Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	NOA2 extension	I am trying to find out if i will need 2010 taxes..my brother will be a co-sponsor...I am thinking to extend our NOA2 becase my finace has problems collecting his documents ...there is something wrong with his mothers last name... we r waiting for it to be fixed .NOA2 is supposed to expire in february..do u guys think we will be able to extend it??? or do they only extend only if interview falls after the expiration date.. will it make problems?	VolimTe	Female	Bosnia-Herzegovina	2011-01-08 12:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	IRS number?	yea but my problem is i cant reach a person :/ ... its always that automated service does anybody know.???	VolimTe	Female	Bosnia-Herzegovina	2011-01-19 19:18:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	IRS number?	how can i receive them over fax the same minute> because somebody on here told me that i dont have to wait just to order them by fax.........	VolimTe	Female	Bosnia-Herzegovina	2011-01-19 17:30:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	IRS number?	what number should i call to receive my tax transcripts? do i call the person where i filled my taxes or???	VolimTe	Female	Bosnia-Herzegovina	2011-01-19 16:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Civil Ceremony Before K1 is approved?	Anything that is seen as a "wedding" can make you have to start all over if the U.S. Consulate/Embassy finds out about it. Then they will tell you to file for some other benefit such as K3. An engagment party or ceremony might be a better choice. Good luck and happy journey to you both!	Rohini	Female	India	2010-07-06 00:39:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	I-134 FINANCIAL SUPPORT QUESTION	My fiance in Colombia is close to going to her interview for her k-1 visa. The case is, i honestly don't make enough yearly, is it possible for me to get a joint sponsor, and if it is possible what form would that person fill out, the I-134, or I-864?? Yes. If all else is fine at her interview, they will give her a 221g (form-it's actually a notice for you/her) stating that you need a joint sponsor. Your joint sponsor will fill out I-134. After that's approved- she'll get her visa. Good luck and happy journey!	Rohini	Female	India	2010-07-06 17:08:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Visitor visa holder and US citizen plan to get married at church in US. Please help...	Here's the information I have for you: - Yes, if you marry at a church in the US it is a legal and binding marriage. Applying for a k1 visa and then getting married before it's finished is no good - maybe even illegal (someone else back me up on this?). Don't do it. - Also - don't get married on your visitor visa. A visitor visa is just for coming to the states and VISITING. If you came with the intenet of marrying your fiance then that is illegal. Again, someone else can fill you in on the exact repurcussions of those decisions - but I can tell you NOT TO DO IT. There is a slim chance if you got married you could convince the immigration officials that you didn't intend to get married when you came, it just happened while you were here but that is very unlikely and not worth the chance, if you really want to be together. The best thing for you to do is to apply for the k1 visa. You can stay here as long as your visitor visa is good but eventually will have to go home to finish the visa process there. Read through the guides on this site (the tab on top of the page), they are very thorough and good. The wait is a little longer - but it is the LEGAL and SAFE way to do it.. a little longer wait now is worth it compared to happiness soon (if you marry in 2 months) then possibly great hardship later (when the government gets you for visa fraud from coming to the US on a visitor visa with the intent to marry)... Hope you choose the good route - that's what many here have done successfully and we are a great support during the wait! If you want to be together, the wait is well worth it.	mnmarty03	Female	Germany	2008-09-22 05:39:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	wierd questions	Thanks so much for your thoughtful replies! I kind of expected that sort of answer, but it's good information to know because now we can move forward. It looks like we have some big decisions to make! Thanks again. I'm hoping I'll be back on this forum more often once we figure out what we're going to do.	lfcraft	Female	Pakistan	2010-06-27 13:19:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	wierd questions	I dont think NVC will approve the K-1 if he does not plan on living in America. The intent of the visa issue is for persons wishing to immigrate to America. If he is going to keep his business there it may be grounds for denial. Do some research and maybe ask a good attorney. Good luck. Yeah, I kinda had a feeling that would be the case. Guess we'll have to go back to the drawing board on this one. I don't want him to have to give up his business, but I'm not sure what else we can do.	lfcraft	Female	Pakistan	2010-06-26 18:46:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	wierd questions	Hello everyone! My name is Lindsay and I'm new to this forum. I would really appreciate some advice from those who have more experience than me. My fiance and I are trying to figure out what our options are as far as being together. He is from Pakistan and neither of us can get regular tourist visas to each others' countries. I have been to Pakistan once and we've met in Dubai since then. I applied for another Pakistan tourist visa about 6 months ago, but it was not approved. The Pakistani embassy refuses to give me any answers as to why I can't get one now (I believe it's political - Many US diplomat visas have also been held up). My Pakistani fiance was also denied a tourist visa to the U.S. (not surprising though). So, we've begun discussing other options like applying for a fiance visa. The thing is, even though we're engaged, neither of us is ready to settle in any particular country yet. He has his own business in Pakistan and I have my career here. We'd love to be able to divide our time between each others' homes until we figure out what works best for us, but it doesn't look like we have many options. Even if he comes here to marry me, he won't have enough time to stay and file for permanent residency because he has his business to run. And if he leaves, he won't be able to come back simply because we're married and we'd have to start another long visa process all over again. My question for you is: Would a case like this warrant receiving advance parole so that he could hold off on adjusting his status after we get married? If so, how many times can he leave/re-enter the US if he does something like this? Thanks in advance for any advice.	lfcraft	Female	Pakistan	2010-06-26 17:52:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	K1 queries	i am so sorry my love. i feel a complete blonde on all this.. i think we need a heck of a lot of help on all this because i feel like a huge boulder and its not easy to get off... so we might need a few more yrs to save up and understand all this stuff cause i feel like crying lol... grrrrr frustrating.. all i want to do is love you and all they the visa etc wants to do is break us so we have to struggle to survive after we pay them off. lol grrrr im sorry im not rich.. i only am ri\ch in kids and thats it...	dannysgirlchelle	Female	United Kingdom	2010-10-27 18:36:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	QUOTE (daboyz @ Apr 14 2009, 01:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (HYENA @ Apr 14 2009, 01:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (daboyz @ Apr 8 2009, 12:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Just an FYI for people bringing their spouse here from Thailand. The prejudice is pretty big with 90% of the Thais that are her already against your newly arrived spouse. If you think the Thais in Bangkok treat the up-country Thais bad in Thailand, wait until you get here. My wife has been here a month, and has already run into some pretty severe prejudice. If you wife is from Bangkok, you're fine. If not, don't take her around other Thais that are from Bangkok. Just a word of advice. They can be pretty mean. ethnic Thais can be quite a nasty, nasty prejudice bunch (I've seen some shocking cruelty). Too much gossip, high school minded thinking, jealousy and this my sh*t don't stink attitude makes me sick. Light skinned dark skinned BS with brains the size of a pea. Someone mentions skin tone and I get very upset (like skin tone has anything to do with intelligence...what a bunch of idiots)! Don't get me started on the prejudice thing. Yes, som nom naa for farangs choosing the darker skinned ethnic regions outside of BKK (it's because they have good hearts). jealousy is rampant in a supposed Buddhist nation. I see less real Buddhism than any other "Buddhist" nation...it's warped! My wife has low self esteem due to the noble thinking of the media public, ads and the gossip, rumors, employers and asses who decide to comment when they see us together (of course, no one would want them because of the shallow mindedness...go ahead and be jealous...no one wants you)! No one wants a self serving egotistical woman who thinks she's superior only because of something she can't control (the skin color genes) and she had nothing to do with it! I find it's mainly the women with this catty attidue, as well. Small minded thinking for small minded people. I was happy to respond once, though and let the noble know they were kee. The ignorance is rampant in BKK and so very hurtful. Each time I witness prejudice, my hair stands on end because it's so blatant and downright catty. I guess it is elsewhere, as well...me being farang....I'm no more farang or German than they are Japanese. Don't worry, I don't go around with a chip on my shoulder in Thailand...just venting here so I don't elsewhere. I'm no better than anyone...it was only by luck that I was born where I was and my dream is to bring someone here so they can enjoy the same luck I have (before our country goes belly up). I hear Australia has better opportunity and treats their citizens better (I'll have to see, though). The lack of opportunity because of skin color really nauseates me (infuriates me, to be honest). Don't get me started...our country is learning how to address it after centuries of stupidity but at least we're aware and ashamed of it and are trying to correct our past wrongs. I' not used to seeing a country still proud of bigotry and ignorance...a Buddhist peace loving nation (where Buddhists don't drink but the bars and hookers per capita rank Thailand #1 in the world...be kind but don't punish for murder...porn is illegal but a 60 year old with a 19 year old is perfectly acceptable). it's too bad what becomes acceptable only because of money. If they all had money, the streets would be quiet and young girls could enjoy their youth untainted by VD. I was shocked the first time I saw the small mindedness as if it was the 19th century USA all over again. I told my fiancee she's pretty and I like a nice tanned bod and she'll be quite sought after here (lucky me, she's taken)! She doesn't believe me because they remind her daily she's at the bottom rung of Thai society. Maybe she'll believe me when she sees all the tanning products here (direct opposite of the whitening products there). Sure, let's all look like we just got out of a hospital ward for 6 months...nice and pale with no color like we've been inside smoking crack all year. The ads and media supports this...the same looking stereotype...so many undertones of this small minded thinking supported from the very top all the way down. Unfortunately culture and rumor defeat education and reason in Thailand so whitey wins hands down every time. They can't even be proud of their own look...everyone wants to look like their from China...then you hear the Thai say "I'm 100% Thai" (adding "you're not Thai, you're Issan). The smallest amount of education would teach them they're no more ethnic Thai with a separate look than I am ethnic American with an "American" look....does our president look like me? That's one thing I look forward to...seeing my wife fully accepted with real friends that don't expect you to treat them everywhere (my fiancee's too poor to have a lot of friends...unfortunately friends cost money there). Thanks for listening to me rant. I just needed to get that out of my system since I try to avoid it with my wife...her self talk is louder than my compliments. Only time and a loving, stable, accepting husband (and society) can heal, I guess. Sooooo what about my visa application??? NO SECOND NOTICE...NOTHING. They gave me 60 days which have expired, now they want another 60 days to pick their nose. The first 60 days was to respond...that ran out...now they want 60 more to respond to my inquiry why the first 60 days was blown! ...Then i get to look forward to a nasty bald guy expected to make her cry (says all the other interviews). USCIS told me it's some sort of psycholical training to screen out the bad one's (Isn't that a fiancees job not the government to approve of your own spouse)? I returned on a plane with a guy waiting 5 years because he chewed the bald guy out for calling his wife a scammer, ####### and cheat (they have kids together..started as k1 now k3 and this ####### is all over their case...if their case isn't legit, i don't' know what is! Give a peon power and look what happens! He decides to do the opposite of Thai culture (waves his arms, yells, makes the women cry and calls them names)... Welcome to American arrogance! I'd be scared if I were a fiancee after being yelled at by a farang I never met and called names. He's apparently quite inappropriate with some of his questions, as well (some of the women don't like to talk about what he asks...being a shy culture and he's asking about sex, affection...told one lady she better go right outside and hug and kiss her husband the moment she left the building. He definitely needs cultural sensitivity training! I've waited patiently, called the idiotic NVC in NM (far from Vermont)..amazing they hire hundreds in a call center rather than hiring adjudicators. I contacted my senators a third time (they even get canned BS misinformation responses...NO accountability). I don't have a million dollar contribution these idiots expect for "legal" bribery to get our case heard so i guess we get to endure this BS and wait. At least the Thais are blatant and open about bribes...we pretend we don't do it so the normal Joe will get the runaround but if you've got money or if you know the right people (or contribute to the right campaign), it takes a matter of weeks to get here. going on 8 1/2 months without a second NOA...no accountability, just the runaround BS they've always done. I contacted the president's office today. I'm sickened by this over paranoia (lets blame it on terrorists but punish the public, instead). An hour through customs and some serious grilling on my return (better than the 2 hours last trip).... Our country has become the gestapo (really)! Everyone's scared of terrorists but no one admits they already won! All they have to do is one scare and we spend ourselves into oblivion, over reacting and over budgeting taking it out on our citizens and since fiancees have no legal rights, our government retains nasty people who must hate their jobs...then they get to abuse non citizens for fun! This gem of a guy in BKK trusting an assistant who lies and claims your file is virtually empty giving everyone the runaround (another example of a BKK catty prejudice woman hating everyone who has the opportunity to lve with their love...while she sits there and claims "Tax file...no have...pictures...no have...Financial form...no have...emails...no have..." contrary to what's sitting int the file staring at her! This guy at the embassy has too much power and again, no accountability. Apparently he hasn't been following the published website USCIS guidelines from what i've learned off a couple cases where he denied and the basis for denial were things supposedly not required by USCIS website (when these denied spouses show him in writing, he says "the rules just changed" but refuses to show it in writing the new policy requiring what's not there or what's mentioned you don't need. It's all up to whether he's having his period or not, from what I understand. I'm very disappointed with this entire process. I do not look forward to seeing my wife exit the building crying regardless of the decision (it better be a yes...we've got overkill so if that Thai lady says "No have..." What will I do? Absolutely nothing but wait outside and smile (and so will she) because we have no choice but to endure the nasty comments, gestapo tactics and lying assistant because we've no choice and they've got all the power. No one has any accountability (someone should wear a bug and record it...of course that's not allowed so he can get away with saying ANYTHING he wants just to get back at life for whatever happened to him when he was a child. Report the guy for calling a fiancee a cheat, #######, liar, scammer? report to who? who cares? who listens? who's got 50k for a political contribution? constituents have no power, no say...only mal treatment and misinformation published by USCIS. My guess is USCIS is saying they're working on May cases now (while December applicants are sailing over here from other countries...). I've patiently waited only for my file to be put in someone's latrine. I was not happy to have to return without my fiancee. I'm very disappointed with the complete lack of accountability USCIS has...blowing their own deadlines then asking for repeated 60 days every time an inquiry is made. So you have to blow your deadline by 30 days till they talk to you. Then they give you 60 days to respond. Once that's blown, the 60 days starts over again for another response. Each time they focus on the new countdown (never mind your case is over 6 months old) My guess is it'll be a full year when REAL countries are 2-3 months for a visa, our idiotic nation has boneheads....some senator's pork bill likely got the funding for a call center in NM rather than adjudicators in VT. so we wait for nothing to happen quickly with no accountability, no rights, no help...nothing. (thanks for the ear...I feel better)! Laugh. Another novel from Hyena. It is true. It's unfortunate. That said, what the up country folk pulled in the last few days, just set them back. Having a convicted criminal as your leader doesn't help much either. The North and Northeast have the votes. The "light skinned" in Bangkok do not. Sure the folks in Bangkok have the cash etc. The problem is that the Isaan people have put their future in the hands of a criminal. They will never get any respect from people inside or outside of Thailand as long as the continue to support this man. He is in it for himself. They are making a major strategic error by supporting him. It played out to the world looking like a bunch of hillbillies coming down from the hills of West Virginia drunk on moonshine attacking Washington D.C. Trying to blow up gas tankers etc. They looked like idiots. As far as Mr.Toxin, he egged them on all the way, calling for civil war etc. Then this morning the guy goes on CNN and says he only wanted peaceful protests. If he was a true Thai, he would go back and serve his sentence, and face the other 6 charges pending. But no, he runs to his luxury hotel in the U.A.E. He is a coward. If he doesn't want to come back to Thailand, and be fugitive, that's fine. But don't destroy your home country from a foreign land. I think that's called treason here in the U.S. Almost all of the established Thais from Bangkok I have met here treat my wife like $hit. That doesn't give me or anyone else the right to go destroy their livelihood, or their neighborhood. I think America has learned some lessons from their past (Barack Obama.) I hope the Thai's would do the same. I might be crazy, but I think a democrat from Isaan (if there is such a thing) would be a nice leader at this point for Thailand. Once again... getting off my soapbox. I think they have a Democrat party but they're different than ours from what I see. My wife supports Toxin but she says they all steal and they're all in it for themselves and no one else has given them the time of day and there her neighborhood has reasonable healthcare for the first time...and that he's actually saves thousands of lives by that one bill. having said that, there's so much BS I doubt the general Isaan or rural population would believe someone who was kind to them (even kind enough to pay for votes, if that's why he did it...or not) would do anything wrong. When I point out HOW much money he has and compare that with the Thai economy and size, you'd have to be evil to make that kind of money. They still say no one better has come along. Similar to the OJ thing, as well...so much injustice it became less important of a matter of guilt than it did all the past wrongs upon the darker skins here. Amazing we've come so far but we still haven't. Progress.... I don't think we can truly be healed only because of the history of slavery here (note those from India and similar countries don't face the same discrimination as African Americans here so it's not just skin color here...maybe it's not there, too). i do know they get blamed for all the red light action and are referred to as whores all the time by the high and mighty whitey Thais. I think there, like here ...all evil politicians in it for themselves. Democrats/Republicans aren't much different here. They both have their powerful bodies of money laundering/favors and get rich schemes to keep them tainted just enough from really helping the general public...only interested in appearances while they do their own bidding. I wish it weren't so but although I wanted Obama, I'm worried he's been influenced too much (you can't really rate a president's effectiveness 'till they've been out of office a term or two so who knows this early on what will or won't have worked?)...I'm hoping we'll have a good run for history's sake...good for the nation, too. Thailand, on the other hand seems it's just opening new sores and the economic idiocy (closing airports at the precipice of an economic meltdown financed by...well, there's NO; absolutely NO forethought (they raise their children to call all the shots for the entire family and it seems they never grow up and think forward from that point on....scared their kids won't support them when they're old,kids get no discipline (how many families do you know who ship their daughters to an uncle's or aunts house to avoid them from having a boyfriend...when all they'd have to do is introduce consewuences to get the kid's attention! I see kids do stuff there i wouldn't dream of letting my kids do here (and I'm pretty flexible) but my kids do listen (one thing we don't agree on...when i tell my kids no, she doesn't like it)...minor thing, I guess but I really do believe the complete lack of self control or training as kids result in reactive child like adults who have the inability to plan ahead. How many times have you been on some complicated taxi trip or other trip and you went by the seat of your pants..winging it as you went (nothing seems planned hardly at all)...and the demonstrators aren't thinking consequences, neither does the country (it seems) which is why Thais will keep themselves down (they should be #1 in Asia but it's easier to emulate and react to other countries than to get on the stick and invent your own dynamic, industrious self actualized culture (my late night rambling).... here mom and dad call the shots and the kids WILL listen (taught at a young age)....those are my 2 baht, though! WHat else can I do when I miss my sweetie so much? I'm head over heels whipped. Plenty of cultural misunderstandings but the more we see each other (and the more mistakes) the closer we get. We're very different but I think we make excellent compliments to each other. I brought my friend over and he got a fiancee in a matter of days....They're happy as larks (and neither had a real chance alone left in their own countries)...she's old and not considered attractive at all and he's divorced and not very eligible here but put them together and boom! That's one nice thing about these things...they both found happiness where none could otherwise. Yellows don't believe Isaan should be able to vote at all (or own land, business, school etc). It's a repeat of our civil war in the making. There's a struggle there but I don't think it's ripe yet but they're struggling for equal opportunity. Even the music...they're addicted to morlam (isaan jams) that has incorporated into mainstream Thai culture while ethnic Thais despise Isaan people themselves (reminds me of the origins of rock and roll and blues here). Soon....but I don't think their time is here. enough of my rambling...just going crazy cause I can't have my sweetheart here and I'm looking at likely a year till she gets here based on no NOA2 yer so I need to worry about everything else awry in the world and make it my business!	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-04-14 02:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	QUOTE (uscandual @ Apr 12 2009, 10:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> This is getting really scary, and sad. State of Emergency. Rioting. Thousands in the streets in Bangkok. Thaksin threatening a "revolution". I know these things always seem worse from abroad than when you are close by. I was in Thailand last fall when they were protesting, and for the most part the commercial/tourist districts were not affected. You wouldn't know anything was really going on unless you turned on the news. My sense is that it's much worse this time, much more widespread. I'm hoping to talk to my fiancee in ~ hour or so, and get her view. Anybody currently in BKK who can give an eye on the street view of the situation? My fiancee is near pratunam...Pratunam is closed and she only goes out enough to get food. Months ago when they bombed the Judges house, that was a block from my fiancee. She thought it was a car back firing. Just before I left 4 days ago to come back home, we got stuck twice in traffic jams (NO cars were moving for 2 hours so we got out and walked...I heard the talk programs all the taxis had tuned in to...listening religiously so I knew something was up (last time same thing happened). They've overthrown the government a few times in a year...nothing new...they've done it 20 times since WW2. The last protest gridlock we had bags and wedding clothes...trekking down BKK streets with bagged dresses and suits in 100 degree heat (not my idea of fun)! The biggest problem is WHO is financing WHO. The answer should be obvious based on the unequal treatment of Red v Yellow...and likely that'll be a prediction who prevails, as well (since Thailand isn't a TRUE democracy by any means--not that we are, either) She can hear noise going on right now but she stays inside (stray bullets and a fire bomb could come out any moment and I need her alive so I beg her not to go out or get curious, as well). She said the poor farmers are extra motivated since the PM announced in 4 days full permission with no recourse for the army and police to "kill em all". It only angered the red shirts because only 6 months ago the yellow shirts hijacked all the airports and government offices for a month with no repercussions at all...matter of fact they were able to overthwow the government but no one likes the farming class Isaan (because they're not lucky enough to have lighter skin). Such thoughtful Buddhists they are! Selfishly, the Baht SHOULD drop (which would help tourism)...I have no idea why the BOT keeps propping up the Baht (Thaivisa.com has some serious financial analysts who dig into all that rubbish). I thought the baht was gonna decrease more than it did last overthrow but I wouldn't be so lucky. As a matter of fact, it's doing better since I left a month ago so that means less bang for the USD (long term I think the USD will drop to nothing since we're not gold/silver backed and imports/exports formula doesn't stand up (the second way to determine currency value) so we need to keep invading countries who sell oil on the Euro and convince them to go back to the USD (demand is the third and final way a currency is valued...our last prayer). Why we REALLY want to pick a fight with Iran... http://www.globalres...es/CLA410A.html Our biased media forgetting to tell why the pirates are angry (we trained Saddam, Osama, Noriega and we never bombed Laos, either) http://www.google.co...ChEEbEIZBlvQ4aQ depressing when you think about it...US propaganda right under our noses by our "fair and balanced" reporters (and I'm still awaiting my NOA2 more than 8 months of nothing.....) So proud of the US and all its recent accomplishments (and propaganda)...	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-04-14 01:58:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	QUOTE (daboyz @ Apr 13 2009, 10:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (KnightAndMagpie @ Apr 13 2009, 10:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (will92104 @ Apr 13 2009, 07:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (KnightAndMagpie @ Apr 13 2009, 08:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> What does SAWSADEE mean? supposed to be sawat dee Okay. So what's that mean? It's a greeting like hello. If you are a female you say: Sawadee Kaa If you are a man, you say Sawadee Khap (Krub sometimes) it is spelled in Thai Sawasdee but this 's' is kinda silent Sawasdee I have no idea why Thais ad H's and silent letters (it's not their language) ....person names have lots of H's (apparently it's required or something?) What's wrong with sawadee? Why can't we spell it that way since it's our alphabet? English words they have silent letters but a translated sounded out equivalent shouldn't have silent anything! in English they should leave it to us to sound out. Some government person dictated how to spell my fiancees name (in the old days, you sounded it out and that was your name in the other country as long as it was consistent) Khamphakdee (kampakdee) they don't write in English so the H is for...what? (just my whining)....we have many Chinese in the US spellng Chough, Chow, Chaugh, Chaw, Cho I spell my name in Spanish how it sounds for documents in Central America....just strange. If it's a person's name, they ad H's for a garnish (The french invvented garnish letters that aren't pronounced...it's amusing but makes it difficult for others to speak our language...too many borrowed French words (and others) leaving it a mixmatch of words. Spanish is at least consistent (and easier for them to learn)...at least the rules are consistent...pronounce every letter except h Edited by HYENA, 14 April 2009 - 01:23 AM.	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-04-14 01:19:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	QUOTE (daboyz @ Apr 8 2009, 12:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Just an FYI for people bringing their spouse here from Thailand. The prejudice is pretty big with 90% of the Thais that are her already against your newly arrived spouse. If you think the Thais in Bangkok treat the up-country Thais bad in Thailand, wait until you get here. My wife has been here a month, and has already run into some pretty severe prejudice. If you wife is from Bangkok, you're fine. If not, don't take her around other Thais that are from Bangkok. Just a word of advice. They can be pretty mean. ethnic Thais can be quite a nasty, nasty prejudice bunch (I've seen some shocking cruelty). Too much gossip, high school minded thinking, jealousy and this my sh*t don't stink attitude makes me sick. Light skinned dark skinned BS with brains the size of a pea. Someone mentions skin tone and I get very upset (like skin tone has anything to do with intelligence...what a bunch of idiots)! Don't get me started on the prejudice thing. Yes, som nom naa for farangs choosing the darker skinned ethnic regions outside of BKK (it's because they have good hearts). jealousy is rampant in a supposed Buddhist nation. I see less real Buddhism than any other "Buddhist" nation...it's warped! My wife has low self esteem due to the noble thinking of the media public, ads and the gossip, rumors, employers and asses who decide to comment when they see us together (of course, no one would want them because of the shallow mindedness...go ahead and be jealous...no one wants you)! No one wants a self serving egotistical woman who thinks she's superior only because of something she can't control (the skin color genes) and she had nothing to do with it! I find it's mainly the women with this catty attidue, as well. Small minded thinking for small minded people. I was happy to respond once, though and let the noble know they were kee. The ignorance is rampant in BKK and so very hurtful. Each time I witness prejudice, my hair stands on end because it's so blatant and downright catty. I guess it is elsewhere, as well...me being farang....I'm no more farang or German than they are Japanese. Don't worry, I don't go around with a chip on my shoulder in Thailand...just venting here so I don't elsewhere. I'm no better than anyone...it was only by luck that I was born where I was and my dream is to bring someone here so they can enjoy the same luck I have (before our country goes belly up). I hear Australia has better opportunity and treats their citizens better (I'll have to see, though). The lack of opportunity because of skin color really nauseates me (infuriates me, to be honest). Don't get me started...our country is learning how to address it after centuries of stupidity but at least we're aware and ashamed of it and are trying to correct our past wrongs. I' not used to seeing a country still proud of bigotry and ignorance...a Buddhist peace loving nation (where Buddhists don't drink but the bars and hookers per capita rank Thailand #1 in the world...be kind but don't punish for murder...porn is illegal but a 60 year old with a 19 year old is perfectly acceptable). it's too bad what becomes acceptable only because of money. If they all had money, the streets would be quiet and young girls could enjoy their youth untainted by VD. I was shocked the first time I saw the small mindedness as if it was the 19th century USA all over again. I told my fiancee she's pretty and I like a nice tanned bod and she'll be quite sought after here (lucky me, she's taken)! She doesn't believe me because they remind her daily she's at the bottom rung of Thai society. Maybe she'll believe me when she sees all the tanning products here (direct opposite of the whitening products there). Sure, let's all look like we just got out of a hospital ward for 6 months...nice and pale with no color like we've been inside smoking crack all year. The ads and media supports this...the same looking stereotype...so many undertones of this small minded thinking supported from the very top all the way down. Unfortunately culture and rumor defeat education and reason in Thailand so whitey wins hands down every time. They can't even be proud of their own look...everyone wants to look like their from China...then you hear the Thai say "I'm 100% Thai" (adding "you're not Thai, you're Issan). The smallest amount of education would teach them they're no more ethnic Thai with a separate look than I am ethnic American with an "American" look....does our president look like me? That's one thing I look forward to...seeing my wife fully accepted with real friends that don't expect you to treat them everywhere (my fiancee's too poor to have a lot of friends...unfortunately friends cost money there). Thanks for listening to me rant. I just needed to get that out of my system since I try to avoid it with my wife...her self talk is louder than my compliments. Only time and a loving, stable, accepting husband (and society) can heal, I guess. Sooooo what about my visa application??? NO SECOND NOTICE...NOTHING. They gave me 60 days which have expired, now they want another 60 days to pick their nose. The first 60 days was to respond...that ran out...now they want 60 more to respond to my inquiry why the first 60 days was blown! ...Then i get to look forward to a nasty bald guy expected to make her cry (says all the other interviews). USCIS told me it's some sort of psycholical training to screen out the bad one's (Isn't that a fiancees job not the government to approve of your own spouse)? I returned on a plane with a guy waiting 5 years because he chewed the bald guy out for calling his wife a scammer, ####### and cheat (they have kids together..started as k1 now k3 and this ####### is all over their case...if their case isn't legit, i don't' know what is! Give a peon power and look what happens! He decides to do the opposite of Thai culture (waves his arms, yells, makes the women cry and calls them names)... Welcome to American arrogance! I'd be scared if I were a fiancee after being yelled at by a farang I never met and called names. He's apparently quite inappropriate with some of his questions, as well (some of the women don't like to talk about what he asks...being a shy culture and he's asking about sex, affection...told one lady she better go right outside and hug and kiss her husband the moment she left the building. He definitely needs cultural sensitivity training! I've waited patiently, called the idiotic NVC in NM (far from Vermont)..amazing they hire hundreds in a call center rather than hiring adjudicators. I contacted my senators a third time (they even get canned BS misinformation responses...NO accountability). I don't have a million dollar contribution these idiots expect for "legal" bribery to get our case heard so i guess we get to endure this BS and wait. At least the Thais are blatant and open about bribes...we pretend we don't do it so the normal Joe will get the runaround but if you've got money or if you know the right people (or contribute to the right campaign), it takes a matter of weeks to get here. going on 8 1/2 months without a second NOA...no accountability, just the runaround BS they've always done. I contacted the president's office today. I'm sickened by this over paranoia (lets blame it on terrorists but punish the public, instead). An hour through customs and some serious grilling on my return (better than the 2 hours last trip).... Our country has become the gestapo (really)! Everyone's scared of terrorists but no one admits they already won! All they have to do is one scare and we spend ourselves into oblivion, over reacting and over budgeting taking it out on our citizens and since fiancees have no legal rights, our government retains nasty people who must hate their jobs...then they get to abuse non citizens for fun! This gem of a guy in BKK trusting an assistant who lies and claims your file is virtually empty giving everyone the runaround (another example of a BKK catty prejudice woman hating everyone who has the opportunity to lve with their love...while she sits there and claims "Tax file...no have...pictures...no have...Financial form...no have...emails...no have..." contrary to what's sitting int the file staring at her! This guy at the embassy has too much power and again, no accountability. Apparently he hasn't been following the published website USCIS guidelines from what i've learned off a couple cases where he denied and the basis for denial were things supposedly not required by USCIS website (when these denied spouses show him in writing, he says "the rules just changed" but refuses to show it in writing the new policy requiring what's not there or what's mentioned you don't need. It's all up to whether he's having his period or not, from what I understand. I'm very disappointed with this entire process. I do not look forward to seeing my wife exit the building crying regardless of the decision (it better be a yes...we've got overkill so if that Thai lady says "No have..." What will I do? Absolutely nothing but wait outside and smile (and so will she) because we have no choice but to endure the nasty comments, gestapo tactics and lying assistant because we've no choice and they've got all the power. No one has any accountability (someone should wear a bug and record it...of course that's not allowed so he can get away with saying ANYTHING he wants just to get back at life for whatever happened to him when he was a child. Report the guy for calling a fiancee a cheat, #######, liar, scammer? report to who? who cares? who listens? who's got 50k for a political contribution? constituents have no power, no say...only mal treatment and misinformation published by USCIS. My guess is USCIS is saying they're working on May cases now (while December applicants are sailing over here from other countries...). I've patiently waited only for my file to be put in someone's latrine. I was not happy to have to return without my fiancee. I'm very disappointed with the complete lack of accountability USCIS has...blowing their own deadlines then asking for repeated 60 days every time an inquiry is made. So you have to blow your deadline by 30 days till they talk to you. Then they give you 60 days to respond. Once that's blown, the 60 days starts over again for another response. Each time they focus on the new countdown (never mind your case is over 6 months old) My guess is it'll be a full year when REAL countries are 2-3 months for a visa, our idiotic nation has boneheads....some senator's pork bill likely got the funding for a call center in NM rather than adjudicators in VT. so we wait for nothing to happen quickly with no accountability, no rights, no help...nothing. (thanks for the ear...I feel better)!	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-04-14 01:10:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	QUOTE (daboyz @ Mar 1 2009, 06:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (ThaitoUSA @ Mar 1 2009, 05:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Cool move I just read if you are not allowed inside is to hand her your passport to hand to them. They can inspect the entry stamp date. I used one of my canceled passports to enter Thailand.I hope they don't give me a hard time coming back in to the US. I'd say they would... Try getting one when you're over there and say it's lost or bring your canceled one with you and your active one and say you made a mistake? That's a can of worms since the US is like the gestapo nowadays	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-03-01 18:57:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	QUOTE (daboyz @ Mar 1 2009, 04:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Sitting in a hotel on soi 22. Can't sleep. Second interview tomorrow. Stressing out. Hmmm...play a little pool since you're in the center of it all. Try to relax (coming from me? amazing)! You'll get through it! You've got everything...everything! See if you can come with her inside or at least tell her to tell the interviewer you're outside waiting. I'm sure you have a stack of stuff to bring with you. It's not easy having your future in someone elses hands. I'm going next week but .....coming back alone. Read the threads on this embassy...they all have good results in the end. Try to see where he's coming from and go from there. Make sure you smile (or tell her to) smile and be courteous.....we'll be waiting to hear how it turns out!	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-03-01 18:04:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	QUOTE (SawasdeeGuy @ Feb 28 2009, 06:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hey there all Thai-American VisaJourneyers, When I started the original Sawasdeee VJ thread on the forums here way back in 2004, I never imagined that it'd still be going strong five years later. Wow! Though it's been a while since I've visited this site, it's nice to see so many happy couples keeping this thing active. Sounds like the process is still as stressful as when my Thai better half and I went through it a few years ago, but don't give up hope -- as countless VJ posters have probably already said, and as I myself learned firsthand from my own experiences, the bureaucratic hassles you guys face now will quickly enough become just distant memories. As many here have probably heard from our Thai partners, cool heads..and cool hearts...truly do prevail. Good luck everyone! Keep reminding us...I get cold feet, freak out thinking the US part is what really counts but she thinks the Thai part is what really counts...SOOOO many cultural differences. I have a friend over there who s nearly as misunderstood as I was my first time. I keep trying to express farang doesn't mean I'm anything like a Russian or a German any more than they're like Japanese...it's difficult, that's for sure! I gotta remember to have a cool head. My friend was invited to a "surprise" so he thought they were footing the bill. Baiscally equivalent-wise he makes the same as many of them do but he doesn't feel footing the bill for friends and their friends is fair. I told him to roll with it one time, to "look good" but he responds with "Buddhists are anti-ego and Thailand is all ego" he's got an excellent point. I kinda get tired of worrying what "everybody" thinks...drives me nuts because there's soooo much focus on "everybody"....tiring. I gotta remember to go next week with a cool head, cool heart and not to react but also not get myself into these 10 people outings (if not family) just to gain face and blow money. I told him once he commits to one over there, she'll protect his wallet but for now, he's on his own Facing the fact I'll have to go back again and bring her here....such a headache when you'd think 7 months something would come visa wise.... The US system is so fruustrating...misinformation (they say they're working on April k1 cases but seeingSept OCt Nov people with their spouses already here and I can't get a NOA2 is very frustrating, indeed. I gotta remember to coooooool down and roll with it. If the economy were better, my fear would be gone but my entire future is so up in the air, it's a really bad time to be throwig around sin sod and doing a big ceremony, etc.....based on an astronomy date (again not buddhist) but I gotta roll with it...calm down (keep reminding me, keep reminding me)! Thanks for starting this! Please do share (everyone) how is it (really) working out? How do those who married Isaan counterparts find the right fish sauce and sum tam fixings? I'm realizing the eat in that cuisine is addictive (endorphin producing) and smells and tastes remind them of home...very important, I understand. What lengths have you gone through to help them and what has worked and not worked? I love to hear stories (keeps my mind off reality). Thank you to those who have shared yoru lives here. it helps others more than you know!	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-03-01 16:45:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	QUOTE (AaronLV @ Feb 28 2009, 02:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Danny and Chada @ Feb 28 2009, 08:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I'm heading to Bangkok soon to spend a couple of weeks with my SO. We are about 4 - 10 weeks aways from NOA2. Besides meeting the parents and going to the beach we plan on getting things checked of the super summarized Post NOA1 Checklist i built. (Yes I'm a geek ) An idea I was toying with was to spend a morning going to the embassy. Since i wont be able to come back during the interview I wanted to check it out and maybe ask a few clarifying questions from "The Interviewer". Since it seems there have been some problems about proof of relationship I thought why not ask the guy what he considers A1 proof? Since I have a few nuances about phone and chat logs I thought i could get the answers ahead of time. I also wanted to get clarification that he will not have problems with us completing the checklist 4 - 10 weeks in advance. I don't have high expectations but thought what the heck? The experience might be quite interesting... What do you guys think? Nice list you put together. At the embassy there are only certain days and times you can enter for the American Citizen unit. I doubt they will let you talk to a consular, they are fairly busy during the day, there are lots of people getting tourist visa's, everyday I was there it was packed in the morning and afternoon. I would say it is ok to prepare everything in advance, you just have to wait for her to get her packet 3 letter before you submit it. On a side note, we went and got married last night, got it out of the way so we can start the AOS paperwork. No sense in waiting Congratulations on your marriage! You now have a Thai owner	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-02-28 15:13:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	I'd not bother the embassy only to feel them out so to speak when it would be more time efficient to await the interview and if they send her back because of needing a little more something, then that can be taken care of. For me, I'm sending everything....every single thing having to do with her and me and if that's not enough and they need more, I surely won't have it and that's that. I have no questions to ask because it is what it is...my pics are what they are. I'll be leaving here on the 9th, coming back on the 6th. When are you going?	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-02-28 15:09:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	QUOTE (daboyz @ Feb 27 2009, 05:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (HYENA @ Feb 26 2009, 08:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (afisher @ Feb 26 2009, 02:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (AaronLV @ Feb 26 2009, 01:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (HYENA @ Feb 25 2009, 10:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (afisher @ Feb 24 2009, 09:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I received an e-mail today saying that my petition was approved. NOA2 is in the mail! Congratulations! That's great. WOW...I guess they forgot all about August...I'm watching September and October people with their spouses here already. I've got tickets to go in 2 weeks for the pre-wedding ceremony there but I really don't want to come back without her but it's looking like that's what I'll have to do. I really want to be there to help her for the interview and bring her here...she's only been on a plane once and that was with me from Cambodia to BKK. Navigating an international airport would be crazy (changing planes). I wish they'd get on it but NOTHING! Her family wants march 21 (lucky and all that) but I'd just assume wait 'till I ave something then go. I am very depressed...worrying about that guy in the embassy...worrying about everything...maybe I wont' be ready for her here...ughh! Here is a link to the thread where the guy got denied with a co-sponsor in BKK: http://www.visajourn...howtopic=179527 She will have a crazy time going through international airport by her self. Nam reads english very well, and has traveled quite a bit in SE Asia, and she told me she was very happy I was with her, cause she would have been completely lost, without me there to help out and point the directions out. I have been told that LOS does not allow co-sponsors as well. so...no cosponsor it is, then (I'm not risking it this far down the line)! Looks like my income is good...now I need to know if it's the Gross or adjusted gross or exactly what line on the form I use for income? I should be good though that's about the only good thing....NO NOA2 though....It's depressing seeing everyone else flood over here and I'm stuck in the august (I actually filed in July but...lawyers messed up, bought me 3 weeks more....) so...looks like I'll go over there, we'll have our fun little ceremony, I'll take her and mom on vacation to Pattaya (and see if I can get the old lady up on water skiis), see f my friend can find a gf (he' can't find a gf in all of BKK...believe it or not!!!!) He's kinda keeneow but I guess if he wasn't a little bit he'd be outta money. He made some cultural mistakes so the 5 that were interested are suddenly "busy" (he started holding hands with the first girl he met and only saw her for a week so in everyone elses eyes he was unreasonable, desperate, culturally inconsiderate and not a man man (he lets her make all the decisions)....but she's horribly jealous so she's not wife material. Doubt he has much for sin sod but he's got a good heart (otherwise he wouldn't be my friend). My fiancee finally told him to head on down to Suk. to get it over with then he coudl think reasonably again....but he's a "good boy" (no drink, no smoke...Baptist like...except for premarital sex, that's ok w him)... crazy....so....if anyone knows any candidates, he's sitting alone looking for someone to go to the safari and amusement park and Pattaya with (he's scared of bar girls so...if your suggestions work in a bar, we can omit that minor detail). sooo, i file taxes on the 3rd and head out on the 9th and stay for 4 weeks, do the ceremony, get all lovey dovey again only to go back into shock and await the darn NOA2!!! Congrats to all the good news I've been hearing from everyone. THis is a great tool to support each other...I wish you all the best! I know some people like this: so...looks like I'll go over there, we'll have our fun little ceremony, I'll take her and mom on vacation to Pattaya (and see if I can get the old lady up on water skiis), see f my friend can find a gf (he' can't find a gf in all of BKK...believe it or not!!!!) He's kinda keeneow but I guess if he wasn't a little bit he'd be outta money. He made some cultural mistakes so the 5 that were interested are suddenly "busy" (he started holding hands with the first girl he met and only saw her for a week so in everyone elses eyes he was unreasonable, desperate, culturally inconsiderate and not a man man (he lets her make all the decisions)....but she's horribly jealous so she's not wife material. Doubt he has much for sin sod but he's got a good heart (otherwise he wouldn't be my friend). My fiancee finally told him to head on down to Suk. to get it over with then he coudl think reasonably again....but he's a "good boy" (no drink, no smoke...Baptist like...except for premarital sex, that's ok w him)... crazy....so....if anyone knows any candidates, he's sitting alone looking for someone to go to the safari and amusement park and Pattaya with (he's scared of bar girls so...if your suggestions work in a bar, we can omit that minor detail). Unfortunately, they were all burned up in a fire at Waco in '93. YOU crack me up! The Branch Davidians are an offshoot of his church! LOL! You were close...had it been horse shoes or hand grenades, you'd win! LOL! Basically it's Baptist that worships on Saturday...but he's not a church goer but the upbringing already did its damage making it difficult to mesh with the real world. He's weird but he's a friend. I'll leave him be and not worry..can only bring a horse to water but.... I think with the right lady, he'd be OK. I was "raised" the same way but I'm far more reasonable...I tend to shy from the booze only because of prev problems with it...other than that, I don't do all the weird dietary restrictions, etc. I think most religions are right and very few are wrong (except for the cultish overly controlling one's...seem to have lost the main focus) hey, let's talk about religion and politics and piss everyone off? I'm just going nuts waiting for NOA2. I hope things are going well on your end... Edited by HYENA, 27 February 2009 - 07:14 PM.	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-02-27 19:13:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	QUOTE (afisher @ Feb 26 2009, 02:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (AaronLV @ Feb 26 2009, 01:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (HYENA @ Feb 25 2009, 10:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (afisher @ Feb 24 2009, 09:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I received an e-mail today saying that my petition was approved. NOA2 is in the mail! Congratulations! That's great. WOW...I guess they forgot all about August...I'm watching September and October people with their spouses here already. I've got tickets to go in 2 weeks for the pre-wedding ceremony there but I really don't want to come back without her but it's looking like that's what I'll have to do. I really want to be there to help her for the interview and bring her here...she's only been on a plane once and that was with me from Cambodia to BKK. Navigating an international airport would be crazy (changing planes). I wish they'd get on it but NOTHING! Her family wants march 21 (lucky and all that) but I'd just assume wait 'till I ave something then go. I am very depressed...worrying about that guy in the embassy...worrying about everything...maybe I wont' be ready for her here...ughh! Here is a link to the thread where the guy got denied with a co-sponsor in BKK: http://www.visajourn...howtopic=179527 She will have a crazy time going through international airport by her self. Nam reads english very well, and has traveled quite a bit in SE Asia, and she told me she was very happy I was with her, cause she would have been completely lost, without me there to help out and point the directions out. I have been told that LOS does not allow co-sponsors as well. so...no cosponsor it is, then (I'm not risking it this far down the line)! Looks like my income is good...now I need to know if it's the Gross or adjusted gross or exactly what line on the form I use for income? I should be good though that's about the only good thing....NO NOA2 though....It's depressing seeing everyone else flood over here and I'm stuck in the august (I actually filed in July but...lawyers messed up, bought me 3 weeks more....) so...looks like I'll go over there, we'll have our fun little ceremony, I'll take her and mom on vacation to Pattaya (and see if I can get the old lady up on water skiis), see f my friend can find a gf (he' can't find a gf in all of BKK...believe it or not!!!!) He's kinda keeneow but I guess if he wasn't a little bit he'd be outta money. He made some cultural mistakes so the 5 that were interested are suddenly "busy" (he started holding hands with the first girl he met and only saw her for a week so in everyone elses eyes he was unreasonable, desperate, culturally inconsiderate and not a man man (he lets her make all the decisions)....but she's horribly jealous so she's not wife material. Doubt he has much for sin sod but he's got a good heart (otherwise he wouldn't be my friend). My fiancee finally told him to head on down to Suk. to get it over with then he coudl think reasonably again....but he's a "good boy" (no drink, no smoke...Baptist like...except for premarital sex, that's ok w him)... crazy....so....if anyone knows any candidates, he's sitting alone looking for someone to go to the safari and amusement park and Pattaya with (he's scared of bar girls so...if your suggestions work in a bar, we can omit that minor detail). sooo, i file taxes on the 3rd and head out on the 9th and stay for 4 weeks, do the ceremony, get all lovey dovey again only to go back into shock and await the darn NOA2!!! Congrats to all the good news I've been hearing from everyone. THis is a great tool to support each other...I wish you all the best! Edited by HYENA, 26 February 2009 - 09:13 PM.	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-02-26 21:12:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	QUOTE (afisher @ Feb 24 2009, 09:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I received an e-mail today saying that my petition was approved. NOA2 is in the mail! Congratulations! That's great. WOW...I guess they forgot all about August...I'm watching September and October people with their spouses here already. I've got tickets to go in 2 weeks for the pre-wedding ceremony there but I really don't want to come back without her but it's looking like that's what I'll have to do. I really want to be there to help her for the interview and bring her here...she's only been on a plane once and that was with me from Cambodia to BKK. Navigating an international airport would be crazy (changing planes). I wish they'd get on it but NOTHING! Her family wants march 21 (lucky and all that) but I'd just assume wait 'till I ave something then go. I am very depressed...worrying about that guy in the embassy...worrying about everything...maybe I wont' be ready for her here...ughh! Edited by HYENA, 26 February 2009 - 01:36 AM.	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-02-26 01:35:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	QUOTE (AaronLV @ Feb 24 2009, 12:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (HYENA @ Feb 23 2009, 09:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (daboyz @ Feb 23 2009, 10:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hell Ya!!! "During the interview, the applicant submitted only 5 photos, some money transfers, 2 cards. Your 2007 income is above the poverty guidelines, but the consular officer has noted an IRS lien of 11K from JUN 2008, which would bring the income to below poverty guidelines. Thus, in order to process the case, the applicant needs to submit more substantial evidence of relationship and information about the lien." Now I know. that sounds much better .i wonder how long u have to get a cosponsor and more evidence...thats much better. i know he's tough cookie from what i read but maybe he feels his time is wasted or he's frustrated when he can't justifiably approve. The Bangkok embassy does not allow co-sponsors. There was another guy that got denied last week because he had a co-sponsor. Also why not wait to file your 2008 taxes until after the interview, if you are above the poverty line in 2007. They cannot ask for a 2008 tax return until after the filing deadline in April. Are you SURE BKK doesn't allow cosponsors? I thought that's a national thing not up to the individual country. I've never heard of that. My lawyer's office mentioned a cosponsor if my taxes were low, no prob. if you have a link, I'd appreciate it.	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-02-26 01:30:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	QUOTE (daboyz @ Feb 23 2009, 10:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hell Ya!!! "During the interview, the applicant submitted only 5 photos, some money transfers, 2 cards. Your 2007 income is above the poverty guidelines, but the consular officer has noted an IRS lien of 11K from JUN 2008, which would bring the income to below poverty guidelines. Thus, in order to process the case, the applicant needs to submit more substantial evidence of relationship and information about the lien." Now I know. that sounds much better .i wonder how long u have to get a cosponsor and more evidence...thats much better. i know he's tough cookie from what i read but maybe he feels his time is wasted or he's frustrated when he can't justifiably approve.	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-02-24 00:02:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	http://www.path2usa....isa_refusal.htm I'd apply immediately (use a lawyer then you can get your money back but ask if the government fees are refundable if you're not approved, as well)...just a thought. Can you go back to your other plan or was that canceled once this was denied? What exactly did he yell at your wife about? I'm dying to know what angered him. I'll have to let my fiancee know and also the attorney's office how to handle him appropriately. My fiancee said if they stress her, her raction (she views as angry, I view as justification) she says would be "you mean I want to uproot my entire life, move to a country with a man I don't love and no friends or relatives for...what?" When she was telling me of her "angry" response, it was in her high pitched kind voice....I don't think she could get angry at a stranger if she had to (but who knows). I'm jsut wondering what the dynamics are. I need to read other posts of this individual...Aaron may have some information. It would be god to figure out what this man expects and do out best to provide exactly what he expects from us to avoid any discomfort. My guess is there was a huge misunderstanding and it went on. That's the only reason I've angered at any Thai (unless it was a scam but when I'm scammed, I usually laugh because I couldn't see it coming and it's usually a few dollars). I guess "figuring him out" in that we are meeting and exceeding his expectations is all we can do. Mutual respect is a no brainier but my guess is someone said something that was misinterpreted as offensive and it went from there. This is so unfortunate. I'm calling to file my taxes next week and be done with that. I only hope it doesn't come out to my needing a co-sponsor. How much exactly is 125% and is that 125% WITH wife as a dependent or before she's a dependent? I doubt I can deduct her on taxes anyway, can I...not that I need any more, that's for sure! I'm really really worried. I was debating to go to the ceremony party then come home and she'd come by her self.. After reading of these issues, i think being there with her to support her would be best. I'm looking forward to going back and seeing her. She looked like sunshine on the webcam this morning....I'm praying she can come live with me. If this isn't an ongoing relationship, I don't know what is! So once you pay them back, my guess is you'd be OK...maybe they just threw that in there. I read on a Vietnamese forum that someone was denied and they checked something in addition (perhaps they like a double denial or no denial)? I'm so so so sorry to hear that! Re apply now and maybe 7 months you'll have someone else. Also, maybe your taxes will be done and you'll have even more evidence. I've got a pit in my stomach about this. I can't imagine how you feel right now. I am so so so terribly sorry!	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-02-23 21:01:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	QUOTE (daboyz @ Feb 23 2009, 09:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> My wife's visa was DENIED. I owe the IRS money, but I am on a payment plan. not sure what to do now. HOLY MFSH** What happened? Oh my! Just denied or delayed? Insane! IRS Ok I understand...is that the only reason why? I'll look at your interview stuff.. I'm SO SORRY! THIS IS AWFUL! I'm angry for you but i'm sure that doesn't help. What about a later plan...did they give any other options? Now I'm scared!	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-02-23 20:43:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	QUOTE (daboyz @ Feb 22 2009, 02:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I'm for music and dancing but don't want slobbering drunks around Run that by the Thai guys. There's gonna be slobbering drunks. I haven't read most of your posts, but if there are Thai men there, they will want an unlimited supply of Saeng Som, or Lao Khao. Especially if you are going to Isaan. Give it to them. Yes, last time I went there they asked for a couple bucks for sake (they call it whiskey but...whatever). They mix it with yadong (ginger ginseng stuff...kind of sweet and red colored powder). IT has a tiger on it (everything makes you strong as a tiger...reality...sleeping drunk)! They don't drink much at all due to money so the only times it happens is when my fiancee comes and definitely when I come. When I went there, I asked why everyone sitting around drinking. SHe said they likely havne't done it in months...I put 2 and 2 together...that's where the 300 baht she asked me for went! LOL! They do about 3-4 shots, lay on the eating table, look up and smile. No fights luckily (except the 11 year old who steals it). So you suggest I go ahead and spring for some beer or whiskey for them? I don't want slobbering drunks but I do want them to feel happy and festive. My thoughts were (if they only had kegs) have the ceremony and towards the end, break out the booze after they've eaten then they can do as they please while we go to bed. So how do you disperse booze without having slobbering drunks? I think it would be good to have a dry ceremony to keep the stragglers away then after everyone is set, put out the supply and that's that. Is this what you're suggesting? If they had kegs, it would keep the cost down. THe rice booze is cheap though but I'm not sure if people will get too drunk too fast with it since it's like gasoline!	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-02-22 18:08:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	One thing about CTHAI.COM they were SO COOL and actually supplied me with my ENTIRE CALL LOG SINCE MARCH!!! That's incredible! Pages of calls! I was so thrilled, I emailed the lady and told her I'd do something nice for her when I got to BKK. I had no call evidence so i changed to VOIP DISCOUNT that keeps a log (not sure if you can print it though). but I can only dream the interview will come....	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-02-22 00:53:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	QUOTE (AaronLV @ Feb 20 2009, 08:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I have never heard of handing out money either, we certainly did not at our ceremony. QUOTE She's been telling everyone gifts are not necessary but I told her yes we could do gifts (but keep it cheap). Gifts are usual,l but the gifts are not based on what was given. We bought towels for everyone, which I was told was fairly common. So everyone who came was given a towel, and we also gave out bottles of coke, fanta, whiskey, and at the end of the day when people who did not make the ceremony came by we would give them left over pork (I bought two pigs for the ceremony), and other food items, and more soda. I'm sorry, I didn't clarify. A couple people wanted to give us a bit more money and she was thinking in turn to give them something nice (approx value). It was the gold/silver gate ceremony...she said stuff envelopes and have them ready for the gate keepers who ask "Are you wealthy enough to take her as your bride...ok then prove it" sort of thing and everyone has fun. She said most will be very shy but youngsters may not be so...and a few hundred baht to make people happy when the big picture is it won't bee too much...if it makes them smile, I told her we can do most of the little stuff. Neither of us are a fan of 9 monks though so that's a relief. The only reason I mentioned money to guests was because it was her idea to give something people wouldn't throw away (american money with a note on it) and they could spend it if they really had to but most would keep it as a special thing (first time she saw a USD she kept it and has had it for a decade). ...so that was her thinking. I'm thinking the dollar thing with something...I dunno! You guys probably know about the farang factor better than I. She's thinking 30-40 max (I'm going to plan on 60-80 farang factor though). No slaughtering animals and the high monk is out so maybe booze are in. I'm for music and dancing but don't want slobbering drunks around....I have no idea the price, either. My first wedding we did box wines and kegs of beer with a star lit tent, music and dancing. It was very inexpensive and elegant at the same time...200 guests 5 grand for everything from clothes, favors to finish. Any suggestions would be welcome. It's so nice to see people's cases are progressing nicely. Still no NOA2 here	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-02-22 00:43:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	http://www.simply-th...re_marriage.htm The door ceremony is the part where you give money to people. She thinks it will be the younger one's of her family doing the gold/silver gate thing. The only reason money was thought of is because she said if we gave each guest a dollar and signed it as a memento, they'd love it since most have never seen a USD before. I personally think that's tacky. She tells me other gifts end up right in the trash. I think towels are a good idea, though. ...then I thought why not make it $5 bills if only 30 people come. I have no idea! What do you all suggest? She's trying to keep the cost down (financially I'm taking a big hit like everyone else). Hopefully things will improve or I'll have to go back to my 9-5 job. Aaron! Congratulations! THat's sooo cool! And to think you filed a month after I did (I'm soo jealous BUT I also accept the fact that things are NOT supposed to happen until they're supposed to happen...so she was supposed to come home when she did)!. I've GOT to hear your stories! What does she think of it here (other than COLD)....comments, etc??? I'm debating going for the ceremony (they're stuck on 3/21 ceremony...luck and all that so I won't knock it) which means she'll have to interview alone (even though I can't interview with her in the first place) and come here alone...or I go back in another month or 2 when USCIS gets their act together and bring her here. I'd sooo love to bring her here. Very frustrating! My friend flew out there to be my best man (and is being a complete idiot...long story but he's a doozie)! I wish I could have sent a diff friend but he's there so I'll have to go. She wants to make a bunch of pics for gifts for everyone...but she said it takes a week to develop them. I asked "wedding pics before the wedding?" I'd like to get a little tan for a week (she said "they can put make up on you")! LOL! Oh my! She doesn't understand the desire for a little natural color (I'm white as a dead man here in the cold winter).	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-02-22 00:30:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	QUOTE (Mountain Climber @ Feb 18 2009, 08:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (HYENA @ Feb 15 2009, 11:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> My Valentines day I had an OK VD except my gifts backfired completely...really badly! I posted on Thaivisa but apparently you're barred from criticizing anyone, even scamsters if they advertise on the website..giving them an endless supply of victims while being assured the moderators will delete and warn any posts even if it's a blatant scam. I'm very disappointed in thaivisa. I guess I'll test the waters here and see if I'm allowed to let others know what happened on my V-day. FOREVER FLORIST BANGKOK, THAILAND 1. I ordered a flower vase and a fruit basket 2. Confirmation email showed 2 identical flower orders 3. I contacted Nittaya by phone...phone went dead 4. Immediately emailed saying "answer your phone please there's been a mistake," I didn't order 2 flowers, etc 5. Called back and left a phone message and immediately got an email response (funny how that works) claiming their "call center is closed" little shop it is, what "call center"? Her email maintained I ordered 2 identical flowers so I copied my pay pal receipt proving I ordered 1 fruit 1 flower 6. I email again asking who in their right mind would send 2 identical orders, she emails back maintaining I ordered 2 identical flowers. I demand to speak to her show her the payment amounts (different amounts can't be identical orders) 7. email "sorry but your order has gone out" so I ordered another fruit basket asking her to combine flowers to one so it wouldn't look stupid realizing she's going to do what she wants anyway (only in Thailand) 8. duplicate orders of DEAD...BONE DEAD FLOWERS ARRIVED (I have photos) with degrading message (no kidding), incorrect spelling of recipient's name and message was written "down" to the recipient, if you know what I mean (nothing like I ordered) 9. Receive email saying fruit cannot be delivered until the 16th (this was Valentines day, the 14th) giving me only 1 hour to cancel order. I was 7 minutes late to my computer (mind you, calling and leaving many messages beggint to speak to her since I knew she could hear them) 10. I send email, call telling of the dead flowers (which was completely ignored despite their "24 hour service"...scammed again, I think) and threaten a payment dispute (ignored) 11. They took pictures of dead flowers and since I'm not in Thailand (and I don't tolerate this BS) and since neither PayPal or Visa tolerates this BS/childish games, either I filed a dispute (which means pay pal yanks the money back and waits for proof). yes, I've got 48 certifiably DEAD flowers and a degrading message for proof (OK, to be honest, 3 out of 48 flowers were OK) and these were not cheap! 12. Once the money was pulled back pending review, Nittaya instantaneously emails me calls me a fraudster still refusing to look at the pay pal receipt showing my original order (1 flower 1 fruit). Suddenly her "call center" is opened and calls my fiancee (Valentines/Birthday party going on...all are shocked at the dead flowers, vindictive message) and she wants to take them back, rushes a driver over (I told her we were taking pics of her dead flowers and posting on the internet) the driver is also shocked...they're really dead flowers, he said! "No wonder you're not happy, look at them" got a good laugh for the other 7 people there (I was attending via webcam...best I can do). I post this on thaivisa where I found these clowns, post is deleted no one tells me why so I post againtrying to warn others and prevent losing money and spoiling their occasion then I get a message telling me to contact the company if I have any problems, I'm not allowed to pose about sponsors (read 1-12 above...that's what I was doing all night for 8 hours, trying to prevent a preventable error with these idiots)...anyway, I'm shocked at thaivisa for blind support and censorship, unhappy that forever florist messed up a good surprise and turned it into a headache by choice screwing up a gift (not to mention their vindictive behavior). Forgot to mentionl thaivisa forum rules say nothing about mentioning sponsors if they're of ill repute so I guess there are unwritten rules there, as well. In the end, my fiancee and i were able to communicate better than we ever had....ever! I learned sooo much that had been misunderstood neither of us had a clue and ironed out major problems which turned out to be nonexistent only due to misunderstandings of words, terms, meanings...I had no idea her command of language was completely separate from her comprehension leaving her to say some things.....anyway; things are great. I'm happy in the end! I hope all of you had a nice V-day as well! That was my Vday! Glad things are looking better for you! It is indeed an "aha" moment when you realize that your significant other does not comprehend English as well as she verbally communicates it. Sometimes you may be talking about something and assume she understands you, when in fact she is wondering what the heck you are talking about. I have been guilty of this fact many times in the past. Fortunately, my wife knows me well enough now that we do not have this problem very often now. I appreciate your comments. Yes, an aha moment for sure! If I had seen her more recently, we wouldn't have this problem. Now I'm looking at the prospect of getting married march 21 (lucky) since I read on another post April was not lucky and I'd like to be traditionally sensitive as possible. I told her if I could see her and she could see me, our past problems would be next to nil or at least minimal (since multicultural relationships are unique unto themselves and any relationship will have challenges as it is). So...she's talking 50k for wedding, 30 guests. I figure the guest number would double (I told her the farang factor). Luckily we'll bypass the 9 monks. She said we'll go to the temple and do out biddings there, then get married by a village elder. One thing is communication. She hasn't told me much about the ceremony...even told mom in law we wouldn't be doing the golden/silver gate ceremony (give money to the gatekeepers). They understood but were sad. WHen i asked her about this tradition, she said we weren't doing it and her family was cool about it but understood (note--this is a marriage ceremony--no paper, as many of us have done before a k1 visa and the real thing here)...even thought this is the real thing from their view. So....once I became aware of the gate ceremony, etc, I told her yes, we could do it and she was so thrilled, she hung up to call her family. I told her in the future to run things by me and tell me about how it will work, what happens, etc. I told her I was only learning by internet sites. She's not a fan of internet sites (since I've read some bad stuff that also got me cold feet and caused problems). Still, I'm mostly in the dark and I need to take my own advice; let her do it all and ask as I become aware. She's been telling everyone gifts are not necessary but I told her yes we could do gifts (but keep it cheap). Since everyone's so poor, I'd feel bad if someone made a great sacrifice to give us a gift and we didn't return the money in some form (how do we know how much someone's going to give and how much to stuff the envelopes)? That sort of thing bothers me a little. Whatever they give, it will be far greater sacrifice than I will have made...but having said that, I have a real US wedding to think about. It is all sooo complicated! I want everyone to have fun. She's not sure about doing Morlam (a band) but I want everyone happy. I think we'll end up settling on no booze, inexpensive ceremony, family wants to do all the food for us...ughh! I just don't want to have an "international incident" by my not knowing what to do. She told me stuff envelopes with 300 baht to give to people as I march to her house, etc (I'll sleep at a cousin's house the night before). I really don't know anything! Side note: I called USCIS and begged them for a decision. Being robotic as they are, she did put in an inquiry and a "rush request"? I told her I had a plane ticket but no NOA2 yet and it's been 6 months...but my RFE added 60 more days. I told her I understand their guidelines, etc but I'm human, I miss my teerak, we'd been having stress from the distance and I don't have to money to go out, come back and go to get her when the visa comes and can she please help (please)? We'll see but so far, looks like I'm going out there in a few weeks and will be returning alone ( another side note: I HATE WINTER!! Edited by HYENA, 20 February 2009 - 11:01 AM.	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-02-20 11:00:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	QUOTE (AaronLV @ Feb 16 2009, 12:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I used these people quite a bit, and never a problem: http://www.flowerbangkok.com/ They are also cheaper then most any of the other flower shops I found. The flowers had always arrived on time and looked great. Thanks for the info and kind message...I had forgotten who the cheaper alternative was when I read about another experience similar to mine (this guy ordered one of the most expensive items they had...huge bouquet and got a completely different graduation teddy bear item with 3 flowers instead). His post was deleted but it was my mistake not to try to find an alternative since I used them Chrismas and all went quite well. I certainly will never deal with them again since it's a gamble and could happen to anyone...perfect service or pay backs; all depends on the roll of the dice. Oh well, she wanted to get me back for trying to prevent the mistake and she got me back good; my fiancee got nothing but a headache on the day of her birthday/Valentines day. It just bugs me I had a full 8 hours to prevent it and I could not no matter how much I tried to get them to see; their mind was made up and each time I tried to get them to log into the pay pal description clearly showing 2 diff amounts and diff item descriptions, only revenge plots thickened. Never again. Hopefully if I can get my NOA2, I won't have to bother. I did get a lecture about spending money, though (she's frugal). She told me flowers die...save money for 3 flower orders and buy gold...gold you can sell while flowers die. Makes sense.	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-02-16 16:00:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	My Valentines day I had an OK VD except my gifts backfired completely...really badly! I posted on Thaivisa but apparently you're barred from criticizing anyone, even scamsters if they advertise on the website..giving them an endless supply of victims while being assured the moderators will delete and warn any posts even if it's a blatant scam. I'm very disappointed in thaivisa. I guess I'll test the waters here and see if I'm allowed to let others know what happened on my V-day. FOREVER FLORIST BANGKOK, THAILAND 1. I ordered a flower vase and a fruit basket 2. Confirmation email showed 2 identical flower orders 3. I contacted Nittaya by phone...phone went dead 4. Immediately emailed saying "answer your phone please there's been a mistake," I didn't order 2 flowers, etc 5. Called back and left a phone message and immediately got an email response (funny how that works) claiming their "call center is closed" little shop it is, what "call center"? Her email maintained I ordered 2 identical flowers so I copied my pay pal receipt proving I ordered 1 fruit 1 flower 6. I email again asking who in their right mind would send 2 identical orders, she emails back maintaining I ordered 2 identical flowers. I demand to speak to her show her the payment amounts (different amounts can't be identical orders) 7. email "sorry but your order has gone out" so I ordered another fruit basket asking her to combine flowers to one so it wouldn't look stupid realizing she's going to do what she wants anyway (only in Thailand) 8. duplicate orders of DEAD...BONE DEAD FLOWERS ARRIVED (I have photos) with degrading message (no kidding), incorrect spelling of recipient's name and message was written "down" to the recipient, if you know what I mean (nothing like I ordered) 9. Receive email saying fruit cannot be delivered until the 16th (this was Valentines day, the 14th) giving me only 1 hour to cancel order. I was 7 minutes late to my computer (mind you, calling and leaving many messages beggint to speak to her since I knew she could hear them) 10. I send email, call telling of the dead flowers (which was completely ignored despite their "24 hour service"...scammed again, I think) and threaten a payment dispute (ignored) 11. They took pictures of dead flowers and since I'm not in Thailand (and I don't tolerate this BS) and since neither PayPal or Visa tolerates this BS/childish games, either I filed a dispute (which means pay pal yanks the money back and waits for proof). yes, I've got 48 certifiably DEAD flowers and a degrading message for proof (OK, to be honest, 3 out of 48 flowers were OK) and these were not cheap! 12. Once the money was pulled back pending review, Nittaya instantaneously emails me calls me a fraudster still refusing to look at the pay pal receipt showing my original order (1 flower 1 fruit). Suddenly her "call center" is opened and calls my fiancee (Valentines/Birthday party going on...all are shocked at the dead flowers, vindictive message) and she wants to take them back, rushes a driver over (I told her we were taking pics of her dead flowers and posting on the internet) the driver is also shocked...they're really dead flowers, he said! "No wonder you're not happy, look at them" got a good laugh for the other 7 people there (I was attending via webcam...best I can do). I post this on thaivisa where I found these clowns, post is deleted no one tells me why so I post againtrying to warn others and prevent losing money and spoiling their occasion then I get a message telling me to contact the company if I have any problems, I'm not allowed to pose about sponsors (read 1-12 above...that's what I was doing all night for 8 hours, trying to prevent a preventable error with these idiots)...anyway, I'm shocked at thaivisa for blind support and censorship, unhappy that forever florist messed up a good surprise and turned it into a headache by choice screwing up a gift (not to mention their vindictive behavior). Forgot to mentionl thaivisa forum rules say nothing about mentioning sponsors if they're of ill repute so I guess there are unwritten rules there, as well. In the end, my fiancee and i were able to communicate better than we ever had....ever! I learned sooo much that had been misunderstood neither of us had a clue and ironed out major problems which turned out to be nonexistent only due to misunderstandings of words, terms, meanings...I had no idea her command of language was completely separate from her comprehension leaving her to say some things.....anyway; things are great. I'm happy in the end! I hope all of you had a nice V-day as well! That was my Vday! Edited by HYENA, 16 February 2009 - 12:02 AM.	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-02-15 23:59:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	Oh my! I never thought (really thought) about a drivers license. I mean I figured I'd teach her to drive, no problem....but the REAL problem comes about taking the test in English. The written test....Now I'm concerned a little that it will take longer. Perhaps i should send her to driving school there? We've got a couple months (maybe longer) no NOA2 yet but I can do nothing about that.	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-02-15 22:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	I added a SAWASDEE THAILAND thread on facebook's visajourney. I thought it might be nice to meet each other there, as well. I've read some very VERY funny stories on other blogs about their unique humor and poking fun at our culture and reactions only a spouse of a Thai could appreciate...I thought also it may be a nice place to share once the journey has finished (babies/in laws and subsequent trips...how it all went, is going and how we can stick together after the journey). Someone suggested that from another VJ thread so I thought I'd add that suggestion here. sources of 6 month old "bacteria fish sauce," what her first reaction was coming here, jobs, finances, family, fun... facebook VJ is pretty new but It's gaining more and more attention as another tool... Kindest regards, Rob	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-02-14 06:43:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	QUOTE (AaronLV @ Feb 14 2009, 12:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (HYENA @ Feb 13 2009, 06:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thanks...it bugs me because over here, a run of counseling can help both parties to see but over there, she acted like I was insane for suggesting it. Thais are prohibited from talking bad anything bad about their parents and family...so counseling is out. That would be my solution...it bugs the daylights out of me the unwillingness BUT I see where she's coming from and I told her it's not bad and there's a thai farang specialist just for this. Seems I'm required to do everything their culture but nothing our culture (sin sod, care for parents, woman's money doesn't go to domestic house...everything for family abroad and nothing for US family and parents)...not sure how everyone else does it but when I open my eyes, (I just read a really long article about finances, risks, cultures and fairness Thai v farang)...just doesn't add up to try so hard and not feel they're trying at all. I'm very disappointed. I also understand Thais look at a marriage almost strictly from a financial perspective opposite to our culture. I also learned someone took a poll and said nearly all think sex when old is disgusting or deviant? I need to ask more and learn more. I like Thailand and parts of their culture very much...but I need to learn a lot more... I really don't want to give up...really don't but I don't think long term it will last without some changes....I can't fly by the seat of my pants not knowing and jumping into a mistake....ugh! If I could only convince her to go to counseling, I'd fly out there now. Rather then ending it so abruptly, you may want to take a trip and see how it is when you are in person. Plus that will give you some closure and not make you wonder did you react because of the stress, or was it truly the right thing to do. I don't really think Thai's are all that different from western women when it comes to marriage, all woman want some sense of financial security. Tell her what you expect when you see her in person, and see how she reacts. If she can't do what you are asking then call it quits. Just learn to say No and only do what you are comfortable with doing. If she can't respect that, then time to move on. On a side note, I personally stopped reading the blogs and forums about Thai girls on the internet, it caused more problems and stress then it helped. Thank you very much for your response. I may be reactive even for western standards. You're right...stop reading the damn blogs-they make one paranoid and misunderstand the whole thing. To be objective. I understand the sin sod (really). in a culture that once married, they pool their assets and you are accepted into the communal wealth but taking one member out of that, there's bound to be some lop-sidedness on one end or another. No real fair way to change (lack of better word) socialist family unit to many individual capitalist family members without the short stick going to someone. Next. Many things she's said and many things I've said have been interpreted as BIG no-no's in each of our cultures. After discussion and time, these usual turn out to be minor spats or a little heated communication but all to help the other change or correct their actions. Done amidst any stress at all, it can end or cause a cardinal breech of trust to be perceived and all bets are off, the ring is open, bets are placed. I'm grateful neither of us is a physical person and rarely are voices raised (except by her) but I can understand sometimes I just plain don't hear her or get the point she was trying to make as I continue to do something wrong. We both need more patience and our cultures are very different (more so than I thought). Thai culture is truly complex and ours is, too by their standards. ...So we jump to conclusions, perceive each has hurt the other and continue spiraling down when nothing should have gone wrong in the first place. I have also seen this interacting on the internet...chatting with people who want to practice their English and I break a cardinal rule in their book. Let me give an example:...My ex wife used to laugh when maybe she'd forget to do something simple and I'd say, "but that's what I bought you for...I want my money back" and she'd say "I was already on sale, you got a good deal...no money back for you, warranty has run out--you're screwed" and we'd laugh our a*** off. In Thai culture, that conversation could NEVER take place. I was chatting online with a Thai friend, talking of my marriage, has she met anyone yet, etc...she asked questions about what I sell and somehow some humor presented itself and I threw in something about when my fiancee found me, I was on sale 90% discount.... This angered her to no end but my culture would have brought a laugh (come on, I'm a man for sale???)...I didn't realize selling bodies is SUCH a sore spot and somehow she felt I brought up the subject of my being "on sale" as her purchasing or maybe also being for sale, too. She in no uncertain terms told me good people don't even discuss the evils of selling bodies, she's not that kind of lady, who am I to think I can address her in that manner, etc. it's not funny, I'm a truly evil devil person and will never find happiness, etc.Needless to say my internet chatting buddy blocked me and has never spoken to me again. So....yes, I need to step back (and thank you for some of your responses, PM's and also time...) and calm down. The sheer time apart could test the most dedicated couples and I need to remember her smile isn't across the room from me right now. Not to mention, I've had some life devastating financial blows (including losing my life savings to a builder and the lawyer costs are overwhelming...either I pay or I'm guaranteed to not get something back--complicated but I was on the news, etc...built an addition on my house, builder tore the entire house down, literally, and skipped off with the money leaving me to rebuild and finance more than I could afford). ...So, finances in the face of sin sot, airline tickets, fear, cold feet, cultural differences we'll likely be learnign about for years (I'm told some who live there 5 years are just starting to "get it" and that's only if they speak Thai). So my plan is to see if I can delay the wedding, go there and beg for an international counselor so we can start fresh...unless too much damage on both sides has already been done. You know the saying: Hurt people Hurt people. We both need to stop reacting, calm down and regroup. I also want to thank you for not judging, offering sound suggestions and listening to me. I really appreciate that...kind of you all. Edited by HYENA, 14 February 2009 - 04:20 AM.	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-02-14 04:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	QUOTE (louisthani @ Aug 14 2009, 11:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (TL to AZ @ Aug 14 2009, 11:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Just wanted to say hi.... We just got our NOA1 and we are really psyched for the long wait.....i mean journey ahead of us. Hope we can learn tonnes from everyone, so thanks to all in advance. Joe/Nok I didnt get my NOA1 yet, but I did see that my check was cashed on the 12th and a WAC number was on the back. (they scan checks now) so I can view online. I am more psyched out about very few photos together and never met her family despite we have met a lot in Bangkok (her parents live in the provinces) That should be an ok excuse? no time to go to provinces? Well when we get interview, I will book a trip back to see her that week and try to rush some new photos, maybe a few studio shots as well, and regular ones and print them out in time for the interview plus have her take my passports and I-134 junk my I-134 is already complete with tax returns back to 2006 and all W2s as well as employee letter, but have to put in the more recent pay checks around that time. In my honest opinion, flying half way around the world to get engaged with the intent to spend your LIFE with someone's daughter and not bothering to meet her parents; the people who raised her....NOT taking the 15 dollars for a van ride (what it cost me to get to Roi Et-12 hours) or a hundred for a plane ticket to go see your new parents in law is very odd (that is if she's on speaking terms with them) or paying for them to come and meet you at the airport if time is an issue.... but the mention of an "excuse" to not go meet them..red flag. .... How do you know she doesn't have a "husband" living there (most Thais in my Teerak's area don't bother getting marriage licenses so one would never know and the one's who have been scammed learn about this fellow living with the family awaiting his US visa bride to bring him to the US after). Yes it happened to a good friend of mine (Vietnam) 2yrs ago and he grew up there and still got scammed...How do I KNOW I'm not getting scammed? Who knows for sure but the embassy will be asking themselves reasonable questions like these. How can they trust you if you've never met them? How do they know you won't sell her? What if you're a terrible alcoholic wife beater? Wouldn't her family like to meet you and you them? What if they're overly controlling and she's trying to keep that to a minimum when it's just you two...i'd want to know about that...how her family is, do you get along, their goals, your goals....etc.) How can you prove you've got a bonifide relationship and aren't just doing this for a business arrangement with only photos of you two together but no family, no engagement party, few emails and some websots that don't show content or duration (do you have support)? The embassy will ask themselves questions like these, as well. Play devil's advocate and document your evidence accordingly. Hotel bills...anything. Pretend you work for the embassy and pretend you suspect a couple of a business arrangement visa scam. What would you require to prove they are legitimate knowing the Thai culture? For me when i think this way, the family still sticks out like a sore thumb. I can't buy the "no time" to go meet them. You're carting their daughter to another country forever and they don't want to meet you? Bring them down to BKK... I don't know..... I'm sure there's something missing not posted so perhaps I'm assuming what isn't but you have it. When family is involved in Thailand, it's a matter of face and reputation and therefore higher likelihood of a bona fide relationship and therefore visa approval (IMHO). Not saying things still don't happen but when relatives are involved it becomes more real. I hope it works out for you...best of luck! Edited by HYENA, 22 August 2009 - 03:07 PM.	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-08-22 15:04:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	QUOTE (louisthani @ Aug 14 2009, 11:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I have been trying to compile my cell phone records, I have printed out my bills up to May, can only go that far, do you think they need years and years of cell phone data? I have the incoming and outgoing text message records up to May and now am printing each bill I get toward the interview which shows times and messages sent/received. no voice calls anyway cause I am deaf. We rarely email each other, (she really doesnt email) and cause she is online everyday and we chat on MSN and use webcam once in a while, but my MSN does not archive chats. I am using windows live messenger unofficially on XP 64bit. I had to modify the program to get it working. the only thing I am doing is taking desktop screenshots of our video calls. So the following evidence I most likely will have is just PHOTOS TOGETHER MSN VIDEO CHAT SCREEN SHOTS CELL PHONE BILLS that SHOW THE TEXT LOGS since May SHE WILL HAVE MY PASSPORTS ON HAND Will this be enough? I see potential flagS Most Thais the engagement IS the meeting with the family of the fiancee and a discussion of how it's all going to work out, your intentions, sin sod (if applicable), Thai ceremony (wedding or not, most will want a ceremony) but I can't imagine not meeting the family for something like a marriage? Lacking pictures with family....emails...lacking emails...web chats (change your msn options to record and start emailing each other ASAP for the next packet of continuing evidence). Lacking that, phone records and support and visa stamps, boarding passes. If you're 125% poverty level, perhaps an MSN update would be affordable? You need evidence (mentioned on the official websites). Review what others do and review denials here. I flew back with a guy who had his wife of 10 years and 2 kids denied due to lack of evidence (that was Kojak also reviewing). I can't imagine getting engaged to anyone without meeting their family; especially Thailand that would be a big red flag for me (if she's legit), for her family (am I legit or am I going to sell her) for the embassy (most cultures meet families of engaged couples) and in Thailand meeting family is part of the marriage process itself. My fiancee's pirated XP saved chats OK but we also sent lots of emails the moment we decided to get engaged since we knew it would be needed (if other evidence was weak)...if not find a new service..if you're communicating, show it!! Everything you do together...show it! Meet her family! You're marrying into it; I'd think it would be a smart thing to do for any couple who wants things to work out in the long run (families have a lot of influence; it would be nice to meet the influence to see if you get along OK). ((just my thoughts).	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-08-22 14:31:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)	I have NO IDEA where to get married! I was going to at this current house (long story but I own it with my EX GF but economy and a builder that stole 200k has us stuck till court is done and we get money back....then we can leave! Second...my EX wife suggested we marry at her house (stop laughing)! We do make better friends than spouses and my fiancee gets along (since we've got kids, why fight? She's happily remarried and happy for my Thai sweetie and I).... off handed it's weird....I don't like the EX & her BF being here (it's a big house tho-we both thought we'd be done with court and economy would let us sell by now...so stuck for now) so not sure if a JP wedding is better or a small park.... Not sure whether to do Buddhist (find a monk here) or Christian? Decisions decisions (she doesn't care at all...can't dig an answer from her)! We've got traditional Thai dress for her, me and our kids for the ceremony but that's all the planning we've done. $ and no job for me means we gotta be careful. Any suggestions? I liked the cave wedding idea (no caves here...but it's original)....... I'm all ears! Edited by HYENA, 15 August 2009 - 09:03 PM.	HYENA	Male	Thailand	2009-08-15 21:01:00