Jack & Xuan

I am very happy for you both. Now that you have the Visa you can enjoy the rest of your lives together.

This is sad. Is the Vietnamese government worried they will run out of women? Are you KIDDING ME?

Has this been a problem for natural born Americans?

I called the NVC today and they told me that our packet was sent to HCMC on July 25th. I am starting to get nervous now. I just want the interview to go well and for Xuan to get her Visa. I HATE waiting. I am sure ME will do a good job for us.

I will send Xuan a packet of documents Friday.

WOW. Congratulations to both of you. I hope Xuan's interview goes as smoothly.

mine went through the NVC pretty fast, my hold up was at the HCM comsulate. congrats and good luck!

How did you know when it was recieved or sent from NVC and what does the NVC actually do?

ME just contacted me. He will be going to the consulate tomorrow about my (and others cases). Fingers are crossed!

Good luck

*** DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS E-MAIL ***

The last processing action taken on your case

Receipt Number: WAC0811050378

Application Type: I129F , PETITION FOR FIANCE(E)

Current Status: Approval notice sent.

On July 16, 2008, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E). Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service.

If you have questions or concerns about your application or the case status results listed above, or if you have not received a decision from USCIS within the current processing time listed*, please contact USCIS Customer Service at (800) 375-5283.

*Current processing times can be found on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov under Case Status and Processing Dates.

*** Please do not respond to this e-mail message.

Sincerely,

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

Does this mean the longest part of the wait is over unless we have any issues with the interview? Either way I was very happy to see this because I did not think it would happen for another 3 months.

I would biatchslap your girl for talking on the phone while riding a bike. That's illegal practice .

Why would you say that? I think it is also illegal to strike a woman not to mention just plain cowardly.

Same thing happened to Xuan in Siagon. Only she was standing on the street talking. I told her to never stand on the street. If she has to talk to someone go into a store or something. I have replaced her phone as well. I am happy she did not get injured when she was knocked to the ground.

Waaahooo. I am happy for both of you. I hope the rest of the process goes smooth for you.

I use a prepaid calling account from the internet to call Xuan. It is called Onesuite.com but it cost $.10 per min. Does anyone have another option that will still document my calls each month and be cheaper?

I use westernunion and it cost me $20 every time I send $100. Maybe I am getting robbed?

Hello Thuy,

I have seen in many of your post that you focus on the fact that you speak, read, and write Vietnamese. I am sure you are not the only or the first, as you put it "white girl" to have gone through this process that can do all of the same. I think you may be worrying a bit to much about how your (what I envy) ability to speak, read, and write Vietnamese will do to hurt your case. I would instead focus on how very much it will help your case. The fact that many of your emails are in Vietnamese and they are very personal is a plus. The question you asked about keeping them out of your head should be the biggest asset you have going for you. I think you want to do exactly that, pull them into your head, that way they will be more likely to believe your abilities. You asked how you can prove your abilities, I think that is a perfect way and I would suggest that you pick a few of these emails or chats that are them most personal and private and are also in Vietnamese and encourage Tan to have the CO to read them.

I do not think any of us can avoid the privacy issue. I was and still am very cautious when giving Xuan items like credit card and bank statements. If she looses them lots of bad things can happen. Now I am presented with mailing these items to her as well. We all have to put so much information in the packets that anyone could steal our identities. It is the risk we have to take to satisfy our governments. I have often joked that I should have just gotten her a plane ticket to Mexico and let her walk across the river like everyone else has. Or better yet, to Canada and just drive across the border somewhere. My advice would be to hire ME before you send in your I-129 and let him and Mr. Nam guide you. They seem to be the most talked about on this site and I have hired them myself.

Just my thoughts. And I really wish I had your skill in Vietnamese.

Good luck

My case has not been approved by the USCIS yet and I have already gotten ME on it. I do not want to take any chances if I can help it. I would rather pay for ME now and have a better then average chance to get it on the first time then take the chance and see what happens. I will not ever know if I really needed to hire "this good man" and I am ok with that. It is worth it to me to know that he has been helpful to those in the past and I am starting off with him in my corner. I hope it helps.

Yeah, unfortunately I found out about ME afterwards. We are just hoping that his office can do something to so that we can be together very soon.

I did not know about ME when I filed the I-129 and I had already paid another lawyer to help me. Once I found this web site and seen how people on here valued his help I decided to hire him as well. I hope he will be able to help both of our cases.

My case has not been approved by the USCIS yet and I have already gotten ME on it. I do not want to take any chances if I can help it. I would rather pay for ME now and have a better then average chance to get it on the first time then take the chance and see what happens. I will not ever know if I really needed to hire "this good man" and I am ok with that. It is worth it to me to know that he has been helpful to those in the past and I am starting off with him in my corner. I hope it helps.

Anyone know how much you can expect to earn teaching English?

I hired a lawyer here in the states which was of some help sending me all of the forms and making sure they were filled out correctly (i think). Now I am still waiting on the USCIS to approve our I 129 and after reading all of the information on here I Hired ME and Mr. Nam (the Vietnamese lawyer). I know Xuan has had an interview before when her aunt tried to "help" her. Once she found out that she would have to marry the man at the interview, well lets just say that was that. Now this was back on 2006 before we met. That application was sent back for review to the USCIS where it still waits (thank god). ME said our case would be straight forward enough but the dark cloud of the other petition hang above our heads. I hired ME and Mr. Nam because this is what they do. They take cases that are difficult or have been rejected and fix them. In my case I wanted to go into the interview with all my ducks in a row if you will. It may seem like it cost some money but I think it was said on another post, "if it is bribe money they want tell me were to send the check" While it is not bribe money, it may have the same effect. You do not get a reputation like ME without being able to pull a rabbit out of a hat.

Just some thoughts. Good luck and if you need ME's number/email or Mr. Nam's number/email just let me know.

Gratz on the news of the baby.

That is a great question. Xuan and I stayed together every day and night on my last trip and almost every day and night on my first trip. We too have both our names on the recipts. I think it is standard though. The hotels we stayed at did not give it a second thought.

Great post, Icarus. I met my wife while I was an ex-pat living in HCMC for nearly two years. It had its pros and cons, but I'd go back again with the right opportunity. Living in HCMC really changed my life, and helped me realize how much I took for granted being an American and living in the United States.

Below are links to some Vietnam Ex-Pat Blogs that I still keep up with from time to time. Thought you may enjoy reading.

orangwutang

Antidote to Burnout

charvey in Vietnam (Chris is General Director, Vietnamworks.com)

The Final World

Saigon Files

SaigonNezumi

Virtual Doug

Thanks for the post. You taught English there didn't you? I'm leaving in November and plan on staying there a few years.

I am intrested in what your plans are for what you will do for income once you are there and what you will do with your responsibilities here befroe you go. My brother told me that I should just take out a second mortgauge on my house and then just leave. I am not sure that is a good option but there has to be a middle ground. I was a US Marine and I am all for America but I just can not stop thinking about living there. It has been almost a year since my first trip to meet Xuan and I have been back once since. I am not sure I can bring myself to leave if I go back for another visit.

I'm so low I'm not expecting any help at this point, but the fact that I am trying to do something about it is keeping my head above water.

The worst part of this is having to explain to everyone you know why you didn't get the visa. And then them agreeing with you that someone must be on drugs not to approve it.

Sigh...

I am right there with you buddy. This is truely a miserable feeling. On the outside I am putting on a strong front. I am joking with people and trying to be a pillar of strength for my fiance. But on the inside I am falling apart. The shock and surprise that this is happening is turning into a cold reality and I am searching for a place in my soul to shelf it so I am not constantly tripping over it.

Although I am doing everything I can to keep the current petition alive, I am beginning to plan for round 2. Rather than filing another K1 petition and having my dream wedding/honeymoon at Niagra Falls in the US, I am thinking our best course would be to marry in Vietnam and got for the K3/CR1 visa. Maybe an effin marriage certificate will convince the CO next time that our relationship is real. I figure we should have some resolution either way on the K-1 by the end of the summer so I am looking to plan a trip to Vietnam in late October. I just have to find out what the process is for marriage over there. So if any of you guys will be in Vietnam at that time, I will buy you a bowl of Pho.

That said, I am also going to research immigration requirements to other countries. I will not stand for round 2 being denied. I love America but I refuse to let America run my life. If it take leaving the states, then that is what we will do.

I have put a lot of thought into moving to Vietnam myself. Have you thought about that? I think I will go for Xuan's interview and if she does not get her Visa for some reason I think I will just stay and renew my Visa every 6 months.

Ok guys, here is what we submitted. I know what you're thinking. It doesn't look like a timeline to me, either. But this is what Marc Ellis gave me to fill out, and he said that was directly from the consulate, and that was what they wanted. When I received it, it was in both Vietnamese and English, with TERRIBLE English. I cleaned it up a little bit and deleted the Vietnamese. I also asked about the handwritten thing. Ellis said type it so they can read it. I don't understand about the whole handwritten deal. I think that is proof positive that the consulate sometimes messes with people just because they can.

TIMELINE OF RELATIONSHIP

May 7, 2008

* I, James Bond, Petitioner in this case, HCM 2008 XXX-X38, now furnish this sworn notarized statement containing a detailed chronology (timeline) of my relationship with the beneficiary, Hoang Dan Mai.

* Please explain clearly when and how you first met, how you were introduced.

We met in August, 2006. We were both members of Asian Friend Finder.com, a computer dating service. The computer matched us up according to preferences in our profiles.

* When did you begin corresponding with each other?

On August 10, 2006, Mai sent me an electronic “wink” through Asian Friend Finder.

I sent her an email on August 13, 2006 answering her wink.

* When did you feel your relationship became serious?

After one month of exchanging emails, we found we were mutually attracted, and sometime later, about November 2006, we began discussing the possibility of getting married. However, both of us felt it was very important to meet in person first before making a serious commitment, so no formal proposal was made before we met in person.

* Date and circumstances of marriage proposal (location, time, place, situation, setting, etc..).

After spending two weeks together on my first trip, I proposed to her on February 5, 2007, (see below).

* Did I propose in person or by phone??

I proposed in person on February 5, 2007 in Ngoc Son Pagoda on Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi.

* Where was she when I proposed (give exact location)?

She was standing with me in Ngoc Son pagoda, Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi.

* Did she accept immediately or ask for time to think about it?

She said “yes” immediately. I told her that it is an American custom for me to give her a ring to show my love for her. Together, we went to Kim Quy Jewelry Company to buy her a ring.

* If I did not officially propose, when did we first discuss marriage?

Not applicable. I did officially proprose.

* How many trips did I make to Vietnam to visit my spouse?

I have visited Vietnam three times to visit Mai.

* How many times have I seen her in total?

Mai and I have spent about six weeks together in person.

* How long did you stay each visit?

My first visit lasted about two weeks, my second visit lasted about three weeks. My third visit continues at this writing.

*Please give as many details as possible

First visit, January 2007:

Mai and I visited a few places in Vietnam. When I first arrived in Vietnam back in January 2007,of course we spent a lot of time with her family to introduce me to them. After that, we traveled to Sapa with other members of the family. We also spent two days in Halong Bay. After returning to Hanoi for a few days, we decided to go to Ho Chi Minh City to visit a few friends. While in HCM City, we went to Dam Sen Park, the old South Vietnam government building, and the Rex Hotel. After returning to Hanoi, I decided to ask Mai to marry me on February 5, 2007. She accepted. We made plans that I would return in a few months to have our engagement ceremony and a traditional Vietnamese wedding.

Second visit, June 2007:

I arrived in Hanoi on June 18, 2007 to a flurry of activity. There were many preparations to make for the ceremonies and many people to meet and greet. My parents, my sister, and brother-in-law arrived in Hanoi on June 19, 2007. Our engagement ceremony was the 20th. The next three days were spent preparing for the traditional wedding, which was on the 24th of June.

After that, Mai, my parents, my sister, brother-in-law, and I traveled to Hue, Da Nang, and Hoi An together. We spent about a week there. Then Mai and I went to Nha Trang while the rest of my family went to Cambodia and Thailand. We spent three days in Nha Trang and had a very nice time there.

After returning to Hanoi, we had a few days to spend with each other and the family before I had to return to the U.S. About one month later, I filed the I-129(f) petition, and we did not have the opportunity to see each other in person until May 1, 2008, a few days ago.

Third visit, May 2008:

I arrived in Hanoi on May 1, 2008. The first few days were spent visiting family. On May 5 we flew to Ho Chi Minh City to prepare for this interview, and haven’t had time to do much else.

Signed,

James Bond

Sworn & subscribed to me this _______ day of _____________________, 2008.

______________________________________________ _______________________________________

(signature) (office or title)

Thank you for this. I too have hired Marc Ellis and Mr. Nam. We are still some time away from an interview and I have visited 2 times so far. This will be very helpful to us.

Thanks again

Good luck on the interview.