Here are the visa instructions, interview and other information for the Ho Chi Minh City consulate. These packets are sent out to K visas applicants. They were scanned into Adobe Acrobat format by me. They should be current as of March 2006. Some information might have changed like the medical fee which I think was raised to $75 per adult applicant.

First is the K visa instruction packet, aka. "Packet 3". I only have this one in English. There are two pages:

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Next is the visa photo specifications and where you can obtain visa photos in HCMC. This is in English and Vietnamese:

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Included with the instruction packet is the public charge letter which is below. It is in English, and there are two pages:

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After submitting the instruction packet to the consulate, the visa applicant receives the interview packet, aka "Packet 4". This packet consists of eight total pages of information in English and Vietnamese plus attachments like DS-156, DS-156K, and DS-230 Part I.

The following are the interview packet instructions only in English and Vietnamese:

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And if all went well at the interview and the applicant is approved for a visa, then when the applicant picks up the visa she will receive the following documents with it. They are information regarding the validity of the visa and what to do when entering the US.

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This is AWESOME information! Thanks SCY!!!

Scy, thank you so much. This is such a great help, and I cannot thank you enough!!!

scy,

Appreciate the time you took to scan these documents and then upload them to VisaJourney for us all to see. This is just one more advantage to being a member of VisaJourney, with the other being the close "blind" relationships we develop helping each other out! Thanks a lot.

STL_HCMC

Thanks Alot, This realy help's me explain to Van on what she and I have to do before her interview. I already prepared the paper work for her when I see her in July. Now I will make copy's of these and take them with me also.

I'm Have a question
In packet 3 step 3 it states SIGN THE ENCLOSED FORM DS-230 PART I and return the form back to them

also in Packet 4 in step 7 FORM DS-230 PART I you need to bring to the interview.

Do they send back the FORM DS-230 PART I in Packet 4 or do you need to make 2 copy's of this, 1 for each Packet?

These are very helpful, but my fiancee just received her packet 3, and they are a little different than the ones posted. The ones posted are very close, so they are very helpful.

What exactly is the difference? Perhaps you can post the packet 3 your fiancee received to help others who haven't received their packet 3s.

I would love to post them, but her brother scanned them and each file is like 4 mb. When I print them they are very light so I am not sure if I re scan them how well the will turn out. I will definately give it a shot tomorrow when I get to work.

Here are the differences that I have noticed so far. The DS230 Part 1 is 3 pages. It has both languages on the same form, and most of the reason it was exteded to the 3rd page. I am awaiting her to send the checklist, because when we were chatting I was trying to tell her to read a certain section, and it seemed different. She then asked if she needs to send a paper call Applicat readiness for interview, and it looked different than the checklist we have from what you posted. I will try my hardest to get them posted for all of your use.

I do definately appreciate the ones you posted, becuase for the most part they are very close to what they receive.

Mike,

Don't worry about the difference in the DS-230 forms. My fiancee received the same as you described below in your post (i.e. multi-language and page number). However, she didn't want to fill in the DS-230 by hand, so she downloaded the internet PDF version and filled it in that way (i.e. only 2 pages). The lady at the consulate asked her why she did this, and why she didn't use the form provided in packet 3. My fiancee just explained that she thought filling it in by computer would make it look neater and be easier to read. The lady took it and said OK.

The Notification of Applicant Readiness DOES need to be returned with the DS-230 Part I to the US Consulate in HCMC. The applicant readiness form tells the consulate you have obtained all of the required documents and area ready for an interview to be scheduled.

Like I said in another one of your posts regarding this, there are very specific instructions included that will detail exactly how to complete the forms AND what forms need to be returned to the consulate, etc. Try to get your fiancee to scan those for you.

STL_HCMC

There is no difference then. The packet 3 instructions I posted is NOT the interview checklist. If you read it carefully, the packet 3 instructions list all the paperwork included with the them. The checklist is form DS-2001. The check marks on the instructions were placed by me to know what I need to do to complete the packet 3. I don't have a copy of form DS-2001 because that was returned to the consulate prior to my wife's interview.

Your fiancee needs to return form DS-2001 and DS-230 Part I. That will get her the interview packet.

Ok, she finally finished sending everything to me. After receiving it, I noticed they sent her 2 different DS-230 Part 1 packages. Then I notice one has 4 pages and expired on 5-31-2004, and the other one has 3 pages and expires on 5-31-2004. I just don't get it. They are both expired, and have the same expire date, they both have the same required info, and one has one more page. I don't know if this is the reason, but she needs to fill in one for her son, and one for her, but they both ask the same exact questions. Now I don't know what to do. The problem is, I don't know if she has Acrobat Reader to do the electronic one that she can print. So should I fill in everything that will fit into the spaces and then scan it and then she can print it, and hand write the ones I left blank, and sign and date it? Or should she just fill in the two they sent her that are expired? Or do it both ways?

Here are the files:

4 page DS-230 in Packet 3
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3 page DS-230 in Packet 3
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Readiness Document
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Supplement (WHAT IS THIS)
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Ok, she finally finished sending everything to me. After receiving it, I noticed they sent her 2 different DS-230 Part 1 packages. Then I notice one has 4 pages and expired on 5-31-2004, and the other one has 3 pages and expires on 5-31-2004. I just don't get it. They are both expired, and have the same expire date, they both have the same required info, and one has one more page. The only difference is some of the questions have more space to write your answers. I don't know if this is the reason, but she needs to fill in one for her son, and one for her, but they both ask the same exact questions. Now I don't know what to do. The problem is, I don't know if she has Acrobat Reader to do the electronic one that she can print. So should I fill in everything that will fit into the spaces and then scan it and then she can print it, and hand write the ones I left blank, and sign and date it? Or should she just fill in the two they sent her that are expired? Or do it both ways?

Does anyone know what this form is for??????
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It looks like a HCMC only form made by the consulate itself. My wife doesn't have any siblings so she did not received this form.

The form is self explanatory. The consulate wants to know if the beneficiary has any siblings and they want to know the siblings' residences. The beneficiary is also asked to promise to tell the consulate of any changes in the siblings information prior to leaving Vietnam.

My best guess is that this form is a "fraud screening/profiling" tool. The consulate thinks that those beneficiaries with siblings residing in a foreign country are more likely to commit visa fraud. It is common for a woman to come to the US then turns around and asks her husband's friend/relative to goto Vietnam and marry her brother/sister/cousin so that she can bring them to the US. Sometimes the friend is paid money, other times the friend is offered a free vacation in Vietnam.

My suggestion is to complete the form fully.

Good luck.

Mike,

Don't worry about the expiration dates of the forms sent by the consulate. They were sent by the consulate, so it is obvious that the expiration date is a non-issue with them. Also, don't worry that one has 3 pages and one has 4 pages. If there aren't any specific instructions as to which one (i.e. 3 pages or 4 pages) is to be used for which applicant, than you make the choice!

I think your answer regarding the reason for receiving two DS-230 Part I forms was already confirmed/answered in another post of yours. Am I correct?

My advice is for YOU to complete by hand the information for the DS-230 Part I scanned and sent to you from your fiancee, and the DS-230 Part I for her son. Once you have completed that, scan them with the information filled in, and then send them back to your fiancee so that she can then copy the information down onto the actual DS-230 Part I forms that she received from the consulate.

I said in my post that my fiancee used the internet fillable PDF version, but the lady at the consulate did ask why she did this. My fiancee gave her reason (neat and easily readable) and then it was accepted. However, I think your fiancee will benefit from the Vietnamese that is also included in each question on the version sent by the consulate.

Good luck bud!

STL_HCMC

Thanks so much to you both. You have been a great help. Not only am I dealing with these forms and having her get them returned ASAP. I fall into the new law IMBRA. My NOA1 receipt date is March 13. Since, I don't want to risk them not noticing and then when she goes for her interview they notice and cause us problems, I just emailed them and asked if our petition was affected by the new law, and if so how would it affect us. If so I am hoping they will just assign her interview date when they receive the petition back. I also just stated and asked if I could provide them with the necessary information if it is required. PLEASE CROSS YOUR FINGERS FOR ME and MAYBE YOUR TOES TOOO!!!!

I need all the help I can get. After finding out that the USCIS have recalled all petitions after March 6th, I cannot stop thinking about just moving there until her interview. The problem is cash. I can't afford to come there and live without my paycheck. Our company used to have an office in Vietnam, but they closed. I have thought many times about asking my employer to allow me to work from there using a laptop. I work for a Civil Engineering company. Anyone have some extra cash that could hold me over, lol.

I am really sad right now, and now I need to break to news to my love. I know this will crush her as well, and that is what hurts me more.

Thanks for listening.

Mike

Mike,

No problem for the help!! We are all hear to help each other as much as we can.

As mentioned before, I would hold off on telling your fiancee about IMBRA until you get the news back from the US Consulate in HCMC. Perhaps they are going to handle everything internally.

For what its worth, could be miscommunication and I know it isn't regarding the US Consulate in HCMC, but I saw a post on the Asia regional forum that talked about a USC petitioner that called the embassy in the Phillipines, and the attendant from the embassy told the petitioner that all the additional processing was going to be handled internally in Manila. Perhaps HCMC will do the same.

Link: Manila Call Center Says No Approved Petitions Going Back to the USA

I'll keep my fingers crossed as you requested, but crossing my toes is a bit more of a challenge for me!

Keep your mind focused on the task at hand. You can only worry about the things that are in your control. Everything happens for a reason and don't assume just yet that this new law means a drastic wait for your case.

Keep your chin up, thoughts focused and be the rock of support that you both need through this!

STL_HCMC

Hi y'all,

I am a new member to this forum and just want to thank Scy so much for posting those scans, Mike and STL_HCMC for all of your updates and input to this part of the process. I found some older scans yesterday on the internet but these new scans are invaluable. They will help us prepare for this process once it is our turn. Again many thanks.

Tony

Well, welcome to the board. What is the * next to your name for?

Thx, I am very glad to find this forum and be a part of it.

Her first name is Anh Thu*, and the * next to the letter U is a crude way to signify a different U vowel that does not exist in the English alphabet. In the Vietnamese alphabet, there are 2 vowels with the "U" base: U like ours, and U with a little hook on the top of its right stem. That vowel sounds a little different and when used in words have different meanings. So the * is just one way I use to designate that vowel since there is no other good way to represent that vowel in our alphabet. U sounds sort of like this: ooh, and U* sounds kinda like this: uuh. I hope that my explanation makes sense.

Tony

Tony&AnhThu*,

Welcome to VisaJourney. I'm glad you found your way to the Asia regional forum and more specific information regarding Vietnam. Spend a lot of time reading on here. As you've already found out, there is a ton of invaluable information.

Best of luck to you both!

STL_HCMC

Okay. I got it now. The long explanation was not necassary. Almost everyone reading this thread is engaged to a Vietnamese woman and has been to Vietnam a couple times already so we are familiar with their crazy alphabet!

I need your help. I posted in this same thread the DS-230 Supplement. Can you please take a look at this, and tell me what it is for. It is asking for my fiancee's siblings names not her children.

Application For Immigrant Visa And Alien Registration Supplement

What is this and why and when does she need this? It does not say anything in the directions about this paper, except that is is included in Packet 3.

This paper is holding us up, because we don't know if we need to send it now or bring with her to the interview.

Thanks for your help.

Why don't you do both? Fill out the form, make copies, and send in the original with the interview checklist and DS-230 Part I. Bring copies to the interview.

The form is self explanatory. I'm sure you understand what it is asking for. I guessed the reasons for its use in an earlier post.

Since no one on Visajourney has ever reported this form, it must be something new or unique to your case. The consulate might know about your fiancee's siblings and their current whereabouts, i.e., someone might be living in the US. So it's probably best to tell the truth as best as you know them.

Mike,

I can tell you that my fiancee and I did not receive this supplement document in our packet 3. To reinforce scy's guess, my fiancee doesn't have any family members living in the United States.

Does your fiancee have any family members residing in the United States, or attempted to obtain a visa to the United States previously?

When in complete doubt - as it seems you are - just fill out the form (as scy said) according to the instructions given and call the US Consulate in HCMC for a better explanation of what the form is for, and if it needs to be sent back with the DS-230 Part I, or brought to the interview.

The packet 3 instructions we got were very detailed and told us exactly what to send back to the consulate and exactly what to bring to the interview!

Good luck bud! If you find the answer to your question, let us know on the board what the supplement form was for!

STL_HCMC

Hello my fellow journeyman or woman!

I talked to Huong and just told her to make a copy before filling it out and then she can write her brothers name, and send it in with with the other required documents before her interview. She will also provide the one she copied with her handwritten information. She has one brother, he is 20 years old and as far as I know he has not attempted to get into the US. He lives in the same residence as her, but when I send her mail, or when I went her money for our engagement party, I always address it to him, because she works 6 or 7 days a week, 12 hours a day. She works for the government, so she can't pick up her mail. The only thing I can think of is the fact that she calls her sousins brothers and sisters. I am not sure if any of you have run into the same situation, but she says my brother from my uncle or aunt, but how would they know this unless they are accessing her email or our telephone conversations???

Mike,

This is why I would call the consulate and ask them about this supplement paper, and how/why it pertains to her K-1 application situation. Perhaps if your fiancee calls, she can get more detailed information in Vietnamese.

STL_HCMC

Things may have changed since my wife's days. My wife does have a younger brother living in the U.S. He lives about 20 minutes from us as a matter of fact, but she only sent in the DS-230. The information about her siblings was on that same for, not a supplement.