fred n Dao Honey

international travel to the USA always collects luggage first then go through immigrations. If your lucky it will be the same as a passport check with a couple of questions.

When my wife first arrived they asked her and her sons to step aside for an interview. took over 3 hours. I had flown to Chicago POE to meet them. I was burning mad and had to miss many flights back home. Then sat in the airport for another four hours waiting for four open seats. If it had not been for my airline milage status we would have stayed in the airport overnight.

In my case my wife looks very young. I think they did not believe she was the same person on the passport. They checked her fingerprints a couple times.She was 38 at the time and was asked when she was going to start school by a student when we registered her son at the high school a week later.

The last time we entered we had an expired 3 year green card with extension letter. they asked us to step aside. The new 10 year green card was in the mail at home and must have raised a little flag.

can get notarized at the consulate. bring US money. Sorry i don't remember the cost

You can file K-1 then have the Dam Hoi. If I had waited my oldest stepson would be in VN instead of here attending a university. You only need to proove a relationship. In VN culture the Dam Hoi is a must. For the Consulate it is a must, they really don't care when it happens as long as you have one prior to the interview. Having Relatives come to attend your Dam Hoi is a very big plus. Hire a Photographer and take a lot of pictures. Make sure your Fiance knows every person in the photos. Make sure she learns everything about you. Info such as Job title, type of car, home address, Age, birth date, your mother, sister, brother, children, nieces, friends. VN consulate will ask her to proove she knows you, hence proove a relationship. Start now before you have to cram the info at the last days before interview. Good luck.

They have an appointment when the CO will be there on that specific date.. She can go any day between now and then but there is no sure way to know if the CO will be there or have time to address your case... Some folks have gone early and gotten pink.. others have gone and gotten another blue... have her make a copy of the blue slip.. use that copy to go inside if she decides to go early... then if there was not a pink issued on that date, she still has the original blue slip to be able to get into the consulate again on the date the appointment is set for to try to resolve anything with the CO...

Very good point, Scott. Make sure you copy the letter. It is a "pass" for your Fiance/Wife to enter the consulate on or before the date. The more times in, the more chances for pink.

Great insight. But is this part really necessary or makes a difference? What if you vote for or registered with the other party? This is the first time I've heard of this.

Everyone that gets "Denied" or "Additional Processing" status wants to cry and run to a Representative to get help.(Me included) There is really nothing they can do under the law except check to make sure you were treated fair. You can front load your application with a letter from a political figure. How many times we have road blocks placed in front of us then contact those that could help and we hear "I wish you had come to me before you...." It is really no big deal for their office to do and they do it all the time for collage entry, military schools and such. When the Letter reaches the embassy they have no idea if you really know Hillary Clinton or not. Front loading an application is something that I wish I had done and is done all the time.

Dear John, I went through what you are about to encounter. To set things straight for you. It is not the Vietnam side that you will have trouble with. The Stateside part of the application will not be a problem if you file the papers correctly as K-1 or CR-1. the problems will be with the embassy. You have to understand that it is their job to protect the integrity of a screening system that keeps the scam artists out.

I suggest you study the Vietnam portal here and read through the history. Also as for children you must file the application before they are 18 years of age or they cannot be considered in your joint application.

You have been to Vietnam one time. You will need to go more if you want a smoother transaction. Many pictures in differant clothing of you and your loved one together. An engagement party is also a must have. You must record all of your chat and email logs. Cell phone bills. Travel documents and ticket stubs. Your fiance or wife will have to know the names of your family, the company you work for, your home address. your complete biography. These are all the great things that if you don't have they will use as roadblocks to deny your application. Get a letter of good citizenship from your Senator and Representative to include in your application before you file. It will do no good to call them when you have a problem and could be determined interferance/illegal if they try to help after you have trouble. it is also going to cost you over 10 thousand in total expense for one wife and two children. Save your airline miles. two paid trips to Vietnam is almost one free trip. Do you meet the income requirements? Have you been divorced? Have you seen her divorce papers? Did you get them translated?

In the end it is all worth it. I have the best wife any man could ask for. One son graduating High School with distinguished Honors. Another son that is excelling in sports.

Check on here often and ask questions. If you would like to talk on the phone send me your number on a personal message and i will respond in a few days.

Good Luck

from VN you can bring 7k per person. Transfer from VN bank is limited to 7K a year. This includes from a family member. you could have many family members send to you. Check your messages for more info.

Hi guys,

Hope you are all doing well. I want to know if anyone knows where to get good flight prices to Vietnam for this summer. I am ready to book and don't really care about the dates as long as it is during summer. The boys have to get back to see their grandmother. I have checked the airlines and all seem to be in the 2200 plus for the cheap tickets. If anyone knows of those travel deals could you please share. Thanks to all and good luck to all those going through the frustration.

I am smiling from ear to ear to see you guys discussing this. You can get into the embassy just as Jerome says. Don't let them see you arrive together. If it is for interview you can visit the citizens services area then just go sit with your loved one. I only ask that you don't interrupt the process or they will undoubtedly put a stop to this. If you have a blue or white paper you can go into the embassy to add more evidence at 1pm but I went at other times. I will tell you what not to do. Don't waste your time going during the evenings when they say they are open for questions or concerns. Anyone that can do anything is gone home for the day and you will only frustrate yourself.

Going into the embassy which I pay for in an area that is open to me is not sneaking. What is sneaking is telling someone they have "additional processing" to do instead of calling it an "investigation". Calling the home and acting like they are calling for another reason is sneaky. Spying is sneaky. Wanting to sit and wait with my fiance is not sneaky.

We had our engagement party with only close local friends and family. about 50 people. the timeline is usually requested with the notorious "Blue Paper". The Consulate must accept information at anytime the you feel is benificial to your case. They may say they don't need it but you have the right under their rules to fill the file with anything at anytime. They did not look at the pics of our party or the emails until after we submitted more info while in "additional processing. We know this because they were out of order only after re-submitting.

We are in VN now and I believe we are only able to carry 7thousand usd out of VN. Then only USA citizens are aloud to enter USA and not declare under 10Thousand usd. I believe the number for foriegn nationals is much less for declaring. We are continuing to look into transfering monies. If caught not claiming on either end the fines are quit stiff and can include lossing all of your money. I think we are resolving to carrying the maximum allowable and come back more often and maybe have some friends help us move the money.

I sure would like to know if anyone has an easy answer for this problem. Most other countries we could do a wire transfer and might have to pay a small USA tax. VN wants to keep monies in VN. Money in and goods out.

We are in VN now and I believe we are only able to carry 7thousand usd out of VN. Then only USA citizens are aloud to enter USA and not declare under 10Thousand usd. I believe the number for foriegn nationals is much less for declaring. We are continuing to look into transfering monies. If caught not claiming on either end the fines are quit stiff and can include lossing all of your money. I think we are resolving to carrying the maximum allowable and come back more often and maybe have some friends help us move the money.

I sure would like to know if anyone has an easy answer for this problem. Most other countries we could do a wire transfer and might have to pay a small USA tax. VN wants to keep monies in VN. Money in and goods out.

_{Congrats Scott. Like you stated not making plans. It's not over yet. When Dao Arrived in Chicago they held her and sons for over 3 hours. I had foolishly "made plans" for a quick lay-over. They made us miss our flight. We had to wait 7 hours after that to have 4 people get on the same flight as standby. hope you don't have to go through that ####### too.}

I am happy to see some inteligent discussion on here. I just wanted to add two cents with a quote from the originator of our most prestigious document the United States Declaration of Independence. The Consulate in all countries seem to interpret their own rules.

"Laws are made for men or ordinary understanding and should, therefore, be construed by the ordinary rules of common sense. Their meaning is not to be sought for metaphysical subtleties which make them mean everything or nothing at pleasure." - Thomas Jefferson 3rd President of the USA.

I have used a visa service in HCM city several times. http://www.vietnam-immigration.org or contact direct at visa3@visa-vietnam.org . You can pay online. The last time my Fiance went to the office and paid the fee 180,000vnd about 10usd then I recieved an emailed conformation which you must print and have with you when you board the plane in USA and have with you in the airport in VN. the downside is you have to be patient and wait for them to prepare the visa at the airport. You must have a passport type photo to attach to the airport application that you fill out in the airport and 25usd. You will be the last one to baggage claim so you should have no trouble finding your bags. another good side to this is you can do it within 24 hours of your arrival. I also saved some money printing my own passport type photos. VN is not as stricked as US on quality.

Stay the course with the K1. Prove your relationship. Take more time to go to VN. learn the process. don't take "No" for an answer.

there is no right answer. K1 or K3???

Suggestion to add to your trip.

Take a majic jack along. Just order online. You can use it to call home if you need to and you can leave it behind so your sweetie can call you anytime she wants with no worry about expense. The quality of the call depends on the speed of the connection. The only drawback is phone call records for proof of relationship. I never worried much about it because we emailed and chatted so much.

Have fun. Don't hold your camera out too far, other people like them too. The strap is made to go around your wrist for a reason.

It was a blue slip... not a green.. We still have a great deal of evidence because they would not accept it from her... no doubt about the fact that the decisision was made already... we have already been through AP at NVC and they even called me asking for my exwife.. a great deal of the interview dealt with questions about our ex's... all answers were correct but the CO clearly did not like the answers...

What realy surprises me is that they are asking for evidence that they already have... stuff that was frontloaded that they can't deny having.

There is no rebuttal in the process we are going through.. we have to provide the evidence again along with everything else we have that they have not asked for in the blue slip...

What gets me is that they refused to accept an affidavit from the former mayor of our town who has known me for 7 years and who has known Thuy for 3... in his role as the Vice President of the University that I teach for working with VVienam National University... his affidavit detailed his knowlledge of the both of us and also our relationship as we individually have discussed it with him all along and have dined together with him in HaNoi in early 2009 as a family with my son.

What was done is so out of line that there should be some sort of accountability associated with her(the CO) actions...

I have a great many friends in government that I don't like to ask for favors or talk to about the ####### that we are going through... Mr Fairfax will have to defend his officers actions if not to me, to a great many that can hold him accountable through thier positions in the government.

The reasonable people that I deal with every day clearly see that our relationship is real and are speechless today... an unreasonable CO should not be making the decision... Only an unreasonable person would inquire about sexual relations between unmarried adults in a country/culture that frowns on it...

Scott,

I feel everything you are going through. You will have opportunity to submit your evidence if they place your case in Additional Processing. I don't have our blue slip available but I think it has something on it about failing to act or respond. This is what I quoted to them to get them to take more evidence after they place us in AP. I also was not divorced until after meeting Dao and I believe that was part of our problem. My Ex-wife did not did not transfer the house title or take me off the home bills so it showed my name on those things. If you have a like case, check into that stuff.

I also feel the translator played a big part in the process and that is not how it is suposed to be. Unless these interviews are attended by more than one person they can do whatever they want.

On my last trip in September I had opportunity to talk to Mr. Kenneth Fairfax and his wife. They were dedicating the new building across the street as I was exiting the Embassy after a futile attempt to get some action during one of those open window periods they try to contain complaints too. I found talking to him useless. He and his wife were all smiles until I mentioned my business at the consulate then the conversation blockers went up. He knows what is going on. They don't care. He tried to tell me that it is illegal for him to get involve with our case. I replied telling him I don't want him to get involved in my case. I wanted him to get involved in all the cases and make the playing field level and fare. He told me there is nothing he can do. I told him he should do something as US citizen's representative. I told him that for him and his wife to stand by and allow this to happen is wrong. I come from Delaware. Home of Vice President Biden I had someone close to him discuss our application and he bowed out.

I understand your frustration and I too am concerned. Save your efforts to concentrate on making your application undeniable. Some day when your best girl is all legal we will meet at the embassy for a rally and get our pictures and statements in the international news.

If you ask for 3 months they will issue a 6 month visa. Same Same Vietnam visa for 2 weeks is issued for one month. As far as actually getting the visa it is up to the interviewing Case Officer. Basically a $100+ ####### shoot. Older woman seem to get them to visit daughters more. My wife has met many older woman while waiting at the Consulate that were getting their visas to visit. After my first trip to meet my wife I invited her to come visit me, thinking this was an easy task and "normal dating", then reality set in. Even though Dao owns her own home and has strong ties to her sons and family. It is presumed she would try to immigrate. So here we are 3 years later married with her sons going to school in the USA. I guess they were right!!!

Your getting a lot of good advice here. After being in AP for 168 days I have only two points to add.

First, you can file as many K-1 applications at the same time as you want, there is no limit. Your old application has expired. On your new application you have to note the previous application.

Second, Read Read Read then Act on what you read. They make the rules, use them. When I was in AP they said they don't need anything from me. They are conducting an investigation needing more time to process. I started giving them more stuff to process. I taught Dao how to get inside the embassy to add more evidence. They have to take it! Their rules say you can add more after they give you the blue paper. They did look at all the new stuff we submited.

I strongly agree they try to test us. I actually banged on the window tray inside to get their attention on about day 150 of AP. I still get extra Hero kisses for that.

I think what Feelinglucky wrote would be my course of action if I was you. File again now. You can have your engagement ceremony while the paperwork is processing.

Glad to see you had an easy entry. Dao and I are about 150 Miles South of Erie close to Burgettstown west of Pittsburgh. If you ever come down the road send a message and stop on by.

Dao and her sons arrived via Chicago ORD 11-18-09. I had arranged to meet them outside immigrations and fly on to Pittsburgh with them. The immigrations people felt the need to justify their jobs and interview Dao again. This caused us to miss our flight and spend 7+ hours in ORD. We were due to arrive about 3pm and finally in PIT at 11pm. (Next time through I will get some of my time back from an immigration supervisor or two)

Dao and sons have looked at the new world with some amazement. Nice people helping them, Nice clean school, First snow, Geese flying in formation, Wild turkeys and Deer, Roads with and without lights, wood stove for heat, Pizza so good and cheap, Everyday is an adventure.

We plan to have a municiple wedding next week if all works out. Her sons and mine get along well.

For those that are reading this and don't know our story. Dao and I both are divorsed and were in "Additional Processing" with the HCMC Consulate for 168 days after replying to the blue paper. I went to HCMC counsulate two times since the interview. I don't believe they would have issued a VISA if I had not become agressive. I read their rules and jambed them with their own rules. Many say, "be careful, Don't anger them". I say, You have rights as a US citizen to pursue your happiness and anyone that wants to tread on those rights should be held accountable. I am not finished with the Consulate in HCMC. I will return and I will find out what was so important that they had to make us wait so long. I will also be lobying for more open interviews with wittnesses (Lawyer, Petitioner). As long as they keep these interviews closed they can do whatever they feel. They are not to do as they feel but do as the law requires. They know well before the interview they are going to give a blue slip. Why don't they make the request before the interview? I will finish here quoting a Counsulate supervisor, "If we told you what we are investigating it wouldn't be an investigation"

Life is good now. Hugs and kisses everyday! I pray for all of you to live your dreams and knock down the walls that stand in your way.

I know it’s not on your blue slip list and you will probably include it in your timeline. Knowing it is a question of concern I think you should punctuate your trip to VN by submitting current Airline Ticket Stubs.

When I went home for lunch trying to buy a ticket on cheaptickets the price jumped from 2,200 to 3,600 in a matter of minutes so I caved in on my return date I selected the 28 instead of returning the 30th so I was able to purchase the ticket for 1900. I was very stupid I didn't know they had night flights I could have come back to the USA the 29th at 11pm and it would have been cheaper. However for me to change my ticket now would cost me about 500$ more.

Should I change my ticket? The reason it's important is because they have the consular hour between 4 and 5 pm Tuesday and Wendsday of every week. My wife will interview on Wendsday the 23rd so if she doesnt get her pink I can go in that day between 4 and 5 to check on our case (as long as they are open and don't close early). However If I left on the 29th at 11PM I could also go in that day to check on the case as well. Do you think this will be important to take it off?

Is it possible if she doesnt get her visa if I could go into the airport and ask for a later return date by a day or two? And if so how much would it costs on average and has anybody ever done it? Also I could probibly take another week off at a future date and get a ticket for 1,000 and fly there another time might help out more.

Most airlines will allow you to cancel within 24 hours of booking your resevation. Cheaptickets has the same policy. You can call them at (888)922-8849.

I'd be more concerned about airport navigation than the actual POE process... Chicago can be a little confusing...

Thanks for the concern. I will be on the other side of the doors waiting impatiently.

Can anyone that has been through Chicago ORD as a Port of entry tell me what has been their experiance as a Fiance. I have come through many times as a US citizen. Long lines and waiting for luggage. A few questions about what I was bringing back is about all I know. Should we expect anything else?