ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Asia: East and PacificThailand Sub-forum

Jamie,

Very few countries have their own sub-forums - those countries with the most immigration activity. Thailand is way down the list.

For the kinds of things that you are interested in the Thai Falang Board on delphiforums is excellent.
http://www.delphifor...r-faq/index.htm

Yodrak


Here's a direct link to that forum;
http://forums.delphi.....l=/ThaiFalang

thaivisa.com is good too, but not so much for US visa seekers. Oz and Old Blighty are talked about more there.

Edited by ding, 10 July 2007 - 02:42 AM.

dingMaleThailand2007-07-10 02:41:00
Asia: East and Pacificairfare from BKK to USA
There's a friendly/helpful lady across from the Wild Orchid GH. From KSR, head through Wat Chansongkran, through the back oprning in the concrete wall, turn left (this may still be Soi Rambutri but not sure). Take next right down the trok (toward Tha Phra Arthit) it's on the right -across from Wild Orchid. She's in a glass room now, by an internet shop without AC and shoes left outside.
dingMaleThailand2007-07-24 20:30:00
Asia: East and PacificInterview Highlights
Thanks reach!

I saved them and am compiling a list. Yours is excellent, thanks.
dingMaleThailand2007-08-24 21:49:00
Asia: East and PacificGot Blue
Kevin has a lucky girl to have a guy like this, I'd say.
Good luck Kevin and Tuyen. I think you're right. Your letter should solve it. But... Do you have a token bit of evidence or written statement from others to send along too?
dingMaleThailand2007-08-23 10:31:00
Asia: East and PacificBring Home the Pink
Good luck!
dingMaleThailand2007-08-23 10:23:00
Asia: East and PacificBangkok Bank's "Bualuang" $ transfers
Bangkok Bank is the ONLY Thai bank with a (domestic) FED routing number -- with any other bank the routing must be by international SWIFT code.

The BKK Bank Fed routing Number is: 026008691
dingMaleThailand2007-10-05 00:17:00
Asia: East and PacificBangkok Bank's "Bualuang" $ transfers
My wife and I have a joint Bangkok Bank acoount in Thailand and I want to transfer funds from my US bank into our account in Thailand. Is Bangkok Bank's Bualuang program set up to do that?

-or-
Any tips on a low fees way to do this?
dingMaleThailand2007-09-30 14:00:00
Asia: East and PacificSending Money Overseas
Bangkok Bank is the ONLY Thai bank with a (domestic) FED routing number -- with any other bank the routing must be by international SWIFT code.

The BKK Bank Fed routing Number is: 026008691

Washington Mutual's free checking gold card charges no fees on this end. Platinum account will charge, however.
dingMaleThailand2008-02-24 04:06:00
Asia: East and PacificCancel my I-129F File
QUOTE (lilycobe @ Jan 28 2008, 04:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hi,

I just file my I-129F in November, but now it looked like we will not going to work out. How can I cancel my petition? Do I just have to call up the center that I file my petition and ask them to cancel my petition? Thanks.


I cancelled one last Spring and it was just aproved. It did not get to the embasy interview stage. It still sits at CSC after being sent back. It wil not get the 120 days expiration they tell me. It will be several months before they review and cancell it, USCIS says.
dingMaleThailand2008-02-24 04:11:00
Asia: East and PacificIn Thailand: what's a good agency to get an H1B visa for a Thai?
Anyone know a reputable work visa agency in Thailand to get a Thai citizen into the US for work?

"In Thailand: what's a good agency to get an H1B visa for a Thai?"
dingMaleThailand2008-03-06 04:05:00
Asia: East and PacificUS to Thailand calling card - best quality
OneCard is now OneWayCard. I can hear her but in the afternoons she can't hear me. I'll try Reach449's card.
dingMaleThailand2008-03-18 01:28:00
Asia: East and PacificUS to Thailand calling card - best quality
btw, I had skype-in and skype-out. Unless the other end is on a fast internet line it sounds almost inaudible.

ymmv
dingMaleThailand2007-07-18 00:32:00
Asia: East and PacificUS to Thailand calling card - best quality
speedypin.com was good but now poor sound quality.

Now try;
instantphonecardorg.pushline *dot* com

Jupiter card is good.
dingMaleThailand2007-07-18 00:30:00
Asia: East and PacificWhat!? No February Interviews for Thai Nationals?
Well that would suck. We haven't filed yet but that will affect us too, I'm sure. Not like you two, though.
There are a lot of 1's and 3's in front of those dates -western date format, not Thai. It looks like you are right...

Are Thai nationals the BNK prefix in the case number? I'm new to this. There are PHP's and and SEO too.
dingMaleThailand2007-01-11 19:04:00
Asia: East and PacificPrenuptial agreement - anyone else do one?
True on the will. I experienced an intestate secession (sp?) and it was no fun. Better to have it all on paper and spelled out -just in case.
As for other's opinions, I think your hearts are good and in the right place. Without full information you are right 100%.

But you are a bit off in this case. Wish I could go into it but don't want to go further. Funny that I got flamed when I thought the lying didn't extend into the marriage but was limited to social and work situations. BTW- I asked my wife about lying and she said 96-97% of Thais lie to save face etc.
Do you think she started lying to me again? Maybe she doesn't know what she's talking about?

She's a very smart woman, I'm going with her on this one.

As for forgiveness... I have never been through this much pain. Forgiveness was very hard and continues. There's no god-like position here. Just very very human, and it hurts. But all people make mistakes, like I have in the past. And it'll get easier in time.
dingMaleThailand2007-08-30 21:19:00
Asia: East and PacificPrenuptial agreement - anyone else do one?
QUOTE (LisaD @ Aug 26 2007, 07:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (ding @ Aug 25 2007, 07:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (LisaD @ Aug 25 2007, 06:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Are you a 'channel of God's peace' when you say things like "Thais lie'

?

How would your wife feel about that if she heard you say it?

Do you understand Thais? They lie to save face, to avoid conflict, and to take the easier path. It's different from western mores, but a fact. I just didn't know it would root itself in a husband-wife relationship so deeply.

Read the book "Thailand Fever" and you will understand - I wish I had read it earlier. I read others, "Thailand, Culture Shock" etc. that deal more with general society and work, not primary relationships.

Are you marrying a Thai LisaD?


Nope, I'm not.

But I wonder how you can pledge 'til death us do part' with that kind of thinking towards your wife and her culture. I don't know every single Thai, so I'd never say things like 'all of them lie' etc. I do happen to have several Thai friends who would be very insulted by your comment. And I wouldn't be friends with them if I didn't think highly of them and believe what you're saying to be an incorrect generalization....nope, I wouldn't be friends...let alone marry.

It does make me sad to think that you have married a woman yet you don't seem to respect her and trust her. I wish you good luck and hope your wife proves you wrong.

I used to think like you, and that's a good way to think. I am 100% behind that. Then I had a gut feeling something was wrong. And my wife proved me right, actually. So I learned that what I had been told and what I had read applies to a primary relationship too. I forgave, try to be understanding, and learned to have acceptance.

I respect my wife very much and accept her just as she is. I love her unconditionally. And I'm not a victim and don't plan on being one.

As for lying, maybe the Thais I've known for 14 years going there, and farang I know living and working there - have all misinformed me in their attempt to educate me in cross-cultural understanding. Maybe the books are junk too. I'm open to new information. Her friends have told her, "need to tell true for westerners". Implying that westerners need a different approach. Maybe they're wrong too. -- her sisters too. Why would they stipulate that westerners need the truth instead of indirect or untrue statements?

And I didn't pledge ''til death do us part". We married in a Buddhist country. We did a family/Buddhist ceremony upcountry. Western paradigms don't apply. Her family is fairly progressive and I didn't have to pay the customary money to marry her, called sinsot. That was a big thing for me to come to an undrestanding and acceptance of. I am so opposed to that sort of thing... but I now accept it as part of her culture.

Edited by ding, 26 August 2007 - 08:28 AM.

dingMaleThailand2007-08-26 08:23:00
Asia: East and PacificPrenuptial agreement - anyone else do one?
My wife is Isaan and under working class pressures. You write as a native English speaker. So maybe you are uni educated or raised in the west. That's why I ask. My wife has the classic societal pressures that everyone I know, all my experience, and all that I've read, talks about. Again, Exceptions are a given.

It sounds wrong to say people lie
as a normal part of interpersoanl communication to westerners. But why
do all the Thai people I speak to aknowlege it as a matter of fact.
And westerners who live(d), work(ed) there, and speak/read Thai
-all aknowledge it.
They do so with acceptance and in a spirit of multi-cultural understanding. Not many are stuck in judging this as bad, just different. And to warn against taking it too personally when it pops up in my relationship. Your experience may be different if brought up in high society or uni educated. I understand that. And there are enlightened people in all walks of life, obviously. I'm writing to a specific yet general audience and shorthanding past "any and all possible circumstances". You come close to accusing me of racism, as opposed to cultural understanding that I try to learn and understand. You could not be more wrong. I'm probably THE most non-prejudiced person you will ever come across in this spinning ball of mud.

My wife loves me. But a buddy's wife didn't love him and married him anyway. And they're fine today. So I'm okay, really. Miles ahead of many unsuspecting guys. My eyes are open and I have some wisdom born of pain. I'm just curious if others are taking prudent measures as well. If she wanted me for money the prenupt would have stopped our relationship in its tracks. And saved time in life, heartache, and even money.

I open my life up here a little bit.
Guys PM me asking me things. I'm glad to facilitate discussion. But I am not racist at all. I am not mysoginistic. I accept life as it is and all the peolple in it, just as they are. But I have a right to not be a victim too.
dingMaleThailand2007-08-26 08:07:00
Asia: East and PacificPrenuptial agreement - anyone else do one?
QUOTE (ladywhite @ Aug 26 2007, 03:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (ding @ Aug 25 2007, 01:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thais lie, and money is a big societal pressure for Thai daughters.


it sounds to me here that you are making generalization, which offends me, as a Thai woman and daughter of my parents.

it is true some people, including some Thais, lie, but talking about one ethnic group like that is inapproriate and insensitive.

your comments of Thai people in your posts below are disturbing, as well.

it is true some thai women attempt to get western boyfriends just to take advantage of them financially, but not all thai women are like that. when your wife lies to you, it doesn't mean all thai women lie.

if only you could have found yourself a good sincere honest wife, Ding. i feel sorry for you.

Of course there are exceptions, that's a given. The book "Thailand Fever" goes along with my experiences and others too. Were you raised in Isaan? What I've said is from friends who lived, worked, and married in Thailand. And from the books too. And my experience too. Not judging or intending to make blanket statements. But you are the first Thai I've talked to who hasn't aknowledged lying as a normal part of interpersonal communication there.
dingMaleThailand2007-08-26 03:47:00
Asia: East and PacificPrenuptial agreement - anyone else do one?
QUOTE (RUKTHUR @ Aug 26 2007, 12:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
You said you dont trust her 100% and she shocked you....then why do you still married her???

You should explain about this prenuptial agreement to her to understand..Becuase in Thailand dont have like this. Maybe she hasn't understand clear yet. And you should ask her opinion and her feeling.

For me, I never interested want to get my fiancee assets. Even though if he is rich or poor... Because I love him for him. And even if some day we will divorce. I wont get any his assets....

Do you ever thought she will lose everything in Thailand to live in the US with you? Why she will do this.....because she loves you.

She fully understands about a prenupt. The fact that she will not get my assets and still wants to be with me is a big reason I decided to forgive her and retry.

She understands about the prenupt. Her Thai friend in the US explained it to her, I explained it to her, and her own attorney (not mine) explained it to her. The prenupt was in Thai and English.

She will keep her land in Thailand, which she failed to disclose to me too. She has nothing to lose and I bet you probably figured that to be the case. She will gain a man who forgives her and still will take care of her mom and the grandkids Mae Yai takes care of. Everyone makes mistakes, her life is just not so clean and pure as she pretended. Funny thing is, I sincerely wouldn't have cared about most of it, and nothing that happened before me. She does love me, I know that. And that's the biggest reason I forgave her.

I take it nobody has done a multi-lingual prenupt?
I live in Washington State and it's almost insanity to NOT have a prenupt if you have assets here!!!
dingMaleThailand2007-08-26 03:11:00
Asia: East and PacificPrenuptial agreement - anyone else do one?
QUOTE (LisaD @ Aug 25 2007, 06:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Are you a 'channel of God's peace' when you say things like "Thais lie'

?

How would your wife feel about that if she heard you say it?

Do you understand Thais? They lie to save face, to avoid conflict, and to take the easier path. It's different from western mores, but a fact. I just didn't know it would root itself in a husband-wife relationship so deeply.

Read the book "Thailand Fever" and you will understand - I wish I had read it earlier. I read others, "Thailand, Culture Shock" etc. that deal more with general society and work, not primary relationships.

Are you marrying a Thai LisaD?
dingMaleThailand2007-08-25 18:19:00
Asia: East and PacificPrenuptial agreement - anyone else do one?
QUOTE (Jamie76 @ Aug 25 2007, 03:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Not trying to talk you out of anything, but if you don't trust her, perhaps marriage may not be the best path to travel down at this time?

Thanks Jamie76, I do know what you're talking about. And I'm really not the victim type. And I'm not trying to be poly ana here... But this is what I'm trying to be about these days, however failingly:

God, make me a channel of thy peace;
that where there is hatred, I may bring love;
that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;
that where there is discord, I may bring harmony;
that where there is error, I may bring truth;
that where there is doubt, I may bring faith;
that where there is despair, I may bring hope;
that where there are shadows, I may bring light;
that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.
God, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted;
to understand, than to be understood;
to love, than to be loved.
For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.
It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.
It is by dying that one awakens to eternal life.
dingMaleThailand2007-08-25 17:40:00
Asia: East and PacificPrenuptial agreement - anyone else do one?
Yep, pretty sad, and totally unecessary. Stupid really. This "sweet" lady crushed this world-weary guy. Shocked me, my buddy, and his Thai wife -her best friend.

Thais lie, and money is a big societal pressure for Thai daughters. I knew it before, but thought a husband and wife relationship would transcend the urge to deceive (and get money for mom). She accepts that it aint gona happen here, and she just wants to be with me. I think I'll keep it that way.
dingMaleThailand2007-08-25 13:47:00
Asia: East and PacificPrenuptial agreement - anyone else do one?
I have a lot of equity in a home in a kind of expensive location. Also I have an annuity and pensions to protect. Other stuff is just stuff, plasma tv's, etc.
I want to prevent a huge lawyer bill from a potential battle as well.
And no, I do not trust her 100%. (just in case anyone is curoius!) girlwerewolf2xn.gif

I had a prenupt with my ex and there were no problems as a result. We are best friends today.
dingMaleThailand2007-08-25 13:28:00
Asia: East and PacificPrenuptial agreement - anyone else do one?
Just wondering if anyone else did a prenuptial agreement???

I found a good lawyer in Bangkok that knew a Thai lawyer who represented Lek.
The forms were duplicated in Thai, we met our attorneys in seperate areas, and had to sign our names 236 times!

For me, I just wanted the extra assurance that she couldn't be marrying me for ulterior motives ...(my stuff! ohmy.gif ).
dingMaleThailand2007-08-25 03:45:00
Asia: East and PacificSinsord
80k very is generous given the situation. Congrats! and good luck. Mine was returned but I paid for food and drinks. I did the "money show" route to save face for the family but paid a lot for foor and drinks. My situation was complicated, however, and my plans changed just before the ceremony.
dingMaleThailand2008-03-18 01:23:00
Asia: East and PacificVisa Denied
Wow, that sounds pretty darn Drakonian. Hard to understand it...
I don't know what to say. Maybe they have her confused with another person and don't think it's real???
dingMaleThailand2008-06-19 23:02:00
Asia: East and PacificThai Embassy question
I posted this is my K3 forum but would like to know how the Bangkok embassy is... and any good advice is welcome too!

I've been told by a visa attorney that a copy of the '07 return is okay. I have tax transcripts for the 3 years prior sent to my wife in Thailand.
Has anyone had a problem with a copy of the current year tax return?

Obviously, the original is in the IRS vortex somewhere...
Anybody have an origan doc request problem at the interview in Bangkok?
dingMaleThailand2008-06-24 20:28:00
Asia: East and PacificWhen 2 buy plane ticket after Bangkok interview?
Well I can wire funds to Thaialnd and she can buy a ticket in Khao San Road for $630 to $815. But the flights tend to be full due to returning students, etc. in August. One agent found one seat for 7-14, but that will fill by her interview on 7-11.
EVA has a seat on 7-15 for 24,050B (28,220B after taxes- $881)

But! I can't buy a ticket for her here because EVA requires her to show a credit card with her name on it at the check in counter. She has no card and I don't like the idea of mailing a card there, even by FedEx.

She wants to come as soon as she has the visa in hand (mid July).
I wonder... if she finds that the Bangkok agents have no tickets -maybe she should try waiting as a stand-by passenger at the airport? Do people still do that in these high security days?
dingMaleThailand2008-07-04 02:12:00
Asia: East and PacificWhen 2 buy plane ticket after Bangkok interview?
That's probably a good idea -to wait to buy until aproved.
It's much more expensive to buy a next day, even short notice, ticket though.
dingMaleThailand2008-06-20 21:13:00
Asia: East and PacificWhen 2 buy plane ticket after Bangkok interview?
When should I have her buy the one-way plane ticket from Bangkok to US?

Do I have her buy it only AFTER a succesful interview?
Should I pay for an expensive ticket that I can change the departure date on?

I'd like to save some money at this point and have her get a low fare in advance at Khao Sarn Road.
But a ticket she can't use is a big waste.

It's been a long 1 1/2 years and I want to get ot overwith. So I'd rather not buy one for weeks after the interview in the event it fails. Even if I did that, how many weeks is enough weeks anyway????

Edited by ding, 20 June 2008 - 07:13 PM.

dingMaleThailand2008-06-20 19:11:00
Asia: East and PacificWe passed our interview
QUOTE (Thai family @ Jul 11 2008, 07:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Best wishes in your new life together! Do you have any new tips for others that are interviewing in Bangkok this month?

Thai Mom

We had 90+ pics and phone records 1" thick as well as other required evidence ...AND THEN SOME. The interviewer >THIS interviewer on THIS day< just riffled through most of all it. I was a bit worried as I'd read that a copy of my '07 tax return was not enough and that's what she had, as well as tax transcripts from '04 '05 and '06. But no problem.

Lek talked to a friendly lady afterwards too but has no specifics, but did learn that attorneys can no longer acompany clients into the US embassy in Bangkok.

Thanks for the good wishes all.

Edited by ding, 12 July 2008 - 10:08 PM.

dingMaleThailand2008-07-12 22:07:00
Asia: East and PacificWe passed our interview
We passed our interview and look forward to the next phase of this journey.
Thanks for all the help everyone!
She gets her visa late Monday night -my time.
She'll get here Wednesday evening.

We were lucky to know a great travel agent in Bangkok, Khao San Road. Lek called her after she passed and told her when she'd have the visa. Lucky! We got a seat when everything was full. I've used her service for years and she's great.

Poona Travel
28/4 Soi Rambuttree
Chanasongkram
Bunglumpoo, BKK 10200

poona_p@hotmail.com
dingMaleThailand2008-07-11 02:25:00
Asia: East and PacificWhere to get married in Bangkok

ding,

The affidavit that you execute at the US consulate, and have 'legalized' at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the 'free to marry' document that will be required by the amphur in order to register the marriage. In addition, what the instructions that Jamie quoted don't say, if you are divorced there is a second affidavit that you will need to execute at the consulate attesting to the divorce. The consulate will charge you $50 for notarizing the two documents - $30 for the first, $20 for the second.

I don't recall if the divorce affidavit eliminated the need for me to have my divorce certificate available when registering the marriage at the amphur, but the subject reminds me of one other thing - when Rodjanaa and I registered our marriage the amphur officer took back her divorce certificate. Knowing that I would need it for the visa application I had enough foresight to make some photocopies before we surrendered it, but I did not have enough foresight to have the amphur 'certify' the photocopies. At her visa interview Rodjanaa was given a 221(g) rejection for not being able to present a certified divorce certificate. She had to go back to the amphur where our marriage was registered (where the original divorce certificate had been surrendered) and have a photocopy certified.

Yodrak

Wow that sounds like a headache. Did that add weeks of waiting?

I'll have a certified copy of my divorce decree and a copy in Thai and English with us. Lek has never been married, but I want to have her sisters and friend get some form of "certified" affidavit that they witnessed us in the Buddhist ceremony for marry upcountry. And that our marriage is real. This would help in my K-3, but Lek says there is no "notary" type thing for these types of writrten statements.
Is there a stamp they can get on their statements?
dingMaleThailand2007-07-14 20:52:00
Asia: East and PacificWhere to get married in Bangkok
One more thing.

Do I need a letter from my US Embassy that says I'm free to marry , or is THAT the affidavit at the embassy? The USA has no free to marry statement/form, per se.

All I can find online is that I need my divorce decree. And -that embassies can provide it for a fee if the country we're marrying in requires it.

Does Thailand require a free to marry form in addition to the affidavit at the embassy?

Edited by ding, 05 July 2007 - 10:38 PM.

dingMaleThailand2007-07-05 22:36:00
Asia: East and PacificWhere to get married in Bangkok
Ok, thanks!
Looks like we don't need a ceremony or anything. Just papework, baht, and ID.
dingMaleThailand2007-07-04 22:06:00
Asia: East and PacificWhere to get married in Bangkok
LOL, yeah I should do a timeline on it I guess.


Broke it off 5-4 after 2 months of little lies popping up all over the place.
Sent request to cancel letter 5-14 went out in mail.
She came clean and stopped to silly lying, forgave her, reconciling 5-26.
Decided to start again 6-2?

Anyone know where to legally marry in Bankok? Embassy do it?
Between vendor carts on Sukhumvit? KSR?
:yes:
dingMaleThailand2007-07-04 00:58:00
Asia: East and PacificWhere to get married in Bangkok
Anyone know where to get married in Bangkok so it will be legal in the eyes of the US government?
dingMaleThailand2007-07-03 00:36:00
Asia: East and PacificPreapaid calling
Vonage has a 'call asia' plan. $9.95 extra/month = unlimited time, one monthly fee.
Good luck!
dingMaleThailand2008-07-11 02:06:00
Asia: East and PacificHelp with Visa
QUOTE (Melrose Plant @ Feb 4 2009, 11:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Oh yeah, that. Don't worry about the company name. I just put IBEW. I don't even think they really care about that. It's just Communist paperwork.

Good luck to you on the second time around. Sorry the first didn't work out.

IBEW is the electrician's union, for anyone wondering. Great union!
I hope HCM gets easier to clear, it sounds like a pain.
Good luck to you and yours.
dingMaleThailand2009-02-05 02:08:00
Asia: East and PacificTravel to Thailand
Hi R....
I'd bring it ALL!
And have copies in the checked-in bags too.

dingMaleThailand2009-02-21 13:46:00