DBnearSF

My fiancee, Anny (in Saigon), received her interview application form
and has submitted that to the U.S. consulate.

Anny has been told by a local immigration assistance organization, IOM
(http://www.iom.int.vn/iom_us_migrant_assistance.html), that proof of
an engagement ceremony in Vietnam (mostly photos) will be a requirement
for getting the visa. Friends and relatives have been telling her the
same thing.

I had not been aware of this requirement. I am willing to make a trip
back to Vietnam, in order to hold the ceremony. Before I do that, I
thought I'd check in here and see whether anyone can confirm this
information.

Any assistance would be much appreciated!

Daniel, San Francisco Bay Area


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Noorah101

Here's an excerpt from the Department of State website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p...s/cis_946.html

"Foreign citizens who wish to become engaged to a Lao national are required to obtain prior permission from the chief of the village where the Lao national resides. Failure to obtain prior permission can result in a fine of $500-$5000. Lao police frequently impose large fines on foreign citizens a few days after they hold an engagement ceremony with a Lao citizen based on the suspicion that the couple probably subsequently had sexual relations out of wedlock. "

So...I don't know about photos of the engagement, but it looks like you might have to show proof of prior permission.

Best Wishes,
Rene

Chgo

I don't know if my information is still relevant, but when my wife
(fiance at the time) came over as a K1 in 2001 we did not have an
engagement ceremony, nor was proof of a ceremony requested. We did
everything ( K1 visa application) by ourselves and did not use any
services.
Hopefully someone with more recent VN experience will reply -

All the Best

Maxika

I have heard the same thing.

In particular, there is the same requirement for a Japanese citizen to
marry a Vietnamese, and they all have to submit to the Japanese
immigration the photos of their wedding ceremony as an evidence of
official marriage, with official certificate of marriage being
mandatory. I myself actually saw the photos and the copies of their
marriage certificates, as part of my work sometimes requires me to see
such documents.

In some cases, even there is a requirement of telephone bills (or
copies, not sure which) that show the phone talks, or other
evidence(s). This is the cases in US, not in Japan. Of course, the
requirements may vary from country to country, which naturally I do not
know well.

Hence, you can partly assume that, that is not an imaginative rumor,
but perhaps it might be better if you can seek for ways to confirm
directly with US officials / immigrant office in VN, although it does
not mean that you can always obtain the confirmation. Hope this may
help.

-- maxika


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DBnearSF

I wonder how much difference it would make that my fiancee is ethnically
Chinese (and I have provided documentation in my application that we
communicate in Chinese), rather than Vietnamese.

Then again, I'm told that the overseas Chinese living in Vietnam have
adopted many local customs, including the engagement ceremony.

If I don't want to risk delaying the visa, possibly by many months, I
suppose the most prudent thing to do is to make the trip back and have
the ceremony ... even though that is still no guarantee that the visa
will be issued.

Daniel


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Maxika

Firstly, overseas Chinese in VN usually is treated as Vietnamese
citizen, unless they still keep Chinese nationalilty and live in VN as
foreigners. At least that is what I know from VN community, and from
some works related to VN Consulate in Japan. Perhaps you do not need to
worry about this point.

Secondly, your trip back to have the photos of engagement/wedding
ceremony is only for administrative/immigrant visa procedure. As you
already know, that will not guarantee anything. But without the photos,
a visa may be denied.

Thirdly, in general, overseas Chinese living long time in VN will
adjust to local customs, as most foreigners living in countries other
than their native country, even though they will continue to try to
keep their traditions. You may be too anxious about this, but perhaps
you may think more about how your wife will adjust to a new culture,
new customs, rather than how she adjust in the society she already has
lived long before meeting you.

-- maxika


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