I just got off the phone and our interview date is May 12th. One month behind everyone else in here, but we'll eventually get there.

Hey congratulations! I'm about to call within minutes. Got to put some more money on my calling card first, though! Good luck with the interview!

OK, she's gonna kill me for posting this before I call her, but this phone conversation will take a while. We got May 9th. Woohoo!

Congrats to both of you!!

Good luck on your interviews!!! We hope you get the pink!

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

Can someone point me to a link for current visa fee, medical checkup? Thanks

We are May 30th...

If any of you are going to be in HCMC, let me know.

There are no visa fees listed on the internet. I would call the Vietnam Consulate in SFO. They are cheaper and faster than the embassy in Washington. I believe, but don't quote me on this, that it's $45 for a 1 month, single entry tourist visa, plus your mailing costs. I myself am getting a 3 month, multi-entry for $120.

Their phone number is (415) 922-1707 or 922-1577. Email is info@vietnamconsulate-ca.org.

I don't know about the medical fees, but the nice lady at HCM (I got her twice before, and she's the only nice one) did remind me to remind Mai that she must get her medical done in Saigon. She must have seen that Mai is from Hanoi.

Good luck with all the preparations! Time to panic now! I leave in 15 days!

I would love to meet VJ people in Saigon, but I hope we are far away from there by the 30th, packing for return to the U.S.

OK, I gotta ask, Bill......I notice that you got your interview date lightning fast, but yet the date itself is very far out. What's up with that? Just the consulate messing with all our heads and yours too? A little bit of predictability would be nice, consulate people.

Well, I am not sure, but it may have something to do with how we did our paperwork in Vietnam. Once I found out that the US Consulate had received our case from NVC, I contacted our lawyer (M.E) office to let them know. Our lawyer sent my fiance the DS-230 Part 1 and instructions for her to follow. All she had to do was sign the form, and send it to the Consulate.

2 days after she sent the form provided by our lawyer, she received PACKET 3 from the consulate, which also included the checklist that everyone thinks you must sign and turn in. We did not.

So, it may have something to do with the fact that we sent DS-230 Part 1 by itself. Also Packet 4 was mailed to my fiance on April 9th.

Good Luck to all of you. I was going to call the consulate last night but didn't. I will call tonight for sure! We should be scheduled in May also!
Thanks for the info everyone!

Good luck to all on the upcoming interviews. Go for the PINK!






I'm thinking about applying for a multi-entry visa this time, but I'll be only visiting twice in the second half of this year. If the quoted fees are correct, single-entry visa is better unless one travels three times or more in the duration allowed in the visa.

The reason why I need a multi is because we plan on traveling outside Vietnam to other southeast Asian countries before we leave for the U.S. And I called back to double check, but this time they quoted me $150. Too late now to argue. I've got too many other things to worry about. I confirmed that price in both English and Vietnamese languages. I will just send them the money--this time. It's still better than the Chinese--they want $130 for a 1 month single entry!

Congrats to all May's interviews...Good luck all! it's 4:36 AM, couldn't sleep at all.

I think the Vietnamese Consulate in San Francisco got new visa fees at the start of the year. My February visa reflected the same price as the Embassy in Washington DC when I checked with both in January. Before that, SF was cheaper......

In any case, have fun in Vietnam and get the pink!

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

no, i was referring to the visa fee for my fiance before the interview.

Congrat to all and me. Just got my date also . May 6,08... Does anyone know what they need from the petitioner?How far back do they want on the paystub? Bank statements and bills ???

Thanks all

If you are above the 125% of the poverty line, then I dont think they need assets or bank account balances.

Provide the past month of paystubs, and the last year or 2 of taxes (they only require 1 year)/ Dont forget to notarize the I-134.

Any evidence of your ongoing relationship.

Vietnam07

Congrats on getting your interview date.

The HCMC Consulate is mostly interested in income and likes tax tanscripts from the IRS for the current tax year. Right now that means 2006 for them. However with your interview in May, they may want to see your 2007 1040, pay stubs ,etc as that will be the current year. The IRS can't give you tax transcipts for 2007 until July according to a couple of posts on VJ. I would suggest to have both ready years available, it's your call as to which to submit with your I-134.

As Bill said, if you are 125% above the poverty line for your family size (2 people is $17,500), then you don't have to include anything besides proof of income. Just make sure to include all the other documents they ask for in the Packet 4 letter such as employment letter. If you think it would help you can also bring your bank statements and letters but according to our I-134 instructions they're not required but could be helpful depending on your case. Make sure to follow the instructions carefully, ie get your I-134 notarized, have enough evidence organized by dates, etc.

Good Luck!

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 just got my 2007 transcript in the mail a little over a week ago. Now, it wasn't a line-by-line transcript, but it clearly showed that I had actually filed the 2007 return, What my gross income is, and how much tax I had to pay. I just called and ordered that by an automated system, and it came in less than a week, free of charge.

I guess you sent in your 2007 taxes a while ago. I'm finishing mine today....... My 2006 account transcript only showed the gross, taxes, paid, etc. I submitted the tax return transcript which was line by line because I am self imployed. I also included my 1040 for 2006 as well, just in case. Thi's I-134 instructions said to submit an "IRS complete tax transcript for the current year". I don't know if that means they want account transcript or return transcript. I ordered both from the IRS and they came within a week but in two different envelopes.

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

Heck yes I sent my taxes in a while ago! I got a pretty hefty refund, and thank goodness for that, since I for sure won't be able to work before I head to VN.

Back on point, I was told by my Stateside lawyer that the purpose of the transcript is to act as a sort of receipt that the tax return was actually filed and taxes were actually paid on that SS number. Theoretically, I suppose, a person could submit a tax return to the consulate which was never actually filed. I would interpret that to mean that the account transcript is just fine. I'll be bringing my W2s in addition. I figure it couldn't hurt.

In any case, I actually WANT them to see my 2007 return, because 2004-06 were married filing joint. My divorce decree wasn't issued until June 5, 2007 even though we had decided to divorce and separate our money about a year earlier.

Good luck with the tax return, Peter. I was so happy this year about my tax return. No Schedule C, no depreciation to figure, no Self-Employment tax (that was the ex-wife's law firm)! Just a few traveling and work expenses. On the other hand, NO mortgage interest deduction, and NO dependent exemptions. Ah, well.