Going to HCM city sept 25, 8 months additional processing

[fred n Dao Honey 0]

Hi to all,

I want to thank everone that posts on here. I have learned a lot about the process. I am not happy to learn but I am relieved to learn that we are not the only ones waiting.

On the 14th of September Dao and I will have waited on AP for 8 months. I went to the Consulate on my last trip in May. I will go to the Consulate again this trip. Sept 25 to Oct 5 . I have hired Marc Ellis to represent us. I will meet him in person.

I have been looking back in the posts for information about an American guy that decided to go to Siagon and open a coffee shop so he could be with his sweetie. Can anyone can help me find their shop? I would like to show them some support and visit their cafe.

I have had about a 50% sucess rate with sending things(cards and letters) in the regular mail. The cost of sending anything except documents is well over 50usd using courier services. If any of you would like something transported for free to your sweetheart in saigon I have room. It must be legal to transport and I must be able to see what it is. You can send me a phone number on here to make arrangments. I have one 70lb bag of space available. I am hoping I can find others that can do the same for me someday.

One more thing since I have your attention. Ever since my first trip I have taken 3 Wheel Chairs to Vietnam to gift to a person in need. The airline will allow you to take it with no questions as long as you tell them it is yours. I get them free on Craigslist. Make someone cry and take a Wheelchair to Vietnam. You will never regret it.

Thanks,

Fred

[BinhJerome 14]

Hi to all,

I want to thank everone that posts on here. I have learned a lot about the process. I am not happy to learn but I am relieved to learn that we are not the only ones waiting.

On the 14th of September Dao and I will have waited on AP for 8 months. I went to the Consulate on my last trip in May. I will go to the Consulate again this trip. Sept 25 to Oct 5 . I have hired Marc Ellis to represent us. I will meet him in person.

I have been looking back in the posts for information about an American guy that decided to go to Siagon and open a coffee shop so he could be with his sweetie. Can anyone can help me find their shop? I would like to show them some support and visit their cafe.

I have had about a 50% sucess rate with sending things(cards and letters) in the regular mail. The cost of sending anything except documents is well over 50usd using courier services. If any of you would like something transported for free to your sweetheart in saigon I have room. It must be legal to transport and I must be able to see what it is. You can send me a phone number on here to make arrangments. I have one 70lb bag of space available. I am hoping I can find others that can do the same for me someday.

One more thing since I have your attention. Ever since my first trip I have taken 3 Wheel Chairs to Vietnam to gift to a person in need. The airline will allow you to take it with no questions as long as you tell them it is yours. I get them free on Craigslist. Make someone cry and take a Wheelchair to Vietnam. You will never regret it.

Thanks,

Fred

there are a lot of us in your boat. I hope we do not have 8 months of AP our thoughts and prayers are with you. I will remember the wheel chair thing next time I go to HCMC it sounds like you are a great person, we both wish you the best!

Jerome and Binh

[Kevin&Loan 0]

Taking wheelchairs with you, huh? Man, you have a good heart, my friend. Have a safe trip and I wish you success on getting your fiance on the same plane back with you.

[ScottThuy 140]

Hey Fred... Ralph is the one you are thinking about with the cafe'. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...200094&st=0

He was going to travel some, but should be back by the time you get there... try to PM or email him...

All of the letters I have sent made it, with the exception of a couple at the beginning that were not quite addressed as needed to get there... I think if its an envelope, it will likely not make it as someone will likely trash it looking for money along the way. Post cards are a sure thing to get there in my book... aside from that I do what you are offering and send what I can with friends....

[Teacher Mark 53]

Welcome!

That's great information on the wheelchairs. I wish I would have known that before. I live in HCMC, so if you need anything PM me.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

I never get a choice what to bring. Every time the "big" family finds out I'm going they start showing up at my house with cell phones, laptops, motorcycle parts, whatever someone over there needs. Last time my fiancee's uncle tried to get me to bring 3 cases of Ensure for his mom!

I ended up bringing several cans of Ensure powder!

I also got a bag of assorted SIM type cell phones last time, each neatly labeled with who was supposed to receive it. Only problem - the 'donor' fetched the phones from a recycle bin, and didn't include chargers for any of them. "Anh Jim! Mà là AC?"

Phuong also has her own list of "medicines" I have to bring, as well as the now customary bags of Halls honey and lemon lozenges. The latest entry on her list is a box of disposable surgical masks.

[Teacher Mark 53]

I never get a choice what to bring. Every time the "big" family finds out I'm going they start showing up at my house with cell phones, laptops, motorcycle parts, whatever someone over there needs. Last time my fiancee's uncle tried to get me to bring 3 cases of Ensure for his mom!

I ended up bringing several cans of Ensure powder!

I also got a bag of assorted SIM type cell phones last time, each neatly labeled with who was supposed to receive it. Only problem - the 'donor' fetched the phones from a recycle bin, and didn't include chargers for any of them. "Anh Jim! Mà là AC?"

Phuong also has her own list of "medicines" I have to bring, as well as the now customary bags of Halls honey and lemon lozenges. The latest entry on her list is a box of disposable surgical masks.

Those masks are probably cheaper here. I buy them by the box for 75K VND.

The thing I have had the most trouble finding was a pair of black shoelaces, believe it or not. I ended up getting them from a shoeshine boy for 30K VND.

The things I have not been able to locate are:

big bottles of hand sanitizer

big bottles of aspirin

hydrogen peroxide

Metro is a good store to go to for harder to find items. They're the closest thing to a Wal-Mart here. They're in D6 and D2. You need your passport to get in. Anyone coming here should take their honey there. She'll love you all the more for it!

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

I never get a choice what to bring. Every time the "big" family finds out I'm going they start showing up at my house with cell phones, laptops, motorcycle parts, whatever someone over there needs. Last time my fiancee's uncle tried to get me to bring 3 cases of Ensure for his mom!

I ended up bringing several cans of Ensure powder!

I also got a bag of assorted SIM type cell phones last time, each neatly labeled with who was supposed to receive it. Only problem - the 'donor' fetched the phones from a recycle bin, and didn't include chargers for any of them. "Anh Jim! Mà là AC?"

Phuong also has her own list of "medicines" I have to bring, as well as the now customary bags of Halls honey and lemon lozenges. The latest entry on her list is a box of disposable surgical masks.

Those masks are probably cheaper here. I buy them by the box for 75K VND.

The thing I have had the most trouble finding was a pair of black shoelaces, believe it or not. I ended up getting them from a shoeshine boy for 30K VND.

The things I have not been able to locate are:

big bottles of hand sanitizer

big bottles of aspirin

hydrogen peroxide

Metro is a good store to go to for harder to find items. They're the closest thing to a Wal-Mart here. They're in D6 and D2. You need your passport to get in. Anyone coming here should take their honey there. She'll love you all the more for it!

My fiancee is convinced that a box of surgical masks made in "China" is better than a box of surgical masks made in "Trung Quoc". She swears that the Chinese make better quality products for Americans than for Vietnamese, even if it's the same Chinese company. I have no idea if she's right, but I'll never convince her she's not.

She lives in Hue. I'll ask her if she wants to check out Metro next time we're in HCM. I'm not surprised it's hard to find big bottles of anything. Most homes don't exactly have a surplus of storage space.

[Dai. 7]

I never get a choice what to bring. Every time the "big" family finds out I'm going they start showing up at my house with cell phones, laptops, motorcycle parts, whatever someone over there needs. Last time my fiancee's uncle tried to get me to bring 3 cases of Ensure for his mom!

I ended up bringing several cans of Ensure powder!

I also got a bag of assorted SIM type cell phones last time, each neatly labeled with who was supposed to receive it. Only problem - the 'donor' fetched the phones from a recycle bin, and didn't include chargers for any of them. "Anh Jim! Mà là AC?"

Phuong also has her own list of "medicines" I have to bring, as well as the now customary bags of Halls honey and lemon lozenges. The latest entry on her list is a box of disposable surgical masks.

Those masks are probably cheaper here. I buy them by the box for 75K VND.

The thing I have had the most trouble finding was a pair of black shoelaces, believe it or not. I ended up getting them from a shoeshine boy for 30K VND.

The things I have not been able to locate are:

big bottles of hand sanitizer

big bottles of aspirin

hydrogen peroxide

Metro is a good store to go to for harder to find items. They're the closest thing to a Wal-Mart here. They're in D6 and D2. You need your passport to get in. Anyone coming here should take their honey there. She'll love you all the more for it!

My fiancee is convinced that a box of surgical masks made in "China" is better than a box of surgical masks made in "Trung Quoc". She swears that the Chinese make better quality products for Americans than for Vietnamese, even if it's the same Chinese company. I have no idea if she's right, but I'll never convince her she's not.

She lives in Hue. I'll ask her if she wants to check out Metro next time we're in HCM. I'm not surprised it's hard to find big bottles of anything. Most homes don't exactly have a surplus of storage space.

I agree with her on that one since production for US has stricter standards if they want to sell in the US they gotta make the better product. Vietnam might get the defective product or cheaper material since they don't want to waste production.

[Dai. 7]

I am also making a trip back to Vietnam soon. I will leave here on September 21st and will be in Vietnam until December 2nd. My wife will come back with me. After living over there for almost 2 years I am not looking forward to coming back for over 2 months.

[fred n Dao Honey 0]

Hey Fred... Ralph is the one you are thinking about with the cafe'. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...200094&st=0

He was going to travel some, but should be back by the time you get there... try to PM or email him...

All of the letters I have sent made it, with the exception of a couple at the beginning that were not quite addressed as needed to get there... I think if its an envelope, it will likely not make it as someone will likely trash it looking for money along the way. Post cards are a sure thing to get there in my book... aside from that I do what you are offering and send what I can with friends....

Thanks,

I will try to make a stop to his shop.

[BinhJerome 14]

I am in the process of making a second trip to Vietnam as well. Hopefully if all works out I will leave October 1st and come home on the 22nd, if there is something that someone needs sent Let me know I will be in HCMC and within the next week I should be able to verify my trip.

Jerome

[BinhJerome 14]

I am in the process of making a second trip to Vietnam as well. Hopefully if all works out I will leave October 1st and come home on the 22nd, if there is something that someone needs sent Let me know I will be in HCMC and within the next week I should be able to verify my trip.

Jerome

Honey,

A third trip you mean? Binh Le.

[David-Hien 11]

After a long time I didn't return to visajourney, I thought that everything is ok, but it's not ok at all. There are a lot of couples who are stuck on visa on visajourney. That made me surprise and sad.

[BinhJerome 14]

I am in the process of making a second trip to Vietnam as well. Hopefully if all works out I will leave October 1st and come home on the 22nd, if there is something that someone needs sent Let me know I will be in HCMC and within the next week I should be able to verify my trip.

Jerome

Honey,

A third trip you mean? Binh Le.

Yes a third trip honey. Thanks for the correction