BinhJerome

I almost forgot, for all of you out there that are scared to go to a real Vietnamese place to eat, go to KFC they are everywhere in HCMC and try a Shrimp Burger. I have to admit there was better food in Vietnam that that, but that is truly the best "FAST FOOD BURGER" I have ever eaten even in the United states

depends on time of day and where I am...

Love Bún bò Huế ...

and if I am having a snack Ốc hương nướng or Bánh cuốn ruốc tôm,

and veggies has to be Rau Muong Xao Toi

that looks sooo gooood! bringing back memories!!

I almost forgot, for all of you out there that are scared to go to a real Vietnamese place to eat, go to KFC they are everywhere in HCMC and try a Shrimp Burger. I have to admit there was better food in Vietnam that that, but that is truly the best "FAST FOOD BURGER" I have ever eaten even in the United states

I know this is off topic, but I wanted to post it in this forum. With all the talk about blue and pink, I want to know what some of your favorite foods were in Vietnam. What things you saw/ate that you did not understand or care for.

My favorite food the first time I went was a seafood hot pot and other dishes that my fiancee's mother made. I am telling you all her mom can cook!!! The second trip I really loved her moms cooking. It was just a white and yellow noodle that my fiancée insists only had some vegetables, but oh my it was so good. I was craving it last night,but I only had the rice noodles here and some nappa cabbage and onion, not enough to make it like her mom did. I also have to admit I really love the Vietnamese pancake. The first one I ate I was not really happy about, I found out that they leave the skin on the shrimp. Binh was worried that I was mad, when in fact I was thinking the waiter pulled a fast one on me. I asked my fiancée if hers was OK, and she said yes. I watched her eat a bite with shrimp in it and she just chewed and swallowed. I felt bad that Binh was worried over the meal, but that was a really quick learning experience. I also did not care for the chicken there. If you are used to the us when you eat chicken noodle soup there is no bone, and the chickens are very fat with tons of meat. The chickens in Vietnam were skinny, more bone than meat. It really tasted good, just not used to pulling things out of my mouth while I eat. Let me know what you think!! Oh the fruit is to die for. I love Dragon Fruit, mang cut, chom chom. I missed out on jack fruit the second time, it was out of season grrrr. Have any of you tried the squid jerky? Ben Thanh Market has the best. You can look at it and get the amount you want. I recommend that you hold your nose or just not smell on the first bite. It smells very very fishy, but if you can get over that smell it is really really good. Let me know your dishes, and any recipes you might have from Vietnam. I am all about trying new things!! Jerome

You will need to do the timeline, not her. It will have to be signed and notorized by you. My fiancee had a timeline that she did and they did not accept. They will interview your wife, so with a timeline they can hear from you in your words about your relationship not in hers. I will email you snippets from my timeline.

Jerpome

Hey brother Binh

What's up men long time no talk,how you case going let us know why you keep bommbard men

john

Post your timeline. You want to help people.

Did anyone see the dates are different on the bluesheet? On the English section it says 25/8/09 but on the vietnamese translation it says 2/9/09. What's going on there? Can anyone explain?

Yes, the date for resubmission is different. Why?

Did anyone see the dates are different on the bluesheet? On the English section it says 25/8/09 but on the vietnamese translation it says 2/9/09. What's going on there? Can anyone explain?

Thanks Binh,

Your timeline look very good, I'm writing my timeline now. I will get it notified and send to my wife Monday.

hopefully we get pink sheet.

Make sure you get it notorized

Jerome

Thanks guys and good luck to you all and congratulations as well. I know I will not be going to bed early tonight!

Well hopefully everything will work out today. Binh is going back to the consulate today. They have not called her about the resubmission of evidence and I am having her go back with all our proof, as well as with the new photos and airplane tickets and passport photo showing I went back this month. I have heard they will not give a second interview, but we feel it is better to go prepared than to go unprepared. I hope everyone out there will pray for us!!!!!! PINK PINK PINK PINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enough about the fraud. This is a post for us to band together and get the rules changed so that they will tell us things we need. If 1000 people this year complain to the USCIS about the fact that the Co in HCMC wants a time line and each of us complain that in the I 129f or the Cr1 that they do not say they require this and if in Packet's 3 & 4 they do not require this that maybe they will start adding this to the list of required documents. With this post I am not combating Visa fraud, I am trying to stop having women and men go home from a interview crying and pissed off because some Co now wants something he/she was never told to get and that if he/she were told that it was needed they would have had it in time for the interview. This affects many people when we get a blue slip. Us in particular had started to plan our wedding, one of the questions the Co had asked my fiancée was when we were planning to get married. Well to make a long story short we got a blue and we were planning on getting married within 30 days of her arrival not waiting until the last minute. Also what about the countless people that do not use Visa Journey??? They have absolutely no clue about this time line that they "REQUIRE" they also have no clue about the proof of residence for the fiancée, or the proof of the petitioners ex wife residence. All 3 of these things get a blue on to regular of a basis. We really only have 3 options people, one is to take it up the rear and deal with it, 2 is to complain and try to get the system changed, or 3 is to just post on this site and hope that people will read, and believe what we say. I have problems with 2 of the 3 options. Most people have already filed the visa application long before they come to Visa Journey, Many people never even know about this website, some people read what they say we need to do "and like me are stubborn" and say to themselves " If they needed a time line or proof of residence surely they would have required it" . And I am not about taking it up the rear. My butt says "EXIT ONLY" so I have a real problem just sitting down and taking it. Please all lets stay on subject. I understand people are in fear of repercussions, so wait until you get the pink before you complain. Maybe as one poster had said we can get some sort of checks and balances at the us consulate, but the ONLY WAY THAT WILL EVER happen is if we stick together and all start to complain. Please feel free to throw your two cents in as this is a topic and I am really interested in any other opinions about helping this travesty get changed. COME ON PEOPLE LETS GET TE PINKS ROLLING THROUGH HCMC AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's easy enough to say let's try to combat this while not talking about fraud, but fraud is the reason the consulate in HCM does these things. The two topics are inseparable.

You want the consulate to give you a bullet list of precisely what you need to give them in order to virtually guarantee that you'll get pink. First, I don't think it's possible to produce such a list. Each case is radically different. The CO has to look at the evidence they have and make a judgment call. Two different couples could produce the exact same list of items, and one could look like Romeo and Juliet, and the other could smell like a fish market in Saigon on a hot summer day. Should the CO issue the visa to both couples because both submitted everything on the checklist?

Second, if it WAS possible to produce a list of everything which may be required, like you suggest, then that list would also tell the fraudsters exactly what THEY need to produce in order to get a guaranteed pink. I don't believe there's anything you could do or produce to convince a CO that you have a legitimate relationship that a fraudster would not also be willing and able to do or produce, including getting married in VN and/or getting pregnant. Fraudsters want the visa just as badly as legitimate couples, but for completely different reasons.

Some things have become apparent about how the visa unit in HCM operates.

It's obvious that they pre-screen the package before the interview, and make a preliminary decision based on that pre-screening. Maybe they do this because it's the most efficient way to process the number of visa interviews they have to process in a day. Maybe they do it because they've found they can often sniff out fraud cases without seeing the box full of evidence the beneficiary brings to the interview, and pre-screening helps them determine if it's going to be an easy interview or a lengthy interrogation. For us who are helping our SO's get through HCM, it doesn't matter why they do it this way. However, it does tell us that the documents they see before the interview better tell a convincing story or it won't matter how many cartons of pictures and chat logs are brought to the interview.

They also frequently ask for the timeline, and the request usually says that they don't believe the relationship is legitimate. Obviously, they've determined that the timeline is a useful tool for weeding out fraud cases. Why is this? I don't know. Maybe there are things they see in the timeline of a legitimate relationship that a timeline from a fraudster wouldn't have. Maybe a timeline for a legitimate relationship reads like a "love story', and a timeline from a fraudster reads like a business agenda.

From my perspective, the consulate has devised tools to help identify fraud within the constraints of the current immigration laws. Given those constraints, they've found those tools to be effective at reducing visa fraud. I don't think any effort to get them to change their methods or policies is going to be effective, especially if they have evidence that the tools they are using are working. I DO think it's possible to change the immigration laws to dramatically reduce fraud, and lift the burden from the consulates in identifying fraudulent cases, but that's a completely different subject. In the meantime, I think you're stuck with having to play the game the way the consulate wants you to play it.

I do think it would be useful to try to determine what it is they see in a timeline that is successful at getting a pink slip that they didn't see in the original package of documents they reviewed during the pre-screening, and find a way to get that information in the original package to begin with.

Maybe I am missing your point, but my point is that if they want something specific on a regular basis from people then they should let us know. Even with the timeline if they feel there is fraud involved they will give the denial. I just see a pattern that everyone looking can see. They ask people for the same thing each and every time. I would rather they just say "Look I need more time" than to tell you I need this and this and this, sorry that we did not tell you this 3 months ago. Also if they have all the possible info it will not make it easier for fraud. I totally miss how you say it can make it easier. IT would still look like a business deal even if they knew about it. You can not fake true love. And it is not fair for all of us that do have true love to have to wait longer. If they need more time then they should make the interviews take longer. I would not have minded one bit if our first interview would be today. I actually would have rather it been for today if they would have told us what we needed. I am sure some if not most of the people that got blue would feel the same way I do. It is better to wait or to have them just tell you they need more time than to lie and make you think today is the day.

Jerome

Good luck John,

Just keep your head up, you will be together soon!

Jerome

hey linda24

i spoken with my congressman help and he will lookinto the my case

John

Yea, I contacted mine as soon as my husband got the first blue slip...I don't think the second one is any reason for alarm though, it's just so they can buy more time and process the file. I'm just anxious to get results though so I can figure out what to do next...like if I need to bring anything with me when I go back.

...sometimes I just wished they'd "witness" our bona fide relationship for themselves instead of relying strictly on paperwork...--I'd have no problems...haha...

Hahahaha, I am sure most of us would not have any problems letting them witness a bona fide relationship!!

Hello Everyone,

I've been following this forum for some time and now just wanted to join the conversation because i am going through the same thing here.

My fiance had her first interview last month and was given a blue sheet requesting a signed and notarized timeline of our relationship. So I provided it to them.

Now, she just had her second interview and was given another blue sheet. This is what it says:

The Consulate General is unable to issue a visa to you because you been found ineligible for her visa under the following section9s) of the US Immigration and nationality Act, as amended.

*Your case requires additional processing in our office. You do not need to submit furter documents. We will contact you when we have finished processing your case. Case inquiries may be made by e-mail <hcmcinfo@state.gov> or by mail.

This came as a surprise because, I thought for sure she would get her visa this time around. I even made plans to visit her in Vietnam next month for an engagement ceremony. I even bought my plane tickets because it so cheap now and I have a two week vacation time.

I'm thinking of contacting the Consulate office and try to set up an interview while I'm there in Vietnam. Maybe that will prove our relationship is the real deal. Is this a good idea?

My fiance is worried that our case will expire soon. She seems to think that the K-1 visa application process is good for only 9 month. I never heard of this. Is this true?

We also discussed an alternative to this: Getting married while I'm in Vietnam, is this possible? We might try this if we don't get her a visa by the time I get to Vietnam.

Good luck to everybody else that's in the same boat.

Michael

Michael,

You can go in and try to talk to someone at the consulate while you are there, it will not hurt. I do not recommend that you get married while you are there. You have filed a K1 visa if I am not mistaken, if you get married it will stop your current visa and then you will have to start this process all over again. Good luck with your case, just see it to the end, then make decisions on getting married while you are over there.

Jerome

Hello I am new to the site I joined sometime ago and have just not really used the site other then to get inspiration from all it's great members

my current situation is as follows my fiance had her interview in may and was given a green sheet requesting more information. we turned in all requested documents last week. after a 5 hour wait she was given a paper saying our case is under further review. she asked what next and was told she could inquire as to case status in 2 weeks by email or phone call.

my question is what now. do we just email and ask for status, I am at a loss. I feel we have provided everything we could and that was asked for.

maybe it is just nervousness and uncertainty on my part but it is our future they hold.

if anyone in the HCMC portal has any insight please respond thanks in advance for i know all of you are great folks from reading this site.

art

Hello,

I have the same problem but my is blue.

I was there but not at the interview on July 13 - Got a blue paper requesting additional evidents and relationship time line. I submit the evident the same day and the timeline the following day. I also asking the consular to review the time line and he wanted additional evident. I submit the 2 day later.

Aug 10th, she came back and waited until 5PM and got another blue pager:

"The Consulate General is unable to issue a visa to you because you have been found ineligible under the following section(s) of the U.S Immigration and National Act, as amended Section 221 (g) of the Act porhibits the issuance of a visa to anyone who has failed to present the documents required in connection with the visa application, or who has failed to submit sufficient credible evidence to support the claimed petitionable relationship. The following remarks apply in your case.***

Your case requires additional processing in our office. You do not need to submit further documents. We will contact you when we have finished processing your case. Case inquiries may be made by e-mail hcmcinfo@state.gov or by mail.***

Not sure what to do now. What is the different between green and blue paper? Have anyone have this problem before?

If you like to talk about this, you can call me at 727-452-3311

That was a big mistake, on the blue slip it tells you not to submit it in parts but to submit it all at once because if you resubmit or give more information it will delay the process further. All you can do is sit and wait. I would say to bug them with emails that would show you are very interested in the outcome, but to some people that might not be a good thing as some people can get offended or angry when they get bugged. Just sit back and pray that is about all you can do

Jerome

Jerome,

What info did they want in the blue? a timeline and what else?

Timeline, proof of residence for my ex wife with whom I have been divorced for 2 years prior to meeting my fiancee, they also wanted to know her citizenship status, she was a american, go figure,and proof of residence where my fiancees family lives in the united states

Just the official documents (birth cert, divorce decree, etc.) not letters and chat between the two of you.

Anh Map is correct, only the official documents need to be translated. But if you front load your packet when you file I would have everything you submit translated

Jerome

Hello Jerome

any way would like you look at the case

Ituan he was turn his doc early the day ,they required but they not look at and told him come the same day in doc required

so up to you i no comment and best wish you guy the best, i was unhappy about that too many people got bue sh

I don't know what i say and wait how your case on

John

Hello John,

I know each case is different and all we have is opnions. I just try to remember that and everything else seems to be easier to understand and to take in. No matter what you say or what I say people will do what they choose. What might work for me may not work for you and so on and so on. I hope that you can soon get the pink. It seems to me that you do care for your fiancee and that is what we are all working for. We need the pinks not the blues, we all need to just stick it out to the end and eventually we will all be happy, here or there it does not matter just as long as we are happy!

Good luck to all!

Jerome

Hey Russian, Belarus and Ukraine Members;

I tried my first real venture with a webcam. Of course, speeds in Russia are slow so it is not true video. I am sure most of you have been using webcams for months if not years. I must admit, this was great fun. I have not see Natalya since my last trip, almost two months ago. Seeing her on webcam reminded my how sexy she is, reminded me of her beautiful smile and reminded me of her home and her room.

What have been your experiences with webcams? Other than chats, what other uses (related to our SO's) are there for webcams?

Hi, I am from Vietnam. I am Jerome's fiancee. I love the way my fiace show me the webcam around his garden and his kitchen. It seems like I am with him all the time while he is cooking or he is palying with puppies in the garden. My fiance plants lots of trees such as pears, apples and flowers such as roses and honeysuckles. He is walking around with the laptop and talk to me on yahoo voice and his neighbours thought he was crazy because they thought he talked to himself. We fall in love with each other via cam. We talk and laugh via cam twice a day. we know each other routines. We can even watch game shows on TV or talk to my friends in The U.S via his telephone speakers. Lots of things by using cam feature. More and more, find out by yourself!

Enough about the fraud. This is a post for us to band together and get the rules changed so that they will tell us things we need. If 1000 people this year complain to the USCIS about the fact that the Co in HCMC wants a time line and each of us complain that in the I 129f or the Cr1 that they do not say they require this and if in Packet's 3 & 4 they do not require this that maybe they will start adding this to the list of required documents. With this post I am not combating Visa fraud, I am trying to stop having women and men go home from a interview crying and pissed off because some Co now wants something he/she was never told to get and that if he/she were told that it was needed they would have had it in time for the interview. This affects many people when we get a blue slip. Us in particular had started to plan our wedding, one of the questions the Co had asked my fiancée was when we were planning to get married. Well to make a long story short we got a blue and we were planning on getting married within 30 days of her arrival not waiting until the last minute. Also what about the countless people that do not use Visa Journey??? They have absolutely no clue about this time line that they "REQUIRE" they also have no clue about the proof of residence for the fiancée, or the proof of the petitioners ex wife residence. All 3 of these things get a blue on to regular of a basis. We really only have 3 options people, one is to take it up the rear and deal with it, 2 is to complain and try to get the system changed, or 3 is to just post on this site and hope that people will read, and believe what we say. I have problems with 2 of the 3 options. Most people have already filed the visa application long before they come to Visa Journey, Many people never even know about this website, some people read what they say we need to do "and like me are stubborn" and say to themselves " If they needed a time line or proof of residence surely they would have required it" . And I am not about taking it up the rear. My butt says "EXIT ONLY" so I have a real problem just sitting down and taking it. Please all lets stay on subject. I understand people are in fear of repercussions, so wait until you get the pink before you complain. Maybe as one poster had said we can get some sort of checks and balances at the us consulate, but the ONLY WAY THAT WILL EVER happen is if we stick together and all start to complain. Please feel free to throw your two cents in as this is a topic and I am really interested in any other opinions about helping this travesty get changed. COME ON PEOPLE LETS GET TE PINKS ROLLING THROUGH HCMC AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vietkieu dont choose Cave, but they dont know the backgroud of girl and marriage by mistake.

did you ever heard college student sell herself 100-200 usd ? you will never know. you just know that she is college student.

did you ever heard that "gai mat xa" che viet kieu ? she usually made $1000 a month in vietnam. she said that if she can do her job and can get marriaged in vietnam she won marry vietkieu.

it is really so sad, the VC now much richer than vietkieu

I know for sure cos I was born in Vietnam and have been ling for 32 years. You may not understand Vietnam well because you are Vietkieu. She, gai cave, can say anything she wants but you do not know it is true or not?

I dont think we can do anything, the CO gave blue slips they have their reason. they tried to help USC, in my case I'm very angry at them but I think they are right, they are training to prevent fraud.

I see some viet kieu comeback to vietnam marriage his wife which was a cave ( gai mat xa, gai vu truong ..) , some girl while her husband come back to US she sleep with other guys even used his money spend over other guys.

about american ? they dont know anything about history of a girl oversea, 100% of them are for green card and money.

I'm not mean all of them, only about 30% are true love, the rest are for money and green card, and dont for get one small but it exist they say " lam di bon phuong chua mot phuong lay chong" .

those girl are innocent, they just want to make money for their family, because their is no job in the country for them to do or the job overthere not made too much money.

they destroyed the beauty of vietnamese vomen.

It is true but a CO has got al documents of a Vietnamese woman. I mean her job, her background and her police record. A CO needs to deduct a case which is 100% not fraud. All a CO requested is timeline or proof of exwife or relatives????

There is a saying BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER. What kind of Vietkieu who choose a CAVE??? Those girls want money in a quick way and not hard working. I respect peolpe use their brain and energy to earn money. There are many kinds of people like that all over the world, not just in Vietnam though.

BINH LE

Yes stopping all the fraud would be good, but.... that is not possible, so lets concentrate on what we can do and that is trying to let petitioners be better informed on what is needed. In a perfect world they would all be pink and there would be no fraud, but wake up this world is far from perfect, so lets try t change the system so that they can tell us the first time what we need so that we can stop the "ohh sorry, we now need this even though we never told you we would need this" marry-go-round

Hello all,

I have been reading countless tails of people at HCMC getting a blue slip requesting either a Chronological Time Line, Proof of ex wife for Sponsor, and List of relatives living in the country of the sponsor. This is a trend that we need to band together to stop. I feel that if everyone that gets a blue slip for one or more of these reasons should contact their us congressman or their senator. I also feel we should all complain to the us consulate as well. When we complain we should all mention the benefit to the system if they were to simply tell us to provide this information. It would A. speed up the process, less blue slips=more interviews B. Less paperwork=less expense and C. Less people wanting to kill the Co's If enough of us complain about this maybe they will do something. There are thousands of people that do not use Visa Journey, and they have no idea that these things need to be sent in. I was one of those many people. I also know that many of you might be scared of reprisals from the co, so I would not do anything until after your partner is with you. Lets all band together and help get the pink's rolling again!!! Stop the crying and start the celebrating

John,

I want to disagree with you. When you go to submit early the person taking them will check to make sure you have what you need. Yes you are correct if you need to make changes it will delay the process, but.... If you wait until the day they request it then they might give you another blue slip so that they can look over the new paperwork you sent in. I have heard many people say they got a second blue slip and it just said they need time to look over the new evidence and that they will call or notify you when they make a decision and you are to simply just wait for them to contact you. I will tell everyone to make sure they have what they need, and to submit it early. They will not give you the visa early, but you can rest easy knowing that you already have turned it in. I also would say to have 2 copies both notorized and both must be EXACTLY THE SAME, have the person going back on the day they want the evidence there with the second set this is just to make sure that if it were to be miss placed you will still have the info to turn in on the day. Also it shows that you are prepared and that you are determined to get what you need/want. Jerome

Here is my timeline with our personal information removed, hope this helps people!

(Your Name and Address here)

USA

U.S. Consulate General.

Immigrant Visa Section

4 Le Duan St., District 01,

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

I, (your name and birthdate here) a citizen of the U.S. am the Fiancé of (your fiancee's name). The following is a sworn affidavit documenting the timeline of our relationship during May 23rd, 2008 to the present. Case number (your fiancee's case number here)

May 23rd. I received a smile on Saigondarlings.com from (your fiancee's name). I looked at her profile and I noticed that her Yahoo I.D. was in her profile. I added her to my Yahoo Messenger list. She added me as a friend and our relationship started. From the first time we started to chat with Yahoo we used the Voice feature and Web cam. We talked about one another and then we talked about what we both wanted in our future.

May 26th. (your fiancee's name) sent me photos for the first time

May 27th. We talked a couple of hours on Yahoo using voice about what each other wants in life. I know it is soon in a relationship but I know that night I was starting to fall in love with her. She is a wonderful person I can see when we talk about our day that she truly cares about others. She tells me about what each student does at school, about her family, and about her friends. I can tell through our conversations that she is serious about her future. It is strange but when you know you are meant to be with someone you just know, and I know that with her at this point.

May 28th. I sent (your fiancee's name) 2 separate emails one in the morning and one in the afternoon. I talked about my family, how I was raised, and that I am starting to gain true feelings for her. Talking every with Yahoo Voice service. I have started to fall in love with her, and I have told her for the first time that I love her. We became a boyfriend and girlfriend.

May 29th. We mainly use Yahoo as communication. It has a voice and web cam feature that is better and cheaper than a phone. We have daily chat, sometimes twice each day. Our chats include talk of each others days, what our plans are for the next day, and how our family is doing. We chat like we are husband and wife. Talking about each aspect of our day as if we were sitting across the table at dinner.

June 2nd. I sent (your fiancee's name) gifts for the first time. I sent her a shirt some shoes and a card that sang the song “How sweet it is to be loved by you”

Month of June. We continue to have daily communication each day, and on the weekends we have chat 2 times each day for hours each time.

June 12th. (your fiancee's name) sang me a song “Happy Birthday” and we chatted for hours.

July 1st. I sent her gifts again. I sent her a gold ring with diamonds saying “love” on the side of the ring. I also sent her a white skirt and a white shirt. I hid the ring on a button on the shirt. This way when she tried on the shirt for the first time she would find it then. It was a surprise for her.

Month of July. Same as in June and every month. We have daily communication using Yahoo chat with voice and web cam. It is so wonderful to be able to see who you are talking to while you talk. You can actually tell that they are interested in you and not just talking on the phone saying yes, yes, yes.

July 17th. got the package with the ring. I asked her to wait to open that package until we could chat. While we were chatting she opened up the package, and I asked her to put the shirt on over her other shirt just to try it on. When she did she did not notice the ring fall, and I said “Honey, what was that that fell?” She looked then when she found it she started to cry. It was a very special day. I called Binh on the telephone for the first time. Call quality is less than expected so we decided to use the telephone when the internet was down or if we were not home.

August 6th. I sent her gifts again. I sent Strawberry cheesecake in a box, small candies, and peaches from my garden.

August 23rd. She received the gifts. She told me the peaches did not taste right. When she showed them to me I had her throw them away because they were spoiled. I felt badly.

September 3rd. We started to get very serious. We talked about our futures in particular. Binh told me that she would leave Vietnam for me. We also talked about marriage, but we both decided that before we officially proposed that we should meet in person. This way we could make sure that our feelings were genuine. At this point in our relationship we know that we both want to marry one another and that we deeply and truly love each other.

September 6th. I started to look for a plane ticket and dates for my arrival.

September 11th. I tried to call my mom and she was not there. was able to speak with my son using the speaker phone and Yahoo.

October 15th. I bought the plane ticket. We start to plan my trip.

October 27th. I call my mother with my home phone and I put her on Speaker phone and Binh gets to wish her happy birthday. was extremely happy and so was my mother. Binh talked to my mom for quite a while on the phone. When I was about to hang up the phone Binh said “bye mom” I think my mom started to cry when she heard her say that. I love (your fiancee's name) so much for that. When Binh said that to my mom I knew that she wanted to be a part of my family

November 4th. We start to talk about what type of engagement party we will want to have. (your fiancee's name)starts to look at different restaurants and send me information on them.

November 17th. We have decided on the restaurant Van Thanh Resort. We reserve 10 tables for our party. picks out a 5 course meal with my help. We have crab soup to start. Then we had bread and beef, fried spring roll, we have a hot pot with beef and sea food. For dessert we have traditional Hue cakes and grapes.

November 28th. I send $600 for deposit for the restaurant for our engagement party. We know now that it is only a formality that we are not formally engaged. I want to ask her to marry me in person not over the internet. I love (your fiancee's name) so much at this point in our relationship that she is the only thing I think about.

December 5th. We start to make plans for the engagement party. We start to pick out the invitation cards and we do more planning on my trip. starts to look for hotels for me while I am in Vietnam.

December 17th. I chat one more time with (your fiancee's name) before I leave to go and visit her. I tell her how much I love her and that if something were to happen on my flight over there for her to know I loved her and I want her to be happy. She starts to cry and tells me not to talk that way.

December 18th. I leave Indiana to go to Vietnam.

December 19th. I arrive at SGN airport about midnight. As soon as I walked out of the airport I see hundreds of people. I start to scan the people until I see the most beautiful woman in the world. (your fiancee's name) comes running up with her brother Hung. (your fiancee's name) gives me a big hug and we have our first kiss. It was the kiss I will remember for the rest of my life. I stayed the night at Alan and Van’s house. They are Binh’s friends.

December 20th. In the morning (your fiancee's name) took me to the hotel Thai Ha Huy on Le Van Sy Street, where we checked in. Later in the morning we went to her house and I get to meet her Mother, aunts. Her brother Hung is also there. (your fiancee's name)and I get to talk all morning long. About 2:00 p.m. we decide to go to the zoo in HCMC. Hung joins us for the afternoon. While at the Zoo I decide to propose to her. I picked the spot in front of the Lions cage while the Lion was roaring. I got down on my knee and took (your fiancee's name)by the hand and put the engagement ring on her finger as I asked her to marry me. (your fiancee's name) said yes as soon as I asked her. I stood up and gave her a kiss. We finished our walk through the zoo then we hurried home so that we could tell mom the good news. When we told her, she told Binh to make me promise that I would take care of her for the rest of our lives. I told (your fiancee's name)to tell her that I would always protect and take care of her. Then she hugged me and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

December 21st. (your fiancee's name) and I went out and got Traditional wedding rings for the engagement ceremony. After we went shopping for our rings we went to Saigon Super Bowl so that we could relax and have some fun. We went bowling and I won both games. We got ice cream from the market in Super Bowl and brought it back for her family.

December 22nd. (your fiancee's name) and I went to the Reunification Palace. While there they had a school doing a field trip, and one of the students said “hello” in English so I replied in Vietnamese “Xin Chao” For the rest of the visit every time the students would go by I would be saying “Xin Chao” over and over again. After we left the Reunification Palace we went to visit the Notre Dame church, and to take a few photos. We ate dinner at Alan and Van’s house. We had some spicy Thai food. Alan offered for me to stay with them at their home.

December 23rd. (your fiancee's name) and I checked out of the Hotel and moved my clothes to Alan and Van’s house. We then went to the War museum. Later that night Binh introduced me to two of her good friends, Chad and Uyen. We had drinks at Saigon pho coffee shop. We had milk shakes, and we talked for a couple of hours.

December 24th. In the morning I got fitted for my ao dai. After that we relaxed at her house. (your fiancee's name) mother made chicken noodle soup for lunch and Spaghetti for Dinner

December 25th. We went to celebrate Christmas at Alan and Van’s house. We ate Barbecue ribs, fish, squid, and baked potatoes and toasted with champagne. Later that night we called my mother and son, wishing them a merry Christmas.

December 26th. We prepared for the traditional engagement party at home with the help from her mother and brother. We went to pick up my ao dai. Later in the evening we went to an Italian restaurant Chef Mama and had Lasagna and Lamb.

December 27th. Our engagement ceremony day! In the morning we were busy getting the house ready and greeting guests at her house. At noon (your fiancee's name)went to get her hair done and I stayed at her house with her brother and got dressed and greeted more family and friends. At 3:00 p.m. we prayed to her ancestors and I was introduced to her family and relatives. At 6:00 pm we went to Van Thanh Resort Restaurant-Binh Quoi Tourism. There we had an engagement dinner with 100 of her relatives and friends.

December 28th. My Fiancée and I went shopping at “backpackers” area and relaxed at her home.

December 29th. My Fiancée and I went to Cat Tien National Park, Dong Nai Province. Along the way we visited my fiancée’s aunt, uncle and cousin at their home. When we got to the park we went off the trail into the actual jungle, and we did not see anything, when we got back to the trail Binh started to scream she noticed that her legs and feet were covered in leeches. We had to take our shoes and socks off and even take the shoe laces out of our shoes to get all the leeches off of us. There had to be over 100 on each of us. After we got our shoes back on we started to walk down the trail again. I heard a noise and as I took one more step I saw out of the corner of my eye a Cobra. I jumped back and could not believe my eyes. It started to go back into the jungle so I gently pulled on its tail so that it would turn and face me, so that I could get photos of it. I also was able to take a video of it. I used a stick to pick him up. It was a great time in the Jungle with my beautiful Fiancée. When we got back from the National Park we went to eat Vietnamese pancakes for dinner. This is when I found out that people leave the skin on shrimp and eat it.

December 30th. In the morning we were about to go to Mekong Delta, while Binh was getting ready I was petting Alan’s dog when it decided to bite me twice. I had to go to Family Medical Practice HCMC. They put stitches in both bites. We were unable to go to Mekong Delta, so instead we went to the movies and watched “The Day The Earth Stood Still”. Then we had dinner at Majestic restaurant and ate hotpot and fresh spring rolls

December 31st. We went stayed at Alan and Van’s house and just spent time together talking to each other and with Alan before he had to go back to China on business.

January 1st 2009. We went to her house to wish her family happy new year. We went to watch the film Australia at Galaxy cinema, and then we went back to Alan and Van’s house to spend time together and talk about our future.

January 2nd. We stayed at her house most of the day with some shopping near her home. I made Mexican food for her family. My fiancée told me that I was a very lucky man and that she thinks I am the only man to ever cook in her mother’s kitchen.

January 3rd. My fiancée, her mother, brother and 2 of his friends went to Dai Nam National Park, Binh Duong Province. We had a great time looking at all the water fountains and waterfalls. We took many photos, and videos of the day.

January 4th. We relaxed at her mom’s house and I made a bread bowl dish for lunch. We also went walking around HCMC and went to the post office and took photos.

January 5th. We treated Van, her daughter and her maid to Mexican food for letting me stay with them.

January 6th. My last day in Vietnam. It was a very sad day. We mainly set around my fiancée’s house. In the evening we went to eat dinner as a family. We had hot pot. Then my fiancée and her mother took me to the airport. We waited outside the airport for about 20 minutes, and I had to go inside. I was so sad and I did not want to let them see me cry.

January 12th. I sent my fiancée an American flag bikini for her birthday along with 2 shirts and a Valentine card that I spoke into saying “I love you Binh today, tomorrow, always and forever. You are always in my heart always on my mind. I love you”

February 1st. I filed the K1 Visa application

February 9th. I received the NOA1 from USCIS

February 23rd. I sent 4 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies, 2 packages of salsa mix, 5 bags of beef jerky, and two tank tops.

February 24th. I ordered a Digital photo frame for my fiancée’s mother’s birthday on April 8th.

Month of March. We continue to have daily conversations with Voice service from Yahoo messenger and web cam. Each night we talk about our days, and our dreams. I will take my laptop outside to show her the house, and my dogs. When I cook I take the laptop in the kitchen and she can watch me cook. It is as if we were together.

March 25th. My fiancée received the digital photo frame for her mom’s birthday

April 8th. We received NOA2 approval letter from USCIS.

April 20th. My fiancée told me on Yahoo that she sent me Lacquer painting for my birthday

April 27th. My fiancée tells me she has received packet 3!!

May 9th. My fiancée shows me a robe that she bought for my son and cigarettes that she bought for my mom. She tells me that she is going to send them the next day.

May 15th I sent 2 packages of really hot salsa mix, and a bag of dill pickle mix, and some sweets.

May 19th. My fiancée told me that she sent off packet 3 to the HCMC Consulate.

June 2nd. I sent my fiancée all the documents that were requested by the HCMC Consulate

June 8th. I requested Vacation time to make a second trip to Vietnam before the interview, but my boss would not allow me to use my vacation time.

June 11th. My fiancée tells me that she received packet 4 from the HCMC Consulate.

June 12th. My fiancée sings me songs and plays her guitar on Yahoo for my birthday. She said “I look like a monkey and I smell like one too!” We both laughed about it.

June 13th. My fiancée told me that she has received the documents I sent her.

June 16th. I sent my fiancée a web cam, strawberry jam, and tortillas for Mexican food.

July 3rd. I sent my fiancée a cell phone with a sim card that would work once she landed in America so that I could find her easily at the airport when she arrived.

July 4th. We talked about our planned wedding. We have decided on the date of September 5th over the Labor Day weekend. We have also decided that it would be in Missouri where most of my friends live. We can not get any more exact plans until after we know she is going to get the visa. I want to make sure she will be here before we reserve the exact church and banquet hall.

July 9th. My fiancée went to do her medical exam at Cho Ray Hospital.

July 20th. We talk about the interview and discuss our plans on when she will come to America after she gets the pink slip.

July 23rd. My fiancée’s visa interview is at 9:30. I called her before she went there and told her that I will be awake until we know about the visa. She called me at 1:00 a.m. my time and told me she has no news yet but that she is at lunch break. Then at 2:35 a.m. she called me and said that we got a blue slip. We are both heart broken because she says they are asking for evidence that no one ever told us that we needed.

July 24th. I talked to her for hours trying to cheer her up, and to figure out what we need for this visa. We are both heart broken over the news. I keep telling her that blue is not a denial, with the requested information we can still get the visa and I promised to get her the information that she needs. I applied for a visa to come back to Vietnam on August 1st. I tell my boss I have to take time off from August 1st to the 12th, so that I can go back to Vietnam. My fiancée needs me and I will be there for her. I love (your fiancee's name) and she is my world.

August 1st. I plan to travel to Vietnam, to personally deliver the requested information on my ex wife and on the timeline on Monday August 3rd

I, (place your name here) swear that what I have written is accurate and truthful.

________________________________________ Date _________________

That is interesting to know. My post should be back up after they edit my personal info!

At least all is well for you. Dont scare the misses to much though! If she sees all the destruction she might get scared.