ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
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
Asia: East and PacificWhite paper -- what's this --aarrh
QUOTE (RalphandHanh @ Aug 19 2008, 07:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
From what I understand, they want last years tax return only. My fiancée went to the Migration office in HCMC to ask some questions. Maybe its different for spouse.

Does anyone know > if my income was low last year but I have a decent amount in savings... do that help? I think I'm going to contact M.E. this week.

I, like several others, submitted 3 (ultimately 4, as this process took nearly a year) years worth of income tax returns, but I think if you make way over the poverty guidelines, they only look at the most recent return. If you're close to the lower limit, they might want all 3 years. That's my take on this.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-08-20 06:14:00
Asia: East and PacificWish us luck! September 5th Interview, HCMC
Good luck!
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-09-04 20:54:00
Asia: East and PacificHCMC INTERVIEW - MAY 30th - PASSED
Congratulations on the birth of your child!

Mai was interviewed by a white man, middle aged, no interpreter. She was prepared to do the interview in English, and the officer asked her if she spoke English, but most of the interview was conducted in Vietnamese, by this white man. Mai said he spoke quite well, and with a Hanoi accent. The interview was very short and easy. The man smiled as he handed her back her papers with the pink slip.

Another woman we know was interviewed by a Korean man. Her interview was also very easy, and she got the pink. So who knows?

A local lawyer prepared the I-129(f) and the supporting document (would have done it myself if I knew then what I know now), but our case in HCMC was prepared by Mr. Nam and Marc Ellis. HOWEVER, the Vietnamese staff at the consulate "rearranged" Mai paperwork such that Marc's cover letter was never seen by the interviewing officer. In fact, the officer never saw any of the evidence bolstering the weak point of our case. It didn't matter, I guess.

It is always good to have a lot of useful information, but I still cannot find anything which is a reliable predictor of success in this matter. Thank God we only had to go through this once.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-09-06 23:50:00
Asia: East and PacificFound this on a friend's page and thought you might get a kick out of it...
Guess that means I'm a typical American. I don't understand 2/3 of these....

.....especially the part about a leader named Kevin......
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-09-07 01:23:00
Asia: East and PacificWe are homeowners!
QUOTE (luckytxn @ Sep 10 2008, 10:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Has the tree received a reprieve yet?

Yeah. The cost alone made her eyes get as big as saucers. We're already paying $300 to have some major trimming work done for safety reasons. There are 2 other trees that will have to come out. 1 of them is dead, and 1 of them is rotten in the middle. But, I did some measuring today, and they are clearly on city property! HAHA! Now it's their problem.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-09-10 17:56:00
Asia: East and PacificWe are homeowners!
Never fear, folks. I'm sure the tree will stay. Once she finds out how much money it will cost to have it removed, plus my vehement opposition to it, she will change her mind. I am just not understanding why she wants to have it cut down in the first place. I will ask her again over dinner and see if I can understand the Vietnamese mind some more.

BTW, none of the neighbors have nearly as many trees as we do. Maybe that has something to do with it?
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-09-07 20:28:00
Asia: East and PacificWe are homeowners!
QUOTE (DPNH @ Sep 7 2008, 12:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
We do have an "Off Topic" Forum. This Forum is for Immigration-related, specifically for the named region of the world.

PS> I just ate 2 delicious Lemon creme donuts and a whole Banh Trung Thu (Moon Cake) for my breakfast this morning............noone cares, right?........That's right!

Yeah, but this is more like the SE Asia family here. Over there at the Off Topic, it's a very strange place.

Also, see here:

Regional Discussion
This Forum is dedicated to discussion on the major regions around the world. Topics of discussion may include travel, moving, what to eat and any other experience you may wish to share or inquire about. Have fun!

And dammit, you WILL have fun.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-09-07 13:15:00
Asia: East and PacificWe are homeowners!
Mai and I closed on a house last Tuesday, and we are heavy into sprucing things up before we move in, probably towards the end of this month. We are both really pleased with our find (after more than a year of searching), and look forward to living in this house for many years to come. This house is old, probably 100 years old.

Potential--OK scratch that--Actual arguments: Trees and floors. She wants to cut down a perfectly good hard Maple tree in our yard, for reasons I just don't understand. Something about that it prevents the yard from being "square." She doesn't understand that removing this tree would probably cost at least $1000, and in spite of this lucrative sum, no tree service around here would agree to cut it down without a great deal of arguing. We have enough bad trees around here to keep them plenty busy.

Who doesn't love hardwood floors? There is a beautiful hardwood floor underneath the stinky and worn out carpet in our new house. She wants to get new carpet. Over my dead body. I can refinish the floor myself for cheap (this would be my fourth such experience), or we can spend a hell of a lot of money on wall to wall carpet. I'm going to try to sell her on Royal Palace rugs on eBay/QVC. They are VERY nice, removable and classy over hardwood floors. Sigh, Asian wife--difficult life! Life is good, folks.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-09-07 01:07:00
Asia: East and PacificPOE, is this right?
Yes, they took all that stuff in the brown envelope at the POE. They will forward that stuff to the appropriate local office.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-09-11 22:35:00
Asia: East and Pacificplease translate
QUOTE (mimhnhut @ Sep 13 2008, 09:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Melrose Plant @ Sep 12 2008, 11:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
It means: Dear Uncle Tu and Aunt Tu (like you would write in a letter). But why would there be an aunt and and uncle both named Tu?


Uncle T? is husband of Aunt T?.
" T?" means : fourth, doesn't mean first name. In Vietnamese, call a person in order of birth in family to respect.

Aha, that must be a southern thing, they never do that in the north. That accounts for a good deal.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-09-13 22:17:00
Asia: East and Pacificplease translate
It means: Dear Uncle Tu and Aunt Tu (like you would write in a letter). But why would there be an aunt and and uncle both named Tu?

Edited by Melrose Plant, 12 September 2008 - 11:27 PM.

Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-09-12 23:26:00
Asia: East and PacificBIG PROBLEM!
Maybe there is reason to worry, but Mai just signed "Mai Anh" with no middle and no surname, and ours went through. Of course her Vietnamese signature is somewhat stylized, and maybe it looks like a regular American signature. She now signs the same way, but with surname basically tacked on to the end of it, almost like an afterthought. At least I know where I stand. laughing.gif
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-09-13 22:25:00
Asia: East and PacificBIG PROBLEM!
Phuong will be just fine. All Vietnamese sign their names that way. See my PM to you.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-09-12 23:20:00
Asia: East and PacificOur I-129f (K-3) Petition cleared the NVC
Good luck to you both.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-09-09 22:28:00
Asia: East and Pacific***I-485 Approved***
Congratulations on the green card, and also congratulations on getting your wife to drive so soon!
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-09-23 05:58:00
Asia: East and PacificFlying and Baggage
Just for the record, I used Korean Air and checked 2 suitcases at exactly 50 lbs. apiece. No problem. Except I was loaded with contraband. No one checked in Hanoi.

On the way back to the U.S., we had a total of 6 pieces of checked luggage at EXACTLY 23 kg apiece. We paid extra for 2 of them. I don't remember how much now, but it wasn't all that much compared to if you shipped those items by DHL or something similar. We had no problems getting our luggage to the USA.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-09-25 22:16:00
Asia: East and PacificWho moved all the topics?
QUOTE (luckytxn @ Sep 24 2008, 10:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Apparently there is Melrose. We are like a family and friends here and it was nice to chat among ourselves.

Oh yeah. After hurricame Ike I am not loving trees anymore.

Hahahaha, I'm not laughing at your situation, but I see you still retain a sense of humor about things, even after a terrible disaster like that.

So now, in the spirit of going WAY off topic (just because I can, and somebody can MOVE this if deemed necessary), let me put you up to date on the house.

First, the trees. The good trees are in no danger, she has decided they are OK, even though we have at least twice as many trees as any of our neighbors (for some reason this bothers her). The two trees that are on city property needed to come out, 1 was dead, and the other is barely hanging onto life, being rotten in the middle. We called the city to come look at them. The city inspector agreed that both needed to come out, and both would be removed by the city. HOWEVER, and here's where life just always gets interesting, we have no sidewalk on the side of our property where the trees were (and one still is). We have a corner property. City ordinance requires that you have a sidewalk. We have a sidewalk in the front, but none on the side. The side street is not a full-sized street, and there is practically no traffic, foot or otherwise, along this side street. The trees were planted right where the sidewalk ought to go, and this property has a "sidewalk waiver." If the city were to cut down both trees, the sidewalk waiver would be null and void, and we would have to put in 150 feet of sidewalk. He thought the city would charge about $2,500 to do this for us. Ouch.

He then suggested that since we were such tree lovers, that we have the city cut down only the dead tree. This would give us time to decide what to do. I'm pretty sure I can put in a sidewalk if need be for a lot less than $2,500, but I sure don't want to do it this fall. Plus, I hate the thought of keeping that extra 150 feet of sidewalk cleared during the winter. Pretty funny, eh?

In other news, we got a new furnace, and new A/C. Actually, we just got A/C period, because there was none before. Can you believe a Vietnamese woman actually agreed to buy A/C? In the end, she decided we should get it for my son, who is not used to not having it, and for our "American" guests, who might not like the house at 85 degrees or higher.

We also just finished with re-finishing the downstairs floors. We're ready to move in this week-end.

Move it if you must.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-09-25 22:06:00
Asia: East and PacificWho moved all the topics?
OK, I know all of the moved topics (not all of which were mine) technically "belonged" elsewhere, but when they are put in their "correct" places, nobody really gives a ####### because nobody knows who we are or what we're talking about. We are a little group here in SE Asia, and, for example, I would never that Jack & Xuan got their USCIS approval if they didn't post in here in SE Asia, even though that technically belongs in the I-129(f) forum. Is there a problem sharing our experiences with our friends here in this forum?
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-09-24 21:22:00
Asia: East and PacificCase transferred to CSC
Hello all, we just got a notice in the mail a few days ago that our case has been transferred to CSC, which is really rather ironic. In my mind, I see CSC as the endless abyss, the place where cases can get lost for ages. However, I guess that means we won't be having an interview, we just have to wait for some length of time for the green card to arrive in the mail. I guess this means we have happy news.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-10-04 00:13:00
Asia: East and PacificVisa Approved!
That's wonderful news! Congratulations!
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-09-30 22:11:00
Asia: East and PacificAOS Interview experience
Congratulations Guy & Hoa, I am so happy there have been few obstacles for you once you both arrived in the U.S.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-10-03 23:54:00
Asia: East and PacificI AM IN SHOCK!!!!!!!!!!!
I believe our NOA1 took about a week. You don't want to know how long our NOA2 took.

Of course, we filed right after they raised the filing fees substantially, so that screwed everything up.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-10-03 23:56:00
Asia: East and PacificI AM IN SHOCK!!!!!!!!!!!
Jonas,

First of all, congratulations. I'm glad you finally quit worrying about minutia and filed. Second, you need to calm down. Yes, it would seem rather unusual that you got received in one day, but you are only received. It really means nothing. You will get through USCIS. That's the easy part. I told you not to worry. I hope you get your NOA2 a lot faster than we got ours. But still, the hard part is once it leaves the USA and it is up to the people in Saigon.

I don't want to take away from your elation. That is awesome. The Vietnamese believe in fate a lot. I do not. I believe in being prepared and rolling with the punches. Two Weltanschauungen (did I get my German plural right?), one goal, one love.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-10-03 23:29:00
Asia: East and PacificConsidering relocating to Vietnam
I have a dear friend who teaches English in Saigon. The main hurdle in Vietnam is not the government, but the individual schools which would hire you. If you want a decent paying job, it is best to have a bachelor's degree and the TESOL. And with the cost of food going up so fast, you'll want a decent paying job. It's awful tough to live on $100 a month, or even $250.

It's a good way to make the move to Asia, but it's certainly not for everyone. I probably speak and write English better than the average American, but I'm not at all sure I'd want to teach English for a living. Although....(pause)....if it were a matter of being with my wife versus not being with her for who knows how long....I might be persuaded to do almost anything.

Good luck.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-10-07 06:23:00
Asia: East and PacificConsidering relocating to Vietnam
I had considered doing just that at one time, but soon realized that there is no way I could pay my bills back in the USA on what I could make in Vietnam. So, unless you are debt-free and obligation free in the U.S., I don't see how you can swing it in Vietnam.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-10-05 22:51:00
Asia: East and PacificMy wife called we passed :D
Congratulations!
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-10-09 21:25:00
Asia: East and Pacificchange of address question
I just had this same situation. Perhaps there is some way to do this online instead, but when we went for her biometrics appointment, our local CIS office gave us two forms to fill out. The first was for USCIS, and the second was for Homeland Security. Contact your local CIS office. They can help you, I'm sure.

Also, timeline.gif

Edited by Melrose Plant, 14 October 2008 - 08:32 PM.

Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-10-14 20:28:00
Asia: East and Pacific4 Years and 3 Weeks.....
Congratulations to you both!

I guarantee it will take much longer now, but I don't care. At least we are together.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-09-25 22:20:00
Asia: East and PacificSecond journey
Congratulations on completing another step!

The only thing that really confused me was the vaccination thing. It is just really unclear whether you have to fill out the full medical form or not. I chose not to because our local civil surgeon wanted like $200 just to sign the form. Screw that. So I just figured I'd let it be an RFE. We're together now, so time is not such a big issue. So far, it hasn't turned into an RFE, and our case was transferred to CSC some time ago.

Good luck!
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-10-20 05:16:00
Asia: East and PacificOne Angry WOMAN
QUOTE (dalegg @ Oct 13 2008, 11:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I have to say I never saw anyone in Vietnam who had tattoos while I was there. First ILOVETAN's green haired fiance now this. Is this a new thing?

It's Vietnam "growing up." The only guy I saw in Hanoi with tattoos actually lives in Germany, and was just back to visit his mother. We ate a his family's hole-in-the-wall restaurant, which is how I discovered this.

On another note, I NEVER had ANYBODY ever make a negative comment or stare at us in a disapproving sort of way. People DID come up to us and make inappropriate comments (by Western standards), like, "Your husband is very handsome, but he's a little thin, you need to feed him more." I swear I am not making this up. But as far as anything truly negative, nothing ever happened.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-10-15 05:19:00
Asia: East and PacificOne Angry WOMAN
QUOTE (akdiver @ Oct 10 2008, 03:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Chris & Mara @ Oct 9 2008, 11:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Wow that has got to have been seriously one of the nastier things i have heard all week.
Not trying to be nasty - just practical. If they're not giving out visas to guys with tattoos, then it seems reasonable to find a guy without tattoos.

QUOTE
He got the tattoo, of her name for her.....
Yes I know.

It would seem reasonable for her to find a guy who lived in Orange County, too, for that matter. Every one of us on this site knows that love ain't reasonable.

I will choose to believe that the above is intended to be humorous. I could see that.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-10-11 07:44:00
Asia: East and PacificOne Angry WOMAN
My wife calls this sort of thing "Vietnam growing up." Ironic, isn't it?

Vietnamese in general love to call themselves experts on U.S. immigration policy. They usually haven't a clue. Take out the earring, wear "polite" clothing. Who will ever know? No need to be angry.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-10-04 00:04:00
Asia: East and PacificVN Visa filers, where is your SO from?
QUOTE (luckytxn @ Oct 1 2008, 12:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
No offense taken. I know what you say. I travel all over the country constantly and some Canada and everyone talks funny except where I live.

I went into Saigon a couple of times and I think all 10 million have scooters. I am impressed that more people are not ran over daily and whoever has the horn concession is rich.

People DO get run over every day in Saigon, and I imagine Hanoi too. I personally know one expat who got run over by a taxi, and it took him a long time to recover (let's not talk about the police bribes on that one).

The only reason why the traffic situation works at all in Vietnam is because they drive so slowly. There is time to anticipate and react to those around you. I am a speed demon in Vietnam, even though I am very conservative rider in America. I have several hundred miles riding experience in Vietnam and over 100,000 in the U.S. It's much easier riding in the U.S. in my opinion, even on a motorcycle, where we don't get the respect that a car gets.

And yes, I did get a lot of stares at stoplights. Maybe it was the Honda SH I was riding. Maybe it was my beautiful wife. More likely, it was the rarity of a white guy piloting a motorbike in Vietnam.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-10-03 23:49:00
Asia: East and PacificVN Visa filers, where is your SO from?
QUOTE (luckytxn @ Sep 29 2008, 09:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Damn. That is a lot of people.

Yeah, that is a LOT of people. Way too many people for my taste. In fact, if I never return to Saigon again, it will be too soon. Unfortunately, we will be going back sooner or later because of family and friends. Also, they talk funny there. No offense Tex. I guess I talk funny too, being from North Carolina.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-09-30 22:20:00
Asia: East and PacificVN Visa filers, where is your SO from?
Mai hails from Ha Dong City, which is what we here in the States would call a suburb of Hanoi. Hanoi has a population of approximately 3.5 million. However, as of this August, Hanoi annexed the whole of Ha Tay province (of which Ha Dong was formerly the capital) and some other territory. A lot of people are not real happy about this. So technically, Hanoi now has a population of over 6 million.

There are precious few intending immigrants to the USA from the North. Most, as Kevin postulated, are from somewhere around HCMC. I feel privileged to know the North of Vietnam. It is a wonderful place.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-09-25 22:34:00
Asia: East and Pacificsending money back to vietnam
QUOTE (Jack & Xuan @ Oct 26 2008, 03:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
When I visited Xuan in Siagon, she started to pay for some stuff and I would not let her. I have never NOT paid for items when it comes eating out or a taxi or something like that. I did not know about the woman paying for things until I read this post.

I think that perhaps this practice is more pervasive in the North, where they are somewhat more conservative. I would think if you were committing a faux pas, Xuan would have let you know.


QUOTE
I do plan to retire near where her parents live if at all possible. I am 38 now so I am thinking maybe 10 years or so I hope.

I would be so curious to know your feelings about those issues in 10 years or so. Both the retiring thing (I'm afraid I'll be stuck working 'till I'm 70 blink.gif ) and the wanting to retire to Vietnam thing.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-10-27 05:09:00
Asia: East and Pacificsending money back to vietnam
I too am in a different situation than most, because like Chuck, I married into a professional family. All of them are doctors and engineers. I came back from Vietnam with substantially more money than I brought in.

The woman always holds the money in Northern Vietnam. If the man were to pay for anything publicly, it would be against accepted social custom, and people would at the very least look at you funny. Oddly enough, now that she is here, Mai has let go of this custom completely. I usually pay if we are at the supermarket or the mall (or wherever). She would NEVER tolerate that in Vietnam.

Edited by Melrose Plant, 16 October 2008 - 10:22 PM.

Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-10-16 22:21:00
Asia: East and PacificGreen Sheet
I am sorry to hear this news, but there is hope. Marc and anh Nam will take care of things the best they can, I'm sure.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-10-07 06:09:00
Asia: East and PacificHello ALL. She got 2 years Green Card
Hey Andy,

Good to hear from you again, and it was nice meeting you and your wife. Good luck you to on what is now the real journey, the rest of your lives.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-11-05 20:57:00