Perhaps some experienced Vietnam VJ's can offer some insight into this!

Is it unusual that our case and Matt_Stevens arrived on the same date to HCMC, but our case hasn't been updated in the system as a physical file yet? Each time I contact them they give me the same response of "received the electronic file," yada..yada..yada. I saw that Matt's packet 3 was mailed out on the 4th of April, and yet we are still electronic?

I'm not worried about timing. I live in HCMC and my contract is through December 2006. I'm just concerned about the actuality of our case physically being in HCMC.

Anyone?

STL_HCMC

The only thing consistent about that consulate is inconsistency. I saw flucuating timeframes like this all the time last year.

Just an update for you all with pending emails sent to the consulate in HCMC. I called today just to check on the address update email I sent last week. The woman answering the info line told me they were just now answering emails from April 5th.

Anyway, packet 3 was mailed out to my fiancee's Can Tho address yesterday (4/18), but the woman was very nice and offered to take my updated office address in Ho Chi Minh City and mail out another packet three tomorrow. Now there is some positive news to share about the HCMC consulate. She apologized for the email delay and said their systems have been having a lot of trouble as well. In fact, she couldn't access my case the moment I called because of the system being down.

So if your expecting a reply and don't have the patience, you might be better served calling the info line.

STL_HCMC

Thanks for the information, does anyone have the information line to HCMC? Is it automated or do you speak with someone?

Mike,

This link to the HCMC Consulate page has all the info you need to contact them by phone. You'll be calling internationally. It is not an automated system. When they first answer the line, you will press 1 for English, and then enter the extension for the info unit. Be aware of the specific calling times on the page.

Link: HCMC Information Unit

STL_HCMC

Thanks STL_HCMC

My fiancee called the HCMC consulate yesterday and she told me the package has been sent. I put together all the required documents and sent them back. This is good news for all of us. I know Matt, STL_HCMC and myself may have interview date around the same time. I hope we all pass and come to the states soon.

Menyoo,

Your not the only one. The NVC mailed my packet on April 3rd, and I just called them 17 days later. I got the same response "We recieved your electronic file". THen she says that it will take 2 months for packet 3. I know this is their automated response to everyone, but it still upsets me. It is so hard to wait to be next to my love. I know we are all experiencing the same feelings. Someone please helps Us

Mike,

The same day that I received an email back from the consulate (4/18) indicating to me that they had only received the electronic file of our case and it could take 8 weeks...yada...yada...yada, is the same day (4/18) that they mailed the first packet 3 to my fiancee's address in Can Tho.

I was thinking the same thing you were, then, BAM, they had already sent out the first packet 3.

Rest easy my fellow Vietnam friend and remember this: EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON!

STL_HCMC

Thanks, that does make me feel better. I just don't understand how a US Consulate can be so disorganized, to the point that they can give you correct information. If we were to give them incorrect information, then we would be in deep sh*t.

I do feel better though, Actually my packet was sent on March 30, and when I tracked it, they should have received it on April 3. So I was expecting her to get it in the next 2 or 3 weeks.


Does anyone going thru HCMC, have any experience with the petitioner being divorced with kids? I read another post in the general forum about his fiancee being asked for records of him paying child support. The only record I have is my bank statements, which shows my cashed checks to my ex wife. We didn't do the support thru the courts. My ex wife has been good to me, and we definately get along much better being divorced now for over 10 years.

On the I134 it will ask you for persons who depend on you for support. Also, you need to submit the divorce decree and judgement to the consulate. In there it will state whether you were ordered to pay child support.

I have the decree which is one page. Where can I order the judgement? Is it the same place as the Decree?

Yes.

Mike,

I'm divorced without kids. I have have the orginal divorce decree in 11/2003 which has a court stamp on it. I make 2 copies and sent it them back already, but I'll carry all orginal documents with me when my fiancee gets the interview date. My fiancee should already get the package 3 in hand by now. I'll call her tonite. I'll keep you post all the way through my process. I Hope we all get through with a big smile this summer.

Thanks!!!

I have the divorce decree in hand already, and provided a copy in the original petition, only 1 page. When I got divorced, me and my ex wife settled everything out of court, so there is nothing in the system. My ex called her lawyer today and they are going to type up an affidavit letter explaining that we settled out of court, with all the information including my kids names, kids DOB, divorce date, and what me and her agreed upon. We will both sign it. I also contacted the office I received my divorce decree from and they just said for me to access our file online. So I printed that out as well. So I will provide the Divorce Decree, the information I printed from online, an affidavit from her attorney, and my statements with a copy of the checks she cashed.

Hopefully this will be good enough for them.

Well, after waiting 2 weeks for a response to my email, I just received this email from the Consulate. Is this saying that they don't have my physical file, or does this say they may have it, but it takes approx. 8 weeks for them to know they have it?????


Here is what they sent me:

Thank you for your inquiry. Please be informed that we received the electronic file for your fiancée on March 31. It usually takes one week for us to receive the physical file. However, it takes approximately 8 weeks for us to process the case and update the information in our system due to the large volume of visa petitions we receive monthly. We will send an Instruction Package (packet 3) to your fiancée at the earliest opportunity.

Mike,

That is the EXACT same form response I got to my email on 4/18, which was also the same day they mailed the packet 3 to Can Tho. Don't lose hope. It is easier and safer for them to put the form response, then to give you any detailed information that you could use against them should they not meet that deadline. You'll have packet 3 soon.

STL_HCMC

STL_HCMC,

Have you had any chance to look at your package 3? I would like to know if package 3 has any kind of insturctions related to medical exam. Does your P3 tell you when fiancee can schedule for medical exam?

Thanks alot for any info

Menyoo

Hi Menyoo,

Sorry for the late reply, my fiancee and I were in Can Tho for the long weekend holiday in Vietnam (victory day and international labor day).

Regarding packet 3, there is no information inside regarding the medical exam. From what I've read, that information will be explained in packet 4 sent from the consulate.

Due to the holiday and just plain being busy, we are still sitting on packet 3. Will probably get it turned into the consulate this Friday.

STL_HCMC

STL_HCMC,


Cool! Thanks for the info. My fiancee still has not received package 3; she called and the HCMC representative told her that she sent out the package around 4-19-06 and still waiting today. she told her that if she does not recieve the package by 5-15-06, she can come to the office to pick it up. Any way have fun and hope you still around when I take a trip back around my fiancee interview.

Menyoo

My fiancee still has not received hers wither, and they supposedly receivced it on April 3. I hope she gets this soon, because I worry so much that they lost ours. What would happen if it was lost and they only received the electronic version?

Mike,

Contact the US Consulate in HCMC - phone might be faster - to find out if they have even mailed packet 3 to your fiancee yet. Then you will know exactly how long you should wait until requesting a packet 3 in person. However, this might be difficult for your fiancee since she lives in Ha Noi and I don't know if you have to go to HCMC to physically pick up the additional packet 3 in person.

Our original packet 3 was mailed on 4/18 to my fiancee's permanent registered family address in Can Tho. I later called the US Consulate in HCMC to request an address change for my fiancee and listed my office address in HCMC. I did this so we would have a better chance of receiving all mailings from the consulate. The woman on the information line when I called was very nice and updated the address AND sent out an additional packet 3 to us that same day - we received it 2 days later.

I will tell you - after visiting Can Tho this past weekend for the holiday - that the packet 3 originally mailed to Can Tho has NOT been received yet. I think perhaps this could be due to the countryside location of her home (outside of Can Tho in Long Tuyen), but the mail still goes through Can Tho.

STL_HCMC



Hi Menyoo,

I'll be here in HCMC. My contract runs through the middle of December 2006.

We still haven't submitted the documents (checklist, DS-230 Part I and Notification of Applicant Readiness) for packet 3 into the consulate. Busy..Busy..Busy. I am doing the DS-230 Part I now for her to sign. Then I anticipate her going to the consulate on Friday to deliver the documents. She is traveling back to Can Tho on Sunday to pick up the police certificate on Monday.

STL_HCMC

STL_HCMC,

My fiancee lives in Can Tho City near the post office. I sent her stuff from the states, and there are no problems with any packages I've sent. I don't know why domestic mails got lost in transition and it takes so long for delivery. I will ask her to change the mailing address to Saigon, which My aunt currently lives. What does the package 3 instructions tell you and what documents need to be returned to schedule to the interview? As I understand that we need to return DS 230 part I and checklist readiness. Is this what you have to do?

Any info is appreciated.


In Mike's case, I hope the package will not get lost in the transition. I think Mike can called the HCMC to request that his package needs to be sent to Consulate office in Ha Noi and his fiancee can come to the Ha Noi Office to pick it up if it gets lost in the mail. Good Luck to all of you with a sucussful result in this jouney.


Menyoo

Menyoo, thanks for the great idea. I still have no confirmation that they have even received the hard copy. They replied to my email almost 2 weeks ago, and I sent another email the day I received theirs, knowing it takes 2 weeks for their response. I will cal their tonight, and check our status. I tracked it thru DHL, and there was only 1 package sent from NVC to HCMC the day that NVC said they shipped it, and that one arrived in HCMC on April 3rd. So it has been 1 month. Shoudl I be worried?

Mike-

I haven't heard anything yet either, but looking at recent VJ'ers ahead of us, it looks like its taking roughly 5-7 weeks (longer for others) from NOA2 to packet 3 rec'd....

I think we are both right in the middle of that window and its driving me crazy that she hasn't gotten her paperwork yet too. I wish the process was going faster, tho the bright news seems like its almost exactly 2 months on average from Packet 3 return to interview date. That puts us both in mid July, I think.

Hi Menyoo,

I think you should be fine leaving your fiancee's address in Can Tho City - especially if she lives near the post office. Understand that my reference to delayed mailing to my fiancee's address in Can Tho, is because her family home there is about 30 minutes into the countryside outside of Can Tho. Being in the city, I would think your fiancee would be fine to receive the packet 3 there.

According to the instructions of the packet 3, the DS-230 Part I Biographic Data, Notification of Applicant Readiness, and Checklist need to be returned to the US Consulate in HCMC before they can schedule an interview for the beneficiary.

The packet 3 instructions are really not a packet at all. In our case, it was just some paperwork that came in a standard mailing envelope. It notifies the fiance(e) of the document gathering steps they need to take.

Inside the packet 3 are (most in VN and English):

1. Instruction Package for "K" Visa Applicants - This document tells the faince(e) the steps to take in gathering documents (i.e. police certificate, birth certificate, photographs, I-134 evidence of support, etc.).

2. Notification of Applicant Readiness - This document will be filled out by the fiance(e) to be sent back to the consulate with the completed DS-230 Part I. It says you have in possession and are ready to present all of the documents that he/she is instructed to get in the "Instruction Package for K Visa Applicants."

3. DS-230 Part I Biographic Data - This form can be obtained online as well, although the one sent to us in the packet 3 from the consulate was different because it contained English and Vietnamese to help the fiance(e).

4. "K" Visa Supplemental Information - This talks about police certificates from Vietnam and any country of residence of six months or longer. It lists countries that police certificates are NOT available.

5. Evidence Which May Be Presented To Meet The Public Charge Provisions of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act - This document sheds some light on the evidence of support that needs to be submitted with the I-134.

6. I-134 Affidavit of Support Form

7. Visa Photo Requirements - This form tells how to obtain the visa photos required. It lists some photo shops in HCMC and the correct size, etc.

Like I've said before, I'm afforded the opportunity to live/work in Vietnam and see my fiancee everyday. Therefore, we are in no hurry (I'm under contract through December 2006) and are still sitting on packet 3. She will get her police certificate next Monday and she already obtained the single status certificate (that was an easy same day process). Then we'll have them all translated. I've requested all of the bank information for myself and my co-sponsor (father) and he will assemble all the documents and mail them over to me ASAP.

I will tell you that doing this while living/working in Vietnam is a real strain for an OCD organizational freak like myself. It is difficult sometimes working on the I-134 stuff when I don't have documents that are in the United States right in front of me. However, I get to see my fiancee every day. That is worth it. Plus I'm getting some excellent international business experience and integrated into a culture that is so enriching to my life.

I'm always here to answer any questions that I can. Best of luck to you both.

STL_HCMC



Mike,

I don't think you need to worry. I would definitely try calling them by phone though instead of relying on email. The woman on the information line did tell me the last time that I called that they were very behind on email. I received a reply on April 18th to an email I sent to them on April 4th. I called on April 19th and she told me they were just now answering emails dated April 5th.

Give them a call and see what they tell ya. Packet 3 is really an easy completion. It is more informational for the fiance(e) than anything else. Complete the checklist, DS-230 Part I and Notification of Applicant Readiness and your back in the mail to the consulate in no time. You can easily get that done in one day, if not turned around the same day, if you are in a hurry to keep the process moving.

STL_HCMC

Thanks for the support. Actually I just called them before I read your post and I am so relieved right now. She told me they sent out her Packet 3 on Tuesday of this week. Then she told me it usually takes 4 weeks for her to receive the mail, I don't see how.

I have been trying to stay ahead all along. My fiancee is picking up her single status paper right now and applying for her police certificate. I also sent her the example DS230 to fill out, so when she receives the one in Packet three she can easily fill it in and mail it on the next day.

I AM SO RELIEVED NOW. I am hoping for a July interview and I pink slip, please be pink, it it is pink I will will a pink shirt the rest of my life, lmao!!!!

Great news for you both!

I always use the phone now instead of email. No matter the cost, it will give you more nights of good sleep, instead of lying awake wondering.

To understand 4 weeks to receive the packet 3, one must understand and experience the domestic post in Vietnam!

STL_HCMC

I feel alot better now after reading all your posts. I hope we all get through this without delay. We have all documents required ready. The only thing we are waiting for is the package 3 and 4 so I can come back to see my fiancee again. I know for certain that my fiancee will come the office to pick up package 3 if she have not recieved it by 5/19/06.

Thank you all for valuable info posted here and goodluck to all

Menyoo