confusedasheck

Two years? I think that would drive me nuts. Congrats and here's to a happy life!

See

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Express_Mail_Service

and look for Vietnam. It's not a good idea to deliver such an important document like that. But it is not delivered by the Vietnamese postal service. It's a private delivery service delivered by "P&T Express Service Joint Stock Company" according to wikipedia.

Looks like they are in partnership with UPS.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/257543/ups-pt-express-form-joint-venture-vietnam

If the translators are making the decision, I wonder how often they get some coffee money. Given that trait of Vietnam, I would think it unwise to let them make the decision.

10-year residency could be a stalling tactic.

Oh and the vietnamese translator asked lots oc questions about my family not being at the Le dinh hon. She explained the excuse that my dad was I'll and couldn't leave the country. And then they pressed then why didn't my brothers of sisters come. I mean come on do they really not understand that while I may be willing to bend to the Vietnamese culture, my siblings aren't gonna fly halfway around the world for an engagement ceremony?

It's not realistic for foreign guests to travel to Vietnam, but HCMC raises the standards just because so much fraud goes on there. Lack of family at traditional events is one of their indicators for visa fraud. I'm sure they have a checklist that they are going down when they interviewed her.

They refused to give back the police certificate? Then how are you supposed to get it translated?

If you don't mind sharing, what reasons were used to deny the previous petition?

If you are going to get married in Vietnam, what is the best lead time that you should have before arriving in Vietnam if you give your significant other power of attorney? How many weeks to months do you need before arriving in Vietnam to complete the marriage certificate process?

skiptex,

No worries about being denied at POE. It's just that HCMC has a reputation for being very tough on any kind of visas for Vietnamese. I was worried earlier that since her mom got denied once before for a tourist visa that this might have a negative effect if I marry my GF and go through the HCMC consulate. I think I was just too paranoid.

Nice! I hope that the rest of your journey goes smoothly!

I think I may just be too paranoid at time when it comes to HCMC. My GF's mom was issued a tourist visa to the USA to visit her relatives. She was denied a tourist visa once before because she didn't have the proper docs. However this time she got all the documentation in order (took a long time!) and was issued a visa.

Despite what some posters have stated before, she has no intention of overstaying the visa. She just wants to visit her family. I'm glad to see the HCMC consulate agreed.

Can't she use DHL or Fedex?

Regarding a green card, I believe you cannot be out of the country more than one year.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_1333.html

"A permanent resident (called lawful permanent resident or LPR) or conditional resident (CR) who has remained outside the U.S. for longer than one year, or beyond the validity period of a Re-entry Permit, will require a new immigrant visa to enter the U.S. and resume permanent residence. A provision exists under U.S. visa law for the issuance of a returning resident special immigrant visa to an LPR who remained outside the U.S. due to circumstances beyond his/her control. This webpage is about Returning Resident Visas. If you are an LPR unable to return to the U.S. within the travel validity period of the green card (1 year) or the validity of the Re-entry Permit (2 years), you may be eligible and can apply at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for a Returning Resident (SB-1) immigrant visa."

So this should mean that as long as you enter the US once every year, her green card should remain active. But you probably have to keep evidence of a residence there. I have no idea how that would work with your taxes.

OP,

I think you also have to prove that you have income from a US-based job when you make plans to go back. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

So I've been talking with my GF about marriage plans based on the amount of vacation that I have. I would like to have a dam hoi, then get married on the visit after the dam hoi.

However, her mom wants to have a dam hoi and wedding on the same day. I think for my situation that this is bad. She was introduced to me by a relative in the US and had a student visa denial to the US from some years ago.

So this is scenario that should happen if we follow tradition:

Fourth visit - Dam Hoi (My parents wouldn't attend due to the cost)

Fifth visit - Apply for marriage license in VN, wedding. (My parents will attend, some of her US relatives might attend)

6 months later she finishes school.

This is the scenario that would happen if we follow her mom's suggestion:

Fourth visit - another visit

Fifth visit - Dam Hoi, apply for marriage license in VN, wedding. (My parents will attend, some of her US relatives might attend)

6 months later she finishes school.

I really think her scenario is a really bad idea. Any comments?

If it's a safety issue, you could ask them to verify your case number. They should have that information.

I've read here that the govt will sometimes pull a "Lexis Nexus" report on the petitioner and use that as a source of information. Maybe you could request your free copy and if it anything is amiss?

See :

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/264235-another-blue-for-hcm-figure/

https://personalreports.lexisnexis.com/access_your_personal_information.jsp

utst10,

I believe you are correct about the time. I probably did not correctly read the post I refered to.

To answer my own question about 90 days versus 6 months for signing the marriage certificate, I found this.

http://www.eng.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/eng/news/default.aspx?cat_id=547&news_id=494

--------------

1-A marriage registration application, as per the form stipulated by the Ministry of Justice, with certification for the applicant’s single status. The certification must be within six months of the date of receipt of the application by the competent authority.

...

-The time for processing the application is 30 days (including holidays and weekends).

-If the applicant couple does not come to receive the marriage certificate within 30 days of the date of making the appointment to return the application, their application will be abolished with no fee returned. In case the applicant couple has legitimate reasons for the delay, they must present the reasons in paper and fix the date to come and sign the marriage certificate, but the time limit must not exceed 90 days. Past this time, they have to resume the application procedure.

---------------

Their English is a bit difficult to understand, but if I am interpreting this correctly, your single status certificate must not be older than six months from the date you submit your application. You wait 30 days for processing. If you cannot sign the marriage certificate within 30 days of submitting the application, then you may request in writing, a 90 day extension to sign the marriage certificate.

You might have a problem when they check your ID at the airport check-in. You should get your name on your passport changed (new passport).

You might also consider getting a copy of the record of getting your name legally changed. The airline *might* accept that. But you should call them to be certain.

1) Is it even possible to do this (how much time would I need?)

2) Would this situation raise a red flag with the consulate?

I would like to have a dam hoi and then start the marriage paperwork, return 3-4 months later to sign it and have a ceremony.

I have enough vacation time to start the paperwork several months after the dam hoi during a two week break and then return later to sign the certificate. My reason is that I would like to avoid coming back that last time if I can to save some money.

Shortcuts seem to be best avoided at the HCMC consulate, so I'm not sure this is a good idea.

You're not even close to compare apple to apple.

In VN, when you already paid your dues and own outright your properties, the gov't can change the law(s) any time it sees fit and take away your properties or limit your ability to sell them. (ask your wife how the gov't can hold your house hostage and make you pay dearly for that "red book")

Here, if you've paid your mortgage on time and all of your dues (mind you, if noone wanna paid property taxes and HOA dues, who will provide services like police, garbage collection, fire, public school, etc???) noone will take away your properties.

Read again what JimVaPhuong said about eminent domain.

You can also do some research into banks foreclosing on houses that they know they don't own. Usually some kind of clerical error gets a house the bank doesn't own in the foreclosure process. The bank reviews the paperwork, discovers they don't actually own the mortgage for the house, but they proceed on foreclosing the house anyway and the government allows this. A license to steal basically.

There is also a tax lien if you don't pay your taxes. This gives the government the right to property you currently own, as well as all property that you acquire after the lien is placed. (There is a statute of limitations on a property lien which spans a 10 year period.)

There is also a judgment lien which can be placed on your property if you don't pay some kinds of debts. Whether your house is forclosed upon depends on the lien holder.

Liens are a bit fairer, but they still give the government or somebody the right to your property if you owe them money.

5.I am working on H-1B and my wife go to school and she has part time jobs.So we used me and her as joint sponsor.

I'm definately not the expert here, but you listed yourself as a joint sponsor? Is this accepted by the US? Don't you have to be a US citizen or LPR to be a sponsor?

If I have to cough up with MY OWN money, no thanks. Why? I'm from that country and I know how the laws in that country function. I'm not STUPID to bring my money to a place full of bribery and the law got bent to whatever angle the gov't officials see fit.

You think you really own land in the USA? I challenge you to buy a house or property and not pay your property taxes or HOA fees and then see who the true owner is.

When you filed for the marriage certificate in Vietnam, they interview both you and your wife. I'm not sure what was written up for me during our interview. They then send the paperwork somewhere. It usually takes about 6 weeks...we pay the "coffee money" so it took about 12 days to get the certificate (it was too late for me because I have already flown back to the USA). I had to fly back to Vietnam (60 or 90 days limitation) to SIGN the certificate IN PERSON before we got our marriage certificate.

60 or 90 days limitation to sign the marriage certificate? I swear I read in another thread that it was 6 months to sign the marriage certificate in Vietnam. Which one is correct?

Crossing the streets in HCMC never bothered me once my GF showed me how. Having a motorbike fly by 3 inches from my face doesn't really bother me. Maybe I'm just attracted to chaos.