Dave 'n' Hai Au

just a quick comment, the OP is right. People try to do the filing of paperwork and paying of bills fast and the NVC system is not set up for that. NVC wants slow and orderly and people want fast so when the two collide, little problems like this arise. I am at the same point and see light at the end of the tunnel, but now towards the end is when some patience and carefull planning can payoff with a trip to PINK SLIP Paradise!!! GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!!

Hi to all, I was wondering how long it has taken people to get police report in Vietnam. My wife submitted request Feb. 23. They told her last week to come back this week. She went back today and they told her to come back next week. I asked her if they are waiting for bribe and she said not for this. Anybody that deals with Vn. system knows what I mean. I am just wondering what others have experienced as far as time to get it. I read a response on another post about Vn. mail system. My wife sent me Christmas cards the first week of December and I recieved them the first week of Feb. Her Ba sent his 5 days after her and I got them Christmas week. I sent her a Valentines present Feb. 3 using 7-10 day express mail. HCMC recieved it on the 13th, it got to Bien Hoa (45 minutes away) on the 16th, and they told her on the 23rd she could pick it up. I told her to go and complain but she didn't want to because she was afraid post office would mess with mail delivery to her family. Unbelievable!!! I can't wait to get her out of that place, if only we could get the police report!! Everyone take care and good luck on your journey!!!

Hi to all, just a quick question. My wife is waiting for the police record from Vietnam for DS-230. Does that need to be translated to english? Any help is appreciated, good luck to all!!!

[Do it both ways. Their e-mail system is very unreliable. It look 10 days for them to respond to my e-mail version of DS-3032 while my overnight paper version of Ds-3032 was entered right away. ]

Is there anyone who sent the DS-3032 both ways and it caused delays? The rep said they are getting a lot of angry calls because people did it both ways and are having delays. Just curious. My wife sent it via Yahoo e-mail and it took about 7 days to be acknowledged.

Hi to all, I just talked to a rep at the NVC via the 603-334-0700 number and she said to only send the e-mail DS-3032. I recieved the e-mail to pay the AOS fee bill but could not pay online so I called for help. She said she was glad I called before sending the hard copy of DS-3032 because if I had, it would have caused confusion. (we don't want to confuse them !!!) She said they are in the process of switching over completely to e-mail system. At the least, I would call them to verify if your situation is the same. I hope this saves someone some headaches, this whole process is hard enough!! Good luck to all!!!

Hi, sounds like things are going good with you two. I'm sure the phone calls are an important part of the transition she is going through. They probably get less frequent as she builds her life here and is busy doing other things. I want to buy my wife a cheap laptop and webcam she can leave with her family when she moves here so they can communicate. So far, she is against spending the money. Using a webcam has been a real plus for us during our time apart so I think she will eventually warm to the idea. The gun subject might be an interesting thread. I have several and will have to bring up that subject before she gets here. I think guns are a pretty foreign subject to most VN. people so I am wondering what her reaction will be. Anyway, thanks for the update and please keep them coming. You and Trang take care, bye for now.

I recieved e-mail on Feb.19th, recieved hard copy on the 21st and got case number on the 25th. That was my situation, most seem to be close to that. I would not call for a few days or you will get the standard runaround, maybe begin calling next week. Good luck to all!!!

Hi to all, I called 2 days in a row and got 2 different answers. The first was 2-4 weeks, the second was sometime within 90 days. I called back 2 days later and got number on avr system. It was about 5 days after getting NOA2 hard copy. If you look at most timelines, it is within about 10 days fron your hard copy. Good luck to all!!

Hi to all, I was just wondering about this. We were married in Vn. in Sept. 2008. We filed I130 using her maiden name and that is what is on our Marriage license. She wants to change her last name to mine and I am wondering when the proper time to do that is. Should we have done that before I130? or now? or when she gets to U.S.? I am thinking of many things this will affect like joint bank accounts, ssn, green card, etc. Any help will be appreciated, thanks in advance. Good luck to all on their journey!!!

P.S. We are just starting our NVC process so that is why I ask now. If we need to change, now might be good time.

Thx for sharing your story with all of us, it helps to know what struggles our partners will or have gone through. I think having a loving husband like you, the VN. community, and relatives will be key in Trangs adjustment. Also the warm and humid weather you have in the summer( at least that is what I hear) will be more like VN. Living in Minnesota, I hope Hai Au will be able to come here in summer so she can adjust before the cold comes. Like Melrose Plant says, I think central heat will be a key to her survival!! To see my wife crying would be a hard one, maybe a stockpile of Kleenex is in order, for both of us!! I have no doubt that your love and your lives will blossom into everything you both dream of. The wedding has probably already happened so we will say CONGRATULATIONS!! now. I think you are right about VN. gals being tough, I know Hai Au will keep me hopping!! Please tell Trang "Welcome to America" for me. Like you said, What a journey!! God bless, take care, bye for now.

I just called NVC automated line and it said there was no case number yet. Then i called operator and she said it could be 2-4 weeks. This does not sound right when I look at other timelines. I recieved NOA2 hard copy yesterday in mail. Should I call back and try to talk to someone else? or just call tomorrow? Please help, I'm going to lose my mind over this craziness!!! Congratulations to all, I hope you will help the process challenged!

Congratulations on your reward for persistance and hard work!! It must be an awesome feeling-best wishes !!

I have heard from Vn. women that their skin generally improves with move to U.S. They seem to think that cleaner air and better skin care products made a difference. Who knows. I show my wife the snow on the webcam and she thinks it looks so pretty. I told her the opinion will change when she gets to live with it for 4 months a year. She gets cold in VN. when it gets below 70 degrees, should be interesting.

Congratulations and best wishes!!! I have some questions if you don't mind. How long has she been here and does she seem to be overwhelmed by the big change? Did she fly here by herself? if so, were there any problems? My wife has never flown so I will probably go and get her when it is time. Is there a large VN. population where you live and has she met any VN. people yet? There is in Minneapolis so I am hoping that helps. About food, are there VN. markets where she can go to food shop? My wife goes to market in VN. everyday and buys enough for just that day. There are so many things that go through the mind when thinking about life for both people after the SO arrives. Thanks for any insights or stories.

You sound like a strong, intelligent, and caring woman. You don't need or deserve the lack of respect you are getting. As a man, it makes me both sad and mad that a guy would treat a woman so poorly. There are some pretty smart people on this site that maybe could answer some of the legal questions, hopefully they will see your post and respond. Otherwise you may need to get a lawyer to show you your options. Hopefully you still have enough savings or can get help from family to head out on your own. You have the strength to do this. Please do not let a sense of failure or that you are quitting too soon stop you!! He has failed you, it is time to get back to enjoying life whether it is here or with your family and friends back home. This doesn't have to be anything more than a good learning experience for any future relationships.

God bless you, be safe, and if you can, let us know how you are doing. Take care!!

Hi to our fellow VJ'ers,

I am feeling guilty after reading these posts. We filed only I-130 for cr-1. Our NOA1 was Dec. 24, 2008 and we just recieved our approval Feb. 19, 2009. I was not looking at USCIS too much because our projected approval time was late May-mid June. Maybe we will get a payback and be mired at NVC. This whole thing makes no sense, everything seems so random. We pray for success for everyone so we all can be together with our SO's soon. Some posts and surveys I have read recently at this site leave me speechless. Survey question: Is it ok to cheat on your SO while you wait for the visa? Because of stupidity like that, honest people here pay the price with these long wait times. The government is inefficient enough and then they have to try and weed out these clowns. Sorry for the rant but it irritates the hell out of me. I am asking for some help from someone that reads this. Some people in earlier posts mentioned about shortcuts in NVC proccess. I don't recall seeing or reading about them. Could someone please guide me to where they are? Thanks in advance.

God bless and good luck to all !!

Congratulations and best wishes!!

Hi to all, I was told by person that deals with these things that the "official date" for Vietnam is when the license is registered, meaning the day you sign it. In the U.S., you sign the license after the wedding ceremony meaning they are the same day. In Vietnam, I returned a month later to sign license. That is the date I used. I had same question and the man that helped us was quite clear about this. I am no expert, but it does make sense if you think about it.

Thanks for the replys. It looks like I will send a few things from each visit and some phone records. I guess it's time to jump in and test the waters!! Thanks again, bye for now.

Hi to all, this sight is a blessing!!! Congratulations to those that are united with their so's and good luck to all of us in "THE SYSTEM". The question I have is how much supporting evidence most people send with their I-130's? If a little is good, is a lot better? I am nervous and have not started yet, just want to minimize problems! Everyone please Take Care!!

we will also start journey in December, good luck to all of us newbies!!!

Sandwich bag is OK for photos, that is what we used.

Use married name if she intends on having that on green-card later after entry to the USA on CR-1 visa. Changing name on green-card requires filing I-90 and paying a FEE.

She can get married name amended into passport during the waiting time for interview.

I think I need to use name she has on marriage license for I-130. I guess will change later.

First of all, thanks to everyone for the great site! I have tried to read as much as i can but still need some help. Is marriage license enough proof for this application or do I need more? I thought photos and such were for the interview stage. Is plastic bag for photo just a resealable sandwich bag? Since we are married, when does her name change come into play? After she gets here? I don't want to mess this up for us and cause any undo delays as I'm sure you all felt. From reading posts, this seems kind of intimidating or maybe I am just paranoid! Anyway, any help would be greatly appreciated. Congratulations to those that have completed "THE JOURNEY" and good luck to those still in "THE ZONE". Hope to get to know some of the great people here during our journey.