biggish data

Personal issues re my Viet Nam girlfriend

he meant hot vit lon

My fault Tex. Given the fact that I haven't posted in a while I assumed you were slamming me. All apologies, too late for an edit.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2011-08-06 18:17:00

Personal issues re my Viet Nam girlfriend

I see Dau Que made it back in.

I'm not Dau Que, but my name does start with an F and ends with a U.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2011-08-06 18:10:00

Personal issues re my Viet Nam girlfriend

Don't make the mistake of looking at this from a Western perspective. Some people will do and say anything they can to get to the US; that's a fact I am well acquainted with. It's my opinion that she's one of them, based on what you have written.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2011-08-06 16:09:00

Understanding Vietnam

I ran across a review for this book the other day and it looked interesting. I now have it on .pdf, so shoot me a PM if you'd like to take a look at it.

"This is a great book for understanding Vietnam the country, as opposed to Vietnam the war. It is scholarly but readable (it does require some effort to focus at points, but the effort is worthwhile). Part anthropology, part history, it is a great introduction to any serious study of Vietnam and its culture."

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/16190145

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2012-06-01 20:49:00

Thanks

Edit Obama out Scott!

Sorry Tex. Sometimes I just can't help myself!

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2012-06-02 05:20:00

Cheating wife

Been a long time brother ... missin ya!... that took forever to get finalized.... Thuys over there now... will be al summer if you are up north again.. If anyone knows first hand the cheatin BS that can happen you do... can write a good book about it too...

Yeah, we've got a regular dysfunctional family reunion going on here...

Miss you all too. How long has Thuy been back? When are you coming back?

I've actually considered returning to Hanoi, or somewhere up north, mainly because of the higher wages for English teachers. I'd have to come back down south for the winter, though!

I just got back from Cambodia, where I got another 1 year visa. Phnom Phen is a nice little town and I may stay there next time. It's hard to imagine living anywhere else, though...

I've been here long enough that a book seems feasible. Now if I could just find a wife who can:

1.) type my dictations, without understanding what I'm talking about.

and

2.) remain "boyfriend free", while we're married.

Edited by Teacher Mark, 14 April 2012 - 08:34 PM.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2012-04-14 20:33:00

Cheating wife

I'm in Vietnam.

Our divorce became final a few weeks ago. Posted Image

Edited by Teacher Mark, 14 April 2012 - 07:20 PM.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2012-04-14 19:18:00

Cheating wife

I'm sure she'll have a logical explanation. She''ll explain everything to you and make you see that it's really not her, it's you.

I dumped my cheating ####### 3 years ago, merely a month after we moved into our first (and last) apartment. I threw her, her sister, her brother-in-law and her 3 year old niece out of my apartment (the sister and kid were welcome to stay, but they opted not to). She thought I was stupid and would never find out about her b/f, but I did. I confronted her via the internet and told her we were getting a divorce. Then, after thinking long and hard about it, I decided to play along with her and act like I believed her story, because she had one that was designed to make me see that it was me, not her. I moved here, got a job teaching English and gathered more evidence. When I felt like the time was right I confronted her again and threw her out.

My advice is to get on a plane and surprise her with chocolates and flowers. Then show her the pic and dump her on the spot.

Edited by Teacher Mark, 14 April 2012 - 02:10 PM.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2012-04-14 14:08:00

Can US Citizen living in Vietnam Sponsor Wife for CR-1?

That's a good thing that the Us Consulate finally has decided to close the loophole by stopping the DCF process. For people who don't care to live and contribute (paying taxes) to the system, why should the US gov't care to provide any service to?

Sound fair to me.

I file taxes every year. The thing is I'm allowed to make up to 90K a year before I owe anything.

I also qualify for Pell grants, so Uncle Sam is paying for me to go to school as well. Life is good.

I don't think a true DCF ever existed in Vietnam, but you could file an I-130 at USCIS/Diamond Plaza. That office is closed now and a US students services office opened. I imagine you'd have to travel to Thailand now to file. The real trick would be to get a work permit in Vietnam...

Edited by Teacher Mark, 18 October 2011 - 10:48 AM.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2011-10-18 10:45:00

If I recall correctly, you ARE an ESL teacher over there right? If that's still true, I'd say your vocabulary choice is rather poor IMHO.

PS> That visa "#######" said this in one of your Youtube videos (which you posted here VJ and now have deleted it) "Du Me May"......roughly translated in English "F^$$^$^$ you" when you approached her from behind and scared her. What do you expect from an individual that speaks foul language like that? I just laughed and shaked my head when I watched that video. Mark has been hanging around with the wrong crowd and he hasn't fully understood who he was messing with!

ANTIQUIS TEMPORIBUS, NATI TIBI IN RUPIBUS VENTOSISSIMIS EXPONEBANTUR AD NECEM.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2013-06-08 05:17:00

tMark - apologies - I find none of what you've written in post #13, hard to believe at all.

Surprisingly enough, I'm not surprised that you're not surprised Darnell.

Edited by Teacher Mark, 28 May 2013 - 10:00 AM.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2013-05-28 09:59:00

Here's a bedtime story that's hard to believe, but 100% true. After I went solo in 2009, started dating a beatiful and intelligent university student. We dated about 3 months before I approached my estranged wife and tried to get a divorce, so I could marry my girlfriend before she came to her senses. The visa ####### said no, of course, even though she wasn't told about my g/f and she was lving with some other poor sap. About a month later I sat down with my g/f and laid out 3 options, the last being we split up. She chose door 3 and I agreed. We remained friends and 3 months later she tells me thwt she's applying for a J visa to work in a restaurant in Maine. Cost = 5k. I tole her it would never happen. A single, beautiful Viet girl in on a J? No way. I was wrong. She worked in Maine for 3 months, then returned, met a guy from Finland, went there and stayed. I regret that I didn't return to America when she was there and circumvent the bs in HCM.
m

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2013-05-27 13:43:00

I figure the visa rejection rate for every section will rise by at least 5 percent. Who knows, really? I do know a little about how things are in Vietnam, however, and I can assure you that regardless of the section everyone in that place is a bit nervous today. This could be the tip of the iceburg. I'd be very surprised if that's the sum of the corrupt employees there.

Edited by Teacher Mark, 27 May 2013 - 04:07 AM.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2013-05-27 04:06:00

I feel sorry for those of you that are waiting for an interview, because this is only going to make an already bad situation much worse.

By Michael Doyle ? McClatchy Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON ? A State Department official ?received several million dollars in bribes? from Vietnamese residents seeking visas, according to newly public court documents.

In a previously undisclosed criminal complaint, Foreign Service officer Michael T. Sestak faces charges of conspiracy to commit visa fraud and bribery in an alleged scheme that investigators say spanned several countries. In some cases, investigators say, desperate Vietnamese paid up to $70,000 each for visas granting legal entry to the United States.

The ?co-conspirators? advertised that the charge would be between $50,000 and $70,000 per visa but also that they?d sometimes charge less, State Department investigator Simon Dinits said in an affidavit. ?They also encouraged recruiters to raise the price and keep the amount they charged over the established rate as their own commission,? the affidavit said.

Investigators say the alleged conspiracy occurred while Sestak was handling non-immigrant visas in the U.S. consulate in Ho Chi Minh City. Sestak served in the consulate until last September, when he left in preparation for active-duty service with the Navy. By then, investigators say, an informant had tipped them to the alleged visa scheme.

An attorney for Sestak didn?t offer comment Thursday.

Sestak, who turns 42 this year, was quietly arrested in Southern California about a week ago. Citing a ?serious risk defendant will flee,? authorities secured a judge?s order to hold him without bail until he can be transferred back to Washington, where the complaint was originally filed under seal May 6.

Though it?s since been unsealed, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney?s Office in Washington declined Thursday to comment on the case until Sestak has been returned to the city. A State Department representative also declined to comment.

Dinits, a special agent with the department?s Diplomatic Security Service, spelled out the allegations against Sestak and five unnamed co-conspirators in a 28-page affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint. The allegations include a close accounting of how the Foreign Service officer, according to investigators, shifted ill-gotten gains across international borders.

?He ultimately moved the money out of Vietnam by using money launderers through offshore banks, primarily based in China, to a bank account in Thailand that he opened in May 2012,? Dinits said. ?He then used the money to purchase real estate in Phuket and Bangkok, Thailand.?

Sestak joined the consulate staff in Ho Chi Minh City in August 2010 and served as the chief of the non-immigrant visa staff. It was a busy office and Sestak came to have a remarkably lenient record for granting visa applications, Dinits said.

From May 1, 2012, to Sept. 6, investigators say, the consulate received 31,386 non-immigrant visa applications and rejected 35.1 percent of them. During the same period, Sestak handled 5,489 visa applications and rejected only 8.2 percent of them, according to investigators.

Sestak?s reported visa rejection rate fell to 3.8 percent in August, shortly before he was to leave the office.

According to Dinits, one of Sestak?s alleged co-conspirators was the ?general director of the Vietnam office of a multi-national company located in Vietnam.? The four others were friends or relatives of this individual. All live in Vietnam.

Dinits said one co-conspirator ?reached out to people in Vietnam, and in the U.S.,? and would advertise that visas could be guaranteed, including for those who wouldn?t otherwise be likely candidates. Other co-conspirators would help prepare the applicant and Sestak would review the application, according to Dinits.

Last July, Dinits said, an informant advised consular officials that 50 to 70 people from one village in Vietnam had illegally paid for their visas. That prompted investigators to start tracing online visa applications using Internet Protocol addresses, the unique numbers used to find particular computers or servers on the Internet. The investigators reported tracing money transfers, including $150,000 allegedly sent to Sestak?s sister in Florida. They also snooped on email accounts

?This opportunity will only last for a few more months, and after that it?s over,? one alleged co-conspirator wrote in a July 5 email quoted by Dinits.

Email: mdoyle[at]mcclatchydc.com; Twitter: @MichaelDoyle10

http://www.kentucky.com/2013/05/23/2651 ? rylink=cpy

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2013-05-26 00:35:00

police check from Vietnam - split topic

This is the information I was provided regarding the police check. You can have a representative do it for you, but they have to have your passport:

The process for obtaining the police criminal record in HCM as follows :

(1) You must arrange your time to do the authorization letter, following this my staff will do the process on behalf of you.
The letter must do at Notary public - takes us by 15' to complete

(2) Please send us your passport + entry stamp when you coming into VN for arrange document for doing authorization letter/ criminal record process

(3) The service fee : 150USD ( including all related fees)

(4) The process takes us by 45-50 days to get the result

Please note that we need to borrow your original passport within a day for processing

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2013-07-20 07:06:00

1.). Jerome, you're sittting in the proverbial cat- bird seat. Well done!

2.) I turned 47 the other day, so Happy Belated Birthday to me!

and

3.). I'm getting the impression that some of you don't like my ode to the Ho-ster? I see one of you made a laim attempt at a re-write. Imitation is the truest form of flattery, but I'm not seeking flattery and you should be seeking a dictionary and an unbiased historical accountt of HCM's role in the entire debauch we call the Vietnam War. America had no business getting involved to begin witth. Civil wars are always nasty and foreign interlopers usually make matters worse, as was the case here.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2013-08-03 12:20:00

Jerome, feel free to speak on my behalf! I'll just sit back and relax.

p.s. I assume you've earned that BA by now. You went after that thing like a bulldog and for that you should be commended.

Edited by Teacher Mark, 26 July 2013 - 01:30 AM.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2013-07-26 01:24:00

teachermark11@gmail.com is my primary email address DQ, John Q. Public and any other of my less than adoring fans.

My next one is going to be dedicated to the criminals at Monsanto, for selling the by-product known as dioxin, or Agent Orange, with full knowledge of the dangers the poison produced to any and everything it came into contact with. I'll be hand delivering that one, since they're located in that place where I was born.

They also produced AO there and recently settled with the municipality where the chemical was produced...for $192,000,000. How much have they compensated Vietnam? $0. The Supreme Court has to decide if killing a foreigner by such measures is the same as killing an American, if they'll even hear the case. If the SC continues to ignore this travesty of justice, decency and good old fashioned American values, then may they all burn in hell.

Edited by Teacher Mark, 16 June 2013 - 09:48 PM.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2013-06-16 21:47:00

BTW, do you even know his "REAL" name? And the reason why he chose HCM instead of his real name? If he's a GREAT leader, why use "pseudonym"?

In America, only criminals love to change their names. They want to hide their dark histories. (and in modern days, terrorists utilize fake/false new names to their criminal intents as well).

Vin Diesel - Mark Sinclair Vincent John Wayne (Marion Michael Morrison) - Marion Robert Morrison Bob Dylan - Robert Allen Zimmerman William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton - William Jefferson Blythe

Mark Twain - Samuel Clemens

I wish it would be true, especially right now. The current regime just turns its head and lets the communist Chinese invade and take Vietnam land as the Chinese likes.

Only if the current VC leaders are like Hai Ba Trung and Le Loi in the past. Stand up and protect the land, even if it means death!

Thanks for writing this poem, Mark. You put the MOST important point at the end!

Hai Ba Trung

When the sisters came to town
They saw invaders all around
So their smiles turned into frowns

--Chorus-

Hai-i-i-ah-iii
Hai-i-i-ah-iii Ba
Hai Ba Trung, Hai Ba Trung!

A pair of elephants they rode
Down and long and troubled road
The seeds of victory they sowed
Soon the people gathered ?round
These two sisters they had found
Then a big battle went down
When the smoke had finally cleared
The invaders that were feared
Were driven back, so people cheered!

-Chorus-

Throughout the course of history
You will very rarely see
Two souls as brave as these
Thanks so much, thanks so much
Hai Ba Trung, Hai Ba Trung!

?Foremost, I will avenge my country,
Second, I will restore the Hung lineage,
Third, I will avenge the death of my husband,
Lastly, I vow that these goals will be accomplished?

- Trac Trung
[center]Le Loi-Le Lai

This is the story of Le Loi
A legend told with sadness and joy
He carried a sword from the lake
Where the Golden Turtle did give and take

All hail, all hail Le Loi
Many victories he did enjoy
All hail, all hail Le Loi
He came, he saw, then he destroyed!

His right hand man was called Le Lai
You'll never meet a braver guy
The Ming surrounded; but got a surprise
Le Lai was wearing a brilliant disguise!
He opened a hole; Le Loi escaped
For the Ming it was a fatal mistake!

All hail, all hail,Le Lai
He did it knowing that he would die
All hail, all hail, Le Lai
His actions saved a thousand lives!

All hail all hail Le Thai To
A better leader we'll never know
All hail all hail Le Thai To
He was the best, history shows

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2013-06-15 17:52:00

((((((ROTFFLMAO))))))) ...u still don' t get it do you?

Glad to hear to hear you're getting some exercise fata$$.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2013-06-09 03:49:00

Kiss my white a$$! Freedom of speech doesn't mean whatever you do or don't approve of is allowed to be spoken. That's called censorship. Sound familiar?

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2013-06-09 03:46:00

1.) The First Amendment affords me the luxury of writing whatever I want, as long as it isn't libelous.

2.) The United States manufactured the Gulf if Tonkin incident, so that it could exert control over matters best left to the people of Vietnam.

3.) I wrote it for a student of mine, who lives in southern Vietnam.

4.) I also wrote it for the thugs who demanded that I drink a shot of vodka being toasted to HCM, on his birthday a few years ago. That's my way of telling them to get bent.

5.) The only apology I offer to those displaced by the war is this: I'm sorry the elders of another American generation filled them with false promises and then abandoned a signifigant portion of them. Those that were lucky enough to escape should be thankful that they made it ton america; the place where they became our most productive and loyal minority.

and

6.) Ho Chi Minh was a hell of a leader. He did nothing that Americans wouldn't do, were a foreign interloper to appear and start dictating how things were going to be.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2013-06-08 18:17:00

REDSVN-HoChiMinh-23.jpg 335.01KB 1 downloads

Ho Chi Minh

By: Teacher Mark

In Vietnam, not long ago
There lived a man whose name was Ho
A resistant rebel, with views entrenched
He proudly announced he would not learn French

He set out to travel, always lending a hand
His dream was to live in a free Vietnam
He saw a fight coming, the people the victor
For gathering weapons they jailed his sister

He then thought Maybe theyre right!
If I learn French it will help the fight!
So learn it he did and then set sail
To places where others were victims as well

He came back years later from his journey long
Where the Japanese were now the ones doing wrong
He formed an army that fought as rebels
It taught them war at all the levels

The war soon ended and back came France
Themselves the victims of sinister plans
They refused to accept a free Vietnam
But their senseless oppression would not last long.

In 54 the French forces acted like fools
And cornered the rebels at Dien Bien Phu
For 56 days and 56 nights
The tables got turned by the rebels might

When the smoke had cleared most invaders had died
So ashamed was their general that he chose suicide
There were many who thought that the terror was over
But another invader soon sank lower...

For years and years there were sounds like thunder
Destruction caused death. in the millions by number
The skies filled with planes, the jungle with fire
The ultimate weapon was the man who inspired

Inspire he did and the tide was turned
A lesson that the crusaders had not learned
Hai Ba Trung and Le Loi
Had shown a strategy the Vietnamese employ

Invaders of this lovely land
Will meet death by a Viet hand
So let the word go ever forth
The Vietnamese will never be forced!

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2013-06-08 07:51:00

Educational Issue

Email her. She will answer, or at least she always has before.

Flamingo Trading & Services Co., Ltd.
YOUR RELIABLE LINK IN VIETNAM

Love the motto, considering their website is a dead link. She does know the in's and out's of paperwork here though.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2013-09-25 06:27:00

Educational Issue

Yes.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2013-09-22 05:43:00

Educational Issue

The agent I used to process my work permit may be able to asisst. I'll send you a pm with her contact details.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2013-07-20 06:56:00

cheap notary service

NOTARIAL AND AUTHENTICATION SERVICES OF U.S. CONSULAR OFFICERS ABROAD
DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION IN THIS CIRCULAR IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY. FOR QUESTIONS CONCERNING ADMISSIBILITY OF DOCUMENTS EXECUTED ABROAD SEE APPROPRIATE FEDERAL AND STATE STATUTES. QUESTIONS INVOLVING INTERPRETATION OF SPECIFIC FOREIGN LAWS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN COUNSEL.

HOW DO YOU GET A DOCUMENT NOTARIZED OVERSEAS? Consular officials at any U.S. embassy or consulate abroad can provide a service similar to the functions of a notary public in the United States. It is also possible to have a document notarized by a local foreign notary and then have the document authenticated by the appropriate foreign authority in a country party to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalization of Foreign Public Documents (which includes notarial documents). (VIETNAM IS NOT A MEMBER NATION OF THE HAGUE)

WHAT IS THE LEGAL AUTHORITY FOR CONSULAR PERFORMANCE OF NOTARIAL AND AUTHENTICATIONS SERVICES? Notarial and authentication services are one of the oldest traditional consular functions dating back to Statute I, Session I, Chapter 24 of April 14, 1792, "An Act Concerning Consuls and Vice Consuls". See 22 U.S.C. 4215; 2 U.S.C. 4221; Rule 44(a)(2) FRCvP, 28 U.S.C. Appendix; Rule 902(3) FREv, 28 U.S.C. Appendix; 28 U.S.C. 1740; 1741; 22 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 92.2 et seq. Only persons who meet the definition of "notarizing officer" may notarize documents at a U.S. embassy or consulate. See 22 C.F.R. 92.1(d). The term "notarizing officer" at a U.S. embassy or consulate includes consular officers, officers of the Foreign Service who are secretaries of embassy or legation under 22 U.S.C. 4221 and such U.S. citizen employees as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Overseas Citizens Services may designate for the purpose of performing notarial acts overseas pursuant to Section 127(b) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994-1995, Pub. L. 103-236, April 30, 1994. See also the Uniform Notarial Act, the Uniform Recognition of Acknowledgments Act and the Uniform Acknowledgment Act.

IS THERE A TREATY AUTHORITY PERMITTING CONSULAR OFFICERS TO PERFORM NOTARIAL AND AUTHENTICATION SERVICES ABROAD? Notarial functions of consuls are included in the earliest treaties dating back to the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. In modern times, Article 5(f) of the multilateral Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963, 21 U.S.T. 77, to which more than 165 countries are parties, authorizes consular officers to perform notarial functions. Bilateral consular conventions include similar provisions.

HOW DO THE NOTARIAL FUNCTIONS OF U.S. CONSULAR OFFICIALS DIFFER FROM THOSE OF A U.S. NOTARY PUBLIC? Like a notary public in the U.S., the consular official must require the personal appearance of the person requesting the notarial service; establish the identity of the person requesting the service; establish that the person understands the nature, language and consequences of the document to be notarized; and establish that the person is not acting under duress. (22 C.F.R. 92.31). In addition, the consular official must be satisfied that the act does not come within the purview of the regulatory bases for refusal to provide the notarial service set forth at 22 C.F.R. 92.9. This requires that the consular officer be generally familiar with the laws of the foreign country, U.S. law, and treaty obligations, or consult the Department of State when a matter is in doubt. Finally, in addition to the usual functions of notaries related to oaths, affidavits and acknowledgments, U.S. consular officials authenticate documents, a governmental act, which is not performed by notaries in the United States.

WHAT IS THE BASIS FOR A CONSULAR OFFICIAL TO REFUSE TO PROVIDE A NOTARIAL OR AUTHENTICATION SERVICE: Refusal of notarial and authentication services by consular officers can only be done under specific limited circumstances. (22 CFR 92.9, 92.10). The historical basis for refusal to provide the service dates back to 1866 when the Attorney General found that consuls could refuse to authenticate a power of attorney executed before a notary public in the United Kingdom related "to property acquired during the {Civil} War, in violation of the proclamations of the President and acts of Congress, and by parties who were actively engaged in running the blockade." (See Official Opinions of the Attorneys General of the United States, Vol. XII, Opinion of Hon. Henry Stanbery of Ohio, August 1, 1866.) Bases for refusal include (a) acts not authorized by treaty or permitted by laws of foreign country; (b) acts prohibited by laws or regulations of the U.S. (such as regulations promulgated pursuant to the Trading With the Enemy Act or successor statutes); or © if the consular official believes that the document will be used for a purpose patently unlawful, improper or inimical to the best interests of the United States.

DO U.S. EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES PROVIDE NOTARIAL AND AUTHENTICATION SERVICES FOR NON-U.S. CITIZENS? Yes. 22 C.F.R. 92.4(b) provides that these services may be performed for any person regardless of nationality so long as the document in connection with which the notarial/authentication service is required is for use within the jurisdiction of the United States.

WHAT ARE THE HOURS OF OPERATION FOR NOTARIAL SERVICES AT U.S. EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES? Contact the Consular Section, American Citizens Services of the U.S. embassy or consulate in advance to determine the hours of operation for notarial/authentication services. Hours may vary for U.S. citizens and foreign nationals. The telephone numbers and addresses of U.S. embassies and consulates are listed in our Country Specific Information , available through our autofax service and on our home page on the Internet.

EXAMPLES OF NOTARIAL/AUTHENTICATION ACTS:

Acknowledgment: To "acknowledge" is to admit, affirm, or declare; to recognize one's acts, assuming obligation or incurring responsibility. For example, if you sign a deed before a notarial officer, you acknowledge your signature.

Oath: Any form of an attestation by which a person signifies that he or she is bound in conscience to perform an act faithfully and truthfully. A person who intentionally makes false statements under oath before a U.S. consular official is punishable for perjury (22 U.S.C. 4221).

Affirmation: A solemn and formal declaration that an affidavit is true, that the witness will tell the truth, etc.

Affidavit: A written or printed declaration or statement of facts, made voluntarily, and confirmed by the oath or affirmation of the person making it, taken before an officer having authority to administer such an oath.

Attestation: The act of witnessing an instrument in writing, at the request of the party executing the document, and subscribing it as a witness.

Corporate Acknowledgment: Officials of corporations who desire to execute an instrument in their capacity as corporate officials before a consular notarizing officer must present adequate proof of their corporate identity.

WHAT IS AUTHENTICATION: An authentication is the placing of the consular seal over the seal of a foreign authority whose seal and signature is on file with the American embassy or consulate. A consular authentication in no way attests to the authenticity of the contents of a document but merely to the seal and signature of the issuing authority.

WHAT IS AN "APOSTILLE"? The name of the authentication certification provided for under the Hague Convention Abolishing the Legalization of Foreign Public Documents , a multilateral treaty to which the United States is a party.

WHAT IS THE LEGAL AUTHORITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED SERVICES TO PERFORM NOTARIAL ACTS ABROAD? See 10 U.S.C. 936 (Article 136 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice) and the respective Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between the U.S. and the foreign country in question. These services are limited to persons coming within the jurisdiction of the U.S. military base abroad, and are not available for the traveling public.

CAN A NOTARY PUBLIC FROM THE UNITED STATES PERFORM THAT FUNCTION ABROAD? No. The commission of a notary public is limited to the jurisdiction within the particular state in the U.S. for which the commission was issued. For additional information about notaries in the United States contact the National Notary Association, a Non-Profit Educational Organization, 8236 Remmet Avenue, P.O. Box 7184, Canoga Park, CA 91304-7184, tel: 818-713-4000.

CAN STATES IN THE U.S. APPOINT COMMISSIONERS OF DEEDS TO PERFORM EXTRATERRITORIALLY NOTARIAL ACTS FOR USE IN THAT STATE? Some states have very old statutes which provide for such appointments. However, in the exercise of such powers under state law, commissioners of deeds may violate the sovereignty of a foreign country, because the commissioners would be performing the functions of duly authorized officials of the foreign country.

IS IT AGAINST THE LAW FOR AN AMERICAN NOTARY OR COMMISSIONER OF DEEDS TO PERFORM EXTRATERRITORIAL NOTARIAL ACTS? There are certain foreign countries which provide criminal penalties for unauthorized acts of a foreign official, which such a commissioner of deeds would be considered to be, in their territory. The Department of State recommends that State Secretaries of State not appoint commissioners of deeds to perform their functions in a foreign country until it is established, with the Department's help, that the host government would not object.

HOW CAN A U.S. CITIZENS BECOME A NOTARY PUBLIC IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY? The procedures for becoming a notary public vary from country to country, and may require that the individual be a citizen of the foreign country. Specific questions may be addressed to the embassy of the foreign country in Washington, D.C.

WHAT FEES ARE CHARGED FOR CONSULAR NOTARIAL AND AUTHENTICATION SERVICES ABROAD? Effective July 13, 2010 there is a $50.00 fee for each notarial service. Also effective July 13, 2010, there is a $50.00 fee for each authentication service provided by a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. Fees may be paid in cash or by certified check or money order. No personal checks are accepted. Certified checks or money orders should be made payable to the American embassy or consulate. (For example, American Embassy Kingston.)

http://travel.state....icial_2086.html

The consulate is your only option in HCMC.

Edited by Mekong Mark, 19 February 2011 - 06:36 AM.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2011-02-19 06:34:00

Need A great Lawyer - Marc Ellis is the one.

just wondering ...why is marc ellis on this site? and visa talk?

Why shouldn't he be?

My experience with Mr. Ellis was mixed. I had the same problems with errors on the paperwork, but after living here for a year and a half I realize that is all too common. He more than made up for it with the mock interview though. Afterwards he warned me to be careful and he was right. I suspected my ex was full of it before I even married her, but I just went along with it until I had hard evidence. Some guys don't want to here that their "Honey" may be lying to them, but it just gave me more food for thought.

If we had actually made it to an interview I would have retained him for the remained of the time. I know of too many people that he has helped.

If I were doing it again, and I probably will some day, I would retain him due to potential complexities.

If I felt my case were simple and straightforward I would do it myself and retain him if need be.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-08-13 23:52:00

Need A great Lawyer - Marc Ellis is the one.

Mr. Ellis saw right through my ex-wifes BS and told me to be careful. I was suspicious already, so it didn't bother me to hear someone say that. I would highly recommend a consult/mock interview with him for anybody. He's certainly the best lawyer available in Vietnam for U.S. visas.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-04-03 21:27:00

*hey frank i know that is stupid how they refer our wife as "MS. not Mrs." but i guess that how they do it.
like you know my senator got an e-mail from Sarah K. Bellman Acting Consular Section Chief three week ago and she did the same thing too, she refer my wife as Ms. not Mrs. but whatever don't worry about it.

*************again i like to said thank you to everyone here for there blessing***********

That's normal in Vietnam, at least it is where I work. We call everybody Mr. and Ms., regardless of marital status.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-10-25 21:26:00

She was asking about you last night.. wanted to grab some coffee, but I had to explain that you work during the day... I guess she thinks all americans in VN are on holiday... She'll be back down next Thursday to pick up the visa.. if she is there Wed night maybe you guys can meet up for some pizza... she loves that place..

Sounds good. :thumbs:

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-09-23 08:12:00

Pink

Finally.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-09-23 07:59:00

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-09-14 18:13:00

If you're begining a process at USCIS/ NVC just read me

I was just wondering if you'd heard anything Scott. Good luck!

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-07-25 06:21:00

USCIS Service Centers

QUOTE (EdgarVirginia @ May 10 2008, 07:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi everyone!

The US citizen (petitioner) should contact USCIS and ask instructions for filing the I-130 form. By filing a petition at USCIS for bringing your spouse (beneficiary) to the US you will receive an application receipt number that will make you able to check the status online for the approval on I-130. After filing for the I-130 you'll will receive by mail the NOA1 (Notice of Action) and NOA2 which is the approval of your I-130 petition.

As soon as you get approval on your I-130 you may start contacting NVC which will assign a case# to your process and will mail the beneficiary the DS 3032 which is the choice of agent. That means that you're applying for a CR1 visa since NVC only mail the DS 3032 if you don't file for the I-129. The benefeciary may email NVC with the choice of the agent stating either yourself, your spouse or a lawyer as the agent.

If you go for a CR1 visa the beneficiary won't have to file for any adjustment of status after US POE (point of entry) which means that you won't have any other fees to pay.

If by the time of beneficiary's US POE you have not completed 2 years of marriage the beneficiary will receive a temporary I-551 Stamp and then later a Green Card by mail good for only 2 years. Ninety days before the green card expires beneficiary will have to file an I-751 form to remove it's conditional status.

CR1> if you're less than 2 years married
IR1> if you're 2 or more than 2 years married

With NVC new online payment system you will be able to pay the AOF (Affidavit of Support) and IV fee bills online and using this benefit you'll be saving a lot of time in the whole process. The average time frame for a conclusion used to be 10 months and with this new benefit I believe you'll be saving 2-3 months or so.

Below you may find some helpful links that will clear some of your doubts and make your life easier during the whole process at USCIS and NVC.

USCIS links
http://www.uscis.gov...00045f3d6a1RCRD
http://www.uscis.gov.../I-130instr.pdf
http://www.uscis.gov.../form/I-130.pdf
https://egov.uscis.g...earchDisplay.do
https://egov.uscis.g.../jsps/index.jsp

NVC links
http://travel.state....types_1309.html
http://travel.state..../info_3177.html
http://travel.state..../info_3176.html
http://www.travel.st.../info_3830.html
http://travel.state..../info_3734.html

Below you'll find the new NVC web page for online payments:
https://ceac.state.g...ice/signon.aspx

VJ links
http://www.visajourn...amp;page=guides
http://www.visajourn...page=i130guide1
http://www.visajourn...wchart_v1-2.pdf
http://www.visajourn...showtopic=91567

Hope it helps some of you who are begining a process at USCIS or NVC. Good Luck!!

Virginia

THANK YOU. This is exactly what I have been looking for. I appreciate it.

I just noticed that the first 3 VJ links are dead.

Edited by WideAwakeInTheUSA, 13 May 2008 - 02:27 AM.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2008-05-13 02:23:00

USCIS Service Centers

can't get through to uscis on phone

QUOTE (payxibka @ Nov 21 2008, 08:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (Joe Six-Pack @ Nov 21 2008, 07:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well today is not a holiday and I am having the same problem.

what are the call center hours?

8am to 6pm. They don't say what time zone though. I just talked to a very rude lady there though. I got through by pressing 3 for a lost receipt.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2008-11-21 10:00:00

USCIS Service Centers

can't get through to uscis on phone

Well today is not a holiday and I am having the same problem.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2008-11-21 08:15:00

Russia, Ukraine and Belarus

Visas In Hand

Congratulations! You can tell by your pics that you two are really in love. Best of luck!

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2008-06-14 01:44:00

For Whites Only

Written by Sarah Johnson Tuesday, 04 August 2009 09:22

It's a mundane afternoon at the office. Van Anh, a receptionist, sits staring at her computer when the phone rings. She answers, "Hello. Ho Chi Minh English School, how can I help you?"

A girl with an unmistakable English accent inquires about a job.

"Ah, you want to be a teacher here? Well, yes we have plenty of vacancies. Send your CV to our headquarters, we're always looking for new teachers."

The caller goes on to explain that her parents are Vietnamese, a preemptive move as she's had problems getting a job before because she looks Vietnamese.

"But I don't think you're Vietnamese. You have an English accent," Van Anh states.

"No, I'm English, born and bred. But my parents are Vietnamese and moved to England before I was born. Is this going to be a problem?" the caller replied.

Alarm bells ring in Van Anh's head. This situation has come up before. Vietnamese looking teachers claiming they're native speakers and then students complaining because they believe they're not getting the real thing.

"Can you speak Vietnamese?"

"Only a little."

"Well, we don't really have any vacancies at the moment. But send your CV anyway and we'll get back to you."

A rather dejected voice answers back, "Oh, ok then."

No call ever came.

Teachers' Testimonials

Believe it or not, this dialogue occurred and is surprisingly common in Ho Chi Minh City. There are numerous stories, like the one above that skirt and, on occasion, plunge into the realms of racial discrimination.

Take the example of Colin Coats. Born in Vietnam and adopted by a white Canadian family at the age of five, he grew up in Canada until he decided to visit his birthplace 20 years later. He has a Canadian accent and speaks very little Vietnamese. He has, however, faced numerous difficulties in procuring and keeping English teaching jobs despite being qualified and experienced.

He recalls: "When I first applied for teaching jobs, I used to put my photo on my resume. I applied to a load of schools and often didn't hear anything. ELS was one school that got back to me. They called me and the woman said, 'My manager saw your photo and we can only offer you US$5 an hour.' I knew that white teachers were being offered at least US$12 an hour."

The offer was rejected.

Colin finally got a job and after a good two years of experience behind him, he decided to apply to other schools. This time, he didn't include his photo on his CV and consequently received a lot of calls.

"I went to interview at Elite. There was a Vietnamese interviewer and when she saw me, she looked up in surprise and exclaimed, 'You're from Canada but you look Asian.' The interview seemed to go well and I asked when I would be able to start. She said she'd call me," he explains.

There was no call.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Le, born and raised in the US, had been working at IELP for two months when things started to go awry.

He explains: "I've always been weary because I've heard stories of Viet Kieus being let go because of their appearance, so I worked extra hard to make sure I wouldn't get called out on anything. Everything seemed to be going ok, my students seemed satisfied with my classes until one week, I went to pick up my schedule and I didn't have many hours."

Jimmy e-mailed the person in charge who told him that she would make every effort to give him more classes because "many students loved that [he] was their teacher." A few days later, he received another e-mail saying that he would not be given any more work because the students didn't want a Vietnamese teacher even though he was born and raised in the US.

Kerrilee Barrett, an English teacher from the UK, now working in Bangladesh, speaks of these types of problems occurring at Eduworld.

"Viet Kieu teachers seemed to get lower pay as far as I could see, even though they were brought up in the US or Canada," she says. "I was told not to give them certain classes because they looked Vietnamese. I also got asked if one of their accents was ok when what she spoke was native Canadian. For some contracts we had, I couldn't send Viet Kieu teachers because of the way they looked. I was always being asked to schedule white teachers for certain things."

The Students Explain Why

So it's clear that there is some stigma surrounding Viet Kieu English teachers. But, why does this type of prejudice exist? The students may be the reason.

"Maybe my English will improve more because when I don't understand something, my teacher can explain in English. Also, when I'm talking and something's not quite right, my teacher always corrects me. I don't think a Viet Kieu would be willing to do that," says Nguyen Thi Phuong, who works with foreigners and states this as a reason for preferring to have a white teacher.

Many of those interviewed thought that Viet Kieus' accents were not quite right or their pronunciation of certain words was off.

"They don't talk exactly," proclaims Dang An Toan.

Meanwhile, Hang Le Phuoc believes a Viet Kieu's English is "not good for me."

Adding: "Studying with a foreigner makes me feel good; they're more professional than a Viet Kieu. A Viet Kieu can understand me even when I make mistakes because they have some knowledge of Vietnamese. A foreigner wouldn't understand and would correct me until I got it right."

The Customer is Always Right

Steve Baker, head of recruitment at VUS, has come across these views before.

"The more Vietnamese a teacher looks ? whether physically or in manner and dress ? the less likely it is students or their parents will accept that teacher as a native English speaker," Steve explains.

He continues, "Students may feel cheated because they have paid for a foreign or native English speaking teacher. However, if the teacher has sound teaching methods, connects with the students and is noticeably foreign in their manner, appearance and dress, then these issues usually disappear over time."

So what happens when parents or students complain about having a Viet Kieu teacher?

"VUS tries to move the child to another class rather than dismiss the teacher," says Steve. "However, if the teacher gets complaints from multiple sources and the problem persists, then the school might have no choice other than to let that teacher go, or to not renew their contract when it expires. At the end of the day, any school has to listen to the demands of their customers and satisfy their needs."

http://www.wordhcmc....for-whites-only

Edited by Mr. Saigon, 07 August 2010 - 10:16 AM.

Teacher Mark

Male

Vietnam (no flag)

2010-08-07 10:12:00