ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

The 15% probably also comes from registered marriages in the province. I have heard a lot of the people in the villages never actually register their marriages, and I would guess the western men that liver there do register the marriage.


Ah... I think you may be exactly right about that. The Western guys need to register to get the immigration benefits. Excellent analysis Aaron.
toma1MaleThailand2010-10-17 16:01:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

Kind of a funny rebuttal to that article.

http://www.huffingto...o_b_259102.html



Nice link. ACTUALLY, I think the best comment of the day is the comment on the rebuttal by SingleAsianMale.

Also the one by "IWantTofu" is kinda funny.
toma1MaleThailand2010-10-17 15:59:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)
I found the book here:

http://www.amazon.co...s/dp/0375414096

You can click on "Look Inside" and then "Search inside this book" for "Issan".

The province in question is Udon Thani where--indeed--15% of the marriages are registered with foreigners. The "over 60" part appears to be a misquote.

It's pretty scathing, actually, so heads up on that.
toma1MaleThailand2010-10-17 12:12:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

Sounds as if the author is a bitter woman from what I can take with her sarcastic tones and snide remarks.


Except that she is also Asian.

I can't really see 15% of marriages as she says.


She is quoting another book.

Edited by toma1, 17 October 2010 - 11:29 AM.

toma1MaleThailand2010-10-17 11:27:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

Did everything with the packet that I sent in today. Yep, thought of it all!! And of course, I like to take advantage of anything that I can do for free!!!


Congrats... you can now change your "Filed for:" to "Adjustment of Status"!
toma1MaleThailand2010-10-17 10:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

I'm not sure it matters if you have spent any time in Issan.


I meant that even though I spend 1/4 of the year in Thailand, I haven't been specifically in Issan to notice whether this could be true. In Bangkok, even though there are a HUGE number of foreigners hanging around, the number of MARRIAGES to foreigners in general is nowhere near 15% let alone specifically to "foreigners over 60".


I guess I'm not surprised if this is true. Not sure what "young" means, though. Also not sure if this counts women from Issan who live elsewhere in Thailand, or women from Issan who have been married outside of Thailand, which both seem to be common.


The way it is worded it seems to mean "marriages in Issan", but, yeah, some details are not clear.

OK, well putting aside what young means, the sheer numbers here are beyond surprising to me. I would have been surprised to find that even 5% of the marriages in such a remote area were to ALL FOREIGNERS COMBINED.
toma1MaleThailand2010-10-17 10:47:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)
Anyone else see this Marie Claire article?
http://www.marieclai...ian-trophy-wife

Perhaps it's because I haven't spent any time in Issan, but this passage was surprising, even to me:
"citing one phenomenon in the northeastern region of Thailand called Issan, where 15 percent of marriages are between young Thai women and Western men well into their 60s."

15%? Really? If this is just "Western men over 60", then what is the percentage for Western men of all ages?

Anyone have any insight as to whether this can possibly be accurate?
toma1MaleThailand2010-10-16 17:23:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

Toma, how long are you going to be there? We will be driving over to Vegas from LAX Saturday afternoon. Meeting up with Aaron and his wife. Maybe we can all get together if you are still there.

Teaw got her SSI card in the mail TODAY...two days after we applied for it. No stamps or indications of limitations on working stamped on the card!! But she isn't going to work anyway so I am
not worried about it. Sending in the work authorization with the AOS just in case she gets bored before her GC gets here.



We just missed you, Tom--back home now. Have a great trip though. Hope you have better luck than my friends did!!

Surprised about the card! Maybe we should order a new one...
toma1MaleThailand2010-10-16 15:14:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)
In Vegas with our Thai friends--all women. They are down $5k at the moment... not sure how anyone could still be enjoying this, but they seem to be...
toma1MaleThailand2010-10-15 12:27:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

Went by the SSI office today. Waited about 30 min. and got a paper that shows her SSI number. They stamped the paper saying that the printout does not establish your right to work in the US!!
She isn't going to work now anyway so it doesn't matter but I thought it was interesting that they stamped it with that.


Its normal. They will also print that on her SS card.
toma1MaleThailand2010-10-15 12:12:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

The sister (girl in the sunglasses) ended up stabbing me. Off to the cop shop in Lat Phrao. I was fingerprinted and was forced to sign a confession. FYI don't bother calling the embassy, the line just rang and rang. I'm pretty sure the duty officer was shacked up short time.

I have a photo of her mom wearing a shirt saying "no money, no honey" I should have known then.


Huh. Other than the baby's gangsta doo rag they look pretty normal.

LOL.. what did you confess to? Being stabbed?
toma1MaleThailand2010-09-12 14:11:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

Yeah I should find a hobby. I used to travel Asia weekly.


Weekly? Wow, you must have a lifetime Platinum Elite card by now. I don't actually make the flight more than twice a year, but I usually end up being there for a few months at at time.
toma1MaleThailand2010-09-12 13:01:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

I have nothing better to do.
:innocent:


Ha... well, I suppose I do... just don't feel like it at the moment.
toma1MaleThailand2010-09-12 12:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)
Manila is a bizarre place. It must be the easiest city in the world to get a legitimate date. I must have had a dozen women just walk up and ask me:

1. What are you doing in the Philippines?
2. Are you also looking for a wife?


I might have posted this story before. I can't remember because some farang sent me Saeng Som.

So you would stop bitching about living on the reservation no doubt... :)

Edited by toma1, 12 September 2010 - 12:47 PM.

toma1MaleThailand2010-09-12 12:45:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

Edit. Had a kick a$$ weekend in Manilla while waiting.


I left Manilla after 5 days. It's totally a party town and there is absolutely NOTHING_ELSE_TO_DO there. And unlike Bangkok, the GOOD clubs never close. Go to the club at 6PM, have dinner there, buy a mini keg of beer for $10, stay until 6-7AM, go to bed, wake up at noon, have lunch and wait around until 6PM. Repeat. After 5 days, I thought it might be best to drag myself away. I didn't want to become one of those freaks that we have all seen hanging around Manila or Bangkok. I'm sure you know what I mean...

And Ann washed my passport the day after we got back from Russia this year. I'm currently waiting for a replacement.

Edited by toma1, 12 September 2010 - 12:08 PM.

toma1MaleThailand2010-09-12 12:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

Nope. USC services are not open at the same time they conduct interviews.



The American Citizen Services (ACS) section of the U.S. Embassy is open to the public Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m., except Thai and American holidays.  Note: The American Citizen Services section is closed to the public on the last Friday of every month.  Please bring your passport or other form of picture identification.


When are they doing interviews these days?

Edited by toma1, 12 September 2010 - 11:40 AM.

toma1MaleThailand2010-09-12 11:40:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

Cheapskate.

:rofl:


Agree. Chang has less hops (and therefore less expensive). It's too malty and soft for me, but I like IIPAs so that explains that I suppose.
toma1MaleThailand2010-09-12 11:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

They wouldn't let you in to the interview anyway.


You could get in through the US citizen services section... show up to ask a question about adding passport pages or something.

I don't think it matters much either way, though. I didn't go either. Ann handled everything herself and I didn't see her until she showed up in the US (after stopping in Kuwait on the way over...)
toma1MaleThailand2010-09-12 11:30:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

Before I got the iPhone I just bought a quad band phone on ebay. It cost about $30 and that was 5 years ago.

Just search ebay for "quad band phone". Some list it as a "world phone". I did a quick search and found some used BB 8800s for just over $50, so you should be able to do a lot better than that.



FYI: I just checked the iPhone's connectivity specs. No wonder it always worked:

Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850 900 1800 1900 MHz)
Penta-band UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (850 900 1900 2100 MHz)
Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n)
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
toma1MaleThailand2010-09-12 00:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

Yea, the iPhones will work on numerous networks, but I'm looking for something less expensive. I already know about a worldwide pay-as-you-go SIM card I can use, now I just need to buy a cheap phone that works on whatever networks are common in Germany & England as well as the U.S. and Thailand. It looks like GSM 900 & 1800 are used in Europe, but the U.S. uses GSM 850 & 1900. Thailand is predominantly GSM 1800, but also seems to have a little GSM 900 and 1900 support. So, it sounds like the best phone will be at least dual band supporting GSM 1800 and 1900.



Before I got the iPhone I just bought a quad band phone on ebay. It cost about $30 and that was 5 years ago.

Just search ebay for "quad band phone". Some list it as a "world phone". I did a quick search and found some used BB 8800s for just over $50, so you should be able to do a lot better than that.
toma1MaleThailand2010-09-12 00:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)
My wife and I use our iPhones. No problems in over 30 countries.
toma1MaleThailand2010-09-11 23:07:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

Mimi was approved for her K-1 Visa yesterday and her mother was approved for a B-2 Tourist Visa today! A short synopsis of Mimi's interview:


Congrats. You beat the odds on the B-2!
toma1MaleThailand2010-09-08 01:04:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

The other advantage is she can get social security. Even if she works enough hours to become eligible, a non us citizen can not get any SS benefits of any kind, including spousal benefits, when you kick it. I doubt my wife will ever work enough to get her own benefits, but I would like her to be able to get mine when I die.


100% false.
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/11051.html
http://immigration.f...ent-rights.html
toma1MaleThailand2010-09-07 19:22:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

You make a good point I had never thought of before. I would like to take a European vacation with Mimi in a few years visiting Spain, France, Greece, and Britain. It never occurred to me before that she will not be able to get a US Passport since she will be here on a Green Card. If that is the case then she would have to apply for a Visa for each of those countries at their nearest Embassy? Wow that sucks :(


For that trip, she would need a UK visa plus a Schengen visa which would work for the other three.
toma1MaleThailand2010-09-07 16:20:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

I'm curious... I had always planned my wife would remain a Thai citizen here on a Green Card. I really would like to retire to Thailand some day and I think it would be an advantage if she officially remained Thai. I honestly can't think of a good reason for her to become a US citizen (she won't get a Federal job and I doubt she would care enough about politics to vote), so I am wondering if I'm missing something. Are there any requirements for her to either become naturalized or remain Thai?


You CAN be a dual citizen. Thailand does NOT recognize the renouncement of citizenship that your wife will have to give to USCIS. Thai citizens always retain Thai citizenship from the perspective of the Thai government.

Advantages of US Citizenship
Visa free travel for many locations (Though Thailand has visa free travel to many locations that the US does NOT.)
Voting
Do not have to renew it.
Cannot lose it unless you were a war criminal before you applied.
You are no longer bound by the I-864 form that you completed.

Disadvantages of US Citizenship
Even if you move back to Thailand she will still be required to file a US Tax return
Terrorists will automatically hate her.
toma1MaleThailand2010-09-07 15:59:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

They might dislike red meat since they cant afford it.


I think that's about right. Inability to afford it leads to lack of familiarity with beef.
The Thais I saw at Wagu beef night at the Centara didn't seem to have any problem downing a few filet mignons (but since they are spending $40++ each for dinner, I figure their finances are not an issue...)

Edited by toma1, 24 August 2010 - 01:38 PM.

toma1MaleThailand2010-08-24 13:36:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

Also having the tourist visa interview the day after the K-1 will probably raise some flags.



BTW: Hangover? :D
toma1MaleThailand2010-08-24 13:29:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

Yes you are right. It turns out I got all worked up for nothing :whistle: I checked when I woke up this morning and still no green but after I got to work I checked and the calendar was lit up like a Christmas tree. I picked the morning after Mimi's interview, September 8th, got the confirmation, and all is right in the world again :D


Has she ever had a tourist visa for the US before? Approval of these can quite difficult if she cannot show strong ties to Thailand, and her daughter having a K1 will actually be considered a negative factor, especially if the mother has never had a tourist visa before. Even more especially if there is no father in the picture that is staying behind in Thailand.
toma1MaleThailand2010-08-24 13:08:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

Shipping Boxes from Thailand to the US ???

Even though we do not have an interview date yet, Audy checked with the Thai post office for shipping rates. The Thai post office informed her 13,000 baht for a box that weighs 30 kgs.

She thinks she will have four boxes in addition to two to three suitcases she wants to bring to the US. Of course I can get three suitcases for free if I bring her to the US which I am certain I will need to do. I think that price is too steep and not very likely to get the boxes to the US.

Have others here shipped boxes from Thailand to the US and if so what were the experiences?

Thanks


We got everything... but my wife knew the Postmaster's daughter and he handled the shipping for us personally.
Even then some took 5 months to get here and a few got sent back and had to be reshipped due to some technicality.
toma1MaleThailand2010-08-02 06:30:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

Another question for those of you that flew from BKK to the States with your fiancee after she got the K-1 visa.
When you went through immigration at the airport leaving BKK did you get in the "Thai" line with her or did you split
up and you go through the crowded line? I am thinking I will go into the Thai line with her since she has a Thai
passport and then she won't have to wait for me to make it through the longer line.


Ann actually asked this question at immigration and they told us that if we were married. we could both use the Thai lines, so we always do that, if they are the shortest ones. They have recently opened "Thai/Foreigner" combination lines, too.

You are not married yet, but give it a try if you like.
toma1MaleThailand2010-08-01 19:11:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

Thanks all. I am sure Teaw will do just fine here. She is happy and excited and a little scared


Watch out for homesickness. Ann works in biotech and had traveled all over the world before she met me, so she had a lot of experience with other cultures. Her personality is not very "Thai" in terms of most things. She's not especially religious. She didn't live with her parents. But even then, she was very homesick for a few months. I have even seen cases in which things didn't work out because of it, so be careful.
toma1MaleThailand2010-07-19 22:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

NEWS FLASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Teaw went to the embassy today... and said SHE GOT THE VISA


That's great, man. Very happy for you!

Have to say that I was worried for a while after all of the craziness....
toma1MaleThailand2010-07-19 11:01:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

Thai women (not all) but most when they drink turn into psycho jealous people. It's wearing me out.


Um, are you SURE you want me to bring that bottle of Sang Som?
toma1MaleThailand2010-07-17 01:20:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

Thanks, Herk. I too work for State govt here in NC and I know what you mean. But......the thing that aggravates me the most is they grill Teaw but if they have a concern or question why not just ask me to explain?

I think because she is the visa applicant and--from their perspective--it is she who has to convince them that she should receive a visa.

I know they have called other people here in the states to clarify things

Really? I've never heard of that happening.

Frankly I am SHOCKED that they have held onto her passport for so long. That is actually what I find most ridiculous about your situation. What if she wanted to travel elsewhere?

If they planned to take this long, they should have given it back to her. The only think I can think of is that they DID NOT PLAN to keep it this long, but in their search for information after the second interview they uncovered something else that they did not expect to ind.
toma1MaleThailand2010-07-15 07:21:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

Thai used to go direct to JFK. I took that a couple times. 17 hours non stop. Once you reach silver or gold on Thai (can't remember which one) they send you upgrades on your birthday. It was nice. Not Singapore quality, but still good.

My old company had a habit of bringing everyone together for a 2 day meeting in D.C. every 6 months. One day to get there, two days for the meeting, one day to get back. I spent many nights in D.C. staring at the ceiling in the Marriott trying to go to sleep.


haha

I put my Singapore miles on Continental OnePass as they are partners. I think CO still has the best FF program, and they are my favorite domestic carrier. (No domestics even come close to being competitive on international routes, though.) CO gives standby upgrades and boarding/check-in privileges to all elites.

It's funny, I make gold on CO, even though 80% of my miles come from other airlines.

I'm pretty worried about the United merger, though. United's program sucks, and I think there is a good chance that they will pull OnePass down with them.
toma1MaleThailand2010-06-29 00:10:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

Yep, Singapore is an awesome airline. I didn't realize they had a direct flight from BKK to Houston. Are you sure you don't have to change planes in Changi?


Yeah, you have to change, but it's worth it. Free date changes, too. I think the only direct flight into the US from BKK is Thai Air to LAX.
toma1MaleThailand2010-06-28 23:40:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

Yeah houston was fairly easy for me going through upon my return from Thailand...thnx for the advice take care. :thumbs:


I love the BKK->IAH flight on Singapore Air! But if you want the cheapest, it's usually some ME airline into JFK--typically Kuwait Air or Royal Jordanian. I also saw some very cheap flights into JFK on Aeroflot just last week.
toma1MaleThailand2010-06-28 22:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

Yes, this was at the second grilling last Tuesday...the surprise interview after she was told only to bring her passport in.


So now you know what they were doing during the AP process.

Actually, I'm very surprised that they haven't said anything yet since they are holding her passport.

:yes:

They knew about her cousin, but didn't know about my ex having being a US citizen. Brats. :lol:


Probably because you weren't in AP.
toma1MaleThailand2010-06-27 22:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

Just better safe than sorry and get put into AP. If she has the answers hopefully it will go okay.

At the interview with Teaw they surprised her with "Do you know you have a cousin in the USA?"


Was this the second interview?
toma1MaleThailand2010-06-27 21:57:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

They cared that my ex was Thai. They made quite a fuss about it, asking Husby 3 times how The Ex came to the US and how he had US citizenship. Having Thai nationality, despite being born in the US, was enough to create suspicion in their mind.

That's all. They're just trying to sniff out fraud.


Thai is a nationality, not a race. Asian could be any nationality, including American.
toma1MaleThailand2010-06-27 21:52:00