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SteinNebraska

Finally decided to bite the bullet and head home to the US.  I'v been in Vietnam for more than two years and haven't left VN at all probably like the rest of you since January 2020.  Tickets bought for the three of us for March 25.  I'm ready.  I'm burnt out on Vietnam.  It wasn't bad the first year here when I could go home for two weeks every two months for a first world culture break.  It's been trying to never leave.  Yeah, it's nice there is no COVID but that and great weather and cheap beer just isn't enough.

We were going to try to hold out until June when the school year is done.  Her daughter is in grade 9.  But our interview came in sooner than planned so now we have to leave no later than April 19.  Sucks because our two year anniversary is April 28 so no 10 year greencards for them by less than a month.  We COULD probably get new visas but $270 and $240 for two new medicals and $225 each for new visas is basically a wash for the $800 to adjust status after two years.  Hey, I'm not complaining.  I've been lucky to be with my wife the entire time of going through the visa journey and I know that most people aren't as fortunate to be able to do that.

I'm looking forward to good food, sane drivers, clean air, quiet nights, a population density of less than a million people per square mile,  being able to talk to any random person on the street or in a store and having my cars and trucks and motorcycles and boats back.

I'll still be checking in on all of you and will still be coming back 3-4 times a year for work, once they open up the border.

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Hooked

Good for you,
Go Huskers

Guest2023

I did 5-years here without going home. You can imagine how it felt to talk to someone that didnt feel the need to talk at the highest level possible.

Ciambella

Good decision. :top:  I'm happy for you and your family.

Johny5

Totally got you. Vietnam is great as long as I can go somewhere from time to time. No travel since Jan 2020 and I am burned out as well

MikeTVN

Nice Story.

"Yeah, it's nice there is no COVID but that and great weather and cheap beer just isn't enough" I'm in Florida where I don't see the Covid they are making it out to be.
Here life is not much different than normal when you don't lock down, your careful and your not old with underlying health problems.
And the weather here is just like Vung Tau for six months and like Saigon for six months.
I guess the the only thing is beer is more expensive but I may have drink one every few months so that's no issue :) .

The middle of March, 2020  is when my tickets were set for the go to VN to marry. Had I gone I suppose her visa would be ready and we'd be coming back here as well at this time. But I was scared off from taking the flight and unfortunately I cancelled thinking it might just be delayed a month or so. Now who knows when I can ever get to VN to begin my journey with my love.

Good Luck to you and your family with your journey.

SteinNebraska

colinoscapee wrote:

I did 5-years here without going home. You can imagine how it felt to talk to someone that didnt feel the need to talk at the highest level possible.


Yeah, I don't think I could ever do that.  In the future after retirement 6 months here for the winter and 6 months "somewhere else" in the US for the summer will work for me.

SteinNebraska

Ciambella wrote:

Good decision. :top:  I'm happy for you and your family.


Thank you my dear.  One of my very few regrets regarding Vietnam is that I didn't get to meet you in person before I left.

SteinNebraska

MikeTVN wrote:

. Now who knows when I can ever get to VN to begin my journey with my love.


Hang in there man.  It's going to change.  I don't know if it will open in the next six months or not but I'd bet it will.  Knowing what little I know I would wager that Vietnam will jump on the "vaccine passport" bandwagon if they ever develop one.  They are just looking for some tangible thing to point at to open things up.

One of my worries is when I do leave I won't be able to get back for work.  Not insurmountable but inconvenient.  I just had a conference call with the office back home and I also gave them my six month estimate.  Our company president has been waiting for me to come home but also has some fear that I won't be able to get back to take care of business when needed.

Malcolmleitrim

SteinNebraska wrote:
colinoscapee wrote:

I did 5-years here without going home. You can imagine how it felt to talk to someone that didnt feel the need to talk at the highest level possible.


Yeah, I don't think I could ever do that.  In the future after retirement 6 months here for the winter and 6 months "somewhere else" in the US for the summer will work for me.


This is an ideal arrangement, it's what I have done since retiring, only substitute the US for Ireland, however the lockdowns worldwide have made it impossible this year.

paulmsn

Why do you have to leave no later than April 19?  Is that the US government or the Vietnamese government?

SteinNebraska

paulmsn wrote:

Why do you have to leave no later than April 19?  Is that the US government or the Vietnamese government?


When they got their immigration visas from the US consulate they are good for 6 months from the date of the visa or the date of their medical exams, whichever is earlier.  We were directed to have the exams done two weeks before the interview so they have time to get the results sent to the consulate.  So we had them on October 19 for a November 2 interview date.  As a result the immigration visas are good for a single use within 6 months of the October 19 medical exam dates.  Thus April 19.