The Waiting Game...

[sorin 0]

Hi All fellow VJers!

Just a short rant maybe someone might be able to give some insight.

My fiance has yet to receive Packet 3 in the mail... I seriously think there is either something wrong with the vietnamese mail service or her address is not what she thinks it is. Either way, I contacted the consulate via e-mail and they were kind enough to give it to me electronically.

I had her fill out all the forms and send it back right away to the HCMC... but its been 3 weeks and no reply... I have an itching suspision that the it either got lost in the mail (she did not send it priority or sercured) or it has been received and Packet 4 was sent to a black hole...

I have tried e-mailing the consulate again, but have not got a reply back... Do you guys/gals think it's useful try calling them? Anyone try getting information from a live person there?

My only other option besides waiting on my honches is to send my SO some letters with her address and see if they get there. The whole multiple home address thing in vietnam (registered home, residing home) is too confusing...

Anyways, want to strangle something!

[Melrose Plant 1]

It is unlikely that it was received and Packet 4 was sent to a black hole. It's only been three weeks. As you can see by my timeline, it took two months for us.

I would just call there once a week and see if she's got an interview date. She can even call there too. Then, if she still doesn't receive Packet 4, someone is going to have to go down there in person and get it. Their phone number is (011) 84-8-3520-4200. Here is the relevant page of their website which will tell you what not to forget (HCM number, beneficiary's DOB, that sort of thing).

Good luck.

And yes, I agree. The Vietnamese need to institute ZIP codes. But as to not knowing her own address....Where exactly is your wife from?

[sorin 0]

Thanks Melrose Plant!

She lives in Hanoi, but its not that she doesn't know, it's the one she knows "of." It has to do with city registration or something.. I know already that she was supposed to give me the one she is residing. Like I said, I think it is just a small mistake on her part. Anyways, going to clear this up tonight and call the consulate to correct it should we need to.

Thanks again!

Edited February 19, 2009 by sorin

[Melrose Plant 1]

No way! We're the only two Hanoi people on this entire site, I think. Everyone else is from down South.

Whereabouts in Hanoi does she live? Mai is actually from Ha Dong city, which has now been annexed by Hanoi, but was formerly what we would call a suburb.

[luckytxn 2,265]

Oh oh. We got northerners here.

[sorin 0]

Hahahaha, she is from Hai ba. I know there is a lot of "tension" with the northies and southies, but consider yourselves lucky southies... My wife will be facing some pretty messed up prejudices when she gets here as having the Communist vietnamese flag on display will get you lynched were I live. Looks like the consulate finally replied to my e-mail, they got the info and will be sending her packet 4 shortly!

Tried giving them a call, but on the 4 separate occasions I called, it was a dead end phone call. When I got to the option I needed, it gave you an automated answer saying "we were unable to complete your call at the moment, please call again at another time..."

None the less, Good to have some info!

[Melrose Plant 1]

Ah, Quan Hai Ba Trung. My favorite aunt, Co An, lives somewhere in that sector. Don't ask me how to get to her house, though.

As for the other, you see, that's what you get for living in California. Here in the hinterlands, nobody really cares if a person speaks with six clear and distinct tones, because they figure that war was over with before the speaker was out of diapers. I haven't yet tried flying the current Vietnamese flag yet. It's in the garage.

P.S. By the way, I have another aunt who lives in Santa Monica. Weird, huh?

Edited February 22, 2009 by Melrose Plant