia: East and PacificK1, CR1 and IR1 which one need the timeline?
You are right, you cannot make them take the info during the interview. That's why I put in in with the stack of papers that she gave at the beginning. That way, they will see it.

But, like with anything else, it is one's personal decision. I am only offering advice based on my desire to not be asked to go back and resubmit anything. Folks can choose the approach that makes sense to them. Thanks, Dai.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-06-12 19:52:00
Asia: East and PacificK1, CR1 and IR1 which one need the timeline?
There is NO requirement to prepare or provide a timeline for any visa type. It is not written in any P3 or P4 instructions.

But, with all due respect to the fine gentlemen who posted earlier, I do not know why any interviewee at the HCM consulate would not prepare a timeline in advance and give it to the consulate at the interview. The only information that would be in this document is what you put in it. And if your spouse/fiance(e) is familiar with this information, why not let them have it and let them ask questions from it...it is YOUR information. the answers should be EASY!

If you look back at all the blue slips for the past 6 months, as Jim mentions, you will find that the vast majority asked for a timeline. If you know that, why would you go to the first interview without one, wait to be blue-slipped and then get back into the queue later after turning it in. Our objective at the interview was to have Hien walk out the door with a pink slip. I prepared absolutely everything possible to ensure that we would get this outcome. I even put the timeline in with the papers that were required to be provided so that they would have to see it. The CO read it and he asked her questions from it. I was delighted because it kept him from asking questions about something else. He asked MY questions.

I also prepared a statement that Hien signed saying that she had no family or friends in the US. I did not give them that one but she had it with her in case he asked. She could answer and provide a written statement to avoid getting RFE'd for it.

And regarding CR-1/IR-1: Just this week, Mr. Leggs was blue-slipped for a timeline. This is not just a K-1 item as has been stated here previously.

Oh, and as I posted a couple of months ago, the timeline is a hot topic amongst the VN folks who are close to the visa process. When Hien went for her medical at Cho Ray, all of the ladies there were talking about timelines. Some were failed before because of it and most knew they should do it but did not know how. She came away from the discussion insisting that we prepare a detailed timeline and giving it to the consulate, which we did.

Edited by toddandhien, 12 June 2009 - 12:35 PM.

toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-06-12 12:31:00
Asia: East and PacificGetting a tourist visa to US from Vietnam
Jim, as Anh Map said, it will cost you $130 to see if she can get the tourist visa. However, my opinion is that, for two reasons, her chances are slim:

1. Her assets are modest.
2. She has already applied for K-1.

I believe the consulate is looking for significant assets from developing countries because the whole intent is that you must assure them that you intend to return. You have already told them, by filing for K-1, that she does not intend to live in VN in the future, as she is an intending immigrant.

I think traveling together anywhere that involves planning, effort and money is what the consulate is looking for. It is as easy for VN people to fly to Thailand as is is for them to fly to Da Lat or Hai Phong. Pick a place that you both like and go there and enjoy. We took 3 plane trips together and it was a great experience for Hien, as she also had never flown before. Great picture opportunities, too!!

But, let me offer the one benefit that I can see to applying for the tourist visa. Hien applied for one earlier in our relationship (prior to filing K-1). While we were disappointed in the outcome, what we later realized was that the experience of going into the consulate, seeing how it works and getting interviewed was great practice. Because she knew what it was like, she was very calm on K-1 interview day because she had a prior run under her belt.

Whatever, you choose to do, good luck and enjoy.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-06-18 11:49:00
Asia: East and PacificK1 Approved - Pink Pink Pink
QUOTE (JimVaPhuong @ Jun 11 2009, 11:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Viking_in_Seattle @ Jun 11 2009, 08:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (JimVaPhuong @ Jun 10 2009, 07:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (jeromebinh @ Jun 10 2009, 07:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
WHERE TO GET THE TIMELINE NOTARIZED? TIMELINE IS WHAT YOU WROTE LINES OF TIME ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP? CONGRATS!


Where are you? If you're in the US, there's a notary in just about every bank, tax accountant office, and UPS store.

If you're in Vietnam, go to US Citizens Services at the US consulate. They will notarize any document, provided that the document is ultimately going to be submitted to the US government. They aren't cheap, though. $30 per document. DON'T SIGN THE DOCUMENT UNTIL YOU'RE STANDING IN FRONT OF THE NOTARY! It's your signature that they're notarizing.



They did not charge me anything to get my Timeline notarized at the Consulate. But I had to go inside, wait in line with everyone else to get a number, go to the window when my number was called to submit my Timeline, wait again for number to be called, then an American CO had me swear that everything was true, I signed the document, he disappeared around the corner to get the notary seal, then he came back and showed me the notary seal on the document just below my signature.

Before her interview, my fiancee submitted both a detailed chronologically-ordered 3 page "Explanation of Meeting and Relationship" document that was notarized in the US, plus a higher-level quick-reference Timeline document that wasn't notarized. They flagged the latter -- I don't know if they reviewed the other document or not. Even if the Timeline had been notarized, it didn't have enough detail, plus I hadn't included the names and addresses of my US travel companions on my first trip to Vietnam (in either document). My assumption that names and addresses of travel companions weren't necessary was DEAD WRONG -- so we were destined for blue. crying.gif


I got two documents notarized at US Citizens Services when I was in HCM in April. They charged me $30 for each one. mad.gif

I included a timeline with my petition, and I did get it notarized. I also didn't list my travel companions, but I'm figuring I'm going to be making an updated timeline for the interview. I'll include the travel companions on that one.

I did the same thing that Jim did. I put a 3-pager in with my petition and then a 7-pager for the interview. both were notarized. the 7-pager had travel companion names, travel destinations, dates, the works. DO NOT SKIMP ON THE TIMELINE!
toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-06-11 15:29:00
Asia: East and PacificK1 Approved - Pink Pink Pink
CONGRATS!!!! kicking.gif kicking.gif
toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-06-11 08:08:00
Asia: East and Pacificneed help!
someone else had this happen a couple of months ago. The wait was actually not 3 months...more like a few weeks, if I recall correctly. They may put 3 months in the FAQ to discourage people from making arbitrary schedule adjustments. Also, if the reason is due to late mail delivery in VN, the consulate may be sympathetic.

Good Luck.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-06-22 11:49:00
Asia: East and PacificHow big of a mistake?
Good luck, my friend. I hope Trinh is the one for you. She's a really cute girl and all smiles smile.gif
toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-06-12 12:50:00
Asia: East and PacificHow big of a mistake?
Jim, I appreciate your efforts! Sorry about the equipment problems but when the captain asked if we wanted to go without radar we kind of chose to wait for a new plane smile.gif
toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-05-29 19:37:00
Asia: East and PacificHow big of a mistake?
We are taking the redeye. I get in around 9:30 and Kevin even earlier. We can be checked in by 10. I'd love a pizza and beer before we go if Kevin is up for it and you are willing to play the host, Jim. Thanks!

The departure time for this flight seems to bounce around a bit. I have been on it with departures ranging from 12:15 AM to 1:30 AM. Ours departs at 1:35 so we will have plenty of time.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-05-16 11:14:00
Asia: East and PacificHow big of a mistake?
Ha ha! laughing.gif don't know how I got to be the heavy on this one!! And now I'm being channeled by Roger (well we only live 100 miles apart so I guess it's possible!!)

Kevin, you know I am very happy that you are developing a special relationship with Thao. I am anxious to meet her next week. good.gif I just don't want you two lovebirds to have any heartache in the future! We all know HCM is tough. But only you can decide what makes the best sense for you...just like all the rest of us.

I suspect that after a month together in person with Thao, you two will come to a decision about your relationship, timing, etc. heart.gif Whatever you ultimately choose to do, I will be hoping that it goes smoothly smile.gif and I am always happy to help in any way. see you in SFO!
toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-05-15 18:20:00
Asia: East and PacificFlying in VN and getting there
I have only used Vietnam Airlines within VN. They have a lot of flight times to choose from and it is convenient. With the rates you quote, Scott, I am not sure you are going to find a lower price for in-country travel in VN.

To/From VN I almost always fly China Air from SFO thru TPE to SGN. I can never find rates that are more competitive than booking directly online with them.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-07-01 08:03:00
Asia: East and PacificPINK! PINK! HCMC PINK!!
Congratulations on the PINK!!! kicking.gif kicking.gif
toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-06-22 11:53:00
VietnamG325A how to complete address portion?
QUOTE (tvn0521 @ Apr 1 2009, 08:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I am having a hard time filling out the address part of G325A, actually even the I-130 application. The address that I am trying to fill out is a in a small village in VN. Look at address below. The g325a & the i-130 ask for town or city, and state or province. I know that Province is Tra Vinh. What is the city?? Am I right that Thi Tran My Long is called village or is it called something else? Where can I put Thi Tran My Long on the address portion g325a and i130?

Khom 2 Khu 4
Thi Tran My Long(village)=?????Not sure is it called village
Huyen Cau Ngang= District
Tinh Tra Vinh = Province

Anyone can help I would appreciate i


Many of us have a fiancee from a small village.

A thi tran is a town. village is xa.

so put:

Khom 2 Khu 4, Thi Than My Long, Huyen Cau Ngang for the street and number (city box is too small)

Tinh Tra Vinh for province

Vietnamese people will be able to read it just fine.

If you get a vietnamese dictionary, it will help you a lot.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-04-01 21:43:00
VietnamG325A how to complete address portion?
QUOTE (Haonie @ Apr 1 2009, 09:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (tvn0521 @ Apr 1 2009, 09:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Haonie @ Apr 1 2009, 06:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (tvn0521 @ Apr 1 2009, 08:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I am having a hard time filling out the address part of G325A, actually even the I-130 application. The address that I am trying to fill out is a in a small village in VN. Look at address below. The g325a & the i-130 ask for town or city, and state or province. I know that Province is Tra Vinh. What is the city?? Am I right that Thi Tran My Long is called village or is it called something else? Where can I put Thi Tran My Long on the address portion g325a and i130?

Khom 2 Khu 4
Thi Tran My Long(village)=?????Not sure is it called village
Huyen Cau Ngang= District
Tinh Tra Vinh = Province

Anyone can help I would appreciate it



Town, My Long.
District, Cau Ngang.
Province, Tra Vinh.

Hope it help.



What if it ask "city and country of birth"? What do I put for city??? Thanks for you help


I'm not sure about this, but I will put Tra Vinh, Vietnam, since Tra Vinh is Province. I don't think USCIS "quote" you on this.


agreed. put the province
toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-04-01 21:45:00
VietnamUpdate on Thuy
Sorry to hear about this, Scott. Best wishes to Thuy for a speedy recovery.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-10-27 18:25:00
Vietnamvisa-vietnam.org
sorry, clicked add before putting in the link

visa exemption
toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-11-17 12:56:00
Vietnamvisa-vietnam.org
QUOTE (Bob-KhaHan @ Nov 16 2009, 12:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
This should be what you're looking for?

http://mienthithucvk...36/Default.aspx

We have another post going on this topic

Edited by toddandhien, 17 November 2009 - 12:54 PM.

toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-11-17 12:52:00
VietnamHCMC Pkt 3 & 4
QUOTE (ScottThuy @ Sep 23 2009, 12:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (JimVaPhuong @ Sep 23 2009, 11:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (ScottThuy @ Sep 23 2009, 07:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I have been looking at the times between NVC and interview and it can be shorter than in the past as well...I saw one from last month that has an interview 77 days after NOA2. I am actually affraid of the remote possibility that they schedule it before our Dam Hoi. If they schedule our interview in the first part of Dec it will be like hittin the lotto. It would save me a trip..
No doubt in my mind that they have your case @ HCMC at least a week or two ago..... if you have her complete the first half of DS 230 and the DS 2001 she can fax them to the consulate or email them... An interview should follow by about 60 days... NVC gave you your HCM# right?


Yeah, I got the HCM number over the phone, and then a couple days later in the mail from NVC.

I helped Phuong with the DS-230's (three of em), and sent them DHL. She'll probably get them this week. The DS-2001 she can handle herself.

I just got done chatting with her. I wasn't sure if they actually delivered mail to her home, or if she had to go to the post office and pick it up. She says they deliver it to her home. I'm mystified how they can find her home. Her address consists of her name, hamlet, ward, district, and province. There are hundreds of homes in the hamlet, on dozens of streets. I have visions of the letter carrier looking at the mail and saying "Hmmm. Where is the Nguyen family home?". blink.gif

Its the same with Thuys family house... out in the countryside.... To be sure mail gets to her I often put her fathers name on it because everyone knows him...half of what I send her in the mail does not get there.. Her 230 only needs the number and a signature and its done. We were going over the list of questions that they could ask and she knew things that I did not know she knew. I am surprised at how much she really knows about me and my family already.The reality of how close we are getting to a possible flight together back to the uS is just sinking in... There are so many little details that I know she has not addressed yet when it comes to moving here... The good thing is the fact that I will be traveling back and forth more often for work next year and she can go with me (after they allow her to travel outside the US).

You guys are lucky to have SO's that actually get mail delivery. In Hien's hamlet, there is no mail delivery. If you want your mail, you need to know that you have something coming and then go to the post office and rummage through a big pile that sits out front. Once Hien got to know them (never had received any mail before in her life), they would take her mail out and set it aside but she or her brother had to go and ask for it. Out of about maybe 30 letters I sent to her, only 1 went MIA.

Might be worth having her swing by the PO and asking for mail.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-09-26 18:11:00
VietnamDam Hoi
Scott, we had ours at Hien's parents' home, which is in a small, rural village. We had about 100 people and the only things we paid outsiders for was tables/tent, a cake, booze and two ao dais (rental). Her sister used my camera for photos and her sister's friend used my video camera. All the village women came and cooked the food. Total cost, just about $1000. For 30 people, I would not expect to spend more than $400-500.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-10-26 05:49:00
VietnamMedical Exam in HCM?
QUOTE (ScottThuy @ Dec 12 2009, 11:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
If we schedule a morning appt at Cho Ray can we do the vaccination walk in that afternoon? or is the vaccination required before the medical?

I believe that you have to do the vaccination first. Look at Packet 4. It lists them as Step 1 and Step 2.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-12-13 10:10:00
VietnamMedical Exam in HCM?
You have to get the vaccinations elsewhere...Cho Ray is only for the medical exam.

I suggested before that you consider doing the medical as soon as possible and not waiting until shortly beforehand. I still suggest this as a prudent approach. And, given that the medical would be done on a Friday and the interview is Tuesday, there is a real chance that she would not have the results in hand prior to Tuesday AM. Sometimes things in VN just don't go according to the plan. I find that my wife is used to it and somewhat unphased when it happens but we (Americans) don't tolerate it as well. In addition, if there were any complications that needed re-testing or anything, you would be out of time.

Up to you, but I would head for HCM as soon as possible and get this done. My wife went the day after she got Packet 4 in the mail just to be sure she passed and to not have it hanging as a potential show-stopper.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-12-08 01:18:00
VietnamMedical Exam in HCM?
Cho Ray IS doing the medical exams, as is IOM. My fiance is going to Cho Ray today (VN time). She went on Tuesday and they said they were too busy to see her and gave her an appointment for 1 PM today.

Here is what I believe is happening based upon a few stories I have heard from others: The agents/helpers are getting kickbacks from the medical centers somehow for steering visa applicants there for the exams. There is no middle ground with these people...they will say to the young ladies that they HAVE to go to one or the other. Irritating but on par for VN.

Go to either facility but first you have to go and get your vaccinations...then go for the exam. And it is not always two shots. Hien got only 1 and they said she was good to go to the US. varies from person to person.

Edited by toddandhien, 22 April 2009 - 07:11 PM.

toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-04-22 19:08:00
VietnamGot pink at HCMC?
After Hien was approved, she explained some extenuating circumstances we had to the CO and asked if he could please get us the visa the next day. He said it was just not possible because of the huge number that had to be processed. We were given a date that was 7 days out.

Is it possible? Sure. Is it likely? No.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2009-12-13 10:15:00
VietnamBest Way to Ship Document to VN

anyone try USPS global express? I used USPS international priority before and nothing is lost. It take a while but it get there. Was thinking of using USPS global express. Somehow I think USPS is safer because of the government affiliation with it. Vietnamese are always scare of everything government. It won't get lost...I hope so. I wish i could hand carry it but it will cost me a job. lol. can't afford that.

If you value what you are sending, I would recommend staying away from anything that will ultimately use the Vietnam Postal Service as part of the delivery vehicle. It is okay for a greeting card, but many have reported that important material has failed to arrive. It is not the Vietnamese people that I would worry about stealing it, it is the service itself, which IS the government. Good advice offered previously in this post. I would advise going with an independent international courier, like FedEx.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2010-01-29 12:44:00
VietnamThuy's Interview @ HCMC

the catch is that there never was any cohabitation of her and her ex... they were married on paper because she agreed to marry him, but they never got married as there was a violent attack by him that ended the relationship... he went ahead and filed the paper that she signed before the attack with the government and it took an actual divorce to clear up the paperwork... he fought it all the way...
I really dont know how we can 'prove' where he lives as he has no real permanent residence other than his parents home.
The Ho Khau and an affidavit are the only things I can seem to think of.. there may not be any official record other than the divorce which they already have...

Police records are your only other course of action, I think. Technically, VN citizens are to report to the local police as they move and visit so that records can be kept of their whereabouts. I would start with inquiries at 3 local police stations:

1. Thuy's (just to see wht they have on record about her and about him...better to be forewarned)
2. His parents
3. The village where he is currently living near his job

It may give you nothing but if you get anything it is more than you have now. Would be great if you could be on the ground there managing these efforts.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2010-01-27 13:38:00
VietnamThuy's Interview @ HCMC

Thuy said the CO acted as if she could not understand her.in either language. Could be due to the northern VN dialect.. the translation didnt reflect what she had said... it was compared to Thuy saying a story and then the CO saying 1 or 2 words.... I imagined those old kung fu movies where a guys mouth moves forever and you only hear two words..

I think the Black female CO is one of the big guns.. the other being that korean woman.. if they are the one doing the interview, then it will likely get ugly and take a long time... When I am there in a few weeks I will go in ahead of time and talk to the Consulate General. not as much to complain, but to inquire why documents were ignored that were in the initial filing as well as why documenst were refused at the interview... I want the CO's to be able to prevent visa fraud... I have seen far too much of it here... I also don't want to see families put through the pain that I have seen so many go through and am starting to feel myself...


The issue is that we were both legally married when we met..that is likely what they have a problem with.. most of the questions focused on that topic. had they accepted the notarized timeline she had with her and tried to give them, they would totally understand the relationship between us and our former spouses. If there is a political issue regarding her family or the north regarding what happened 40 years ago someone needs to grow up.. with all of the horror stories that Thuys grandmother told her growing up, it is amazing that she would even consider going to eat with an american, let alone marry one... they put it behind them and don't blame me for the actions of others...

I can address the issue with documentation and submit the documents that they refused to acceppt yesterday... IMO that, along with being there, and wanting to resolve any issues and take my fiance back to the US with me shows alot.

I applaud your efforts in trying to bring reform to the HCM Consulate. However, for your own self-preservation, I might urge you to consider settling your case favorably first and then tackling the global issue. I think what you want is to persuade human beings to see things your way. If you create a fuss and indirectly accuse them of wrongdoing, it seems to me that this would serve to strengthen their resolve as they review your case.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2010-01-27 12:19:00
VietnamThuy's Interview @ HCMC

Maybe I can have her father call the ex telling him that they need a notarized/certified letter showing where he lives .. for something related to his sons school... he would likley send an affidavit or proof in that scenario. we have a month to come up with proof in a country where proof is hard to come by.

If there is concern about fraud, they would expect that her ex is part of the deception plan. Therefore, anything that comes from him (certifed or not) will be fruit from a poisonous tree.

If I were in your boat, I would focus on getting stamped government records that can support what you and Thuy are claiming for dates of cohabitation and then separate living arrangements. I know easier said than done but you have a limited amount of time to do this and I suspect that it will take some effort to get the records that you really need to defend your case.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2010-01-27 12:13:00
VietnamThuy's Interview @ HCMC

Having gone through the blue slip word by word...
The first papragraph notes the 221g .. in that paragraph.. the standard first paragraph for all blue slips.. notes that the reason is either a lack of proof of bonafide or failure to present required documents.
The following paragraphs attached explain the documents needed... others have seen proof of bonafide listed and from what Thuy said.. they saw the proof she had, but only lookedat the photos.. she did look at all of the photos.. and she asked about specific dates and places for the past year... example.. during his third trip what day were you in vung tau? what were the exact dates he arrived and departed for each trip... while the CO looked at my passport pages and visa copies...

Given the previous visa fraud cases that involved a USC divorcing and marrying a VNC for $, they assume that is the case until we thoroughly prove otherwise... guilty until proven innocent when it comes to visas... on my end it is really easy to show that proof.. on her end its not so easy given the VN system... We will have a copy of her ex's family Ho Khau that shows him residing there.. the local government official will take the Ho Khau that is provided by the family and make a copy, and certify it to be true and real.. aside from that, there is not much proof of a VNC's address that can be provided without having that person provide it... that wonthappen given that he has threatened to attack her as recently as 6 months ago.

The blue slip specifically requests proof of his address, not proof that they reside apart... it would be easy to provide affidavits that he does not live with her and never has, but that would be outside of the scope of the paragraph and not directly address the blue slip as written...

I have two choices.. I can address them based on the exact wording of the items listed(proof of ex's address)... or I can read between the lines that they want proof that neither of us are with our ex's...

what do you guys think when it comes to her ex's family's Ho Khau as evidence of current address? any ideas of other ways to show it without requiring contact with him? some here have used affidavits, but that would require someone that knows him to write the affidavit and he does not live in the same area.. they dont share common friends or associates... we'll see if the government office in the province has any additional ideas...

for each of the ex's we will provide a cover sheet from each of us that is notarized stating that we don't reside together, listing and explaining the evidence provided as proof attached. this may be what feeling lucky is talking about...

Scott, I am not an expert on Ho Khaus but when flipping through the Ho Khau for my wife's family that she had with her on interview day, I was struck by the fact that things were not dated and the fact that when my wife moved to HCM for 2 years before we met that she was still listed in the family Ho Khau as if she still lived in her home village. She never was listed in the Ho Khau that her sister maintains in the city though she lived there for 2 years. I suspect that the local police station might have records of his residence and dates, but I am particlularly suspicious of using a Ho Khau to prove anything other than the names of family members with whom you (at least at one time) reside.

And, if I can surmise this, the Consulate must be all over it. Might be why they ask for evidence of his current address. How can you prove that in VN? You can't.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2010-01-27 09:57:00
VietnamThuy's Interview @ HCMC

Because they live and work in Vietnam, the COs do understand some Vietnamese. That might be why the "translator" doesn't repeat everything back word for word in Vietnamese. My fiance said the translator was mainly there to ask the questions in Vietnamese or speak Vietnamese because the CO's Vietnamese skills must not have been very good. She said the translator sometimes spoke the response back to the CO, and even then the response wasn't complete. Many times the two talk and the person outside the glass can't hear anyway. So the translator not repeating the complete response to the CO is not necessary proof of a screwjob by the consulate.

Good observation. My wife said that the questions that she answered in Vietnamese were understood by the CO because he was nodding while she spoke. The translator translated her answers again but it was unnecessary in my wife's opinion. She said he seemed to understand Vietnamese relatively well. I doubt that the translator was trying to intentionally de-rail this case.

Scott, I believe Thuy was going to get this treatment regardless of anything you did or did not do in preparation for the interview. There is something about your case that they do not like and they tried to get her to make a mistake or crack. If that happened, they could white slip her without having to deal with the real issue, which you may or may not know about. We have all seen it many times here on VJ. Any interview that lasts more than 10-12 minutes is abnormal and is intentionally drawn out for a reason. Look back at the results of those interviews.

I suspect that this may have to do with her being from the North and something about her family history that they found (right or wrong) during the background check. This will be difficult to combat directly because they will never tell you that this is the reason for concern (if, in fact, it is). I believe that you are going to have to play the game, give them the info they want and push hard on the Consulate to settle your case one way or the other.

Good luck.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2010-01-26 17:14:00
VietnamLeaving Vietnam question
Bryon, she does not need anything to leave. Not a Ho Khau and not money. Just tell her that if they start giving her a hard time to stand her ground. The passport control folks don't want undue attention, so it will not last more than a few minutes at most.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2010-02-13 12:57:00
VietnamHCMC answered my questions....
Scott, the following sentence can be read in two different ways: This requirement applies to both of your previous spouses.

You read it as both of Scott's previous spouses. plural but for a single party. You could also read it as (and I suspect that this is what they meant) both Scott's and Thuy's previous spouses. singular but multiple parties.

Think about how people actually talk and you will realize that if you wanted to make reference to the previous spouses that you both had, you would say "both of your previous spouses."

English vernacular not easy for Americans. Harder for folks who learned it as a second language.

I suspect that the paperwork you had was good to go.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2010-02-12 13:58:00
VietnamEstimate of interview

A good indicator is the source itself--the USCIS website. It contains comprehensive information for the individual service center as well as the national processing rate. Check it out here:

https://egov.uscis.g...xhKHrJ18SSscNBs

Both California Service Center and Vermont Service Center are processing K-1/K-2 applications around 5 months. So add about a month to get your interview date, and that's about 6months... :)

Current average time (last 6 months) from receipt of package from NVC to interview at HCM Consulate is 76 days. Take 5 months, add 2.5 months and some additional time to get the package through NVC (assuming no delays there) and you are close to 8 months.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2010-02-19 12:16:00
VietnamEstimate of interview

I agree with your first point I did pull CR1 not K1 force of habbit. The information I gave about CR1 is accurate I assure you.

Yes, the data you provided was an accurate accounting for what happened last year. However, as mutual fund companies say, "past performance is no guarantee of future results." Holds true in this case, as well. The only thing that we can do with the limited population in the VJ database is to look at general historical trends and use them as rough benchmarks for what MIGHT happen in the future.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2010-02-19 09:52:00
VietnamEstimate of interview
Bryon, this is misleading data.

First, the OP is filing K-1 and this data shows I-130 dates, not I-129F dates. The processing times for these two different types of visas (fiance(e) and spouse) last year were completely different. K-1 visa processing times to NOA2 were flat all last year until about August.

Second, this is data for a particular period of time. What happened last year was based upon a host of complex inter-related variables, about most of which we do not know. This year, the times might be the same, shorter or longer. Nobody knows.

And Third, The OP asked about time to interview. Looking at the data for the last 6 months, one might assess that the time to interview would be around 7 months, factoring in time to NOA2, time to NVC, time to Consulate and wait time for interview.

Scott's estimate of 6-9 months is a good one for people to use when petitioning for a fiance(e) in Vietnam. Our experience was on the long side - 9 months - because we were stuck in AP at NVC for 52 days; most go through NVC in a few days. But those are the things that can happen, so petitioners are wise to plan for a broad range of possible durations.
toddandhienMaleVietnam2010-02-18 13:14:00