ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Asia: East and PacificI've been living in Vietnam for little over a year.
Thanks Patricks,

I'm hoping things will go smooth and fast. I'm getting married in just 2 more weeks and should have the marriage certificate and everything ready to drop off the following Monday. I'll be counting the days after that.

Actually, I was starting to think it was going to take at least a year and I might as well move again. Anyone ever live in District 4? I found this great 3 bedroom house for $600 and the landlord speaks English.

J_
kontonMaleVietnam2009-03-09 20:58:00
Asia: East and PacificI've been living in Vietnam for little over a year.
I hate trying to be politically correct and inoffensive. I say rant away. I rant all the time. It’s better to vent than to keep things bottled up. And as much as I complain I love my students here and will stick around to make sure they are educated by someone who actually cares about what they learn. I’m going to start a new topic in a day or so about direct consular filing, but I wanted to answer your question.

We had some concerns about the Fiancée visa because my Fiancée had been denied a visa when we tried to go to America just to visit. So we thought we should get married first. Her dad is against our marriage and has enough friends in her home town to make sure it doesn’t happen. Singapore requires very little paperwork to get married so we decided to go that route. Once we’re married at the end of this month we’ll head over to the USCIS in HCMC and file directly.

Also we kinda want to be married now, not a year from now. Actually, I thought we were going to be married last year. The wedding is at the end of the month.

What paperwork are you waiting for?

J_

Edited by konton, 04 March 2009 - 11:20 AM.

kontonMaleVietnam2009-03-04 11:19:00
Asia: East and PacificI've been living in Vietnam for little over a year.
I’ve been living in HCMC for two and a half years and I’d leave today if I could bring my fiancée. We’re getting married in Singapore at the end of the month because I can’t stand all the paperwork and the bribes you have to pay for three government officials in separates office in separate locations to approve everything. I’m also Vi?t Ki?u, but don’t have any family here and can’t speak a word of Vietnamese.

Will someone explain to me why it’s okay to hold a baby out of the front window of your house and allow it to piss from there onto the street when there are people on motorbike passing by constantly? Speaking of motorbikes, why don’t people use turn signal lights? Everyone seems to like waving their hands, and you can’t really see that when there are no lights on the road except for headlights. Don’t you love it when the streets are crowded and someone thinks is just fine to drive on the wrong side of the street and block traffic? The police would stop them if they thought the driver could afford the bribe.

Why can’t people who work at restaurants remember your orders? They could write it down if it would help, but they would rather bring you the wrong thing on the menu and then try to make you pay or it. When dinner is over they want you to tell them what you ate so they can determine how much you need to pay. And it still takes them half an hour to come over with the bill. This isn’t everywhere, but in many local restaurants. I just want to pay the bill and go home. By the time they give me the bill, I’m hungry again.

I don’t know where in Vietnam people speak on at a temperate volume. Sometimes when my fiancée is talking in English she’ll be yelling. I tell her to lower her voice and she usually apologizes, explaining this is the volume she speaks at in Vietnamese. I know it’s true, because whenever she speaks with her friends I think they are yelling at each other. Makes me nervous.

I’d complain more but what’s the point. I bought a dryer last week with the deferred taxes so I’m feeling better. That was something nice that happened recently. I just wish I could get those dryer sheets to make my clothes smell better.

J_
kontonMaleVietnam2009-03-04 05:17:00
Asia: East and PacificExperiences with USCIS in HCMC?
Yes, but the time of the ceremony and vows is very short. Maybe 5 minutes. I plan to put the video footage up as soon as I have a chance.
kontonMaleVietnam2009-04-01 10:59:00
Asia: East and PacificExperiences with USCIS in HCMC?
QUOTE (Joe Six-Pack @ Apr 1 2009, 12:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thank you for your inquiry. Please be advised that in order for the petitioner to be qualified to file an I-130 application with USCIS-HCM, he needs to prove that he?s been in the country for at least 6 months and has a residency visa to reside in Vietnam for another year. Proof of residency and working contract are also required.

Married in Singapore huh? How difficult was that?


I just went there with my I-130, a G-325 for each of us, copies of passports, temporary residency cards, local ID, wedding certificate, and the 4x6 pics they wanted. The woman looked it all over then said I needed proof I've been hear longer than six months and can stay long than six months. I handed her the Temporary Residency Card, my work permit good since 02/2007, and my university contract, good till 02/2011. She seemed happy.

I just wanna know what happens next and how do I know when it happens?

Singapore is a breeze, as long as one of you wants a three week vacation in Singapore. My wife Van stayed for 17 days in Singapore as required, filed for marriage online, and got a date for soleminisation. We came back 3 months later (it may only take a month for some). My folks were there, and Van had her sister (who lives there) and mother in tow. We went down to the Registery of Marriage. They looked at all the passports and had us wait. When my name was called we all went in. Van and I did our vows and exchanged our rings. We both singed on the dotted line, as did my father and her sister as witnesses to the event. Then Van and I kissed, and that was pretty much it. No fuss, no mess.

Edited by konton, 31 March 2009 - 02:15 PM.

kontonMaleVietnam2009-03-31 14:11:00
Asia: East and PacificExperiences with USCIS in HCMC?
Has anyone had experience with the USCIS field office in HCMC? I'm a little confused about what happened. I have lived in HCMC for over two years. I got married Friday in Singapore. My wife and I just dropped off the I-130 and documentation on Monday. The girl behind the counter told me I would not get notification other than an approval or denial by mail. I got the impression from reading this forum I would have a NOA1 which would give me a case number and allow me to track it online. All I have right now is a receipt from the US Consulate when I paid my fees for the I-130. Should I expect to get something in the mail soon, or should I be calling the field office once a week to see what's going on? Any help would be appreciated!

J_

Edited by konton, 31 March 2009 - 12:22 PM.

kontonMaleVietnam2009-03-31 12:20:00
Asia: East and PacificWife hair color could be a problem?
It's great reading this, cause I never even thought about it until now. My wife just got a haircut and didn't like it. So she got extensions, curled her hair, and dyed it brown. Plus she got a new job since we applied for the I-130. Now I think we might be looking at an interview in the very near future and it just never occurred to me to even worry any of this would be a problem. Good to know I'm not the only one who stresses about all the details.

~ DFC CR-1 Visa Timeline ~
Married 2009-03-27
I-130 Sent 2009-03-30
I-130 Approved 2009-04-29 (30 Days!)
kontonMaleVietnam2009-05-13 11:29:00
Asia: East and PacificDFC confusion in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam
And it still works if you use the right address! Although sometimes to have to hassle people.

I went over to the USCIS today. They let me sit for a half hour with no one even bothering to come to the window till I complained to a guard. That forced someone to appear. But it was not in vein. They has sent my paperwork on 4/5 to my home address which never made it there. They gave me a copy, which basically said we're done with you, go to the consulate. No case number, no tracking number, no nothing, just like they said.

As it happens it was 3:30pm on Wednesday. From 4:00-5:00pm Tuesday and Wednesday the consulate lets U.S. Citizens come in to the Immigration Visa Window "B" and see what's going on with their petition. So I went across the street and as luck would have it there was no line. A fairly easy going lady listened to my case, gave me a ticket to hold while she looked up my info, then called me back. That took about 5 minutes, much faster than the USCIS. She found my packet 3 which was mailed to my work address and I still never got it. She gave me a copy and then for the DS-230 which I gave her. She told me they would contact me shortly, probably by phone, with a interview date. The packet 3 had an actual case number, which calms me down quite a bit.

So anyone know how long it takes to get that interview after they get your DS-230? I actually think my wife still needs to send them the DS-2001 which says we are ready for the interview. That's in the packet 3. But then how long after that should we expect the interview?

I'm excited!

~ DCF Timeline ~
Married 2009-03-27
I-130 Sent 2009-03-30
I-130 Approved 2009-04-29
I-130 NOA 2009-05-05
Packet 3 for IV 2009-05-13
DS-230 part I Sent 2009-05-20
DS-2001 *****
Interview *****
Visa *****
kontonMaleVietnam2009-05-20 06:01:00
Asia: East and PacificDFC confusion in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam
Yeah, what Dai said. I messed up the letters. Sorry.

DCF stands for Direct Consular Filing. And you can only do it for a direct relative. You must prove you have been living in Vietnam for 6 months, and that you can continue to stay for another 6 months if necessary. At the USCIS field office you file your I-130 and pay for it at the US Consulate. Once the USCIS approves it, the rest is done at the US Consulate. I thought this way might be faster, but I didn't know it would only take 30 days. The USCIS told me 1-6 months.

I only now learned after posting the NVC doesn't even enter into the process. You go straight to the IV interview. So now I'm a little stressed since I thought I'd have a few more months to prepare the paperwork and now I have less. I'm glad I already submitted my taxes. My taxes were not nearly as bad at Dai.

~ DCF Visa Timeline ~
Married 2009-03-27
I-130 Sent 2009-03-30
I-130 Approved 2009-04-29 (30 Days!)
kontonMaleVietnam2009-05-13 12:32:00
Asia: East and PacificDFC confusion in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam
Hey, how come my pictures doesn't show up? Is it because I'm new?

I agree mail can be slow, but it's actually been 14 days. So 2 weeks!

I just called the USCIS hotline. Nice people. I was surprised at their level of customer service. Anyway they told me that the USCIS field office doesn't give NOA's or reciept numbers or case numbers. Once it's approved they mail it all straight to the US Consulate in HCMC. So I think the approval was mailed to the Consulate, not to me. I don't have anything even processed with the NVC. I just wait for the Packet 4 for IV and our appointment date.

This DFC filing is really confusing. I'm can't believe how quickly it's all moving.

Hey, anyone want a job teaching Video Production in Vietnam? Looking like I'll be back in the US sooner than expected.

~ DFC CR-1 Visa Timeline ~
Married 2009-03-27
I-130 Sent 2009-03-30
I-130 Approved 2009-04-29 (30 Days!)
kontonMaleVietnam2009-05-13 11:05:00
Asia: East and PacificDFC confusion in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam
Can anyone help me with this? I filed my I-130 with the USCIS office in HCMC Vietnam on 3/30. Last week on 5/5 I e-mailed them checking on my status. Tonight 5/13 they e-mailed me letting me know I had been approved on 4/29 stating:
\
Your I-130 petition was approved by this office on 4/29/09 and was
mailed out the same day. You will be contacted by the US Consulate in
HCMC for immigrant visa processing.
\
I never got any letter. I think they have a bad address. Is there something I need in the approval letter? I thought I needed to send paperwork to the NVC? How should I proceed?

If anyone has any ideas please let me know. I feel like I'm already two weeks behind. One of those games were I get to move three steps forward and one step back.

~ DFC CR-1 Visa Timeline ~
Married 2009-03-27
I-130 Sent 2009-03-30
I-130 Approved 2009-04-29
...

kontonMaleVietnam2009-05-13 06:41:00
Asia: East and Pacificjune interview
Good luck! I hope I will be able to say soon that we also have an interview in June.
kontonMaleVietnam2009-05-20 23:11:00
Asia: East and PacificAnyone use a good Van Phong Dich Vu place in Ho Chi Minh City?
We can't be there for the interview. My wife will not be happy. She hates those interviewers with a passion.

So your wife thought the service was worth it?

hniHnitsuJ, I'll answer you in my other post.

~ DFC CR-1 Visa Timeline ~
Married 2009-03-27
I-130 Sent 2009-03-30
I-130 Approved 2009-04-29 (30 Days!)
kontonMaleVietnam2009-05-13 12:21:00
Asia: East and PacificAnyone use a good Van Phong Dich Vu place in Ho Chi Minh City?
Sorry to hear you had to go the long way, but it's great that the interview is only in a few weeks. Please let me know if the service is worth the money. I only found out today about my USCIS approval and that the NVC doesn't even get involved. So I'm now waiting to hear about an interview, and trying to get the I-864 filled out. I think my wife could use some help as well for the interview. But don't we get to be there?

~ DFC CR-1 Visa Timeline ~
Married 2009-03-27
I-130 Sent 2009-03-30
I-130 Approved 2009-04-29 (30 Days!)
kontonMaleVietnam2009-05-13 11:46:00
Asia: East and PacificAnyone use a good Van Phong Dich Vu place in Ho Chi Minh City?
What papers are you trying to have done? We're working on the police records right now. Plus we need a Household Registration Book translated.

You live in HCMC, right? So are we going through the same process? Or are you not a temporary resident in Vietnam?

~ DFC CR-1 Visa Timeline ~
Married 2009-03-27
I-130 Sent 2009-03-30
I-130 Approved 2009-04-29 (30 Days!)
kontonMaleVietnam2009-05-13 11:19:00
Asia: East and PacificMoving to Vietnam
Good luck! I always wanted to open a cafe. I'm currently a teacher at RMIT. We're always looking for IT or Business teachers if you decide you want to try something else. Good to send a resume.
kontonMaleVietnam2009-06-02 08:58:00
Asia: East and PacificMoving to Vietnam
I've been in Vietnam for 2.5 years now. We filed a DCF and although it was approved by the USCIS in a month, it's still taking a month or three for the Consulate to file a interview date. There is no NVC involvement and no way for me to trace the process online. My guess is we'll interview in June or July. So all things considered DCF is fast.

Now living in Vietnam can be a challenge, but can also be really easy if you know what you want and where to get it. So the first question is how do you want to live and the second is what will you be doing for work in order to make that lifestyle possible. Since I don't know what you do for a living I can't be all that much help.

I'm in Michigan right now. First time in 2.5 year. But I'll be back in before the end of the month and before the interview.

Edited by konton, 02 June 2009 - 08:31 AM.

kontonMaleVietnam2009-06-02 08:29:00
Asia: East and Pacificpacket4 HCMC
QUOTE (johncali9 @ Jun 7 2009, 12:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
hello all,
I just send out the packet 3 in on may 7 ,I trying to find others out there are currently waiting for an interview date from the HCMC consulate. It's been almost 5 weeks we've been waiting and still nothing. I need to commiserate , Please help
Thank you


We're doing the DCF so I'm not sure how much help I can be. I dropped off the DS-230 with the HCMC Consulate on the 20th of May. No word yet for us. Our USCIS approval was sent to them in the 5th, they approved it the 13th, but didn't mail it out till the 22nd, and I actually got it in the mail on the 25th. As you can see, I freaked out on the 20th and went to talk to someone and got the Packet 3 directly. I'm gonna wait this time to see what comes in the mail. But they are slow to send out the mail from the Consulate.
kontonMaleVietnam2009-06-07 14:39:00
Asia: East and Pacificpacket4 HCMC recieved. What to do with it?
Everyone is getting good news today! Our appointment is on July 14th! Good luck everyone!
kontonMaleVietnam2009-06-12 02:26:00
Asia: East and PacificGetting married in Singapore
Hello anh Map,
I will get my visa on the 20th July, thanks so much for your help, I appreciate that.
Thanks again and I wish u health, happy and lucky in your life.
Yours sincerely,

kontonMaleVietnam2009-07-15 18:48:00
Asia: East and PacificHCMC Interview Today
Pink! Pink! Pink! We're totally happy!

Went in at 7:00am into a line on the right of the building.
Waited for half hour to get number.
Gave the papers to someone to review.
Waited another two hours for the interview.
Interview was a middle-aged man.

Questions asked:
When did you meet your husband? How?
Tell me about the time you have been together from start to now.
When was the first time you met his parents?
Can he speak Vietnamese?
Why did you get married in Singapore?
Why does he have a negative number for the last two years on his tax returns?
How long has he stayed in Vietnam?
Where did your husband study in America and what degree?
What do you do for work?
What do you plan to do in America?

We need to go back on Monday to pick up the Visa, but everything went smooth. My wife got out 10:50am. I was was stressing out across the street watching here though the gate. Thanks for all the support. I feel drained, but happy.
kontonMaleVietnam2009-07-13 23:38:00
Asia: East and PacificHCMC Interview Today
Thanks for the show of support. We got up at 6:00am to be here at 7:00am. Now at 8:30am I'm getting twitchy. My Wife's interview is @9:30pm, but I guess everyone comes early like this. No coffee. I think I need to walk for a while. I'll post when I can.
kontonMaleVietnam2009-07-13 20:23:00
Asia: East and PacificHCMC Interview Today
We got here at 7:00am and they let my wife through the side of the consulate to wait for the place to open. I'm at the Bach Duoung Garden across the street having some Pho and stressed. I guess I'll know soon enough.
kontonMaleVietnam2009-07-13 19:28:00
Asia: East and PacificH1N1 virus in HCM?
The university where I work in Vietnam had a number of H1N1 cases from both students and lecturers. We are shutting down for the next 10 days to keep the flu from spreading. While I don't worry much about getting H1N1, there is a concern.
kontonMaleVietnam2009-07-26 11:27:00
Asia: East and Pacificinterview July 30th!
They stamped our visa 2 days later, but we didn't get it till 6 days later. Congratz!
kontonMaleVietnam2009-07-30 19:19:00
Asia: East and PacificTimeline needed for HCM Consulate Interview
I'm a little confused on the timeline. I think the Consulate actually asks for CR-1's to break any pictures up to show before and after marriage. I need to take more pictures on the after part. But this timeline thing is confusing. I don't feel like I should be writing, "September 22, 2007: Got trashed in the afternoon with Van and my buddy Steve at Highland Cafe above the Tax Center in downtown HCMC." I assume this is more important if you have a long distance relationship, so my wife's just bringing pictures and plane ticket stubs.

Proper signs of respect are difficult for me out here in Vietnam. It's hard for me to understand why I can't call my father-in-law by his first name. I'm used to calling everyone "dude." I have a student from Texas who keeps calling me "sir" and it's driving me crazy. I can't wait to get back to San Francisco.
kontonMaleVietnam2009-06-17 13:46:00
Asia: East and PacificChanging of Port
We are on our way back to America. However we have decided rather than going straight back to my house in San Francisco, we should spend a few months over the holidays with my relatives in Detroit. Do we need to let anyone know of this process? We still plan to go to my house in San Francisco after Christmas. We just want to be with family during the holidays.

J_
kontonMaleVietnam2009-09-20 15:36:00
Asia: East and PacificDo Vietnamese need Visas to shop in Japan on the way to America?
Thanks. I appreciate the responses. Since we only have a few weeks left in Vietnam it's probably not worth it. We have a 5 hour layover so I'm just gonna try to see what I can do then.

Hey Jerome, so what's going on with the visa for you? I liked the youtube song.

J_

Edited by konton, 27 September 2009 - 04:36 AM.

kontonMaleVietnam2009-09-27 04:35:00
Asia: East and PacificDo Vietnamese need Visas to shop in Japan on the way to America?
My wife and are about going to leave in a few weeks for America! We're taking NWA to Toyko and then San Francisco as our port.

Everyone keeps telling me I need to stay an extra day or two in Toyko and check out all the sweet electronics I can bring home.

If we take an early flight can we just get a short term visa at the airport to go shopping? I hear this is easy for Americans, but I don't know about Vietnamese.

Any help would be appreciated.

Konton

Edited by konton, 26 September 2009 - 01:47 PM.

kontonMaleVietnam2009-09-26 13:46:00
Asia: East and PacificMarriage in Singapore
Sorry. I don't write here much. My wife and I came to the United States just two weeks ago! I am a United States citizen and she is a Vietnamese citizen. Us getting married in Singapore was a non issue. No one cared, but I worried quite a bit about it. However the fact is the United States recognizes any marriage validated by a legit government as legal. And so Singapore marriages are pretty legal. Now Vietnam may not recognize the marriage, but you don't have to prove your marriage to them.

Since I have been living in Vietnam for over 6 months (and could prove I would be there for 6 more), we applied for a CR-1 at the local USCIS office in Diamond Plaza. The wait took a month. Then another two months for the consulate to review the paperwork and set a date. Then a couple weeks and we did the interview. My tax returns were the main issue. Filing at the local USCIS office is something you probably cannot do. issue. You must live in Vietnam to do that.

I don't suggest moving to another country so you can move to another country. Just start the CR-1 process and please please please keep the job you have. They care more that you can support your wife than anything else. If you want to send me a message please do, but I'm busy looking for a job now that I'm back in the States, so I don't look at this board much. But thanks to everyone who helped me and my wife get where we are!

Justin

Arrived in San Francisco 10/17/09. Don't pack any fruit!
kontonMaleVietnam2009-10-30 11:36:00