biggish data

Danny, congratulations.... that is exciting. Perhaps there really has been a shortage of interviewers and they found people to start right away and can schedule the unscheduled interviews. I guess we can only hypothesize. You guys are totally prepared. Our interviewer wasn't interested in much but the photos. I think I killed a tree but he didn't look at anything besides our photos. So don't stress if you don't get some things printed out... just work on the photos.

Ron, we are in Michigan, we came via Chicago but we both got sick and so weren't much fun for the week we were there. Now we are freezing in the Michigan spring. We haven't made much contact with any other Thai people. My husband is satisfied with the online newspaper for now. We just dug up a plot of land to plant some vegetables at our new place. Our stuff arrives tomorrow so we will finally be moving into our own place. My poor husband we have been staying with family and friends... mostly people he didn't previously know. I think after 1 month in the US he is more than ready to have our own place.

I am so excited for all of your interviews. Another piece of advice I heard that my husband felt was relevant was that the interviewers are on a power trip. So just go with it. Vent, rebel, whatever after you have the visa in your passport. So tell your SO's to try to be patient and humble and if the interviewer is rude so be it. As daboyz said you can go in prepared for the worst and it will only be a sweet surprise if it is otherwise.

I can't wait to hear more good news.

Take care,
Noi

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-06-02 21:37:00

QUOTE (wasabi @ Jun 2 2009, 01:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Is it possible to go to the embassy and ask if they received the documents or is only emailing permitted? I know they received mine on May 23rd due to sending it registered mail but they have chosen to lie that they haven't even though I have the tracking number and know who signed for it. I don't care about whatever stupid reason they have for lying, probably to mask their incompetence, I just want them to acknowledge they have it.

Keep in mind that just because the packet is inside embassy grounds doesn't mean it is where it needs to be. I think many work this way. At the NVC it can take up to two weeks for them to add things to your file, after they received it. Just remember you know it is there and soon enough they will get it in their system. It seems BNK is speeding up so hopefully you will soon get the confirmation and the interview assignment.

Take care.

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-06-02 21:27:00

It is great to finally hear some good news on here. Congrats UsCanDual. I was feeling so bad since I believe we got our NOA2 on the same date. So thankful you guys finally got an interview.

The guy I had met in Udon (who I theorize is the dreaded interviewer), mentioned to me that there was a huge shortage of interviewers meaning people were having to work much more than they were hired to work. I just wonder if all the Americans in Thailand went on vacation for the bit term, or summer vacation. This lull seems to correspond perfectly. I think most schools in Thailand were re-opening the 18th of May. Hopefully things get back to rolling normally again.

About interview questions, it depends on the interviewer. But it seems like if there is anything different about your case they will ask about that. Someone mentioned being asked many questions about previous time spent in the states. Lots of questions have passed by about ex's on both petitioner and beneficiary sides. For us most of the questions were why had he and why had I lived in Israel. I never ended up posting an embassy review... things moved so quickly for us after the interview.

Our interview questions started with the interviewer reading the sworn statement in English, my husband asking for it in Thai. The interviewer saying no, you lived in Israel you must speak English. And my husband saying he spoke Hebrew, not English, and asking the interviewer if he could speak Hebrew. The interviewer then agreed to have his helper translate. He started out by asking about one of our photos, where it had been taken. Answer: Israel, his house. Then why had he been in Israel, why had I been in Israel. How we met, and then he asked about another picture of my house in the U.S. (I had included it as proof of domicile). He asked where it was, my husband replied. The interview was probably 60% English, 40% Thai.

They will take all requested documents (except for Evidence of relationship) out of what ever you put it in, so don't put it in anything. My husband handed the documents to the helper one by one naming them, and thought that was helpful because he specifically had said what he had, so maybe it was easier for the helper to pull the right document.

Then the interviewer apparently looked at my husband for a few seconds as if trying to think of another question and wrote approved on the file which he held in his hands. Then my husband asked in English, what about my visa the interviewer replied, "no problem." The translator/assistant then asked my husband if he could return on Tuesday for the visa. We were the first people there the last people called but other than that it was relatively painless for us.

For our evidence of relationship I had everything in document holders in a binder and also gave our wedding album. He mainly looked at the photos and didn't seem to care about the other stuff. I think I mentioned previously we had something like 150 photos which I cut, glued and labeled to A4 white sheets of paper, and had about 26 pages, not including our wedding album.

I am sure everything is going to do great at the interview. Make sure to tell your SO to ask about her status after the interview. And that a white card means she got it. I think I mentioned that there were 7 other interviews on the day of my husband only one girl said she got a visa. But actually two were approved the second just didn't know. She thought she had to return to hear the decision.

Congrats and Good Luck.

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-05-30 21:31:00

We looked at shipping a 20 kg box of books and it was going to cost 3468. There is a shipping calculator on the thailandpost website, you can look it up. We ended up taking our two 23 kg bags a piece per air china. And thier overweight fee for 25-32 kgs is only 25 dollars. Over 32 is hundreds of dollars. The tryed to charge me more but I had the website print out. In total I had a 31kg box and a 23 kg bag and my husband had the same thing. Then we packed maximum sized carry on's. About flying through china it was no problem we just couldn't leave the airport. The airport was really nice with cultural shows and an art fair. We looked at an international freight consolidator but I don't remember the quote they gave us.

Hope all is well.
Noi

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-05-14 22:20:00

I have been away from this thread for a while and am so excited to see all the progress while I was away. Congratulations to K. Mommy, where are you headed in the US? And congrats to Birch Beer, glad that the letter finally met thier approval. I can't believe others of you still don't have your interview that's crazy. What on earth is happening there?

We flew out the night of the 30th of April. Arrived in SFO on the 1st of May. The POE was painless except being passed back and forth. We had entered the right hand side for visitors. I didn't realize on the far left there was a single line for new immigrants. So eventually we got taken there, and were the last people in the immigration hall and then were passed officer to officer because there were some newbies who didn't know what they were doing. Eventually we got to someone who did know, he was super nice asked if needed to change our address or if the green card could be sent to our app address. And then he said welcome to the U.S. Our bags were waiting by the time we got out there and we left. We haven't recieved the GC or SS cards yet but it is still early.

We spent our first couple weeks with my family in Northern California my husband got to enjoy a bit of the coast and loved seeing the redwoods. Then we flew out to Chicago yesterday and are here for a couple days before heading to Michigan next week.

I hope that people soon get thier interviews and that other's POE experiences are as easy as ours.

About flights Air China had one way tickets from BKK to SFO for 450 Mon - Thurs. I had checked at the end of April for many dates throughout May and that seemed to be the price so that might be an option for people... (oh it was available through u.s. websites not through the air china website) and then get a connection from SFO.

Take care,
Noi

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-05-14 08:35:00

My husband has had his Thai DL for many years but it is only written in Thai. According to MI department of state they said he had 90 days to drive on a foreign license but I'm assuming they won't accept his current one written completely in Thai. And MI has no mass transit. Being that I have a very demanding job he will be forced to be independant.

Does anyone know if when the make the Int'l national DL they renew the exp date or it is just a translation of the original? Is it just a laminated piece of paper like his current license? I could tranlate it myself if that is the case.

What insurance is it that will cover your spouse with a Thai DL? We will be getting new car insurance when we get back to the U.S. so that is a good thing to keep in mind as we shop around.

Thanks Mommy for the location.

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-04-19 04:18:00

I am behind in this thread so excuse me if I am repeating someone.

I am interested to know if on BirchBeer's appointment letter it says the Thai police certificate was needed. Because we sent in our original, and that was not checked off on our appointment letter.

Also something my husband did which might be helpful or have worked to our benefit is (before they realized they would be doing a CR1 interview for us... so in preparation for the K-3) they didn't want the papers in anything so rather than letting the support staff scrambe things up he took the papers one by one and gave them to her saying this x, this is y, etc. I am not sure if it was helpful but it might be something you could suggest to your SOs.

Tomorrow we are off to work on the International Drivers Licence, does anyone have the address we have to go to? Then Tuesday we pick up the passport.

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-04-18 19:42:00

Anyone know a decent place to celebrate in Bangkok that doesn't cost much?

Sorry know this isn't really the place to ask as it has little to do with visas but most of you have spent far more time in Bangkok than I have. thanks for all suggestions.

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-04-17 02:34:00

Congratulations Danny and Chada!!!

Visa approved... thanks everyone for your help and support here. I will write an interview review later, perhaps tomorrow but will give a bit here. We will pick up our CR-1 on the 21st.

We went for the K-3 interview but as people on VJ taught us if they have your CR1 file they should issue that, not K-3. So we decided what the heck we will try it rather than waiting for the CR1 interview at the end of May.

We arrived at 5:30 were let in aroudn 6:45. There was only us until 7:00. I was let into the American Services but I promised the lady I would do what I needed to do and leave, so I did. I then stood outside the embassy (They wouldn't even let me stand in the front of it) until about 11:30 when I had to use the bathroom and the gaurd said just go sit in the ACS part. I did... I didn't want to push thier policy and I felt confident in my husband. There were 8 applicants all togther.... according to my husbands estimates: 2 tourist, 5 K-1, and us- CR1. The tourists and 4 of the K-1's were denied. It wasn't the bald guy. We were the first people there, first to hand in our documents and the last to be called. There was only one person interviewing and the Thai woman helping him was nice to my husband.

My husband after some discussion with the interviewer did a 50/50 Thai English interview which focused mainly on why and what we were doing in Israel (that's where we met) and why I spoke Thai. He spent quite a while looking at our photos apparently and then the interviewer stared at him as if trying to think of something else to ask, and couldn’t. He slammed the file closed and wrote in huge letters across the front APPROVED. The interview itself was only about 15 minutes and was fairly painless.

I then met my husband outside and he handed me an index car with a red stamp saying to come pick up your visa on the 21/4/2009.

If those preparing to interview want I can send you the list of our evidence of relationship and of domicile.

Hope other people have a similar experience.

Take care.
Noi

p.s. daboyz I don't know what you decided about your marriage certificate but in Thailand if you have a copy of it you can go to the ampure or khet where you were married and they can stamp and sign it making it a certified copy... we did this with all our documents so we have 5 certified copies of everything.

UScandual - hopefully you will get your interview soon. It didn't seem fully staffed today. I would email them Monday to ask your interview date.

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-04-17 02:26:00

Welcome back Hyena.

Wow, this forum has taken a turn the last couple days. I do enjoy seeing the different perspectives on Thai politics. I have no opinion except for that I don't think protesting is the answer and I don't think it helps anything. I am living in the Isaan, and my previous years of living in Thailand have all been in the Isaan. My husband is amoung the people who think Taksin did good things for his people. He said all leaders and police he has ever met are corrupt, Taksin amoung them. But as Hyena mentioned Taksin is the only one who ever took much notice of the Isaan people, besides the king. There was a lot of social development that occured during the time of Taksin, despite the fact he was corrupt. He started the yellow card... of 5 baht for health care, 500 a month for elderly citizens, a village a million baht for microfinancing within each village, the skytrain, free city buses, these are just the beginning of the benefits which the Isaan and all poorer people saw of Taksin's policy's. The reason they don't want to wait out Abihisit is because of the military type regime they understand he represents and they are afraid he will change laws to make Thailand return to a dictorship type goverment. If they kick him out now their thought is to prevent that. It was mentioned that the red-shirts are paid by Taksin to protest, Taksin paid for food and other ammenities but it is not nearly as paid for as the yellow-shirt protests were. People in this area being desparate for easy money (like so many here are) went and protested to be paid as a yellow shirt. They were given free food and 500 a day, according to people here who came back from the protests... another example of corruption through many levels of societ. In addition people who were hurt in the yellow shirt protests were given some sort of grievance fund from the queen, including the woman who was a suicide bomber. I think that overall the whole situation is corrupt... my opinion is both sides are wrong, and I hope for the sake of the Thais they find some solution which doesn't include protesting.

About sawasdee... in thai there are only certain sounds which are pronounced as final consanants. S... is not one of them. Thus when s (saw suea) is a final consant (of a syllable, not just a word) it is pronounced as a d (daw dek) so it wouls be sa wad dee. Similarly if l (law ling) is a final consant it is pronounced as n (naw noo). The reason for the h's are to distinguish between different letters of the Thai alaphabet with smiliar english pronunciations. My husband's last name was originally spelled by the government with a ph... to be pronounced as a p, we decided to change it so that it would be spelled in a way that it would more likely be pronounced correctly in English and had a big argument with all the oficials that we were spelling it wrong.

I haven't heard anything from the Embassy. They are closed for Songkran through today, but we have to catch the train today. Abisit issued two more days off for civil servants and goverment offices but said that other businesses such as banks could decide themselves. I don't know where that leaves the U.S. embassy I guess we will find out tomorrow morning after we arrive to Bangkok.

Hopefully they will be open for the benefit of everyone whose case is currently at the embassy.

Hyena, through a long story I have had contact with my reprepresentative rather than my sentetor. While I didn't have any problem with my case they were very nice and seemed like if I did have a problem they would try their very best to help. I don't know if it would be more individualized because of the smaller number of constiuents or not. Hopefully you get an NOA2 soon.

Hope everyone (themselves and or their SOs) had a good Songkran.

Take care,
Noi

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-04-14 21:59:00

QUOTE (Birch-Beer @ Apr 14 2009, 05:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

well, i got back this morning at 2am. I left bangkok sunday morning bangkok time and didnt se too much to do with the a$$hole redshirts.. An occasional police convoy and an occasional army helicopter over head.

regarding the embassy, yes they wouldnt let me in and 3 hours later, my wife and step daughter came out and didnt get thte visa., she just said "no". After looking, it was a 221g and I went back into find out #######!!
so, they didnt say now, just give us more sheit and go jump through some more hoops. and YES she got that fugging fat bald basttard. When he asked her where we met and she told him the Don Meung airport, he said to her five times, don meung what? what? what? real fugging a$$hole this guy is.

he grilled her for 20 minutes and asked the step daughter 2 questions.

She needs to get 6 more documents.
we have to redo the police report so knowing that would take the longest time, we went right to the police station and re-did it. We cant get that till the 27th because of song kran and everything being closed.
she needs to get a name change paper, a divorce paper which we gave him already, a sole custody of the kid paper which we gave him, my wifes mothers name change paper. ####### is up with that? her mother died in 1998.

then, you can only go back on monday and wednesday from 1-3pm to turn this sheit in. what BS!!!!!!

atleast she doesnt have to go see that a-hole again.

so, shes taking the 6 documents and passports back on the 27th or 29th of April.

she thought it was No, but i explained to her, it wasnt a No, just a "we want you to do some more work and get us some more papers first"

BirchBeer,

Thanks for sharing your experience. I am sorry to hear your got a 221g. Do you know why you have to do the police report again?

Hopefully everything can be worked out soon and she will be able to join you in the U.S.

I am supposed to have our interview this week, Friday but with the current situation am not sure if they will cancel it or what will happen.

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-04-13 20:06:00

Thailand can be so frustrating sometimes. I love it here and like daboyz if I could make the money here that I make in the U.S. I would permanently relocate here... but there are somethings I appreciate about the U.S. One of them is the stabilty. Another is the education system here but that's another story.

I need one piece of paper for our interview in 7 days from our local ampure. I am not sure why the riots/protests in Bangkok require the stopping of all government offices. What does my little ampure 8 hours from Bangkok have to do with anything? Today's Friday, no one works on the weekends, and then its Songkran, and off to Bangkok we go. Okay, I am don't ranting now.

The benefit of Thailand is that almost anything can happen for adding a bit of padding to an official's pocket. I hate to work like that but now we start the contacts.

Does anyone know if the American Embassy is or has shut down with these riots?

Hopefully BirchBeer needs documents from the U.S. end as government offices are taking a long vacation here in Thailand.

I do disagree with daboyz though. I have met tons of people in my 8 years aboad who want to go to the U.S. mainly because of the money. And they don't care how they get there. I have university edcuated friends who are still trying to get a job as an aupair just to get to the U.S. The villlage people all around my house constantly ask me if I have a job for them in the states, can I find them one, if not how about a spouse. Among the upper class, or people in Bangkok perhaps this is not true but here in the heart of the Isaan it is a fact that people want to go to the U.S. they have this conception that live is easy and you can get rich quick there.

As for my own SO's intent I questioned it, tested it, and in the end he just wants to be in Thailand but is willing to move wherever I am so we can be together...

The problem is the people set out to fraud are better prepared than someone like myself. I never thought to keep a reciept, phone bills, or boarding passes, or anything of that nature because I had no idea what this process would be like.

Well hopefully in the end we all make it through and we are a little stronger on the otherside.

Take care,
Noi

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-04-09 21:22:00

QUOTE (rsn @ Apr 9 2009, 09:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My fiancee is under the impression that her proof of unmarried status, birth certificate, etc can only be translated by some place in bangkok or some visa shops that the embassy approves (her words). She doesn't want to do this, but she thinks she has to, so I told her I would ask here what everyone else did. Can she get these things translated at some place in Udon near where she lives or does she really have to go to some specific place or places?

If your fiancee doesn't feel comfortable translating them herself there is a shop in Udon that I know of that will translate. It was something like 200-300 a page depending on the amount of writing on the page.

And as a side note, that is the shop where I met a guy who claimed to be a visa interviewer for the U.S. Embassy, who I have previously written about. He was heavy-set and I cannot remember or not if he was bald. If he knows you are translating for a visa he will give you a mock interview... at least he did us. And he might give some tips about the interview or process. It scared us, but it also makes us more comfortable knowing we have met him and had a little extra time trying to figure him out and perhaps if he does our interview we will be better prepared.

Anyway his name is Mr. Greenwood (forgetting the first name), his wife is Panarai she does the translations, with her staff. It is a language school, they teach English, Japanese, Thai, among others. The address is 75 Udonusadee Rd, A. Muang. Tel: 042-221283, 042-221896. email: puy@udon.loxinfo.co.th.

Take care,
Noi

Anyone have any updates on Birch Beer... why is the embassy being so strict about letting people in with thier spouse for the interview?

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-04-09 00:12:00

QUOTE (Mommy @ Apr 8 2009, 08:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Congrats on the case completed, hope you get your interview date soon.

K. Mommy: Did you email the embassy to see if they received your case, is that how you know it arrived?

Does anyone know if there has been anyone successful in switching the interviews at the BKK embassy? Our K-3 interview is scheduled for April 17th, and being that the NVC says they mailed our file on March 31st to the embassy they should have it by the time we show up for our April 17th interview. To my understanding this means they should give us the CR1 at the time of the April 17th interview. If not we will wait 5 weeks until out May CR1 interview but I thought I would see if anyone knew anything... had any experience... or saw it happen.

Thanks.

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-04-07 21:58:00

QUOTE (Joe&Noi @ Mar 25 2009, 06:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

All this to say my co-sponsor filled out both an I-864A for IR1 and a I-134 for K-3. In addition to my cosponsor I have signed a contract for a job starting June that will make my yearly income much above the requirement.

It wouldn't let me edit... but I don't know if makes a difference but my co-sponsor, my mother, is a houshold member. Maybe this would be viewed in a different light?

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-03-25 06:49:00

Concerning co-sponsors in BKK...

I know that there have been a couple people on this forum denied because of trying to use co-sponsors. I am wondering how they solved this situation. According to and email from the Embassy they will not accept cosponsors on an I-134 because it is not a legally binding contract as in the case of an I-864. In our case we have applied for a K-3 which includes the IR1. Because of a family member being ill we have decided to pursue the K-3 while we wait for an IR1 interview. However as a student for the past 8 years I require a co-sponsor for income requirements. All this to say my co-sponsor filled out both an I-864 for IR1 and a I-134 for K-3. In addition to my cosponsor I have signed a contract for a job starting June that will make my yearly income much above the requirement.

Does anyone have any advice in this situation. We still plan on getting the IR1... we were going to fly back for the interview. But we really would like the K-3 so that my family member can see my husband again before she passes away.

Our interview is scheduled for next month... we are going knowing we might be denied on these grounds but I thought I would see if anyone has any advice. In addition how did those of your who have interviewed in BKK present your evidence of relationship? Did you create binder or just an envelope?

Thanks so much. I am going to post this on the K-3 forum as well.

Noi

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-03-25 06:21:00

Just a couple comments from my experience.

- police certificate: I went along with my husband and while I had both of our NOA's with us they didn't ask to see anything. I am not sure if it was because I was there or just the people we talked to. The whole process took less than 30 minutes, the people were really nice, and it arrived in the mail before the date they said it would. So I would definately try... you don't lose much if they don't let you.

- medical exam: we didn't make an appointment, we went to Bumrungrad as well with out anything other than the medical from from the BKK embassy website and the photos. We arrived around 10 or 10:30. They only took one of the photographs and gave us the rest. My husband saw the doctor for a total of about 2 minutes, maybe other people's experience is different but I wouldn't think 2 minutes would matter which doctor you saw. Everything else was the lab, or x-rays, vaccines, etc. It took less than two hours. There is free water, tea, and juice. The staff was really nice and helpful. Everything cost us around 5000 baht.

- post office: I think you have to use one of the bigger Bangkok post offices. We went to our office here in the middle of nowhere and they had no idea what I was talking about. They only joked that I could give them the money...

Daboyz - I think you mentioned they gave your wife a hard time for not speaking English. I would love to hear more about your experience. I speak Thai fluently and my husband and I speak Thai together. His English is minimal. All of our letters and everything are in Thai... not English. What questions were you asked? I would appreciate anything more about the interview.

And about this bald man people keep talking about... I am not sure if I met the same person or not but I had a very bad experience with a man who claims to do visa interviews for the embassy in Bangkok. He is American, married to a Thai woman, living in Udon and owns a language school there. I went to have some documents translated. He drilled my husband and I and said if he was to interview him he would "tear him apart" (his words). Told me he would fail my husband instantly because:

1. He didn't understand what my sister's name was when my husband pronounced it (have you Thai significant other try Valerie... I haven't met a Thai yet who can pronounce it).
2. He didn't speak enough English and he didn't care that I spoke Thai, if he is going to live in America he needs to speak English (I won't mention this guy has lived in Thailand 30 or so years and his Thai is minimal).
3. It was not NATURAL for an American woman to marry a Thai man. I mentioned that he had a Thai spouse and he said a foreign male with a Thai female is a different story, it is natural. He said if he got our case where as he would spend 10 minutes on a female interview he would spend at least 30... or else just fail us instantly.
4. He doesn't believe in co-sponsors and therefore would fail me on that case too.

He listed a few other reasons but at that point my poor husband and I felt so beaten into the ground by that point that we didn't bother to pay attention. So I don't know if this is the same guy but it sort of seems like it. He was a heavy-set male... I don't remember the quanity of hair.

My analysis of him was that he himself didn't seem very happy in his personal life so he takes it out on the interviewees. I don't have any advice for anyone about how to handle him except he liked to talk about his favorite foods. The one piece of advice he did give is that if he fails someone to immediately ask for another interview date. He also seemed to appreciate his own value and so I would reccomend being very humble if anyone else here stumbles upon him.

One last question in my P3 they sent me the I-134 but they had previously told me I could use the I-864 because it is for a K-3 visa... anyone have any experience with that?

Take care everyone.
Noi

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-03-13 05:53:00

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-03-13 05:53:00

K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

Hello everyone,

Hopefully all the experienced ones have also switched over to this new thread. I do agree that perhaps it should be in the SE asia area and not K-1 as there are plenty of us going through Thailand for visas other than the K-1 can we switch it?

Speaking of which does anyone have experience with switching a K-3 interview for a CR-1 interview? Has this been successful to anyone's knowledge in BKK?

And to repeat Birch-Beer's question those who have interviewed for a K-3 or CR-1 at BKK has it been less demanding that that described here about people's recent experiences with the K-1? Personally we have lot's of pictures, no emails, and no phone records. Most of our relationship we have been in the same place. When we haven't we have had different phone numbers (for example I have traveled back to the US a couple times but each time gotten a new cell phone number and he has been here in Thailand for one of my trips and in Israel for the other trip so different cell phone numbers) so even the records I could get might not be too convincing. Besides affadavits any other ideas for evidence they might like.

Finally, a question about interviewing in Thai. Does any one have any experience with their beneficiary interviewing in Thai? I speak Thai fluently therefore we speak Thai together. He speaks Hebrew fairly fluently as do I, however his English is minimal. I have heard it is possible to interview in Thai, but does anyone have any experience?

Thanks so much,
Noi

P.S. One more question - if they are unsatisfied with our I-864 will they normally tell you to come back with more info or just deny you? We are borderline and but don't have anyone who I feel comfortable asking to co-sponsor.

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-02-08 06:09:00

Thailand

Thailand Thread

Sorry to change to topic. Anyone ever flown Air China? There is an extremely cheap ticket from BKK to SFO (350 +tax) but I don't want to sit in misery for 25 hours if I can avoid it. Although the 9 hour layover in Bejing might be nice, never been to China. Can anything be seen done in 9 hours there?

USCANdual have you ever flown Israair... I want to avoid a plane like that, where the seats are so close together even the 4'10 girl sitting next to me felt uncomfortable.

We got ready and were walking out the door at 6:30 this morning to pick up the visa when I decided to look at the card they gave us, and realized it said to come at 3:00, oops.

Thanks,
Noi

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-04-20 22:11:00

Thailand

Thailand Thread

I was away from VJ for a couple days preparing for our interview and come back to see myself being quoted and rebuked. I just want to apologize to people... I must not have expressed myself well. I believe I said I try to stay out of the politics. I spend a lot more time looking at what other people think than actually making opinions... it's my way. As I said I really enjoy reading everyone's opinion's here and I am sorry if I offended someone.

I live in the Isaan... 80% of my village went and applied to go to Bangkok as red shirts. I don't agree with the protesting... I don't agree with what Taksin has done. But rather than express judgement I listen to the people. I was trying to share what the people around me... the red-shirt, largely Isaan people think.

I don't know much about Abisit, don't claim too but this is what the people say. About the "suicide bomber" the woman was shot by the police which caused the bombs which she had taped to herself to go off... okay, she didn't detinate but it is strange she had them on herself... again I am sharing the voices of the uneducated masses around. I feel like there is a lot of judgement on the red-shirt people without trying to understand where they are coming from... what thier understanding (may it be limited) is of the situation.

The people around me, Isaan people, often go ignored and they saw someone take interest in them, thier villages develop and beyond that they don't see much. I personally think rather than judge them for what may seem like silly political affiliations we should educated them, equip them to think as the rest of you do.

Again I really had no intention to spark so much controversy... and no need to correct me unless someone is going to come correct the people all around me.

Thanks for everyone's informative posts.

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-04-17 03:26:00

Thailand

N-400 Advice

We are just starting the N-400 application and as I started to fill it out I was wondering if any one else (Thai) is going through the process now? Also curious if there is a study guide in Thai? I know the interview and test is in English but thought it might be easier to study in Thai. Any advise on the N-400 process?

Take care,
Noi

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2012-05-07 17:37:00

JANUARY APPROVAL, Let's do NVC together

I have fallen behind my peers here. I took a couple weeks vacation and so I have gotten behind. Can someone explain how the NVC assigns interview dates? They only do it once a month? So now that I don't have everything in by the second week of February I have to wait until the second week of March for them to schedule my interview? Is that correct? THen when they schedule it they will schedule it for April? Should I try to get everything in the mail monday or take my time because it doesn't matter until March?

Also how does it work if I send all my originals to NVC, what if I decide to have go ahead with my K-3 interview how do I show the embassy the originals if the NVC has them?

Anyone have any idea about whether you would get an RFE or denial if they find your income insufficient on the I-864. I am confused about how they count household numbers and we only have enough income the last of the three years, not the previous two.

Thanks everyone for your help.

Noi

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-02-08 05:19:00

K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

JANUARY APPROVAL, Let's do NVC together

Although I oficially got my I-129F and I-130 approved in December (the 30th), I will join this forum as it took until the 8th of Jan for NVC to get anything in thier record. And according to the operators I have talked to the I-129 has not been sent to the embassy nor the forms and bills generated so I am a bit behind some of the people here but we have the neccisary paper work ready and are just waiting on the NVC.

I wish everyone speed through the NVC.

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-01-14 20:02:00

Asia: East and Pacific

High-speed internet access in Udon Thani area

QUOTE (daboyz @ Feb 11 2009, 01:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (rsn @ Feb 10 2009, 02:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hello,

Does anyone know what the options are for someone living in the Bandung district might have as far as high-speed internet access is concerned? This is about 1 hour by car from Udon Thani. Thanks!

Laugh. Slim and none. Probably Satellite or the Hutch wireless. I used the Hutch Air Plus CDMA thing when I lived in BKK. It worked ok, but as soon as I went outside Bangkok, it didn't work. Granted this was early 2006. So not sure what their coverage is now.

I live about three hours from anything and I get a decent internet connection through TOT (Thailand's main phone company). I think the max rate is 1mb and it is a little less than 3000 baht a month with a one year contract. It is a satellite system, you have to pay an addition 2000 to have them set up the satellite but it gives you internet in the middle of nowhere so it is worth it for me. There is also an option for this network phone system through CATelecom it is a SLOW connection and when I priced it only slightly less than the TOT option.

Anyway, I would advice just visiting both TOT and CATelecom in Udon and telling them your address they can tell you all the options available for that area. Hopefully something works out for you.

Take care,
Noi

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-02-11 07:30:00

National Visa Center (Dept of State)

What happened to my case?

Just curious if anyone has any ideas for why it would take the NVC so long to enter my case? I got the NOA2 on both the I-130 and I-129F on the 30th of Dec however my I-129F has not been entered into the system and my I-130 was entered on the 8th of Jan however they haven't generated an AOS bill or anything. Should I be concerned? Should I call them more often or just wait?

I am okay with waiting just thought it was strange so many people have their NVC numbers that were approved a week after me.

Thanks so much.

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-01-14 18:30:00

I-130 Delivery Denied

You are correct the application was mailed August 22nd (I guess I just typed May 22 because that is our wedding date). Thanks for the advice about Fed-Ex, I guess I will have to use them next time. However we are in Maha Sarakham, and eight hour bus ride to Bangkok is not something I ever look forward to.

USPS said that it had been at the destination post office since the 26th, but they would not tell me any more information or submit an inquiry unless the request came from the the Thai postal service.

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2008-09-03 06:55:00

I-130 Delivery Denied

Hello to my fellow VJers,

I am writing hoping that no one has been in my situation before but perhaps may have some ideas or advice. I mailed the I-130 application and supporting documents for my husband on May 22, 2008. It was sent via Thailand's EMS service and according to the Thai Postal Service and the USPS it arrived in Chicago the 26th. Because I sent it EMS I had it delivered to the courier address and not the P.O. Box. However, since the 26th it remains in the post office in Chicago. The USPS won't tell me anything about it, they say I have to go through the Thai postal service. The Thai postal service says that delivery was attempted on the 26th and that the document was denied or rather there was no one who would accept it. They said they would look into it sometime this week.

My question is does anyone know of this occurring and is there anything I can do to rectify the situation? For future knowledge should I have sent it to the P.O. Box rather than the courier address?

Thanks in advance for anyone who can help.

Joe and Noi

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2008-09-03 05:40:00

I-184 Question

I just wanted to ask a question about the I-184. If I understand correctly because my permanent address is the same as my mother's address rather than her becoming a co-sponsor her income can be included on my I-184. Am I understanding correctly or does she need to fill out an I-184 as well?

Thanks.

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2008-09-09 03:35:00

August-2008 K3 filers for CSC

It seems like most of the CSC August Filers have been approved. Is there anyone like me still out there, not approved?

Did those of you approved expedite? How were you approved so quickly? I wish I understood more of how things work over there at the CSC and VSC.

Take care

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2008-10-22 08:48:00

August-2008 K3 filers for CSC

I just thought I would join along here. I just submitted my I-130 but being from California I am assuming I will be forwarded to the CSC although I suppose it might end up being the first week of September.

I am just happy to have finally sent the application and to get this process started.

Take care.

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2008-08-22 07:35:00

Request for Expedited Processing I-130

Thank you everyone for your replies. This information is extremely helpful. For now I will not apply for the expedite, and it seems that there is probably slim chances that even if I did it would be approved but perhaps it doesn't cost anything to try. However, for now I will hope that CSC moves along and we receive the approval in line just like everyone else before I start the job.

jurod16- thanks so much for advising what paperwork to prepare. I have started gathering these things just in case.

Haole- As far as domicile, I am not too worried I maintain a U.S. address, bank accounts, driver's license, even jury duty. And for financially supporting my spouse, we have co-sponsors to prove to the USCIS that I will in fact be able to support him.

Thai Mom- thanks for the encouragement. We have spent a considerable part of our relationship apart but under different circumstance than what exist now. We both know the difficulties and know we can survive but hope that we don't have to do it again, if possible. Where did you find good phone rates to Thailand?

Thanks again to everyone who replied.

Take care.

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2008-11-10 17:15:00

Request for Expedited Processing I-130

I am writing to ask if anyone can give me more information about requesting to have a K-3 visa application expedited under the heading of financial loss to an individual.

I don't think that I qualify but I thought I would see if other people who have applied could help me out a bit. My situation is that I am currently residing with my husband abroad but I have been offered a good job to start in January in the U.S. If I do not take the job and instead stay with my husband here, I am loosing that potential income. On the other hand, if I take the job and am separated from my husband I have to think about financially running two households as well as the price of communication. I know that many people are separated, and many people run two households and I respect all of you for that. My question is does anyone have any experience with a similar circumstance and was either granted or denied the request to expedite.

Does anyone know what documents I might need in order to apply for expedited processing?

Thank you in advance for your time and advice. Please do PM if you do not want to share your circumstances publicly.

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2008-11-01 09:15:00

GETTING I-130 PACKET READY

QUOTE (Tom and Wariya @ Nov 20 2008, 06:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Got the papers back from my wife in Thailand with the relevant parts filled in in Thai. I have a question:

Should I send evidence of our relationship in with the I-130 such as photographs of us together, copies of my passports showing the trips corresponding with the photographs? We have been seeing each other since Oct of 2005 but got married this last Sep. so there is not much evidence of
a "bonafide marriage" other than the support I have been giving her and her daughter while she furthers her training as a yoga instructor or can I include a letter explaining our relationship? We had an interview scheduled for August 21st on the fiancee visa but she wanted to forego that and just get married while I was there, which we did. I have all other relevant papers translated into English so that is no problem.

Thanks

I haven't gotten my NOA-2 yet so take my advice with a grain of salt. But it seems to me like the more is better as long as it is well organized and presentable. We sent photographs of us in different situations post and prior to the actual wedding (including with our Thai marriage certificate) in addition to a letter of explanation from me (USC) about our relationship and four notarized affadavits from family/pastor who could speak of our bonafide marriage.

Hope all goes well!

Joe&Noi

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2008-11-19 22:09:00

Aproved! NOA2's

Congratulations!! Unless you have compelling circumstances, I'd go for the CR-1 rather than the K-3. Look at Lots of Patience's advice on getting through the NVC quickly. The K-3 can end up being much more expensive because of the AOS fee and the inability to work for about three months after arriving. We are trying to figure out how to keep our DIL occupied while she waits for her EAD. It will be even harder when our son is gone for an extended period of time.
It is wonderful to have her here, though! The Lord knows what He is doing.

Thai Mom
[/quote]

Thank you everyone for your support. I hope that this new year brings lots of approvals for all those still waiting. Maybe VSC can catch up quickly.

Thai Mom, I was thinking of trying to pursue the CR-1 rather than the K-3. From what I read if I continue the process for both and then hopefully my I-130 will be finished and I can use my interview for a CR-1, am I understanding correctly. Also I haven't been able to find the Lots of Patience's advice do you happen to have a link to that?

I see there are lots of shortcuts listed online does anyone know how much time those save? Are we talking about months, weeks, days? Or is there any information on that?

Thanks for everyone's help.

Joe & Noi

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-01-01 10:47:00

Aproved! NOA2's

It is absolutely amazing, we were approved!

I don't know many people here, I haven't waited long in comparison to some, but I just had to post to say that I was approved. I feel like I rejoice when I read other's posts and have waited for my turn to say that I too have been approved.

About 35 minutes ago we recieved the emails!!. Both the I-130 and I-129F were approved now I guess I have to figure out where to go from here... I remember something about choosing which one to proceed with, I suppose I have a lot of reading in the next few days or weeks figuring out what is next.

The amazing thing is that my husband and I have been praying about this situation for more than double the time since we applied. And right before we sent off the applications my husband started recieving an answer to our prayers. He has said since then that we would get our NOA2 at new year's time. It is New Years eve morning, what an amazing gift we did recieve. We pray for everyone else out there and hope that you have similar results.

Now just to get through the next hurdles... I am off to read what those are hopefully there are some good posts on here.

God Bless!

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2008-12-30 20:42:00

Want to change last name to husbands name, will this affect visa?

QUOTE (pushbrk @ Jan 5 2009, 12:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

USCIS doesn't care about the petitioner's name change after petition submission and neither does the Consulate. At AOS time, simply use the new name on the I-864 and other forms, then provide the marriage certificate as the paper trail for the name change. Of course, you'll want to complete the name change process by changing ID including passport and SSN.

Thanks that's great news. I guess I will have to wait until I have flown all flights I currently have booked in my maiden name but then I am free to change my name.

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-01-04 16:38:00

Want to change last name to husbands name, will this affect visa?

QUOTE (Mrs Rhoades @ Dec 30 2008, 01:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (Nesssie @ Dec 29 2008, 10:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My husband is on AP, and I would like to change my last name to his name, should I wait till he gets his visa and comes here? If I change it now will it mess up our K3 case? meaning will I have to refile all the papers with my new last name?

My name was changed during the application process, and it was not a problem. Don't worry about it.

At what point during the process did you change your name? Did you report it, did you have to send additional paperwork?

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-01-04 01:34:00

Interview Question

QUOTE (stet5811 @ Jan 5 2009, 12:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the advice, Yes she is Jewish. Unfortunately I have contacted the Embassy and the Consulate in Jerusalem and they told me that there is nothing they can do. Israel does not have civil marriages as of yet and they do not allow interfaith marriages there as of yet. It has to be presided over by a Rabbi and they are, unfortunately not allowed to preside over the marriage of a Jew to a non Jew. Apparently it is a hot button issue there because many Israeli's are marrying non Jews.

Sorry about that, I was hopeful that they would be able to help. Hopefully everything works out have you contacted one of the three pastors/priests that can do non-Jewish marriages and see if they know anything more helpful? Although perhaps that is a lot of work for not too much result. I am not sure that the K-3 is all that much quicker than the CR-1 as I applied for my K-3 and both the I-130 and I-129F were approved at the same time. And I know that it is in the NVC stage of the process that the CR-1 is supposed to take a bit longer, so I can't speak from experience but after spending far too much time on this site it seems that there isn't too much of a difference and it is much less paperwork. So hopefully that works for you to do the CR-1 and everything will go smoothly. Mazal Tov on the wedding and the baby.

Take care.

Joe&Noi

Female

Thailand

2009-01-04 16:34:00