Enterline & Partners Consulting | info@enterlinepartners.com

Enterline and Partners Receives Approval for Highly Complex I-130 Petition

Enterline and Partners is pleased to share it has obtained an approval for a complex I-130 Petition for Alien Relative (“I-130 Petition) for one of our Vietnamese clients.

Our client, a U.S. citizen (Joe) and his Vietnamese wife (Jane), consulted with us following Jane’s multiple non-immigrant and immigrant visa refusals. A few years ago, Jane sought advice from a travel agency in Ho Chi Minh City for a B-1/B-2 visitor visa. Jane, who was unmarried but had a Vietnamese boyfriend, was advised by the travel agency to indicate on her DS-160 visa application (“DS-160”) that she and her boyfriend were married.

Jane’s visitor visa application was refused by the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City (“U.S. Consulate”) under the Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 214(b).

Shortly thereafter, Jane was introduced to Joe who travelled to Vietnam to meet Jane and her family. Joe and Jane quickly developed a serious relationship and realized that they wanted to spend their lives together. Joe filed an I-129F Petition for Jane.  After the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) approved the I-129F Petition, the case was forwarded to the U.S. Consulate for Jane’s K-1 visa application processing. During Jane’s K-1 visa interview, the consular officer asked questions about why Jane wrote that she was married on her prior DS-160. Not convinced that Jane was single and eligible to marry Joe because of her inability to produce a divorce documentation, Jane’s K-1 visa application was refused.

Distraught over Jane’s K-1 visa application refusal, Joe decided to travel to Vietnam and marry Jane. After they were married, Joe filed an I-130 Petition so Jane could immigrate to the United States as Joe’s wife. During the adjudication process, USCIS focused on the lack of divorce documentation from Jane stemming from her past visitor visa application in which she stated she was married to someone else prior to meeting Joe.  Without clear and convincing evidence that Jane was divorced or single, Joe’s I-130 Petition was refused.

Following the I-130 Petition refusal, Joe and Jane decided to seek professional help from a licensed U.S. immigration attorney in Ho Chi Minh City.  Our assigned attorney carefully reviewed all Joe and Jane’s documentation before devising a strategy. Our attorney carefully analyzed Jane’s visa application history and gathered compelling evidence to establish that she was not in fact previously married. We submitted a new I-130 Petition to USCIS which was approved by the USCIS in less than two months.

Joe and Jane’s approved I-130 Petition will now be forwarded to the National Visa Center for additional processing after which Jane’s immigrant visa interview can be scheduled at the U.S. Consulate.

For more information on nonimmigrant and immigrant visa refusals, contact us today at info@enterlinepartners.com and speak with a U.S. immigration attorney in Ho Chi Minh City, Manila and Taipei.

ENTERLINE & PARTNERS CONSULTING

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Office

Suite 601, 6th Floor, Saigon Tower
29 Le Duan Street
Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Tel: +84 933 301 488

Email: info@enterlinepartners.com

Facebook: Enterline & Partners – Dịch vụ Thị thực và Định cư Hoa Kỳ

Website: http://enterlinepartners.com

Manila, Philippines Office

LKG Tower 37th Floor
6801 Ayala Avenue
Makati City, Philippines 1226

Tel: +632 5310 1491

Email: info@enterlinepartners.com

Facebook: Enterline and Partners Philippines

Website: https://enterlinepartners.com/language/en/welcome/

Copyright 2021. This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. This article may be changed with or without notice. The opinions expressed in this article are those of Enterline and Partners only.

CATEGORY
time
recent posts
CTA_Collection

contact us today for more information

Latest News

visa K1, CR-1

K-1 Fiancé(e)’ Visa vs. CR-1 Spousal Visa: Which is the Right Path For Your Vietnamese Fiance(é) Or Spouse?

For many American and Vietnamese couples looking to immigrate to the United States, a major question is whether they should apply for a K-1 fiancé(é) visa or a CR-1 spousal visa. While both lead to lawful permanent residence status (“Green Card”), they work very differently. A K-1 fiancé(e) visa allows a Vietnamese fiance(é) to enter the United States so the couple can marry within ninety (90) days upon the Vietnamese fiance(é)’s arrival. A CR-1 spousal visa allows a Vietnamese spouse to enter the United States with an immigrant visa and be granted CR-1 status if the couple is married for less than two (2) years. The right choice depends on many factors such as your relationship status, wedding plans, timeline, budget, and long-term priorities.  We compare the K-1 fiancé(e) and CR-1 options for American and Vietnamese couples including eligibility, timelines, filing fees, work authorization, international travel, and common situations where

Read more >

Passport Revocation for Child Support Arrears

On May 7, 2026, the United States Department of State (“DOS”) announced that it will begin revoking U.S. passports for certain individuals with outstanding child support arrears. Under existing federal regulations (22 CFR §51.62) and DOS policy guidance (7 FAM 1754), DOS may deny or revoke a U.S. passport when the Department of Health and Human Services (“DHHS”) certifies that an individual owes more than US$2,500 in child support. Although this authority has existed for years, the announcement signals increased enforcement efforts. According to recent reports, the initial phase may focus on individuals with arrears exceeding US$100,000, with broader enforcement potentially expanding to all individuals owing more than US$2,500. Once revoked, a passport may no longer be used for international travel. In most cases, the individual will not become eligible for a new passport until DHHS certifies that the child support arrears have been resolved. If an individual is overseas

Read more >

Protection from Regional Center Program Expiration – Grandfathering before September 30, 2026

The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (“RIA”) introduced several important changes to the EB-5 Regional Center Program. One of the most important protections for investors is commonly referred to as the “grandfathering” provision found in Section 108 of the RIA, titled “Protection from Expired Legislation.” Since its creation in 1993, the EB-5 Regional Center Program has always been a pilot, or “test”, program.  Historically, it has required periodic reauthorization by the United States Congress. In the past, temporary lapses in authorization created uncertainty for investors with pending I-526E, Immigrant Petition by Regional Center Investor petitions. Many investors were at risk that USCIS would stop processing their cases if the Regional Center Program expired before petition approval or visa issuance. To address these concerns, Congress included additional protections in the RIA intended to help investors continue moving forward with their immigration process even if the Regional Center Program expires

Read more >
Zalo
Phone
WhatsApp
Messenger
Messenger
WhatsApp
Phone
Zalo