Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	QUOTE (Birch-Beer @ Apr 30 2009, 11:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> tell her, "next time I want to " kang lung"" And then she will "topsa lopsa lai" you!	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-04-30 23:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	QUOTE (AaronLV @ Apr 30 2009, 08:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I included the western union transfers in the packet, which ti be honest I doubt is a big deal. It shows you are supporting your finacee, and support is a way to prove a bonafide relationship. Now if she is sending you western union, that might be a problem. After going back and reviewing exactly what we submitted, we did in fact submit the Western Union transfers as part of the evidence. However, given the change in consular staff, and what I've read concerning other Embassy's, especially Manila, I don't know if I would do it now. It's all a mater of perception on the part of the CO.	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-04-30 22:50:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	QUOTE (uscandual @ Apr 30 2009, 09:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> What's "Jai Yen Yen" ? My Thai really sucks... beyond basic sawasdee khrap and khop khun khrap... I mumbled everywhere I went in Thailand "phom cowjai passa thai nitnoy khrap" (excuse the transliteration.. I just remember it as "cowjai" for 'understand') and that's about it. You guys who actually speak the language, you know what could be really valuable? A primer on the really good bits of the Thai language which farangs like us getting hitched to Thai girls really ought to know. Esp. the naughty bits. Actually, ONLY the naughty bits. I've asked Thanti but so far she's refused to tell me how to say ""Let a hungry Ratchaburi long-haired she-wolf blow your #######, tw@t-nose" . After all, these are the really important things a man about BKK truly needs to know.... Jai Yen Yen means to "cool your heart", or calm down, esp. if you are Jai Ron, which means "hot heart", or mad! You're close with understand, it's Kow Jai! The Thai word for heart, Jai, gets used a lot. Jai Dee, Dee Jai, Jai Yen, Jai Ron, Jai Dam, Kow Jai, etc. As for the naughty bits... Mai Dee Mak Mak!!! Don't know any, and typically don't learn any in most of the laungages I speak. Don't need to get into any more trouble than I usually do! The best person to teach Thai, is the Ajarn himself... Pete! (a.k.a. ThaitoUSA)	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-04-30 21:04:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	QUOTE (Birch-Beer @ Apr 30 2009, 09:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (uscandual @ Apr 30 2009, 06:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Birchbeer: Sorry to hear about what happened. She's a real trooper, heart of gold! It'll be ok, just a few more days and you'll get your answer Monday. grrr, mmm. grumble grumble grumble.ahh, aye...#$@^#&$%, grumble grawf grumble............. Jai Yen Yen!!!	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-04-30 20:25:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 2	See everyone around! I'm signing out before my trip to Thailand. I leave early Sunday, arrive in Bangkok late on Monday night, interview on the 7th. I'll try to report in if I can. C.J. Chok Dee CJ and Jum! Hope everything goes well, and take good notes for the rest of us! Robert & Chutima	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2006-02-04 03:48:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 2	I'm not from Ponca City, but I graduated High School there! To make matters more confusing, I then graduated from Texas A&M University!!! So I'm an Okie-Aggie, or an Aggie-Okie... Not sure?!! When it comes to the OU-Texas game, I toss a coin!!! Robert	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2006-01-30 20:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 2	The new aquarium is nice and I understand it is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. I found the water a bit cloudy for viewing the fishies though. Have Fun. Rich Rich, I'm cracking up laughing over Yodrak catching your slip-up with "Southern Hemisphere"!! The aquarium is the one thing that Chutima really wants to see. As for shopping, there are plenty of other places to go in that area, like MBK, and her apartment is right next to "The Mall" in Nonthaburi on Ngam Wong Wan road! Yodrak, I had that happen to me too! As for you OKIES out there... anyone know where Ponca City is?!	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2006-01-30 18:30:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 2	Robert, I used the DS-156 from the state dept's website and it printed with the bar-code. When the lady at window #5 took the paper, she DID inspect the front page with the bar-code, then ripped it off and threw it away. I wouldn't know what would of happened if I had not used the version of the DS-156 with the bar-code...My opinion= I'd use the one from the state dept that you can print out with the bar-code. So how are things going? Hope all is well with you & Chutima!! As for us, the baby is keeping us busy and TIRED It sucks that the VJ server crashed bacuse there was A LOT of useful info and funny stories from the original Sawasdee Thread, I hope they can revive it. regards, George Hey George, Thanks for your reply. I will go with the barcode version as suggested. As for the birth certificate being translated, I know you didn't get Pocky's translated, or the police certificates translated, but since we already have her BC translated, I'll take a copy. I can only imagine how tired you guys are with the baby! Hang in there!!! Chutima and I hope to have that same problem in the not too distant future! Things are well with Chutima and me, but the wait is becoming a pain. So to ease the pressure, I'm making a surprise trip to Thailand three weeks from today to be with Chutima for her B-day, and take her shopping at the new Siam Paragon! Will only be there for a week, but it's better than not seeing each other at all! Plus, will add more boarding passes to the proof of relationship pile!!! Take care, Robert P.S. The original Sawasdee Thread is still intact. mr4422 put the link in his first post! Edited by roi_aggie, 28 January 2006 - 08:28 PM.	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2006-01-28 20:25:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 2	We have a lot of work ahead of us to get this back to the largest thread on the board! Let's get busy!!! On a serious note, I am still waiting to hear about the DS-156 with the Barcode?!! Does that form have to be used now, or can you still use the blank one they have at the BNK site? Robert I am getting married in 6 days. Officially. <gulp> reception is in july ... You know you love it Richard!!! I wish I could be within 6 days of my marriage!!!	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2006-01-28 14:46:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Religious marriage on K-1	QUOTE (KAT&Allie @ Oct 3 2008, 12:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (roi_aggie @ Oct 3 2008, 11:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Do not confuse a "religious" ceremony or wedding with a legal marriage. It is entirely possible to have a religious ceremony, where no marriage license is required, and no marriage certificate is issued. Thanks for your input. Unfortunately in our case, the main focus of a religious ceremony is the certificate (contract) that I would be given. So the license per se is not required but the result of the ceremony is a certificate. Oh... Okay. But the purpose of a K-1 visa is for a fiance(e) to get a visa to come to the US and marry. If you really want to get married in the UK, then you need to use a different method for entering the US, such as CR-1 or K-3.	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2008-10-03 12:09:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Religious marriage on K-1	Do not confuse a "religious" ceremony or wedding with a legal marriage. It is entirely possible to have a religious ceremony, where no marriage license is required, and no marriage certificate is issued. QUOTE Thanks for the speedy reply pushbrk. OK, that makes sense. But does that then mean we could have our religious ceremony at any time, even before the K-1 is approved? The answer to that question is Yes.	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2008-10-03 11:34:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Visiting within last two years...is 1 time sufficient?	QUOTE (pushbrk @ Nov 24 2008, 09:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Old Dominion @ Nov 24 2008, 06:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Another visit would certainly show that your intentions are sincere. Number of visits and total time together helps show a bona fide relationship on BOTH SIDES. In the higher fraud countries, like Thailand the concern is about both parties, not just the petitioner. Nobody can tell you how much of anything will be enough but the best evidence of bona fides is time together. pushbrk, could you please cite your reference for claiming that Thailand is a high fraud country? I have tried searching for a list of high fraud rate countries, and was unsuccessful. I did however find a list of "high admission" countries, and Thailand was not on that list. Thanks.	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2008-11-25 12:12:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	marry my american fiance while coming in the US as a tourist	QUOTE (Kathryn41 @ Mar 25 2009, 11:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (roi_aggie @ Mar 25 2009, 10:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (markordj @ Mar 24 2009, 02:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I'm a singapore citizen and my fiancee is american. we're both in singapore and want to move to the US. let say i go there as a tourist, get married to her there, have an adjustment of status, and stay in the US. any problems with this? Great idea! More people should try it! Roi Aggie, You know better than to encourage visa fraud. Please remember we are here to help the querants, not to encourage illegal behaviour that puts them at risk. Well you're no fun Kathryn! I'm being sarcastic for the most part, because it is not a question that can easily be answered. As Haole mentioned, many people have done it, and not had any problems. It is an option, just not one that most people here would support, due to "legal" issues.	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-03-26 09:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	marry my american fiance while coming in the US as a tourist	QUOTE (markordj @ Mar 24 2009, 02:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I'm a singapore citizen and my fiancee is american. we're both in singapore and want to move to the US. let say i go there as a tourist, get married to her there, have an adjustment of status, and stay in the US. any problems with this? Great idea! More people should try it!	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-03-25 21:29:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Was I scammed	QUOTE (B&Gie @ Apr 17 2009, 09:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I certainly didn't mean to disparage Thailand. It has its problems, but so does every country. I'd much rather live in Thailand than here in New England. Darn frozen wasteland it is here. I do prefer the Philippines by a small margin. The deciding factors for me are lack of tourists, and tons of great shore diving/snorkeling . I just wish I could have visited Thailand 20 or 30 years ago before it got popular. That must have really been incredible. As it is I'm going to have to teach my Pinay how to cook Thai food. Ironic that, but what can you do? Now if only I could have found a half Thai half Indian girl, then I'd be all set. Hmm… half Thai half Indian huh?! I likey! I hear you on the tourist part. My favorite place in Thailand is Chiang Mai, and it is where I bought a couple of Town Houses (through my wife, of course!) and plan on retiring. The number of tourists, especially the Eurotrash, can be a pain in the A$$! I have spent a lot of time in the Philippines, and traveled extensively there as well. The deciding factor for me between PI and Thailand is religion. I am not a Christian, and I have very strong view concerning Catholicism, which as you know, is so dominant in the Philippines. I prefer the Buddhist way of life, and the easy going lifestyle of the Thai people. Good luck to both of us!	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-04-18 13:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Was I scammed	QUOTE (B&Gie @ Apr 17 2009, 04:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I don't claim to be an expert on asia. I spent about 15 months traveling south east asia and I saw a few things and drew a few conclusions. I'm marrying a Pinay because one of her coworkers introduced us, she was quiting her sales job which she hated, she was willing to travel with me, and she had a hot @$$. After several months of traveling together and even more months of corresponding I came to the (somewhat grudging) conclusion that she really was a smart, hardworking, humble, fun, cheerful, and a tremendously good caring warm hearted person who is genuinely head over heels in love with me. I didn't really feel ready to be married yet, but I've never been this happy with anyone else, so I'm going with it. That's why I'm marrying a Pinay. I still half think its crazy, and it sure is a pain in the rear marrying a foreigner, but at least I'm satisfied that I've done my due diligence. Maybe I've been scammed...but if I have, I'll take her to Hollywood and with acting skills like that she's sure to be a star. For that, I wish you the best of luck in your future. Sounds like you and your fiancee both have good heads on your shoulders and are confident in your plans. It just seemed you were really judging the OP and to an extent, Thailand. I have been both places as well, and had both Pinay and Thai girlfriends, and I must say, I'm much happier with Thailand and my Thai wife. Not everyone is the same, and not everyone met their SO in the same manner, or for the same length of time, yet many relationships work out, if they are meant to be. It's always better, IMHO, to be more supportive, rather than negative.	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-04-17 16:53:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Was I scammed	Let's recap for the noobs... He was NOT scammed; he is merely experiencing "buyers remorse". B&Gie... would it have been better if he went to the PI to be scammed? I mean after all... there are absolutely NO scams in the Philippines, right?! Your visions are wrong, and you need to save them for yourself. How did you decide to marry a Pinay? Are you some expert on Asia? What kind of questions are you asking? Are you somehow better? Bai ga gai!	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-04-16 21:27:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Was I scammed	QUOTE (dragonboy69 @ Apr 11 2009, 01:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I am about to submit the forms on April 13th.... I wish I had known that it was as simple as it was to fill out the forms, as I could have had this paperwork in February when I returned from Thailand to the states. Instead I waited for this agency to put it together for me, but it took a while for my fiancee to get all the appropriate documents, and then when I did get the package I was short on cash so I had to wait until I had $455 to send with the package. The fact that you were short on funds, and are having to pay off the $1800 in installments causes me some concern, since the immigration process is far from cheap, and part of the criteria for the beneficiary, is to show they are 125% above the poverty level. To be blunt, if you don't have a steady form of income, this is not a good path to take.	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-04-16 12:30:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Was I scammed	QUOTE (Thai Rath @ Apr 15 2009, 11:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (busterbrown @ Apr 13 2009, 02:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (daboyz @ Apr 12 2009, 03:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Tourist visas to the US are next to impossible to get in Bangkok. I have to disagree. My gilfriend at the time (now my fiancée) had a 2 minute interview and was granted a 2 year multi entry visa. All that documentation she brought with her wasn't even looked at. The interviewer asked her a couple of simple questions and told her that her passport and visa would be mailed to her in 2 days. ...unbeknownst to him, her boyfriend (fiancé....me) had already submitted her I-129 petition. Your fiancee was an exception and the exception doesn't prove the rule. Glad she didn't have any trouble getting the multiple-entry visa. Fully concur. It is definitely the exception and not the rule, and I was rather shocked to read she got one. In order for a Thai citizen to get a B1/2 visa, they must show evidence that they have STRONG ties to Thailand, whether through bank accounts, property, business, or other such evidence. Some girl walking in from the country is NOT going to get a tourist visa! Note: Daboyz said "next to impossible", not impossible. Anyone who has dealt with the consulates in Thailand long enough know that this is in fact the case.	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-04-16 12:23:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	My I-94 was marked 'To marry only'	QUOTE (pushbrk @ Apr 18 2009, 08:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Semantics become critical here. A K1 visa holder can marry anybody they want instead of the petitioner but only marriage to the petitioner gives them the privilege of adjusting status based on marriage to a US Citizen. If they marry somebody else instead, they don't get to stay.	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-04-18 19:57:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	My I-94 was marked 'To marry only'	Well it certainly raises an interesting question: Has anyone ever come into the US on a K-1 visa, but then married someone else, and successfully adjusted status? Stranger things have happened! The K-1 is a type of immigrant visa, meaning the visa holder has been approved entry into the US. Does it really matter who they marry? Edited by roi_aggie, 18 April 2009 - 06:39 PM.	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-04-18 18:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	My I-94 was marked 'To marry only'	QUOTE (JeremyR @ Apr 18 2009, 07:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I've pondered what this meant a couple of times over the past year. For some reason it didn't occur to me to ask if anyone here knew When I came in on a K-1 through Chicago last May, the CBP guard annotated the "Record of Changes" section of my I-94 with "TO MARRY ONLY: <full name>". I've never heard of this before and wondered at the time what on earth the point of writing it was. Does anyone else have that on their I-94 or know why it's sometimes written? Wasn't written on ours, Maybe it's so if you tried to marry someone else, and the I-94 is necessary for AOS, they would know you didn't marry who you were intended to marry.	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-04-18 18:20:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Just engaged	QUOTE (TruLuv @ Apr 26 2009, 12:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Also keep in mind that you must be married within 90 days of his arrival. This means that if you get approved quickly and he moves to the US, you may need to do this sooner than planned as well. I would suggest waiting, getting married through a justice of the peace and then do the formal thing when you can plan better. Congratulations and Good Luck! Excellent point. Once he/she gets the visa, you have 90 days after they enter the US, so you can get everything prepared and picked out, but just hold off on a date.	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-04-26 11:39:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	K1 Visa From Thailand	So the Average would be 7 months!	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-04-16 09:45:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Does being a Federal Special agent help?	QUOTE (daboyz @ Apr 30 2009, 10:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (rwaggs21 @ Apr 30 2009, 09:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (uscandual @ Apr 30 2009, 07:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (rwaggs21 @ Apr 30 2009, 09:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I am a federal agent and am compiling the K-1 Visa for my babe in Thailand. Does it pay to be a federal agent? She has lived in England and is completely bi-lingual. I guess what i am asking is do I need an immigration attorney for this or does the fact that i have top secret clearance grant me some leeway? 1. Welcome to VJ 2. Check out the "Thailand" and "Sawasdee 3" threads for Thai- specific discussions 3. The majority of us don't feel the need for an attorney since the paperwork is straightforward. Your non-need for an attorney has nothing to do with your occupation, only your ability to fill out forms. 4. If your top secret clearance gets you leeway, I'll be miffed. The rest of us are waiting in line patiently. Nobody is supposed to be special in this process. Not even Eliott Ness. Believe me, i dont want to miff anyone, I was only asking if this would help in the trustworthyness issue??? I doubt it would hurt or help you. The only time your occupation comes in to play is at the interview when they ask her what you do for a living. Of course she should now. I have read some stuff in other threads about people having a hard time getting a security clearance since they are married to a foreign national. Not sure how true that is. Well believe me, it doesn't help. I am a federal employee with a TS as well, and it doesn't make a hill of beans. It's not your trustworthyness that will be an issue, it will be your GF/fiancee's. Being married to a foreign national can cause problems, and of course I had to update my records to show I had married a foriegn national. Would have to update no matter what do to change in living conditions, but they also want to know her citizenship.	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-05-01 15:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	VERMONT vs CALIFORNIA	QUOTE (Married2aTico @ Apr 15 2009, 12:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> If you look historically, they flip-flop on who is the slug. Unfortnately for us VSCers, we are on the wrong side of the fence for now. That is a fact. When I started my K-1 I was going thru CSC and VSC was smoking their doors off. Now that I'm doing our I-751 thru VSC, CSC is the one cranking out applications. Now that my case was transferred to CSC... NOTHING!!!	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-04-16 13:50:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	i-129 f approved whats next?	Congrats!	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-08-07 23:57:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Help please! Is it possible to revalidate my petition or do I have to refile?	QUOTE (thai2008 @ Aug 13 2009, 03:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thank you for your responses! I just spoke with someone at the consulate and she said she'd revalidate the petition. Now I will need to mail the required documents for packet 3 to the embassy ASAP. You're very fortunate. Good luck. On a side note... YOU are the petitioner, your fiancee is the beneficiary.	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-08-13 07:50:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	visa k1 denied	You gotta love no0bs!	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-09-01 21:34:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	What do you all use to send your applications in?	QUOTE (dutchmatt @ Sep 10 2009, 01:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Got it Robbie...but the OP is from CANADA too! I would assume he'd be responding to the OP and not just shooting out random facts. Thanks for the comment though Thanks for that update douchematt! His comments are valid for those dealing with Asian consulates.	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-09-11 08:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	What do you all use to send your applications in?	QUOTE (pushbrk @ Sep 10 2009, 01:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (*Robert* @ Sep 10 2009, 09:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> USPS Priority Mail document envelope (made out of cardboard) free from Post Office Certified Mail Return Receipt After successfully sending in 4 separate packages, I would say the above items work just fine. I strongly advise against using Certified Mail for filing a petition. Delivery confirmation is enough. Making them sign for it is actually likely to cause a delay and makes you absolutely no more certain of delivery than the simple delivery confirmation you can get online. I advice priority mail with delivery confirmation and I assure you I've used it for far more than four packages sent to USCIS all without delivery problems. Maybe you sent more packages, but your wife isn't going for her naturalization interview next month either. My timeline speaks for itself.	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-09-11 08:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	What do you all use to send your applications in?	USPS Priority Mail document envelope (made out of cardboard) free from Post Office Certified Mail Return Receipt After successfully sending in 4 separate packages, I would say the above items work just fine.	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-09-10 11:39:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	What do you all use to send your applications in?	QUOTE (dutchmatt @ Sep 10 2009, 11:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (JimVaPhuong @ Sep 10 2009, 10:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (dutchmatt @ Sep 10 2009, 06:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Jesus....80 pages? that's crazy man. You don't have to send that much in. Consulates in third world countries frequently don't look at a single piece of evidence the beneficiary brings to the interview, and will deny a visa based on "red flags" without giving either beneficiary or petitioner a chance to address it. Your best chance of getting these consulates to see your evidence before denying the visa is to include the evidence with the petition. News flash...Canada isn't a third world country. I sent in the required forms, 5 pictures and some phone bills and itineraries. Done - approved! Another News Flash: He wasn't talking about you.	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-09-10 11:36:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Thai wedding on a K1	Where the heck is my :beatingdeadhorse: gif? With some people its like talking to a wall!!! As always brother Scandal... well said!!!	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-09-11 16:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Thai wedding on a K1	QUOTE (Stephen + Elisha @ Sep 10 2009, 10:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Kathryn41 @ Sep 9 2009, 09:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> So, this is why there appears to be such a conflict of information given in the answers here. If you have a religious ceremony that is not legally recognized as married, then you are not married and you can truthfully answer you are not married. Due to the incomplete understanding of local customs by DOS officials (Consulate staff) people are advised not to mention a religious, non-legally binding ceremony as it appears to present conflicting information. The important thing to remember is if the marriage ceremony is legally binding in the country in which it takes place, it is legally binding in the US and the K-1 is not the right visa. If the marriage ceremony is not legally binding in the country in which it takes place, then the applicants are still not married in the eyes of US immigration and the K-1 is a valid visa. You just don't want to confuse the immigration officials who are often looking for any viable reason they can find to deny the visa by giving them information that may make them doubt the non-legal nature of a marriage ceremony. Ning, stop trolling. Your insistence that not mentioning a non-legally-binding ceremony is lying is wrong and offensive. The above was written by one of the site moderators. It sums up the situation quite well. Case closed. Excellent job finding Kathryn's post on this topic, which is very clear and consice. Aditionally, I concur with your recommendation for Ning to quit trolling. She really needs to cease from giving bad (aka noOb) advice.	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-09-10 10:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Thai wedding on a K1	QUOTE (afisher @ Sep 9 2009, 11:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thai BC without translation is fine, but as stated above it must be translated for use in America. Get it translated down the street from the embassy, probably much cheaper to do there than in the States. Agreed. Does not need to be translated for the consulate and the K-1 visa interview, but you need to have a translated copy for AOS. And to once again confirm... no one is suggesting lying to ANYONE, but merely what so MANY OTHERS have already done, including my wife and I. I can also confirm, we have NEVER lied about what we have done, even here on a "public forum", as the one who wanted to start all the controversy suggested. I have been a member of VJ for many years, and have sought, and found, a lot of very good advice. Anytime I see someone giving bad advice, I will be the first to say so, and Ning was sticking her nose into something she knows nothing about. bigcasino, stick with your plans, because you are doing NOTHING illegal, and good luck to you and your future wife, who you will marry in the USA!	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-09-09 23:12:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Thai wedding on a K1	Unlike her, my wife and I are almost at the end of our jouney, with her citizenship just a month away. I think I know just a LITTLE more than her, and since we have already gone through the experience, and not had any issues with either the DoS or USCIS, I think my advice was sound, as was everyone else. Only the one person who is NOT a K-1, seems to think they know everything and act so self-rightuous as to not gain any kind of respect or be taken seriously. Good luck to everyone else! Edited by *Robert*, 09 September 2009 - 03:34 PM.	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-09-09 15:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Thai wedding on a K1	QUOTE (Stephen + Elisha @ Sep 9 2009, 04:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Once again, you misrepresent the facts. No one is advocating concealing facts. I contend that there is no obligation to volunteer information that is immaterial. Whether or not someone had a religious wedding ceremony is immaterial as long as that ceremony has no legal effect in the jurisdiction where it took place. The only material fact is legal freedom to marry. In my job, I advise and assist clients on a daily basis to comply with federal laws and regulations in order to maintain eligibility for multi-million-dollar contracts. I'm good at what I do, and I'm paid quite well for it. But thanks for playing. Stephen, just ignore him, because as you said, he is mirepresenting the facts and acting like a troll.	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-09-09 15:29:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Thai wedding on a K1	QUOTE (Stephen + Elisha @ Sep 9 2009, 02:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Ning @ Sep 9 2009, 02:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Why not just explain at the POE if everyone is so sure its not a problem? Why offer unnecessary information at the POE that could needlessly complicate the process? Q: "Are you married?" No marriage certificate - no legal marriage - legally free to marry. A: "No." Exactly!!! Why in the world would anyone tell their life story at their POE? The CBP Officer doesn't ask if you got married before entering, and even if he did, the answer would still be "No". Since you are a K-3, your advice really doesn't apply here, since you have not done what the rest of us did, so if you can't be helpfull, be gone. Edited by *Robert*, 09 September 2009 - 02:08 PM.	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-09-09 14:08:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Thai wedding on a K1	QUOTE (AaronLV @ Sep 7 2009, 06:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> As long as it is not registered it is not a "legal" marriage. Just don't have her mention that she will be getting married in Thailand before going to the US at the interview. We had our ceremony in my wifes hometown, before we did the embassy interview, we just didn't mention it or show any pictures. This is actually a fairly common practice in Thailand with people who are doing a K1. Our attorney told us a majority of their clients end up doing this. We had a ceremony as well, and I think you will find a majority of us with Thai fiancees (at the time) did the same thing. Though we all did it, and felt it was not a legal marriage, we also never showed pictures of the ceremony or wore wedding bands while going through POE. The fact is, you will get legally married after arriving in the US, which is the whole pupose of the K-1 visa, and it will be that marriage certificate that will be used for the rest of your immigration journey. QUOTE (Ning @ Sep 9 2009, 12:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> This is a collection of opinions. You must be an immigration officer or immigration lawyer. Lets hope you are correct & at the POE. If you are she can just tell the officer at the POE her exact situation to be allowed entry. If she isnt she can turn to you for advise.	*Robert*	Male	Thailand	2009-09-09 12:33:00