biggish data

Americans Living in Vietnam

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

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-03-03 06:02:00

Americans Living in Vietnam

We are planning on eventually moving to Vietnam. I would love to hear fom the others in the forum who currently live there. ( MR SAIGON - RALPH&HANH - JEROMEBINH and others I haven't heard about)

I would like to know what your experiences have been regarding:
Visa Renewals - What type of visa do you have? Do you have to leave the country every 90 days
Vietnamese Resident Card - How do you get it? How long do you have to live in VN before you are eligible
Working - For another company? Started your own business?
Home Ownership - Property in Vietnamese spouse name?
more stuff I haven't thought of yet

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-03-03 05:44:00

Pink !!

congrats!! I love hearing good news!! :thumbs:

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-03-21 10:23:00

so this government shutdown thing...

hoping for the best scott. the CRBA appt is may 10th. i need to buy a plane ticket soon, can't sit around a couple weeks waiting.

what's everyone gut feeling? the K-1 interview might be delayed but the CRBA appt will definitely happen? should i buy the tix or contact one of those places that help you with the immigration process and let them handle it w/o me flying back?

I will be in Saigon from May 9th to the 24th because my wife's interview is on May 11th. We should meet up to have some coffee.

I did my daughter's CRBA last year and I don't know if you have to be there but when my wife and I went, They interviewed us both.
The questions that was asked were almost like some of the interview questions for the visa. They also asked me for proof of 5 years living in the states from the age of 14 on. I had to bring all my school transcripts and everything. I was wondering since you don't have a marriage certificate, does your child have your name on the birth certificate?

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-04-07 06:49:00

Does the US Embassy in HCMC have any restrictions for people going to an interview in a wheelchair?

My wife got into a really bad accident 2 weeks ago. Her scooter fell onto her leg and she needed immediate surgery or else she would've lost her leg. The surgery went well and she is currently in the hospital recovering. Our interview is on May 11th and we are determined to make it to the interview. I was just wondering if the embassy would let her into her interview with metal prodding out of her legs? I was thinking about re-scheduling the interview but I don't know how long it would take for us to get another interview date. We have waited this long. Waiting another 3-4 months would be fine but being apart from your wife and kids is sometimes unbearable. Well I'm flying back there on May 9th. Hopefully she will be better by then.

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-04-13 05:23:00

My wife is applying for US Citizenship

I appreciate the nice words from some but don't appreciate the political BS posted in this thread. That's not why I started it.

A move to Vietnam would not be permanent. Likely 3 to 5 years.

Agreed!!!

I hope you live it up back there in Vietnam. No matter where in the world you are, as long as you're with the one you love then any place can be considered a HOME.

Edited by ricochet, 03 April 2011 - 08:17 AM.

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-04-03 08:12:00

My wife is applying for US Citizenship

Jim and Scott.. you guys are great!! :thumbs:

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-04-02 18:11:00

My wife is applying for US Citizenship

Different strokes for different folks. If her family in VN has good connection with the current VC regime, then by all means, feel free to make a living there.

I'm NOT one of those hard-core "chong cong" folks (in Houston they're pretty strong with this sensitive political issue). But I totally do NOT agree with the current way the VN gov't handle the "free speech, communication and religious practice" problem.

I have lots of friends who often tell me this "Who cares. As long as I have a good job, happy family, I'd be careless about what is happening in VN". I know I'm a nobody and probably can't do a thing to change anything in VN. But I would never allow myself and my immediately family to be near that communist regime.

I have lost family members to that regime and we (my family and my wife) ran away from them. The last thing I will do is "voluntarily" moving back and living with them.

One day in the future if my wife decides to do the same like yours, that'll be the breaking point for me. I'd rather be poor in the US than living luxuriously under that regime.

Just my opinion, nothing personal against anyone in particular.

Edit to add: There's a saying "An com quoc gia, tho ma cong san". Ask your wife what it means.

I, on the other hand, love all my Vietnamese people no matter where they are at and whether they are communist or not. Hate consumes you and makes you bitter. Forgiving those that have wronged you and Love all humankind will make this world a better place to live in. Our religions have thought us that. Preaching hate and spreading propaganda doesn't really change anything (and I'm not saying that that is what you are doing) but it makes us go backward to prejudicial times. The War has been over a long time ago and we need to move forward instead of dwelling in the past. We can only change the present and the future but we can not do anything to change the past. Every government have their flaws. Nothing is perfect just like how we humans are not perfect.

Just my opinion.

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-04-01 19:34:00

Just arrived in HCMC

I just arrived in HCMC. Lost my luggage now heading back to the in-laws house and get my wife prepared for her interview tomorrow. Anyone in the area wants to get some coffee this week. Give me a call at 0903030567

-Ricky

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-05-10 11:56:00

seeing nothing but pink

congratulations!! I'm also from Rach Gia!! small world!!

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-05-12 03:05:00

marriage certificate

I don't know what kinda reply Dau Que left earlier that has been removed but I think my comment about his wife is pretty rude also even though I was only joking. Let's not stoop to his level and be negative but try our best to help everyone else on their journey. We all have our hardships and we shouldn't kick someone when their down. This forum is suppose to lend support and help those that needs our help. A kind word goes a long way and helping others should make you feel better about yourself. Be positive and smile often!!

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-05-13 21:27:00

marriage certificate

The latest information we got from our attorney is:

If interview is after two year marriage anniversary (legal marriage, not ceremony) then they will issue 10 year GC
If interview is before, then 2 year GC

We are curious about converting our marriage certificate to a US (Washington State) recognized one as well, any info you get if you can pass along that would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Richard

Thanks for the info. Very much appreciated unlike some other grumpy negative people on this forum. :lol:

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-05-12 21:32:00

marriage certificate

I was wondering when my wife enters the US. Do we have to go out to the village/city hall to make an American marriage certificate or will the Vietnamese marriage certificate do? Since we will be married for almost 2 years, will she be getting the 2 years conditional GC or the 10? Does the 10 year GC only applies if you've been in the states for 2 years at the POE?? Just trying to be prepared for the remainder of our journey until she gets her citizenship.

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-05-12 18:37:00

Awesome news. Thanks for keeping us up to date. Less than a week for our interview.

good luck and I'm also hoping and praying that you will also have some good news for us.

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-05-12 18:41:00

Thanks again everyone and I hope everyone else that's going through this journey will also have a worthy outcome. Just to add.. there wasn't any denials just a few blue but I'm sure they will also get their pink as soon as they submit the rest of their required documents.
Just remember to be honest, prepared, and smile often.. :dance:

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-05-11 18:59:00

hey congrats ricochet...i'm in saigon right now. my fiancee has her medical tomorrow (thursday) but i should be free on friday or sat if you want to get together. i also did my son's CRBA yesterday.

so how did the interview go for your CRBA?? Maybe friday we can get together.. Find out if there's anyone else in saigon so we can have a VJ get together in saigon and discuss our wonderful journey lol

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-05-11 06:02:00

thanks everyone.. they also found my luggage!! I have to say that this is one lucky day!! Time to buy a lottery ticket!! I'll be picking up my wife's visa on the 18th of this month but sad to say she won't be coming back to the states with me. She has to stay back to do some physical therapy for her injury and hopefully in a few months she'll be able to come over. But I'm able to take my daughter back with me this time. :dance:

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-05-11 05:56:00

Our interview was at 8am today but we arrived around 5 minutes before 8. We didn't have to wait in line outside because my wife was in a wheelchair. The guards let us through one of the front doors. Got inside and we had to get a number. Ours was 5007. They called our number to window 4 to submit the medical records and my daughter's crba. Then we had to wait til they call us again for the interview. There was alot of people and it wasn't moving as quickly as I expected but my wife was finally called to window 9. Even though they didn't let me stand close by but I was close enough to hear alot of the questions they asked. Well all and all we got the PINK!!!

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-05-11 03:07:00

i have an interview date!

i know a few members have similar timelines and we're all waiting for those important dates...so i just want to update that i just called DoS and they told my my interview is on MAY 24TH 9:30am. so the date is made known a month after the ds230/2001 went into the system. packet 4 was just sent out friday HCM time so my relative should get it soon.

This is great news as I'm going back on May 6th for my son's CRBA appt on May 10th, and will be there for the interview also. I don't anticipate a pink slip even if my fiancee passes, as I would think the CO will wait until my son gets his passport before he issues the visa...but nonetheless i'm pumped that the timing worked out. could the CO conceivably issue the visa when the CRBA case hasn't been settled?

congrats and good luck.. Hopefully we get to have coffee when you're in VN. I'll message you my number before you leave. I'll be there from the 9th til the 24th.

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-04-22 14:00:00

Pink Achieved

congrats!!! I knew you will get PINK!!! :dance:

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-05-27 11:07:00

CRBA required before a visa will be issued

Then why the heck do I have to do DNA test after the child is born in Vietnam???????

To prove that the child is yours. If you are not married at the time the child is born, your name will not be on the child's birth certificate. If you or your fiance/spouse is not a vietnamese national you will have to go to the So Tu Phap of that province to prove the child is yours also. You will be going through an interview process there also. And since the forms to get the CRBA states that you will need the original birth certificate of the child and if your name is not on the birth certificate then you WILL have to do a DNA testing.

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-03-14 19:35:00

CRBA required before a visa will be issued

If he have all his documents ready, the CRBA interview should be a breeze. They'll interview both he and his fiance. If his name is not on the baby's birth certificate they would probably ask him to get a DNA testing. Good Luck to your friend!!

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-03-14 12:57:00

US Embassy and Consulate Discussion

over excited!

congrats.. I love happy endings!! (and I'm not talking about the massage parlors in Vietnam lol) :thumbs:

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-05-25 12:40:00

Questions about Joint Sponsor

Nothing particular. It's just I haven't seen any questions asked about co/joint sponsors so I decided to post this topic. Our co-sponsor is my paternal uncle so I'm not really bothered by it. I'm just trying to get everything ready for my wife's interview. Hopefully they will have our interview date soon :unsure:

. Our case was completed on Valentine's Day so I'm hoping end of April beginning of May.

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-03-06 23:40:00

Questions about Joint Sponsor

I was just wondering if they ask questions about the joint sponsor at the interview? Like their relationship to the petitioner? where they live? work history etc etc? If anyone who has experience with this please reply. It would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-03-06 17:59:00

FINALLY GOT OUR INTERVIEW DATE!!!

I thought they said they scheduled interviews for the following month in the second week of each month? How did they give you a May 11th date already? They told me they would schedule interview dates for the month of May in the second week of April

I honestly don't know. They told me the same thing when I called NVC. I tried to ask alot of VJ members that had their april interview dates in February and they told me the same thing, that they don't know. I guess it does take 2-3 months from case completed until interview.

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-03-17 14:56:00

FINALLY GOT OUR INTERVIEW DATE!!!

Just got home from work and was checking my e-mail on my iphone and there it was, an email from NVC. After calling the NVC everyday last week and on Monday and Tuesday to find out that all April interview dates were full, I was thinking that it's gonna take another month for me to find out if we would get an interview date for May. So I read through the email and it said May 11th, 2011. I was so excited that I called my wife to tell her. Now it's time to book my ticket to go back to see my wife and kids and hopefully if the interview goes smoothly then I'll be able to bring them back with me. Wish me luck!! :thumbs:

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-03-17 04:50:00

DS-2001

Hi.

Your fiancee needs to turn in ds 2001 and ds 230 part 1 also.

you still have to turn in the ds 2001 and ds 230 for a spousal visa? I already turned in the ds 230 to the NVC.

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-03-25 18:36:00

Does having a child together gives you a better chance of getting approved for a visa?

Thanks everyone for your reply. I don't think we would have to do any DNA testing since we already proved that she's my daughter. If there was DNA testing they would've suggested it at the CRBA interview. So right now we're just waiting for them to set the interview date for my wife's visa. Hopefully everything will go smoothly and we can be together for our 2nd wedding anniversary lol.

ricochet

Male

Vietnam

2011-02-19 04:14:00