citizen hour at hcm consulate

[james&nicole 2]

If you are in hcm and want to drop by the consulate to check on your case you have tues and wed from 4 to 5pm to drop in. Bring your passport and the case information form available from the consulate website (hochiminh.usconsulate.gov. From the home page go to the visas > immigrant visa page, scroll down about halfway to the "american citizen petitioner" in hcmc section and click on the link). Or you can pick up the form at the window inside the consulate.

You enter from the street, go through security will be told to go to a window to check in. Get your case form at the first window or turn in your completed form from the website. You will be given a number and proceed to the main room.

I have been there four times, twice in 09, once in 10 and once last march. The first three times I went to the right side, in march I went left. The two rooms are mirror images of each other. Institutional metal benches and a series of windows slanted at a diagonal. Bring a book as cell phones are not allowed inside. No angry birds for you.

If you listen you can hear all sorts of informational (and misinformational) conversations. Sometimes you can hear the CO's and USC's exchanges.

A typical exchange goes something like this: "Number 6014 go to window 5" USC approaches, pleasantries are exchanged.

USC--how long will my case take?

CO---i don't know

USC--i cant understand what is taking so long, i did x on y date.

CO---there are many cases ahead of you

USC--but what about......

CO---there are many cases we are dealing with.

USC--how long will my case take?

CO---i don't know, you can submit additional information but we can't give you an answer.

USC--(with increasing urgency) how long will my case take?

CO---i don't know

USC--(gets out soapbox) this is...(insert string of adjectives) At this point the drama really begins, many stories told with varying degrees of emotion.

CO---i'm sorry but i don't know when you case will be resolved.

USC--delivers parting shot and leaves window generally empty-handed.

CO---Miller time. Has spent a long day deciding the fate and future of all caseloads seen. Will be back tomorrow.

It is not always so dour, if you have procedural or technical concerns things are handled easily. Getting results from a bureaucracy is more difficult.

I think it is a good thing to go and show your support and involvement. It is a good thing to put a face on your case file and it is a good thing to demonstrate your love. So if in town by all means stop by, I think it is a positive. Don't expect too much and keep it upbeat (i know it is difficult). Just keep pushing that rock up the hill.

I haven't seen anyone hit it out of the park at the consulate but I've seen a couple singles some long sac flies and some decent bunts to move the runners over.

[ScottThuy 140]

Keep in mind that the person you may be talking to could likely be a trainee or someone from a department other than the one handling your case... Dealing with them at the window is really no different than dealing with an automated phone system.. they have a script of sorts that they deal with and the liklihood that you will actually speak to the CO handling your case is very slim to none.. If one goes in there expecting results, the result will be additional frustration and not an actual answer...

A decent analogy would be trying to ask the person at the counter in McDonalds a question about the actual ingredients in the meat used... they will either say I dont know or they will provide misinformation... the chance that the person you are dealing with is a manager and actually has a correct answer would be the same as that of getting your CO at the consulate...

Keep in mind that every time you go to that window, there is a notation made in the case file, so when the CO actually opens the file they can see that you have been inquiring and IMO that is better than not inquiring at all... It shows how important this is to you...

[astrlsrfr 1]

Thank you for providing this information. Funny analogies too!

Quick note on the phone system.. I don't think they talk to you at all anymore. I found a # from the NVC that got me an operator at the HCMC Consulate and all she would say is "How did you get this #? You have to use email"

[ScottThuy 140]

they stopped using the phone to talk to us a few years ago... I can only imagine the surprise she got when you were able to get through on a diff #

[Dan Nguyen 3]

If you are in hcm and want to drop by the consulate to check on your case you have tues and wed from 4 to 5pm to drop in. Bring your passport and the case information form available from the consulate website (hochiminh.usconsulate.gov. From the home page go to the visas > immigrant visa page, scroll down about halfway to the "american citizen petitioner" in hcmc section and click on the link). Or you can pick up the form at the window inside the consulate.

You enter from the street, go through security will be told to go to a window to check in. Get your case form at the first window or turn in your completed form from the website. You will be given a number and proceed to the main room.

I have been there four times, twice in 09, once in 10 and once last march. The first three times I went to the right side, in march I went left. The two rooms are mirror images of each other. Institutional metal benches and a series of windows slanted at a diagonal. Bring a book as cell phones are not allowed inside. No angry birds for you.

If you listen you can hear all sorts of informational (and misinformational) conversations. Sometimes you can hear the CO's and USC's exchanges.

A typical exchange goes something like this: "Number 6014 go to window 5" USC approaches, pleasantries are exchanged.

USC--how long will my case take?

CO---i don't know

USC--i cant understand what is taking so long, i did x on y date.

CO---there are many cases ahead of you

USC--but what about......

CO---there are many cases we are dealing with.

USC--how long will my case take?

CO---i don't know, you can submit additional information but we can't give you an answer.

USC--(with increasing urgency) how long will my case take?

CO---i don't know

USC--(gets out soapbox) this is...(insert string of adjectives) At this point the drama really begins, many stories told with varying degrees of emotion.

CO---i'm sorry but i don't know when you case will be resolved.

USC--delivers parting shot and leaves window generally empty-handed.

CO---Miller time. Has spent a long day deciding the fate and future of all caseloads seen. Will be back tomorrow.

It is not always so dour, if you have procedural or technical concerns things are handled easily. Getting results from a bureaucracy is more difficult.

I think it is a good thing to go and show your support and involvement. It is a good thing to put a face on your case file and it is a good thing to demonstrate your love. So if in town by all means stop by, I think it is a positive. Don't expect too much and keep it upbeat (i know it is difficult). Just keep pushing that rock up the hill.

I haven't seen anyone hit it out of the park at the consulate but I've seen a couple singles some long sac flies and some decent bunts to move the runners over.

Do we go to where they interview visa applicants? Will they let my wife in if she came along?

[ScottThuy 140]

Do we go to where they interview visa applicants? Will they let my wife in if she came along?

Yes same place... For the USC hours I dont know if they would let her go as well or not.. probably would depend on the person at the gate..

[james&nicole 2]

Do we go to where they interview visa applicants? Will they let my wife in if she came along?

What Scott said. I'm not sure about the wife either, in reading the consulate instructions it wasn't clear. I will say it is helpful if you can read upside down. Your file is sometimes annotated as you talk and any info laying around on the desk is fair game in my book. Take in everything you can. Also keep in mind the mindset of the consulate employees. A little social engineering never hurts. You are coming in late in their day, in fact after USC hour some knock off for the day. I heard them talking about where they are going after work. They are just like us at the end of our shift. Sometimes tired, sometimes hungry etc. I'm pretty sure if you have a soul its a tough gig. The decisions they make can really affect lives. I wouldn't want their job. I'm sure some are power trippers, some are just passing time to get to the next pay grade, some just want to be reassigned to Paris. At any rate, if you can get a feel for who they are and how they feel at the time, you will increase you chances of success with your case. IMHO (without consulting urban dictionary I think that means in my humble opinion) If these computer thing catches on I may buy one someday then I'll know all this sh....err....stuff.

[ScottThuy 140]

What Scott said. I'm not sure about the wife either, in reading the consulate instructions it wasn't clear. I will say it is helpful if you can read upside down. Your file is sometimes annotated as you talk and any info laying around on the desk is fair game in my book. Take in everything you can. Also keep in mind the mindset of the consulate employees. A little social engineering never hurts. You are coming in late in their day, in fact after USC hour some knock off for the day. I heard them talking about where they are going after work. They are just like us at the end of our shift. Sometimes tired, sometimes hungry etc. I'm pretty sure if you have a soul its a tough gig. The decisions they make can really affect lives. I wouldn't want their job. I'm sure some are power trippers, some are just passing time to get to the next pay grade, some just want to be reassigned to Paris. At any rate, if you can get a feel for who they are and how they feel at the time, you will increase you chances of success with your case. IMHO (without consulting urban dictionary I think that means in my humble opinion) If these computer thing catches on I may buy one someday then I'll know all this sh....err....stuff.

Great point... it is the end of the day for them and they dont give a ####### about us... When I collapsed there the lady could care less.. and when I got my sorts back again she pretty much said we are finished for today.. you are welcome to come back tomorrow...screw the fact that I was the first one there...