ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE (rsn @ Apr 2 2009, 07:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (AaronLV @ Apr 2 2009, 09:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (paintbrush @ Apr 2 2009, 07:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
hello rsn

Yes looks like aaron answered all your questions.But i might add about the cost it was around $5000
baht for exam and shots etc.We had child so we had to pay a total of 9600 baht.. dont use the forms
on website they say expired 2004 .we paid 20 baht for forms at the hostipal..and yes takes all day.
also when paying the $131 u.s fee at post office make sure fiancee keeps receipt in safe place you will need at interview.We thought child fee was covered under fiancee visa but it was not and moved us from first in line .To around noon as we had to run across street and pay for child,than come back.


good luck to you rsn

chris


Our medical was 12500 baht, she had to have 4 shots including the HPV shot which is required for females under 27. That shot was expensive, it was almost more then the exam itself. We arrived at BNH at 11am, went to lunch at 12:30 for 1/2 hour and then got the results and were on our way by 1:45. We didn't bring pictures and had to pay 200 baht extra for those.



I thought shots were not required at this stage. I was under the impression that shots were only required at the AOS stage in the U.S.

Also, how long did it take for everyone from mailing in the packet 3 to your actual interview?


The Bangkok embassy requires the vaccinations be done. We waited 15 days. You can do a search on the timelines and see what the dates are for people at the embassy.

AaronLVMaleThailand2009-04-02 21:42:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE (paintbrush @ Apr 2 2009, 07:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
hello rsn

Yes looks like aaron answered all your questions.But i might add about the cost it was around $5000
baht for exam and shots etc.We had child so we had to pay a total of 9600 baht.. dont use the forms
on website they say expired 2004 .we paid 20 baht for forms at the hostipal..and yes takes all day.
also when paying the $131 u.s fee at post office make sure fiancee keeps receipt in safe place you will need at interview.We thought child fee was covered under fiancee visa but it was not and moved us from first in line .To around noon as we had to run across street and pay for child,than come back.


good luck to you rsn

chris


Our medical was 12500 baht, she had to have 4 shots including the HPV shot which is required for females under 27. That shot was expensive, it was almost more then the exam itself. We arrived at BNH at 11am, went to lunch at 12:30 for 1/2 hour and then got the results and were on our way by 1:45. We didn't bring pictures and had to pay 200 baht extra for those.

AaronLVMaleThailand2009-04-02 21:21:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE (paintbrush @ Apr 2 2009, 06:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
you can go in and sit with your fiancee as i did ,yes let her go in first
find a sit for both and you walk to the right up the walk way to the united states services door
walk through that door and turn right into the waiting room..i would try and sit upfront if you can
as they did ask to see me..

good luck chris


The American Services Unit is only open during certain hours and on particular days. You still have to give the guard outside the embassy door the reason you are going into the embassy. I am guessing you didn't tell them you were going to sit with your fiancee?
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-04-02 20:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE
Ok, I'm assuming it's safe to send my fiancee to Bangkok with a color-copy of the NOA2 and a color copy of my passport bio page, correct? Also, she can get the medical exam before packet 3 arrives from the embassy, right?


Should be fine. She doesn't need to wait for packet 3 to get her medical. I believe it is good for up to one year, you just want to make sure that time span also includes when you are going to file AOS, or you may have to get the medical done again once you are in the US.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-04-02 19:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE (Mountain Climber @ Apr 2 2009, 03:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I was allowed in the embassy with my fiance. That was in January 08. so maybe things have changed.


Yes things have changed. I was stopped to go in with her. I am sure if you sent her in first, and then said you had business inside, then I am sure you can get in, however, I wouldn't risk it since the policy is they do not allow you inside with your fiancee.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-04-02 19:25:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE (rsn @ Apr 2 2009, 12:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
A few questions:

1.) I read on the embassy page here at VJ that the police clearance takes about a week. Still accurate?
2.) Do you have to schedule your medical exam ahead of time, or can you just walk in? Do you have to wait days for results, or after you leave is it done? Do they give you something to give to the officer at the interview?
3.) On the embassy's website, it seems to suggest that unless you are the interviewee, you cannot even wait in the waiting area with your fiancee, but I seem to remember others saying they did in fact wait with their fiancee, but I can't remember exactly. Can someone comment on this?
4.) I have read that sometimes you need "packet 3" to show to the police to get your certificate, in addition to the NOA2, and a copy of my passport, and possibly a letter of intent from me. I cannot personally sign these yet. Is that ok? Also, why do you need to show them packet 3? Isn't packet 3 just a bunch of forms that you can download off the website anyway?

Thanks!


1) Takes between a week and 2 weeks ours, took 10 days
2) Just walk in and they give you a sealed X-Ray envelope to take to the embassy.
3) They will not let you inside the embassy, you have to wait outside.
4) Packet 3 is a bunch of papers, but there is a cover page with your BNK number etc. We just needed the NOA2 and a copy of my passport bio page.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-04-02 14:08:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
There are other ways to buy land in Thailand and protect yourself from your wife running off with it. I had discussed this with my lawyer that we used for our K1 and there are ways around it, so you are protected.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-03-27 20:27:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE (daboyz @ Mar 26 2009, 11:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
This book is amazing. I suggest anyone bringing a Thai spouse get one of these. My wife has an older version, but it has translations for everything.

http://www.us.oup.co...i=9780194740180


I bought Nam a Talking-Dict http://www.talkingdi...etail.asp?id=17 while we were in Bangkok, and it has been invaluable since we have been here, she has been using it everyday to translate the Nevada DMV handbook. The nice thing about this product is we can put in a word in English or Thai and it gives the translation and pronounces it in both Thai and English. It helps me learn also. We paid about 8000 baht for it.


AaronLVMaleThailand2009-03-27 01:22:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE (NCThai @ Mar 24 2009, 11:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hi I am new here.
My fiancé and I are working on a fiancé visa and we just got the approved notice by e-mail from USCIS. My fiancé didn't meet the minimum poverty guideline for 2008 because he just finished his degree in May 2008. Does anyone know what
assets the government will accept as proof of financial support? In
addition, he has some money in savings. What amount of money would be
needed to makeup a $1500 shortfall in 2008 (he had $12,500 of the
required $14000(100%) for 2008)? Will it be 100% or 125% of proverty guideline?

Thanks for your help!


I believe if you filed now you have to go by the 2009 guidelines, however I have not seen any posted. For 2008 it is 125% of the poverty line which was 17,500 in 2008 for a household of 2 in the Continental US (more for HI & AK). It goes up if there are dependents. If he is active service military then he can use the 100% guideline.

Link:

http://www.uscis.gov...00045f3d6a1RCRD

To use assets to make up the difference it is 3 times, based on 2008 Guidelines and the info you proviced, he would need 15000 in assets to make up the shorfall based on the current income.

Good luck.

QUOTE
Anyone heard from Hyena??


He hasn't posted in this thread, but posted a brief comment in the August 2008 filers thread, he said he hadn't heard anything yet for NOA2 and was getting ready for his ceremony last weekend. Hopefully he will touch base soon, I miss reading his long posts.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-03-25 01:57:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE
Wow, they sure do like making life difficult for us. Gotta love our govt. It doesn't seem like we should be required to have all this info. I doubt I can get copies of any of my text messages or missed calls. I would hope that this isn't a requirement. She is doing the same thing as your fiancee was: calling and then hanging up followed up by a call from me which costs less money. Based on a lot of the stories I've seen here (with some exceptions) it sounds like the officers at the embassy are pretty unreasonable and illogical in their thinking. Go figure. Sigh.


It all sounds unreasonable, and especially to all of us who are not having fraudulent relationships, but you have to remember the tens of thousands of people before us that have tried to get into the country and have gotten in, that is why these requirements are in place. It seems illogical and unreasonable to us, but to them, I am sure they look at each person who comes to the window, potential fraud and they have to figure out if they are not.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-03-23 15:03:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE
Just one quick question, will I be able to use my new driving license from here that has both detail in Thai/Eng when we visit Michigan after I get there?


It depends on which Thai license it is, the license my wife has is a 1 year license and is in both Thai and English. The 5 year license you can go in and get one that is completely in English which is the international one.

I am letting my wife drive on her 1 year Thai license, assuming if she gets pulled over the police office won't have a clue. I also gave the number to my insurance company and they accepted her 1 year thai license.

As a side note in Nevada, technically the international license is only valid for 90 days.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-03-23 14:57:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
She did the interview on a Thursday, got a slip that we need more evidence of relationship on communication from her to me, and had a problem with her birth certificate where her mom's name was spelled wrong. I spent the weekend gathering more evidence and then went back in on Monday. Look back through some of my posts and you can see exactly what we went through. We had 100's of pages of calls, both calling card, cell phone bills, few emails, receipt for engagement rings, cards I had sent, receipts for flowers, 30 pictures, and 48 pages of chat logs with personal conversations blanked out.

I ended up printing out the chat logs with nothing blocked out, reprinted the emails 1 per page, rather then all together, all our sms texts from my cell phone, and 700+ missed calls from my cell phone. We got approved after we took all that information back on Monday.


AaronLVMaleThailand2009-03-22 23:48:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE
You are free to Sharpie out any private information you don't wish to share.


I would not recommend doing this. They wanted to see the chats at the BKK embassy. My original submission I had done this.

QUOTE
I noticed many people mentioned that they collected chat logs for the interview. Regarding chat/IM logs for proof of an ongoing relationship, I don't plan on including them for a few reasons:

1.) I don't like the idea of some stranger at the embassy or in the govt reading over private conversations between my fiancee and I.
2.) I am a software engineer, so I don't like to spend too much time sitting in front of a computer after work (since I already spend a million hours as it is)
3.) We primarily chat over the phone, and only via IM occasionally
4.) I haven't collected any chat logs for the last year anyway.

I plan on including some carefully selected emails from each month for the interview. We should have lots of photos, receipts of flowers I have sent her, passport stamps, boarding passes, itineraries. I have proof that I have spent almost 3 of the last 12 months in Thailand with her as well, which I suspect will be quite helpful indeed. I guess I will consider saving some IM logs.


We primarily talked on the phone also, however, the consular wanted to see communication from Her to Me, not myself always contacting Her. With the hundreds of pages of phone calls they were all me calling her, and I had to explain that she would call me hang-up (free call), and then I would call back. I was able to document this on our second trip to the embassy, by getting a print out of all my missed calls on my cell phone. The original interview I included the vell phone bills showing all the text messages she sends me, and that was not good enough to show evidence of the relationship, the consular wanted substance, showing we talked. As for the IM, on the second trip I gave the raw files with our communication, I went through it and scrubbed out the stuff I didn't want him reading, but still had 48 pages of chat logs over a 5 month period. You can look at my experience in some previous posts around the end of Jan and beginning of Feb.

I am a software engineer also, and he mentioned to me, you are in the computer field I would expect more electronic means of communication. I explained she is not good with the computer and it is easier to talk on the phone.

What you have listed is everything I brought in and more, and we still had to come back with more proof (flower receipts, letters, proof I had spent months there). I would personally bring as much ammunition as you have whether you agree you should have to show them or not, the fact of the matter is, that is what they want, so provide it and be done with it. Also make sure it is two way information, not just contact from you. Just my 2 cents.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-03-22 21:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
Everyday the embassy has tons of people in there, and the numbers you listed from the interview schedule is a small fraction of the number of people that go for Visa interviews. The day(s) I was at the embassy there were probably between 70-100 people each day, of course this was for all visa's not just the family based visas, so I wouldn't worry about having to wait past the schedule that is posted.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-03-17 17:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE (afisher @ Mar 16 2009, 10:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
How will you know when the consulate has received the petition?


They send you packet 3, or you can email the embassy with you BNK number, both names and birthdates, and they will tell you if they have it.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-03-17 01:42:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE
Cowboy is much better than Nana. Nana is barely one rung above patpong, which is scary. I hear they have both been pretty empty lately. Economy sucks.


When I was there from Nov to Feb, everywhere was dead. The place was so quiet compared to what it has been, and that was suppose to be high season. I can only imagine how much worse it is getting going into the non-tourist season.

AaronLVMaleThailand2009-03-15 21:30:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE (Birch-Beer @ Mar 14 2009, 06:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (AaronLV @ Mar 13 2009, 08:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE
I was reading back a bit and there was a lot of talk about the 131 at the post office. Ive been in the Embassy a few times and if my memory serves me right, there is a post office "IN" the embassy. After you go through checkin, walk past the long line of seats and the girls table, where they organize your paperwork for you, in that far left corner, is a PO to pay the fee.


Yes there is a PO inside, however since you have to have the fee paid when sending in packet 3 that one is not going to work.

Went down to apply for SS# today, it was easy, they only needed her passport and Marriage Certificate, so we could get the card in her married name. Interestingly enough the lady said she was authorized on the K1 to work until it expired. We should have the card in 8-10 days.

Little by little getting paperwork done.


Well, need some input folks. Seems I screwed the P-3 up which they received in BKK on Friday.
I thought the postal fee was supposed to be paid at interview date. I didnt send it in with the P-3.
So, now I am concerned they'll send it back, put it on old till I pay it, whatever.....

I have an email into them, I guess I'll wait till Monday till I hear form them. I've found they're quick to respond to email inquiries and quite helpful.....ayeee....any thoughts folks?


I wouldn't stress about it to much. If it was me, I would go pay the fee, have the photocopy ready to send, and let them know you paid it but just did not send it in with packet 3.

AaronLVMaleThailand2009-03-14 20:29:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE
I was reading back a bit and there was a lot of talk about the 131 at the post office. Ive been in the Embassy a few times and if my memory serves me right, there is a post office "IN" the embassy. After you go through checkin, walk past the long line of seats and the girls table, where they organize your paperwork for you, in that far left corner, is a PO to pay the fee.


Yes there is a PO inside, however since you have to have the fee paid when sending in packet 3 that one is not going to work.

Went down to apply for SS# today, it was easy, they only needed her passport and Marriage Certificate, so we could get the card in her married name. Interestingly enough the lady said she was authorized on the K1 to work until it expired. We should have the card in 8-10 days.

Little by little getting paperwork done.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-03-13 19:03:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE
Well ...we're finally out of NVC today. After 50 days stuck there. And on Friday 13th, no less. Next stop - BKK.
Hope to do the whole Packet 3/Interview stuff rapidly from this point on.


Congrats. It goes quick once you get your NOA2, we were done in 6 weeks, would have been quicker had it not been for the Holidays.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-03-13 14:16:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE (Danny and Chada @ Mar 13 2009, 12:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The Visa Fee = 4454b was simple and can be done at any post office. Its just the one around the corner from the embassy does it all the time so they know what they are talking about. I took a picture of a sample form and will include in in my document.

The document translation was done across and just down the street (about 100 yards) from the front of the embassy. There is a sign out front and its on the 2nd floor. Its 300b each document and takes about 2 days.

OK, thats it for the checklist. Having my laptop / mobile Internet has been pretty invaluable during the process but without the help of several of you it would have been MUCH more painful.

Thank you very much for the help.

Danny & Chada


The 300 baht for document translation is a bit on the high side. We paid 200 baht and that was through the law firm. I saw a place on Sukhumvit near Thong Lor that listed 50 baht per page.

BTW, great work on the document.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-03-13 03:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE
Aaron or dabozs do you have any tips on paying the visa fee at the post office. We went to one on Sukhumvit and they tried getting us to do NIV ones. We are planning on going to the one near the embassy but I wanted to ask you first for any tips. I'll include them in my checklist for everyone else.


The attorney we used went to get the Visa for us, we just paid the attorney and they went to get it for us.

Just looked up the receipt, and asked Nam where it was she said the Post Office was at Asoke. Here is the telephone number: 02584197

Also in your document, make a note that the exchange rate is a fixed price, so 131 = 4454 baht, it does not fluctuate with the currency rate.

Tried to edit the other post, but wouldn't work.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-03-12 20:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE
Aaron or dabozs do you have any tips on paying the visa fee at the post office. We went to one on Sukhumvit and they tried getting us to do NIV ones. We are planning on going to the one near the embassy but I wanted to ask you first for any tips. I'll include them in my checklist for everyone else.


The attorney we used went to get the Visa for us, we just paid the attorney and they went to get it for us.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-03-12 19:58:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
We went to BNH and they had the forms there, we didn't bring any. They give you the DS-3025, which are the vaccinations history. From what I have read in the AOS guides here on the site:

QUOTE
If the beneficiary's vaccinations were COMPLETED as part of the visa process, IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO INCLUDE FORM I-693 IN THE AOS SUBMISSION. All your medical information is enclosed in the brown envelope which was handed in at the POE. The envelope is then forwarded on to USCIS where it will be consolidated with the I-485 submission, once received.


Following that advice, I sent in my AOS packet without the I693. I actually found a civil surgeon here in Las Vegas, that transferred the vaccination history to the I693 for me (for free), so if I do get an RFE for the vaccination history then I will have it ready to send in.

QUOTE
The Never Married Form was another story. This is a big deal in Thailand. The beneficiary has to get 2 witnesses who will testify for them. If at any time after approval it is found out to be a lie then the witness have a mandatory jail term.


In Buri ram, this took us all day, we got there at 9am, and didn't finish until 5pm, luckily her uncle runs one of the villages in the area and knows everyone there, so they stayed late to finish the form for us. She had a problem with her Dad's house registration since he had changed his name when he became a Monk, and that caused a big headache that day.

There was some discussion before about moving this thread to the Asia Forum. Whatever happened to that? It makes more sense.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-03-12 19:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE (uscandual @ Mar 11 2009, 08:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Boy it's quiet here lately.
Where is everyone?
Hyena- are you still around? Everything ok? Believe it or not, I'm missing your stream-of-consciousness posts tongue.gif


I have been hanging out in the AOS forums. We sent in our AOS paperwork last Friday.

I think Hyena is in Thailand right now. I think he said he was leaving on the 5th. I know when I didn't bring my laptop it was always a hassle getting to the internet. I mean they have the cafe's everywhere, it was always just finding the time to stop.

At least it is warming up here in Vegas, and Nam is not freezing anymore, now she has moved up to just being cold.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-03-11 14:19:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE (ThaitoUSA @ Mar 10 2009, 02:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE
Vaccination Requirements
All applicants for immigrant visas are required to have the following vaccinations if appropriate for age, medical condition or medical history:
• Mumps
• Measles
• Rubella
• Polio
• Tetanus and diptheria toxoids
• Pertussis
• Influenza type B
• Hepatitis B
• Varicella
• Pneumococcal
As a fiancé(e), you are not required to fulfill this requirement at the time of your medical examination for a fiancé(e) visa. However, you may want to do so. These vaccinations are required when you adjust status following your marriage.


This is from the Bangkok Embassy's website. However just to expedite the AOS process and ensure that she has no problems with the visa, we'll probably go ahead and get them.


Also if she is under 27 she has to have the HPV vaccination also.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-03-10 16:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE
After waiting for another hour to get an "important government friend" to come to that office Chada was told she could not do it in her home town because it can only be obtained where she currently lives (in Bangkok).


Let me know how this works out. My Fiancee was living in Bangkok and we tried to get it there, in Bangkok, they told her she had to go back to the district office where she was from.

QUOTE
Now we are on "plan b" which is to get a DL in Bangkok through someone a friend knows (an even more shaky plan). Based upon what I have seen so far I'm not sure I this is going to happen.


I had my Fiancee got to a driving school do a 10 hour class, and then they took her to the driving test (had to be there at 5 am to get in line), and then they had her take the test, even though she failed they still got her a DL. 3K for the lessons, and then 2K for the test (Guaranteed License)

QUOTE
We had 3 certified copies made and she dropped the original back off at a desk where it will never be seen from again.


Lucky you, they could not find my Fiancees original, so we didn't get any extra copies.

QUOTE
My fiancée is going for the medical exam this coming week and we've been back and forth on the issue of vaccinations. She has recently gotten a blood test to check for which vaccines she already has, since no records had been kept. We figure there will be at least a few on the list that she'll need to get. Do I understand correctly that she is not required to have all of the vaccines prior to entering the US, but will need all of them before filing for AOS? She is concerned that she'll spend several thousand Baht for them, but she would be able to get them all for free under my insurance here in America.


The BKK embassy requires the vaccinations as part of the medical. So you have to get them at your medical.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-03-10 14:45:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE (roi_aggie @ Mar 7 2009, 10:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (ThaitoUSA @ Mar 7 2009, 01:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I did not believe that any documents in Thai needed to be translated for the US Consulate. I thought they would accept all Thai and English documents. No?


I tend to agree with you, unless of course things have changed. There is no need for that document in the AOS process, so no need for an English translation. unsure.gif The Consulate staff can read the document and verify its authenticity.


My packet 3 said to have all documents in a language other then English translated.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-03-07 13:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE (Danny and Chada @ Mar 6 2009, 08:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thank you. Did you supply the form or did the office have it? My SO thinks we may need to create one because her office in Udon THani may not know aout it.


They will have the form. When she asked they knew exactly what she needed.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-03-06 23:55:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE (Danny and Chada @ Mar 6 2009, 08:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
This is too funny I just got in Bangkok last night and was thinking about Mexican food this morning. Tex-mex actually as I have lived in Dallas all my life. I'm going to give the soi 18 place a shot!

On a serious not we are traveling to meet the parents tomorrow and going to get the Bai Rub Rong Sod (never married form) filled out. My S.O. things we need to write the form in Thai and have them sign it and then have it translated. Its hard for me to believe this as I thought someone would have mentioned it before. Can I get some info on this really quick. We have just 20 hours till we are getting on the plane....

Thanks in advance!

Danny


You will have to get it the translated. It is in Thai, and it has to be translated for the embassy, they don't do the translation at the district office. Make sure the district office is going to be open on Monday. The two times I tried to go on a Monday, it ended up being closed for a Buddha day.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-03-06 23:25:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
It is funny, Nam tried a couple of Mexican places with me when we were in BKK, but didn't like the food very much, then I gave her a chicken taco from the place in Topps and she loved it. Since we have been here she has fallen in love with Chicken tacos at Chipotle, and also likes guac.

QUOTE
One of my favorite restaurants is Rioja. It's a spanish restaurant, and is one of the best spanish restaurants I have been to outside of Spain.


Wish I would have known about that before we left BKK, love to try different food.

I like to eat a variety of food, no matter where I am, there are some great restaurants in BKK. My biggest complaint would be about the wine selection, for the most part not really good at reasonable prices.


AaronLVMaleThailand2009-03-06 23:14:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE (dvddvd @ Mar 6 2009, 11:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (roi_aggie @ Mar 6 2009, 11:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (uscandual @ Mar 1 2009, 08:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (daboyz @ Mar 2 2009, 05:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Sitting in a hotel on soi 22. Can't sleep. Second interview tomorrow. Stressing out.


Cool. We (honey+me) spent the month of Sept at Liberty Apartments on Soi 22, near Queens Park.
http://www.cityphotoguide.com/node/404

Lots of good eats + stuff to do nearby. Great Mexican restaurant on Soi 18 as I recall, best guacamole in Thailand.


You're in Thailand eating Mexican food?! unsure.gif



Yeah, it's kind of funny, but it sure is nice to get some Mexican food sometimes. (Especially if you're from Texas). There's a place on Soi 22, kind of across from Larry's Dive, in a little mall area (can't remember the name) that has a Tuesday night Mexican Buffet. I like it for a change of pace sometimes. I don't remember ever seeing any Mexican Food on Soi 18. Anyway ...

My wife and I will be in Thailand in June. June through Mid-July

I'll be wanting some Mexican Food.

Daboyz - What's your status????

Best,
Dvd


I found a great little Mexican taco stand inside Topps Market on Thong Lor. The chicken tacos are great, I found myself getting them a few times a week for lunch. The rest of the mexican food I had in Bangkok, was expensive, and not good. I have a friend that lives on Soi 22, and always saw the Mexican place when I was walking to his place, but never ate there.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-03-06 14:43:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE (Danny and Chada @ Feb 28 2009, 08:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I'm heading to Bangkok soon to spend a couple of weeks with my SO. We are about 4 - 10 weeks aways from NOA2. Besides meeting the parents and going to the beach we plan on getting things checked of the super summarized Post NOA1 Checklist i built. (Yes I'm a geek ) cool.gif

An idea I was toying with was to spend a morning going to the embassy. Since i wont be able to come back during the interview I wanted to check it out and maybe ask a few clarifying questions from "The Interviewer". Since it seems there have been some problems about proof of relationship I thought why not ask the guy what he considers A1 proof? Since I have a few nuances about phone and chat logs I thought i could get the answers ahead of time. I also wanted to get clarification that he will not have problems with us completing the checklist 4 - 10 weeks in advance.

I don't have high expectations but thought what the heck? The experience might be quite interesting... What do you guys think?


Nice list you put together. At the embassy there are only certain days and times you can enter for the American Citizen unit. I doubt they will let you talk to a consular, they are fairly busy during the day, there are lots of people getting tourist visa's, everyday I was there it was packed in the morning and afternoon.

I would say it is ok to prepare everything in advance, you just have to wait for her to get her packet 3 letter before you submit it.

On a side note, we went and got married last night, got it out of the way so we can start the AOS paperwork. No sense in waiting smile.gif

AaronLVMaleThailand2009-02-28 14:10:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE (HYENA @ Feb 25 2009, 10:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (afisher @ Feb 24 2009, 09:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I received an e-mail today saying that my petition was approved. NOA2 is in the mail!



Congratulations! That's great.

WOW...I guess they forgot all about August...I'm watching September and October people with their spouses here already. I've got tickets to go in 2 weeks for the pre-wedding ceremony there but I really don't want to come back without her but it's looking like that's what I'll have to do.

I really want to be there to help her for the interview and bring her here...she's only been on a plane once and that was with me from Cambodia to BKK. Navigating an international airport would be crazy (changing planes).

I wish they'd get on it but NOTHING! Her family wants march 21 (lucky and all that) but I'd just assume wait 'till I ave something then go. I am very depressed...worrying about that guy in the embassy...worrying about everything...maybe I wont' be ready for her here...ughh!


Here is a link to the thread where the guy got denied with a co-sponsor in BKK: http://www.visajourn...howtopic=179527

She will have a crazy time going through international airport by her self. Nam reads english very well, and has traveled quite a bit in SE Asia, and she told me she was very happy I was with her, cause she would have been completely lost, without me there to help out and point the directions out.

AaronLVMaleThailand2009-02-26 01:50:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE
Way to go guys! Congrats on a safe arrival stateside. Thanks for the POE report - if you haven't already, you should add that to VJ's reviews of LAX.

If Harry Reid gets his way, you'll soon have a high speed rail link to whisk you from LAX to Vegas, rather than having to drive I-15 through Barstow. Should happen round about the same time the Thais finally extend BTS past the airport and all the way down to Pattaya..... kicking.gif


Already added it.

That train will most likely never be built it will be a sink hole of money. It has been talked about for so long, 20 years, if not longer. I doubt it would be worth the money for people to take it to be honest. You can get round trip tickets on southwest from LA to Vegas for 120 bucks. I can't imagine the train would be much cheaper. The other side of the coin also is, while in Vegas our public transportation system blows, and people will take the train here and have to fork over so much to get around they would have been better off driving the car.

AaronLVMaleThailand2009-02-25 22:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE
Good point. Is it accurate that you cannot be out of the US for more then a consecutive 6 months, not cumulative?


Ok just looked it up. Have to be in the US for at least a total of 18 months, with out ever being out of the US for more then 6 months in a row.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-09-15 00:26:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE (*Robert* @ Sep 14 2009, 04:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (toma1 @ Sep 14 2009, 07:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Does anyone here live in Tampa Bay, and if so, would you like to get together for dinner, drinks, movies, whatever sometime? Let me know!

On another note... how come no one posted any of their engagement/wedding pix?!! sad.gif


We just drove through Tampa a week ago, after a week in Ft. Myers Beach. There is someone with a Vietnamese SO that lives in Cape Coral, other than that, I don't know anyone else in the local area except me. I wish I could have gone to see the Cowboys kick the Buck's butts on Sunday, but didn't plan ahead. sad.gif


I would have felt hurt had you stop to see Tom. When you were in Vegas not even a phone call tongue.gif
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-09-14 18:53:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE (*Robert* @ Sep 14 2009, 04:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (toma1 @ Sep 14 2009, 05:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (*Robert* @ Sep 14 2009, 05:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Good to see you again Tom, and congratulations on the AOS! kicking.gif


Thanks! We were in Asia most of the summer.

QUOTE (*Robert* @ Sep 14 2009, 05:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
(He just added the floating Jesus gif to his signature which scares me a little!! laughing.gif )


Haha, yeah, that was exactly what made me think to ask him...


As a reminder, keep track of all your trips outside of the US, and the total number days you were outside the country, as you will need that for Naturalization. A lot of people at this stage of the immigration process aren't aware of the requirements for Naturalization. I would recommend to anyone thinking about filing a N-400 to download the form and instructions, and be prepared to provide all the information. Just because its 3 years away doesn't mean you can't be prepared! star_smile.gif


Good point. Is it accurate that you cannot be out of the US for more then a consecutive 6 months, not cumulative?
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-09-14 18:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE
I think the culture may be they can talk their way out of stuff or pay someone off until they realize (and some learned early) nothing but hard work actually gets it done. If I had access to materials, I'm sure I could learn more Thai in 3 years...Only 2 months and I could speak enough to get around. I just don't know how to help her...I'm too close to teach so it backfires.


Another thing is your NEGATIVITY towards the Thai Culture. She probably picks up on the bad stuff you say and how you look down on almost every aspect of how their culture is. Drop the negativity and stop all the bad mouthing about how their country works, and how the people are. I can tell you if all I heard is how messed up americans were from my Fiancee I would be disappointed all the time and think I was ####### for her.

The FACTs are the Thai culture is vastly different then ours, and a lot of times WE can't understand how people can do what they do. The bottom line is you bite your tounge you respect your Wifes way of life and how they were brought up and you tolerate and learn from it. With a bunch of the psots you have made about how messed up the Thais are, I am shocked you didn't get strung up while you were there.

Respect their culture and don't try and fit them into OUR accepted NORMS. What is acceptable in Thailand may or may not be acceptable, to us it might be wrong to them, it is acceptable, RESPECT that.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-09-11 01:36:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE
No kidding! I have a friend who sent his fiancee home after 3 months cause she had no intention or willingness to learn English. I'm in a holding pattern. I told her if she wants a car, job, citizenship or anything...learn English! In CA they offer the driving test in Thai, though. Nowhere else I know they do this.

I think the culture may be they can talk their way out of stuff or pay someone off until they realize (and some learned early) nothing but hard work actually gets it done. If I had access to materials, I'm sure I could learn more Thai in 3 years...Only 2 months and I could speak enough to get around. I just don't know how to help her...I'm too close to teach so it backfires.


No offense but your friend sounds like a douche bag. You are also starting to sound like one. You hopefully got married because you love her, not because she can get a job and earn money.

Your wife/fiancee has been here less then 2 months, take a chill pill and let her do what she wants. In time she will realize she needs to learn english to do stuff. Let her adapt to this unbelievable culture change for herself, and when she feels it is time to start to learn she will, forcing the issue is only going to piss her off and make her resent you and ultimately leave you. This is a HUGE change and there are certain things that have to balance in her brain before she can sit down and learm you need to get some patience and let her move forward at her own pace. She is surrounded by it everyday, she will learn it just takes time.

AaronLVMaleThailand2009-09-11 01:27:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE (*Robert* @ Aug 26 2009, 07:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Once again... sooner or later, a valid US state drivers license will be required.

Don't know why some people can't seem to grasp that simple fact?


Because they all seem to want to beat the system! Oh, and they can't search...

QUOTE
One other thing... has anyone tried to add their spouse to their auto insurance with a foreign drivers licence or international licence?

Would be interested in seeing what happens to your rates. whistling.gif


Funny. My policy went down when I added her on. I am paying less for the two of us now then I was paying for one. I am sure it has more to do with being married. But normal rate for her.

Edited by AaronLV, 26 August 2009 - 10:52 PM.

AaronLVMaleThailand2009-08-26 22:51:00