ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

Sawasdee Krap everyone! Just recieved NOA2 on April 20th. Me and Pornnaphat are working on the packet 3. She has her police certificate and other important documents translated to English. I hope this mess right now clears up. My heart goes out to everyone that is being affected by the current political situation. I really hope this does not interfere with her interview. Can anyone tell me how long we can expect to get an appointment after we send in the packet 3. I am trying to time my vacation. I am US Military so I have to put my vacation in early.


Take a look at the timelines, it should give you a good indication of when they will schedule the interview.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-04-22 16:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

You don't need bank statements or bank letters or any other mention of assets as long as your income is sufficient.


The more information the better. It can only strengthening your position. I did 3 years of tax returns w/W2's, a letter from my employer, and 3 months of bank statements.

I had much much more then sufficient income.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-04-22 15:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

Thanks. How was the cost?


I found them reasonable. I would suggest contacting them to get a price for your situation. I had paid for the entire K1 package.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-04-09 18:33:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

Yeah, in Bangkok would make things easier, but there are a lot of fly-by-night operations there. Be sure to get multiple references. One that has both Thai and US offices may be useful.


We had used Siam-Legal for our K1 (hired them before I found this site), they were professional. They had a couple of US attorneys working there, which was useful when I had questions.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-04-09 18:18:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

http://www.bangkokpost.com/tech/technews/35342/what-to-expect-as-3g-gains-momentum-across-thailand


Didn't even notice the speed improvement when I was there in Dec, which is probably cause they had just rolled it out.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-04-09 17:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

I need a SIM with unlimited 3G, have you seen one? The last one I had only had 30 hours a month free and inevitably I forget to shut it off after an evening at RCA and end up burning out the entire thing rather quickly.


When did Thailand get 3G? I didn't think any of the carriers had rolled it out yet.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-04-09 17:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

They act like
they are the CIA or something and exempt from the people who pay them seeing what they are doing.


The reason they don't tell people exactly what they look for or what causes AP / FPU, is the fact that if people know they will changes to circumvent the flags that go AP / FPU, thus resulting in more fraudulent people getting through. It could have been anyone of us, but there is something either in your background, her background, or something else that triggered the AP. Comb through your paperwork, and see if there is anything else that might have triggered it, maybe it was something that your fiancee has not told you, who knows.

I have worked in the three letter agency world and there are reasons that the play books are not made public. There is over sight just not to the general public, and there are good reasons why. It is not always apparent to the outside world, because you only see 1 side of the story (the media side).
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-04-09 15:01:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

@ AaronLV

I know we discussed this before, but they objected to the chats not having all the text because you omitted portions that discussed very intimate matters or maybe discussing the Embassy and interview itself? Is that right?

Did they finally just accept the edited chats?

I don't know why you need to show calls from her to you. There will not be any for us as we have fixed calling times everyday of the week. I always call her for financial reasons as is obvious. We have additional fixed chat times on the weekends. There is rarely a need for her to call me. When she does need to talk to me, she calls, I let the phone go unanswered and then I call her or go to the computer for chat.

Why do you think I will need to show that she calls me even if it is unanswered? My phone does not store that many unanswered calls.

Thanks if you can answer any of this.


They wanted the chat logs unedited. I followed some advice on here that they just needed to see that you chatted not that what you talked about. Unfortunately that was naive because it was from another embassy. I had nothing to hide in the chats, we didn't talk about intimate details or even about the interview. I just didn't think they needed to read what we talked about.

We had the same arrangement you have with the call and hang up. The reasoning by the consular when I spoke with him, was they wanted to make sure there was two way communication going on. (ie not me always contacting her). I had saved all the miss calls in my smart phone, and extracted them, and then paired them up against my calls to her on my cell bill, and that was acceptable.

Looking back I think our whole problem was the thai girl assisting the consular. He would ask her for information, and she would say, they don't have. My wife would say it was in there, and she would say no. When I went back in and talked to him, he told me, you don't have phone bills, you don't have emails. I said yes I do, pulled them out of the folder and slid them through the opening, he looked at them, got a bit red faced and then turned and gave a dirty look to the girl. He said everything else was good, just bring back the chats and the missed calls and it shouldn't be a problem.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-04-08 18:47:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

Interesting... I guess you can tell I've never been there. I guess I just never heard anyone mention that the interviews were like that. :D


The only reason I know is because I went in and talked to the consular to clarify what additional evidence was needed. He wasn't very happy with the thai girl that had been handing him the evidence, cause each time he told me what I needed, I said I have it right here and slid it through the slot. Finally it came down to my chats not having all the text, and not showing calls originating from her to me.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-04-08 15:10:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

The new setup has a deal like some banks...glass window with a microphone for them to speak into and the people on the other side.


Sounds like jail. When did that start? It wasn't in place last year.


That was in place last year (Jan 09). When they are called up to talk to the consular it is through a window and microphone, with a slot to slide papers back and forth just like a bank. I would guess that has been in place for many years.

When you walk in, where they take your evidence is at a desk where the Thai girls work, but the consular is behind glass (most likely with good reason, to keep them from bodily harm).
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-04-08 14:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

I would have preferred she do it all in English but she, like many others, was very nervous. The new setup has a deal like some banks...glass window with a microphone for them to speak into and the people on the other side. She felt she would say the wrong thing in English but she did use some English. They have to understand these people are very nervous, afraid, and no matter how much you prepare them ahead of time, they are intimidated for sure.

As to the sex question, I felt it was totally inappropriate. I know they were trying to throw a curve ball to her and she answered it beautifully in my mind. I would love to raise hell with someone about questions like that because really your sex life is none of their business!!!! But I will keep my mouth shut until this is all over.....and I still may do nothing because if probably wouldn't do any good unless I could talk to someone with real authority and I know they keep the employees secret over there. I'd love to know the name of the Thai lady at the interview. And remember, she had THREE people interviewing her...a man and a lady farang and the Thai lady. If I was in her shoes I would have been real intimidated. I would have felt like they were ganging up on me.


Well to be fair to the embassy people, they are trying to root out fraudulent marriages, and inappropriate questions to catch someone off guard is a good way to do it. It is no different then a police interrogation, they are trying to find inconsistency in the answers to the questions.

There is a lot of fraud that happens for all visas and that means we all have to pay the price for extra scrutiny at the embassy and when going to AOS. In your case it looks like you fell into red flag of divorce and then applying for a fiancee visa almost immediately after the divorce being final (legally, not to mean it wasn't over long before, but in their eyes they are looking at dates), this is not the norm for how people get married. Most people don't jump right back into marriage, it makes it look more like an arrangement then a marriage in the consular eyes.

I think sometimes they ask for more evidence to see how serious you are about going the extra step to bring more evidence back. It would be interesting to see the statistics on how many people abandon the attempt for a visa after getting the 221g.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-04-08 13:27:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

They don't know any of what I posted in here. Another friend wrote me a private message and suggested I just outright ask them if the reason they are holding it up is due to the divorce being done and then the K-1 being filed
after I got home. And then ask to provide further evidence and write an explanation of what happened and a chrono of what went down so they understand why it happened the way it did in Oct. I am tempted to do just that after I
see their response from the email I sent this morning. I'd rather try to cut it off now and tell them what happened than wait too long to find out that's what it is. Do you think if I wrote an explanation I could mail it directly to them so Teaw would not have to go all the way into BKK to deliver it?


I wouldn't send them any extra information, since you really don't know what it has gone into AP. The divorce then filed is just speculation. It is best to wait it out and see what they come back with. I know the waiting game sucks, but sending in more info now with knowing the reason, could just give them more things to look into, thus prolonging the time.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-04-07 15:23:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

I guess I can see that might red flag them but it never crossed my mind it would be a problem. I had talked to a guy at USCIS and he said I could file as soon as the divorce was final.
I guess it's like the IRS....you can't believe what they tell you cause you would get a different answer from a different person. But if they read the emails we submitted they will see
that there is nothing going on other than a normal healthy relationship.


He was absolutely right you can file as soon as the divorce is final. That does not mean the embassy is not going to question it, or scrutinize your case more. BTW, I am just taking a stab at why it was held up.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-04-07 10:54:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

The divorce was done in Oct 2009 and a certified registered translated copy was included with the initial filing. She got the 221g after her initial interview and they had checked more evidence of relationship, photos, etc. So on Monday she took in about 300 pages of emails, over 130 pages of chats, 70 or more photos, some phone bills she was able to get from AIS and my most recent cell phone bill to add to the other ones they had from the initial stuff.
What should it matter about the other divorce as long as it was done and over with? Should not be a concern of theirs. It was all done legally at the Amphur office.


I would guess that is why the AP, it shows you got divorced and then the same month filed for K1, that is probably a BIG red flag.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-04-07 10:25:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

1. Not enough evidence.

Bring it ALL. Submit as much as the intake receptionist will allow and keep the rest as backup. If you get 221(g), they won't review the new documents right away. On average, it takes 10 calendar days. If you have the extra backup right there at the interview, then the will review it and approve it at the interview.


Not true. We told them we would wait while they reviewed the material. She sat in the waiting room for 2 1/2 hours and then they came out and told her she was approved.

I have never found a cheap one-way fair on any American carriers. I paid elite class on Eva to LA one way for around 700.00, normally a round trip was about 1200 to 1500.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-04-05 23:34:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

When Jum went for her interview on Monday, she said they were only interested in the pictures. During her interview, the interviewer didn't even look at anything else but the pictures. However, we did have about 2000 or more pages of evidence with her (phone bills, MSN, mail, etc)


They look at the packet of evidence before they call them up to the window.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-04-01 12:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

I also have a concern about this (proof of relationship) as my fiancee is not much on writing emails. They are short and business-like when she does write them. But I call her every morning. I have photos with her family from my second visit. I hope my telephone bill will lend some support. I also bought Audy the engagement ring on this last trip this month (March) and we kept the receipt from a gold shop in MBK. I also bought her more engagement jewelry which is shown on the receipt. Yes, I paid "thong mhand." We chat on weekends so I have those logs. I have sent her flowers once. We sent electronic greeting cards on Valentine's day. She has enrolled in English classes since we engaged to improve her English, etc... I am not sure if this is enough.



You want to make sure the phone bills show communication going both ways. When we went through they made us come back and show that she calls me. I basically had to extract all my miss call information off of my cell phone, and show that she was calling me. She would call and hang up (since it was free), and then I would call back at on the calling card.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-03-31 15:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

As far as the embassy, the whole med report is sealed and cannot be opened so they don't ask anything about vaccinations at the interview and stays sealed I believe at least until they get here and maybe until change of status. Not sure about that.


The medical gets reviewed at the embassy, it cannot be opened by you prior to the interview. Once the visa is approved it is bundled into the package you bring with you to POE.

On a side note, BKK requires the vaccinations to be done, although this is not a requirement for a K1, every embassy has their own rules. It is helpful because you need to have the vaccinations for AOS.

Edited by AaronLV, 31 March 2010 - 01:20 PM.

AaronLVMaleThailand2010-03-31 13:19:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

I think the more important photos might be when we buy the ring, or I give her the ring and other Thong Mhand. But I will stay away from any part of the ceremony.


The most important photos are the ones with you tow in them, taken at different times, not just a series of photos from a single day.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-03-02 17:41:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

I'm sorry. I am not sure I understand. You had blocked some parts of the chat logs, but then had to take chat logs with all parts unblocked.

Then you did edit the chats?


I had items blacked out, and then told us they needed to read them unblocked. So when we returned I went through and completely removed the items I didn't want them reading instead of blacking them out. Hope that clarifies it.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-02-20 12:46:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

For all Thai K-1's. When you submitted documents to the Embassy in Bangkok for proof of "ongoing Relationship" or "Evidence of Relationship" such as Email exchanges and Chat message logs, did you mark through certain lines of the email or chat where you might have been discussing some personal items with your fiance(e)?

I thought it was written by the Embassy that you are allowed to obscure any particulary personal statements (e.g. discussion of past or future love making sessions) but I have not read anything like that recently.

I think I can handle letting them read it, but I am not sure Audy wants them to read it nor do I think they want to read it.

What have you been doing in that regard???

Thanks


We blocked out stuff (as was said it was ok to do from this site), and then ended up having to come back with the chat logs unblocked. I went through and edited the chats to remove anything very personal, or what might have been questionable that a 3rd party might read and not understand the context.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-02-20 03:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

i didn't think it was an ordinary request however audy rob indicated to me that it's required. so i was wondering if anyone had to provide it for their female s.o.'s, he thought that maybe it was more for women. in the forms my husband definitely had to indicate where he worked but no employment letters for the k-1. he did have to get a letter from his employer for his tourist visa though.


I doubt for any K1 they asked for an employment letter, or money in the bank for a K visa. There is no requirement for K visas to have employment or money. My guess if they asked for that, maybe there was something listed on the forms that was out of the ordinary (ie. maybe they said they worked somewhere they aren't, or maybe there was some other extenuating circumstances in their paperwork).
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-02-11 01:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

I think that's a fair decision. If i was your clinician I would agree, the benefits for your wife would be slim to none.

It's cases like yours that made that vaccine requirement quite a draconian regulation, and I think several groups including the OBGYN associations came out very strongly against making it mandatory when comments were opened to the public for the new regs.


It was only required for woman under 26 when the rule was in place.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-02-04 20:20:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

Yeah, fair enough. It's a good and safe vaccine, if your fiancee is young and is an ideal candidate (i.e. sexual history/not pregnant) it's not a bad idea, but it's expensive and worthless if you already have HPV.

Mine got it because of her mother had a history of cervical cancer. To me it seems strange that varicella zoster is still routinely given even though it's not required and most everyone is seropositive already. I guess at least you're less likely to get shingles later on.



I assumed he meant pregnancy and/or previous exposure to HPV


It has been a over a year since I did the research, but there is a large percentage of girls that have an adverse reaction to the vaccine, which includes death. There has also data to support that the vaccine is not effect for more then 5 years. There is always a chance of negative effects of vaccinations, but this one just happens to have a much much larger percentage of bad effects over the other ones.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-02-04 12:25:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

Yes, no vaccination records either. I think this is quite routine for the hospital (since many including my fiancee are from Isaan and don't even know what or when they were vaccinated with unless they have scars). They have a routine set up which is probably why they use the older forms : PE, Chest Rads, Vaccinations (MMR, dTP, varicella)

You may want to have her ask, or bring the new guidelines so you don't have to pay an extra 5000 for an unnecessary HPV vaccine. However, someone else said it, it's probably cheaper there and it's a good idea to do the HPV series if she hasn't had it and is young enough.


There are lots of complications with the HPV vaccination and is most likely why they removed it from the required vaccination for immigration. I would not necessarily recommend the vaccine for everyone, do some research and weigh the risks before deciding if she should have it done. We most likely would not have had it, if it had not been required when we went for our vaccinations.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-02-04 12:02:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

I appreciate everyone's input and experiences, thank you all. It sounds like BNH might be the better way to go over Bumrungrad.

I am surprised between what is written on the US BKK Embassy web-site versus what everone is saying. I am glad I asked. We will prepare for doing the vaccinations.

***
So my final question is: Did anyone else have a fiancee or are you a fiancee that had no records of vaccinations from your childhood. Audy has asked her mother and looked through everything in the house. She has no vaccination records. What do they do when you do not have any vaccination records??? Do you need to get all vaccinations again???

Thanks to everyone for your help and I hope you all have had a good journey and find a good life in the USA with your loved one.

Roert


My wife didn't have vaccination records. They can test to see if there are particular antibodies in the blood, and some of them they sign off that they are not age appropriate. She had a total of 4 shots, one of them was the HPV vaccine. If we didn't have to have that shot our cost would have been about 6K.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-02-04 11:33:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
We went to BNH and it took about 6 hours during the week, that was along with an hour lunch break. We got there about 10:30 or 11:00 and were on our way home by 3:00pm, with all the paperwork. Our cost was about 12K baht. We did it last year when they required the HPV vaccine, which was about 1/2 the cost.

The BKK embassy does require the series to be started for the K1 interview even though USCIS says you just need them done for AOS.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-02-03 23:03:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

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



I just printed out my tax returns from Tax Cut, I used an employment letter that was about 2 months old, and did not include any pay stubs. My income for all three years was significantly higher then the requirement.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-01-19 18:42:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
You will need more then just the previous years tax returns, I believe they require 3 years. The 2009 tax return is not required provided you submit your paperwork and get an interview prior to April 17th (Tax Day, when they are officially due). I would guess if it is after this date they would most likely require the 2009 tax return
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-01-18 15:35:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

from VJ Thailand embassy page!

Bangkok, Thailand
US Embassy / Consulate Info

last updated on 2009-03-28 by Threesnake
Embassy Webpage :: Embassy Reviews & Ratings

Update / Add Information Click here to view the Previous Entry

Consulate Phone Number: 66-2-205-4000
Consulate E-Mail: visasbkk@state.gov ; visasbkk2@state.gov
Address: 95 Wireless Road
Bangkok 10330
Thailand
Working Hours: Monday - Friday 8am-3pm
Best Way to Contact Consulate: E-mail
http://bangkok.usemb...assy/contactus/
Approx Waiting Time for interview date from when the Consulate receives the package from the NVC: 8-12 weeks; 4-8 weeks typical, as of March 2009. Depends how fast your fiance can assemble/complete Packet 3 and return.


If you read the above sentence the 4-8 weeks is from the date the consulate receives your Package from NVC, not from when packet3 is submitted, which yours is about 4 weeks out from when they received it. I went off the data on this site for how long my interview would take to schedule. Most people on the site do update their timelines. If you also read the packet 3 checklist that was signed when returning packet3, it says you have completed all items on the checklist prior to sending in packet3.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-01-07 17:31:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

Yea well it also say it take 8 to 12 weeks to get a interview not 2 weeks so I was just trying to speed it a long.


I don't know where you got your 8 to 12 weeks information. It took us 2 weeks after packet 3 was submitted, during the busy time of year I think it was max 4 weeks, after packet 3 submission.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-01-07 15:07:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
Took us a week to get the Police Report. I would have her go in today and do the police report. The medical we got the same day we went in it was no big deal. Didn't you read packet3 before you sent it in? It does say everything should be completed before sending it in.
AaronLVMaleThailand2010-01-07 11:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
We just returned from Thailand last night, and I figured I would share my experience of going through immigration with her 10yr green card. It was painless, I expected a bit of hassle since her green card is in her married name and passport in her maiden name. The officer took her passport scanned it, took her GC swiped it, looked at both pictures comparing them on the computer and then took her right hand finger prints, stamped the passport and said have a Happy New Year. That was it, didn't ask for the marriage certificate or ask any other questions.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-12-28 17:19:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE (anya-D @ Dec 1 2009, 11:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (BishopMnA @ Dec 1 2009, 02:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (anya-D @ Dec 1 2009, 02:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (AaronLV @ Dec 1 2009, 01:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I am glad we are not going to have to go through the Remove Conditions process. We got a 10year on our first go, on suggestions from everyone here, I made an infopass appointment and verified it is a valid 10 year and she is not a conditional resident. We got lucky.



lucky basta... opps, sorry, lucky you devil.gif


Ya, no joke!

We just got AAm's new Driver's License, since it also expired when her 2 year GC expired...but of course her new DL is only good for one year, which is the length of her extension, and then we'll have to go get another DL...so lucky Aaron missed all that mess too! good.gif


Ha! now I'm feeling lucky too, I got my DL while I was an Au Pair.. I got it for 6 years - got it just before they changed the rules!!! so when I came back, my DL was still active, I just need to change my last name smile.gif I dont have to extend it till next year..

I'm wondering if Aaron got his GC approved after being married for 2 years? that happened to my friend, some how they moved a lot and never got the interview until after 2 years they've been married, so they got 10 years GC.


Nope, we got married in the US at the end of Feb and then filed AOS, she got her 10 yr on 7/27.



AaronLVMaleThailand2009-12-01 14:27:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
I am glad we are not going to have to go through the Remove Conditions process. We got a 10year on our first go, on suggestions from everyone here, I made an infopass appointment and verified it is a valid 10 year and she is not a conditional resident. We got lucky.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-12-01 13:55:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE
I found it to be quite humorous that the LV poster denied all of this and then later said, "We had issues when we went through, but it wasn't related to any of the above, it was related to our evidence...my wife was from the NE, and we had a short relationship"


I find it even more amusing that you twisted my words.

QUOTE
it was related to our evidence, I had a bunch, but on paper it looked mainly one sided. I came back with the documentation that showed plenty of two way communication and we had no problems.


After reflecting back on our evidence, it was right for him to ask for it, we did not provide everything they were looking for. Basically he did not get to check his box.

QUOTE
QUOTE (AaronLV @ Nov 3 2009, 05:50 PM) *
Education does not correlate to having money, and the people at the embassy I am sure are well aware of this


That's utter BS. Do you need me to corroborate that, or can you Google it on your own?


There is a large percentage of wealth that do not have college degrees, and as I am sure you are going to tell me there have been many many studies and statistics that show how getting a college education will get you more money. And as most are well aware statistics and research can be slanted in which ever direction you want. I am not saying education is not important, because I do feel it is, it is just not going to guarantee you will make more money or will have money. I have a college education and I do quite well, however I have many friends that have started their own business or have worked their way up in a company and now pull down much larger salaries then I can get based on my education.

But since you are a professor, I will over look most of what you say, mainly because university educators do not live in the real world, most think they are superior to us working class people. But most professors think they are the elite. In my capacity as a government contractor I dealt with many professors (PHD's) and they are by far the most self centered, I am above everyone else people I have ever met.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-11-04 22:40:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE
Perhaps income is simply correlated with education and job, which IS asked on the forms and I have never heard of a 4-year college graduate with a good job in Thailand being refused. Call it speculation if you like, but I have not seen it happen. There are people who have been around here longer than me, however. Maybe one of them can provide an example.


And I am sure because you have a Large Sampling (from visa journey), it does not happen. This website is a small percentage of the people who go through BKK, maybe everyone who is educated here on VJ has made it through, but I have seen plenty of un-educated people go through also, so your statement has no basis in facts.

Again, just because you have a 4 year degree doesn't mean you make good money, whether you live in Thailand or the US. I know people in Thailand that have degrees and don't make money, and I know people in the US that are uneducated and they have jobs that makes more money then most people will make in their lifetime. Education does not correlate to having money, and the people at the embassy I am sure are well aware of this, it also doesn't mean you are going to have a bonafide relationship, rich or poor people lie.




AaronLVMaleThailand2009-11-03 17:50:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE (toma1 @ Nov 3 2009, 02:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (DaveTX @ Nov 3 2009, 04:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
So in the excruciating count down to interview time, my fiancee is obsessing about all the possible things that can go wrong in the interview and have the visa denied. I don't recall seeing anyone denied from the Bangkok embassy for a K-1 and post about it here. Anyone know of anyone denied and why?


Most people are eventually approved. Bangkok is better than many other places, that's for sure. But if you haven't seen any denials, then I think you probably didn't go back far enough. There are lots that have not been approved on the first try. Many of those got a visa on the second try. I think the most common reason was that the embassy did not believe the relationship was real.

From what I can tell, the more reasons the beneficiary has NOT to leave Thailand, the more likely the visa is to be granted. For example:

Things like this tend to result in a favorable decision on the first try:
has a good job
owns property in Thailand
has money
has a college education
speaks English fluently
is from Bangkok
long relationships

Things like this tend to cause more scrutiny:
not enough photos of you together in different places at widely different times
does not speak English well (especially if you do not speak Thai)
no high school education
no job/money
is from the Northeast
short relationships
ever worked in a bar


I think you are way off base with your comments above, and typical thinking of someone who thinks education and money makes you a better person. There are more reasons to scrutinize when someone is college educated (etc.) primarily because they can go to the US and get a much better job then they can find in Thailand, especially if they are a woman. When we went to get our police report and medical (with the attorney), they had another girl come along. She was educated (Masters in something), and had some money, but all she could talk about was the jobs she could get in the US and how much they paid comparatively. When we were sitting waiting for the medical exam, she asked the paralegal that was with us if she could marry someone else once she got to the US, did she have to really marry this guy. The fact of the matter is educated, rich, poor, bar girl, they all want to go somewhere where the opportunities are better for them. There are plenty of stories with all types of people, and the embassy knows this, this again would be why so many tourist visas are denied, even if they have money.

I believe for the most part the embassy scrutinizes everyone about the same, what it comes down to in the end is your evidence, and her answers to the questions. We had issues when we went through, but it wasn't related to any of the above, it was related to our evidence, I had a bunch, but on paper it looked mainly one sided. I came back with the documentation that showed plenty of two way communication and we had no problems. I am sure since my wife was from the NE, and we had a short relationship, they scrutinized us more (sarcasm).


AaronLVMaleThailand2009-11-03 17:40:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE (Dan and Tera @ Oct 21 2009, 09:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (*Robert* @ Oct 21 2009, 09:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Dan and Tera @ Oct 21 2009, 06:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I absolutely agree with you Thong, except for one thing, the American Embassy is supposed to be run by Americans, not Thais.

In the past CO's who have set up their own kingdoms have been a big source of distress to the people on this board (Think Heart of Darkness or Marlon Brando in Apocalypse Now). I don't mind keeping an eye on them.

Charlie don't surf!

The Embassy IS run by Americans who employ Thai nationals to help them do it. You forget you are still in a foreign country, and our Embassy and Consulate are there through agreements with the Thai government. We have no "right" to have an Embassy there.

Yelling at the people at the gate or girls coming out is like yelling at a telemarketer. They are only doing their job. They do not set policy, just enforce it.

If you're getting this upset this early... you have a long road ahead. whistling.gif


A. I'm not an #######, I didn't yell at anyone. I camly asked them to explain themselves. That combined with asking for names was enough to instill panic in about 6 people. That shows me that they didn't really understand the policy they were 'following', I hope they weren't making it up as they went.

B. I'm not upset. I'm just looking for some accountability at an American Embassy owned and run by Americans and funded with tax dollars.

Frankly, I think you're out of line calling me an ####, an #######, etc. when all I'm doing is encouraging people to have some backbone and ask questions. It might help the next person along in line, which is the whole point of this website.


The problem is, they have rules. The embassy is treated just like a military installation, not everyone has the right to go in. Try going to a military base in the US that is funded by Tax dollars, and many times has both private and military working the front gate. Try to enter a military base or start asking peoples names at the gate, you will see how quickly you will be taken down and dragged away.

The fact is if you have business in the embassy you will be let in, if you do not you won't be, plain and simple. Your fiance had business at the embassy you did not. The other part is who cares if it takes 4 trips to the embassy do you not have enough baht to take the cab ride there? People get sick, computers have problems, It is an inconvenience but not the end of the world. Why do they need to answer to you, they don't.

The other part is they used to let people in with their wives/fiances, and some ####### had to get belligerent and hit a CO, well guess what that one guy ruined it for the rest of us. When I was there, I asked very politely if I could speak to the CO, and he let me come in and talk to him. I told him I appreciate the opportunity to talk to him, and he said the girls said I was calm and didn't seem upset, so he took the time to talk to me.

AaronLVMaleThailand2009-10-21 12:06:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)
QUOTE (Dan and Tera @ Oct 3 2009, 09:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (daboyz @ Oct 3 2009, 11:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I'm starting to think people need to put down the pipe.


Then why did you give it to me in the first place?

If I worked at the Consulate, I would read this website, and particularly this thread. I might even be tempted to give advice from time to time, as it would make my job smoother. After all, these guys have to put up with a lot of #######... a chance to lessen that would be welcomed.


These Visa's are a very very small percentage of the Visa's they process at the embassy. These guys don't have to put up with any #######. They can just deny your visa and boot you out of the embassy. There is no reason to make this process smooth, it is up to the individual that is filing to make their trip to the embassy smooth. Gather all the necessary paperwork, read all the guides, and then double and triple check your paperwork. That is about as smooth as it is going to get.
AaronLVMaleThailand2009-10-04 12:29:00