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CK&Tydi

Best way to communicate with your love one in VietNam

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Well, i guess everyone in here have a finance or wife in Vietnam and you guys do communicate with them through chatting, phone card and email. I just want to know the best way that we can communicate with them as a cheaper rate like talking on the phone stuff (we still can receive the log to prove for evidence). Currently, i am using the vnfone ip phone. For her to call me, it costs 3 cents/min and 1 cent/min on ip to ip. The service is not that really reliable. I called her from my cell phone to her cell phone and it cost me 13.7 cents/min. I want you guys input on this. so we can help each others on saving the money on calling. Yesterday, I had my friend bring back to Vietnam a Vonage box to see it will work or not. I will let you guys know on this tomorrow. :dance::dance::dance::dance::dance:

My K1 Time Line

AOS Quest: Completed :=)

06-08-2007: AOS Package Sent

06-12-2007: AOS Package Recieved

06-19-2007: Check Cashed

06-22-2007: NOA1 in the Mail

06-26-2007: Biometrics Appoinment Received 7-14-2007

07-14-2007: Biometrics Appointment

10-29-2007: AOS interview - still need to wait for FBI name check.

02-27-2008: Notice mailed welcoming the new permanent resident

02-28-2008: Card production ordered

03-04-2008: Approval notice sent

03-07-2008: Green Card received

05-07-2008: California ID received (took almost a year to get it)

Being a Dad Quest: :=)

06-05-2008: My lovely baby girl arrived.

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Vietnam
Timeline

13.7 cents/minute is a very good rate. I think I pay $0.19/minute using a land line.

Yahoo and Skype is free for PC to PC calls (with webcam).

Make sure you have a provider that will send you a monthly history of your calls - you'll need them for the interview.

05/18/06 - Married

I-130 for CR-1

6/03/06 - Submitted I-130 petition

6/08/06 - NOA1 generated

7/18/06 - Transferred to CSC

7/25/06 - Petition arrived at CSC

7/26, 7/27, 7/28 - Touched

8/03/06 - Approved!!! (56 days)

8/04, 08/06 - Touched

8/17/06 - Petition arrives at NVC, Case number assigned

8/28/06 - NVC: DS-3032 & AOS Fee Bill generated

8/29/06 - Emailed DS-3032 Choice of Agent

9/05/06 - DS-3032 Choice of Agent accepted; Received and returned AOS Fee Bill

9/11/06 - IV Fee Bill generated

9/16/06 - IV Fee Bill received and returned

9/20/06 - IV Fee Bill entered into NVC system

9/23/06 - Received and returned AOS (I-864EZ)

9/25/06 - DS-230 packet generated

9/28/06 - I-864EZ entered into NVC system

10/06/06 - Received and returned DS-230 Part I

11/08/06 - Case complete @ NVC

11/14/06 - Case transferred to consulate in HCMC

03/07/07 - Interview! PASSED!!!

03/9/07 - Visa received :)

03/20/07 - Mai arrives in U.S.

I-129F for K-3

6/15/06 - Submitted I-129F petition

6/16/06 - Petition arrived at Chicago CIS Office

6/21/06 - NOA1 generated

6/24/06 - Received NOA1

6/26, 06/28, 06/30 - Touched

7/08/06 - Received and returned IMBRA RFE

7/18/06 - Received and returned 2nd IMBRA RFE

8/28/06 - Approved!!! (68 days)

9/07/06 - Case forwarded to embassy

9/11/06 - Case arrives at embassy

K-3 abandoned in favor of CR-1

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Filed: Timeline
13.7 cents/minute is a very good rate. I think I pay $0.19/minute using a land line.

Yahoo and Skype is free for PC to PC calls (with webcam).

Make sure you have a provider that will send you a monthly history of your calls - you'll need them for the interview.

Skype, Cell phone txt messages, Yahoo. The occasional phone call. All the solutions have logs or ways of showing that particular communication.

2006-07-01 : I-129F Sent

2006-07-11 : I-129F NOA1

2006-09-18 : I-129F NOA2

2006-10-16 : NVC Left

2006-10-21 : Consulate Received

2006-11-10 : Packet 3 Received

2006-11-11 : Packet 3 Sent

2007-02-14 : Interview!!! OMFG!!!

The views I express here are of my opinion only.

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At first I used prepaid calling cards at around 20cents/min., then Yahoo chat for a while, then it has been primarily between Sightspeed and Skype since April. Occasionally, I also text msg to her on Sprint.

She can call my cellphone from her computer for about 2 cents/min..

The U.S. prepaid cards did not give me any logs. The rest I could get some sort of logs.

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I use http://www.minowireless.com/ and have been very happy. You have to place the call from the internet, or from your cell phone's browser. The latter costs you about 1KB of data per call (regardless of length). Note that only the initiation (not duration) of the call requires internet, then MINO's servers take over: server calls you at the phone number you entered, you pick it up, then server dials the recipient's number, and connects the two of you. Rate per minute goes like 12.4 cents to Vietnam, and minutes are real minutes, not like a lot of scatchoff phone cards that cheat on minutes. And you do get a nice call log for your interview.

CK&Tydi's 13.7 cents/minute cell-to-cell is also very good. How did you get that?

2006-11-08...I-129F sent to TSC

2006-11-14...I-129F received

2006-11-20...NOA1

2006-11-22...Check cashed

2006-11-27...Touched

2007-02-12...Touched...approved

2007-02-13...Touched

2007-02-20...NOA2 letter arrives in the mail

2007-04-05...Packet 3 received in HCMC

2007-04-12...Packet 3 returned to consulate

2007-05-25...Packet 4 received

2007-06-27...Interview...passed

2007-06-28...Visa received

2008.........2-year green card

2010.........10-year green card

2012-04-03...N-400 sent to Dallas lockbox

2012-04-05...N-400 delivered.

2012-04-06...NOA

2012-05-03...Biometrics

2012-05-07...Placed in line for interview scheduling

2012-06-18...Interview letter received

2012-07-23...Interview date (Newark, NJ)

2012-07-23...Oath

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Vietnam
Timeline

I used a company called EOT. They let you use your own phone or cell phone to call Viet Nam. It's something like 13 cents a minute and you get an itemized bill everymonth. It's pretty cool. You call an american phone number, like, 1(206)...then, instead of someone answering, you hear a dile tone and enter the international number you wish to call. I liked that because I could call my wife on her cell phone, whenever. (888) 420 0300 is their number...

K-1

Service Center :California Service Center

Consulate : Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

I-129F Sent :2006-06-23

I-129F NOA1 :2006-07-11

I-129F NOA2 :2006-10-11

NVC Left :2006-10-26

Consulate Received :2006-11-02

Packet 3 Received :2006-11-14

Packet 3 Sent :2006-11-15

Packet 4 Received :2007-01-22

Interview Date :2007-02-13 Submit Review

Visa Received :2007-02-14

US Entry :2007-02-20

Your interview took 235 days from filing.

Adjustment of Status

CIS Office :Seattle WA

Date Filed :2007-04-02

BioMetrics: 2007-05-03

Touched: 2007-05-04

Interview: 2007-07-19 PASSED!!!

Employment Authorization Document

Touched: 2007-05-04

Approved: 2007-6-18

Card Recieved: 2007-6-25

Removing Conditions

I-715 Sent California: 2009-4-23

I-715 recieved: 2009-4-24

I-797C NOA recieved 2009-5-16

Biometrics letter recieved: 2009-06-22

Biometrics: 2009-07-10

Approved: 2009-08-13

10 Year Card Arrived: 2009-08-18

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Vietnam
Timeline

savingcall.com you get cheap rates to vietnam mobile/landline. I've been using since september. It's great.

Timeline

2006-07-10 : I-129F sent to TSC

2007-03-24 : Leave for Vietnam

2007-03-29 : Blue slip and then PINK

2007-04-03 : Picked Up Visa

2007-04-07 : POE in Chicago

2007-04-11 : Married In Court

2007-04-23 : SSN applications submit

2007-05-01 : SSN Recevied

2007-05-17 : AOS + EAD Sent

2007-05-29 : I-765 EAD NOA received

2007-05-31 : I-485 AOS NOA received

2007-08-01 : EAD received

2007-08-02 : Green Card AOS received

Life is good...

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Well, You guy can try to go to this website. www.vnfone.com.

I bought both of the IP Phones. One for her in VN and one for me here. This phone costs about 80 bux and $10 credit to your phone. This phone will work both with the internet or without the internet. It can hook up to the regular phone and Dial 1269 before you can make a call to the US. Remember, 1269 will cost you for the local call in VN. If she calls from Vietnam to here, it costs 3 cents/min and IP to IP is 1 cent/min. Also, they do provide Calling Card too. Calling from your cell phone to Vietnam. It costs 13.7 cents/min and to the land line is 11.7 cents/min. Also, they do have call logs provide it to you for the Interview.

The only problem i got with the IP phone service was it was not working 100%. Sometimes, my fiance have to try so many times to make a call. This i don't know because of my Fiance ISP provider or the IP phone service.

So it really bugs me on this. Beside that it does save me a lot of money on the calling because we do talk daily average 1 hours plus.

You guys can give it a shot..

Also, i activated the Vonage service a few days ago and i had the Vonage box at my fiance home. She could not get it to work yet. Maybe the ISP provider block the service. I will be back in Vietnam this coming Thursday and will figure out if i can get it to work or not and I will update to you guy here. If it works, will be good for all of us. Cuz you know your, when your fiance is here, she will call home a lot. It will costs a lot of money. If this thing work, you only have to pay under 30 bux a month and you can call it from your home fone as a local call.

My K1 Time Line

AOS Quest: Completed :=)

06-08-2007: AOS Package Sent

06-12-2007: AOS Package Recieved

06-19-2007: Check Cashed

06-22-2007: NOA1 in the Mail

06-26-2007: Biometrics Appoinment Received 7-14-2007

07-14-2007: Biometrics Appointment

10-29-2007: AOS interview - still need to wait for FBI name check.

02-27-2008: Notice mailed welcoming the new permanent resident

02-28-2008: Card production ordered

03-04-2008: Approval notice sent

03-07-2008: Green Card received

05-07-2008: California ID received (took almost a year to get it)

Being a Dad Quest: :=)

06-05-2008: My lovely baby girl arrived.

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savingcall.com you get cheap rates to vietnam mobile/landline. I've been using since september. It's great.

Huan, I think it is the same provider but they are under different name. Anyway, i dont' know if you know you can program a quick dial number of your love one on it. Like her Cell, or home on the quick dial list. When you call the Dial in number then you only have to press 1# or 2 # depend on how you program it. This way you don't have to punch in those long phone numbers all the time.

:dance::dance::dance::dance::dance:

My K1 Time Line

AOS Quest: Completed :=)

06-08-2007: AOS Package Sent

06-12-2007: AOS Package Recieved

06-19-2007: Check Cashed

06-22-2007: NOA1 in the Mail

06-26-2007: Biometrics Appoinment Received 7-14-2007

07-14-2007: Biometrics Appointment

10-29-2007: AOS interview - still need to wait for FBI name check.

02-27-2008: Notice mailed welcoming the new permanent resident

02-28-2008: Card production ordered

03-04-2008: Approval notice sent

03-07-2008: Green Card received

05-07-2008: California ID received (took almost a year to get it)

Being a Dad Quest: :=)

06-05-2008: My lovely baby girl arrived.

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Vietnam
Timeline

Thank you for the tips. I didn't know you can do that.

Here are features I found useful on savingcall.com you can set:

-incoming phone number to be pinless (remember to show caller id for it to work)

-outgoing phone number quick dial number (1-9)

-view itemized call log

Timeline

2006-07-10 : I-129F sent to TSC

2007-03-24 : Leave for Vietnam

2007-03-29 : Blue slip and then PINK

2007-04-03 : Picked Up Visa

2007-04-07 : POE in Chicago

2007-04-11 : Married In Court

2007-04-23 : SSN applications submit

2007-05-01 : SSN Recevied

2007-05-17 : AOS + EAD Sent

2007-05-29 : I-765 EAD NOA received

2007-05-31 : I-485 AOS NOA received

2007-08-01 : EAD received

2007-08-02 : Green Card AOS received

Life is good...

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Thank you for the tips. I didn't know you can do that.

Here are features I found useful on savingcall.com you can set:

-incoming phone number to be pinless (remember to show caller id for it to work)

-outgoing phone number quick dial number (1-9)

-view itemized call log

The calling card i got was from v247.us. It is the same company as savingcall.com. I have to use my friend agent account to go in and set my Speed Dialing access # and print the call logs. Anyway, the service on the calling card is not too bad compare with all the calling cards out there. They keep charging you on the connection fee and some hidden fee. End up you pay more per min then what they are advertise for.

On the IP phone is the deal saver if you call them from home. I think it is good anyway since the time different. Nite and Day. This will work if someone hate to use a computer.

I saw they have another service in Little Saigon here in Orange County. It cost 7.7 cents/min to call back in Vietnam. This company will provide you a Desk CDMA phone. It just need power to it then people in Vietnam can receive a phone call from the US. You have to pay a fix fee like $50 for 650 min. or $30 for 300 min. Use it or loose kind thing. It is short off prepaid phone service like your Cell Phone. It got it pro and con. WIth this service, people in VietNam can not call to the US, they can only receive a call from the US. Other hand you can bring this phone to any house in Vietnam and plug in to the wall and receive a call from the US.

Well, these are the two options i see that you can save some money for calling back to Vietnam. Both of them do offer call logs so you can print out and provide at the interview.

If anyone in here have better method, please provide it so we can use it.

My K1 Time Line

AOS Quest: Completed :=)

06-08-2007: AOS Package Sent

06-12-2007: AOS Package Recieved

06-19-2007: Check Cashed

06-22-2007: NOA1 in the Mail

06-26-2007: Biometrics Appoinment Received 7-14-2007

07-14-2007: Biometrics Appointment

10-29-2007: AOS interview - still need to wait for FBI name check.

02-27-2008: Notice mailed welcoming the new permanent resident

02-28-2008: Card production ordered

03-04-2008: Approval notice sent

03-07-2008: Green Card received

05-07-2008: California ID received (took almost a year to get it)

Being a Dad Quest: :=)

06-05-2008: My lovely baby girl arrived.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hello everyone!

Well, just a quick update on this item again. Finally, i am done with all the wedding ceremony stuff. I finally got some free time and got the VONAGE box to work. It was a little tricky to get the Vonage box to register to the Internet in Vietnam and get an IP address. But, I got it to work and the sound was so clear. I did a few test calls to the State and had my friend to call me back. Vonage does work in Vietnam. So who ever interest in getting the Vonage service to save money on the long distance call then you guy should give it a try.

Anyway, time to go have some lunch. Will keep you guy update again. I guess i have some free time. Need to pay a visit to the consulate to check on my Package 3. Wish me luck.........

Have a great day!!

My K1 Time Line

AOS Quest: Completed :=)

06-08-2007: AOS Package Sent

06-12-2007: AOS Package Recieved

06-19-2007: Check Cashed

06-22-2007: NOA1 in the Mail

06-26-2007: Biometrics Appoinment Received 7-14-2007

07-14-2007: Biometrics Appointment

10-29-2007: AOS interview - still need to wait for FBI name check.

02-27-2008: Notice mailed welcoming the new permanent resident

02-28-2008: Card production ordered

03-04-2008: Approval notice sent

03-07-2008: Green Card received

05-07-2008: California ID received (took almost a year to get it)

Being a Dad Quest: :=)

06-05-2008: My lovely baby girl arrived.

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Share on other sites

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Vietnam
Timeline
I used a company called EOT. They let you use your own phone or cell phone to call Viet Nam. It's something like 13 cents a minute and you get an itemized bill everymonth. It's pretty cool. You call an american phone number, like, 1(206)...then, instead of someone answering, you hear a dile tone and enter the international number you wish to call. I liked that because I could call my wife on her cell phone, whenever. (888) 420 0300 is their number...

Why did you use the phone card with that rate?? I found out the phone company with 9 cents/minute. Call 1-888-586-3988 if you want. This company can provide the phone list when you need evidence for the Visa process.

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I used a company called EOT. They let you use your own phone or cell phone to call Viet Nam. It's something like 13 cents a minute and you get an itemized bill everymonth. It's pretty cool. You call an american phone number, like, 1(206)...then, instead of someone answering, you hear a dile tone and enter the international number you wish to call. I liked that because I could call my wife on her cell phone, whenever. (888) 420 0300 is their number...

Why did you use the phone card with that rate?? I found out the phone company with 9 cents/minute. Call 1-888-586-3988 if you want. This company can provide the phone list when you need evidence for the Visa process.

Well, it is depend on what company and the region of your state. Local phone company only work with the home fone. You can not use the discount rate when you call from our cell phone. ;) Anyway, my point is the Vonage Service do work in Vietnam. ;) that will save me alot of money in the long run. cuz my wife will use it to call her family when she arrives in the state. ;) less than 30 bux a month then over few hundreds a month on the calling card or any other services.

My K1 Time Line

AOS Quest: Completed :=)

06-08-2007: AOS Package Sent

06-12-2007: AOS Package Recieved

06-19-2007: Check Cashed

06-22-2007: NOA1 in the Mail

06-26-2007: Biometrics Appoinment Received 7-14-2007

07-14-2007: Biometrics Appointment

10-29-2007: AOS interview - still need to wait for FBI name check.

02-27-2008: Notice mailed welcoming the new permanent resident

02-28-2008: Card production ordered

03-04-2008: Approval notice sent

03-07-2008: Green Card received

05-07-2008: California ID received (took almost a year to get it)

Being a Dad Quest: :=)

06-05-2008: My lovely baby girl arrived.

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Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Vietnam
Timeline
Well, You guy can try to go to this website. www.vnfone.com.

I bought both of the IP Phones. One for her in VN and one for me here. This phone costs about 80 bux and $10 credit to your phone. This phone will work both with the internet or without the internet. It can hook up to the regular phone and Dial 1269 before you can make a call to the US. Remember, 1269 will cost you for the local call in VN. If she calls from Vietnam to here, it costs 3 cents/min and IP to IP is 1 cent/min. Also, they do provide Calling Card too. Calling from your cell phone to Vietnam. It costs 13.7 cents/min and to the land line is 11.7 cents/min. Also, they do have call logs provide it to you for the Interview.

The only problem i got with the IP phone service was it was not working 100%. Sometimes, my fiance have to try so many times to make a call. This i don't know because of my Fiance ISP provider or the IP phone service.

So it really bugs me on this. Beside that it does save me a lot of money on the calling because we do talk daily average 1 hours plus.

You guys can give it a shot..

Also, i activated the Vonage service a few days ago and i had the Vonage box at my fiance home. She could not get it to work yet. Maybe the ISP provider block the service. I will be back in Vietnam this coming Thursday and will figure out if i can get it to work or not and I will update to you guy here. If it works, will be good for all of us. Cuz you know your, when your fiance is here, she will call home a lot. It will costs a lot of money. If this thing work, you only have to pay under 30 bux a month and you can call it from your home fone as a local call.

I have signed up with Vonage and connected at my fiancee house on my Sept 06 trip to Vietnam.It worked great.

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