Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
Vietnam	Police Report and Medical examination in HCMC	She will get her police report at  Department of Justice located at 141-143 Pasteur St., Ward 6, Dist.3, HCMC,.  The cost is 300,000 Vnd.  It will be translated and deliver by mail.  It is good  for one year.  Don't apply until your I-130 has been approved by USCIS.  It will take one month or more to received your Case number. As soon as you get the noa 2 you should apply for the police report.  As for the Medical you will get it after NVC has completed your case.	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2014-05-29 08:33:00
Vietnam	What is your take on vaccinations?	Thanks for the reply, I thought we could get the vaccinations from anywhere but my wife call the number for Quarantine Service and they convinced her that they were the only place she could get the vaccinations.	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2014-09-12 01:32:00
Vietnam	What is your take on vaccinations?	I sent an inquiry to the consulate in HCMC about getting necessary vaccinations for entry into the United States. The following is their reply" "Dear Sir/Madam, Thank you for your inquiry. After having completed the medical examination, applicants are required to receive vaccinations. Fees for vaccinations depend on your age and the required vaccinations. Bring all of your vaccination records with you to the Quarantine Service of HCMC at 40 Nguyen Van Troi Street, Phu Nhuan District, HCMC, Tel: (84-8) 3844-5306 to receive your vaccinations' Please contact our designated Panel Physicians for your issue. The Following is my understand of this email.. any comments? Thank you for your reply. So the way I understand this is we can get all the required vaccinations from FV hospital, then go to Quarantine Service with this record and they will not need to perform any further vaccinations. A simple yes or no would be appreciated. Sincerely Edited by T&T&T, 12 September 2014 - 12:24 AM.	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2014-09-12 00:23:00
Vietnam	Visa approved	We turned in passport size photos of wife and daughter, original copy of the police report for my wife, sealed medical records from IOM, and the original consent letter for my step daughters from her father. I also had to provide a copy of my paid receipt for the processing fee for the NVC, It was missing in their file. I took a copy of my records just in case there was something missing and it paid off. Instructions on the documents needed for the interview was in the interview letter. If you are petitioning for a step child from Vietnam you must have a consent letter for the child to immigrate from the other parent, through the process we were never asked for this letter and the instructions never mentioned the letter until we went to the interview.	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2014-09-08 19:39:00
Vietnam	Visa approved	Our interview day at the consulate began at 7:15 am.  The line was not as long as I had expected and once we made it though security I estimated  around 100-120 people were there for an immigrate visa.   Once we received our number which took the better part of an hour we waited for around 40 minutes for our number to be called to submit our documents.  The lady at the window was very pleasant  with a nice smile which made us feel comfortable.  After this we waited again but this time we waited for more than an hour for our number to be called  for the interview.  I walked up to the window with my wife and daughter where the gentleman doing the interview asked me if I was the petitioner. I said yes and he asked me to take a seat and if he needed me he would call me.  My wife said she was asked about ten questions, were we met, what month we met, where did we go on our first date,  did she know that I had been divorced, my son's name, where does he live, how old is he, does she speak English, what was I doing in Vietnam when we met and how many children does she have.  The interview lasted for about 8 minutes. He also asked to see her pictures.  Through the interview my wife said he spoke Vietnamese to her but that he was smiling and friendly. The only question asked of my daughter was her age.  All and all it was a very pleasant experience.  We were told our visas should arrive within two weeks.  We left around 11:20 am.	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2014-09-08 12:57:00
Vietnam	Visa in hand...	Thanks to everyone and good luck on your Visa Journey as well as all your journeys..	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2014-09-13 12:39:00
Vietnam	Visa in hand...	Wow!!! How fast is this,, Interview on Monday and passport with visa was delivered on Thursday evening at 7:45 pm.. thanks for the good service HCMC consulate...	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2014-09-11 09:35:00
Vietnam	Interview in Ho Chi Minh City	update.... just returned from the interview,  I was not allowed at the window during the interview.  I was asked to take a seat and was never called during the interview.  Approved...	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2014-09-08 01:39:00
Vietnam	Interview in Ho Chi Minh City	My take on it:  " please note that the interview is scheduled specifically to evaluate the beneficiary?s eligibility"  this is a quote from the form  email sent by the consulate in HCMC  to answer this question.  The beneficiary can be interviewed in English or Vietnamese.  If you are confident your petition is solid, no red flags, in my opinion you do not need to be at the interview.  I say this because you state that time off from the job and finances are difficult.  Most K1 visa are approved in HCMC  without the fiancé being present. Save your time and money for a trip to HCMC to get married and file an I-130 in case your petition is denied.	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2014-09-05 21:30:00
Vietnam	How do you get married in HCMC: how long does it take and how much does it cost?	In response to a message I received I would like to post this because it deals with marriage in Vietnam.     The Vietnamese wedding ceremony and dinner can be a wonderful and happy event.  Wedding restaurants dot the  landscape here almost as much as banks and pharmacies.  Family homes host as many or more wedding parties as do the wedding halls.  Wedding photographers with a bride and groom can seen down town, on beaches, in wooded areas or other famous landmarks any day or hour of the week.  Bridal shops are everywhere.    The wedding dinners at  wedding restaurants can typically feed hundreds of guest.  The cost of the food depends largely on the number guest, number of courses, quality of food, and the wedding restaurant rental.    Entertainment from announcers, dancers, singers, laser beam shows and loud music are a few of components that will add to the overall cost.  Most of these weddings have a lot of planning and preparation put into them.  Money  has been put away for years in some cases.  They can cost into the thousands of dollars or they can also be modest with the cost under one thousand dollars.  Your wedding party can be tailored to fit your  budget.  You do not need a marriage certificate to have the religious service and wedding dinner.     I was also asked "September is the rainy season, so we should marry in February?"  The rainy season starts in May and ends in November.  One reason to be cautious of getting married in February is TET or Lunar New year.  In 2015 TET begins on Feb. 19th..  For the two week following it will feel like the entire country is moving.  Shops, restaurants, and government offices will be closed.  Airline, bus and train tickets will be harder to find and they will cost more as will hotel rooms.  It is a festive time but a bad time to get anything done, make sure to allow for this.  Note:  the pictures of the wedding dinner with family and friends provide a wonderful tool to help prove your bona fide relationship for the I-130 and interview.                Edited by T&T&T, 31 May 2014 - 06:55 AM.	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2014-05-31 06:46:00
Vietnam	How do you get married in HCMC: how long does it take and how much does it cost?	there is no requirement to pay "coffee money" in Vietnam..   skyking02, you will order the translated copies of your marriage certificate when you pick up your original certificate.	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2014-05-29 11:27:00
Vietnam	How do you get married in HCMC: how long does it take and how much does it cost?	Getting married in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.  I am sure the procedures are similar but  vary in  other provinces.   First I would obtain a marriage application packet from the Department of Justice located at 141-143 Pasteur St., Ward 6, Dist.3, HCMC, (Cost 15,000 to 30,000 VND).  You can  buy the application in a small office to the right of the parking lot.  They can also recommend an interpreter for your interview if you don't speak Vietnamese.   On the inside cover of the packet there is a list of the documents you will need for you and your fiancée.     1. Document showing you are single and eligible to get married.       a. USC can present their passport at the US consulate to obtain an affidavit of single status. If  previously married you will need an authenticated copy of a divorce decree or death certificate for each marriage.  Currently the charge for notarizing the affidavit is fifty dollars. Same day service.  Take the affidavit of single status to the Office of Foreign Affairs located at 6 Alexandre P Ben Nghe Q 1 HCMC.  It will take 3 - 5 days for the Foreign Affairs office to stamp your affidavit.  You can also use a marriage search letter from you home state, however in Ho Chi Minh City the Office of Foreign Affairs rejected my letter from the state of Kentucky. They require the affidavit of single status from the consulate because they are familiar with this form.                 b. VNC can present their National ID Card and Family Book to the People's Committee in the district in which he/she lives to obtain a Martial Status letter. Divorce decrees from previous marriage/s are required.   Approximate cost 20,000 VND and it can take up to two weeks or more to receive the letter. Your fiancée can obtain this document before you arrive in Vietnam which will save you time if your time is limited.   2.  Identification:       a. USC can obtain  certified copies of their passport from the People's Committee in district 1 located at 47 Lê Du?n street.  Same day service. They are not expensive buy several.     b. VNC can obtain certified copies of their family book and national identification card from the same location.  They are not expensive buy several.   3. Mental health evaluation:       a. Both applicants can obtain their mental health evaluation at:   B?nh vi?n Ch? Quán 179 B?n Hàm T? ?ông - Tây 1st Ward, District 5.  The cost for the evaluation is 800,000 VND for next day service  or 1,200,000 VND for express same day service. You will need 4 photos of each applicant measuring 4x6cm. Don't be surprised if you are asked for "coffee money".  I think 100,000 VND should do.    4.  If the USC is living in HCMC you will need a letter from the police station in the district which you live showing you have registered with the police.  If you do not live here and are staying in a hotel you will need to get the hotel to register you with the police and obtain a stamped copy.    Once you have your documents take them to the Department of Justice (location in item 1 above) to be submitted. (Cost 1,000,000 VND). One passport type photo of each applicant measuring 3x4 cm. will be attached to the application when submitted.  When you submit the documents you will be scheduled for an interview.  We had to wait 10 days before our interview.   If you do not speak Vietnamese you will be required to bring an interpreter to the interview with you.  You can use one recommended or choose one on your own.   Make sure the interpreter knows that the interviewer can speak English and if they do not translate for you accurately they will dismiss the interpreter and your interview will be rescheduled. I hired a travel agent for 500,000 VND.   At the interview you are proving that your relationship is bona fide.  Take a timeline, photos, receipts for gifts, chat logs, copy of emails, etc. anything you think will help you prove the relationship is real. ("Coffee money" to the interviewer is recommended-- 500,000 to 1,000,000 VND should do)        If your interview is successful you will be given a date to return to pick up your marriage certificate.  Be sure and order a dozen translated, certified, copies of your marriage certificate when you pick up the original. It will take 10 days but they can be delivered by mail.   All prices quoted are from a year ago, they could have changed.  I hope you can use this as a guide but depending on your case times could vary.  Remember the consulate is closed on American holidays and the Vietnamese offices are closed on their holidays.    I wish you happiness and good luck.....	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2014-05-29 09:25:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	Baby Daddy Drama	The answer is yes.... he does have a child.	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2014-09-09 21:52:00
USCIS Service Centers	VSC speeding up?	also vermont here also. took only 93 days and got text message saying approved. 5 days later noa2 in hand so 98 days. maybe vermont got on a hot streak.	trutolife27	Male	Philippines	2011-10-08 01:27:00
Mexico, Latin & South America	I received new case number, now what?	Wow, it worked!  My package is almost there!  Thanks for the help	mitchpa13	Male	Colombia	2014-01-09 21:41:00
Mexico, Latin & South America	I received new case number, now what?	No, no official note.  I called the NVC today and they gave me the case number but said that it had still not been shipped to Colombia.  And if that formula actually works, then that is awesome!	mitchpa13	Male	Colombia	2014-01-09 21:34:00
Mexico, Latin & South America	I received new case number, now what?	Hello fellow Journeyers,       I called the NVC today and my case has been received and has been given a case number.  It will be going to Bogotá.  Any idea how long it will take to get there?  Is the 8 days listed on the immigration timeline graph accurate?   Thanks for your help!     Also, any experienced visa recipients from Colombia have any tips for us?       God Bless,       Mitchell	mitchpa13	Male	Colombia	2014-01-09 17:53:00
Vietnam	Forms needed for interview.	My fiancée has her interview in Vietnam next week but she is confused about which forms are currently needed.  I believe they have changed but do different embassies require different forms?   Here is what my fiancée asked me. Does anyone understand what they are asking the interviewee to do?    "you read below then tell me what i need to submit them, DS-160 or the others? i submitted DS-230 part 1 before. I am confusing. "       4.  The confirmation page of the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form DS-160.  Note: If you already submitted the DS-230 (Part I), please complete in English the following forms  for each applicant listed on the Appointment Letter. Sign all pages except the form DS-156K; you  will have to sign this page in the presence of a Consular officer on your interview date. You can also  download the forms at: http://travel.state....forms_1342.html (Form DS-230) or  http://evisaforms.state.gov/ (Form DS-156) or  http://www.state.gov...ation/82063.pdf (Form DS-156K). ?  DS-156 (in duplicate): You must complete the EVAF DS-156 form online, print  2 copies of the  form and barcode page and paste a visa photo on each completed form DS-156. ?  DS-156K (single copy): For K-1 principal visa applicants only.  ?  DS-230 Part I (single copy): Please note that for item #13, provide the address and phone  number(s) where you are actually residing, not addresses once used for household registration.    Thanks. Tom	Redhead33	Male	Vietnam	2013-11-21 07:16:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)	HELP! Ceac Status stuck at "READY"	There are two kinds of READY!! After interview it usually changed to READY-AP-ISSUED. Do not worry. You will be approved soon. They usually have all the info as your fiancé must have submitted the I134 in US while filling i129f. . Edited by KulwantandAshley, 21 January 2014 - 08:34 PM.	KulwantandAshley	Male	India	2014-01-21 20:32:00
United Kingdom	No Packet 3 London Embassy - ceac.state shows Ready - HELP!!!	I hope that this helps!  Please do not worry, every consulate is different, but we just kept getting emails and letters stating the exact same information (not sure if these are packet 3 or 4).  As long as you have your inteview date, you are ok from my experience.  You will receive a email / letter from the consulate about a week before your interview asking you to place the information / evidence in a specific order (contradicts all other instructions), but this will be the preferred order of evidence and review and will delay your interview by about an hour if you do not comply.   Try to remain calm you are almost there!!!!!!    Sincerely,   Chris and Vania (approved 01/14/2014)	crotta	Male	Brazil	2014-01-17 14:05:00
Vietnam	tattoo	I have one and had no problems with the medical. The doctor just included it on the med report/results.	mrs. carey	Female	Philippines	2011-04-27 17:37:00
Caribbean	birth certificate	No need to wait... get it now.  One less thing to do later...	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2014-06-11 21:40:00
Vietnam	Replacement Marriage Certificate	My wife is Vietnamese, I just asked her if you can get a copy at the Department of Justice. Her opinion is that you must have a copy of your marriage certificate before they will make you more copies.  I find this difficult to believe but this is Vietnam and I am not surprised anymore.  We ordered ten copies when we picked up our original certificate.  She suggested you offer some  money and it might be possible.	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2013-09-16 08:38:00
Vietnam	alcoholic ex holding up I-130 for my wife and step child.	Yeah.. thanks... I am sure this is only the first hurdle we will encounter.  Sent the packet UPS and should be delivered by Wednesday morning.   What should we be working on to get ready for the NVC stage?	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2013-09-15 23:54:00
Vietnam	alcoholic ex holding up I-130 for my wife and step child.	My wife was not sure we could get a consent letter from her Ex.  She thought it would be a wast of money to file and in the end she would not go to the USA without her daughter.	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2013-09-13 18:57:00
Vietnam	alcoholic ex holding up I-130 for my wife and step child.	Thanks to everyone for your comments on this topic.   We received the consent from the father today and now our Visa Journey can begin.  God Bless and good luck on your journey to all.	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2013-09-13 10:05:00
Vietnam	alcoholic ex holding up I-130 for my wife and step child.	Received the consent letter at 2:30 pm. today..	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2013-09-13 06:58:00
Vietnam	alcoholic ex holding up I-130 for my wife and step child.	I think I must file to a lockbox address in the USA, I live in HCMC...	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2013-09-11 23:28:00
Vietnam	alcoholic ex holding up I-130 for my wife and step child.	are you saying it is possible to take my wife and step daughter to the US without a consent letter from the step daughter's father?	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2013-09-10 18:54:00
Vietnam	alcoholic ex holding up I-130 for my wife and step child.	Funny that you should ask, "why bother thinking about this immigration petition process at all?", It was in large part for the education of my step daughter as I noted in the down side of plan B. My offer to immigrate to the United States with this young lady and do my best to insure she has the opportunity to become a successful, productive and happy person is still on the table. If this does not come about it will not be me making that decision, it will be her father. Me the villain, I don't think so. I am willing and ready to take the physical and financial responsibility for my wife and her daughter but I will not be blackmailed into doing so. My wife is the most wonderful lady I have ever met. We discuss every decision we make in regards to our family and I assure you she is in complete agreement with my stance on this issue.	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2013-09-10 08:11:00
Vietnam	alcoholic ex holding up I-130 for my wife and step child.	Good question.. I thought the same way, Wuhan Rocks, but I read the follow information from a member who advised me to send the consent letter with the I-130 package: "You do need to include the letter from the biological father along with your I-130. Even though you have an original (one of the 3 originals I referred to in my earlier post), send in a copy. USCIS only wants copies of everything at this initial stage. The reason for that is, if the petitioner doesn't qualify for filing an I-130, USCIS can throw the whole package in the trash. If you sent in original docs, USCIS may feel obligated to return them to you. They do not want that hassle." However if i Can't get a consent letter now what good would it do to file the I-130 and be turned down later due to the lack of the consent letter?	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2013-09-10 00:36:00
Vietnam	alcoholic ex holding up I-130 for my wife and step child.	Yes, I am aware of what money can do in Vietnam but to sell the rights to your daughter is something I cannot be a part of.  Luckily for me I now have a plan B which will work just as well as immigration.  The down side to plan B is that my step daughter will not get to finish her schooling in the United States where I think she could benefit.  I love living in Vietnam,  my wife owns our home, the cost of living here is great, most of the people I meet here are wonderful people and my wife wants to stay in HCMC.  Plan B is not to file the I-130 which will save me 2 to 4 thousand dollars plus air fare another 4 thousand dollars and  just continue to live here for the next three and one half years until my step daughter turns 18.  I can return to the US a couple of times a year to visit.  The up side to Plan B is that this poor excuse of a father will not be paid for his poor behavior nor will he gain the affections of his daughter who would like very much to immigrate to the US now.  I have given him an ultimatum, I will have the signed consent letter in my hands by this Friday or I will execute plan B.  Game over!!!!!!   Nice to have options.  Thanks for your comments.	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2013-09-09 23:50:00
Vietnam	alcoholic ex holding up I-130 for my wife and step child.	My wife's ex-husband has been promising to sign a consent letter for two weeks.  My info on him is that he has been a heavy drinker for years.  He insisted on having a girlfriend while he was married to my wife, thus she divorced him.  He refuses to support either of his two daughters.  He has spoken to one of the daughters two times in the last 5 years.  I think you have the same picture as I do by now. He even had my wife go to talk with his parents to get their advice on whether he should sign the letter or not.  He is 50 years old.  Today he hit a new low.  The reason he gave us for not signing  the consent letter for the youngest daughter  was that when he gets old he will not have anyone to support him. Like that is going to happen whether he signs or not.  So frustrating... except for this consent letter my I-130 package is ready to be mailed.  Any Advice?  Please do not suggest I pay him... that is not going to happen...	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2013-09-05 10:02:00
Vietnam	Applying for a 5 year visa	I should have said stamp expires in 90 days  The visa expires in 5 years.	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2013-09-18 06:07:00
Vietnam	Applying for a 5 year visa	Application for 5 year visa: I was quoted a price of 75 dollars from a local travel services to process the paperwork for a 5 year visa. In July of this year I married  a Vietnamese lady. My wife and I inquired about the process at the immigration department at 161 Nguy?n Du in district 1.  We were instructed to go to  254 Nguy?n Trãi and there we could purchase the forms and file for the Visa ourselves.  The process took about 15 minutes.  We submitted the forms on September 12th and received my passport back at the same address on September 18th.  The visa is free but the stamp cost ten dollars.  The visa is a multi entry visa that expires in 90 days at which time I will make a trip to the immigration department at 161 Nguy?n Du and pay another ten dollars for the next 90 days. If I leave the country and return, the visa is good for another 90 days with no stamp fee.  I hope this helpful.	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2013-09-17 23:26:00
Vietnam	Retirement In Vietnam, good Idea or Bad idea?	Your point is a very creditable one and should be considered while finding "true love" here, however it has happened here many times and will happen again.  The same is true in any country when a "have" is falling in love with a "have not".	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2013-10-18 01:41:00
Vietnam	Retirement In Vietnam, good Idea or Bad idea?	if you are thinking about moving to Vietnam you might be interested in the following: As with all cities, Ho Chi Minh has her own personality. L.A. has her smog; Chicago has her wind and Ho Chi Minh City has her white noise. She is a lady filled with the constant roar from the millions of motorbikes dashing to and fro in a system of what I call organized chaos. Hour after hour, 7 days a week the motorbike traffic reminds me of the activity I see in an ant hill or bee hive where there is constant motion. The air pollution created by this endless stream of motorbikes can be seen by the naked eye, but it is most noticeable when you take your shower at the end of the day and your white, wash cloth is now gray. I venture to guess that more than fifty percent of the population wears some sort of face mask to filter the air they breath. If I were to rank the cities of the world, I would rank Ho Chi Minh City close to the bottom in most desirable cities to live category. The streets are narrow and crowded; there are no Central Parks or Hyde Parks here. There are no world class museums, art galleries or Las Vegas style entertainment here, however there are a few cinemas with current English speaking movies. A walk along any of the rivers here will be accompanied by a foul odor from the pollution. There are two weather season here. Hot and wet, during the hot season the average temperature can stay in the mid 90s for months with no rain, while during the wet season it can rain day after day for a few months but it seems like much more. Unlike western governments where officials try to hide their corruption, government officials here are openly corrupt. The police take bribes, office workers take bribes, company workers take bribes, and government inspectors take bribes. Bribes are such a common practice the police are known as a Saigon Uncles. If you want to get anything done here, money talks. Its just the way it is. The city sidewalks are a story within themselves. Most of them are in need of a major repair, they are uneven, broken and hard to walk on. That is, when you can walk on them. They are cluttered with thousands of small vendors and used to display clothes, shoes, glasses, wallets, belts, toys, bedding, makeup, lottery tickets, okay you get the picture. This is on the part of the sidewalk that is not being used for parking motorbikes or the temporary use for the food vendors. Half the population of this city sells food in front of their homes or drinks from small portable kiosks. Everything is taken in at night or it will not be there the next morning. Theft is a big problem here. Another 35 percent make a living by selling other products on the sidewalks. When I go for my evening walk I spend most of my time walking in the street hoping not to be run down by a motorbike. If I have painted you a picture of an undesirable place to live let me try and give you another view. What I have described is an inconvenience to me but to the citizens of Ho Chi Minh it is the way they stay alive. I am not sure but this could be the small business capital of the world. There are simple handmade signs displayed everywhere to attract a buyers attention. As I walk I see a mom serving food from her small kiosk while her three year old daughter sleeps on a makeshift bed under the kiosk. Every day I observe hundreds of people walking the sidewalks selling lottery tickets of which they get to keep a small percentage of the sale price. Some are handicapped, some are not handicapped, men, women, young and old (some as young as 3 or 4 years old) but everyone must eat. I walk by a machine shop that has finished a day of work and now has been converted into a small restaurant. The cook is the owners wife. I watch the unloading of a barge of coconuts or melons, one at a time, down a human conveyer to a waiting cart. Bag ladies continually canvass the sidewalks for recyclables to sell. Sometimes I laugh to myself when I see a melting bag of ice being delivered by a man on a bicycle on a 95 degree day. I often wonder how much ice will get to his customer. I am amazed to watch a construction worker move a large pile of sand or gravel with a 5 gallon bucket. No obesity in the construction industry here. What I see is hard working people being self-sufficient in simple but sometimes ingenious ways. I can find many things to complain about here but I would rather dwell on the human spirit and determination to do whatever it takes to provide for their family. After the work day, that can last more than twelve hours, millions of these workers return to their home which can be a simple room shared with three or four other workers. I talked to one hotel worker who would sleep on the floor in the hotel lobby because she had more space there than in her two room apartment that she shared with 5 other young ladies. If you live in a house it is reasonable to assume that your parents or other relatives will live with you. There is a saying here that you dont marry a bride, you marry the family. Since, for the most part, there is no social welfare or government retirement programs here, the younger family members take care of the older family members, but dont fret, someday someone will take care of you. In my conversations about having to care for their mother or father or both there seems to be no resentment. There is more of a feeling of responsibility. But on the other hand, boundaries are established covering food, expenses, territory and many other facets of two or more families living together and are strictly adhered to. Family members crossing any of the boundaries are dealt with quickly and bluntly. Families here pay directly to the school each month to have their child educated. If you dont pay, the teachers refuse to teach the child. This makes it especially hard for a child in a poor family. Young children are taught at an early age that there is no free ride. Many times I have observed a small child sitting in a corner of a business doing school homework on their own while their mother or father is working. Pre-teens and teens alike, ride bicycles to school, or mom or dad takes them to and from school. This includes at lunch time. There are no school busses or school cafeterias. If you child does not take an interest in learning and does poorly on achievement exams they are prohibited from advancing to the next level. Many students drop out of school at an early age. Now to sum it up: Do you remember walking to your neighborhood grocery store? Do you remember buying a pair of eyeglasses and having a limited selections to choose from? Do you remember when your purchase was not covered by a money back guarantee? Do you remember when your child when to a school in the neighborhood? Do you remember when you could get in to see your doctor the same day you felt ill? Can you remember when there was no fire, electrical, plumbing or building inspectors? Do you remember when 90 percent of the food you ate had no artificial coloring or sweeteners and you went to the market every day to buy fresh fruits and vegetables? Do you remember when you could eat a meat, vegetable, soup and a drink for lunch and it would cost less than two dollars. This is everyday life here. Good and bad, lonely and exciting, boring and stimulating, humbling and gratifying. If I have learned anything at all this year living among the people of an Asian culture, I guess it would be that I can do with a lot less and it is enough.	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2013-10-17 07:57:00
Vietnam	Tourist visa gamble????	I don't like to be negative but based on my experience I think you will be wasting your 160 dollars.  My wife, then gf, was denied a tourist visa.  We were informed that all nonimmigrant visas are treated  as immigrant visas until you prove otherwise. We thought we had substantial evidence for her to return to Vietnam.    That being said every case is different.   Good Luck.	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2013-10-02 21:25:00
Vietnam	Visa fee for tourist visa	My friend who lives in HCMC just renewed his visa and it was 140 dollars for three month, single entry.	T&T&T	Male	Vietnam	2013-11-13 04:09:00
Vietnam	Time Line???	Thanks for your advice. I can see that a timeline is important and makes sense.  It tells our story in a simple to read manner.	Redhead33	Male	Vietnam	2013-07-23 06:13:00