letters, e-amil, telephone bills

[Lori]

I am getting rather concerned about producing enough evidence of relationship with my fiance'. I must have over 200 e-mails that I have faithfully printed out. But only have about ten postal letters. Also, we have made phone calls using phone cards. I have no phone bill records. Thai may have a few, but I highly doubt it. I am hoping the pictures I take in vietnam will produce alot of evidence.
Also, I am having my sister and my daughter write letters to Thai, welcoming him to the family.
Should I be concerned? I have read from Mal that they asked him for more evidence than he produced.
I am thining maybe the best thing is to just go ahead and marry him over there, instead of going the K-1 visa route. I have a terrable fear that they will turn me down. For one, is that I clearly only made about 14,000 last year and the years before that were even lower. Thai's brother is willing to be a co-sponsor, but is that REALLY enough?? I am thinking that if we are already married the chances of him coming to america will be greater that if I go for the k-1 visa.
Thai says his lawyer in vietnam told him that e-mails were of no value for evidence.
Also, if I marry him over there I need:
1) a letter from the government that I am free to marry. How do I go about this??
2) a physical from a doctor. Can it be just my family doctor?
3) a copy of my divorce papaers. Or should it be the original?
I would have to send all this paperwork to him before I go, so maybe, just maybe he will have all the things done before I arrive, so we will be ready to just go and get married over there.
Any thoughts form anyone feel free to respond. Tell me I am just being paranoid.
--Lori

[Jimbo]

... in response to letters, e-amil, telephone bills, posted by Lori on Mar 25, 2001

You need to take this one step at a time.  IMO, the choice of which route you take should also be based on where and how you want to be married - not just on what you think will make the INS happy.  It's your wedding, it's important, so do what you want and make it memorable.  You'll have enough proof either way; you'll take the trip, you already know his family, you have a co-sponser to help with the income.  If they ask for more proof you can always get more of that.

As for the divorce decree:  the probate court will give you a certified copy, with a seal, for a small fee ($10 in Mass), that's what you need (they don't give out the original).

Also, you don't need a lawyer, just the right information.  I did the K-1 using what I learned from the K-1 FAQ page, before I found Planet Love.  So you're a step ahead of many people just by being aware of the good information on this board.

Now take a deep breath, exhale and say to yourself "nobody said this was going to be easy..." )

Jim

[Lori]

... in response to Calm down Lori ), posted by Jimbo on Mar 25, 2001

Thanks for the advice Jimbo. To be honest, I really don't care much about the wedding ceremony itself. That may sound kind of cold , or shallow. But I don't need a big fancy wedding , wedding dress, or anything like that. All I need or want is that Thai can be by my side as soon as possible after I leave Vietnam. We are doing a traditional wedding in Vietnam, I guess, to make his mother happy. And well, I am kind of excited about that. But when we actually marry here, I'll probably just go to a justice of the peace for the official wedding.
Just shoot me!! My mind is spinning in circles...I am just trying to get everything organized before I leave so when I return, I'll only have to do a few things to send in the INS paperwork.
thanks---Lori

[Dave H]

... in response to Re: Calm down Lori ), posted by Lori on Mar 26, 2001

Lori,

Jim is right. Calm Down!!! I only wrote 6 letters. I sent two emails. I did have phone records and made copies of my phone cards. Many people have no phone records, since their fiance/ee doesn't have access to a telephone. By the time of Thai's interview, he will have even more letters. Don't sweat it!

Dave H.

[Lori]

... in response to Calm way down Lori ), posted by Dave H on Mar 26, 2001

I'll try...really, really, really, hard!!

[Jimbo]

... in response to Calm down Lori ), posted by Jimbo on Mar 25, 2001

..that last line was my Ray impression:

Now take a deep breath, exhale and say to yourself "nobody said this was going to be easy..." )

Jim LOL!

[Ray]

... in response to Hey, wait a sec...., posted by Jimbo on Mar 25, 2001

That was some good advice you gave Lori.

Thanks Jimbo, now I don't have to post a reply.

ROTTL,

Ray

[Dave H]

... in response to Hey, wait a sec...., posted by Jimbo on Mar 25, 2001

N/T

[Cort]

... in response to letters, e-amil, telephone bills, posted by Lori on Mar 25, 2001

Lori,

I did not need telephone bills.  I had plenty of family pictures, the airline receipts for my travel, and the brief story of how we met and our courtship.  It took us a total of 105 days to get our visa and return to the US.  I went and stood behind her for the interviews to make my presence known.  I prefer the K-1 visa because it worked for us.

Good Luck,

Cort

[Lori]

... in response to Re: letters, e-amil, telephone bills, posted by Cort on Mar 25, 2001

I am kind of confused on the interview process. Exactly WHO is giving the final OK? Is it my country(America) or is it his country?(Vietnam). If it is his country, then there must be differant requirements for each country, right? I have only found ONE good sight on Vietnam, and the message board has not been updated for over a year. How can I find this information? Is there someone I can write to? Lets make this VERY clear, I can  not offord a lawyer. I have to do this on my own.

[Cort]

... in response to another question, posted by Lori on Mar 25, 2001

Lori,

The visa will be given by the American embassy to allow Thai to come to this country to marry you. Depending on how you wedding there is counted, you may not be able to file a K-1 but will need a spouse visa.  You don't need a lawyer, just follow the US embassy's direction very carefully. Does he have his passport?

Cort

[Ray]

... in response to another question, posted by Lori on Mar 25, 2001

Lori,

Here's some reading material for you. I suggest that you contact the US Consulate in Ho Chi Mihn City for the latest requirements.

http://travel.state.gov/vietnam.html

http://www.vietnamembassy-usa.org/consular/marriage.php3

http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/vn1/wwwhhome.html

http://usembassy.state.gov/uscongenhcmc/

http://usembassy.state.gov/uscongenhcmc/wwwhimmi.html#6

http://usembassy.state.gov/uscongenhcmc/wwwhimmi.html#visa

Good luck!

Ray

[Lori]

... in response to Some Links, posted by Ray on Mar 26, 2001

I already had a few of those bookmarked. But # 2 is great and I never found that coming across my search. It's pretty clear, but does not mention the bribes we'd have to pay...LOL
O.K. now I'll just take a deep breath, and try and calm down!!!!
Just one question...I am so darn excited about this all finally happening...just how in the heck am I supposed to calm down???
--Lori

[Lori]

... in response to Some Links, posted by Ray on Mar 26, 2001

I already had a few of those bookmarked. But # 2 is great and I never found that coming across my search. It's pretty clear, but does not mention the bribes we'd have to pay...LOL
O.K. now I'll just take a deep breath, and try and calm down!!!!
Just one question...I am so darn excited about this all finally happening...just how in the heck am I supposed to calm down???
--Lori

[Lori]

... in response to letters, e-amil, telephone bills, posted by Lori on Mar 25, 2001

n/t