Point Of Entry

[MTDTD 0]

VJ'er expert please describe the usual procedure for POE.

I was just in Vietnam for my engagement and my don't think I can take any more vacation (even if it no pay) work been crazy last 3 days since I got back from Vietnam. I want to know as much as possible so I can create a simple point and show question/answer for my "Vo" when she has to fly to US by herself.

I know i'm counting the chicken before the egg hatch but i'm basing this on the PINK rate the last 30 days

Thanks a bunch.

[chuckandkim 0]

It depends on your location and your chosen airline for transportation.

For me, we flew China Air, POE is Anchorage Alaska, and we live in Philly.

POE was uneventful. There are two lines, Visa holders vs. USC/PR. Your wife would line up at the long line along with the folks who visit the US, on business, work, student, k1, k3, cr1 visa etc. Wait for them to check and ask question about her purpose to come to America, why is she traveling by herself, is she a terrorist blah blah, it's just like going through a quick Visa Interview again. OR, they just look at your Visa in your passport and wave you through! the POE CBP officer will stamp your passport, staple the I-94 card back on your passport with the date stamp for immigration clearance/inspection purpose. You oughta make sure the have this I-94 card in your passport before you leave the Immigration desk, you will need it for the AOS later on. Then off you go, welcome to America.

Note: this is my own experience, in Anchorage Alaska. Keep in mind, the CBP Officer has the ultimate power to deny your wife's entrance if he is not happy with what he finds in your wife's file or any valid reason. This is rare, but happens! Also, do not forget to keep the "BROWN" Envelope which the consulate office will give to you when you get your Visa, keep that brown envelop with you during travel, you will need to hand it in at POE. Some folks accidently checked it in with their luggages, SOL, can't get through Immigration until you hand in that envelop. More information about the brown envelop if you need to know, just ask!

Personally, that's basically what would/could happen at POE. Ask Lurker, his wife should be traveling to the US soon or maybe already JUST entered the country. He would have a better and fresher memory of her POE.

Last but not least tip: I know you mentioned you won't be traveling with her due to work schedule, but if you did, you could have waited in the same line with your wife, instead of entering through the USC line. The CBP Officer will still check you and her both out! Everything I said here is my personal experience and giving you some of the worse case scenario just to prepare you, mentally !!!! Good luck and I like how you work: think PINK baby!

[Pierre 0]

My wife flew with EVA Air to the States by herself on Nov 17, 06 and her POE was LAX. Her POE experience was pleasant as she told me the Immigration Officer was very friendly and asked her a few questions, even made a joke to her about her picture vs. mine, reminded her that she should get married before the date stamped on her I-94 and wished her luck. She was promptly out of Immigration and Customs and received help from EVA Air customer representative who escorted her out to Arrivals waiting area where she fell into my arms.

I lived in the East Coast (Fairfax, VA) and I chose LAX instead of IAD because I could entertain her with Vietnamese food and culture in sunny SoCal before heading east. I reserved her ticket online with EVA Airways (so that I can put her on the new 777 from Taipei TPE to LAX that has on demand audio/video in economy as it is almost impossible to book that flight from Saigon). I then use the reserved itinerary number to pay for the ticket with a travel agency in SGN.

If you have any slight concern about your SO traveling by herself, I can recommend the travel agency where my wife purchased the ticket. They have representatives working at SGN and will guide your SO with paperwork and then she will be personally attended to on the plane, at TPE airport and at LAX. The representative at LAX actively refused my tip because he said it was his job. I will use the same service for my mother in law who will be coming in a month to attend our wedding.

[STL_HCMC 0]

My wife had her POE entry at LAX as well. We met while I was living/working in Saigon, so we were fortunate enough to travel back to the United States together. We flew Cathay Pacific and transited via Hong Kong.

Upon arrival at LAX we had the "BROWN ENVELOPE" out and were approached and directed to the correct arrivals line for K1 visas. Despite being a US Citizen, my wife and I were both processed together at the same time through the non-citizens line. I was not required to go through the US Citizens line.

The entry process was very painless and the immigration officer was most helpful. He went through the paperwork in the brown envelope, joked with us, took my wife's picture, fingerprinted her and then stapled her I-94 in her passport and reminded us to marry within the next 90 days!

Best of luck to you both!

STL_HCMC

[David-Hien 11]

Things are not simple as we thought. To get visa is only the first difficult step. Next is the trip to USA.

In my trip, there are 4 Vietnamese wives went to USA. When we arrived Seattle, David went through the US citizen gate and he came back to wait for me. So, everything is ok for us, except the waiting time is too long.

The rest 3 Vietnamese wives, they went there by themselves. One had her husband came to the airport to pick her up and he entered into the place of Custom officer to wait for her, she passed through that gate as well. But the other 2 ladies were kept and they had to follow the custom officer to go to some where else, I don't know.

There is one Cambodian girl, she came by K1 visa, but her husband is 62 years while she is only around 25 years. The custom officer asked her with a very upset voice: Do you know who you are going to get married to?? He's 62 years old!!!

Then some other questions very difficult and they kept her as well.

It is up to the city, Seattle used to have some organizations for the fake marriage. That's why they are very difficult.

So, be careful with the current situation of each area and the best method is your husband / fiance go with you to USA.

Hien

[MTDTD 0]

I'm begging my boss for understanding to travel over there. After reading these experiences I'm considering alternative method of asking for time time off.

[T&T 0]

Hope you can figure it out and set up your work to be with her in the interview day then take her home. I notice that the percent for a successful interview will gain more if you accompany her in that day. Try your best and GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!!

Trang

[chuckandkim 0]

It seems like you putting the cart infront of the horse. My suggestion to you, do not get all worked up over this yet, your fiance must have the interview first, get the visa. Only then you will plan for her travel. Like I said, here VJ folks tent to give you the worse case scenario just to mentally prepare yourself for this journey. (I know I do!)

IF, you are extremly panic and fear of bad thing could happen, this will take you no more than 3 days. Flight back to VN and come back with her, you can do it in 3 days. Forget about having a good time in Saigon, drinking Tigers and "YO" hahaha! Just get on the plane, flight back, pick her up and head back to Tan Son Nhat the following night. If this is your only concern, then you should be prepared to have Bigger issue Relax, let's stay focus on the the interview, getting the visa first. Tell your honey not to worry either, you will get her all worked up for nothing. Remember, there are things in life you have control and be able to do something about it, the rest just Fuba which you just have to take it and accept it. This is one of those things, that out of your control. Why worry, just plan to handle it!

Good luck and stay focus on the interview....

[David-Hien 11]

It seems like you putting the cart infront of the horse. My suggestion to you, do not get all worked up over this yet, your fiance must have the interview first, get the visa. Only then you will plan for her travel. Like I said, here VJ folks tent to give you the worse case scenario just to mentally prepare yourself for this journey. (I know I do!)

IF, you are extremly panic and fear of bad thing could happen, this will take you no more than 3 days. Flight back to VN and come back with her, you can do it in 3 days. Forget about having a good time in Saigon, drinking Tigers and "YO" hahaha! Just get on the plane, flight back, pick her up and head back to Tan Son Nhat the following night. If this is your only concern, then you should be prepared to have Bigger issue Relax, let's stay focus on the the interview, getting the visa first. Tell your honey not to worry either, you will get her all worked up for nothing. Remember, there are things in life you have control and be able to do something about it, the rest just Fuba which you just have to take it and accept it. This is one of those things, that out of your control. Why worry, just plan to handle it!

Good luck and stay focus on the interview....

ChuckandKim,

You gave him a very good idea. I completely agree with you.

Focus on the interview first, then when she can get the visa, you can think about the Entry Point. There are so many things need to prepare now for the interview.

Hien

[MTDTD 0]

Thanks you all. I really appreciate the input. I already put in request time off to help her with interview over there. In case of anything coming up like missing documents I can get it fax or printed out right away.

[chuckandkim 0]

I always have a different opinion on whether or not one should be there during the interview. I truely I can be more at help right here in the US during her interview than sitting in Saigon when the Consulate may ask for some documents back home in the US. But that's just me. I would save my trip for the return trip with the wife! But that's just me! Given the mental support by being there is better than here during her interview to some, but for practical purpose and what not, I'd rather be here IF she gets a blue/green slip and quickly supply the documents they request to her. Many of you have done that trip back during the interview, and what were you doing during that in terview? Probably sitting outside the consulate, drinking KEN's But that just me!

My vote: save your vacation day for the return trip. do not go there until she gets her visa within a reasonable time frame.

Good luck!

[MTDTD 0]

I always have a different opinion on whether or not one should be there during the interview. I truely I can be more at help right here in the US during her interview than sitting in Saigon when the Consulate may ask for some documents back home in the US. But that's just me. I would save my trip for the return trip with the wife! But that's just me! Given the mental support by being there is better than here during her interview to some, but for practical purpose and what not, I'd rather be here IF she gets a blue/green slip and quickly supply the documents they request to her. Many of you have done that trip back during the interview, and what were you doing during that in terview? Probably sitting outside the consulate, drinking KEN's But that just me!

My vote: save your vacation day for the return trip. do not go there until she gets her visa within a reasonable time frame.

Good luck!

I totally agree. My fiance is not very good with technology. I'm want to be there so I can speak to lawyer in case of anything and will try my best to get all the documents together to prep her for the interview.

[David-Hien 11]

Chuckandkim!!

I think a little bit different, the husband should come back VN on the interview date or not, it's up to your ability about time and money. But it prove strongly for your relationship, the more trips you make, the more evidences you can have.

As I said, to get the visa is the first step we should concentrate to do it perfectly. No visa, no Entry Point and no trip.

Last time, David and me discussed a lot about his trip come back to VN in my interview date. He had only 1 week to go, that was his best effort already. I had to arrange everything in VN for ready in case I get the visa. At David's side, he tried to collect all the information about his property, bank accounts, letter from company confirmed for salary, and eventhough the 2006 tax. Our 2006 tax was not completed but we just make a normal copy to send to them.

So, I tried to pass the interview first, then I had to solve all problems at my side within 2 working days: resigned my job and handed over, authorization for salary and social insurance fee. The next step was to pack luggage and to go to USA.

We did within one week for the trip of interview and the trip flying back to USA (David arrived VN on Feb 12, I passed interview on Feb 13 then I informed my company and resigned immediately, I got visa on Feb 14 and handed over my job, I made the authorization on Feb 15, I started packing on Feb 16, we left VN on Feb 18 - Noon time)

I eventhough have no time to call my friends for saying goodbye and the phone calls in Lunar New Year are very terrible. The only way is to say sorry to them by email later.

Now, everytime I think about this time, I feel surprised as I could arrange everything before I left VN within some days very urgently. I never imagined that I could leave VN within 3 days after I got my visa.

Hien

[patricks 0]

My wife and I waited 7 weeks before we departed together on 2/27/05: We went to the country-side to visit family grave sites & say goodbye to the extended family members & friends, she gave a 2 week notice at work, and we fully experienced the Tet Holidays before leaving Vietnam. (no hurry)

Separately, Hien Oi, how's your first 3 weeks in "Nuoc My". Are you cold? Is America like you imagined before you left? How about the food? Do you feel comfortable?

My wife didn't like America during her initial 6 months, but she never told me until afterward. Now, she's OK. It takes time to feel "at home"

Good Luck,

Patrick

[David-Hien 11]

My wife and I waited 7 weeks before we departed together on 2/27/05: We went to the country-side to visit family grave sites & say goodbye to the extended family members & friends, she gave a 2 week notice at work, and we fully experienced the Tet Holidays before leaving Vietnam. (no hurry)

Separately, Hien Oi, how's your first 3 weeks in "Nuoc My". Are you cold? Is America like you imagined before you left? How about the food? Do you feel comfortable?

My wife didn't like America during her initial 6 months, but she never told me until afterward. Now, she's OK. It takes time to feel "at home"

Good Luck,

Patrick

Dear Patrick,

I try to get used to the cold weather and the food here, that's the most difficult things I have to do now. I feel sick with the Vietnamese food of the American-Vietnamese cooking here, I think that I can make it better than them. Not so much vegetable and fruits for my normal food, only apple, tomato, brocoli,... I cannot change the memu usually as in Vietnam. The weather is very cold, but I feel better now as it's warmer.

It's of course that the life in USA is better than in VN generally, but my family didn't want me to go as I had a good job in Saigon and a private house. I have to go as David cannot find a good job in VN to move there with me.

I still not feel this country is my home country yet as it's very strange and very new one. I still have to sit at home daily. I told David to give me assignments every morning before he goes to work. When I work for something at home, I won't feel boring. I used to very busy in Saigon with my job and my life there.

Hien