Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
Asia: East and Pacific	Travel to SGN from JFK - $760	It's a great price for Viet VJers who plan to travel to see their loved ones this summer... Me, I am just mad at the travel agent If I would have known the price drops this much, I would have waited for it!!! This is a lot of "DONG's" to be have	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2009-06-22 14:25:00
Asia: East and Pacific	Travel to SGN from JFK - $760	To all who interested in going back to VN, flying Singapore Airline from JFK to SGN - Prices are dropping! $760/RT. Just FYI to all who plan to travel back to SGN (Must book for Dept. of July-Nov)	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2009-06-22 13:00:00
Asia: East and Pacific	no packet4	Are you kidding me? Hesitate? Don't you let those vietnamese staffs mess with you, they are paid with your TAX dollars. Just mad when Vietnamese who works for foreigners in Vietnam think and act as if they are better than their own people, look down, abuse and disrepectful! Only vietnamese!!! Please ask your honey to call them up again, this is nothing new. People call and pick up their P4 all the times. Vietnam Postal Services isn't the BEST there is... No P4, no interview. Simple!	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-08-09 10:06:00
Asia: East and Pacific	Hotel near HCM Consulate...	I would consider the following when i book a hotel: Location: 5 mins to 10 mins walking in Saigon is relatively close to everything else, including the Consulate Safety: Need to know if I leave my luggage in the room, will they be there when I return? Or the "cheap" hotel you want is also a place where the hookers bring their guests by for entertainment as well? Service: 24/7 Front-Desk, if not who do I call when I need something, like extra pillow, blankets etc.? Equipment: Business center (Fax, Printer, Internet access, Cable TV etc) Price: reasonable! Personally, I would check out "KIM DO" right on Nguyen Hue. Or go down by "NEW WORLD", there are a few mini-hotels that cost around $20-$30/night Good luck	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2007-06-28 06:16:00
Asia: East and Pacific	Shopping for a vietnamese in the US	1. Rice Cooker - Tiger 8-cups or 10-cups ($114.00) (prefered MADE IN JAPAN) 2. Viet-Huong "Ph?" Soup (small can) 3. Bún T??i (Vermicelli) 4. Bánh Ph? (dried PH? noodle) 5. N??c M?m "3 Cua" (Three Crabs or One Crab) 6. Jasmine Rice "Rose" Brand (25lbs) 7. Maggi Seasoning Sauce (soy-sauce that is) 8. Knorr Chicken seasoning 9. 8 rice bowls and chopsticks 10. Dried mushroom 11. Eggroll ricesheet (frozen ones to make the vietnamese eggrolls) 12. Regular ricesheet (Bánh Tráng) 13. Instant noodles (cup or bowl or package) 14. Warmer clothes 15. Coffee and Condensed Milk (S?a Ông Th?) 16. Muzzle 17. Xanax that last two were recommended by Dale, I have some ideas what to use them for, but what do you use the Muzzle for in your case	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-12-07 08:13:00
Asia: East and Pacific	Shopping for a vietnamese in the US	Where in WV??? ASIAN MARKET 3203 GRAND CENTRAL AVE PARKERSBURG, WV 26105 (304) 295-3100	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-12-05 10:45:00
Asia: East and Pacific	Shopping for a vietnamese in the US	I know Northern Virginia has a HUGE vietnamese community, there is the "EDEN Shopping Center" near 7-Corner. If you're in Philly, just let me know if you're in the area we can assist. If you're in NYC, go to Elmhurst on Broad and Queens BLVD. Anyone else on the East coast?	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-12-05 10:00:00
Asia: East and Pacific	Shopping for a vietnamese in the US	Not sure, the only vietnamese alcohol beverage I found here is "Bia 33". Wine was never found anywhere in PA, since we are a "Quaker" State, alcohol beverages are sold and controled by the STATE of PENN. Sorry Kimi!	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-12-05 09:22:00
Asia: East and Pacific	Shopping for a vietnamese in the US	I thought I would share this with you guys. Kim and I had the pleasure to meet one of our Visa Journey Member and his lovely wife over the weekend. Mike and Huong! Well, put it this way, we all had a great time, wonderful Lunch/Dinner/Breakfast including: Bun Bo Hue, Sushi, and Pho! No Philly Cheesesteaks yet... next time! Touring the City of Brotherly Love was great for them and my wife Kim... although we live here in Philly but Kim has never seen the greatest bell of them all, THE LIBERTY BELL Finally got to see it! Happy! We also helped Mike and Huong to shop for a few things we thought would be essential to a vietnamese, here is the short list, please cut/paste to add more items to the list if you like... I think it's a must needed list of things to keep your vietnamese wife from missing too much of her own foods and cookings. 1. Rice Cooker - Tiger 8-cups or 10-cups ($114.00) (prefered MADE IN JAPAN) 2. Viet-Huong "Ph?" Soup (small can) 3. Bún T??i (Vermicelli) 4. Bánh Ph? (dried PH? noodle) 5. N??c M?m "3 Cua" (Three Crabs or One Crab) 6. Jasmine Rice "Rose" Brand (25lbs) 7. Maggi Seasoning Sauce (soy-sauce that is) 8. Knorr Chicken seasoning 9. 8 rice bowls and chopsticks 10. Dried mushroom 11. Eggroll ricesheet (frozen ones to make the vietnamese eggrolls) 12. Regular ricesheet (Bánh Tráng) 13. Instant noodles (cup or bowl or package) What else you think she'll need? Please add to the list...	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-12-05 09:04:00
Asia: East and Pacific	Just a little bright spot in the HCMC world	QUOTE (thongd4me @ Aug 9 2009, 11:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Dai_Tx @ Aug 9 2009, 03:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Sometimes you just gotta ask yourself, "Is the juice worth the squeeze?" I remember flying with a helicopter pilot in Ethiopia over 30 yrs ago. He was Canadian, a WWII vet who was shot down over Yugoslavia, pardoned by Tito for killing a farmer after he parachuted into the guys cabbage patch unannounced. Robin was divorced. He said it's time to bail out when the "fuçking you're getting is not worth the fuçking you're getting." In any case to keep it on the positive side, thumbs up to the OC; hope you'll have completed your VJ before long. QUOTE (luckytxn @ Aug 9 2009, 05:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Sometimes I ask myself if it was worth it but always comes back that the answer is yes for me it's HAHAHAHAHAHA Congrats TODD and HIEN....	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2009-08-10 06:55:00
Asia: East and Pacific	Vietnam tourist visa	make copy of your Visa if you like! CO understands you don't get to keep loose-paper visa. I got two sticker-type visas on my two trips to VN. The last trip, got the loose-paper one! Vietnamese Custom took it went I entered Tan Son Nhat. Oh well, no biggie, you must remember, you have other evidence that prove you came to vietnam to see your honey... Use them!	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-11-27 15:39:00
Asia: East and Pacific	All Japan Filers	So hard to find a Nihon here, my wife Kim was studying and living in Shizuoka for 8 years, she calls herself Betonamu Nihon sometimes... not sure if I do that right!!! I heard JP isn't tough with K-1. So P3 should be arriving any day now... Good luck with your journey! Love, chuck-kun and kim-san	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2007-02-13 07:15:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)	NOA2-NVC-process question	Baby steps!!! Please stay focus on getting the I-134 ready with PERFECTION! Let's worry about the I864 later, once she gets here!	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-11-06 07:54:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Letter of Employment	Ditto Eva!!!	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-06-14 07:37:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	has any body sued USCIS	YUP!!!! Get your congressman involved.... BTW, why did you wait until 2007 to follow up on your case? 2 years is a long time for them to hold off a case without giving you any reason why... or did they?	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2007-07-13 08:27:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	US Citizen wanting to marry Egyptian	Go Here for ME/NA Plus READ the Guides before posting and use the SEARCH button to avoid being the obvious newbee !!!!!	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2007-07-13 10:08:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	HCMC Consulate, Vietnam	Menyoo and Scy, Great news! Congrats on you both, one with the NOA2 and one with the Visa, respectively speaking here! Scy, I like your advice to Menyoo about not going back for the interview. There is only one OK reason why one should be there during his fiance's Visa Interview at the Consulate: Moral Support! But many bad reason: Time, Money, Effort being wasted for what Scy said it, they do'nt even let you inside to be with your fiance! Most people tent to sit accross the street from the consulate, clurking hopelessly toward that Green Door from the front gate, sitting at that "Streetside Cafe" shop By being here in the States while the vis interview is being processed, you can supply and provide any "missing" or "requested" document at the earliest time for your Fiance to turn in for the Consulate. Immagine, if you forget a document (W-2, for example)... well, you can't just hope on the plan and go back to the US and return with a W-2???? Being here, you can fedex the stuff overnight, you can fax it over etc. Basically, at this stage (Package 3 and 4) you stay here at Command Center to fight them remotely! Anyway, good luck to you Menyoo! Scy, when are you going back or you're there already? Which day are you coming back to the States? You must be so psyched about this trip... i know how it feels! Love Chuck and Kim	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-03-13 07:43:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	evidence of support	Three years worth of tax returns and W-2's: per consulate. Hochiminh Consulate in Vietnam wants 3, check yours. USC: submit your I-134 with all your evidence, even it shows you don't make enough money to support both of you and your fiance. Co-sponsor: fill out and submit the same I-134 form with all the required support evidence as you would have. Hope this help	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-06-14 07:42:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Consulate Returned K-129F for sham reason	shower twice or everytime return from the street of Saigon.... so dusty and sweat like crazy.... recommend!!!	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-06-20 12:51:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Police Certificate	Japan: Only allow to apply and finger-print after Kim received her letter from US Consulate requests for her Police Record from Japan. The process was completed at the Consulate in Saigon, cost nothing. Took them 3 months to send back a "SEALED" letter from Japan's justice dept. Kim's Visa was delayed 3 months after she PASSED her interview due to the delay of the PC letter. Take care of this Good luck.	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-07-26 07:59:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Original, Photocopy, Certified copies of which documents?	The list I shared above is "Consulate specific".... check with your local consulate for the exact list of required document	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-09-24 06:09:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Original, Photocopy, Certified copies of which documents?	What is a "certified copy" of something? In regards to ITR, you submit the original so you don't have the original to give. Plus if it's an online filing you don't even have a signature on the "copy" you submit anyway. In regards to BC and ID cards, your talking the beneficiaries, correct, not mine the 1-129f filer? Certified copy = lost your original BC, get a certified copy. Any document where you get a replacement, it must be "certified" by some government officials (Court/State/DMV/Fed Officials) You submitted the originals of your ITR????? You have copies of your originals???? Eitherway, they already have the originals, then why would you need to show them anything else?? There is only ONE original. Filing ITR online: No problem, they know people file tax online nowadays, I did Turbo Tax for the past 6 years. No issue at all! BC and ID: She needs your certified copied BC, and copied of your ID, that's good enough! But she must have her original BC and ID. Without those two, i'm not sure if they even let her in the door at the Consulate.	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-09-22 12:44:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Original, Photocopy, Certified copies of which documents?	Did the Consulate where this individual received AR give the specific reason "AR because photocopied evidences" ? Here is what you need to keep in mind: Documents you submit for your beneficiary I-129F can be photocopies. At the interview, she/he must bring ALL originals for every photocopied documents that the USC submited with the Application. Why? Photocopies are good as long as you have the original to back them up. So that's a rule of thumb: Birth Certificate = photocopy + original/certified-copy ID Card = photocopy + original NOA2 = photocopy + original (no exception) ITR (Income Tax Return) = photocopy + original + IRS Transcript(ok) W-2 = photocopy + original USC Passport = photocopy ok! You get the theme here? Good luck	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-09-22 06:18:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	***IMPORTANT RULE CHANGE FOR DS-156***	I believe it is applied to ALL countries... since you click on Visa Application Forms, then DS-156: Nonimmigrant Visa Application It takes you to the electronic form	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-11-06 15:34:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	***IMPORTANT RULE CHANGE FOR DS-156***	Embassy specific, this rule? or every one of them???	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-11-06 14:55:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	AOS Question	I had thought that AOS was "affidavit of support" for the first two months I joined VJ HAHAHAHA you're not alone on this one...	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-11-07 08:10:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Does the Petitioner's birth certificate need to be provided at interview?	HCMC wants to see Petitioner and Beneficiary's ORIGINAL/CERTIFIED Birth Certificate. For the following reasons: Not all USC's were born here, some are naturalized USC. US Passport doesn't help the consulate to verify Naturalized USC's origin. Reduce risks of fraudulent marriage (cousins marry each other to bring relatives into the US) Reduce risks of relatives who have different last names but live and born in the same village (HCMC has been known to go to your birthplace to verify if you and your petitioner aren't related)	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-11-10 09:35:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	LETTER OF EMPLOYMENT	Send it anyway. Based on the Post-date, this letter can't be much older than "TODAY". You can initial and date it!	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-11-15 07:30:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Unsuccessful Interview - Now What?	BlueSurf... The wait sux so bad.... keep us posted ok...hang in there	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-11-16 14:39:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Unsuccessful Interview - Now What?	K-1 is what OP has in his profile.	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-11-16 09:23:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Unsuccessful Interview - Now What?	Bluesurft, I am deeply sorry and trouble by this news. However, before we jump to conclusion, can you confirm if it was in fact a "DENIED" or "DELAYED" for further "AP" (Administrative Process) "AR" (Additional Review).... If they denied your fiance's Visa application, they will give specific reason(s) why and only then you can take corrective action to resolve the issue. Ask your fiance to scan the "denial" slip and email to you... Be calm...	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-11-16 07:42:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Gathering evidence before the interview	No, you are just right there! The level of relaxation is right where it should be Just relax and wait! While you're continue to gather and collect supportive evidence and proof of your relationship. Because this is an 'on-going' relationship, isn't it ??? The checking list, you may want to post a question on that, each Consulate/Embassy seems to have its own list. Good luck ok! chuck and kim	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-11-17 07:33:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Gathering evidence before the interview	OP, Who is the USC, who is the Beneficiary? Think and put yourself in the shoes of the Consulate Officer who will interview the beneficiary. If I were a C.O., I want to read a least one or two hand-writen letters corresponding between you two. For two reasons: 1. Hand-writen letters are counted more weight than email. Takes more effort to sit and put your thought on paper and pen. 2. Post marks of origin (US or foreign country) I highly recommend hand-writen letters over any type of communication. Email and Chats only consider as secondary evidence. Everyone can fake emails/chatlogs, they show absolutely no proof in the interview. Just a bunch of printed pages of someone chatlog/emailing each other. Phone records: VOIP is great cheap way to keep contact with detail calls record. If you two haven't met... need to do that before filing for I-129F Petition.	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-11-16 09:31:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Visa approved but curious	Amen... Unless it's life and dead matter, I wouldn't leave the country until I have the GC in my wallet.	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-11-21 11:40:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Visa approved but curious	If you decide not to apply for AP, she will also be able to leave the U.S. and return once her AOS is approved (this could take 3 months to a year or longer). Incorrect. She will not be able to return to the US once she leaves without AP. Her AOS will not be APPROVED unless she is present at an AOS Interview with her husband, in the District Office. So do not, I repeat do not leave the country until you have your AP document in hand. Your AOS will not be approved if you're required to be interviewed by a D.O.	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-11-21 11:04:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Lack of ITR	Did you work last year, if yes then you should file your 2005 in April 2006. If you didn't, then really, like Yordak said: explain it to the consulate/embassy why you don't have IRT. Sometimes, being a full-time student, who gets no incomes, it will be tough to file an ITR (for example). Last but not least: you can not submit what you do not have!	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2006-11-01 12:29:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	I864 affadavit of support	And if you file electronically like I did for the past 7 years, good luck to get a virtual original ITR. If you need one, order the Tax Transcript.	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2007-08-01 07:20:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Is a rock solid case needed to succeed at K1 visa	The answer to your specific question is a resounding YES. However, plenty of seemingly rock solid cases have gone through some extra hoops and delays. The key is a sound relationship and good interview preparation. That preparation includes dressing for succes and approaching the interviewer with confidence. My wife was prepared to greet the officer in English and answer many questions. He greeted her in Chinese first. He asked if she spoke English and she said "a little". "Does your husband speak Mandarin?" "A Little." Then the complete interview was conducted in Mandarin. All in all a pleasant experience. It doesn't always go that way but I'm convinced my wife's demeanor and appearance were keys to success. We'll really never know for sure. Very good advise. Also want to point out, most of these consulate officers who work in the immigration section of the consulate KNOW the native language very well. Do not underestimate your CO.	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2007-08-01 07:58:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Is a rock solid case needed to succeed at K1 visa	HCMC is known for this... making american to submit video tape of himself speaking in Vietnamese, like video-mail Why? John, put yourself in the shoes of a CO but switch consulate, say... Beijing, where a chinese girl who wants a Visa, a USC wants to petition for her but neither one fo them speak the other's language (Chinese vs. English). BUT they both claim they speak and understand each other well. You may choose to believe or even trust the claim, but it is your job to "trust but verify". Therefore, you may want to see the Video tape of a USC speaking and communicating in Chinese. There is no "rock-solid-case" anywhere unless you petition for Tony Blair's daughter then MAYBE HCMC is one of the busiest post in the world who process a few thousands Visa cases a month if not more. To keep the backlog from backing up, I do believe they want to see a rock-solid-case all the times, that way they will approve it without any doubt. But unfortunately, that isn't the case here. High volume demands high processing rate, leaves higher chance for frauds and mistake! My only advise to you, if you really concern about the language barrier, which only you know it best how BAD your vietnamese is compared to her english , either crank up on the Rosetta Stone CD lesson or start making the tape brother. Your job is convince the CO that you want to marry this vietnamese girl but if you can't speak a word or two of "Anh Yeu Em LONG-TIME" then, I say, "houston, we have a problem" Desert Fox mentioned the tape, he is absolutely right about that. If I am not mistaken, it was Zerovolt who had to submit the tape for HCMC. 5 Mins Video Tape There you go! If you know your weakness, time to beef up!	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2007-08-01 06:48:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Questions about police certificate, etc	needs passport, police certificate, i guess an originial birth cert. even though he has one, and something from the landlord where he lives that says he still lives at home. What do you mean by "I guess an original birth cert"? Does he have one or does he not? Remember, PC and BC are two separate items. I don't know in your part of the world, a letter from some landlord is valid as an official document from the local government? Will the consulate accept the landlord's letter claiming Nour lives in this building stucture as a subtitute for Birth Certificate of Police Certificate for Lack of Criminal Record? Just questions I have when reading your post....	chuckandkim	Male	Vietnam	2007-08-01 07:01:00