SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

[ThaitoUSA 15]

Sincerely The Wire is a dramatized, sanitized version of Baltimore city. To say the public schools are off the hook is an understatement. We have a new superintendent who was born in Cuba and cut his teeth in NYC schools. We shall see what a few years under his guidance will produce: he's reshuffled personnel, surplussing many, and paid students who improved their high school state exam grades to passing.

Phone cards are a no-no according to the embassy's instructions. Either Packet 3 or 4, both available on the site, states that there must be detailed phone records i.e. phone cards not acceptable. I recommend something like www.voipdiscount.com You get 30 hours per week for four months at only about $4 a month. That is enough for me, but if you happen to speak more frequently, you can always purchase more credits on this service. You use your computer to place a call; you receive a call from a local number on your home/cellpone; it uses Skype-like technology; your Thai fiancée receives a local call. Another option that doesn't require a computer to place the call is www.mobivox.com/ Costs a bit more but probably cheaper than most phone cards.

[scandal 951]

Sincerely The Wire is a dramatized, sanitized version of Baltimore city. To say the public schools are off the hook is an understatement. We have a new superintendent who was born in Cuba and cut his teeth in NYC schools. We shall see what a few years under his guidance will produce: he's reshuffled personnel, surplussing many, and paid students who improved their high school state exam grades to passing.

sanitized?? wowzers. If that's 'sanitized' I can't imagine what the real thing is like.

The corners of West Baltimore with the Barksdales crew and Marlo Stanfield's crew seemed pretty graphically unsanitized to me, but all I know about the ghetto is what I see on TV.

[rsn 135]

Phone cards are a no-no according to the embassy's instructions. Either Packet 3 or 4, both available on the site, states that there must be detailed phone records i.e. phone cards not acceptable. I recommend something like www.voipdiscount.com You get 30 hours per week for four months at only about $4 a month. That is enough for me, but if you happen to speak more frequently, you can always purchase more credits on this service. You use your computer to place a call; you receive a call from a local number on your home/cellpone; it uses Skype-like technology; your Thai fiancée receives a local call. Another option that doesn't require a computer to place the call is www.mobivox.com/ Costs a bit more but probably cheaper than most phone cards.

Yes, on packet 4 it does say phone cards are not acceptable, but I believe someone who recently had an interview said that he used his phone cards as evidence without a problem, but I may be mistaken there. Still, since it specifically says no phonecards I would avoid them.

Regarding voipdiscount.com, I have used that since October. Early on it was pretty good, and it still works ok when I call using the access number from my cell phone, but I've noticed issues in the last month or two when calling directly over the internet (call quality issues). There are a number of factors that could cause this sort of problem, but I have another VoIP service I use (future-nine.com) that gives me 1.5 cent/minute calls to Thailand and that has definitely been the most reliable. I've used that since June 2008.

With future-nine, voipdiscount (or any other VoIP company similar to voipdiscount, like poivy.com) you can call using an access number from your cell phone, or you can call from your computer directly, or you can go out and buy an ATA (analog telephone adapter) at a computer store. One end of the ATA connects to your internet router, the other connect to any plain 'ole telephone (wireless or otherwise) so you can make calls over the internet without sitting in front of your computer. You then use the software that comes w/ your ATA to point it at your VoIP service. You can also get a free DID number from IPKall.com and point it at your VoIP account.

P.S. If your fiancee has AIS for their cell service, I have noticed that AIS seems to be particularly problematic when VoIP is involved, especially in the morning (US time). I suspect AIS is not as scalable as other cell phone companies in Thailand and has trouble dealing with spikes in network traffic. Just a theory though. The problems I have noticed could be related to other issues w/ their network, but I strongly suspect that AIS has some network infrastructure problems.

Edited June 10, 2009 by rsn

[afisher 0]

I suppose that it's too late to start using the "internet phone cards" since the interview is only 20 days away.

[*Robert* 2]

I used, and continue to use, PINGO. They have great rates, you can print out your calling records, you can assign quick dial numbers to numbers you call, and register numbers you call from, so you don't have to enter your account number and PIN, and you can re-charge maunually or automatically online. I'm not one to ever promote something, unless I truly like it, and PINGO has been a lifesaver for me with all the overseas calls.

www.pingo.com

[AaronLV 12]

Yes, on packet 4 it does say phone cards are not acceptable, but I believe someone who recently had an interview said that he used his phone cards as evidence without a problem, but I may be mistaken there. Still, since it specifically says no phonecards I would avoid them.

Someone may have passed with having them, but they may have had a bunch of other evidence that was more supportive.

Also on the phone card issue, by law if they are selling phone cards in the USA, they have to be able to provide a detail report to the customer when asked for it. Back in the late 80's early 90's the telecom industry was using deceptive billing practices when billing per minute rates. So there was a big class action suit and the FCC stepped in and levied this requirement on them. If they don't provide a detail report, then report them, they will be fined, and subjected to not being allowed to sale the cards. Now a lot of phone cards are sold by third party companies, and what you may need to do is find out who the underlying provider is and contact them directly. The place I used Mobilecaller.com, did not provide call details directly, but directed me to the actual discount provider and they were more then happy to send me an excel spread ###### with the detail calls when I informed them it was for immigration purposes.

[daboyz 36]

Yes, on packet 4 it does say phone cards are not acceptable, but I believe someone who recently had an interview said that he used his phone cards as evidence without a problem, but I may be mistaken there. Still, since it specifically says no phonecards I would avoid them.

Someone may have passed with having them, but they may have had a bunch of other evidence that was more supportive.

Also on the phone card issue, by law if they are selling phone cards in the USA, they have to be able to provide a detail report to the customer when asked for it. Back in the late 80's early 90's the telecom industry was using deceptive billing practices when billing per minute rates. So there was a big class action suit and the FCC stepped in and levied this requirement on them. If they don't provide a detail report, then report them, they will be fined, and subjected to not being allowed to sale the cards. Now a lot of phone cards are sold by third party companies, and what you may need to do is find out who the underlying provider is and contact them directly. The place I used Mobilecaller.com, did not provide call details directly, but directed me to the actual discount provider and they were more then happy to send me an excel spread ###### with the detail calls when I informed them it was for immigration purposes.

I guess s h e e t is a bad word

[shawndoc 0]

About calling cards. I recently switched from using Vonage to Skype-Out. They have a plan for $6/mo that gets you unlimited calls to Thailand (landline and mobile). I bought a D-Link adapter that lets me use my regular phone to make Skype calls (and uses the regular phone line for other calls). Pretty sure the calls are logged at least locally in your Skype client.

With Vonage ($35/mo unlimited calls anywhere in the world) all calls made or received are recorded on-line. Its really nice as you can enter in a date range and it will spit back a report with just those calls. Made it really easy to print out and send in with the I129F.

[daboyz 36]

About calling cards. I recently switched from using Vonage to Skype-Out. They have a plan for $6/mo that gets you unlimited calls to Thailand (landline and mobile). I bought a D-Link adapter that lets me use my regular phone to make Skype calls (and uses the regular phone line for other calls). Pretty sure the calls are logged at least locally in your Skype client.

With Vonage ($35/mo unlimited calls anywhere in the world) all calls made or received are recorded on-line. Its really nice as you can enter in a date range and it will spit back a report with just those calls. Made it really easy to print out and send in with the I129F.

I've been spending the $43 a month with Vonage. The quality is good, but that is all I use it for. Seems pretty expensive just to call Thailand. What's the model of that D-Link adapter?

[rsn 135]

About calling cards. I recently switched from using Vonage to Skype-Out. They have a plan for $6/mo that gets you unlimited calls to Thailand (landline and mobile). I bought a D-Link adapter that lets me use my regular phone to make Skype calls (and uses the regular phone line for other calls). Pretty sure the calls are logged at least locally in your Skype client.

With Vonage ($35/mo unlimited calls anywhere in the world) all calls made or received are recorded on-line. Its really nice as you can enter in a date range and it will spit back a report with just those calls. Made it really easy to print out and send in with the I129F.

Cool. I didn't even know Skype was offering this service. It looks like they don't have a way to make calls through their service from a non internet-connected phone, but using voipdiscount.com or poivy.com from a mobile phone has worked flawlessly for me for some time for only about $3/month. So, combine the two, and you have unlimited calls to Thailand from your mobile or home for about $10/month. Nice.

Edited June 10, 2009 by rsn

[girarm 0]

I last met my fiace was in August 2008. Just bring many pictures and many relationship evidences to the interview.

Was that when you first got together? or When you last saw her.

We were together, 7 months, when we had our interview.

Wow, ok, that makes me feel better, we met last Nov. in person (two trips to TH total) , so we have 8 months now but we waiting for an interview date, so it will be longer by then...

Plenty of chat logs, some text messages, some phone calls ( most of them are on a phone card, doesn't show real numbers) and of course, pictures from the two trips there.

Thanks for the info

I use Cthai it is an online phone card and they sent me a printout of every call I ever made on there system. Over a years worth of calls 45 pages, it was really cool and saved me a lot of time and headache....

[shawndoc 0]

The adapter I used was the D-Link DPH-50U. I think it was $30 after mail in rebate, or basically 1 month's savings of using Skype vs Vonage.

To use Skype with your phone, you just dial ## (to tell it to switch from regular phone to Skype) the number and then hit * to send the call. Been using it for over a month with no complaints from the wife.

[eric_f 0]

Still in AP. 4 mo. & counting. No response Since 6 May

~Eric

[rsn 135]

Still in AP. 4 mo. & counting. No response Since 6 May

~Eric

Wow that sucks. I just did a little background reading, and it looks like your fiancee had the notorious B.I.G. B.A.L.D. F.A.T. M.A.N. as an interviewer. Perhaps that had a little something to do with the AR. Have you been given ANY explanation at all about what the problem might be or when it might be resolved?

[Noi3125 1]

Hello all, there is some great news on this thread lately. I am so glad to hear that. So I guess there is perhaps a benefit to some of your interviews being delayed if in fact some nicer interviewers are on the scene. We finally have a place of our own, not too fun to rent but the best option for now. And we finally have internet, and some furniture. It has been fun to be able to set things up together rather than Joe moving into "my" house. We planted a vegetable garden and some flowers. If anyone is passing through Grand Rapids, MI we would love to visit. We went to Soc Sec Admin today because we never got the SS card. We are still waiting on the GC as well (1mo+). Joe found some gardening jobs, which he loves to garden so it is nice for him to have something to do.

UsCandual, we are not too far away in Grand Rapids and would love to have company if Thanti doesn't want to be alone.

Danny, don't know what you decided about the phone but I would say that I don't know if it would be worth it I know you can't use a phone in customs even if she were to have a problem. I don't think you can get att in Bangkok (I have looked). Being that I have been outside the U.S. for 5+ years and usually upon visits back don't have a phone I can tesitify to people being really nice about borrowing thier phone. I would say have Chada ask someone if she could use thier phone. I am sure it is easier for me to ask being that I'm American and English is my native language but I am sure people would be willing to help her out especiallly after sitting next to her on the plane forever . And most airlines help with the re-checking of bags through the POE.

I used Mobivox for a while and loved it, it was perfect for me.

Hope to continue hearing good news.

Noi