RalphandHanh

I highly recommend Marc. I used him. My first go round with this process didn't go well. I didn't want to take a change the second time. I would not hesitate to hire him at all. He is by far the best. I have gotten to know him since and I have to say that its hard to find someone who actually cares.

someone told me that there was a post so here I am we are open from 3pm (abouts) to 11pm (abouts). I don't remember last Tuesday... hell I don't remember yesterday... If its later than 3pm when we open, its because I'm working part time during the day. Yes we are selling the shop.. hope soon... but if you stop by let me know who you are and about the post I the first drink will be free Sorry we weren't open when you came but... life happens

Well... I would have to agree with most people here. And I hardly ever jump on here or even comment... but I was looking for something and this caught my eye. Hanh and I just used Marc for our CR1 and the package was Very impressive that he and Mr. Nam put together for us. They really did a great job. Actually... they shipped the package back home so my father can send it off for me since I don't have a check here with me. We thought that they didn't include a cover letter but after having my father look again, he found it. Yeah, Marc can be off putting to some people. But he has a good heart and knows the process very well. He actually saved my a$$ on something that was really important that I forgot to do. I'm so grateful to him for his help. I wouldn't go with anyone other than Marc. Take it as an advertisement or just good advice. Either way... he is great in my opinion.

Hey Ralph. Looks like you covered all the colors of the rainbow there.

The domicile requirement is for the I-864 affidavit of support, as Roger said. You still have the same requirement if you file in the US, and it could still come up at the interview. A recent poster who was living in Israel with her husband ran into this problem when she couldn't prove domicile at the interview. The easiest way to prove domicile is to have proof that you have a residence in the US. You don't necessarily have to return to the US first in order to do this, but you do have to return either before or at the same time as Hanh enters. Technically, you haven't established domicile until you actually enter the US. If you intend to enter at the same time as Hanh then you need to prove you've taken steps to establish domicile when you return, such as leasing an apartment, maintaining bank accounts, etc.

The K3 is not exactly like the K1. The K3 is a multiple entry visa good for two years, while the K1 is a single entry visa. But, the K3 still requires you to apply for AOS after arriving in the US. This is expensive, and Hanh won't be able to work in the US until she either gets her green card or EAD. With the CR1, she'd arrive in the US as a legal permanent resident, and would get her green card shortly after entering.

It used to take a lot longer to get a K3 than a CR1, which was the primary advantage of the K3. This is no longer true, and CR1's are processed almost as fast as K3's now. With the K3 being more complicated, more paperwork, and more expensive, there really isn't any valid reason to choose a K3 over a CR1 anymore, unless you have some unusual reason for wanting to postpone the application for the green card until after she arrives in the US.

I'm excited that you're going to be coming to the US, but I'm going to miss The Big Grill. Those were the best meals I had anywhere in Saigon.

Is Hanh ever going to send that email to Phuong?

thanks for the good advice.

LOL well Hanh is a bit lazy to get on the computer lately. I will tell her to email her though

Sorry I haven't been there in a while Ralph. I'll try to pay a visit soon.

No problem... actually... I'm gonna shoot you an email today about something related. We will be closed Tuesday.. or at least we will not be here. We are going to Vung Tau for my birthday Woohoo... two days off in a Row!

K3 faster CR1 Easier the difference . k3 has been designated to allow the spouse enter usa while the uscis still process your case also vaild for 2 years

and you dont have to deal with the nation visa center once the uscis approve your petition they send it to the nvc for administration process then it will be forward to embassy .regarding CR1 once the usaic approve your petition they will forward yor file to the national visa center you will get letter from nvc choose of agent you have to file the form out and send it to nvc then you will have to pay 470 for IV AND AOS and wait between 30 to 40 days before the nvc complete all the actions on your case then they will forward your file to the american embassy . one more thing the embassy schedule apponitments for k3 applicants . nvc schedule appointments for cr1 applicants good luck

NOTE : it is all about some papers work you dont need a lawyer it is just waste they only apply on your behalf and waits the authority body to process the case to conculation good luck and after all your call if you want to hire a lawyer

I disagree with a lawyer being a waist of money. I appreciate the "advice" on this board but I trust a professional I know here and have become friends with. Because if, God forbid, something happens here again... I have him to back me up. I'm not going it alone again like I did the first time.

Hi Ralph and Hanh - glad to hear you are both well. I feel really bad that we didn't make it back over to see you guys before we left. I really wanted some more fried pizza two. The both of you were so awesome to visit with and we enjoyed it very very much!!! We are hoping for the very best for the two of you on your next go! Looking forward to seeing you again some time!

It was great to meet you guys too and I'm SO happy for you. Hope to be back in the states in the next 7 or 8 months... wish it was sooner really

why did someone tell you dcf is not good? it's actually the fastest to get the visa from start of filing to getting the visa. it only takes 3-5 months. the requirement is that you must show proof of living in Vietnam for a certain period of time. when you file, you file at the office in Diamond Plaza and then they will automatically forward it to the Consulate down the street. All the papers stays in Vietnam and bypass the NVC center. I wanted to do it when I was living in Vietnam but I file the I-130 in the united states before I left for Vietnam. One guy I know of on here, his screen name is "Konton", had success with DCF and I believe his wife received her visa 4 months after filing. It seemed like it went pretty smooth for him. Either K1, CR1 or DCF visa, I think this time your wife will get the visa for sure since you have been working and living there with her for a long period of time now.

Here is info that I got from a Very good source:

USCIS here has started requiring proof that you

are allowed to live here. That could be residency

or something else.

But that is a double-edged sword.

If you show residency here for USCIS,

how can you show "domicile" in the US

for the consulate.

I'm confused... so I'm going to talk to a the lawyer here. I would like to do DCF... but not if it risks another blue or white or green or yellow or purple etc etc

DCF is just filing the CR1 at the consulate. That's what you want to do whether it's filing at HCMC or mailing it to the US.

How's things there? What law changed?

Things are really good here. We are having a great time together. The new law... maybe its not so new but when you get married to a Vietnamese you get permanent residency right away. Just takes a few days for the paperwork to go through.

K3 is almost the same as a K1 visa except she's your spouse instead of fiance. She will need to go through AOS when she arrive in the US with a K3 visa. CR-1, you don't have to do anything when she comes because its all been handled at NVC when you went through the process. K3 visa is like the K1, you skip the NVC process. As soon as you receive NOA2 from USCIS, your file will go straight to HCM when doing the K3. With CR-1, your file will go to NVC and you will have to fill out the I-864 and DS-230 and all the other good stuff.

Overall, people only use K3 in the past when CR-1 took almost 1.5 years to complete. Now that CR-1 speed up, K3 is not wise to do. K-3 will cost you more in the long run and more hassle to deal with.

now that's what I'm talkin 'bout. Good info. Thanks Kevin.

If your husband is living there with you, and you can do DCF (he has to be living in Vietnam as a permanent resident for about 6 months, usually) then your visa will be CR1.

You can not get a K3 through DCF.

CR1 is the best choice nowadays. K3 is considered obsolete.

Good luck!

I am the husband been here for 6 months. And you can get permanent residency right after you get married here now. They changed the law.

Again... my question is - what is the Difference between the two. Thanks.

can someone tell me the difference from CR1 and K3. I'm living here now and I was going to do a DCF but I was told that that might not be good. Meeting with a lawyer here next week but I want to know the difference before hand. Thanks

A person is much more likely to catch something on the long flights than in general contact. Wash your hands a lot and use normal precautions. Bring hand sanitizer.

Airborne can't hurt, but not sure if it does much. In my hardcore traveling years I always got a regular flu shot.

Been living here for 3 months now and we don't know anyone personally that got it. And Hanh knows a Lot of people. Bring a bottle of vitamin C and B. If you start feeling anything take a large does of both. Limit your public activities if you are that worried about it too.

Just some notes. I will post my entire Consulate experiance after the Visa is in hand.

I made several visits to the Consulate 9/30, 10/1, 10/2. Yesturday the Consulate called Dao to get a Blue Paper RFE for obtaining updated medical. The medical info expired at six months. We are hoping this is all they will need and a Visa will be issued. We are still in AP 10 months since January 17,2009. At this time I am holding my mouth shut.

As I stated I will eventually post my entire experiance. Anyone that is in VN or making a trip to VN soon and has a need to get inside, contact me, we can talk on phone or chat yahoo. I will post my info for all to review at a later time but, at this time I know they read this site.

In addition, When I was there I invited every american I saw inside and outside the Consulate to join VJ. There must have been about 30 people I met having problems. We only have strength in numbers and knowledge.

Pizza at the THE BIG GRILL was great. Thanks Ralph and Hahn.

Marc Ellis is a very knowledgable Attorney. If we had to do over, We would start with him. He knows the process.

Good luck to all

Fred

Hey! Thanks for the plug LOL. We hung out with your wife tonight and a couple other VJ-ers. We heard the news and wish you the best tomorrow. We will be praying for you guys and that your get good news tomorrow.

I will go ahead and allow this post this time, but please keep in mind that generally we do not allow advertisements without the express permission of the admin. Regardless, good luck on your new business in HCMC .

I'm Soo sorry... I didn't know... If you want to take it down I don't blame you. I honestly didn't know. I'm really just looking to have some English speaking people come in so I have someone other than Hanh to talk too.

Thanks to those of visited and will visit. This will be my last post on this thread. Thanks again to everyone.

No Vietnamese food yet. The big sellers are fried squid and small pizza. We have hamburger, french fries, Philadelphia Chicken cheesesteaks, spaghetti... also a big seller, Buffalo wings, and some other stuff that I can't seem to remember on my day off

here is a video

Great video. Have you thought about any types of mexican food? When I was there I made faitias for Binh and her family, and they can't get enough. Binh wanted me to make it for her friends as well! Next time I am there we will be sure to come.

Jerome

I would love to make them too but I can't find tortillas wraps here and I have my hands full making pizza dough every day

Day off? In the restaurant business?

enjoyed the video.

Well when we find the right people to work for us we will be open 7 days but right now its just me in the kitchen and I can't handle 7 days a week by myself. I'm really worn out and actually got a bit of a fever but worked through it tonight. Its Very hard to find kitchen help.

Hey Ralph!

After seeing your video, I thought this might interest you. Look what I picked up last month in Saigon...

My last name is actually inlaid on the head, but I Photoshopped it out...

Indian rosewood "satin finish" body. Neck is gloss with an ebony fretboard, head veneer, and machine keys. Bridge and pins are also ebony. It plays about as well as any dreadnaught I've ever owned, and it's drop dead gorgeous!

Tam Hiep guitar shop, 36 Nguyen Thien Thuat, P2, Q3. Tell Mr. Binh that Jim sent you!

WOW that looks awesome! Someone else told me about him. They bought machine heads from the US and gave them to him and he built him a few Really nice guitars. I might have to go check him out soon.

No Vietnamese food yet. The big sellers are fried squid and small pizza. We have hamburger, french fries, Philadelphia Chicken cheesesteaks, spaghetti... also a big seller, Buffalo wings, and some other stuff that I can't seem to remember on my day off

here is a video

Hey everyone. We are open... Finally. So if your are in HCMC and want to stop by please do. We are open from 3pm to 10pm weekday and 9am to 11pm weekends with Monday off till rainy season is over.

We are at:

The Big Grill

17 M Vu Huy Tan Street

Ward 3

Binh Thanh District

HCMC

Phone: 08 - 22198585

hope to see y'all here

Anyone that is planning on staying in Vietnam needs to make sure they have their Visa arrangements. Before August 24th you could get a 6 month or 1 year Business Visa easily. Now they have decided to enforce a pre-existing law and make only 3 month visas available. I've heard rumors that if you don't have temporary residence or a work permit that you will have to leave to country to extend or renew. I've also heard that this is a move to thin out the foreign labor ranks.

well i guess I better jump on that. I really don't want to have to leave the country every 3 months.... cause I don't really want to have to run to Cambodia and spend the night at the casino

thanks for all the great info guys. I'm going to try some of them. I just read about a mix of vinegar water and a dash of soap. I'm also concerned about two dogs we have here getting into some toxic stuff.

We are going to Cambodia Next weekend from the 14th to the 16th but here is the address for those who want to stop by:

17 M Vu Huy Tan Street

Ward 3

Binh Thanh District

Hope to see you guys here... I will be here all year

http://www.eguidevietnam.com/VN/SEARCH/Pest+Control/1

thanks.. now getting her to call one of them is the next step

I had that problem in my first place. Sometimes there would be a bunch of them, then none. If you dropped one crumb of food on the floor they would appear in less than 15 minutes. How to get rid of them? Try to disrupt their path, since they follow smell. You can smudge your finger over a small area and they will get confused. I found several leading into my house and cleaned real good. It worked for a while.

What district is your shop in anyway?

I'm looking for the path but I don't see it. I think they took some lessons from David Copperfield cause they be magic ants. We're talking like 2 minutes and I see them running to a drop of fruit juice or crumb.

We are in the Binh Thanh District. Selling ice cream and smoothies but are gearing up for full cafe in two weeks.

Oh... and gotta love the low flying invisible mosquitoes too

I'm having a bit of an issue here and I hope that someone that has lived in HCMC can help me. We a problem with ants. Hanh is telling me that there are no exterminators here and that they just use spray and some chalk to kill bugs. So if someone knows a name or number that we can call for an exterminator please let me know. I feel like I have something crawling on me all the time

Well here's the deal the best that I understand it. If you are just going to visit and you want to stay longer than 6 months, you have to leave Vietnam for a day or two and then re-enter the country. A lot of people like to go to Thailand for a few days and come back. Then you can stay another 6 months. I think I read that you can stay up to 11 months without a problem but I'm not totally sure on that.