JasonGG

My wife would like her parents to visit us in the U.S. for 3-4 weeks this coming September-October.  They would stay with us the entire visit.  They are both in their 60s and retired.  They own their home and income is derived from military pensions.  They have bank accounts, but no strong bank ties like savings or loans.  All family - except my wife - live in Vietnam, including 2 of 4 adult children who still live with them. 

Does anyone have any experience with their Vietnamese parents getting tourist visas?  Suggestions or recommendations of types of documents they should bring to their interview in Hanoi? 

Thanks - Jason

2 hours ago, doggieandsam said:

Got the letter just now. 

My wife also got the same letter today - Jason 

On 12/25/2021 at 9:21 PM, JasonGG said:

Just checked my wife's status online and her August 2020 ROC was transferred on 12/23 also.  She filed her N400 in August 2021.  No idea which office yet, but hopefully all these transferred cases will get some good news soon! - Jason

We got letters from the USCIS today.  We expected them to be about the transfer, but it was the 24-month extension letters from my wife and daughter.

18 hours ago, JordanCosta said:

 

If her son were to have an interview at the embassy in Saigon in the future, could he be accompanied by one of his grandparents?  And how good would his English need to be?

 

 

Yes.  My wife's son (12 at the time) interviewed at the consulate in HCM City with a family friend.  No issues at all.  As long as your step son has the correct interview documents and ID and the person accompanying them has a valid ID, a family member or friend can attend the interview with him in place of his mother.  They'll only allow one grandparent to accompany him inside the consulate.  It is not a difficult interview for minors.  Mostly just exchange greetings, a little small talk, and exchange of paperwork. 

Interview in HCM City is conducted with an American CO and an interpreter, so the interview can be conducted in English or Vietnamese.  Just make sure he understands the paperwork he is carrying so he can provide it when asked.

Best of Luck - Jason

On 12/23/2021 at 2:55 PM, Sterai79 said:

I just got a notification that my case has been moved to another office,I hope it's a good omen...

Just checked my wife's status online and her August 2020 ROC was transferred on 12/23 also.  She filed her N400 in August 2021.  No idea which office yet, but hopefully all these transferred cases will get some good news soon! - Jason

My wife applied to remove conditions in August 2020.  Her application is at the Potomac Service Center and could be completed February-April 2022.  She is planning to go overseas in March using her expired 2-year card and extension letter.  IF her 10-year card is approved without an interview while she is overseas, is the 2-year card and letter still valid for her to return to the U.S.  I don't want her to get stuck at the airport while the 10 year card sits on the kitchen table while she is trying to reenter on the 2 year card.

Thanks - Jason

24 minutes ago, doggieandsam said:

any filers around june 2020 who received their 24 month extension letter yet? i have seen reports on here from folks who filed in oct-nov 2020 receiving theirs. wondering if they will send one for us who filed in june 2020 (or earlier).

My wife and her daughter filed in August 2020 and they have not received an extension letter.  Her son filed in May 2021 (arrived 6 months after her) and got an extension letter last week. - Jason

2 minutes ago, Athens said:

That could be the extension letter. Pls let us know. 
I think they are approving those without N-400 pending. Long process so far. 

It was his 24-month extension.  He’s good until July 2023 now.  Hopefully, mom’s card comes before March 2022!

1 hour ago, Me and her said:

We called for an Infopass, as well.  They informed us to wait 30 calendar days.  Today, informed delivery showed this.  Was the stamp (from YSC-USCIS) misspelled "Immigration" on your envelope, as well?  Mail has not been delivered yet, so I don't know what it is.  

My wife and her daughter applied for 10 year cards in August 2020, and N400 in August 2021.  Still no update on either since receiving biometrics reuse letters.  Her son applied for his 10 year green card in May 2021 (arrived 6 months after his mom) and he is getting a letter today according to informed delivery.  I assume it's his 24 month extension letter.  "Immigration" is spelled correctly on his, though! 

I really hope my wife gets an extension letter because she needs to travel overseas in the spring when her current letter expires.  We'd love to avoid a trip to USCIS unless it's her citizenship interview! - Jason

20 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

It is overkill, but if it makes you feel better, go for it.

 

We wrote a joint letter that said to the effect of "we plan to marry within 90 days of the beneficiary's arrival," and that was about it.

Yes, we wrote two identical, one sentence letters and signed them.  No issues at all.  Best of luck to you - Jason 

My wife filed 8/2 online.  Already received NOA1 and the letter saying they are reusing biometrics.  Initial estimate is 13 months.  Looking forward to having this final step of the long journey completed! - Jason

My wife came to the US on a K1 visa in July 2018 and started the local community college’s Ed program the next month.  Since we were paying ourselves (not a student loan / financial aid) they only required proof of our marriage and my proof of residency for in-state and in-county tuition. 
 

She was able to apply for and received a student loan after getting her conditional green card, but the school canceled the program and we returned the money.

Jason

14 minutes ago, mindthegap said:

Is the receipt number different?

Same receipt number on both.  Name, address, and letter text are the same.  Only difference I can see is the “Notice Date.”

Filed my stepson's ROC application (separate from mother because he immigrated 5 months later) on 5/1.  Got the I-797 dated 5/17 about a weeks ago with a 5/3 NOA1 date.  Today, we received an identical I-797, same NOA1, but with a 5/26 notice date.  I initially thought the second notice was because the case was transferred to the Potomac Service Center like his mother's, but both the 5/17 and 5/26 797s show Potomac.  Has anyone else received a second 797 so soon after the first one?  Is there a reason for the duplicate or is it perhaps a paperwork mistake?  Are both valid for travel or does the 5/26 notice cancel the earlier 797?

Thanks - Jason

10 hours ago, Aquilina said:

Visajourney is trying to get my hopes up really hard. Got my weekly approval estimate and it says "any day now!''. Sure, visajourney, sure 🥱

My wife’s said the same thing.  Next week it will probably be a date in 2022!

Not sure how helpful this will be now, but in when trying to schedule a K1 appointment in April 2018 and a K2 follow-to-join appointment in October, we found that new appointments (dozens) were posted on Friday between 1-2:00pm Vietnam time.  Openings due to a cancellation can show up at anytime, though.  Best of luck to you! - Jason

Just from my experience in April and October 2018, the embassy posted dates Friday around 12-1pm Vietnam time.  We took the first appointment we could get in April 2018.  When my son was ready to interview, we browsed for weeks before getting the date that worked for us.  
 

I think others who have scheduled in the past few months since the embassy reopened may have more relevant advice.  Given how unpredictable the past year has been, I would avoid rescheduling.  Whatever you do, best of luck to you! - Jason

FYI - There was a thread in the Vietnam forum recently about rescheduling.  Check that thread, too.  It might be helpful.

3 hours ago, Stein said:

I also support going through Tokyo-Narita.  Just went through there myself less than 24 hours ago when I brought my family home today.  It is my favorite transfer point coming from HCMC to US. I have done several connecting SE Asian connections the last few years.   Also it's one of the more accessible stops right now.  Today in fact it was the ONLY scheduled international flight this morning from HCMC.  Tan Son Nhat was a ghost town this morning.  

 

Also if they are going soon the flights were very empty.  There was only 15 people on the HCMC - Tokyo flight and less than 50 on the Tokyo-Chicago flight.  They did basically guide the few passengers to the connecting flights.

Welcome back!  Hope everyone settles in quickly.

6 hours ago, Jho369 said:

We are not sure yet but going from VN to TPA with stops. We haven’t bought the ticket yet. Does it matter which airport for the guide service?

I asked about the airport because I am assuming you are most concerned about their transiting between flights.  Depending on where their connecting fight is, the guide service might not be necessary.  Tokyo-Narita had dozens of airport staff greeting every passenger and directing us where we needed to go, even walking some passengers to transit security.  Not sure if they continued guiding them after transit security, but when  connecting from one ANA flight to another at Narita, the arrival and departure gates were always in the same wing of the airport. 

Many larger airports also provide golf cart service for anyone willing to pay the fee to bring them from transit security to their gate.  Seoul was a lot of walking, but lots of staff before and after transit to assist.  Beijing was always a nightmare.  Very confusing.  Huge and always quite empty.  Security staff are unfriendly.  Queues were disorganized and lots of pushing and yelling.  I don't go through Beijing anymore regardless of the ticket price. 

The people holding signs as you get off the airplane are usually waiting for someone who requested wheelchair service.  As mentioned already, it can be requested when purchasing tickets and also when checking in at the airport. I have also seen passengers arrange this service with flight attendants.  Korean Airlines and the Japanese airlines seemed to be the most helpful to older passengers.  I have seen the same passengers get wheelchair service beginning in Vietnam (arranged at check in), had it waiting for them at the transit airport, and again waiting for them at the U.S. destination.  At Dulles at least, it service brought them through customs, baggage claim, and out to the sidewalk to their hotel shuttle.  They don't have to be very old or have trouble walking to request the service, and in many instances, it will be a golf cart they ride in, not a wheelchair.

No matter what airport they go to after leaving Vietnam, there will likely be many other Vietnamese transiting with them.  My wife and I are always happy to assist other passengers who seem lost or don't speak English.  There will be plenty of other passengers who will be happy to assist your parents, too. 🙂

Jason

Which airports are they going through?

1 hour ago, SkruDe said:

Submitted last night

 

Today we got a notice that they will be able to reuse the Biometrics we last did, so no Biometrics appointment

Wow!  Very fast!  Congratulations 

I was just searching for this exact topic as my wife will be eligible this summer.  Thanks for asking and best of luck to you! - Jason

For some family on both sides we just put name, relationship, and then “unknown” for contact info. - Jason 

Good luck to you and your family! - Jason

9 hours ago, Purigorotta8 said:

What kind of special requirements regarding Vietnam?

For Vietnam, there are documents that could/should be front loaded.  These include a listing of family members and addresses (sometimes called a genealogy) and  a narrative timeline of the relationship.  There were some other documents that I can't remember off the top of my head, but a Vietnam forum search will turn them up.  In 2017, I also included documents related to our Dam Hoi - the engagement ceremony that is  common in Vietnam but no longer EXPECTED by the COs - and statements detailing our residency for the previous 10 years (a longer time than requested on the USCIS forms).  Despite providing my divorce decree, I also brought a notarized statement from my ex-wife to the interview attesting to the completion of our divorce and her current address.  I wasn't asked for the statement from my ex, but a VJ member's fiance recently got a 221g for not having it.  The genealogy is also a common reason for a blue slip.  Even when members brought these documents to the interview instead of front loading, they received 221g's that the CO prepared earlier.

Some of these Vietnam-specific requirements are related to fraud schemes popular within the Vietnamese community, while other requirements just seem to be applied to applicants on the whims of the officers.  Again, members going through Vietnam should read the recent forum posts.  I don't know of any members who were approved at the first interview after supplying the bare minimum documentation required in the 129f instructions.  I am sure there are some,  but from what VJ members are posting from Vietnam, most who receive a blue slip get them for something they could or should have front loaded. 

The majority of couples can usually complete the immigration process from K1 to citizenship without professional assistance. If the price of hiring someone provides the piece of mind the original poster needs,  then they certainly should do that; however, they should verify that the person or company they hire has a track record of approvals in Vietnam.

Jason