tcTTct

Never mind, found out you can write one combined check to Department of Homeland Security. I actually read the instructions for once

Do I write separate $985 and $85 checks for the I485 AOS and biometrics fees or write a combined $1070 check?

Thanks.

The interpreters suck... They will not likely call you again.. just her... if at all.. the rest of the communication willlikely be via email or snail mail...

first I have heard of a double call session.. usually both at same time and only once.. that followed by the two guys snoopin around the locals for info..

Things change and evolve and I'm sure they do what's necessary to complete their investigation, and I'm very sure they have different rules for VK/VN and Caucasian/VN couples. One size does not fit all. Not only that, they employ trickery and says stuff like like:

First interview -

Investigator: "I hear a woman's voice, who's that?"

Me: "There's no woman here. I'm giving my kids a bath, that's my son"

Investigator: "No I swear that was a woman, who's that?"

Me: "Look, there's nobody else here, just me and my 2 kids and I'm giving them a bath"

Investigator: "I hear that xxxx's ex husband is good looking, do you think he's better looking than you or you're better looking than him?"

Second interview, after my fiancee told him I'm driving back from Vegas with my kids -

Investigator: "Where are you?"

Me: "Driving back from Vegas"

Investigator: "Who did you go with?"

Me: "My kids"

Investigator: "Why do you take your kids there?"

Me: "There's lots of things for kids - fountains, light shows, M&M store"

- introduced by a family member------ Can you explain why this can be a problem, when traditionally Vietnamese customs were full of arranged marriages. All he did was gave me her number.

Because one of the most common methods of immigration fraud from VN is someone saying to his friend "I have a sister/cousin/niece etc in VN, can you help me bring her over? It'll be worth your while"

pizzi - in a perfect world, we wouldn't need to have to prove our relationship to anybody. But when you are trying to sponsor someone through a high fraud consulate, you have to make sure that you stand the best chance possibl of success. The COs go through a bunch of cases everyday, and every case claim that they are genuine, their love is profound etc. Given our people's track record - just walk into any hairdresser in Little Saigon and ask them to introduce you to someone who may want to pay to get over here - I'm glad the COs go through this vetting process to at least try to keep the bad apples out.

The biggest thing with the HCM consulate is that you have to prove that it's a bonafide ongoing relationship. That's why you should make multiple visits and have a proper Dam Hoi etc. If I were a CO I would question why a good catholic family would just let their daughter go to the USA with some guy without any committment. "Mat mui" is a big deal in Vietnamese society.

When should we go to the DMV to do written test? What do we need to bring? I94 etc?

Thanks.

The letters of permission doesn't mean jack to the consulate. From previous collective VJ VN experience this combination is not a recipe for a successful K1 application:

- introduced by a family member

- no Dam Hoi

- one meeting

- short relationship

Why would you risk a denial so you can refile?

As for the relationship itself, you need to give it some time to get past the "cuoi Viet Kieu" phase.

@seattlerain - don't be surprised if you get another call in about a week, in reverse order. That's what happened to us.

Never got checked leaving the US or arriving in VN. Got checked one leaving VN though.

I used to think it was just a peculiar compulsion of my wife to do this but I noticed it must be a common habit for Vietnamese women to delicately hold onto the nearest flower.

It's pathological, the same thing as the Japanese making that peace sign in photos, which unfortunately is starting to be emulated by young VNese people as well.

I'm pretty sure that Scott gets given the sanitized translated versions of Vietnamese words. He corrected me that "Anh Map" meant big brother and not "fat brother" one time LOL. Swearing and "bad" words carry a lot more weight than their English equivalents and no "educated" people would ever say it.

I do? ..

Not at all. What I meant was in your field of work you're probably surrounded by educated Vietnamese people, and I assume Thuy is also educated. So whey you ask for a translation they will give you a very light version of the word. They probably would probably never say the actual version of the word. I say the F word all the time but I never say it in VNese either.

That's why he got so mad when you called him Anh Chim. It's not a good name in either North or South Vietnamese

Just be glad it doesn't link you to lauxanh

I'm pretty sure that Scott gets given the sanitized translated versions of Vietnamese words. He corrected me that "Anh Map" meant big brother and not "fat brother" one time LOL. Swearing and "bad" words carry a lot more weight than their English equivalents and no "educated" people would ever say it.

+1 for kids being cruel.

I gave mine strong English names as first names with nice Vietnamese names as middle names. I refer to them with ether names interchangeably so they're used to both.

If they want to use their Vietnamese name when they grow up that's perfectly fine. I notice a lot of successful younger Vietnamese people are going back to their roots and use their Vietnamese names because they're more comfortable in their own skin than us older people.

There are a whole lot of fully Vietnamese names in Hollywood movie credits nowadays too.

We're in a few of these photos

http://partyinsaigon.com/hinh-anh/

... maybe she's hiding/taking a break from the chim for a few days...

Scott, you just said she's taking a break from the pu$$y for a few days . You meant "cac"

Douche is a little harsh, but I'll take your word for it.

As far as Saigon, you can have that overcrowded, polluted cesspool.

Wow. You really are one of those lonely drama queen types who's always posting everywhere because you don't have a life. Good luck with that.

If you're unable to fly back to the Sates with her then you can use IOM. They'll help her with all the procedures of leaving Vietnam and will meet and help her at the US POE.

http://www.iom.int.vn/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=71&Itemid=193

It would certainly reduce a lot of anxiety on both your parts.

You are right. I was talking about the forum here. I have also introduced two friends to babes who have since been successful with the visa and they are here and married. My wife has a lot of VN and am constantly hearing about the community and from what I have seen there are few Visa card and gone babes. I tend to look at positives always though. Just from what I have seen personally is that in the VN forum and community I am in there is little stuff like this. I do see often in other forums here.

I'm near Little Saigon, Orange County and there are many many more of those bad cases here I do admire your positive attitude, and many congratulation on your wonderful marriage

I would get there before the interview and stay a couple of days past the interview date. My logic is that you would spend before the interview date happily enjoying each other's company while gathering more photographic evidence to submit at the interview. If she does pass then fantastic, there's no guarantee when she would get the visa in hand. Sometimes it takes a week, sometimes longer and if you are only there for a couple of weeks have to come back to your job, then it's very difficult to sync it up so that you could both come back to the US together.

And if she doesn't get the pink they at least you had that happy time together instead of spending the entire time together in a depressed funk. Then put your energy to work on addressing the reasons behind the blue.

But best of luck, I think you guys will get pink.

Dam Hoi is not a requirement but, like others have said, the consulate may question why you are not following cultural norms. You may be given the opportunity to explain why you didn't have Dam Hoi, but if the CO does not give you that opportunity to explain at the interview, you are out of luck.

If I were you I would have Dam Hoi just to make your case stronger, then submit the evidence at on the interview date. My girl and I are both in our early 40s and were questioned about who were at the engagement ceremony, and to name some of my friends and her friends. Originally we did not intend to have Dam Hoi because at our age, who's permission did we really need to get to get married? But we ended up having one before I filed the I129 based upon the collective experience of VJ VN members.

Your Dam Hoi does not need to be traditional. We booked a poolside wedding package at one of the nice hotels in Saigon, and just had them change all the invitations, signage and cake etc from Wedding to Dinh Hon and Engagement.

You should be united long before December if there are no problems. Ours was 6 months from I129 to interview.

In the OP's case his wife arrived last Saturday and is already living at her sister's house.

I disagree. I have heard little about this happening in this forum. I have heard more about other countries and not just in Asia though. My wife is a lot younger and definitely a lot better looking than I. I have expected her to say for a long time, "bye" and leave. I can't figure out why she is still with me. I have even told her that she can leave and have no problem on getting the citizenship if she want. Yet she stays. Been here now almost 3 years and I am still puzzled.

Btw there is pics of her and even a couple of me if anyone wants to click of photos

Maybe the ladies marrying white Americans are a different breed. It's rampant in the Vietnamese community. Im talking about Viet Kieu as the OP is obviously one.

You may have married someone who had a bad experience with a VNese ex so now you're the dream catch. Who knows. All I'm saying is just because we are all in the VN subforum means that the experience of VN/VN couples are the same as VN/white couples. It will vary depending on where you live.

Your experience is from reading the forum. Mine is from being in the community.

.

So much drama in here for such a small subforum with so few actively posting members. Sometimes it's just tiring visiting in here.