I see that we haven't had one of these in awhile, in fact, we haven't had an interview in awhile. Cheers to you in hoping you get the pink.

Wow. How did that happen? Jdog wasn't even next in line! He's been pretty quiet on the board lately so hopefully he keeps us informed.

best of luck jdog,we hope you get the pink!!!!!

Hi Justin,

Good luck to both of you. You have my prayers from San Jose. I truly believe that you should have no problem getting pink.

Tony

congrads!!!!! yeah....

i do admit to being jealous, since your packet 3 was after mine...but best of luck to you....yeahhhhhh

BUMP!!!

Good Luck!!!! Bring that Pink home!!!!!!!!!!!

Best of luck for the upcoming interview.

Mary

HI jdogcisco,
Pls update your status, we want to hear your success.....

Any news?

Hello,

What do you mean by interview rally and what do you mean by not being next in line? Please clarify.

First off, I want to say thanks to Tony for following up and asking about us. That was very thoughtful.

Second, I would like to tell you what a f*#$cked up day we had at the consulate:

It started of with receiving the last package (I don't know what number, but the one with the interview date). The date was set for December 11th. We received the package the Friday after Thanksgiving. In the package they sent us the applications for a spouse and not for a fiance. We noticed by the amount they wanted us to pay (over 300 USD). So I called the following Monday and they said no problem, just come to the outside window at the consule and pick up the correct applications/information. So I did. In that package were applications that were included 'for our convience' for us to use. We used them.

A side note, the Friday we recieved the letter, we did Ngan's vaccinations and on Monday we did the physical exam.

So, the day of the interview comes and while at the consulate, they refuse to process her applications because she used the ones the consulate gave her. Apparently, there is a new process where they want you do the applications online and we should have been notified at the Citibank visa payment site. This was implemented December 1st, I believe. Our date on the visa payment receipt was November 28th so there is no way we could have known about them. Ngan tried to argue that on ALL communications we received from the consulate, INCLUDING the applications, NO WHERE did it say that we had to do these online. They didn't agree with her and they told her either that she was stupid for not knowing this or lazy for not doing it. So, they kicked her out and said they would not process her any further until she did the paperwork online.

Ok, so today, this might be the new procedure, but it is a FACT that we were never notified. I complained to the lady at the front immigration window and she agreed that this was their mistake. I asked to speak with a supervisor...she tried for a long time to get one to come to the window. Finally she came back and asked for my number so that a supervisor can call and I can then file my complaint. No one ever called!!!!

So, while waiting outside, Ngan comes out and tells me the news. I asked if we can go back in later this morning. She said yes. So, we raced home, filled out the applications and came back. It took about 1 hour from the time she left the interview, drove home, filled out the application (OH, by the way, it's only ONE of the 3 applications that has to be done online),printed it, and came back.

Ngan when back inside and immediatelty they complained, "How could you do this so fast?" What assholes. Nonetheless, the interview continued. They asked if we had a baby together and she said yes. They wanted to see our daughters CRBA (Consular's Report of Birth Abroad). She didn't have it. This was both or our faults, we didn't think that we should need it since our daughter is coming as a US Citizen and not as an immigrant. OH, yeah, I forgot. We both had called earlier in the process to ask about whether or not we need to write our daughter's information down on Ngan's applications. They said, "No, she will be coming as a US Citizen". So, during the interview, they asked, why isn't your daughter's information written down on the applications. Ngan explained and they only complained that Ngan was stupid and said that our daughter did need to be on the application. So, Ngan wrote it down while she was there. THAT's why they asked for our daughters CRBA. Immediately, Ngan knew that she didn't pass her interview. Next they asked her for telephone bills. They aren't even interested in any other evidence that had brought with her. She said we don't have any records of telephone calls. We talk online for free. So, the American employee who was standing behind the VN interview her asked in a real snoty tone, "Oh, so he N E V E R called you from America". Ngan answered, yes, but so infrequently that it wouldn't substatiate any relationship and besides he (me) used a phone card. So after that, she got the blue paper asking for more information. BASTARDS!!! She ask if she can come back today and they said, "I doubt there is anyway you can get the requested evidence so quickly.'

The evidence they were requesting was:

1. CRBA I'm sure this was the main thing that would have approved the case.
2. Telelphone bills showing I called her. If I used a phone card then I need to contact that company and ask for my records, if they won't give them to me, then I need to have a written letter from that company saying that they don't give that information out.

DO NOT COME BACK UNTIL YOU HAVE ALL REQUESTED INFORMATION

So, Ngan came out of the interview and she was so sad. I read the blue paper and I said, ok, we have the CBRA, no problem. About the phone bills, it's non-existant. You see, I am a network engineer for a networking company. I know how to talk over the internet for free. Not computer to computer, but to allow Ngan to call my mobile phone for free. I just think Ngan needed to argue this point further.

So, 1PM comes and we go back to the consulate with our daughter's CRBA. The security guard said I could go intead of Ngan if I wanted. I WANTED So, I get my number, the call me, they ask for the CRBA. I gave it to them. They asked for the telephone bills. And I got real angry and raised my voice and said something along the lines of, "You have got to be f!@#cking kidding me with this! The consulate needs to recognize that the Internet is a VALID way for verbal communication and that only an idiot would be willing to pay for an overseas telephone call. My fiance is even able to call my home or mobile phone for free! And if you would have looked at the other evidence Ngan brought to the interview, a "RESONALBE PERSON' would see that we clearly have a relationship." ...or something like that.

The guy wrote something down on the blue paper next to the telephone item and asked, "Do you have any other evidence you would like to present?" SH!T YES! How about 3 years of photos? How about my passport with more than 10 visas for Vietnam. How about plane tickets to Cambodia for both Ngan and I? How about letters written to Ngan not only from me, but from my mother, step-mother, and sister for the past 3 years. I gave him everything and complained that nobody looked at this the first time. He had to use 2 manila envelopes to hold all of the evidence. It was so much that other people standing behind the guy were laughing. Then he said, "Ok, please go to window 12 and wait.' I was so anxious and knew nothing about the process I asked, "Wait for what!?!?!' - still angry.

At window 12 I was supposed to wait for their decision. This made me even more anxious. After 2 hours, they started calling people up 5 at a time. The first 5 they told they needed more evidence. "OK", I was thinking, this couldn't be me I gave them everything. Next group of 5 they told them, "We don't have a decision, please go home and wait. We will call you" Crap, was this for me? Did I give TOO much evidence? Next group of people, they called Ngan's name. I went up there and I saw the pink paper. We got it. We passed. They told me to pick up the visa in two days.

So, that's how it went. That's all I have to say about that. But just to let you know what a shitty day that was, because Ngan had just had our baby 6 weeks earlier, she developed mastitis which is common. However, 3 vietnamese doctor's said nothing was wrong. So, she got sicker and sicker. Finally, on Friday before the interivew, I took her to an international hospital. They said, "oh my God! You are so sick and we need you to go on IV antibiotics immediately. So, EVERY 4 hours for 4 days (yes, around the clock), we had to go to the hospital to get her her antibiotics. This included Monday - the interview day. So, being exhausted, and having to deal with the situation at the consulate made for a VERY tiring day. I'm not looking for sympathy, just letting you know we were so tired.

We picked up the visa two days later on Wednesday and flew to California on Firday. Just in time for christmas with the whole family. I can't believe we are here.

Ok, I hope that answers some of your questions. On to the I-485 (or whatever it's called)

Justin

First off, congrats on that fiacso. Sounds like you threw your ballz right in thier face. I cannot even imagine how it all looked. It has always been my suspicion that people just need to stand up to these YA-WHOOS. I am glad everything went well.

So did they actually tell your wife to her face that she was stupid?

About the 5 at a time dealy...So it seemed that they were just making a massive group desicion on past/failed interviews? I didn't understand that part.

Do you have the link to the online form that they wanted? Which form is it?

Thanks. Everything didn't go well, but the result was good.

About the 5 people at a time. The actual evaluation takes place some place you can't see while waiting. I believe they are only grouped together when the names are called so they don't have to repeate themselves 5 times.

The form was the DS-156 (in duplicate) but they won't tell on their website to do this form online

[/quote]


Thanks. Everything didn't go well, but the result was good.

About the 5 people at a time. The actual evaluation takes place some place you can't see while waiting. I believe they are only grouped together when the names are called so they don't have to repeate themselves 5 times.

The form was the DS-156 (in duplicate) but they won't tell on their website to do this form online
[/quote]

I read on "TuoiTre" Newspaper of Vietnam, I saw this article a long time ago, but I don't know if it's the form you said: http://www.tuoitre.com.vn/Tianyon/Index.as...p;ChannelID=312

It's by Vietnamese language and the link they gave us for reference are:

http://evisasforms.state.gov
http://hanoi.usembassy.gov/visa_appforms.html
http://hochiminh.usconsulate.gov/application_forms.html

Please check if the form you have to use???

Hien

Where did you find those online forms? I tried to get them, couldnt find them.

Try this :

https://evisaforms.state.gov/ds156.asp

You received your Pack 3 on 10/16 which was after 2 other members who have not had their interviews yet.

Thanks for the clarification. I don't know anything about why I was moved up in the line. However, I did have my congressman write about 10 letters to the consulate to ask for special consideration since I was going to in Viet Nam for my child's birth and register her citizenship with the consulate - so, why not try to send us all home together.

At first the consulate would reply (avoiding the specific issue) with generic "case status" answers. Next I had my congressman write and complain that the consulate isn't answering my questions. Then there were a few times that I called the consulate directly and asked the same questions and sometimes they would be rude, so I would get their name and then complain some more. I also had the congressman write to the state department in D.C. since the appointments are actually scheduled there. SO, if all or nothing helped, I don't know.

One of the links is wrong.

Try: Electronic Visa Application Forms

I found out a few days before my wife's interview in Moscow (October 26) about this online form. What a cluster-f@#*. I called the Moscow embassy and they were all confused about when they would start using the online version. The web site said it went into effect *ON* the 25th. But they didn't actually accept it until the 26th. One of the other ladies had the online form on the 25th and they forced her to do the Russian version there during her interview.

This how mess is so mixed up! It's enough to make someone go crazy! I know I'm going nuts with the Adjustment of Status (AOS) stuff. USCIS gives me different answers every time I call them. Then they tell me to make an Infopass appointment to drive 2 hours to ask an immigration officer a 1-minute question about a form. Gee wiz, people! Argh!!!

jdogcisco, I know a little of the frustration you've experienced. Best wishes to you and yours!

:Mike

One of the links is wrong but I just tried to let all of you, who have fiance in Vietnam to know about this article (wrote by Vietnamese language), you can ask your fiance in Vietnam to read that article to know about the news. About the other two links of Embassy and Consulate, it's in English, I think it's enough for you to understand what they said.

The problem is the Vietnamese fiance or wife in Vietnam who is not respected when we come to the Consulate for interview or any other information. They try to bully us, it leads to make the wrong thing, then they can have the reason to deny.

I was wondering if in the other rich countries such as Canada, Australia, England, Singapore, Japan... How long it takes them to get the visa?? And who will try to bet who to come to their country: USA or Canada, Australia, England, Singapore, Japan... ???

Hien

Ah, I see. I thought that you had to submit it online. They just dont want people to hand-fill-in their forms, right? Because my lawyer and I already have a printed form that was done online. That should be okay, right?

I didn't submitted with that form, the form they sent to me is DS-230, I tried to search on google to find if there is some links to apply online for that form but none, I only saw that they mentioned on the form DS-156. They delivered my packet 3 on Nov 2, 2006. I receved on Nov 4, 2006, I have checked again with the Consulate staff at the Information Window and she said it's correct, I could fulfill by Hand writting or typing. I also checked with the American Arttoneys, one in USA and one in Vietnam. They said they didn't know about that change. So, finally we decided to fulfill by "hand writing"on the form they sent to us and submitted on Nov 13, 2006.

I could submitted on the sooner date but I was later 5 days due to this confusion, when I came back on Nov 9, 2006, the Consulate closed for Holiday. I had to wait to come back on Nov 13, 2006 to submit at the Information window. On that day, there were 3 women came to submit for K*-case, including me. I looked at the others, their forms were the same: DS-230, two in three ones fulfilled the form with "hand writing".

One this article, they said that news will be effected on Nov 1, 2006. I was confused, that's why I would like to check with all the people later if they had to fulfilled online?? The Attorney of 3AD told me that he only knew about the tourist form applied online. I think that if my form is applied online, they must state on the Instruction form.

How can you apply on line for your fiance, ridejewel?? I remember your date is the same as my date, submitted on Nov 13, 2006

I don't know, let wait and see what can happen. I will come back to Consulate on Jan 15, 2007 to ask about the interview schedule.

Hien