SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

[BishopMnA 0]

I'm sure she feels she's in a pressure cooker wanting to help out, frustrated she can't work yet and we're in limbo. I have no idea what to do...have enough for marriage but AOS before 3 months (that's the next step, right?) is over a grand so I gotta wait on that. We wanted a nice, pretty wedding but I'm completely screwed jobwise...never been without one in my life.

You're not married yet? So you didn't file your AOS? If not, you may ALSO need a cosponsor in addition to the $1000, because you have to meet some pretty serious income requirements to file the AOS paperwork.

Hyena, why not save the $ on the marriage and just go to the justice of the peace...which will most likely cost < $100. Then spend the $ you save on the wedding to file for AOS so your wife can be legal, but also so she can get her EAD...and then she'll be able to work...which she seems to really want...

You can have a formal wedding anytime...

Peace,

MK

[*Robert* 2]

For me, I pray alot...give it a shot...since you mentioned the spiritual aspect...

I looked at your profile. You seem to be overtly Christian, and I'm guessing your wife is or was Buddhist.

How did you deal with that issue?

I'm non-religious, so it was not a problem for us, but it has been an issue for some of my wife's friends here.

Tom, you've been away for awhile, so you haven't had the pleasure to get to know brother Mark the way I and several others have. I would be the first one to run the other way if I thought Mark was a bible thumper, but he is far from it! (He just added the floating Jesus gif to his signature which scares me a little!! )

Brother Mark rawks!!!

Good to see you again Tom, and congratulations on the AOS!

Robert

[toma1 10]

Good to see you again Tom, and congratulations on the AOS!

Thanks! We were in Asia most of the summer.

(He just added the floating Jesus gif to his signature which scares me a little!! )

Haha, yeah, that was exactly what made me think to ask him...

[toma1 10]

Of course I am evangelical, that comes along with being a practicing Catholic.

Well, theoretically, yes. But in reality I've known very few Catholics that were REALLY evangelical. (Maybe I should point out that I am defining evangelical in the same sense that certain Southern Baptists, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc. define it. My ex- fell into one of those groups.)

I (just personally) find this method so much more efficient for opening up considerate inter-religious dialogue than being a ‘bible banger’ and spreading fear about Christianity through condemnation. You won't find me on a street corner with a bullhorn

That's good! We already have one of those here on campus that shouts down all of the students.

Actually, it is pretty easy to be a Catholic and talk faith with other religions…where I have the most difficult time is when I try to talk faith with other Christian sects…<sigh>…I just don’t dig all the fire and brimstone…or the literal (compulsary...as you said) approach to faith…I think that is what you’re getting from your friend…

Well, I meant that my wife's friend (a Thai woman) is getting that treatment from her Christian (not Catholic) husband and is not very happy.

Its good that you respect your wife’s faith…perhaps you can pick up on it more in the future…that would be good for the family.

Haha, well, while she chats with her friends outside the Temple, I take a half hour to sit silently inside and meditate. Like I said I'm not religious, but I see the value in meditation, and that is a very conducive place for it.

[toma1 10]

Does anyone here live in Tampa Bay, and if so, would you like to get together for dinner, drinks, movies, whatever sometime? Let me know!

On another note... how come no one posted any of their engagement/wedding pix?!!

[*Robert* 2]

Good to see you again Tom, and congratulations on the AOS!

Thanks! We were in Asia most of the summer.

(He just added the floating Jesus gif to his signature which scares me a little!! )

Haha, yeah, that was exactly what made me think to ask him...

As a reminder, keep track of all your trips outside of the US, and the total number days you were outside the country, as you will need that for Naturalization. A lot of people at this stage of the immigration process aren't aware of the requirements for Naturalization. I would recommend to anyone thinking about filing a N-400 to download the form and instructions, and be prepared to provide all the information. Just because its 3 years away doesn't mean you can't be prepared!

[AaronLV 12]

Good to see you again Tom, and congratulations on the AOS!

Thanks! We were in Asia most of the summer.

(He just added the floating Jesus gif to his signature which scares me a little!! )

Haha, yeah, that was exactly what made me think to ask him...

As a reminder, keep track of all your trips outside of the US, and the total number days you were outside the country, as you will need that for Naturalization. A lot of people at this stage of the immigration process aren't aware of the requirements for Naturalization. I would recommend to anyone thinking about filing a N-400 to download the form and instructions, and be prepared to provide all the information. Just because its 3 years away doesn't mean you can't be prepared!

Good point. Is it accurate that you cannot be out of the US for more then a consecutive 6 months, not cumulative?

[*Robert* 2]

Does anyone here live in Tampa Bay, and if so, would you like to get together for dinner, drinks, movies, whatever sometime? Let me know!

On another note... how come no one posted any of their engagement/wedding pix?!!

We just drove through Tampa a week ago, after a week in Ft. Myers Beach. There is someone with a Vietnamese SO that lives in Cape Coral, other than that, I don't know anyone else in the local area except me. I wish I could have gone to see the Cowboys kick the Buck's butts on Sunday, but didn't plan ahead.

[AaronLV 12]

Does anyone here live in Tampa Bay, and if so, would you like to get together for dinner, drinks, movies, whatever sometime? Let me know!

On another note... how come no one posted any of their engagement/wedding pix?!!

We just drove through Tampa a week ago, after a week in Ft. Myers Beach. There is someone with a Vietnamese SO that lives in Cape Coral, other than that, I don't know anyone else in the local area except me. I wish I could have gone to see the Cowboys kick the Buck's butts on Sunday, but didn't plan ahead.

I would have felt hurt had you stop to see Tom. When you were in Vegas not even a phone call

[toma1 10]

As a reminder, keep track of all your trips outside of the US, and the total number days you were outside the country, as you will need that for Naturalization. A lot of people at this stage of the immigration process aren't aware of the requirements for Naturalization. I would recommend to anyone thinking about filing a N-400 to download the form and instructions, and be prepared to provide all the information. Just because its 3 years away doesn't mean you can't be prepared!

That's good advice. However it may not apply to us, because:

1. She had advance parole at the time and was not yet a PR.

2. We are in a special category as I am "a U.S. citizen who is an employee of an American institution of research recognized by the Attorney General". This apparently wipes out the continuous residency requirements. If I am sent overseas for more than a year, it apparently wipes out ALL residency requirements.

Edited September 15, 2009 by toma1

[*Robert* 2]

I would have felt hurt had you stop to see Tom. When you were in Vegas not even a phone call

Rub it in!!!

One of these days, I will tell you all about that trip. Not good!

[*Robert* 2]

As a reminder, keep track of all your trips outside of the US, and the total number days you were outside the country, as you will need that for Naturalization. A lot of people at this stage of the immigration process aren't aware of the requirements for Naturalization. I would recommend to anyone thinking about filing a N-400 to download the form and instructions, and be prepared to provide all the information. Just because its 3 years away doesn't mean you can't be prepared!

That's good advice. However it may not apply to us, because:

1. She had advance parole at the time and was not yet a PR.

2. We are in a special category as I am "a U.S. citizen who is an employee of an American institution of research recognized by the Attorney General". This apparently wipes out the continuous residency requirements. If I am sent overseas for more than a year, it apparently wipes out ALL residency requirements.

Sounds good! I'm glad to hear you have a different situation, but it is as much a reminder for everyone else.

As you pointed out... traveling before "Residency" is approved, doesn't count. Once someone receives either their 2 yr or 10 yr GC, that is when the clock starts ticking.

[toma1 10]

As you pointed out... traveling before "Residency" is approved, doesn't count. Once someone receives either their 2 yr or 10 yr GC, that is when the clock starts ticking.

It's too bad that they don't just issue a 3 year GC and replace it with a passport at the end of the three year period, instead of converting it for just one year... but then again, who ever said the process was logical.

[*Robert* 2]

As you pointed out... traveling before "Residency" is approved, doesn't count. Once someone receives either their 2 yr or 10 yr GC, that is when the clock starts ticking.

It's too bad that they don't just issue a 3 year GC and replace it with a passport at the end of the three year period, instead of converting it for just one year... but then again, who ever said the process was logical.

Yeah, no kidding. But what the heck are you thinking?!!! They wouldn't be able to charge all that extra money and casue all the extra grief, not to mention increas processing times for everything else!!!

[AaronLV 12]

Good point. Is it accurate that you cannot be out of the US for more then a consecutive 6 months, not cumulative?

Ok just looked it up. Have to be in the US for at least a total of 18 months, with out ever being out of the US for more then 6 months in a row.