Interview time frame for VN spouse @ HCM Consulate

khanh44 wrote:

mikeymyke wrote:

You get a long timeline only if you're called for an interview, or your application has lots of red flags.

The Visa officer's 5 month strike is over just yesterday. Hopefully the backlog is not bad.

Yeah I heard about that news, thank god.  I'm just scared how they will change the processing times to reflect the backlog.

If they request your spouse be interviewed I think you have the option of flying her to Singapore for the interview which may get a quicker approval.

Hi all,

Please note that a few posts have been moved from the thread for they were off topic.
I would like to remind you that we won't tolerate any other personal attacks on the forum.

Thanks
Armand
Expat.com Team

The process is online, once you fill the form and submit, it gives you dates available you can pick for the interview. Generally no longer than a week. At the interview if everything checks out they stamp the visa then and there. Good luck.

Ashard Deen wrote:

The process is online, once you fill the form and submit, it gives you dates available you can pick for the interview. Generally no longer than a week. At the interview if everything checks out they stamp the visa then and there. Good luck.

Guess I missed that link in the process. I look for it later. Thanks!

Here you go! http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html

The US Government has shut down. Expect some delays.

khanh44 wrote:

The US Government has shut down. Expect some delays.

I have an unexpected trip back to the US and will not return until the end of Oct. I am sure all will be running smoothly with the Government by then, yes I know that's an oxymoron!!

Anyone need anything from America like a new Gold IPhone 5s????

Solo1 wrote:

khanh44 wrote:

The US Government has shut down. Expect some delays.

I have an unexpected trip back to the US and will not return until the end of Oct. I am sure all will be running smoothly with the Government by then, yes I know that's an oxymoron!!

Anyone need anything from America like a new Gold IPhone 5s????

No but a bug zapper would be nice.  You know those electrical lamp thingies that you hang up and mosquitoes just fly right on in and kill themselves.  They probably sell them at Wal-Mart and probably made in China but I can't go run North to the border and get any. 

To me, that's more useful than an IPhone at the moment.  The rain season doesn't drain the water so mosquitoes just thrive in this environment.

As for the government shutdown, it's not that bad right now...just park rangers taking a hibernation mostly.  "Non-essential" personnel.

Here's the FAQ from the Honorable Mr. Davis
http://www.davis.house.gov/index.php?op … &Itemid=55

Here's from CNN if you don't care to hear any words out of a politician's mouth.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/23/polit … index.html

see #8.

"8 Visa delays likely
  Thousands of Americans may not be able to get passports for foreign travel, and tourists travelling to the US will likely face delays in visa processing. During the last government shutdown in 1996-97, some 20,000-30,000 applications remained unprocessed daily."

http://rt.com/usa/us-government-shutdown-effects-550/

khanh44 wrote:

see #8.

"8 Visa delays likely
  Thousands of Americans may not be able to get passports for foreign travel, and tourists travelling to the US will likely face delays in visa processing. During the last government shutdown in 1996-97, some 20,000-30,000 applications remained unprocessed daily."

http://rt.com/usa/us-government-shutdown-effects-550/

Mr Positive! Ha! Let's hope we the government has learned from 96/97 (Not!)

Tran Hung Dao wrote:

Solo1 wrote:

khanh44 wrote:

The US Government has shut down. Expect some delays.

I have an unexpected trip back to the US and will not return until the end of Oct. I am sure all will be running smoothly with the Government by then, yes I know that's an oxymoron!!

Anyone need anything from America like a new Gold IPhone 5s????

No but a bug zapper would be nice.  You know those electrical lamp thingies that you hang up and mosquitoes just fly right on in and kill themselves.  They probably sell them at Wal-Mart and probably made in China but I can't go run North to the border and get any. 

To me, that's more useful than an IPhone at the moment.  The rain season doesn't drain the water so mosquitoes just thrive in this environment.

As for the government shutdown, it's not that bad right now...just park rangers taking a hibernation mostly.  "Non-essential" personnel.

Here's the FAQ from the Honorable Mr. Davis
http://www.davis.house.gov/index.php?op … &Itemid=55


Here's from CNN if you don't care to hear any words out of a politician's mouth.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/23/polit … index.html

Bug zappers start at $19.95 and go to $300!! Any suggestions? Of course it would have to fit in my carryon unless you want 20 of them and pay for an extra bag and import duties. OMG bad idea! Me and my big mouth (Be nice haters!!)

Solo1 wrote:

khanh44 wrote:

see #8.

"8 Visa delays likely
  Thousands of Americans may not be able to get passports for foreign travel, and tourists travelling to the US will likely face delays in visa processing. During the last government shutdown in 1996-97, some 20,000-30,000 applications remained unprocessed daily."

http://rt.com/usa/us-government-shutdown-effects-550/

Mr Positive! Ha! Let's hope we the government has learned from 96/97 (Not!)

Good work on getting a source khanh44.  I read that as 20,000 - 30,000 applications in total..inbound and outbound.  So, let's say we have an even number of US Citizens going abroad.  That means inbound tourists are around 10-15K.  Now divide that by ALL inbound tourists (like China, Egypt, Brazil)...so I'd say Việt Nam sees 5% of the pie for inbound tourists.  That leaves about 500 - 750 visa applications. 

A small amount but some delay.  I think we'll see more delay from the Visa fraud scandal than the government shutdown.

http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/10272/who … -visa-scam

Solo1 wrote:

Bug zappers start at $19.95 and go to $300!! Any suggestions? Of course it would have to fit in my carryon unless you want 20 of them and pay for an extra bag and import duties. OMG bad idea! Me and my big mouth (Be nice haters!!)

20 bucks is fine.  When are you coming back this way?

Bug zapper is a good idea but coming from the US it would be 110 volts not 220. I haqd to go to the UK last year and they use 220 also so I was able to bring back some good stuff.

VungTauDon wrote:

Bug zapper is a good idea but coming from the US it would be 110 volts not 220. I haqd to go to the UK last year and they use 220 also so I was able to bring back some good stuff.

The Voice of Reason strikes again!

I got married in the US, but we still had to go through a similar process to get my wife's student visa converted into a green card. We got married on 7/28, paid a company to fill out all of the paperwork and send it in on 7/29, had an interview in November, and had the green card in December.

It might be a good idea to prep for the interview a little bit. I went online to search for some questions that they will ask, and they were not all easy questions. From what I could tell, the interviewer will assume that the marriage is a sham and it will be up to you to prove otherwise.

Have you tried Metro and Big C, they both used to sell them, or just burn citronella. You can also try the herb dill, mozzies dont like it.

khanh44 wrote:

see #8.

"8 Visa delays likely
  Thousands of Americans may not be able to get passports for foreign travel, and tourists travelling to the US will likely face delays in visa processing. During the last government shutdown in 1996-97, some 20,000-30,000 applications remained unprocessed daily."

http://rt.com/usa/us-government-shutdown-effects-550/

Hey, learned something new today:

http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2013/10/0 … ment-says/

For Americans applying for a passport, or citizens of other countries trying to get a visa to the United States, the current government shutdown won't have any effect, the State Department says.

The State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development are "national security agencies," which means they have national security responsibilities such as representing the United States overseas and representing to Americans what the country's foreign interests are.

Therefore, State Department spokeswoman Jan Psaki told reporters, they will continue working despite the shutdown.

Didn't realize the State Department was a national security agency and are pretty much an "essential" business of the government exempt from a shutdown.  Thought essentials were DoD, FBI, CIA..etc.

Tran Hung Dao wrote:

Thought essentials were DoD, FBI, CIA..etc.

Don't forget about the NSA. What good is a government if it can't spy on its own people?

VungTauDon wrote:

Bug zapper is a good idea but coming from the US it would be 110 volts not 220. I haqd to go to the UK last year and they use 220 also so I was able to bring back some good stuff.

I just bought an electric bug swatter for $0.55. They use AA batteries wonder if they are any good.

We have 2 or 3 in my house but they don't use batteries they are rechargeable.

I use a flip flop. No batteries required.

Tran Hung Dao wrote:

Didn't realize the State Department was a national security agency and are pretty much an "essential" business of the government exempt from a shutdown.

If you're an American in a foreign country a little less friendly than Vietnam and lose your passport, you'll think the agency that issues new passports is pretty damn essential.

Hi Solo,

I just got done with case completed from NVC and awaiting interview.  I heard it takes 2-3 months to schedule interview in HCM.  And the other question I'm still learning.  I will tell you when its done.  By the way,  you don't need a certified copy of anything sent to USCIS in Chicago.  They only require photocopies.  And the next stage after USCIS approves your I-130 petition would be NVC.  They only require photocopies too,  no originals.  The originals will be submitted in HCM by your wife at interview.  Make sure when you submit the packet for USCIS to tell your whole story.  Have a timeline on how you guys met and where and what you did together in HCM (dates) and have a photo album,  not many but with the both of you together.  If you do it right the first time and in organized fashion,  it will not take USCIS long to approve your case and then get sent to NVC.  Also make sure you make photocopies of all.documents you send to USCIS because NVC doesn't get those documents.  They only receive the I-130 petition from USCIS only.  Hope this helps.

@  nucmed76 > Thank you for this sharing of information, however do note that this topic is quite old

I invite you to participate to recent threads on the forum Ho chi Minh city : https://www.expat.com/forum/viewforum.php?id=221 or if you have other queries, please feel free to launch a new topic.

Have a nice day,

Priscilla