VN removal as "Restricted" country ?"

Check out the "POMS"

https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0302650040#ahttps://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0302650022#a

Neither of them indicate any changes and they were updated only a few months ago. Cambodia came off the list last year. Dang I wish it was true though.

Budman,
    Thanks for the accurate research. I thought it sounded a little far fetched since it was dated 2009 and I had just read the current SSA rules. I guess we can keep hoping...

bta87 I guarantee you I'll be the first person that they will notify when the restriction is lifted. I'm the last person they want to see at the window every month to sign that F#####g book like we've been doing for over 5 years. Now I find out that it appears they have made exceptions for the folks in Da Nang my bold is really boiling.

Tran Hung Dao I had  to read that CFR about 5 time to figure out that the restrictions that were lifted only are for who is considered a alien by the SSA. They had been previously  restricted from receiving payments. However even though they can receive them in Vietnam now they still are required like the rest of us to do the monthly duffle bag drag to the Consulate every month.......

The Sounds of Silence from the folks in Da Nang on this subject is deafing isn't it.....

Budman1 wrote:

The Sounds of Silence from the folks in Da Nang on this subject is deafing isn't it.....

Spot on!!

Solo1 wrote:

Budman1 wrote:

The Sounds of Silence from the folks in Da Nang on this subject is deafing isn't it.....

Spot on!!

Solo1 the idea of reporting is bad enough but I'm used to dumb  requirements having worked for the Gov for almost 40 years, but boils me the reasons that there trying to use. Since 1995 they haven't figured out yet how to have a more sensible way of finding out if a person is dead and stop the payments? Wonder if anybody here has had their payments stopped for not reporting and then had them started back up again when they showed up at the Consulate.

Improvements in the SSA relationship with Vietnam early this year.  According to this:
https://www.ssa.gov/deposit/foreign.htm
US retirees residing in Vietnam can now receive social security payments by direct deposit in Vietnam effective February 2018.  I've looked at the HCMC web site and all they talk about in regard to SS is to contact Social Security Office in Manila.  Yes, they are the office which handles much of Southeast Asia but I've had mixed results contacting them.

I'm an old duffer happily retired in Thailand but Vietnam has always been an interest of mine.
Your duty, if you are up for the task, is to contact someone at US Citizen Services in Hanoi or HCMC and find out what bank or banks qualify for direct deposit in Vietnam. 

Anyone game?