ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
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
Asia: East and PacificTranslating Vietnamese documents
QUOTE (PeterFB @ Nov 8 2008, 01:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Craigcam

You have to have English Translations for anything submitted to the USCIS that is written in Vietnamese (or any foreign language). If you submitted any proof of having meet or ongoing relationship that were Vietnamese documents like receipts that were written in Vietnamese only, you have to submit translations. Since I stayed with Thi's family, I had the Temporary Residency Book cover, and pages with the dates listing my stay translated because I submitted that (and more) with my I-129f.


Thanks Peter for saving me there. Sorry guys, I've been working a lot and haven't had a chance to re-comment. Yeah, what he said. I too submitted a number of things with my I-129f that were not required. I did not remember what was actually required vs. what I sent in. One of these things was a translation of her birth certificate.

QUOTE
The Consulate doesn't require any translations but you might as well get everything translated because you'll need them for AOS. The Instructions for AOS forms states translations are necessary. Besides it's easy and cheap to have that done in Vietnam compared to the US. Most US translation companies will charge $25 a page, in Vietnam you have a book translated for that.


Quite true. Plus, at least in the North, you get real official-looking seals stamped on your official translations. Them Communists just LOVE stamps. Some of the stuff is translated a little "funny," though.

Good Luck at your interview

Peter and Thi

I-129F Sent : 2007-05-26
I-129F NOA1 : 2007-06-11
I-129F RFE(s) :
RFE Reply(s) :
I-129F NOA2 : 2007-10-26
Touched: 2007-11-02
NVC Recieved: 2007-11-16
Consulate recieved ??????
Packet 3 sent 2007-12-11
Packet 3 received 2007-12-24
Packet 3 returned 2007-12-28
Packet 4 sent 2008-1-14
Email Reply with Interview Date 2008-1-23
Interview Date 2008-2-27
Passed Interview 2008-02-27
Visa Pick Up Date 2008-3-05
Received Visa 2008-2-29 (called to pick up earlier)
POE 2008-3-05 Los Angeles
Wedding 2008-4-26
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-11-09 07:20:00
Asia: East and PacificTranslating Vietnamese documents
Well, the Vietnamese documents (such as her birth certificate) must be translated into English for the USCIS portion of the petition. Perhaps that's what your thinking of?

Edited by Melrose Plant, 05 November 2008 - 09:00 PM.

Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-11-05 20:59:00
Asia: East and PacificBiggest adjustment for Thais coming to U.S.
Goodness, FOOD is the big thing. I never imagined how much of an adjustment that would be, since I ate Vietnamese food the whole time I was over there (total of 10 weeks), and only hated a couple of things. Hell, I ate some REALLY WEIRD STUFF when I was there, and I am not a "garbage can."

Mai's been here for 3 weeks now, and she hates everything I cook for her, be it Italian, French, Mexican, or American. I did make a stir fry that was Chinese "style" that she liked OK. I'm beginning to doubt my skill in the kitchen. She says just give her time. I try to be as understanding as I can, and we eat Vietnamese food mostly.

We are very lucky. A friend of my father has a son who married a Vietnamese woman (she has lived in the U.S. a long time). She took it upon herself to call Mai and introduce herself, and she showed us the good Asian supermarket, volunteered to teach Mai how to drive, etc. I feel we are very lucky.

Good luck to all new immigrants! It is really not so bad here, but it does take some getting used to!
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-06-23 03:02:00
Asia: East and PacificHow did u meet your other half?
Mai Anh and I met on Asiafriendfinder.com. I was looking for a date, it was cheap to join. I was unbelievably naive about the nature of the website. I told the computer I didn't want to travel more than 75 miles away. I guess it ignored me.

My wife was a member of the website because one of the girls in her 30-something group of single friends had met her husband on that website, so she thought, "Why not?"

And so, the Cupid computer matched the two of us up, which is unbelievable given the number of scammers and other such vermin on that website. I sure don't recommend it to anyone wanting to find someone special. I just happened to back into something lucky by accident.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-11-09 07:37:00
Asia: East and PacificThank you so much VJ! It's a Pink Slip!
Congratulations! Wow, they looked at every single photo? I'm surprised they have time.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-05-12 19:46:00
Asia: East and PacificHow long did it take for you to get your NOA2?
QUOTE (JonasMichaels @ Nov 17 2008, 11:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hi all, especially Vietnam journey members - how long did it take before you got your NOA2? Is there an average time wait for that? What is it? It would really put my mind at ease to know... it has been 50 days since I filed my I-129f. Thanks
Jonas

Jonas, I am going to be brutally honest, here. Painfully plain. There is nothing anyone here can say that will put your mind at ease. In fact, if you are very serious about attempting some sort of mental tranquility, I would just not visit Visa Journey at all until you get your NOA2, which could be several more months. Mine took 5 months.

Right now, the only thing you get from VJ is stories about people who got their NOA2 in three weeks, so you worry about yours taking longer than 50 days. Or, you hear about it taking someone three years, and you worry that your petition will be the next to get lost in the system. Trust me. Take a vacation from VJ for a while. You'll feel much better.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-11-21 08:17:00
Asia: East and PacificInterview was today...
It's good to hear some good news. Congratulations.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-11-24 14:26:00
Asia: East and PacificVietnam Questions
QUOTE (tup14ongtu @ Nov 25 2008, 01:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Worst case scenario I can fill them out and e-mail them to her! Are there any Vietnamese instructions that come with Packets 3 and 4? I seen that about getting help to fill out the forms I suppose that is if someone in HCM city does it for her. I meant to ask you what mail service did you use to send all the information and forms etc! I posted it before but no one answered!
It will be going to Ba Tri in the Delta and would hate to lose it as they want my original birth certificate! By the way thanks for the info!

Yes, there are Vietnamese instructions for Packets 3 and 4. It is perfectly all right for you to prefill the forms and mail them. I would send them DHL. Do not under any circumstances send them by regular mail.

Don't worry too much about losing your birth certificate, if it was issued by one of the several United States. You can always get another copy (pain in the neck, though). The real original is kept at your State's Department of Vital Statistics (or whatever your State calls it).

The wife says to mention that DHL is very expensive, but you probably guessed that. She also says FedEx is probably OK.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-11-25 09:31:00
Asia: East and PacificVietnam Questions
QUOTE (tup14ongtu @ Nov 24 2008, 12:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I have several questions concerning the Affidavit of Support Form I-134 on item 11 Maybe it should contain more – like how much a month in spending money or a more encompassing statement. What I said was....Room and board for the duration of our marriage! Below is the question concerning #11

11. I intend do not intend.... to make specific contributions to the support of the person(s) named in item 3.
(If you check "intend," indicate the exact nature and duration of the contributions. For example, if you intend to furnish room and board, state for how long and, if money, state the amount in U.S. dollars and state whether it is to be given in a lumpsum, weekly or monthly, and for how long.


I put "not applicable." I think this section is intended for someone who is not going to live with you.

QUOTE
Also I'm considering having her retain a lawyer in HCM city Vietnam! Does anyone have recommendations for a good lawyer and how much it costs? I would have my finance do it but she is not computer literate. The forms are not hard but would feel more comfortable having someone there to walk her through it.


I used Marc Ellis. So have many others. You can contact him by email at marcellislaw@gmail.com.

QUOTE
I met my finance through my Dads friend who's wife is my finances Aunt! Should I put this in my timeline of relationship??? I heard that this may raise some red flags during the interview....


What? You were never introduced to financial matters before Dad's friend's wife? Whatever you do, don't lie or purposefully obscure any facts. They will probably find out. Zey haf zare vays.

QUOTE
I would appreciate any help in these matters! Thank You star_smile.gif


Good luck to you. You're going to need it.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-11-24 14:45:00
Asia: East and Pacificvisitor visa to US from VN
That depends. In Hanoi, it will take only a day or two. In Saigon, (according to them) at least 10 days.

I just cannot answer about the likehood of your mother-in-law getting a visa. I know it's not easy.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-11-30 08:52:00
Asia: East and Pacificcheaper air fair?
QUOTE (Jack & Xuan @ Dec 2 2008, 03:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
If I were not a poor man and this process we are going through did not drain all of my money so far I would so be going back to Siagon. I have the last 2 weeks of Dec off paid and I will have another 2 weeks for next years vacation. I could be there for a month. But until I hit the lottery I just do not have enough money to pay for the plane tickets now and worry about getting Xuan's ticket should we be graced by the embassy with a pink slip. Have a good time on you trip.
crying.gif

Brother, I can certainly understand you there. I had to prostitute myself out in order to afford to bring Mai here. Now that she IS here, that's not really an option any more. So it may be some time before we make it back to Vietnam.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-12-02 19:45:00
Asia: East and Pacificcheaper air fair?
QUOTE (Joe Six-Pack @ Nov 24 2008, 04:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Well I just bought mine on impulse. Orbitz = $1019.00 Round trip kicking.gif . Leaving on Saturday, January 24th from Cleveland, OH arriving Monday January 26th (Tet) 11:30 pm. 2 days travel but what a deal. Leaving (if I chose to leave) March 24th.

Congratulations, Joe! Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

Seriously, I also used Orbitz for all three of my trips, and I never found anything close to $1019, 2 days or not. Is that 2 day trip on China Air Lines, perchance?
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-11-24 17:51:00
Asia: East and PacificCards for Christmas and New Year
I'm not sure that Vietnamese just "don't care about Christmas," it's just that there is a paucity of Christians in Vietnam. I've always thought of the Vietnamese as being equal opportunity religious celebrators. The few Christian churches are lined up down the block on Christmas Eve. At least in the North.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-11-29 12:39:00
Asia: East and PacificI think I see a trend
QUOTE (What @ Nov 24 2008, 09:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I don't think we consider the vnese female perspective. again, i don't want to be callous nor to over generalize. i believe if we change the way our wives thought this process, there would be a higher sucess rate.

your wife probably comes from a poor to modest family, income-wise. She probably has little to no education. she has probably never worked in her life. the highlight of her day was going to the market and preparing the meals for the day. my point is that she has no perspective, she knows the street she lives on and that's it, pretty much.

your wife does not have a clue about the visa process. all she knows is that you fill out paperwork, gather evidence, go to the interview and answer some questions. they don't know anything about income requirements and tax issues. Their only concern is what they are going to be asked at the interview. They have heard about ppl who failed the interview because the they couldn't answer a paticular question. Interview questions consume them and all thier focus is on answering those questions right.

She feels that if she doesn't get the visa, she's a disgrace to her family. maybe disgrace is too harsh, disappointed instead. she feels that her family is conting on her to pass the interview. She feels that she's her family ticket to a better life. she feels that if she doesn't pass, your relationship will be over. she's afraid that you will leave her. she feels that when you leave her, she's gonna be used goods and no one decent will want her. she's going to be the outcast of her neighborhood, she's going to be the one the american/viet kieu dumped.

So while we're trying to push the paperwork, finding out case status, finding out interview dates this is what your wife is probably thinking. we don't get the emotional distress unless we get the green/blue denial. i think if we can do something to alievate some of the pressures your wife is going through, she can transfer that energy to preparation for the interview.

That is just really bizarre. So what do you guys talk about, anyway?
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-11-24 18:17:00
Asia: East and PacificI think I see a trend
QUOTE (RalphandHanh @ Nov 24 2008, 04:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Jack & Xuan @ Nov 24 2008, 05:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I do not understand why this process has to be so hard. You do a back groud check on both people and if the American is willing to support the person and meets the minimum requirements that should be it. Then once a year on a random date a person from the government "inspects" to see that the couple are still married and living together or the American has a divorce decree and a reciept for the other persons trip back to where they came from. If not the American is taken to jail for 5 years, and the other person has a warrent out for their arrest and deprotation. That should stream line the process and deal with fraud.

There problem solved good.gif good.gif


I like the way you think biggrin.gif

It sounds good, but like most simple solutions, it doesn't really take into account the very normal complexities of life. Such a draconian system would never fly, and probably shouldn't. Heck, in some extreme cases, it might even run afoul of the 13th Amendment.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-11-24 18:13:00
Asia: East and PacificI think I see a trend
QUOTE (Uncle_Wally @ Nov 20 2008, 09:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I hired an immigration attorney, and I don't regret it. I'm not trying to adopt a cat from an animal shelter, I'm trying to get my wife into the country.
Having a lawyer in no way places your petition at the top of the pile nor in any other way expedites the process. But what it does do is help to ensure that the 'T's are crossed and the 'I's are dotted, and moreover, it's an insurance policy in place for the chance that you hit some kind of major snag in the process. It's someone who knows the system inside and out, as well as your particular situation whom you can call when something goes wrong and say "deal with it."

I'd never really thought of it that way (thank goodness nothing really went wrong with our case, other than it taking somewhat longer than normal), but you've hit the nail on the head there. If you're already distressed about something having gone wrong (like getting a blue slip), it is worth a lot to be able to tell someone, "Handle this, will you?"
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-11-21 08:37:00
Asia: East and PacificI think I see a trend
I used an attorney (two, actually), but I don't believe there is any correlation between "hired attorney" and "got pink slip" in and of itself. If there is a correlation, it is because an experienced immigration attorney has already been through this process dozens or hundreds of times, and understands what mistakes not to make. Of course, there are some incompetent attorneys, there are some burnt-out attorneys who might not pay as much attention to your case as you would.

But as far as there being a direct cause and effect--"oh, case number A-such-and-such has an attorney, we'll give her the pink," I don't think any such correlation exists.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-11-20 08:18:00
Asia: East and Pacificgot pink! hurray!!! arrived to US!!! now what???
QUOTE (Huanyen @ Dec 1 2008, 11:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thank both of you for your kind words, so we don't need AOS

Oh yeah, I forgot the kind words, sorry. My wife has to remind me now and again.

Congratulations to both of you. I wish you the best. Was it a long wait?
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-12-01 12:54:00
Asia: East and Pacificgot pink! hurray!!! arrived to US!!! now what???
As the resident smartass, I hereby submit my very helpful reply:

Lessee, she's got a Green card and a Social Security number. Now she's a real person. You don't need to do anything else. At least not for 2 years. I will stop now.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-12-01 11:54:00
Asia: East and PacificWhite Slip
Very nice song Ralph. Thank you for sticking your neck out and sharing. I would never have the guts to post anything like that on the very un-kind You Tube.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-12-03 22:45:00
Asia: East and PacificWhite Slip
QUOTE (J & Q @ Dec 2 2008, 06:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Melrose Plant @ Dec 2 2008, 07:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Someone well known in this forum once told me that if you stick with it, you will eventually win. It's just a question of WHEN.

Well that may be true but I think that most people give up after a while. I have heard of people having to wait as much as 7 years before having their petition approved. I am not sure though about the circumstance of this particular case though. It seems that there are more people being denied since the consulate has undergone a complete change of staff than before. I would think that they would encourage both parties to be present when they conduct an interview, if at all possible. Making the interviews a little more personal wouldn't hurt either. It feels like you in prison talking through the glass windows. I guess that they need it though for protection from all of the people that they piss off during a day.

Yes, I think you're right, most people DO give up. That is why you hear this astronomical failure rate people like to quote you when you begin this process. People whose relationships are shaky to begin with typically don't last for 2 or 3 years of waiting. People whose cases really ARE fraudulent don't last.

I think I heard about that guy who waited 7 years. He's crazy as a loon. If it's the same guy.

Hang in there, fellows.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-12-02 19:54:00
Asia: East and PacificWhite Slip
Someone well known in this forum once told me that if you stick with it, you will eventually win. It's just a question of WHEN.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-12-02 19:39:00
Asia: East and PacificWhite Slip
So sorry to hear this news, Ralph. We'll be thinking about you.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-12-02 07:36:00
Asia: East and PacificHow Free is Vietnam?
Wow, this worked out better than I thought! Thanks everyone for the input.

I have two further comments: First, I see that two people in our very own little family have run afoul of the helmet law. You know, the fine is SUPPOSED to be 200,000 VND per violation. Something went very wrong with this whole law. It started out with good intentions. Too many people are killed or injured each year in motorbike accidents. But as applied, the law is nothing but a joke. Nobody cares if you're wearing a proper helmet. Nobody cares if you're wearing it correctly. My nephew accidentally dropped his helmet on the tile floor when I was there last. The shell BROKE CLEAN IN HALF! In true Vietnamese tradition, he just super-glued the thing back together, and as far as I know, is still wearing it today, with full police approval, probably with no chin strap. What a waste of time, not to mention the many more chances of police abuse.

Second, I don't feel I explained myself enough about corruption being a way of life. Sure, we know we have to bribe certain officials to get certain things done in a timely fashion in Vietnam. But that's not really what I'm talking about here. Let me give you an example:

Do you know sort of how a building gets built in Vietnam? I didn't either, until my wife explained it to me. You see, once the blueprints are drawn up and ground is broken, the architect (who probably has money out of his own pocket invested in this thing somehow) says to himself, "You know, I had to undercut my competitors so much and pay all these officials, I'm just not making a whole lot of money on this job. I bet if I cut that expensive aggregate out of the concrete by 5%, it wouldn't make any difference, and nobody would notice."

Then the engineer thinks, "Man, that architect is making a lot of money on this job by screwing with the concrete. How come I can't make money like that? I bet we could short each column once piece of that really expensive big steel rerod, and it would still be good enough, and nobody would notice."

Then the general foreman for the construction company thinks, "Man, that smug architect, and that damned arrogant engineer are making a lot of money off this job. Why should they get so much money just for sitting on their asses in an office? I bet we could take some more steel out of this place here and there, sell it, and nobody would notice."

Then the electrical foreman thinks, "Man, all these other people are finding ways to make extra money off this job. That's not fair. I bet if we downsized the wire a little bit, nobody would notice."

Then the lower worker bees do the same thing on a smaller scale.

OK, we know that corners get cut sometimes in the good old USA. Every once in a while, somebody gets hurt or killed because of it. But it doesn't happen anywhere near to the extent I just described. I've worked construction for 12 years now, and I don't know of ANYONE who would purposefully build something in a substandard or unsafe manner to make an extra buck. If it happens, it's at a much higher level and we probably don't even know about it. Do people steal stuff from a jobsite? Of course. But that's not the same as what I described earlier. No one here really wants to sign their name to work that is substandard on purpose.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-12-03 22:39:00
Asia: East and PacificHow Free is Vietnam?

I plucked this from another thread because I thought it was interesting, but it was really getting off the subject (see discussion below).



QUOTE
QUOTEs from People Other than Me:

". . .This process is amazing to me. On the fraudulent people. I never even thought of that as a way to make money. I understand that America is susposed to be the home of the free and the brave. For some reason I do not feel so free. I felt more free in Vietnam then I do here and I was a US Marine trained to hate the Commies. My first trip to Vietnam really changed my view on all that garbage the fed us. I am sure there are some problems but from my point of view in my limited time there I did not see many. Other then the traffic and the conditions of the roads."
_______________________
"This is a little off topic but Vietnam does have it's real lack of "human rights" problems because of the communism. I also feel free when I am here but we are foreigners here and the government here is really bad to its own people. My fiancee was harassed and threatened by cops last night and basically had her motorbike stolen from her for no reason. They said she wasn't wearing her helmet but she was OFF the bike at the time. Now she has to pay them daily for 30 days to get her motorbike back."



So, how free is Vietnam? When we go visit, it feels in many ways like stepping back in time to 1950s America. A time when a family was more structured. A time when everybody sat down to eat dinner all at once. A time before the nanny state. Now they've got the stupid helmet law, but that's one of the few exceptions. Can you imagine trying to ride four on a motorcycle over here? Your neighbors would probably turn you into DHS. No, Vietnamese pretty much just do whatever they want, or whatever they can get away with. They are all capitalists in their hearts. I am not saying anything new to any of you. You know this already, having all been to Vietnam. It's probably pretty much the same with other SE Asian countries. And the Chinese.

The biggest problem I see with the way things are is that corruption, bribing, cheating, and cutting corners is a way of life there. One might argue that it is also a way of life here, but that is largely myth or urban legend. No one I personally know has made a living based upon any of those things. By contrast, pretty much everyone who has any money at all in Vietnam has made it by doing one or more of those things, including my own wife. This, I believe, is due in large part to the Communist system of government. It encourages those who have even a little bit of power or authority to be corrupt. This is because taking just a few kickbacks or bribes can literally lift a civil servant out of poverty and put them squarely in the middle class and a life of relative comfort. You and I would probably do it too. And let's not even talk about the amount of red tape there is if you want to start a legitimate business there. They have a committee (and a stamp) for everything, and none of these committees does anything in a timely fashion.

I cannot speak intelligently about political freedom there. No one in my family ever talks about politics. Ever. They feel there is no reason to worry about it, since there is nothing they can do about it. I do know that a certain member of my family used to like to go hunting somewhere south of Hanoi. He doesn't do that any more. It has become too risky. Somewhere, a couple of shotguns (expensive ones, if I know this guy) are hidden deep within the bowels of somebody's house somewhere, waiting for the day they can come out without fear of really bad things happening with the police.

That's my approximately 320 VND on freedom in Vietnam. Feel free (no pun intended) to put in your approximately 320 VND.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-12-03 10:11:00
Asia: East and PacificQuestion about financial proof for those who have had their interviews
I actually had 4 years of tax returns because I submitted 3 years' worth with the I-129f (even though it is not required), and by the time the interview took place, another tax year had rolled around.

It was at that point I discovered some errors in my original I-134, so I submitted a new one to the consulate.

All of that worry was for naught, they didn't look at any of it. In fact, they didn't look at anything I submitted after the original 1-129f.

And one more interesting thing--the 3 years I submitted were joint returns with my ex-wife. I guess they didn't care. I guess they believed I had a job.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-12-07 00:04:00
Asia: East and Pacifichow to get past the white paper depression?
I once wrote a short essay in college entitled, "Road Repair." It was required for freshman English, but it was one of my better compositions, if I recall. It was about how I took a road trip and got interested in small town water towers, but the real point of the essay was that I was trying to get over a girl.

With the price of gas low again, maybe a road trip (mine was just a day trip of maybe 350 miles), can help you get through for a while. It's definitely time to think about something else for a while, though. You know what you have to do.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-12-13 07:05:00
Asia: East and Pacific4 YEARS LATER!
Congratulations. The end of the journey sure looks different from the beginning, eh?
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-12-10 22:39:00
Asia: East and PacificHCMC interview
Thanks for the informative post. And once again, we can puzzle over, in vain, just exactly what leads up to a pink slip on the first try. Congratulations and good luck!

Now the hard part begins.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-11-25 09:50:00
Asia: East and PacificVermont Office
I understand the CSC is currently processing cases faster than VSC. This is the opposite of when our case went through. Good luck.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-12-19 19:21:00
Asia: East and Pacificfunny Vietnam question
QUOTE (Joe Six-Pack @ Dec 22 2008, 03:58 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
If this sh!t doesn't make you sick I don't know what will.


I can't believe you've got such a thing against fish sauce. How can you call yourself Vietnamese and hate fish sauce?

Seriously, though, Mai and I just had a friend over last night (who also likes fish sauce), and we were discussing the fact that nearly any U.S. sewage plant is probably cleaner than the fish sauce making factory. Food for thought.

More food for thought: Times I got sick eating food in Saigon--2. Times I got sick eating food in Hanoi--0. I guess Southern cooking just doesn't agree with me.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-12-22 20:44:00
Asia: East and Pacificfunny Vietnam question
OK, I don't know who frequents Texas BBQ, and I can't help you identify COs, but I have to weigh in on Texas BBQ. I hate the place. I went there on the recommendation of a rather famous person on this forum, and I was not all that impressed. Of course, it didn't help that I was in the company of an un-Americanized Vietnamese (my wife) and an Englishman expat. I ordered ribs, which I thought were not too bad, but quite expensive. Mai could not really eat anything there (too rich) and my English friend kept whining the whole time that it was too expensive and meant for tourists (and dammit, we are not tourists!). It is true I think that Mai was the only non-white customer in the place when we went. I just don't care to return there again.

But then, I don't care to return to Saigon ever again. But I will.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-12-19 19:13:00
Asia: East and PacificVisa in hand
Congratulations, and good luck!
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-12-23 06:58:00
Asia: East and Pacificphone bills
QUOTE (Joe Six-Pack @ Dec 6 2008, 08:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (RalphandHanh @ Dec 6 2008, 09:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I had all my phone records with a pinless phone card company as well as skype phone service. The CO looked at the first page and determined that my phones were not long enough as part of the white paper we received. So yeah... it depends on the CO, what mood they are in, how our fiance answers the questions, if she is nervous... blah blah blah. These people have no soul... good luck smile.gif


This is the kind of BS that drives me nuts. Make sure you can support them but waste money on something you get free online.

All this is SO true. What is the magic combination of ingredients which will result in a successful interview? In my case, I had no conclusive proof that I ever called Vietnam. In fact, to this day, if I ever had to prove I have ever called Vietnam once in my life, I couldn't do it by phone records alone. This lack of a cornerstone of proof, this lack of a fundamental foundation which we are told by lawyers and laypeople alike is so necessary for success in HCMC did not topple our house of cards, but it appears regularly on others' non-pink slips. What gives?
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-12-06 23:45:00
Asia: East and Pacificphone transcript with few minutes
QUOTE (CraigCam @ Dec 20 2008, 03:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
For our evidence, I turned in my phone bills which only showed one single phone call during the year we had known each other. The only reason I bothered submitting them at all was to show the dozen or so text messages I sent her each month. Almost all our communication was done through Skype.

To show this evidence I went to the Call History tab in Skype and scrolled down to the first entries in the log, then I used Alt+PrtSc to copy the Skype window to the clipboard, then I pasted it into Windows Paint and printed it. I scrolled up a few days and repeated the process.

Don't worry about evidence of phone calls anyway. They aren't considered very strong evidence. What is more important are pictures of your time together and proof of other things that couples in love do for each other, like cards, gifts and a thorough timeline explaining your relationship in detail.

Good luck!

So THAT'S how you do that. I wanted to submit my Skype call/chat log, but couldn't figure out how to print the log, and neither could the Skype people.

As it turns out, all of that information was unnecessary. I am not sure phone call evidence is really all that critical. I'm sure all the COs are quite aware that phone calls to Vietnam are a bad value compared to other options available.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-12-20 17:43:00
Asia: East and PacificSending money to the U.S.
At last, we were successful at sending money from Vietnam to the U.S. I think it would have been easier to try to make my dog quit barking at the postman, but we got it done.

Here is what we did: Evidently, as mentioned by some previous poster, Wells Fargo has some agreement with Vietinbank, and maybe others. So, my wife opened a Wells Fargo account. Her mother went down to Vietinbank there in Hanoi and attempted to send money. They refused, saying how can they be sure her daughter is really living in the U.S.? OK, so we sent our marriage certificate, and a copy of her passport. That still wasn't good enough for them. Then we sent a dentist bill and the Wells Fargo ATM card thingy, which had her name on it and our address. I guess that did the trick, because we got the money, albeit minus some weird and as-of-yet undisclosed additional fee, but we got it.

Apparently, Vietnam banks do not really like to send money to the U.S. They're fine with receiving it, but sending it really sticks in their craw.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-12-23 22:34:00
Asia: East and PacificSending money to the U.S.
The wife just opened a new account at Wells Fargo today. They said it was quite easy to send money either way through their affiliates in Vietnam. We shall see. Thanks to all who replied and I will let you know if the money transfer was successful.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-12-17 20:47:00
Asia: East and PacificSending money to the U.S.
QUOTE (hieumin @ Dec 16 2008, 10:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
open new accounts with wells fargo in both vn and us then do wired transfer, fee around less than $10 dollars for every $3000.

We just checked out this possibility, and all I can find online is sending money to Vietnam, at the stated rate of $10 per $3000. I will try to contact Wells-Fargo to find out if this will work in reverse. I hope somebody at the bank knows what the hell I am talking about.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-12-16 22:28:00
Asia: East and PacificSending money to the U.S.
I know I've posted this on here before, but maybe some new eyes and new minds will have some ideas.

Does anybody have any idea what's the best way to send money from Vietnam to the U.S.? There seem to be so many ways to do the reverse, but my mother-in-law was told by her bank that she needs, in addition to my bank account number, my social security number and our marriage certificate. Uh, no. Not going to fall for that one. Surely there has to be a way. Anyone? Anyone?

We have people in Vietnam checking into it now. Surely we are not the only ones.
Melrose PlantMaleVietnam2008-12-15 23:15:00