Rover

I know this is early to ask because I sent the K-1 in this past
Wednesday but is there additional proof of an ongoing relationship
needed at the embassy interview. The reason I ask is my fiancee has
been told by a visa "service" she used that I must go back to Vietnam to
take pictures at our engagement party to show during the embassy
interview (in Ho Chi Minh City).

Now I'm not opposed to going back to see her as this process takes way
too long and I miss her, but I don't think they are giving her correct
information. I'm sure it would be helpful, but I'm not sure it would be
necessary.

Your thoughts?

TIA

Jim

Capt. Tuttle

Rover wrote:
    > I know this is early to ask because I sent the K-1 in this past
    > Wednesday but is there additional proof of an ongoing relationship
    > needed at the embassy interview. The reason I ask is my fiancee has
    > been told by a visa "service" she used that I must go back to Vietnam to
    > take pictures at our engagement party to show during the embassy
    > interview (in Ho Chi Minh City).
    >
    > Now I'm not opposed to going back to see her as this process takes way
    > too long and I miss her, but I don't think they are giving her correct
    > information. I'm sure it would be helpful, but I'm not sure it would be
    > necessary.
    >
    > Your thoughts?
    >
    > TIA
    >
    > Jim
    >

My thoughts are that you get more help and better information from this
newsgroup than you do from any "service". It has been my experience that
these "services" are more concerned with making money than actually
being a "service". I assume from your quotes that you might have found
this to be true.
I have no experience at all with the process in Nam, but from what I
have read through the years on this newsgroup and my own experience the
interview isn't what you might expect. Ours was very easy and relaxed.
I'm sure there are those that aren't, but they seem to be in the minority.
My advise is to go see her if you can, go to the interview if you can,
but most of all try to relax and don't worry. It is a very long slow
process.
At the interview you must show three things: That you can support her,
that you truly love her, and that you have seen her within the past two
years. The first is covered with paperword. The second would be not only
pictures, but the way you (or she) presents herself at the interview. If
you are there with her the final item will take care of itself.
Lastly, I copied the best advice I have read here about interviews. I'll
paste it here. I hope Mr. Folinskyinla doesn't mind. -

    > Every interview is different. It is normal to be nervous -- the
    > examiners see nervous people all the time, so there is nothing wrong
    > about that.
    >
    > I give my clients three ironclad rules to follow -- this makes your job
    > easier, the examiner's job easier, and protects you from potentially
    > from doing harm to yourself.
    >
    > 1. Tell the truth, its easier to remember. Ancillary: Don't guess.
    > "I don't know" or "I don't remember" are fine if they are the truth.
    >
    > 2. Understand the question being asked. If you don't understand, then
    > you are guessing and violating rule #1. It is OK to say "I don't
    > understand" "What?" "Can you repeat that" or even "huh??". The
    > question will be rephrased.
    >
    > 3. Answer ONLY the question asked and nothing more. This rule is the
    > hardest one to follow. You don't have to explain your answers
    > unless asked. Example: Q: "Do you know what time it is?" The
    > only correct answers are either "yes" or "no" -- if you say "8:30",
    > you've given more than asked for [I know that the question actually
    > is a polite way of asking "what time is it?", but I'm using it to
    > make a point].
    >
    > Don't try to get into the DAO's head or figure out WHY she is asking a
    > particular question -- you don't have the time or training for that.
    > Just follow the above three rules.

psychobabbler1

Wrong. You do not have to show that you "truly love" someone at the interview. The INS/CIS doesn't care one bit about that.

Rover

Thanks. Its interesting that I already took that same quote and sent it
to my fianc�e.

From your reply, I assume I can attend her interview at the embassy.
If that's true, then I plan to go to VN to see her, do the fiancee pix,
go to the interview and take her back to the US all in one trip.

Does that sound feasible?

Jim

Capt. Tuttle wrote:
    >
    > My thoughts are that you get more help and better information from this
    > newsgroup than you do from any "service". It has been my experience that
    > these "services" are more concerned with making money than actually
    > being a "service". I assume from your quotes that you might have found
    > this to be true.
    > I have no experience at all with the process in Nam, but from what I
    > have read through the years on this newsgroup and my own experience the
    > interview isn't what you might expect. Ours was very easy and relaxed.
    > I'm sure there are those that aren't, but they seem to be in the minority.
    > My advise is to go see her if you can, go to the interview if you can,
    > but most of all try to relax and don't worry. It is a very long slow
    > process.
    > At the interview you must show three things: That you can support her,
    > that you truly love her, and that you have seen her within the past two
    > years. The first is covered with paperword. The second would be not only
    > pictures, but the way you (or she) presents herself at the interview. If
    > you are there with her the final item will take care of itself.
    > Lastly, I copied the best advice I have read here about interviews. I'll
    > paste it here. I hope Mr. Folinskyinla doesn't mind. -
    >
    >> Every interview is different. It is normal to be nervous -- the
    >> examiners see nervous people all the time, so there is nothing wrong
    >> about that.
    >> I give my clients three ironclad rules to follow -- this makes your job
    >> easier, the examiner's job easier, and protects you from potentially
    >> from doing harm to yourself.
    >> 1. Tell the truth, its easier to remember. Ancillary: Don't guess.
    >> "I don't know" or "I don't remember" are fine if they are the truth.
    >> 2. Understand the question being asked. If you don't understand, then
    >> you are guessing and violating rule #1. It is OK to say "I don't
    >> understand" "What?" "Can you repeat that" or even "huh??". The
    >> question will be rephrased.
    >> 3. Answer ONLY the question asked and nothing more. This rule is the
    >> hardest one to follow. You don't have to explain your answers
    >> unless asked. Example: Q: "Do you know what time it is?" The
    >> only correct answers are either "yes" or "no" -- if you say "8:30",
    >> you've given more than asked for [I know that the question actually
    >> is a polite way of asking "what time is it?", but I'm using it to
    >> make a point].
    >> Don't try to get into the DAO's head or figure out WHY she is asking a
    >> particular question -- you don't have the time or training for that.
    >> Just follow the above three rules.
    >
    >

Noorah101

Hi Jim,

You mean you sent in the I-129F petition, not the K-1 (the K-1 is the name of the visa she'll be receiving).

I don't know about Vietnam's rate of fraud, but the more proof the better, I would say. In our case, in Turkey, I was at the interview with my Iranian fiance, and they asked to see original photos covering the time we knew each other (several years), and also wanted to see the most current 6 months of original phone bills. The phone bills were only mine, since it was cheaper for me to call him. The ConOff asked why he doesn't call me, and when I told her it was too expensive, she nodded and said yes, that's true. So they didn't ask for TOO much in the way of proof of relationship, but then again I was right there to answer any questions...and they DID ask lots of questions from both of us regarding work, prior marriages, how we met, etc.

My advice is, send her EVERYTHING you can think of that proves you have a valid, ongoing relationship (not necessary proof of love) but you only have what you have. If you can't make a trip back there to take more pictures, so be it. You can only show what you've got.

About engagement pictures specifically, there are some countries like India that put a LOT of emphasis on engagement pictures, and whether there was a traditional engagement or not. I do not know if Vietnam is this way.

Best Wishes,
Rene

Noorah101

Hi Jim,

I don't know about this plan. First of all, how can you take engagement pictures just before the interview, when you are supposed to already be engaged before sending in the I-129F? Although, I guess this can be the big engagement party after the fact. Or, maybe you just mean pictures of the two of you together since you said "fiance pix" not really "engagement pix".

You might want to check with the embassy in VN to make sure you are allowed to attend the interview. Not all embassies allow it. If they do allow it, it's a great idea for you to go.

Also, don't count on her coming back with you. It could happen, but then again it might not. There could be additional admin processing, security checks, delays in issuing the visa of some sort, etc. I mean, it's ok to keep it as a plan, but don't make final arrangements based on it.

Good luck,
Rene

Capt. Tuttle

Rover wrote:

    > Thanks. Its interesting that I already took that same quote and sent it
    > to my fianc�e.
    >
    > From your reply, I assume I can attend her interview at the embassy. If
    > that's true, then I plan to go to VN to see her, do the fiancee pix, go
    > to the interview and take her back to the US all in one trip.
    >
    > Does that sound feasible?
    >
    > Jim
    >

It is not only feasible it is what I, and a lot of others here have
done. In fact, I think it helps if you are there.
You should be able to do it all in one trip. You will just have to wait
until she gets an interview date. There is no way of knowing how long
that will take, however. She will have to let you know as soon as she
gets a date. You can then make your plans.

meauxna

There are some Consulates where the USC may *not* attend the interview; it is better to find out about this in advance.
Further, proceed with caution on the engagement ceremony. From reading others' posts I *think* it's OK in VN, but in some countries, this ceremony can be an accidental marriage ceremony, nulling the K-1 fiance visa application and putting the couple back to square one.

The OP would be smart to find a collection of other fiance petitioners from VN to check out particulars.