As you all know, our petition has been affected by IMBRA. We have no idea how long before she has her interview now, because they are giving no information. If our petition was not recalled this trip would be to bring back my love, but due to USCIS error, it will be another great trip to spend time with her, but have another very sad ending at the airport. I can't wait until July 16th.

We might be taking a trip to Thailad for six days while I am there. I am really looking forward to visiting there, and I wouldn't mind going to see some Thai Kickboxing fights, but I know Huong would not enjoy it. My questions is in regards to the Visa. The application has two boxes, single entry or multiple entry, which should I check? I am not even sure if we will go until after I apply for the Visa.

Hopefully I will get the RFE before I leave and send it back and be processed before I come home.

Hi Mike,

Excellent that your taking another trip to Vietnam to see your fiancee! Just make sure that someone is attending to your mailbox back in the United States should you not receive the RFE before you leave and any important information arrives from the USCIS!

If you are planning to go to Thailand during your visit to Vietnam, than you would need a multiple entry visa. My business visa is multiple entry and I've never had any trouble getting back in after I left.

Best of luck to you!

STL_HCMC

Go For It Mike!

You definitely want "Multi" entry if you're going to T-land during your stay.

FYI: Huong won't need a visa (neither will you) to visit T-land.
Actually, the CO who interviewed my wife asked my wife about the Thailand stamp in her passport; he was impressed that she had already traveled outside of Vietnam AND we had pictures of our trip to show him (we said the pics were our honeymoon photos)......it was helpful during the interview.

FYII:Very few Vietnamese leave the country (That could be changing nowadays)


Just curious.....how much was your flight?

I just paid $1300 for Tet New Year (Feb 2007), BUT it's only 1 stop in Asia and doesN'T go through California. (pay more for convenience)

This is definitely changing as incomes rise in Vietnam and fares to Thailand and Singapore become lower due to fare wars between the airlines competing on those routes.

I just read an article related to this on the English version of VietNamNet.com.

Link: Emerging Middle Class Drives Consumer Trends

While this isn't directly related to travel, it shows the rising purchasing power of the Vietnamese. HCMC especially is full of high-end imported Honda motorbikes (i.e. $6,000USD to $8,000USD), luxury cars (i.e. Lexus, Mercedes, BMW) and global fashion brands (i.e. Prada, D&G, Burberry).

They are also traveling and enjoying the fruits of inexpensive multiple night tours to Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.

It is really quite interesting living/working here in this booming economy. It is also quite interesting to watch the government try to stay ahead of the growth and maintain infrastructure, real estate and inflation.

STL_HCMC

It is remarkable!

It changed so much during my five year stay from 99' to 04', especially the consumer wealth.
It's both good and bad. I have very fond memories of my first 6 months there.

patricks,

I also read another article recently that quoted Vietnam as one of the most expensive places in Asia for foreigners to live. I found that very interesting. I know serviced apartments here run around $1,000+ per month. I choose to live the classic Vietnamese way and rent a small house with my fiancee in an outlying neighborhood (Q. Tan Binh) with the locals! I enjoy it - even with the stares that I continue to get no matter how many times I ride home on the same small streets to our house - and it gives me great appreciation for the lifestyle, culture and all that I have in the United States that I took for granted for so long.

Sorry to hog your post Mike!

STL_HCMC



Mike,

I second patricks' comment regarding "no visa needed" for entry into Thailand.

STL_HCMC

Gettin' ready to do the same, Mike. Godspeed to you!!!

Have a safe trip Mike....... And enjoy your time together

Mike, for the time being, forget about all the headache and troubles with the K1 application. Go to VN, enjoy your precious time with your fiancee. She needs you now. Although you do not need visa to get back into VN from Thailand but for the heck of it, just apply for multiple-entry.

Well, my parents were going to buy the ticket for me with their frequent flier miles, but the earliest they have a flight is May of next year. I went onto Orbitz last night, which I have used for my last two trips and since it is only one month advance I paid $1500. The trip to Thailand is only $300/person which includes airfare and 3 star hotel for 6 nights. I am so excited to be going, but I know the heat is going to be rough.

100% agree! Kim had to get a brand new passport just fot them to issue her K-1 Visa. All the pages in her last passport were filled with stamps and visas from Japan for 7 years of studying and living in Japan.
Traveling to a foreign country isn't a luxary that many vietnamese can affort, so a visa/stamp from a trip is a big plus!!!!

Keep it up guys!!!

Mike,

Enjoy the heat and rain in VN Wish i could be there

My fiance's passport is filled with stamps from France (been there 2 or 3 times) Germany (same) Great Britain and Japan. That has to be a plus. One would certainbly think so and Anh really believes it is her ace in the hole in stopping them from thinking she just wants out of Vietnam. I wish I could provide the Consulate recordings of conversations I have had with Anh where she tried to convince me to move to Vietnam. Only after realizing that I have no way of making money there did she decide to move here.

Of cours, no recordings exist, so this is just silly talk.

Amen to that Matt!

I definately think it is a plus for us. I emailed the embassy and they haven't emailed me the fee for the Visa yet. Does anyone know what the fee's are for single and multiple entry?

Mike,

fees for VN visa if filing directly with the VN ambassy $65 plus fed express stamp prepaid. I would go the any travel agent that offer ticket to asia. They do for $40-$45 bucks.

Good luck to you and enjoy your adventure.

Mike,

I second menyoo's advice for the travel agent. My initial single entry visa cost was added on to the price of my ticket by the travel agent for $25.00. I'm not sure about multiple entry cost, but it is worth contacting a travel agent.

STL_HCMC

I tried last sept and could only get single entry and then had to cancel my trip when i applied again they had a 6 month multientry San Francisco Con. It was alittle costly since I was getting off a ship and needed it right away so it was almost $300USD. When I finally got to HCMC they asked what busniss I was working on and I said only my Fiancee' they laughed and said I had a business visa!!! I asked if I needed to change it and they said no they do not care what type of visa I use. My last trip down it was expireing so I was able to renew it at a travel agency in HCMC for 140USD it cost alittle more then normal because I needed it done in 2 days. but it is a 6 month multienty visa again. So if you can get it it is best as you can jump on a plane any time and go. I never have a set schedule so it helps make my trips easier

Good Luck

Well, just more bad news. Huong called me today and I can tell she was crying. Everyone knows how important the wizards or future tellers are to some who live in Vietnam. Well, she went to visit the same one who has always given us great news for us. Well not this time. He told her that I should not come, because I would be in great danger. She is so sad because we both were so excited, and now she wants me to stay home. I begged her that I would be fine, but she began crying, and said that she needs me to promise her not to come, because if something would happen to me, it would kill her.

So what am I to do? I bought them thru Orbitz and can't get a refund. I can cancel them and book a flight in the upcoming year, which would be ok to go there for her interview, but then when I buy her ticket we would not be on the same plane. Any help here would be greatly appreciated. I have never had to cancel a flight and don't know how it would work if I postponed the flight until her interview.

Mike!!!!!

What are you talking about? Stop that non-sense man!!!!! Get packing, get going! I can tell something REALLY bad will happy right now if you don't go: lose out $1500.

If you already fall in love with a girl who is in the other part of this world, if that wasn't a risk and impossible deal for you, what else is? Some witch doctor who makes a living by telling people good news and bad news have many tricks to get people to believe and pay them money for this type of activity.

In vietnamese folk tales, we have a joke about these fortune tellers:

He'll say: "You are a single girl, if not married.... Your first born is boy if not a girl... " that some fortune telling...

In any case, I think most vietnamese has gone pass that phrase. The guy who told her about your "great danger" can see how worry and stress she is and it's always been one subject in her conversation with him: Visa to come to America, my fiance is an american, and I'm pretty sure this guy can get more information from her by using scare method on her. Go and be with her!!! Worse thing could happy right now to you is getting a mad case of "tieu chay" from eating bad foods in VN

Relax.... you sound like you actually believe this teller as well.... think man!

Love,

chuck and kim

Mike,
I NEVER NEVER will understand Vietnamese thinking despite being married to one and having lived there for 5 years. Personally, I have a LOVE/hate relationship with the country, culture and it's people. I've seen too much disappointment and I've expereinced my personal highs and lows. However, bringing my Vietnamese wife to America has luckily been an overall good experience (Spending 4 years with her in Vietnam made a really BIG difference).
Now, to answer your question.......many times while living in Vietnam I've said to myself "Don't ask WHY because there is NO answer from a Western perspective" go with the flow. ........I wish that was the case now and I could say to you "be patient", BUT.....
With all due respect to you Mike, you seem like a really nice person, I must be honest and I hope I'm wrong.......
This is my honest "Gut" feeling: I think there is another reason behind her request for you NOT to visit her. it's a "smoke screen"!

I'm Not trying to be religious to anyone here all have our own beliefs. But van and myself we are both Christians and we both would agree that the wizards and future tellers are just evil. they put bad thought's into all our minds and make us worry about things that don't matter. At first you are both are very happy and evil knows this. It does not want you too be together or be happy. What you need to do is go back to Vietnam and be with her and tell her nothing is going to happen. every thing will be ok all you need is to have faith and don't listen to them. Mike I will pray for you to make you and Houng not too worry. God loves you and evil just wants to tare you two apart from each other. It's up to you Mike what you want to do, And if you heart feels that you need to be with her, Then go to her.

Patrick's, I am sorry but you don't know anything about us. The wizard she talked to is the same one she has asked for years. He gave us the date for our Engagement ceremony. Everytime I have flown to her she visits him to make sure I will get there ok. Some families are still strong believers in this practice. This guy has been a close friend of the family for years. Him and his wife had us over for dinner at their house last time I was there. I think you are totally reading this wrong, and you shouldn't make statements like that.

That's Interesting:

I see this situation differently and this is what makes Vietnam so intriguing...............................

I'm not anti-fortune teller, Fortune tellers are very important in Vietnam obviously and I don't see them as "bad people", I don't believe them either. In other words, Mike just can't tell Huong NOT believe them or listen to them (That won't help Mike). Conversely, I've heard of the "fortune telling" reason being used as a way to manipulate others (especially foreigners in relationships) for the Vietnamese girl's own advantage.....That's what I've heard from others while living in Vietnam, my wife never used a fortune teller aganist me (Thank God!)

Mike,

Why do you ask other's for their opinion if you're going to say...." you shouldn't make statements like that?" as if I over-stepped the boundries. Should I be dis-honest and "sugar coat "my answers and tell you something nice? Dealing with the Vietnamese is a whole another ballgame and many times it's NOT a pretty picture for a lot of foreigners.
Henceforth, I'll try to keep my honest prospective out of the picture...........Chuc May Man (Good Luck)

I am not sure what you are trying to say when you mean smoke screen. When I told her that I wanted to come visit now, she was thrilled. I asked her what days I should come due to her job. She told me the dates I should come. The next couple days we both were so excited. When she called me today she was crying, and told me what happened. So what are you trying to say?

"So what are you trying to say? "

There's many things I would love to say from personal experience after living and working in Vietnam for 5 years BUT given the tone of your last statement, it won't be necessary.

Henceforth, I'll keep my honest prospective out of the picture.......................Hen Gap Lai Kep Sau (We'll meet again in the future)

My advice... GOD. Just go. It will prove that the whole wizard thing is not perfect. My fiance's mother in law has gone to a tarot card reader every step of the way in my journey with her daughter and sometimes he was right and other times not so much.

JUST GO! Just show up.

P.S. The tarot card reader says Anh will get the Visa "soon" and "not later" and that she and I will marry in October (if she gets the visa she plans on coming in September).

Mike,

Seriously, we can not and will not make you go if you truly believe some fortune teller telling your girlfriend that you will be in great danger in VN. I can tell you it is expected to be in GREAT danger EVERY TIME I go back to VN. You've seen the way the traffic goes over there? How about got framed by the "Cong An" for something you didn't do and put in jail for a few days without any legal representation? That's great danger! Fear of losing my passport or something happens and the Vietnamese won't let me out to go home. The list goes on and on... That's considered great danger in my book...So whatever the fortune teller tells her and you believe it, it's a given Mike! Vietnam is a lawless society, even though you can see many policemen and military people with AK47 walking around town.

Asking for a "GOOD DATE" for an engagement ceremony: formality task and culturally thing to do through out Vietnam. No, i'm not downplaying the important of this gentleman who has every good intention to the two of you. Mike, picking a date for any important event in Vietnam is very common, nothing special, you can buy a book and pick the date for yourself if you like. But it's a proper thing to do for some, come asking for a date for your grand opening of a business, come ask for a date for your traveling etc. So, no exception this time, everyday is a good day in my book when you wake up and breathing.

It comes down to: she cries and that breaks your heart. She tells you not go to, and you wanted to. Well, will you take a chance to see her?

My vote with Matt and the rest: just go!!!! What if the fortune teller was right, and something happens... would you rather be with her when that happens or not? IF it happened!!!

GO GO GO GO!!! I love flying 30hrs and eating bad foods in a pressurized aluminium tube



We shall meet again in the NEXT LIFE!!!

Calm down robert Mike is stress out the to the max brother! Group hug!!!

Believe me I want to go without a doubt, and told her several times nothing is going to happen and I will be fine. I would never live my life by what they would tell me, but if it is important to her and she believes then I got to at least give her some thought. She definately is definately sad, because of this. That is the reason she was cryiny before I even answered the phone.

Patricks, I apologize if I was rude, but the way I read your first post about smoke and mirrors basically tells me that you feel she is hiding something from me or lieing to me. Tell me that would not get you fired up if someone who doesn't know you and is generalizing about a specific situation that you would not do the same. I am just completely stressed, because if it wasn't for this IMBRA BS I would be going there in July to bring her home.

Is it wrong to actually believe that she cares about me and doesn't want anything to happen to me? Or should we all just assume that alll cases are fraud, just because there are many cases of fraud.

I apologize if I took your post the wrong way. I am the same as you, I could never let anyone talk bad about the one I love.

Mike,

I've lived/worked in VN for more than a year now and have experienced (directly and indirectly) the very fortune teller experiences you've described.

I can understand your frustration with patricks honest opinion, but at the same time I understand how he was trying to be up front with you given the direct experience he gained living in VN for five years. Living here day in and day out really does open ones eyes to a more complete understanding of the people and their culture.

In a public forum of this nature, and especially in the more specific Vietnam forum that we share, things will certainly be said that we don't agree with, but should be accepted just for the healthy fact of encouraging a well rounded response for inquiries. It doesn't mean we have to like or agree with what others say, but I myself am always open to contrasting opinions which then challenge me to make the right decision for myself, because in the end the decision is mine and only mine to make. To have others tell us the answers we want to hear creates a very narrow minded decision making process. The alternatives should be considered, but not heavily dwelled upon.

I share in patricks description of a love/hate relationship with Vietnam. There are many things I love about living here, but at the same time other things seem so simple from a Western perspective, but are made so complicated in Vietnam. I could list examples one after another, but the important thing to remember is that there IS a difference and it is a difference we must accept when entering into an intercultural life together.

It is obvious we all have our own opinions and thoughts of what outcome we think you should choose, but I'll just say that I trust you will make the right decision based on the love, foundation and understanding between both of you.

Just remember that EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON and this is all part of the culture of the woman you love and will marry!

STL_HCMC

Mike,
When my sweetheart and I started on our visa journey she went to the local fortune teller to find out if she would get a visa. The fortune teller said she would get it in about six months. Yeah, right! Blew that one away. Go to Vietnam, just be extra careful when you step out into the street!
I have spent enough time in Vietnam and Asia in general to have an understanding of what Patrick and STL are talking about. The "smoke and mirrors" comment was a little vague, and I understand how a comment like that can get to you when you are most vulnerable. Asians sometimes hide things, sometimes because they believe it is to your benefit not to be direct, or to avoid confrontation. It may be something as innocent as the jitters about traveling abroad. If she has not done this before, it's can be sort of scarry thing for her. Most Vietnamese never get to see their own country, much less travel to others. Other factors might be that she is being taken out of the country by a foreigner, and perhaps her family or friends are a little concerned as well. Of course they would not want to confront you directly about this, so having someone like a fortune teller feel out the situation or front a hocus pocus excuse would be a convenient out. A face saving way to deal with uncertain feelings. It would not be seen as lying to you.
I know because I had to deal with a similar situation. We were meeting up in Hanoi for vacation,then traveled south to her home. I had to reassure her and her parents, smooth things over and do some convincing. We had a great vacation.
This year we met up in Bangkok and spent two weeks in Thailand. It was also a great vacation and a real eye opener for her. You will have an unforgettable experience there. So just go and have a great time.

Very true!

STL_HCMC

The Vietnamese common man often believes in omens, ghosts, and supernatural influences. Whatever their professed religion, most Vietnamese are influenced at one time or another in their lives by magic, fortune-telling, and horoscopes. It is commonly believed that a man's destiny is determined by the positioning of a particular star in the heavens on his birth date. By consulting his horoscope, a man can avoid disaster during inauspicious periods and make the most of auspicious periods. It is typical for Vietnamese people to consult an astrologer when they had to choose a date for wedding or funeral ceremonies or for opening a business. On special days of the month one must avoid doing certain things lest one should meet with failure or accidents.

Link: Journey Into The Vietnamese Culture

Link: The Vietnamese Philosophy of Life

STL_HCMC

So what is the verdict Mike? Are you going or not?