ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionQuestions 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....
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2007-08-01 07:01:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionWhat is the Color of the slip that gives you Visa? Blue or Pink
HCMC gives PINK for LOVE baby :) that's the approval slip.
Blue - sadness - more evidence and review to be done
Light green - approved but need further investigation
White - Goodbye birdy, return petition application to USCIS for lack of or great evidence of fraud
Or nothing, just "oops, we lost your package, go reapply for a new one" :)
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2007-08-01 07:17:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionConsulate visits my wife at home.
Nothing new here! HCMC is known for sending the investigate team to the beneficiary's hometown and neighborhood for "verification" purpose when in doubt about the case, before they reach the final approval!
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2007-08-01 06:52:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionLetter from employer
Legal Dept and HR usually will work together in writing the letter of employment for its employee. In the past, some catchy people have asked employer to write up LOE so they can run out to the bank, borrow money for new hot cars, apply for credit cards and then quit paying back the loans. Bank went after employer, cause so much legal trouble. These days, Employer will ask you why you need it, don't pull "it's none of your business", it is ALL of their business to give you such employment letter. It states: you are employed full-time by XYZ Corp, with an annual salary of $XXXXXX, starting from MM/DD/YYYY to Present and in GOOD STANDING.

Don't see why some would deny this letter, but you will have to give up those "my business" claims :)

Good luck
chuck and kim
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2007-08-06 07:09:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussionvietnam administrative review
You may want to contact HCMC every week to keep them busy with your file. Think of it this way, whenever you call, they MUST dig up your case to give you the answer to your question. The more you call, the more they have to touch and bring up your case, the more visibility it is to them. Don't want to have your case stacked and shipped to a storage space inside the consulate, or left at the bottom of the pile on someone's desk?
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2007-08-01 08:06:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionAFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT
Affidavit of Support I-134


Affidavit of Support
Purpose of Form : To show that visa applicants have sponsorship and will not become public charges while in the United States. The sponsor must file a separate affidavit for each applicant. Number of Pages : Form: 2 pages. Instructions: 3 pages. Edition Date : 10/30/2008. Prior versions are also acceptable. Where to File : You must sign Form I-134 in your full name. (Note: Signing Form I-135 is under penalty of perjury under U.S. law). For this reason, it is not necessary to sign Form I-134 before a notary, nor to have your signature notarize after you sign it.

Where you submit the form depends on whether the alien you are sponsoring is in or outside the United States and what type of application is being submitted. See the instructions provided with the corresponding application for detailed information on where to submit this affidavit of support.



Filing Fee : $0.00 Special Instructions : (NA)




chuckandkimMaleVietnam2009-05-01 09:46:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionPassport Service questions
I'm trying to contact the Passport Service Center. Applied a passport for our baby (10 months old) since Feb 27, the day they received the application, not the mailing date.
They say normally it takes up to 3 weeks to complete. It's been 5 weeks. I've been calling the 1.877.487.2778 number and put on hold for 30 mins at time until I couldn't wait any more. Their http://travel.state.gov website has been down for maintainance for the past week.

My wife, daughter and I will travel to Saigon in May and need to get the little girl's passport ready for Vietnam Visa (need 2 weeks).

Anyone knows a way to contact them (Passport Service Center) to obtain information on this issue, please help!
I tried the 1.877.487.2778 and the website http://travel.state.gov without success.

Thanks,

Chuck
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2009-04-03 08:09:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionGood Old SSA
This is what happened when the Govt. misused the intended purpose of SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER/CARD.
SSN wasn't created to track people's life and legal matters but in times, it now becomes the MOST important number you would ever want to protect and obtain.

http://en.wikipedia....security_number

Therefore, SSA office all of the sudden becomes SO VITAL and they got a little bit ahead of themselves with the dumbfound power that they think they possessed.

Relax, what right is always right, no matter how many dumbasses try to disbute with you.

Cheers,

Chuck and Kim
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2009-04-21 07:12:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionSpeeding Ticket and Naturalization
QUOTE (skoopie @ Apr 21 2009, 08:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
i just had my citizenship interview today and I mentioned to the officer that I had speeding tickets. Her exact words - "Everyone has speeding tickets. Was it a DUI or hit and run? Then it's a problem, otherwise, it doesnt matter".

Note - I didn't include anything about my speeding tickets on the application..



This settles it! IMHO devil.gif (The authority of the Internet)
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2009-04-22 06:41:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionSpeeding Ticket and Naturalization
Or just obey the speed limit law on the road... you leadfoot you! smile.gif devil.gif devil.gif devil.gif
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2009-04-21 07:23:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionFiling N-400 without waiting for I-751 approval?
Not to hijack your thread...

Kim came to America under K-1 in May 2005, got her CPR in March 2006. Plan to file her 10yrs card sometimes in Jan next year. Question: when will she be able to file for her N-400? Is it 3 years or 5 years living in America continuously? Thanks....
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2007-02-21 07:32:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionInformation on payment and evidence for I-751

• Check # 2219 in the amount of $960.00 made payable to the Department of Homeland Security. Fees are based on my AOS documents totaling $325.00, my daughters AOS documents totaling $225.00, AP for myself totaling $170.00. AP for my daughter totaling $170.00 and my biometrics fee of $70.00.


I hope you didn't send them in yet. Known fact, USCIS wants these fees to be made on separate checks. You can not combine them together. I know people who got the whole package return and check uncashed because they sent the total amount for AOS, AP or/and EAD fees.

Please double check!!!
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2007-03-06 07:14:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionAccount numbers on evidence
Why not? Only show them name/address which link you two together. The account#, Credit-Card numbers, Checking/Saving #, so not relevant to the process, if they really want to see the number, I think that would be easy enough, but they need to get through Security Fraud measurement put in place by the Bank to obtain those information. Or they can just ask you to come in for an interview, which amounts to be "NOTHING" no big deal, just a day off work and have a good lunch with a the wife afterward :)

Black it out! :thumbs:
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2007-03-06 07:06:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussionmaiden or married name in filling for part 1 in I-751
Best news :) Congratulation Dora :)

I will follow your advice and fill out the application as so.

Thank you and felheart, please keep us posted with your NOA1 receipt.

chuck and kim
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2007-04-02 05:40:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussionmaiden or married name in filling for part 1 in I-751
Our situation is exact! Very good question!
Kim's 2yrs card has her name as it is in her passport from Vietnam.
We plan to apply the new card in Kim's marriage name as you two have mentioned above. I hope it works!!!! Can someone who have done this route before confirm it?

Thanks

chuck and kim
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2007-03-29 07:30:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionWhen can I apply for I-751
I need to start saving... :crying:
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2007-06-07 14:57:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionWhen can I apply for I-751
What happens if you apply sooner than 90 days prior to the EXP date? Reject? I can't believe they jacked up the fee for I-751 to $500+
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2007-06-07 14:50:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionHelp me with I-175
"Think BIG PICTURE" people!!!!!
Tell a convincing love/marriage story with backup evidence, that's how I would like to see it if I were the D.O.
Last but not least, YOU can't give what you don't have!

Edited by chuckandkim, 18 December 2007 - 01:13 PM.

chuckandkimMaleVietnam2007-12-18 13:12:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionCheck cashed @ VSC
QUOTE (heyjimi @ Feb 2 2008, 10:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (chuckandkim @ Jan 17 2008, 12:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
It's kinda odd to be joyful when someone TOOK a big chunk of our money from the checking account! But that's exactly how Kim and I felt last night. We went online, login our online banking system, check was cashed on 1/14. $545.00

Let's the Green Card Journey begin! good.gif



I know the feeling.This is one time we are all happy when they finally cash our check....I just started my journey,getting my wife here,and i prayed every night "God please let USCIS cash my check PLEASE !!!!!hahaha

JIMI


JIMI,

That's exactly how I felt! smile.gif AND I know how hard you pray every night for her quick arrival.... I have done the same thing when we started this Journey!

Karen Ros,

Crazy... BIO on Sat??????? Whatever, you'd take it, wouldn't you? kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2008-02-03 09:29:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionCheck cashed @ VSC
BIOMETRICS - Valentine's day!!! can you believe it? smile.gif
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2008-02-01 07:31:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionCheck cashed @ VSC
NOA recieved TODAY 01/18/08 - I call this a "GOOD START", don't you agree? good.gif VSC rocks!!!!
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2008-01-18 17:47:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionCheck cashed @ VSC
thank you Jasman... Looked at your TL, I'm sorry about the old form!
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2008-01-18 09:26:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionCheck cashed @ VSC
Confession#2: Knowingly committed the crime of DISOBEYING VJ's advice - Everyone knows the EAC# on the check was NOT the real EAC#, but what did I do? Quickly logon USCIS website and enter the number good.gif NUMBER NOT FOUND smile.gif
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2008-01-18 09:21:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionCheck cashed @ VSC
It's kinda odd to be joyful when someone TOOK a big chunk of our money from the checking account! But that's exactly how Kim and I felt last night. We went online, login our online banking system, check was cashed on 1/14. $545.00

Let's the Green Card Journey begin! good.gif
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2008-01-17 12:25:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionClaudeth's 10-card has been ordered
Awesome!!!!!! Seem like forever but it's here
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2008-05-13 11:15:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionI-751 (Services Centers applications status)
QUOTE (bettenan @ Feb 24 2008, 01:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (chuckandkim @ Feb 24 2008, 08:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Bad news from USCIS...
Friday afternoon, we received a letter from USCIS claims that "The FBI can't check your fingerprint-card... blah blah blah... need to have it done again.... blah blah blah.... This time is FREE to get your fingerprint done...." March 8th @ 2PM.

This is the kind of incompetence that I have read all over the board, until now I got a chance to experience it first hand.
Wasted 3 weeks for nothing. The lazy yarning girl who took Kim's fingerprints did a sloppy job of capturing the prints, Kim told me that the girl complained how sleepy she was, how she wanted to go home and play with her little son, and how casual she was as if she knew what she was doing.... Kim noticed the machine didn't display "ACCEPTED" or any indication that the print was good on a couple of her fingers. But the girl insisted that it was good.... HOW MAD!!!!!!!!!! Note: wasted a good day of work for this SHEEEEEEEEITTTT! USCIS can you hear me now!
Sorry for venting!!!!!!!!!!

OK, March 8th @ 2PM, take-two!


Boy that really stinks...We were all re-fingerprinted at work (with the new "technology") for new Federal Government ID cards and there lots and lots of problems with them. BUT they knew right away....there was no delay.
They may be able to hear you..but the question do they care....the answer would be NO

good (better) luck this time

keep us posted

Bette

Thank you for your sympathy!!!!!!!!!!! I'm over it now... just needed to vent! Cheers
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2008-02-24 20:28:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionI-751 (Services Centers applications status)
Bad news from USCIS...
Friday afternoon, we received a letter from USCIS claims that "The FBI can't check your fingerprint-card... blah blah blah... need to have it done again.... blah blah blah.... This time is FREE to get your fingerprint done...." March 8th @ 2PM.

This is the kind of incompetence that I have read all over the board, until now I got a chance to experience it first hand.
Wasted 3 weeks for nothing. The lazy yarning girl who took Kim's fingerprints did a sloppy job of capturing the prints, Kim told me that the girl complained how sleepy she was, how she wanted to go home and play with her little son, and how casual she was as if she knew what she was doing.... Kim noticed the machine didn't display "ACCEPTED" or any indication that the print was good on a couple of her fingers. But the girl insisted that it was good.... HOW MAD!!!!!!!!!! Note: wasted a good day of work for this SHEEEEEEEEITTTT! USCIS can you hear me now!
Sorry for venting!!!!!!!!!!

OK, March 8th @ 2PM, take-two!
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2008-02-24 08:19:00
Asia: East and PacificAnyone know % of interviews passes in HCMC for 2008?
QUOTE (Matt_Stevens @ Jul 21 2008, 01:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
If this guy is who he says he is then he needs to understand that he is off the wall in what he is saying. Too many times people are denied for no reason at all and then the delays can last not only months, but over a year and in some cases, even two. That is inhumane treatment. It's a disgrace.


Matt_Steven,

If anyone who should talk about the poor treatment of HCMC to its petitioners, it wouldn't be you!
Your case was handled with GREAT care and speed that most of us can only DREAM from HCMC. Don't make it sounds like you understand the waits and agony that most of us have endured. Your commend is off the wall, IMHO!
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2008-07-22 07:26:00
Asia: East and Pacificpink, but making us wait?
Now that makes sense!
She'll be here! Got the house ready for the new boss to arrive yet? good.gif
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2008-07-22 07:19:00
Asia: East and Pacificpink, but making us wait?
Sound reasonable but a little bit weird... Why would they need to cancel a Denied K1 case? Didn't they deny and disapprove the case? So what there to "cancel" ? Cancel a non-existing case? You can't cancel a non-approved Visa, it doesn't exist!
devil.gif good.gif
I wouldn't worry brother, just relax and she'll be here in no time.....
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2008-07-22 06:52:00
Asia: East and Pacificcan you speak to a co about your case if you go too HCMC?
YES, in theory, you can request to speak to the consulate officer, consular or even the embassador of your country while you're in a foreign land. The tricky part is: need to have legit/valid reason and purpose!

Yes, people have done this before! Personally, I met the consular of HCMC with Kim once before we even start the K-1 process... initially we planned to get married in Saigon and then apply for K-3. This prompted me to obtain a Birth Certificate Certification from HCMC, via my US Passport. Vietnamese government wants me to give them my BC and US Citizenship proof.... To get one of those while you're in VN, you just need to walk in HCMC with your Passport and $50 (few years back), you will be sworn in infront of the Consular that you are who you are and they issue a signed, sealed BC for you on the spot. But they did conduct a quick "stoke interview" with me and Kim. How we met blah blah blah, whose my dad/mom/brother? where do I work? where she went to school? What is our plans after we get married etc.?

NOTE: this was done due to the fact that I told the consular the reason why I need my BC Notification that I want to get married a Vietnam national in Saigon then bring her home, Philly baby! I would have gone K-3 route!

End up didn't need to go K-3 route, but when we submit our application for K-1, we did include that piece of BC Notification and Notice of Single Status from HCMC with our names and pictures in raised seals with the application. That def. helps our case since whoever review our case in HCMC would see their own consular's signature and seal on those documents. Just another layer of showing HCMC how serious we WERE before we arrived at their door with K-1 application smile.gif

Long story shot, to answer your question: You can most certainly request for a meeting with C.O. to present and rebutal your case. Just email HCMC and make an appointment. Say you'll be in Saigon in Sept 10-30, need to meet with C.O. please let me know his availablility smile.gif I'll be there and you can ask me any question.

Good luck and stop stressing out Rodney, you need to stay focus more so than ever! good.gif
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2008-07-23 10:27:00
Asia: East and PacificReally upset now, can anyone help?
QUOTE (Rodney n. @ Jul 27 2008, 01:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
i will push for a resolution when i go to vn aug 8th, smile.gif i will be nice but firm. i think my evidence was shaky in my 129f. in my explanation of how we met i didnt have dates or some last names. it was kind of vague so i can see why they want the time line. it is still frustrating if they had only seen my evidence it would have explained everything. i try too look at the bright side. at least its a reason to go back to vn, and maybe my second trip will prove how commited i am to her too them. smile.gif

rodney


Your lawyer should have been fired by now! Telling you would have a chance to present your case at the interview/later time IS NOT true and showing this guy has no idea what he's talking about. Waste of your money and time!

I'm glad to hear you sound a lot more possitive brother. Go back and tell the whole Consulate your LOVE STORY, not snapshots of people, events, timelines, name and places. Instead give detail and chronological order of your love story just as if I ask you right now: Tell me how you meet her and how much you love her, give evidence and example to back that story up! How would you tell me this story? smile.gif smile.gif you'll be just fine... mistakes are allowed, just take longer to fix!

Peace,

chuck and kim
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2008-07-27 06:52:00
Asia: East and PacificReally upset now, can anyone help?
I'm going to play the Devil's advocate with you Rodney. Say... I were the big bad C.O. from HCMC.

Here we go:

1. How do you know I didn't review your submitted evidence before your fiance's arrival?
2. I already made up my mind to further investigate your case, the evidence your fiance brought with her means very little to me for I have very little time (say... 5 mins or 10 mins) to conduct a Face-To-Face interview with her. It's her job to make ME, the one who holds her future, to feel warm and fuzzy about approving or reversing my decision. She failed to do that!
3. Her English wasn't good enough for me to understand her. However, my Vietnamese is VERY GOOD, it's scary! Trust me, State Dept. didn't send someone who doesn't know the local or the language to work in this Division. My Vietnamese is VERY GOOD! That's why I "forced" her to speak vietnamese to me... wait... the interpreter. Of course, you and her didn't know I know Vietnamese like that! Even in her native language, she wasn't comfortable to answer the questions, what else do you expect me to believe if this case isn't right!
4. NO we do not look at every case as if it's a fraud. Every case is unique in its own way, no matter what people tell you. And YES, we did review your evidence and it didn't make us "feel" 100% comfortable to approve!

How about this: I "trust" you and your fiance, but just need to "verify" the facts!
"TRUST BUT VERIFY"

Back to my own self smile.gif Rodney, don't bother picking the logic and reason behind all this. Just get the stuff they want you gather and submit. I hope you have done it all already and in the hand of HCMC? Yes/No? If no, bad Rodney! biggrin.gif BTW, It has nothing to do with the communist country or what not brother... It's nothing personal, just business!
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2008-07-23 10:13:00
Asia: East and PacificReally upset now, can anyone help?
QUOTE (Rodney n. @ Jul 23 2008, 03:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
so i think you are right that they made up their mind before the interview.

rodney


BINGO!!!!!!!!!!
Since when everyone expects to get PINK everytime, all the times? We should change that mentality and expect Blue and Green from now on!
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2008-07-23 06:02:00
Asia: East and PacificReally upset now, can anyone help?
Rodney,

Are you calm down yet? My heart goes out to you brother, it sux! But you know what, keep this in mind: The C.O. is there NOT to please ANYONE but to do their job: Obtain quality valid information and evidence to make an informed decision, and to mitigate risks of approving a fraudulen case!

Have you done your homework and cover your bases to ensure that your case would give the C.O. that warm and fuzzy feeling when they review your case "Wow, he really loves her! BAMM Pink Slip - Visa in hand for you"

Blue slip is NOTHING to worry about, even GREEN or what not. This is a Delay tactic so C.O. can have more time to review your case and most important: Am I making the right decision based on the evidence this petitioner provided me, to approve or not approve? Most of the times, if they have any doubt, they'll give you the blue/green slip, asking for more evidence, EVEN evidences you previously already submitted.

Put it this way: After all, the blue slip gives you exactly what they are looking for, and it's not hard to supply those: Timeline (handwritten) and a "LOVE STORY" essay. Too easy Rodney, you can write a heartfelt love story, especially if it is your own smile.gif JUST DO IT, and think BIG PICTURE: My ultimate goal is to obtain a convincing approval for a VISA to bring my wife/fiance here with me. Everything else just: potholes on the road on this Visa Journey brother! smile.gif

Get it going fast!

P.S. They are NOT denying your petition, just delaying it for further review!
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2008-07-22 06:47:00
Asia: East and PacificWhat happens in you get denied for a second time?
Is your case delayed or denied? I believe you are being delayed rather than denied. If your re-summit document still not satisfied HCMC, they will send your case back to USCIS. This is considered "denied".
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2008-08-02 06:31:00
Asia: East and PacificGot word fron senator
QUOTE (PeterFB @ Aug 3 2008, 03:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (WideAwakeInTheUSA @ Aug 2 2008, 03:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (PhongLovesHa @ Aug 2 2008, 11:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The following comments are purely personal speculations and observation:

1) If everyone (fraudulent cases excluded) is given pink slips, then immigration lawyers will sit in coffee shops all day long? You know very well in Vietnamese culture, there's a saying "Thu tuc DAU TIEN", meaning one needs to cough up $$$ for things to move along. I'm not mentioning any lawyer in particular, but please, they're the ONES who shake hands with the US Consulate and push them to pass out as many Blue/Green slips as possible, so they'll have clients, then in return, they (the lawyers) will go golfing, dinning, blah blah with the gov't officials.

2) Vietnam is well-known around the world for "arranged" marriages between VNese ladies and Taiwanese men. Who will pay "more" into the "system", you or those Asian men? Think about it, then you'll understand why the VNese gov't prefers one over the other!

Therefore, if you do everything by yourself and are successful, consider yourself the very few lucky enough to slip through the crack of the system, otherwise, it's the "norm" of the Vietnamese way of doing business. There must be a reason why 33 years after 1975 Vietnam is still among the poorest countries in the world.

Welcome to the Vietnamese system!!


This is an American system. Lawyers are a byproduct of that system. I would love to jump on the conspiracy bandwagon, but I don't think that is the case. The one's that I know that have gotten through on the first try have had their I-129s or I-130s meticulously prepared. If you submit your papers written in Crayola with evidence missing then you can probably expect to be denied. I do think there is a fair amount of luck involved as well though.


I appreciate your observations and speculations but I'd like to say this:

The Visa process of coming to the US, to visit or move is governed by the American system not Vietnamese. Most of the people who get blue slips get them because their I-129f wasn't properly done. Properly done means filling out the forms, supplying the required documents and (most misunderstood) presently their relationship in a manner that any reasonable person would consider a real relationship. Many blue slips are given asking for a timeline. Why? because the I-129f as submiited didn't give a complete picture of how the relationship started and progressed. The blue slips for not having a real relationship seem to be bassed on the lack of addressing red flags that either are caused by the odds (ie Vietnamese Americans meeting thru family members) where fraud is high or not addressing issues that are brought up in your I-129f, for example, going to Vietnam just once two months after meeting your fiancee and getting engaged but not supplying any reciepts for rings, hotels, etc, few emails before or after, not sending flowers or gifts on special occasions and so on So why is that happening? Fraud comes to mind in the Consulate's eyes.

I think you're confusing lobbyists with people who give bribes. Within the Vietnamese government this may be true. I have heard from many people both current and former Vietnamese citizens as well as foreigners that dealing with the Vietnamese government and businesses, bribes go a long way in making things happen.

Giving money to police, inspectors, etc can get you thown in jail in the US. While the US government is strongly influenced by lobbyists, any hint of bribes will usually bring the poilce, FBI into play, and there's usually lobbyists for both sides trying to influence the government.

However the Visa process is run by the US government beaurocrats and is by law shielded by influence from Congress, the President, etc from affecting the process on a individual basis. They can pass laws to affect people in general, ie "immigration reform" but they can't call up the Consulate to change a blue into a pink.

Also the Consulate is "US Soil" meaning the laws of the US are in effect on everyone inside. SO if a Vietnamese or American lawyer tried to bribe a Consulate Ofiicer, they could/should be arrested and if a Consulate Officer is taking bribes, they should be arrested.

I've found most Vietnamese who have moved to the US, are very happy that the US is a nation of laws not bribes and if the law isn't being properly applied, enforced, etc, people have recourse to fight it in the courts and or change the law without fear of their lives or livelyhoods being affected.

On a personal note, I don't believe I'm a lucky one who slipped thru the cracks but rather one who took the time to understand what is needed to be submitted to get a pink slip. Where did I learn how to do that? Here at Visa Journey.

The reason Vietnam is still a poor country lies with the Vietnamese government. Up until the 1990s they didn't want to be part of the global economy. Now they have decided to part of the gobal economy and the Vietnamese people are seeing many benefits but there's a long way to go.

Peter and Thi

I-129F Sent : 2007-05-26
I-129F NOA1 : 2007-06-11
I-129F RFE(s) :
RFE Reply(s) :
I-129F NOA2 : 2007-10-26
Touched: 2007-11-02
NVC Recieved: 2007-11-16
Consulate recieved ??????
Packet 3 sent 2007-12-11
Packet 3 received 2007-12-24
Packet 3 returned 2007-12-28
Packet 4 sent 2008-1-14
Email Reply with Interview Date 2008-1-23
Interview Date 2008-2-27
Passed Interview 2008-02-27
Visa Pick Up Date 2008-3-05
Received Visa 2008-2-29 (called to pick up earlier)
POE 2008-3-05 Los Angeles
Wedding 2008-4-26



I agree with what you say Peter! Very well!
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2008-08-05 08:05:00
Asia: East and PacificInterviewing at HCMC: it's all about faith
Having wife here = faith in the system
Not having wife here = no faith in the system

I always believe in our US Government systems, they aren't the BEST, the most sufficient BUT sure as heck 1000x better than the rest of the world! You don't see anyone working so hard days and nights to apply for Visa immigrate to Vietnam, do you? At least we have A system to get your loved ones here as opposed to no system at all.... the system is slow but it will do for now.
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2008-08-05 08:13:00
Asia: East and PacificInterviewing at HCMC: it's all about faith
Amen to that! good.gif
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2008-07-24 07:13:00
Asia: East and PacificInterviewing at HCMC: it's all about faith
Faith? Didn't you hear they remove all faith related material out of the court/school/government buildings? Then what happened after that? They start installing barbed wires and metal detectors after that! You shouldn't expect that to happen here at HCMC either!

All jokes aside! Come on guys, you didn't have faith in love and romance, you wouldn't go this route to get married a girl in the land that 12000 miles away. Just keep the faith, US has a big government machine, takes a bit longer to turn the wheels than your private board meeting! Ask anyone who went through this process, once your wife here, you wouldn't even care to stress out how long it took you to get her here. It's just tough right now you are going through the system and not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

However, I must say, this is the BEST system money can buy brothers! Everyone wants to come here, you're not competing only with the folks in VN, you competing for processing Visa resource with the whole world who try to get in!

Hang tight! good.gif
chuckandkimMaleVietnam2008-07-23 10:37:00