biggish data

G-325A

Thanks!!! Appreciate the quick responses!!!

Freyja

Female

Sweden

2009-01-05 12:09:00

G-325A

Thanks!! Did you also write the date or was that not needed?

Freyja

Female

Sweden

2009-01-05 11:59:00

G-325A

Hi!

I was hoping someone can help me... We are applying for a K-1 Fiance visa for me and I am trying to do the G-325A form right now.. However I have a question that I cant find the answer to.. The third question about Father and Mother... My father has passed away. What do I write in the box City and Country of Residence???

Hoping someone might know.. Thanks!!!!!!!

Freyja

Female

Sweden

2009-01-05 11:53:00

FYI got email back from DMV in CT saying: "You may apply for a license on a K-1 visa".
Sounds good!

Freyja

Female

Sweden

2009-02-25 03:44:00

Now, I will give you another suggestion. If you can possibly manage it, pay for and receive professional driving instruction. I do not believe it is the best thing for a new marriage for the husband to teach the wife.

We survived it, but there were a few evenings of "silent treatment" after driving lessons.

Good luck
[/quote]

LOL That's good advice

Freyja

Female

Sweden

2009-02-24 13:44:00

Thanks!!!

I will check the rules for CT. Would be great to be able to learn how to drive as soon as I get there or at least when we file for AOS.

Freyja

Freyja

Female

Sweden

2009-02-24 03:17:00

Hi!

I was hoping someone on VJ has experience with this and could help me.

I don't have a drivers license but will have to learn how to drive when I live in the US. My question is whether it is possible to start taking classes when I arrive on the K-1 and receive a US drivers license, or do I have to wait until I have permanent residency? I.e. is it possible to take driving classes and get license when only have SSN or do you also have to have a green card? If I can't take classes and get a drivers license during the AOS waiting, I'd rather try to get a drivers license while still in Sweden...

Does anyone have experience with this? Maybe it differs between states???

Thanks!!!

Freyja

Female

Sweden

2009-02-23 07:58:00

Change of Address after NOA2

Hi!

I have a question I was hoping someone could help me with...

We have received NOA2 and found out our case has been received by the consulate in Sweden. So I am waiting for Package 3 right now. I've looked at the DS 230 / 156 forms to know what's coming and my question is regarding the address of the petitioner.

My fiance is currently living at the address he's had since we started the application. He will however be moving to a new address in June. I am assuming I'll get package 3 this week...which address should I write in the space where they ask me where I will be living? My fiance still lives at the old address but has signed a contract for the new place so it is almost completely certain he will be living there in June (and thus that's where I'll be living when I come over). On the other hand, it does feel a bit strange mentioning this new address as he does not live there yet and we haven't mentioned this address in any other part of the application process.

Is there a way of completing the forms in Package 3 with the old address and then somehow changing the address of the petitioner in June when he actually lives at the new address? So that I can tell them the new address at POE.

Has anyone been in the same situation? What's your advice on this?
I'd really appreciate any thoughts on the matter!

Many thanks!!!!

Freyja

Female

Sweden

2009-05-10 02:44:00

Change last name after wedding

FYI I was able to go to the SS office with my SSN (in my maiden name), show them the marriage certificate and they change my name. New SSN will be received within 2 weeks! Did not need anything else except for marriage certificate and my passport. Was able to change last name and keep my maiden name as a middle name.

Freyja

Female

Sweden

2009-08-20 11:26:00

Change last name after wedding

Thank you!

Our marriage certificate just shows my name as my maiden name and doesn't indicate in any way whether I am changing my name or not. But maybe that differs between states??

So I will have to wait until I have EAD/GC to change my last name on SSN, I can't do it earlier? I asked the people at the SS office when I applied for SSN in my maiden name and they said I first have to register my new name with immigration so that they can see the new name in the computer. Whatever that means?? I guess sending in AOS but is that not enough, I have to also get EAD before I can get new SSN?

Thanks again!!!!!!!

Freyja

Female

Sweden

2009-08-14 10:24:00

Change last name after wedding

Hi all!

I have a question regarding changing your last name... We had our wedding last weekend and I want to change my last name to my husband's. What do I need to do? We will be going through AOS now and I want to apply with my new last name but do I need to do something before sending in the papers to legally change my name here? I have applied for a SSN in my maiden name (before the marriage) but have not received it yet.

Any help is appreciated!
Thanks!!

Freyja

Female

Sweden

2009-08-14 10:08:00

Received NOA2! But fiancée is in America right now

QUOTE (ACGeiger @ Sep 29 2009, 02:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Does anyone know if Linnéa could get the medical "checkup" done in the states or does it have to be done in Sweden?

I also think it has to be done in Sweden. But to know for sure, why don't you email the Embassy in Sweden. I emailed them a question and they emailed me an answer right away and I know other Swedes had the same experience. The phone hours don't really work but emailing them works really well.

Freyja

Female

Sweden

2009-09-29 09:42:00

Received NOA2! But fiancée is in America right now

Congrats!!!

Your petition is now probably on its way to NVC and then it will be sent to the Embassy in Sweden. My experience with the Embassy in Sweden was excellent and they are really fast so I'd expect your packet 3 to arrive soon. I got an interview just over a month after my NOA2 so if you want to speed things up, probably your fiance should go back to Sweden sooner than Nov. Also, if you haven't done so yet start collecting police certificate and birth certificate.

Good luck!

Freyja

Female

Sweden

2009-09-29 07:52:00

Confused about forms sent to fiance

Collect birth cert, police cert etc and when you have that, send the checklist and DS 230, DS 156 and 156k back to the Embassy. Do NOT send the birth cert, police cert etc. Those, together with the affidavit of support (and supporting documents) you'll need for the interview. At interview, they will ask for those documents. Also make sure she has the affidavit of support from you and the supporting documents now as this is also one of the requirements on the checklist and she will be asked to present it at interview (ie do not send affidavit to embassy, just bring it to interview).

Freyja

Female

Sweden

2009-10-06 09:04:00

When is the affidavit needed by?

You'll receive a so called "Packet 3" and it will have a checklist. Once you have checked all the points on the checklist, you send it back to the Embassy and they invite you for an interview. One of the things on the checklist is the Affidavit of Support. So once you have NOA2 you want to start collecting pay slips etc for the Affidavit. Hope this helps. Good luck!!!

Freyja

Female

Sweden

2009-12-21 09:51:00

At the Embassy

I only had originals at the time of the interview. But you might want to keep some copies for your own records.

Freyja

Female

Sweden

2009-12-28 21:25:00

Mike,

That is the first I heard of recieving the electronic file, but you were approved one day after me. Secondly, what email address did you use? Seems like the embassy picks and chooses which emails to respond to.

Thanks

I used visasbkk@state.gov, but I received an auto-response that gave me very specific instructions as to the required subject line and identification info in the body of the email in order to get a response. Here is what they sent me:

"Thank you for your inquiry to the Visa Unit of the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, please read the following carefully:

Due to the large number of emails received daily, we are only able to respond to case specific questions. If you need general visa information about U.S. visa services available in Thailand, please consult the following websites: http://bangkok.usemb....gov/visas.html
http://thailand.us-v...ms/default.aspx

1) If you have a case specific Immigrant Visa (including Fiancée) inquiry, you must resend your email to visasbkk@state.gov and the subject line must contain "IV Inquiry," the case number (with prefix of BNK), and the applicant's surname. Your email must also contain the full name of the petitioner, applicant, the type of visa, your contact information and your question. .
2) For a case specific Non-Immigrant Visa inquiry you must resend your email to visasbkk@state.gov and the subject line must contain "NIV Inquiry." Your email must contain the full name of the visa applicant, the applicant's date of birth and your question. "

So the subject line should look like this:

"IV Inquiry, BNK1111111111, Smith"

and the body of the email should start with this:

"K-1 Visa
Case number BNK1111111111.
John Doe 01-10-1974
Jane Doe 05-01-1983
Contact Info:
JDoe@yahoo.com
555-555-5555"

Give that a shot and hopefully they'll respond.

Thanks,

Mike

ArizonaMike74

Male

Thailand

2010-05-12 10:58:00

When NVC sends the physical documents by mail, they also electronically transmit scans of those same documents to the embassy.

So.... translation:

"We've receive the scans. We're waiting on DHL. Once DHL gets here and we've taken our time to match your documents in our systems, we'll send Packet 3 to your girl. Is this her address?"

Someone in the NVC thread said the same thing - the NVC always transmits electronically first then the paper documents arrive in a week or two. Thanks for the info!

Mike

ArizonaMike74

Male

Thailand

2010-05-12 10:44:00

I think you can celebrate. When I got my NOA2 the case had been sent the day before the letter was dated. DHL delivers them in 3 business days and a day for processing at the embassy and they will be ready to be
sending out the P3 info. You can write the consulate at the embassy, give them the BNK number, both of your names and ask them to let you know that it has arrived and they will email you back after it's logged into
their system. So give it a shot!!! Good luck!!

I took your advice and emailed the embassy and received a very quick response but I'm not sure what to make of it:

"The Immigrant visa Unit is now loading the electronic file of the above captioned case from NVC. Please allow some weeks for us to receive the physical file of the case. Once we have received the completed case files and opened the case in the system, we will notify the applicant by mailing the Packet 3 instructional letter to this address. Please verify."

Can anyone interpret this from bureau speak for me? :wacko:

Thanks!

Mike

ArizonaMike74

Male

Thailand

2010-05-11 20:06:00

Well I received a letter yesterday from the NVC saying that my case had been sent to the Bangkok Embassy on May 5th. I had read that people had received letters like this only to call the NVC and find out that their case was still in Admin Review so I didn't take it seriously. However, I called the NVC today and when I finally got through the NVC representative also told me that my application left for the embassy on May 5th. I'm in disbelief because it's only been two weeks since the NVC received my application so I'm not sure if I believe him or not :blink:

I think I will call again just to be sure before I celebrate

Mike

ArizonaMike74

Male

Thailand

2010-05-11 16:53:00

I just noticed on the embassy website that they host a web chat. Anyone know what dates and times they hold this? I'd love to give them a little grief and try to get some answers. I was able to download and read a transcript of one from March 30th. It doesn't look like they are online
too awfully long so I am sure there are a lot of questions left unanswered.

I looked at the web site and it appears to me like the web chat is not a regularly scheduled event. I read the transcript and was disappointed that no one asked them any difficult questions (like what exactly is Administrative Processing, why does it take so long, and why don't you update people during the process). Maybe people did ask tough questions and they just answered the easy ones - who knows.

Edited by ArizonaMike74, 06 May 2010 - 05:30 PM.

ArizonaMike74

Male

Thailand

2010-05-06 17:29:00

..........

Mike, everything is fine. They'll do their checks then forward your case. Like Tom said, a lot of girls have ended up in AP recently. Use this extra time to beef up your case so Mimi isn't one of those girls. No offense, Tom.

Thanks for the encouragement and advice!

Start thinking about how your American-Thai relationship differs from a Thai-Thai relationship. Start fixing the differences. If you can't think of anything, ask her.

Start picking up the language. A tiny bit goes a long way. Even if you think "This is America; she needs to speak English." She'll feel like you're accepting of and interested in her culture, and the embassy will view it as an attempt at bridging the differences and genuinely building understanding in a cross-cultural relationship. If she's not able to teach you some, there are plenty of (free) websites aimed at teaching Thai to farang. You don't have to be fluent, but you should be able to wai and understand things like Kop Khun Krap and Mai Pen Rai. These two phrases alone will help you enormously through your relationship. Right, guys? Really, though. Thai is a difficult language. You putting the effort in can help show that you're in this relationship for real.

I am on my second Thai learning computer program - I have learned simple greetings and phrases like Mai Pen Rai but I have a LONG way to go. I don't think I'll ever read Thai but I would like to at least be able to speak decent Thai. She wants our children to speak both and I don't want to be left out of any conversations:)

Try to understand her better:
Is she Buddhist? (Note: 95% of the country is.) What do you know about it? What do you know about how it affects her day-to-day living? I'm not saying convert. I'm not saying you have to believe, accept, or anything at all. I'm saying you should learn. Even if she's not Buddhist, it has a very large impact on the entire country. The only people the King bows to are his late mother and monks. My husband is Christian. He still pulled me out of the way when I nearly bumped into a monk in a photo store. What about Thailand? I'm not saying go and spend 20 hours each day studying politics and geography and agriculture. No need to understand the intricacies behind Red vs. Yellow and such. Just ask her about things that are relevant to her. Not only is she bringing all of this with her to the US (You can't just ditch an entire upbringing.) and thus helpful to you, it will show the embassy you're trying to understand her. Fraud relationships don't bother with understanding on a deep level.

It is funny you mention that because one of the things that attracted me to Mimi is that she is not only fluent in English but she considers herself Christian. I was raised Christian but converted to Buddhism. I still celebrate Christmas with my family and she still goes to Temple so we understand and respect both belief systems which is a big help especially when it comes to family and holidays. I already visited the closest Thai Buddhist temple (about 25 minutes from me), and plan to take her there when she gets here. I also read quite a bit about Thailand before I went there in order to understand the culture as much as possible (my friend Dan is Thai and he recently moved back to Thailand with his family which is how this whole thing got started).

Evaluate yourself for red flags. Look at your relationship with Hater Goggles on. What do you see? What can you fix? How do you explain the ones you can't fix?

Mike, hon, you have a Blessing In Disguise. Whatever triggered the additional checks will be cleared up before the interview, and you have more time to prepare. Anyone who thinks pictures are not looked at and chats/e-mails are not read before the interview is on a very illicit substance. Same thing about an opinion being formed prior to the interview. It's either yes, no, or maybe. Your girl will have the actual interview to attempt to influence that opinion. If it's yes, she'll have to try hard to screw it up. If it's no or maybe, she'll have to try hard to change it and will most likely get AP. Why not do what you can now to make the CO think "yes" from the start?

Good luck, Mike! And yes, please do encourage her to sign up at usvisa4thai. The girls are super sweet and full of knowledge and support. Also have her search pantip.com. The embassy has an open question and answer session once a month. The transcript is posted there. It's very insightful. I don't know where you would find it in English, though.

Side Note: Go Spurs!

I'll just ignore that last one

Thanks again for all the encouragement and advice!

Mike

ArizonaMike74

Male

Thailand

2010-05-05 19:30:00

Oh and for some good news for a change it appears the Red Shirts should be going home soon since the Bangkok Post is reporting that they've accepted a compromise from the prime minister that will dissolve parliament at the end of September in time for November elections.

I think this is great relief for everyone with loved ones in Thailand especially those still needing interviews, medicals, etc.. It appears they will pull off a minor miracle of a resolution to this conflict that does not involve more bloodshed :dance:

ArizonaMike74

Male

Thailand

2010-05-05 16:59:00

Mike, we have not been denied. After Teaw's interview they asked for more proof of relationship and after Teaw submitted hundreds of pages of emails, chats, over 70 pics and other stuff, they called her and told her to come pick up her passport. When she finally went to get the passport the paper she got with it said the case was in AP and they would contact her. I would suggest your fiancee start reading a site called usavisa4thai. It is written in Thai and a lot of the girls there post what is going on with their case. AP in BKK is taking anywhere from 2-4 months and they seem to be doing it on a regular basis to many of the girls lately. I am sure NVC will try to move your case out as quickly as possible but you should make sure that your fiancee has a ton of stuff to give them at the interview. I thought I had more than enough to show the relationship but they wanted more. So we are hoping it won't take them anywhere close to 4 months, but I have no idea how they process them when they go into AP. I emailed them twice last week, two different email addresses asking for an update but they have not answered back, which is unusual since they usually do respond. From what Teaw has learned on that Thai website, people have been told don't contact us...we will contact you when we are ready.

Forgot to mention....how do you expect to get your wife's mother here? Getting a travel visa is near impossible and that's the only way I know she could come here and return back home for a wedding. You might try to get more info from members on the best way to try to do that.

Richardying, from what Teaw has been reading in the website, interviews are now being set 4-6 weeks out from the interview date. I believe our summertime is when they get busier at the embassy with interviews...or maybe they just go on vacation more. I wish I got 22 paid holidays a year like they do!!!!

Tom -

I'm glad to hear that you have not been denied but I'm not sure what additional "administrative processing" they are performing at the embassy level if it's not security checks - it doesn't make a lot of sense to me. You've given them a ton of evidence and they've examined it so why are they still sitting on it?

Yes Mimi does read the "usavisa4thai" site and gets a lot of info from there so I trust she is gathering the additional evidence she will need for the interview. I understand where you guys are coming from on the mother thing but Mimi and her mother Waralee are very confident that Waralee will not only get a B2 Visa to come to the wedding but that she will get a 5 or 10 year B2 visa. I'm hoping for just a 90 day Visa but I think Waralee's chances are good because she owns a lots of property (rice farm, land with one new house paid for and building a 2nd house now, and money in the bank).

She also has a current passport and has traveled quite a bit to Europe (she is widowed from a Swedish man). Mimi is helping her with her B2 application and even though it would save me a lot of money now and for future visits if the Visa is denied, I understand that Waralee is worried about her daughter coming to a strange place and wants to be sure she will be safe and happy here. I also understand it will ease Mimi's transition to America if she has her mother here for the first few months.

Mike

ArizonaMike74

Male

Thailand

2010-05-05 16:50:00

I don't think Tom and Teaw have been denied. I think they are still in AP which happens at the Embassy after the interview. Not at the NVC like with ArizonaMike. I certainly hope it was not denied, I am still pulling for Tom and Teaw but it could be a few months.

Good luck all.

Wow. Tom if you have not been denied that is good news - what have you found out about the admin review process at the embassy? I'm guessing it's more mushroom treatment but maybe you have an idea of what to expect from other cases posted online here. In the NVC thread I was told the fact that I have a BKK # from the NVC is good news so I'm going to try to stay positive and focus on that. I would like to visit Mimi again but the upcoming wedding and travel costs require that I save as much as I can (I'm going to try and fly both Mimi and her mother her for the wedding and take all of us on a Vegas/Disneyland vacation after). When I flew to Bangkok from Phoenix a year ago it was $950 roundtrip and now, pricing from BKK to PHX roundtrip on the same airline - United, it is $1450. When I add both Mimi's one way ticket and her mother's round trip ticket it will be $2500 to $3000 - if her mother flies back after October it jumps to $1850 since Nov-Dec is the busy airfare season.

The only thing that is saving my sanity at this point is how patient and positive Mimi has been through this whole process. I've been able to stay fairly Zen about the whole thing until yesterday when I found out about this NVC garbage for the first time. I guess if she wasn't so extraordinary I wouldn't be going to the lengths that I am to bring her here.

I will tell you that it has given me a new perspective on how broken our immigration system is. Living in Arizona I've know this for a long time but now I truly realize how difficult it is for immigrants to come here legally. Now that Arizona is in the national spotlight because of our new law giving the police the ability to ask for documentation on "reasonable suspicion", I hope that this will make politicians take a harder look at immigration reform not just border security. Even our former governor, Janet Napolitano, now head of Homeland Security has forsaken us now that she has moved on to the White House. Now that everyone is in an uproar about this new law maybe that will make people learn more about immigration law and start a real dialog.

Mike

Edited by ArizonaMike74, 05 May 2010 - 11:17 AM.

ArizonaMike74

Male

Thailand

2010-05-05 11:15:00

Congrats!!!!!!!!!! Hope it goes better than ours did!!! HAHAHA. Seems they are getting busy now as Teaw says the girls are getting interviews about a month away from getting the P3 packet back to the embassy.

Tom -

I was following your case for awhile and yours went into admin review AFTER it got to the embassy and after the interview correct? If I recall correctly it was eventually denied? If you don't mind me asking, what are your plans now? Are you going to try to apply again or marry her in Thailand and try for a K3 Visa? I empathize with your plight - I am now having to consider the grim possibility that the enigmatic power that is our government can ruin people's lives without reason and have to consider my alternatives if my current petition is denied. Did they ever even give you a specific reason for the denial?

Mike

ArizonaMike74

Male

Thailand

2010-05-04 23:46:00

Honestly, from what I have seen people post here, if it is only two months you will be lucky. Some people have taken much, much longer. If you go about 5-6 pages back you will see a report about one that took seven.

I went back and found one individual who had his petition get "lost" between the USCIS and the NVC - the NVC claimed they did not receive it for a long time - once they "found" it things moved along. From what I'm seeing the vast majority of those under admin review are 4-8 weeks with some getting moved in as little as two or three weeks so despite your cheerfulness I'll try to stay optimistic

ArizonaMike74

Male

Thailand

2010-05-04 23:40:00

Well I got more bad news today - after waiting the entire five months for them to approve my November petition - I emailed then called the NVC to find out the status of my application and I now have a BKK # but it is in "administrative review". I did a search on this and got a wide variety of results but basically I am led to believe that this means my application has been selected to undergo additional manual security checks which could take three weeks to two months?!?!? After I read about Administrative Review I called the NVC back to confirm that I'd been pulled for security screening and the lady basically confirmed it.

I am obviously very upset but I'm hoping someone here can clarify for me since my searches yielded conflicting results. At least one thread said that they could still possibly mail the petition to the embassy, my fiancée could get packet 3, finish her interview, and then she would have to wait for the security checks to clear? This doesn't make any sense. Any help is appreciated.

Mike

Edited by ArizonaMike74, 04 May 2010 - 05:45 PM.

ArizonaMike74

Male

Thailand

2010-05-04 17:44:00

Hello Everyone -

I finally received my NOA2 - of course on the very last day of the 5 month "don't call us" period of time. I did not get an email notice that it was approved yesterday. I was actually looking up my case number so I could call them today and ask for status when, to my chagrin (while I was literally dialing options into the customer service line), I noticed that it said approved (I did get an approval text on my cell a couple hours later). Needless to say I was full of joy at the end of what has been a difficult waiting period.

The only problem now is that I told Mimi to wait at least until we got our NOA2 before she went to get her medical and police reports in Bangkok and of course now all hell has broken loose right by the hospital and police station. I can only hope the Red Shirts go home peacefully or the police crack down without hurting anyone and make them go home so it is safe for people in Bangkok again. In what was the first real violence today bombs went off on the Sky Train or near the Sky train killing some Yellow Shirt protesters who were telling the Red Shirts to go home.

Does anyone know if the US Embassy is still open or if they closed their doors due to the insanity?

Mike

ArizonaMike74

Male

Thailand

2010-04-22 18:15:00

I have electronic copies of my last three years tax returns (I filed electronically via TaxCut software so it creates a PDF file). However, I like the idea of getting official copies from the IRS. They list two different types of transcripts:

Definitions:

A tax return transcript shows most line items from your tax return (Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ) as it was originally filed, including any accompanying forms and schedules. It does not reflect any changes you, your representative or the IRS made after the return was filed. In many cases, a return transcript will meet the requirements of lending institutions such as those offering mortgages and for applying for student loans.

A tax account transcript shows any later adjustments either you or the IRS made after the tax return was filed. This transcript shows basic data, including marital status, type of return filed, adjusted gross income and taxable income.

Do you think I should request the Tax Return Transcript or the simpler Tax Account Transcript?

Also should I wait until NOA2 before sending the employment letter and pay stubs? The Visa Guide on this site says "most recent" pay stubs but also suggests sending them as soon as you get the NOA2. I think to play it safe I'll wait until I get the NOA2 before sending my pay stubs to my fiance' but I'm curious as to what other people have done. Thanks!

Mike

ArizonaMike74

Male

Thailand

2010-01-19 18:33:00

I have another question about the Affidavit of Support I-134 form. I would like to start gathering forms to send my Fiance' for her packet 3. If everything goes right I should get the NOA2 in four to six weeks. Is it too soon to start gathering the financial paperwork like the letter from my employer, pay stubs, etc? If it is too soon when is the soonest I can send pay stubs for example? Thanks!

Mike

ArizonaMike74

Male

Thailand

2010-01-19 16:53:00

Sawadee Krup Everyone:)

I am new to the forum but have read most of this thread. I have a question about the Affidavit of Support I-134 form. I believe I am supposed to include a copy of the most recent year's tax return. However, I expect my packet 3 request to come in February or March and I will not have filed my 2009 tax return by then (I plan on filing an extension this year). Do you think they will accept a 2008 tax year 1040 or will they demand I complete the 2009 1040 even though it is not due to the IRS until April?

Thanks!

Mike

ArizonaMike74

Male

Thailand

2010-01-18 15:32:00

I want to apologize in advance if this is not perfect - it was difficult for my wife to translate this out of context but here it goes:

Vishu,

Are you online? Do you want to say something...ha ha ha?

When is he coming back? I'm waiting to punch him. Tell him if he's a good fighter to come back and fight with me again.

Are you serious or are you just being a big mouth sweet heart?

No. This is America so we must say it and make Americans scared.

He is not your Facebook friend?

No he is not.

Vishu

ArizonaMike74

Male

Thailand

2011-07-11 21:55:00

I can't BELIEVE IT!!!! Teaw and I zipped down to Pattaya for a couple days cause she wanted to go to the beach and there were no cheap flights to Phuket or Samui when were were going to be here. Now I have not been to Pats for 3 or more years, but I was totally shocked to be in LITTLE RUSSIA!!!!! It's 95% Russians now and everything has Russian writing on it. At the hotel we were at I felt like we were the only English speaking people there and we pretty much were. While getting a foot massage last night the lady we were talking to said she wished it was like the old days where it was all Americans and English as she did not like the Russians so much. It was really depressing to see the place change like that from what I remember it was. I sure won't be going back to Pats again!!!! Scratch that one off my list. I just hope the tour people don't screw up Phuket and Samui and other places with the Russians.

Well that sucks

I've never been but Mimi wants to try it for vacation but I guess we won't plan on more than a week there (Hua Hin is the next place on our list), so we can see what it's like. Just read an article about the topic that said they are big spenders ($300 bottles of champagne and caviar):

http://www.gluckman.com/Russians.html

It's good for Pattaya tourism but that means prices for everything will go up. Maybe they will spend more improving what I've been told is a pathetically short/smelly beach.

ArizonaMike74

Male

Thailand

2011-03-24 19:29:00

congrats on your marriage...arizona mike and to you and gif as well, bless 1010. wish you lifetime of happiness and an easy transition for your wives in a new country.

@arizona mike are you anywhere near chandler? there are quite a few thai people there, some solid restaurants and grocery ingredients as well.

Thanks to everyone for the congrats. I live about 15 minutes from Chandler and have visited Wat Pa there but the closest Asian grocery store I could find is in a strip mall on the border of Mesa and Tempe (Dobson and Main), called Mekong Plaza and is actually Chinese owned but they have some Thai, Korean, and Vietnamese food there. We can get fish sauce there and just about everything she needs but it's about a 30 minute drive. When Mimi and I visit Wat Pa she can ask the people there where the best grocery store is.

However, she gets by fine shopping at the local vegetable/fruit market and Walmart. We've only had to go to Mekong twice since Mimi got here - the first time to check it out and the last time for another bag of rice and a few hard to get Thai vegetables. We haven't eaten at any Thai restuarants yet but I'll probably take her to my favorite Thai restaurant soon. I've teased Mimi that they make better Green Curry Chicken than her so maybe she can ask for their recipe. LOL, I think I saw some steam come from her ears after that comment :whistle:

ArizonaMike74

Male

Thailand

2010-12-23 14:08:00

Hello everyone,

I just thought I'd give a quick update. Mimi and I got married at the Excalibur's wedding chapel the Tuesday after Thanksgiving - small wedding just my mother-in-law and my immediate family. The wedding was cheap ($250 package), but the pictures were expensive ($300 just for the CD - otherwise you get one 8*10 print). We stayed four nights in Vegas at the Excalibur. Mimi doesn't gamble and I didn't really have time but I managed to play in one very small poker tournament at the Excalibur's poker room and dumped about $20 into a slot machine.

Vegas was colder than I've ever experienced in that city - freezing at night and 50s during the day. I know some of you are probably dealing with snow but I grew up in the desert so it was very cold for me and definitely way too cold for Thai people:) The last day we were there it warmed up a bit so we walked up the Vegas strip, saw the hotels, did a little shopping, and grabbed lunch at PF Chang's (this was the closest to real Chinese food they've experienced - both gave it the thumbs up). The last night in Vegas we saw the Lion King - quite a musical production - everyone loved it (and we had front row tickets I bought months in advance so that helped).

After four nights in Vegas, we drove to Anaheim Thursday for four nights in a hotel across the street from Disneyland. The first night I drove to "Thai Town" in Hollywood. There are a few restaurants and a grocery store - they mainly wanted to go to get hard to find Thai ingredients from the grocery store there. There is a book store right outside the grocery store that carries Mimi's favorite weekly Thai gossip (oops I mean "news") magazine. The store's proprietor said that he would ship her the magazine once a month (I can't remember the price but I think for 3-4 issues of the magazine shipped to our house it would be $15-20 so very reasonable). We ate at a good Thai place and then drove to China Town in downtown LA. We just drove through China town since it was getting late and they already got the groceries they were looking for at the Thai market.

I think the trip to and through LA/Hollywood was an eye opener for both Mimi and her mother. They had a glamorous view of both cities from movies and TV shows but when they saw all the trash on the side of the freeway, the horrible smog and traffic, and then the downtrodden areas that are Thai and China town they were happy that we lived in Phoenix. Thai town particularly was a rough neighborhood. The grocery store had an armed guard at the front door - that was a little scary.

Friday we spent the day in Disneyland and both Mimi and her mother were very impressed - her Mom asked why we didn't spend more time there and less time in Las Vegas. We took an all day bus tour of LA on Saturday (Santa Monica Beach, Venice Beach, Walk of Fame, etc.). Sunday we spent the day at the newer Disney park across from Disneyland called California Adventures. We had a long drive home on Monday - everyone came home tired but happy with the trip. More to come about life with two Thai women:)

Mike

Edited by ArizonaMike74, 21 December 2010 - 08:14 PM.

ArizonaMike74

Male

Thailand

2010-12-21 20:11:00

Is this thread DEAD or what???? Nobody writes in here anymore?

Yes this thread has been quiet. I've been very busy with my wedding, honeymoon, reception. etc. but I'll post updates soon. I hope those still waiting for their interview are doing well - I know the holidays can be difficult when you're apart and waiting on the government.

Mike

ArizonaMike74

Male

Thailand

2010-12-12 13:26:00

I agree with the comments about Windows in Thai, probably not something you want to do. No real reason to pay for anything more than Win 7 Home Premium for 99% of home users anyway.

Actually Mimi can read and understand and prefers english most of the time when using the computer - it is when she's typing to her friends on facebook, etc. she uses the small arrow on the start bar to change to Thai characters. I don't know if there is a way for her to type to her friends in Thai on the internet without the Windows language pack but I'm sure there may be an alternative. It's free for XP/Vista but Win7 ultimate does cost extra. I was buying a new Alienware so it wasn't that much more altogether but if I had to buy a separate upgrade just for the Thai language pack I probably would have sought out alternatives.

Mike

ArizonaMike74

Male

Thailand

2010-11-19 14:37:00

Usually it is.

LOL. Yes your results may vary :whistle:

But that's what this thread is for.

On a separate note I now have a list of things that may ease the transition for your loved one when he/she arrives here:

1) Rice Cooker - this is a must. I bought one at Sears for $30 that is working great so far (Mekong Plaza, my closest Asian Grocery Store, wanted $100+).

2) "Thai Keyboard Stickers with White Lettering on Transparent Background" found on Amazon.com for $5.77 with shipping sold by 4KEYBOARD. This will turn any standard computer keyboard into a Thai keyboard

3) Download the free Thai language pack for Windows XP/Vista (this allows you to switch between Roman and Thai language on the computer by clicking on an arrow on the far right side of your Start Bar in Windows). Unfortunately, if you have Windows 7 you have to upgrade to Windows Ultimate in order to download/install any language packs.

4) Thai Satellite for Thai News/Soap Operas (I mentioned the specifics in an earlier thread and there are alternatives to a satellite dish).

5) "Bidet BB-50: Hand-held bidet with room temperature water and adjustable pressure" offered from Amazon for $45.50 with shipping. This is the popular "Bum Gun" found everywhere in Thailand. It comes with all the necessary hardware to go between the water hookup and your toilet's tank and mounts on the wall. This one has held up well so far for me.

6) Some kind of clothes drying rack or setup some clothes lines. Mimi is not a fan of clothes drying machines (I don't think they're popular in Thailand but someone can correct me if I'm wrong). My socks and underwear are OK in the dryer but for the more delicate stuff she prefers the old fashioned method.

I'm sure there is something I'm forgetting but I think that covers the important stuff. Obviously you don't HAVE to buy this stuff but I think it will make for a much easier transition for your significant other.

Mike

Edited by ArizonaMike74, 18 November 2010 - 05:34 PM.

ArizonaMike74

Male

Thailand

2010-11-18 17:31:00