ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Asia: East and PacificFirst Blue Slip at HCM - Vote of members
I'd at least talk to the man. I think he'd probably charge you some amount for a consultation, but then at least you could make a more informed decision about whether to hire him or not. Couldn't hurt.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2009-03-08 11:45:00
Asia: East and PacificNoticed something
Bryon, I disagree with your original assertion that it's all about the money. I am not rich by any stretch of the imagination. I went out of town, left my son for long periods of time, worked (and mostly froze) my a$$ off to make enough money to have all this happen.

Don't worry, she will have her visa in the end if you don't give up. You will eventually prevail, it's just a question of when.

Edited by Melrose Plant, 30 March 2009 - 09:58 PM.

Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2009-03-30 21:57:00
Asia: East and PacificPossible HUGE problem in HCMC
Don't worry, Jonas. The vaccinations are done at the medical. It took us one full day to do it and get the results. It's probably better that you're not there anyway. Going into one of those hospitals would give you something else to worry about.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2009-04-05 06:22:00
Asia: East and PacificPay Stubs, the original? or copy?
Copies will be just fine. And I think somebody asked about W-2s somewhere, also. Same thing. Copies are OK.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2009-04-08 04:58:00
Asia: East and PacificVisa canceled
QUOTE (don2008 @ Jun 30 2008, 04:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
i think the HCM consulate has some serouis issues. is it true that the consulate should be like a small "US" in Vn? that was what i thought, but now it seems VERY much corrupt like the rest of Vn. its like the the COs have a power trip and just want to shake up peoples lives. every keeps posting that if a family member introduced you that it was a for sure denial. i met my fiancee from her cousin that lives here in the US, they didnt ask for any of her info. she also has an aunt and uncle her too, the CO didnt even ask there names. anyways my finacee and i got 1 green 1 blue then later the pink. she is here now and all is good, but it really makes me upset to read about all the troubles the other VJ member are having. its like 98% of the post i read are denials from VN, and 2% approvals. i wonder if we can get a petetion going to congress to get the HCM consulate cleaned up?? any ideas??

For starters, why not close down 4 Le Duan, make it a small consulate to help USCs only, and move the whole bloody mess up to the newly expanded Hanoi? Or for that matter, why not Hue? The central location should be the fairest place, right?
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-06-30 17:34:00
Asia: East and PacificInterview on Jul, 9
QUOTE (Rodney n. @ Jul 13 2008, 09:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
we haven't lived together for almost 4 years and have been divorced for almost 3 years. i was thinking they may ask for the proof we don't live together if the divorce was pretty recent. any thoughts?

rodney

I am not an immigration lawyer, so this isn't legal advice, but I'd say you've got nothing to worry about if you've been apart for that long.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-07-13 22:29:00
Asia: East and PacificInterview on Jul, 9
How long have you been living apart? How long have you been divorced?
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-07-13 15:38:00
Asia: East and PacificInterview on Jul, 9
QUOTE (Rodney n. @ Jul 10 2008, 11:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
My lawyer told me they were asking for a lot of proof about ex-wives for some reason. I told him today i don't see why they do because personally i cant stand my ex and could care less where she is.lol he said they were requiring proof that you don't live together. Its BS if you ask me, but the consulate can pretty much do whatever they want i guess until someone tells them otherwise. i thought about just getting a statement from my landlord if they ask for anything from me that states i am only one who lives here.

Rodney

I, too was very worried about them asking about my ex-wife, because I DID live with my ex-wife after we were divorced, up until 2 months before the interview. I was assured by Marc Ellis that they would ask about that and probably give us a blue slip. I spent a lot of time getting all kinds of letters and evidence. They did not ask anything about it during the interview. I guess there's a first time for everything. Most do get asked, though. None of their business, if you ask me.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-07-11 17:01:00
Asia: East and PacificIs This A Picture Of The Consulate In HCMC?
QUOTE (WideAwakeInTheUSA @ Jul 13 2008, 03:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Melrose Plant @ Jul 13 2008, 04:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (consolemaster @ Jul 13 2008, 06:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (WideAwakeInTheUSA @ Jul 10 2008, 07:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (don2008 @ Jul 10 2008, 07:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
i hope not! im going to be pissed if my tax dollars are wasted buliding a castle in a 3rd world country...


That's sort of what I was thinking.


Hmm...Don't get offended too quickly.

In Cambodia, they recently built US Embassy costs about 5 million dollars. Having a US Embassy that exhibit status provides a powerful influence to the locals.

$5 million ain't all that much any more for a good sized building, with all the security and everything. I'm not offended.


Spoken like a Union Electrician! kicking.gif

I will take that in the spirit in which I am sure it was intended. star_smile.gif But I will still contend that it is absolutely true! $5 million doesn't buy you all that much building any more.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-07-13 21:05:00
Asia: East and PacificIs This A Picture Of The Consulate In HCMC?
QUOTE (consolemaster @ Jul 13 2008, 06:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (WideAwakeInTheUSA @ Jul 10 2008, 07:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (don2008 @ Jul 10 2008, 07:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
i hope not! im going to be pissed if my tax dollars are wasted buliding a castle in a 3rd world country...


That's sort of what I was thinking.


Hmm...Don't get offended too quickly.

In Cambodia, they recently built US Embassy costs about 5 million dollars. Having a US Embassy that exhibit status provides a powerful influence to the locals.

$5 million ain't all that much any more for a good sized building, with all the security and everything. I'm not offended.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-07-13 15:34:00
Asia: East and PacificHow many trips are enough?
I have nothing to add really, except to put a positive spin on it. We all know about people who made several trips who didn't make it on the first try, but we must also remember some of the people who visited only once, and were successful on the first try.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-07-14 10:40:00
Asia: East and PacificReverse commute
Hehe, I wish I needed to transfer that much money! No, we're only talking a few thousand. Now suddenly, Mai seems so confident about the transaction. I've learned not to ask questions when she gets like that. I will let you know more when I know more.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-07-15 22:58:00
Asia: East and PacificReverse commute
Thanks for the tip. We have yet to venture out on the town after I took her to that Mexican restaurant--big mistake!

I guess we are the only ones on this board with a weird enough situation that we would like to send money from Vietnam to the U.S. What is more, Mai's family is of a generation where you don't put your money in a bank, so there are no banking connections anywhere. We're either going to have to get creative, or just wait until we come back to Vietnam and physically just take the money with us.

On a side note, Mai had her first online shopping experience today. She seemed fascinated by the ease of it all. We bought some cookie sheets from Amazon.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-07-14 22:29:00
Asia: East and PacificReverse commute
There has been plenty of discussion about various ways of sending money from here to Vietnam. And now, for something completely different, what is the best way to send money from Vietnam to here?
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-07-13 15:43:00
Asia: East and PacificK2 Visa
QUOTE (Mel and Syl @ Jul 15 2008, 05:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Thai @ Jul 15 2008, 06:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
That's weird, because my wife was here on the K1 Visa and she was able to apply for a sNN after 2 weeks.
Thank you all.



I guess your wife had a 90days work authorization stamp in her passport. I had that stamp in mine (came through JFK) and thats why i got my SSN. My daughter (7) doesn't have her SSN yet, we are waiting for her EAD approval/Card.

K-1 has different rules about getting a SSN compared to K-2, K-3, and K-4 from what I understand.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-07-16 13:03:00
Asia: East and PacificCell Phones And Scum Bags.
QUOTE (Thai @ Jul 15 2008, 05:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I woudl biatchslap your girl for talking on the phone while riding a bike. That's illegal practice .

You know, I hate to jump on the bandwagon a little late, but what the hell.

This sort of comment is why I object so strongly to the rap/hip-hop culture. It has made comments like this seem acceptable at first blush in ordinary everyday conversation. No one would ever have thought that kind of comment was acceptable when I was a child.

I won't pick on just hiphop culture, either. Country music (of which I'm a fan) also tends to celebrate acting like a friggin' idiot too. And we won't even get into whatever the entertainment value of reality TV might be.

The human race constantly struggles to overcome its baser instincts. Often we are not successful.

I hope that no one thinks I am overreacting to a comment that maybe was intended mostly as a joke, but I feel strongly that if comments like this come to be seen as ordinary and acceptable, we become a little less human, little by little. I am not perfect by any means, and I have to struggle every day against my baser instincts as well, just like anyone else. I say all of this as a friend, not a preacher. Go in peace, brothers and sisters.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-07-16 13:44:00
Asia: East and PacificCell Phones And Scum Bags.
Yet another reason why I maintain that if I never return to Saigon, it will be too soon. That seriously sucks, dude.

But of course I will return to Saigon, even though I truly despise that place. We have friends there.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-07-15 22:51:00
Asia: East and PacificPINK!!!!WE PASSED!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations!
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-07-15 06:59:00
Asia: East and PacificHELP........
Yes, please do look under the Guides. I am very close to turning in our AOS papers, and the Guides have been very helpful. Also, make sure you download the instructions for Form I-485. Those instructions will tell you all the supplemental stuff you need to submit besides the Forms themselves. Don't forget to write a cover letter, though.

guides6ly.gif
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-07-16 13:12:00
Asia: East and PacificOne Way Ticket To HCMC
Have you actually priced the one way? Maybe the round trip is cheaper anyhow. Of course, knowing you, that's a stupid question. I'm sure you have researched the thing to death. good.gif
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-07-20 13:01:00
Asia: East and Pacificif you got the interview date or already had the interview, please help us answer some questions
This poll won't let me vote because I cannot put anything in Question 2, because we got pink on the first try.

We met online, she has no relatives here, I visited 3 times, and we got pink on the first try.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-07-13 21:11:00
Asia: East and Pacificpink, but making us wait?
Yes the same thing happened to Dave_Thao, and the explanation given was the same. Something about having to "cancel out" the former case. Mai is on the phone right now with em Thao, who is now residing happily in Minnesota with Dave. The visa should issue soon.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-07-23 20:38:00
Asia: East and PacificReally upset now, can anyone help?
QUOTE (WideAwakeInTheUSA @ Jul 23 2008, 11:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

3. Her English wasn't good enough for me to understand her. However, my Vietnamese is VERY GOOD, it's scary! Trust me, State Dept. didn't send someone who doesn't know the local or the language to work in this Division. My Vietnamese is VERY GOOD! That's why I "forced" her to speak vietnamese to me... wait... the interpreter. Of course, you and her didn't know I know Vietnamese like that! Even in her native language, she wasn't comfortable to answer the questions, what else do you expect me to believe if this case isn't right! rofl.gif This is where I'd like to hear from the former C/O. How many of them actually speak Vietnamese fluently?

Mai's consular officer evidently spoke Vietnamese well, because most of her interview was conducted in Vietnamese by him, without a translator. Mai says he spoke very clearly, and with a Northern accent. The interviewer was a middle aged white man.

I am now tending to wonder about the whole English only thing myself, and am questioning how valid it is. You, Wide Awake, have spoken with Mai many times, and you know that she speaks English reasonably well. Not in the few days before the interview. She was so nervous and so worried, it's like she completely forgot how to speak the English language, and she would sometimes answer the simplest questions in a most bizarre manner. I think it was good that most of her interview was in Vietnamese.

Rodney, I hope you can get your difficulties resolved quickly.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-07-23 20:24:00
Asia: East and PacificReally upset now, can anyone help?
Sorry to hear this news, Rodney. I am sure things will work out in the end.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-07-22 06:08:00
Asia: East and PacificGreat news
Not bad at all for California! Congratulations and good luck!
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-07-17 08:41:00
Asia: East and PacificHCMC May Interviews
Hey Dave, about bloody time, eh? Same day as us! See you in Saigon!
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-04-15 22:25:00
Asia: East and PacificInterviewing at HCMC: it's all about faith
QUOTE (WideAwakeInTheUSA @ Jul 25 2008, 06:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I noticed something in this thread:

Having Wife in U.S. = Faith In The System

Not Having Wife In U.S. = Not Much Faith In The System

I will be the exception to the rule, as usual. I do not have a lot of faith in the system. I credit a lot of our success to dumb luck. But then, I seem to have had a lot of dumb luck since I met Mai.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-08-02 17:27:00
Asia: East and Pacificpreparation for the incoming interview on Aug. 19
QUOTE (Huanyen @ Aug 3 2008, 10:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Another note about our relationship timeline: It is a typed notarized document. Do I need a handwritten version?

There seems to be some debate about this. I submitted a typed, non-notarized timeline, and we were successful on the first try. I was told that I didn't need to get the document notarized because I was there (waiting across the street from the consulate). If you are not able to be there for the interview, it has to be notarzied (which yours is).

Some have said it needs to be hand-written, which I really can't see the sense of. That just makes it harder for the person to read and understand. We did submit some other hand written documents, and now that I look back on it, that seems silly, too. It just gave me a chance to use my fountain pen.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-08-04 06:15:00
Asia: East and PacificPreapaid calling
QUOTE (ding @ Jul 11 2008, 02:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Vonage has a 'call asia' plan. $9.95 extra/month = unlimited time, one monthly fee.
Good luck!

As has been said before, this plan does not include Vietnam. Most (ok, every plan I've ever looked into) plans do not include Vietnam. Vietnam is just unloved.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-07-11 16:54:00
Asia: East and PacificLust of Love
That's an easy one.......I married for lust.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-08-10 13:39:00
Asia: East and PacificCosmetology (Beauty/Make Up) Schhols In Sai Gon.
Mai called the school last night. They seem legit, and yes, you MAY purchase a very nice, professional set of imported French supplies for 15.000.000 VND, but you are not required to do so. We'll talk with you tonight.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-08-20 06:21:00
Asia: East and PacificFianlly filed AOS
We received our NOAs for the 485 and the 765 today. So I guess Mai gets to stay for a while longer! Which is good because as of this coming Tuesday, she owns real property in the U.S. (OK, the bank owns most of it, but still.....).
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-08-30 16:28:00
Asia: East and PacificFianlly filed AOS
I just noticed I mis-spelled "finally" in the topic line, and no way to edit! Bummer! It must have been really late at night.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-08-28 20:45:00
Asia: East and PacificFianlly filed AOS
They cashed our check today. Still no notice of receipt, but I suppose that is a good sign. Not good for the bank account, though.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-08-28 20:41:00
Asia: East and PacificFianlly filed AOS
I have been a procrastinator all my life, but despite this, I said I was going to get this AOS business going in plenty of time........Fate was against me. ON our wedding day, I contracted pneumonia. This took me out for a MONTH. I was NEVER this sick in my whole life.

THEN I took a job which worked a lot of hours. In fact, tomorrow (this Saturday) is my first day off in 33 days. Therefore, I just finished the paperwork for the AOS just yesterday. Halleujah! Less than 2 weeks before the K-1 visa expired.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-08-22 23:43:00
Asia: East and Pacificvisa to Vietnam
I would call San Francisco for the fees for your type of visa. Maybe call them twice. I got 2 different numbers when I called, and I didn't have a lot of time for errors, so I paid the higher one ($150 for a 3 month multi-entry).

San Francisco is faster than Washington, so I'd send it there, irrespective of where you live.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-08-26 16:08:00
Asia: East and PacificAngry at Stereotypes... WHY CAN'T I LOVE AN ASIAN???????
Linda, are you still in Nha Trang? If so, have you found the giant shrimp lady? I guess we call them King Prawns in the States. I can't tell you exactly, but Tan will know since he lives there. There's a lady who sells giant shrimp on the main drag, just south of that little amusement park. The park is on the east side of the street, and the giant shrimp are on the west side. Eating on that corner is one of my best memories from Vietnam. Best enjoyed with a few warm Bia Sài Gòn.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-02-24 14:19:00
Asia: East and PacificAngry at Stereotypes... WHY CAN'T I LOVE AN ASIAN???????
QUOTE (ILoveTan @ Feb 22 2008, 04:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thanks for your post. People are so narrow minded. I guess what irks me most is how if a white man marries an asian girl everyone pats him on the back and says, "asian girl, hot in bed, look young forever, thin....GOOD JOB MAN!"


Hmmmmmmmm. Asian girl. Woman, actually. She's 38. Hot in bed. Check. Look young forever. No one looks young forever except ####### Clark, even after the stroke. Thin. Uh, noooooooo. I think I have found the one fat family in Vietnam. And they want me to be fat too, judging from the amount of food they've shoved down my throat. Incredible food, I might add. Stereotypes only go so far. My sister is married to an Asian man, by the way, though he is an American of Chinese descent.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-02-24 14:14:00
Asia: East and PacificHyper Obsessive Question from your crazy VJ Friend...
QUOTE (ILoveTan @ Jun 24 2008, 01:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH - I like this idea!

For all you "normals" out there ... how often do normal people chat to each other and for how long at a stretch?

Is an hour on the phone, 3 hours on the net and and an email in the course of 1 day, EXCESSIVE? whistling.gif


When I was working, we'd get 15 minutes a day on the phone at morning break time, which often stretched to double or triple that if I was the foreman, or could get by with it for some reason or other.

On weekends, and when I was laid off, it was the same as you 3, 4, 5 hours a day on Skype was pretty normal. As the months wore on (I once naively thought I would have to have a place ready by Thanksgiving 2007 instead of June 2008), the panic feeling kind of wore off as we got used to each other, and got used to things that can go wrong with the internet and phone system. And now, everything just seems kind of really very nice. OK, we'll see what happens when I go back to work.

I know you've probably heard this a million times, but do try not to worry so much about the details. There isn't one little detail that will make or break your case. Think big picture.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-06-24 22:38:00
Asia: East and PacificHyper Obsessive Question from your crazy VJ Friend...
No, I really don't think you ought to send a case of paper with the 129(f) petition. Now when it comes time for the actual interview, that's a different story. Mai carried in an entire suitcase full of our chat and emails and all that stuff (we also talked a lot every day when I wasn't working). I heard of somebody, I can't remember who, who sent in a huge file like that to USCIS, but I think most people advise against that. I think you're on the right track.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-06-24 08:32:00