ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
VietnamVietnam VisaJourney Members
"A list of VJ members traveling to Vietnam"
Please post your name and date if you are in, going to, or thinking about traveling to Vietnam...
Please DO NOT post interview dates--leave those for your timeline/signature...

LIVING IN VIETNAM

Mr. Saigon (HCMC)
Ralph&Hanh (HCMC)
Jeromebinh (HCMC)
Jake (HCMC) 6 months here 6 months in America will be leaving November

CURRENTLY IN VIETNAM

No one??

GOING TO VIETNAM

Carrick..................................Aug 7,2010 - Aug 15, 2010
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2010-06-06 06:17:00
VietnamVietnam VisaJourney Members
"A list of VJ members traveling to Vietnam"
Please post your name and date if you are in, going to, or thinking about traveling to Vietnam...
Please DO NOT post interview dates--leave those for your timeline/signature...

LIVING IN VIETNAM

Mr. Saigon (HCMC)
Ralph&Hanh (HCMC)
Jeromebinh (HCMC)

CURRENTLY IN VIETNAM

James & Nicole......................May 21(?), 2010 - May31, 2010
Dang Lang Thang..................April 19, 2010 - June 7, 2010
Lambchop4life (Charlie)...........May 10, 2010 - May 29, 2010 - my wife's 27th birthday
Ronnie&Hang.........................May 13, 2010 - June 6, 2010


GOING TO VIETNAM

Carrick..................................Aug 7,2010 - Aug 15, 2010
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2010-05-25 22:34:00
VietnamVietnam VisaJourney Members
"A list of VJ members traveling to Vietnam"
Please post your name and date if you are in, going to, or thinking about traveling to Vietnam...
Please DO NOT post interview dates--leave those for your timeline/signature...

LIVING IN VIETNAM

Mr. Saigon (HCMC)
Ralph&Hanh (HCMC)
Jeromebinh (HCMC)

CURRENTLY IN VIETNAM

Julian&hien...........................April 28, 2010 - May 22, 2010
Dang Lang Thang..................April 19, 2010 - June 7, 2010
Lambchop4life (Charlie)...........May 10, 2010 - May 29, 2010 - my wife's 27th birthday

GOING TO VIETNAM

Ronnie&Hang.........................May 13, 2010 - June 6, 2010
James & Nicole......................May 21(?), 2010 - May31, 2010
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2010-05-09 20:11:00
VietnamVietnam VisaJourney Members
"A list of VJ members traveling to Vietnam"
Please post your name and date if you are in, going to, or thinking about traveling to Vietnam...
Please DO NOT post interview dates--leave those for your timeline/signature...

CURRENTLY IN VIETNAM
Mr. Saigon............................Living In Vietnam (HCMC)
Ralph&Hanh..........................Living In Vietnam (HCMC)
Jeromebinh...........................Living in Vietnam (HCMC)
Julian&hien...........................April 28, 2010 - May 22, 2010
Dang Lang Thang..................April 19, 2010 - June 7, 2010

GOING TO VIETNAM
Lambchop4life (Charlie)...........May 10, 2010 - May 29, 2010 - my wife's 27th birthday
James & Nicole......................May 21(?), 2010 - May31, 2010

Edited by jeromebinh, 27 April 2010 - 03:00 AM.

jeromebinhMaleVietnam2010-04-27 03:00:00
VietnamVietnam VisaJourney Members
"A list of VJ members traveling to Vietnam"
Please post your name and date if you are in, going to, or thinking about traveling to Vietnam...
Please DO NOT post interview dates--leave those for your timeline/signature...

CURRENTLY IN VIETNAM
Mr. Saigon............................Living In Vietnam (HCMC)
Ralph&Hanh..........................Living In Vietnam (HCMC)
Jeromebinh...........................Living in Vietnam (HCMC)
Bob-KhaHan.........................April 17, 2010 - April 27, 2010
Dang Lang Thang..................April 19, 2010 - June 7, 2010

GOING TO VIETNAM
Julian&hien............................April 28,2010 - May 22,2010
Lambchop4life (Charlie)...........May 10, 2010 - May 29, 2010 - my wife's 27th birthday
James & Nicole......................May 21(?), 2010 - May31, 2010

Edited by jeromebinh, 19 April 2010 - 03:22 AM.

jeromebinhMaleVietnam2010-04-19 03:19:00
VietnamVietnam VisaJourney Members
"A list of VJ members traveling to Vietnam"
Please post your name and date if you are in, going to, or thinking about traveling to Vietnam...
Please DO NOT post interview dates--leave those for your timeline/signature...

CURRENTLY IN VIETNAM
Mr. Saigon........................Living In Vietnam (HCMC)
Ralph&Hanh........................Living In Vietnam (HCMC)
Jeromebinh........................Living in Vietnam (HCMC)
Greg & Lien.......................Now-April 13, 2010


GOING TO VIETNAM
Bob-KhaHan........................April 17, 2010 - April 27, 2010
Dang Lang Thang...................April 19, 2010 - June 7, 2010
julian&hien.......................April 28,2010 - May 22,2010
lambchop4life.....................May 10, 2010 - May 29, 2010 - my wife's 27th birthday
James & Nicole....................May 21(?), 2010 - May31, 2010
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2010-04-15 19:16:00
VietnamVietnam VisaJourney Members
"A list of VJ members traveling to Vietnam"
Please post your name and date if you are in, going to, or thinking about traveling to Vietnam...
Please DO NOT post interview dates--leave those for your timeline/signature...

CURRENTLY IN VIETNAM
Mr. Saigon..........................................Living In Vietnam (HCMC)
Ralph&Hanh........................................Living In Vietnam (HCMC)
Jeromebinh.........................................Living in Vietnam (HCMC)
Greg & Lien.......................................Now-April 13, 2010

GOING TO VIETNAM

Bob-KhaHan.....................................April 17, 2010 - April 27, 2010
Dang Lang Thang...................................April 19, 2010 - June 7, 2010
julian&hien........................................April 28,2010 - may 22,2010
James & Nicole..................................May 21?-31 2010
Jake & Phuong...................................April 2 - April 13, 2010

Edited by jeromebinh, 31 March 2010 - 03:26 AM.

jeromebinhMaleVietnam2010-03-31 03:26:00
VietnamVietnam VisaJourney Members
"A list of VJ members traveling to Vietnam"
Please post your name and date if you are in, going to, or thinking about traveling to Vietnam...
Please DO NOT post interview dates--leave those for your timeline/signature...

CURRENTLY IN VIETNAM
Mr. Saigon..........................................Living In Vietnam (HCMC)
Ralph&Hanh........................................Living In Vietnam (HCMC)
Jeromebinh.........................................Living in Vietnam (HCMC)
Icarus...............................................Mid-January 2010 - Mid-March 2010
Hyperetai..........................................now- late March 2010


GOING TO VIETNAM

Greg & Lien.......................................March 30, 2010 - April 13, 2010
Bob-KhaHan.....................................April 17, 2010 - April 27, 2010
Dang Lang Thang...................................April 19, 2010 - June 7, 2010
julian&hien........................................April 28,2010 - may 22,2010
James & Nicole..................................May 21?-31 2010
Jake & Phuong...................................April 2 - April 13, 2010
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2010-03-25 01:06:00
VietnamVietnam VisaJourney Members
"A list of VJ members traveling to Vietnam"
Please post your name and date if you are in, going to, or thinking about traveling to Vietnam...
Please DO NOT post interview dates--leave those for your timeline/signature...

CURRENTLY IN VIETNAM
Mr. Saigon..........................................Living In Vietnam (HCMC)
Ralph&Hanh........................................Living In Vietnam (HCMC)
Jeromebinh.........................................Living in Vietnam (HCMC)
Icarus...............................................Mid-January 2010 - Mid-March 2010
Hyperetai..........................................now- late March 2010


GOING TO VIETNAM

Greg & Lien.......................................March 30, 2010 - April 13, 2010
Bob-KhaHan.....................................April 17, 2010 - April 27, 2010
julian&hien........................................April 28,2010 - may 22,2010
James & Nicole..................................May 21?-31 2010
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2010-03-19 12:14:00
VietnamVietnam VisaJourney Members
"A list of VJ members traveling to Vietnam"
Please post your name and date if you are in, going to, or thinking about traveling to Vietnam...
Please DO NOT post interview dates--leave those for your timeline/signature...

CURRENTLY IN VIETNAM
Mr. Saigon..........................................Living In Vietnam (HCMC)
Ralph&Hanh........................................Living In Vietnam (HCMC)
ksoh08..............................................December 5,2009 - March 4, 2010
Ronnie&Hang.....................................January 16, 2010 - February 21, 2010
Kevin and Tuyen................................January 28, 2010 - Mid February 2010
Icarus...............................................Mid-January 2010 - Mid-March 2010
b_weeks............................................February 4, 2010 - March 5, 2010
hniHnitsuJ (aka Loi and Suong)............February 2010 for Tet
Mike n Huong.....................................February 2010 for Tet
Scottthuy..........................................February 21, 2010 - March 4, 2010


GOING TO VIETNAM

Jeromebinh.......................................March 19, 2010
Greg & Lien.......................................March 30, 2010 - April 13, 2010
Bob-KhaHan.....................................April 17, 2010 - April 27, 2010
julian&hien........................................April 28,2010 - may 22,2010
James & Nicole..................................May 21?-31 2010
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2010-02-21 13:44:00
VietnamVietnam VisaJourney Members
"A list of VJ members traveling to Vietnam"
Please post your name and date if you are in, going to, or thinking about traveling to Vietnam...
Please DO NOT post interview dates--leave those for your timeline/signature...

CURRENTLY IN VIETNAM
Mr. Saigon..........................................Living In Vietnam (HCMC)
Ralph&Hanh........................................Living In Vietnam (HCMC)
ksoh08..............................................December 5,2009 - March 4, 2010
Ronnie&Hang.....................................January 16, 2010 - February 21, 2010
Kevin and Tuyen................................January 28, 2010 - Mid February 2010
Icarus...............................................Mid-January 2010 - Mid-March 2010
b_weeks............................................February 4, 2010 - March 5, 2010
hniHnitsuJ (aka Loi and Suong)............February 2010 for Tet
Mike n Huong.....................................February 2010 for Tet

GOING TO VIETNAM
Scottthuy..........................................February 21, 2010 - March 4, 2010
Jeromebinh.......................................March 19, 2010
Greg & Lien.......................................March 30, 2010 - April 13, 2010
Bob-KhaHan.....................................April 17, 2010 - April 27, 2010
julian&hien........................................April 28,2010 - may 22,2010
James & Nicole..................................May 21?-31 2010
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2010-02-20 17:25:00
VietnamVietnam VisaJourney Members
"A list of VJ members traveling to Vietnam"
Please post your name and date if you are in, going to, or thinking about traveling to Vietnam...
Please DO NOT post interview dates--leave those for your timeline/signature...

CURRENTLY IN VIETNAM
Mr. Saigon..........................................Living In Vietnam (HCMC)
Ralph&Hanh........................................Living In Vietnam (HCMC)
ksoh08..............................................December 5,2009 - March 4, 2010
Ronnie&Hang.....................................January 16, 2010 - February 21, 2010 (revised)
Kevin and Tuyen................................January 28, 2010 - Mid February 2010
Icarus...............................................Mid-January 2010 - Mid-March 2010
b_weeks............................................February 4, 2010 - March 5, 2010
hniHnitsuJ (aka Loi and Suong)............February 2010 for Tet
Mike n Huong.....................................February 2010 for Tet

GOING TO VIETNAM

Scottthuy...........................................February 21, 2010 - March 4, 2010
Greg & Lien.......................................March 30, 2010 - April 13, 2010
Bob-KhaHan.....................................April 17, 2010 - April 27, 2010
James & Nicole...................................May 21?-31 2010
Jeromebinh........................................ March 2010 will be living there
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2010-02-20 07:23:00
VietnamVietnam VisaJourney Members
"A list of VJ members traveling to Vietnam"
Please post your name and date if you are in, going to, or thinking about traveling to Vietnam...
Please DO NOT post interview dates--leave those for your timeline/signature...

CURRENTLY IN VIETNAM
Mr. Saigon..........................................Living In Vietnam (HCMC)
Ralph&Hanh........................................Living In Vietnam (HCMC)
ksoh08..............................................December 5,2009 - March 4, 2010
Ronnie&Hang.....................................January 16, 2010 - February 21, 2010 (revised)
Kevin and Tuyen................................January 28, 2010 - Mid February 2010
Icarus...............................................Mid-January 2010 - Mid-March 2010
b_weeks............................................February 4, 2010 - March 5, 2010
ceedwards.........................................February 7, 2010 - February 14, 2010

GOING TO VIETNAM

Scottthuy...........................................February 21, 2010 - March 4, 2010
hniHnitsuJ (aka Loi and Suong)............February 2010 for Tet
Mike n Huong.....................................February 2010 for Tet
Greg & Lien.......................................March 30, 2010 - April 13, 2010
Bob-KhaHan.......................................April 17, 2010 - April 27, 2010
James & Nicole...................................May 21?-31 2010
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2010-02-16 13:51:00
VietnamVietnam VisaJourney Members
omg how many more bumps does this topic need so people can get better status?
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2009-11-20 20:05:00
VietnamVietnam VisaJourney Members
devil.gif
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2009-10-25 03:20:00
VietnamHCMC - Evidence you should have

A question about the VN version of the timeline. This has been an area of small concern for lien and me. It asked about the proposal. About 2 months after my first trip to see lien, we agreed to get married. There was really not a specific date, there was not an engagement party (this seems to be important in HCM). There really is not even an Email or chat that supports a proposal, we did it over the phone. Even before my first trip we had already discussed marriage. (the reason why i went) After i returned it was more like, "okay now that we meet you still want to get married??? YES I do, YES, I do also." So that was that and I started working on Marriage Application. Will this HURT us on the timeline or the interview. We talked about just picking an "OFFICIAL DAY" that we decided over the phone. Is that better???? I have always said, "JUST tell the TRUTH in the interview", because it is REAL there should not be a problem.



I would pick the closest possible date to when it actually happened, and tell them that it was done over the phone, this may or may not hurt, it just depends on the CO that is doing the interview, the reason I say this is because each case is different, and what works for one might not work for another or vice versa if it was a problem with one person's application it might not even come up in the other. Just what ever date you decide on make sure that you both stick to one date, you can even discuss that you talked about marriage before you came, but decided to wait until after the meeting to make sure everything went well, which in your case it did, so on the phone after your first trip while talking on the phone it just felt right so you proposed and she accepted. Good luck with the interview in the future. Jerome and Binh
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2010-04-18 09:08:00
VietnamHCMC - Evidence you should have

Been very busy with work lately. Finally catching up on things here Posted Image
This is a very good thread. I almost threw away a couple of receipts I had from my first ever meeting with Thu in Singapore. I am putting every single receipt/document that I have from all of my trips. How about theme park admission tickets that are in Vietnamese? Should should be translated or are they good enough as it is to put with the I-129F as proof of meeting?

<CARRICK>



You do not need to have them translated, just submit them at the interview and you will be fine Jerome
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2010-04-18 00:41:00
VietnamHCMC - Evidence you should have
re re bump
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2009-09-22 21:01:00
VietnamHCMC Interview roll call

Pink! Pink! Pink!
Yaaaaaaaaahooooooooooooooooo !!!!!

I was sleeping and my wife call me at 4 o'clock in the morning and said she got Pink! Now am so happy can't go back to sleep, so I got on here to share it with every1!

*well she went in today to turn in the medical and police report at window B 1-2pm. When she turn it in the lady at the window said wait so she waited for 45min. 45min later the lady call her and give her the Pink slip woohooo.



Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2010-10-22 06:12:00
VietnamHCMC Interview roll call

Any one know how long before we receive the NOID?



You will NOT get a NOID UNLESS you file again, and even then you might not get a NOID. A NOID is a Notice of intent to deny. If you hurry and refile you could possibly get a NOID, like Frank did, and at that time they had Mark Ellis handle it and they got sent through, and they are having their interview on the 2nd of November. But this is about 1 year after their denial that this is happening, maybe a bit longer. Good luck, and before you refile, wait to see if you really get a chance to do a rebuttal do it, if not make sure you can confront each and EVERY reason they gave for a denial, because if they do issue a NOID you will have to fight it or risk getting a p6 fraud marker attached to your file meaning it will be all but impossible to ever get her to the states. Good luck, and hang in there!
Jerome and Binh
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2010-10-21 05:34:00
VietnamHCMC Interview roll call

Our case is still at the consulate. I met with my congressional rep on Friday. She's been making inquiries to the consulate for me for some time now. Brought her up to speed on our case and shes going to resend some dox for us and follow up with a phone call. Said she will get back to me next week.

Coolhand, like Scott said, I wouldnt provoke the consulate by emailing them like that. I email them then I follow up after they reply, it amounts to about 2 emails from me and 2 from them a month. Duyen has been going to window B once a month with both of our previous months phone records and chat logs. I hope some of us in AP can add some good news soon.

Frank and Duyen



Frank, this could be some of your problems. Every time you submit more evidence your file then the time starts over, and this can cause delays. I admire your determination, and I dont blame you, because with everything you are submitting if they try to deny you for lack of proving an ongoing relationship then you will be in the same situation I was in and easily able to prove that they knowingly lied in your denial letter. I just wanted to bring this point up, after all you are the one that has to decide what to or not to do, but it could be one of the reasons you have been in ap for so long. Jeorme
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2010-08-28 21:12:00
VietnamHCMC Interview roll call

even though it may be canned, it must be documented in the record.. so it is a touch of sorts... any email to you or your rep = an update in the system... (not the autoreply).... If they did what Jerome's friend thinks they did, then they made a big mistake as it will require a great deal of work to resolve.. the cases sent to NV without proper documentation will be returned to the consulate my NVC or USCIS.... they do have a protocol they must follow and returning cases without an official decision/documented reason for denial is against protocol.


Scott I talked with him last night, from what he is saying it is mainly the cases that have been in AP for over 90 days that are getting sent back, but some of his older cases are still waiting. The issue he has and the other CO’s is that there was no pattern to what petitions they took and sent back, most were over 90 days, but some were not. They are getting denied, but it is a person that is unfamiliar with the case, they simply looked over the CO’s notes then either denied or approved. So in actuality, not all of them were being sent back, I guess some were approved, but most were being denied. The problem Jeff and the other CO’s have is that the people making the decisions do not know anything other than what is in the file and they feel that their toes have been stepped on. Jerome


jeromebinhMaleVietnam2010-08-22 00:14:00
VietnamHCMC Interview roll call
I think they should be merged there has been documented confusion on both topics from two seperate regular memebers as to what post was where
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2010-05-25 21:17:00
VietnamHCMC Interview roll call

That took place in the AP discussion not here..


You ar right my bad, they are similar topics, maybe they should be merged? This would limit the confusion
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2010-05-25 09:26:00
VietnamHCMC Interview roll call

I checked and it appears that Lucky's post was initially made to the other topic..not this one... maybe an error in the initial post.. It does not show as ever having been moved...



What about your post where you were talking about the senator telling you they clean house and my two follow up posts, and then the other guy that was condemning my initial post? Those four posts have been removed. I feel that they were important to those in AP since your source said that they clean house at the end of the fiscal year, and the CO told me that it is not true? They should have been left at least that is my opinion. Jerome
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2010-05-25 09:19:00
VietnamHCMC Interview roll call

I see my original notice about my friend getting their pink slip was moved for some reason and wrongly I must say. Well I just wanted to say that my friend and his fiancee arrived into the country today safe and sound. Posted Image



Dont feel bad, they removed two of my posts, for no reason, I think I will go to Kath and see if she can shed some light on this matter, I have noticed that many posts have been removed or moved with no notification of it, and I think I might know who is doing it, and if any post is removed there should be a note of the reason for it
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2010-05-25 02:08:00
VietnamInterview Blue Slip

You are right it wont expire, but they can deny it, and without extra evidence included IF they did deny it there would be no one in the US to say they shouldnt have, so there would be no way it would be reaffirmed. HCMC cannot actually deny ANY visa, they can simply recomend it for denial, this means the denial actually takes affect in the U.S.A. This is why the CO I know says to always submit it if you think it will help, he understands that people make mistakes when they judge the visa petitions, and feels this is the best hope to fend off such a mistake. But he also said it is no guarentee they would reaffirm any petition, just a remote possibility.

Good luck with what ever you decide to do.
Jerome and Binh



Just be prepared for a chance at a rebuttal, it may or may not go through. Usually they will allow your petition to just expire but if they allow a rebuttal or reaffirm it make sure you keep all the evidence you currently have. If not then be prepared to file again and when you do if you file for a K1 visa again they might issue a NOID which you would have a very limited amount of time to prepare a rebuttal, so once again, I would recomend for you to prepare a rebuttal even if you do not get a chance to use it you will have it for a refile as well as the next interview when you refile again.

Even with a denial the road is not over, just a long detour, and you will get through it eventually. Jerome and Binh
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2011-02-25 21:38:00
VietnamInterview Blue Slip

Thanks for the input Jermone, . . I'm not concerned with blaming myself for whatever the outcome is. sooner or later my wife will be here. . . preferably sooner, but I'm in for the long haul.

I have a few days to think about which way I go with the evidence we have. We might just turn in a few extra documents. im thinking my will, and bank statements, showing where i paid for minutes to talk to my wife, and showing she used her ATM card from my bank.

I didn't think the I130 CR-1 expired, am I wrong in thinking this ?

When my wife prepped for the interview. IOM helped her. She was told not to hand anything in unless she was asked for it. . . It never entered my mind that they wouldn't want to see the evidence she had . . .

It kinda feels like we are cattle, not really interviewed just pushed though a ramp to the slaughter house . . .USDA approved.

When my brother's wife had her interview 12years ago. the interview lasted 6 hours (HCMC). . . Now I see where people think a hour is a long interview.


You are right it wont expire, but they can deny it, and without extra evidence included IF they did deny it there would be no one in the US to say they shouldnt have, so there would be no way it would be reaffirmed. HCMC cannot actually deny ANY visa, they can simply recomend it for denial, this means the denial actually takes affect in the U.S.A. This is why the CO I know says to always submit it if you think it will help, he understands that people make mistakes when they judge the visa petitions, and feels this is the best hope to fend off such a mistake. But he also said it is no guarentee they would reaffirm any petition, just a remote possibility.

Good luck with what ever you decide to do.
Jerome and Binh
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2011-02-03 19:27:00
VietnamInterview Blue Slip

How long ago was your divorce? If it was fairly recent then that would explain why they're asking for the list of residences and proof of your ex-wife's residence.

At this point, I'd guess there are three possibilities. They're on the verge of approving and just need this one problem addressed, they're on the verge of denying and are sending you on a wild goose chase while they buy some time, or they're hovering somewhere in the middle.

If they're on the verge of approving and you submit the evidence they requested then they'll probably approve you. Submitting more evidence might raise more issues than it resolves.

If they're on the verge of denying then they already have their reasons, and they could simply ignore any other evidence you submit.

If they're hovering somewhere in the middle then you'll probably end up in AP, regardless of what you submit now. I'd wait and see if this is what they do. If they put the case in AP then I'd flood them evidence.


I would disagree with this, if they are hovering around the middle they might deny instead of AP, with HCMC I would never take the chance.

The CO I know would also says to submit everything you can think of, because if you do they have to "show" on paperwork that they looked at it regardless if they did or not, so what this means if they do send a denial then the evidence is there, once you get a denial you cannot submit more evidence until you are given chance for a rebuttal, and most petitions are let to expire instead of going through the rebuttal process. SO what it means to have evidence submitted is that once it comes back to the US there is a higher chance that they will reaffirm the original petition sending it back to HCMC and I think the approval rate for reaffirmed cases is something like 96% dont quote me on that figure.

Either way it is your choice, if you sit and wait, you could get the pink, denial, or AP. Just remember with the result you are the only one to blame (unless you had a liar for a CO :o ) So do what you think is best, but if you feel it can help, why not submit it now, some might argue that if you were going to get a pink giving more evidence might make them take longer to hand it out, but if they were going to give pink they would probably not look at your evidence and just issue the pink, some people have gone in early to resubmit and got a pink the same day, this means they probably did NOT look at what was submitted, and just gave the pink, so for them to wait to issue a pink is far fetched and grasping at straws. Follow your heart, and if you think it will help submit it. Jerome
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2011-02-02 07:46:00
VietnamInterview Blue Slip

My wife had her interview recently. BLUE SLIP . . . They want Timeline of our relationship, which my wife had at the interview. 10 year residency, again my wife had this doc. they want the same doc from my wife. they also want my ex wife's current address. not happy about that. but not going to argue about it.
They only asked for our photos. . ."NOTHING ELSE" Every question she was asked was based on the photos.
I had sent several photos of myself and my home, and my children, and of my work.
The red flags we were sure would surface did not come up at the interview. A little concerned about that

They asked her about 30 questions. no problems here.
From reading the blue slip it looks like they only want the docs. they will not interview my wife again

Here is my question. Will my wife be able to hand in all the evidence we had.. phone records, emails, chat logs, reciepts for money i sent her. my will. They Asked for none of this at all.

I have already sent them a email asking them the same question. got auto reply. still waiting on normal response.


Yes you can submit anything that you feel will help your case, if they act like they do not want it, have your loved one be forceful on them taking it. Sometimes they only want what is on the slip and will try to be sneaky and only take that, but it is your right to submit what you feel is important. Do not let them push you around, if you do they might push you into the denial line. She shouldnt have to be rude just forceful and clearly state that she wants to submit everything, and not just what they wanted, but do make sure you have what they want. Good luck Jerome
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2011-02-02 07:33:00
VietnamPaying US Taxes if you work in Vietnam
You do have to file even if you live in a foreign country, if you work for the government or business that is located in the United States then the first 80K rule is correct as is my understanding, however if you are not working for the government or an american country the 80k rule does not apply as is MY understanding, but for certain you are supposed to file each and every year even if you do not make any money. Jerome
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2011-02-25 07:15:00
Vietnamk-1 Single Status - Lay off

I did not have to submit a single status verification/document neither. But, I have heard of other people submitting this (not sure if it was required or advised). What Jim said is correct, it is practically useless to get that document and especially if you live in California because you have to go to your Local County Clerk's and Recorder's office for it. The state's Office of Vital Records does not provide this (as required by the Vietnam Embassy for marriage registration in Vietnam). And I agree, as far as I know, this is only required if you plan on getting married (registering your marriage) in Vietnam.


I did this for the interview NOT when I got married in VIetnam. All I had for my marriage in VIetnam was my divorce decree and that was it, no single status, I did however go to the embassy and fill out an affadavit that I was single, but I did NOT get one from my state for the marriage, but I DID get one for the interview, and if I remember the dirrections clearly state that if you have been married you must prove that you are divorced, this would include the affadavit that you are single, not saying the CO's look at them, and obvisouly in Jims case it sounds like they missed it, or maybe we think it is required and it is not, but that if you get one it adds proof for the divorce
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2011-03-04 02:20:00
Vietnamk-1 Single Status - Lay off

Yeap, K1-visa doesn't allow co-sponsor.



K1 visa does allow for a co sponsor, people say HCMC doesnt allow them, but if they are denied because of this with a qualified co sponsor then they are breaking the rules, it doesnt mean they cant deny you for a different reason just that they are not supposed to deny you because you used a co sponsor, and besides the one poster here that said they just did it I have heard of 2 others that were approved using a co sponsor, and a few that were denied, but the denial did not link the co sponsor as an issue
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2011-03-04 02:16:00
Vietnamk-1 Single Status - Lay off

They require a single status from the USC petitioner? This isn't in the packet 3 or packet 4 instructions. I didn't provide this, and was never asked to provide it. My understanding was that this is something that's only required if you plan to get married in Vietnam. It's also practically useless since the only thing you can get in the US is a statement that there's no current marriage recorded in the state you live in. They wouldn't know if you had married in one of the other 49 states or in another country.

Anyone else who had to submit proof of single status? :unsure:



If the petitioner has been married in the past they must prove their single status, I sent in my divorce decree as well as a notary from the clerk where I lived that they had no reccord of me being married
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2011-03-04 02:12:00
VietnamHiring a professional?

I realize that a little coffee money is standard procedure when dealing with the VN government, but it doesn't work that way at the US consulate. A VN employee would be canned in a heartbeat if they were caught putting the squeeze on any visa applicants for a little cash under the table. The VN staff at the consulate can be extraordinarily rude, and they do often give applicants a hard time about their documents, but that's usually about as far as it goes. If she's got the documents she needs (birth certificate, divorce decrees, passport, etc.), and she's got English translations of the relevant VN documents, then she shouldn't have any problems, other than perhaps a snarky comment from a VN staffer. A doc prep service isn't going to help her get those documents. They just help fill out the forms and organize the documents and evidence.


:thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs: Jim is correct, they will not help gather things, and if something is needed and you do not have it they will more than likely NOT say anything not to be mean but because they do not know any better, also these services rarely have any updated forms if they have any at all, so if they do help with some of the forms, check and make sure they are the most recent. As for Mr. Nam and his doc prep, I have heard he uses photo copies of photos, and has written wrong dates on the backs as well as who was in them, so no matter if you use Mr. Nam or any service make sure what they do is correct as far as all the info goes. Mr. Nam and the services are not full proof and over worked so mistakes can and do happen from time to time. Good luck Jerome and Binh
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2011-02-14 05:25:00
VietnamDNA requested by consulate
Isnt this a duplicate thread? Clayr1 had this same sort of thread a while back :blink: Clay as I said before you have already been jumping through hoops, this is just another one you must face. There are DNA tests that can be done prior to giving birth, but i would not reccomend them, and I am not sure if they can even do them here in Vietnam. There is no way around this request.

People do lie to get visa's and what is to stop a woman from getting pregnant from a guy, then claiming it is from a different guy, this happens in the US all the time. So before your child can gain the US citizenship you will first have to prove that it is your child. From the consulates standpoint, what if this child was not yours and you were being duped by a Vietnamese woman, if you did not know until after she was in the US then it would be too late. So before they would grant it because a woman says that it is true and her US sponser also says that it is true they will want verification.

Dont get my post wrong, I am not saying it isnt yours, just clearly stating why the consulate does what they do. Even if the child is yours and they think your relationship is not valid they can still deny. If you hired an attorney and made a threat of a lawsuit if something happened to your baby in Vietnam before or after it was born as one VJ member did this might help, but then again it is a long shot with no guarentees.

Edited by jeromebinh, 16 February 2011 - 06:27 AM.

jeromebinhMaleVietnam2011-02-16 06:26:00
VietnamAmericans Living in Vietnam

Since we are going to live in Vietnam, is there any need to get a Vietnamese Marriage License even though we are legally married in the US?



No if you have your US marriage papers that will suffice here in Vietnam
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2011-03-06 05:56:00
VietnamAmericans Living in Vietnam

Well, it is a service oriented business. No product other then a finished CD. I will be opening a recording studio. Lot's of bands and singers in the area where my wife is from, and closest studios are in HCMC, which is about 6 hours away. So I will be providing a service for musicians in Rach Gia, Can Tho, Ha Tien, Long Xuyrn, Chau Doc, and many others.

I already have many business contacts in the VN music industry, so Im involved with the right people.



I would say that you will be fine, let it appear that this is your "Wifes" business, and that you simply work there and use your contacts, this would just help all around, also if you dont buy a house right away and rent, let your wife sign the contract, this will allow for a cheaper price because the landlord will not have to pay a foreigner tax because you signed the lease. little things like this will make opening up a business easier and less confusing about coffee money. Good luck with it, I dont see any real problems with any foreigner opening up a business that really wants to do it, even in the states it is hard to start a business with all the different regulations and time you have to put into it. Jerome and Binh
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2011-03-05 21:02:00
VietnamAmericans Living in Vietnam

Not going to tech, and not planning on becoming a VN citizen. Just wanted to know about owning / running abusiness and Vietnam Permanent Resident Card (not citizenship).

I already have the 5 yr visa exemption. But I am wondering how and where to get it stamped so I don't have to leave every 90 days.

The house will be in my wifes name.



I have NEVER heard of a permanent resident card, only a temporary resident card, and this is achieved by getting a work permit and it is only good for 3 years. Permanent would be citizenship, and you can keep your US citizenship because the US and Vietnam recognize dual citizenship but as I said my wife and I have never heard of a permanent residence card, only the temporary and the citizenship.

The immigration office in district 1 near galaxyy Cinema close to Ben Thanh market is where you take the form that the police stamp to get it renewed without leaving the country and it costs $10 each time. You will need to be registered in a book before the police will sign the paperwork though.

As far as running your own business prepare to pay a high tax since you are an owner, and also prepare to be tied down to it. This is what Ralph and Hanh always talked about when they had their pizza place, and this is why I think they sold it. I also know others that have had businesses and tried to get businesses. Chad a friend of mine wanted to open up a sports bar with all sorts of games playing on different tv's college basketball/football nfl. nba, mlb and so on. When he went to get his business liscence his tax was outrageous, then shortly after the local police started to shake him down, he closed up shop and that was the end of it. Then about 2 years later he tried it again, this time it was only in his wifes name the tax was half as bad, and the cops rarely visit wanting coffee money. Their shop is now closed because they couldnt get good help to run it and they were tied to it all the time. He is now teaching and loving it so much better. My brother in law opened a coffee shop and it was doing okay, but all his help quit after TET (they were brought in from the countryside as friends of his wife) because they did not get home enough to see their family, and his wifes brother got a job as a chef in a different place so they just sold their coffee shop since they both did not want to be tied down to a business. It is possible to run a business, just be prepared to be tied to it all the time, unless you have huge amounts of funding or have a product that you dont actually sell from a shop and offer more of a service or an online type of product, at least for the first year or two until you build it big enough that you can hire good people to run it. Jerome and Binh
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2011-03-04 20:05:00
VietnamAmericans Living in Vietnam

I stayed in Vietnam for a little over 2 years. Any travel agency can renew your visa for 6 months. (make sure it's a multiple entry visa so you can travel out of VN without having to get another visa). I believe you can go to the So Tu Phap (Service of Justice) and for a certain fee become a Vietnamese citizen. Last time I checked it cost 2 million vietnamese dong. I knew alot of ex-pats that teaches if you have a college degree. There are companies that are always hiring you just need to do a job search. USC can not own any property in VN at the moment but if you have someone you trust you can always put it in their name but make sure you write an affidavit that you have some kind of ownership in the property and get it notarized. I've seen alot of people from the states that gave money to their relatives to buy houses and land and have the people they trusted take everything from them. Just make sure you have everything written, signed, and notarized. Vietnamese people loves drinking coffee, getting drunk and eating (especially western food). That is why fried chicken and pizza are so popular over there (even though it doesn't taste anything like the states). Sometimes I wonder why there isn't a McDonald's. So if you're interested in opening your own business that is the way to go. Another thing, women's underwear and children's toys, cloths, etc etc would also be bestsellers.



Wrong Wrong Wrong, A USC CAN own an apartment not a house, it is easier to put the house or apartment into your wifes name, but you can own 1 apartment.

They are no longer issuing 6 month multiple entry visas, only 3 month now, but.... if you know someone who owns a business they can get it done sometimes, but with you being marriec to a VIetnamese get the visa exemption, just make sure your passport has at least 5 years left on it actually about 5 1/2 this way you can take full advantage of the visa exemption, with this every 90 days you must either leave the country OR pay $10 fill out a form and have the local police sign off that you have not been in any trouble. With the visa exemption you can come and go as you please for 5 years, just remember to get your passport stamped or leave the country every 90 days.

Last I heard it is 9 years and you must speak decent Vietnamese to gain citizenship, but there is a new law that states if the president signs off you can gain it with not speaking Vietnamese, and not even living here very long, simply a few months, there are requirements that must be met before he would sign off on such a thing, such as being married to a Vietnamese person, having a Vietnamese child, during times of war if you pick up a gun and help Vietnam, if you can be a benefit to VIetnam, and I think a few others as well but these are the ones that stick out. Yes it has also been done, the first person was a couple of years ago he was a French man, it is just that it is rare so many people dont realize this law.

As far as working in Vietnam, there are business ventures you can go into like running your own business, but you must have a Vietnamese partner (your wife) but the tax would be higher since you are a co-owner, the best job for an expat is clearly teaching for this you will need a college degree if you want to get a work permit, it must be a 4 year degree and then have it authenticated before you come from the states. This authentication is done by having your degree copied and notorized in the state where it was issued, then taking it to the state and having them verify that the notary was/is a notary, then from there it goes to the US Department of State and Hillary will sign it stating that the state seal is also real, then it goes to the Vietnamese embassy in Washington and they authenticate HIllarys signature. Now if you do not have a degree, you can take a CELTA or TESOL and still get a job, just do NOT take the online courses for this certification because they do NOT have a teaching practum which almost all schools want. With just a TESOL or CELTA you can get a job but it pays less, if your 4 year degree is not in teaching dont worry, all they care about is if it is a 4 year degree.

Hope this info helps Jerome
jeromebinhMaleVietnam2011-03-03 19:38:00