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vietazn

Anything wrong with using Saigon instead of Ho Chi Minh

By vietazn in Asia: East and Pacific

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vietazn Enthusiast

vietazn   1

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Vietnam (no flag)
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for timeline, etc? Everyone in Vietnam seem to prefer to use Saigon, but what about for paperwork. Also, what exactly is Saigon and Ho Chi Minh? Is Saigon just the central part or districts in the city? Is TP Ho Chi Minh all the districts? Can the two terms be used interchangeably?

In short, which one to use and when?

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lindal24 Rising Star

lindal24   1

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Vietnam
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for timeline, etc? Everyone in Vietnam seem to prefer to use Saigon, but what about for paperwork. Also, what exactly is Saigon and Ho Chi Minh? Is Saigon just the central part or districts in the city? Is TP Ho Chi Minh all the districts? Can the two terms be used interchangeably?

In short, which one to use and when?

For paperwork, you should Use Ho Chi Minh City (In VN it's Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh which translates City Ho Chi Minh). Saigon and Ho Chi Minh are one in the same. After the fall of Saigon, the name was changed to Ho Chi Minh after the honorary communist leader. When locals say Saigon they are typically refering to the urban districts of the city. There are a number of districts located within Ho Chi Minh City, as well as suburban districts. The two "Ho Chi Minh City" and "Saigon" can be used interchageable. Typically, when you talk to locals, you say Saigon, but officially it's Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh....they'll just never get around to changing it verbally though!

Use Saigon when speaking to locals...

Use Ho Chi Minh City for everything else...

CR1/IR1 Timeline:

GENERAL INFO

[*]12-xx-2007 - 1st Trip (6wks) & Met him halfway around the world

[*]03-xx-2008 - Got engaged - two people on opposite sides of the world

[*]05-xx-2008 - 2nd Trip (2wks) - Engagement/Marriage/Consummation

[*]06-12-2008 - Filed I-130 (CR-1) with Vermont Service Center

[*]12-xx-2008 - 3rd Trip (4wks)

[*]06-05-2009 - Interview at 9:00am at HCMC Consulate (result: blue)

[*]07-08-2009 - Submitted RFE: Beneficiary's Relatives & Evidence of Relationship

[*]08-xx-2009 - 4th Trip (4wks)

[*]10-07-2009 - AP 91 days - Result: APPROVED!!

[*]10-31-2009 - POE: Detroit, MI

[*]11-18-2009 - Social Security Card

[*]11-20-2009 - Green Card

[*]01-21-2010 - Driver's License

THE NEXT STEPS...

[*]02/07/2011 - Renew Vietnam Passport

[*]07/30/2011 - Process of Removing Conditions Begins

[*]09/25/2011 - Date of I-751

[*]09/28/2011 - NOA1

[*]10/19/2011 - Biometrics

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hniHnitsuJ Proficient

hniHnitsuJ   8

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Vietnam (no flag)
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Posted
for timeline, etc? Everyone in Vietnam seem to prefer to use Saigon, but what about for paperwork. Also, what exactly is Saigon and Ho Chi Minh? Is Saigon just the central part or districts in the city? Is TP Ho Chi Minh all the districts? Can the two terms be used interchangeably?

In short, which one to use and when?

Before 1975, Saigon is the capital of Viet Nam, after 1975 Viet Cong took over Viet Nam and name Ho Chi Minh to replace Sai gon City. Now, Ha Noi is the capital of Viet Nam. For most of American-Vietnamese. We only call Sai Gon is the city, and never call Sai Gon as Ho Chi Minh City.

But, on the paperwork. you have to write Ho Chi Minh is the city.

I-130 Journey

USCIS

06-15-2008 : Marriage

08-16-2008 : I-130 Sent

08-18-2008 : I-130 Received

08-22-2008 : I-130 NOA1

02-02-2009 : I-130 NOA2 Approved 164 days from NOA1

NVC

02-04-2009 : Visited my wife for 2 weeks. 02-22-2009 come back to US

02-11-2009 : Received package from NVC

02-23-2009 : AOS Paid $70 (Online)

02-23-2009 : DS-3032 sent (by email)

02-25-2009 : Payment Received from my bank (AOS)

03-04-2009 : NVC has received the Choice of Agent DS-3032 (Online)

03-04-2009 : IV Application Processing Fees $400 (Online)

03-05-2009 : Payment Received from my bank (IV APS)

03-07-2009 : DS-230, and I-864 Sent (by USPS)

03-12-2009 : USPS confirm arrived at NVC for DS-230, & I-864

03-13-2009 : NVC received DS-230, & I-864 (Case in progress)

03-20-2009 : NVC case completed in 1 week NVC completed 03-20-2009.

04-02-2009 : NVC Left to HCM city

04-22-2009 : Medical Passed

05-12-2009 : Received a package IV from HCM Consulate by email

05-18-2009 : My wife got Pink.. yeah..

05-26-2009 : Visa received

06-18-2009 : US Entry!!! Yeah, my wife finally here.

06-29-2009 : Received SSN from snail mail

07-20-2009 : Green card received by mail

09-15-2009 : Writting test from DVM.

11-03-2009 : Driving Test.

01-20-2010 : Working.

04-20-2011 : Submit I751

04-26-2011 : Received I-797 NOA with Receipt Number

05-11-2011 : Received ASC Appointment Notice

06-03-2011 : Biometrics Apts @ 11:00 AM

10-11-2011 : Submit more evidence.

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ScottThuy Mentor

ScottThuy   140

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Vietnam
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Posted

If you are in HaNoi try not to call it SaiGon..

"Every one of us bears within himself the possibilty of all passions, all destinies of life in all its forms. Nothing human is foreign to us" - Edward G. Robinson.

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Kevin and Proficient

Kevin and   10

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

Tuyen and her siblings all call it HCMC, while her parents call it Sai Gon. I used Sai Gon as my birth place on our paper work since that is what it was called back then. When in doubt use HCMC.

CR-1 Visa

I-130 Sent : 2006-08-30

I-130 NOA1 : 2006-09-12

I-130 Approved : 2007-01-17

NVC Received : 2007-02-05

Consulate Received : 2007-06-09

Interview Date : 2007-08-16 Case sent back to USCIS

NOA case received by CSC: 2007-12-19

Receive NOIR: 2009-05-04

Sent Rebuttal: 2009-05-19

NOA rebuttal entered: 2009-06-05

Case sent back to NVC for processing: 2009-08-27

Consulate sends DS-230: 2009-11-23

Interview: 2010-02-05 result Green sheet for updated I864 and photos submit 2010-03-05

APPROVED visa pick up 2010-03-12

POE: 2010-04-20 =)

GC received: 2010-05-05

Processing

Estimates/Stats : Your I-130 was approved in 140 days.

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NQT1976 Explorer

NQT1976   1

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Vietnam (no flag)
 Timeline
Posted
for timeline, etc? Everyone in Vietnam seem to prefer to use Saigon, but what about for paperwork. Also, what exactly is Saigon and Ho Chi Minh? Is Saigon just the central part or districts in the city? Is TP Ho Chi Minh all the districts? Can the two terms be used interchangeably?

In short, which one to use and when?

actually HCMC is SAIGON with an animal named Ho Chi Minh on it.

So dont call it HCMC if you are not VC

CR1 timeline:

11/2008: submit I130

11/15/2008: case sent to CSC

06/02/2009: uscis approval

08/05/2009: interview-get blue slip request timeline

08/25/2009: submit timeline - get denial blue slip

Không có gì quý hơn độc lập tự do."

Tôi biết nó, thằng nói câu nói đó

Tôi biết nó, đồng bào miền Bắc này biết nó

Việc nó làm, tội nó phạm ra sao

Nó đầu tiên đem râu nó bện vào

Hình xác lão Mao lông lá

Bàn tay Nga đầy băng tuyết giá

Cũng nhoài qua lục địa Trung Hoa

Không phải xoa đầu mà túm tóc nó từ xa

Nó đứng không yên, tất bật, điên đầu

Lúc rụi vào Tàu, lúc rúc vào Nga

Nó gọi Tàu Nga là cha anh nó Và tình nguyện làm con chó nhỏ

Xông xáo giữ nhà gác ngõ cho cha anh

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Kathryn41 Grand Master

Kathryn41   3,205

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
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Please refrain from making derogatory comments designed to 'bait' for an inflammatory response. Baiting is a violation of TOS. If you have nothing useful to add to the conversation then do not add anything.

“...Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we knew all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?”

.― Lucy Maude Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

5892822976_477b1a77f7_z.jpg

Another Member of the VJ Fluffy Kitty Posse!

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NQT1976 Explorer

NQT1976   1

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Vietnam (no flag)
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Posted
Please refrain from making derogatory comments designed to 'bait' for an inflammatory response. Baiting is a violation of TOS. If you have nothing useful to add to the conversation then do not add anything.

What am I posting is not usefull ?

I make clear the different between saigon and hcm city.

you dont know any thing dont comment on my post

CR1 timeline:

11/2008: submit I130

11/15/2008: case sent to CSC

06/02/2009: uscis approval

08/05/2009: interview-get blue slip request timeline

08/25/2009: submit timeline - get denial blue slip

Không có gì quý hơn độc lập tự do."

Tôi biết nó, thằng nói câu nói đó

Tôi biết nó, đồng bào miền Bắc này biết nó

Việc nó làm, tội nó phạm ra sao

Nó đầu tiên đem râu nó bện vào

Hình xác lão Mao lông lá

Bàn tay Nga đầy băng tuyết giá

Cũng nhoài qua lục địa Trung Hoa

Không phải xoa đầu mà túm tóc nó từ xa

Nó đứng không yên, tất bật, điên đầu

Lúc rụi vào Tàu, lúc rúc vào Nga

Nó gọi Tàu Nga là cha anh nó Và tình nguyện làm con chó nhỏ

Xông xáo giữ nhà gác ngõ cho cha anh

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Kevin&Loan Enthusiast

Kevin&Loan   0

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Vietnam (no flag)
 Timeline
Posted

I call it Saigon in my everyday conversations but for paperwork, mails, documents ... I have no choice but to use HCMC except when asked for my birthplace.

I used to be indecisive. Now I am just not sure ...

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ScottThuy Mentor

ScottThuy   140

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Vietnam
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Posted
Thanks. It seems that using Ho Chi Minh for anything official is the safe way to go.

Here is a link to the consulate website You won't see any reference to Sai Gon there... as you said.. best to use HCMC

"Every one of us bears within himself the possibilty of all passions, all destinies of life in all its forms. Nothing human is foreign to us" - Edward G. Robinson.

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Dau Que Enthusiast

Dau Que   6

Posted
Filed: Timeline
Posted
for timeline, etc? Everyone in Vietnam seem to prefer to use Saigon, but what about for paperwork. Also, what exactly is Saigon and Ho Chi Minh? Is Saigon just the central part or districts in the city? Is TP Ho Chi Minh all the districts? Can the two terms be used interchangeably?

In short, which one to use and when?

actually HCMC is SAIGON with an animal named Ho Chi Minh on it.

So dont call it HCMC if you are not VC

Like it or not, internationally countries around the world will call that city by its official name "Ho Chi Minh city". If you mail something to that place, you write down "HCM City", not "Saigon".

Now back to your political idealism, I understand your frustration in regards to the new name of this city (I was born and raised in that city). But to be frank with you, no one really cares. Just because you call it "HCM city" doesn't mean you're a VC. Vice versa, just because someone like you uses the term "Saigon" doesn't mean you're NOT a VC.

Just remember, life over there in VN is NOT real! Your money will be worth a LOT less once you get back over here. Back to reality, cowboy!

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ScottThuy Mentor

ScottThuy   140

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Vietnam
 Timeline
Posted
for timeline, etc? Everyone in Vietnam seem to prefer to use Saigon, but what about for paperwork. Also, what exactly is Saigon and Ho Chi Minh? Is Saigon just the central part or districts in the city? Is TP Ho Chi Minh all the districts? Can the two terms be used interchangeably?

In short, which one to use and when?

actually HCMC is SAIGON with an animal named Ho Chi Minh on it.

So dont call it HCMC if you are not VC

Like it or not, internationally countries around the world will call that city by its official name "Ho Chi Minh city". If you mail something to that place, you write down "HCM City", not "Saigon".

Now back to your political idealism, I understand your frustration in regards to the new name of this city (I was born and raised in that city). But to be frank with you, no one really cares. Just because you call it "HCM city" doesn't mean you're a VC. Vice versa, just because someone like you uses the term "Saigon" doesn't mean you're NOT a VC.

Good point.. When India said its not Bombay anymore... why argue the point.. call it what the country wants it called...

no need to go into that political idealism / VC discussion.. it gets too ugly too fast... many here with family that are VC...

"Every one of us bears within himself the possibilty of all passions, all destinies of life in all its forms. Nothing human is foreign to us" - Edward G. Robinson.

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