SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

[Kang Lang 7]

i'm sorry for all of you currently in the process. things have changed at the embassy level considerably since my husband had his interview. i wish you all the best of luck.

[scandal 951]

Well ...we're finally out of NVC today. After 50 days stuck there. And on Friday 13th, no less. Next stop - BKK.

Hope to do the whole Packet 3/Interview stuff rapidly from this point on.

[anya-D 8]

have you Thai significant other try Valerie... I haven't met a Thai yet who can pronounce it

Count me one.. I can say Valarie

Anyway the guy you met sounds likea jerk But I think at least you know and prepare for their prejurdice!!

Good luck in your journey!

Well ...we're finally out of NVC today. After 50 days stuck there. And on Friday 13th, no less. Next stop - BKK.

Hope to do the whole Packet 3/Interview stuff rapidly from this point on.

Congratulation! - not far off now

[AaronLV 12]

Well ...we're finally out of NVC today. After 50 days stuck there. And on Friday 13th, no less. Next stop - BKK.

Hope to do the whole Packet 3/Interview stuff rapidly from this point on.

Congrats. It goes quick once you get your NOA2, we were done in 6 weeks, would have been quicker had it not been for the Holidays.

[*Robert* 2]

i'm sorry for all of you currently in the process. things have changed at the embassy level considerably since my husband had his interview. i wish you all the best of luck.

I fully concur. It seems to have gotten much worse since 2006 and before. Sorry you guys are having to go through all this. Hope things get better soon.

[birch- phuk_beer 0]

Hey folks-

Been out for a bit, had to take a break.

Thanks Daboyz and mommy-

On another note, to put the "what forms to use for the BKK Embassy P-3/P-1" discrepancy to rest, this comes from the Embassy. My wife didn't receive her packet 3 and they sent this email with these links to download. Have at it........................

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, please download all the forms in the attachments.

Regards,

Correspondence Unit

KPacket3Checklist(TH)093008.pdf

http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&attid...2Fpdf&pli=1

KPacket3Checklist(ENG)093008.pdf

http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&attid...plication%2Fpdf

Domicile.doc

http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=2...disp=vah&zw

photo_requirement.pdf

http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&attid...plication%2Fpdf

DS-156 K.pdf

http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&attid...plication%2Fpdf

police certificate.pdf

http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&attid...plication%2Fpdf

ds230-I.pdf

http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&attid...plication%2Fpdf

DS-157 9302008.pdf

http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&attid...plication%2Fpdf

Medical Instruction.pdf

http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&attid...plication%2Fpdf

medical forms.pdf

http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&attid...plication%2Fpdf

i-134instr.pdf

http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&attid...plication%2Fpdf

i-134.pdf

http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&attid...plication%2Fpdf

Link for all downloaded to a zip file

http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=2...af&disp=zip

[birch- phuk_beer 0]

On Feb. 22 I received the email for the P-3. I sent the P-3 into the Embassy from the US via USPS

on Tuesday March 10th. They received it on Friday March 13th at 2pm.

I've got an email into them asking when the interview is, since she didnt get the P-3 in the mail and I want to know so I can schedule my a$$ getting there. I see they are going out 2 weeks from received date. I asked them if we could get the interview in early/mid April so I can be there. I know, wishful thinking but I'll ask anyway.I can go now, but it will be really tough. My boss knows and I can go at a drop of a hat, but $$ wise, tight.

I've got a pretty helluva good "proof of relationship" book made in a 3-ring binder. I'll make a video of it and throw it on youtube soon.

Anybody see that movie that was out, "legend of Chun Li" ? lots of BKK footage. The acting sucked

royally beyond all belief, but enjoyed picking out spots in BKK.

I was reading back a bit and there was a lot of talk about the 131 at the post office. Ive been in the Embassy a few times and if my memory serves me right, there is a post office "IN" the embassy. After you go through checkin, walk past the long line of seats and the girls table, where they organize your paperwork for you, in that far left corner, is a PO to pay the fee.

Next stop, Interview at the BKK Embassy.

[birch- phuk_beer 0]

If yo have accessing the links above, try clearing your cache, relaxing your IE security in tools>internet options>security. Or try copying and pasting them into a browser. They are working as someone mentioned they were having trouble. I just tried them and they're working fine.

[AaronLV 12]

I was reading back a bit and there was a lot of talk about the 131 at the post office. Ive been in the Embassy a few times and if my memory serves me right, there is a post office "IN" the embassy. After you go through checkin, walk past the long line of seats and the girls table, where they organize your paperwork for you, in that far left corner, is a PO to pay the fee.

Yes there is a PO inside, however since you have to have the fee paid when sending in packet 3 that one is not going to work.

Went down to apply for SS# today, it was easy, they only needed her passport and Marriage Certificate, so we could get the card in her married name. Interestingly enough the lady said she was authorized on the K1 to work until it expired. We should have the card in 8-10 days.

Little by little getting paperwork done.

[birch- phuk_beer 0]

I was reading back a bit and there was a lot of talk about the 131 at the post office. Ive been in the Embassy a few times and if my memory serves me right, there is a post office "IN" the embassy. After you go through checkin, walk past the long line of seats and the girls table, where they organize your paperwork for you, in that far left corner, is a PO to pay the fee.

Yes there is a PO inside, however since you have to have the fee paid when sending in packet 3 that one is not going to work.

Went down to apply for SS# today, it was easy, they only needed her passport and Marriage Certificate, so we could get the card in her married name. Interestingly enough the lady said she was authorized on the K1 to work until it expired. We should have the card in 8-10 days.

Little by little getting paperwork done.

well, i missed that part, i'll either have to send it in or bring it with me, i'll see what they say

Edited March 14, 2009 by Birch-Beer

[scandal 951]

Well ...we're finally out of NVC today. After 50 days stuck there. And on Friday 13th, no less. Next stop - BKK.

Hope to do the whole Packet 3/Interview stuff rapidly from this point on.

Congrats. It goes quick once you get your NOA2, we were done in 6 weeks, would have been quicker had it not been for the Holidays.

We got our NOA2 in January, so it definitely has not been quick from that time.

Aaron, I think I understand what you're trying to say... that it goes quickly ONCE IT GOES OUT FROM NVC TO CONSULATE.

For most people, that's roughly the same as NOA2. Since you get NOA2, it goes in and out of NVC in a few days, and then it's on to Consulate.

However that's not what happened to us, and to a growing number of others. NVC is apparently randomly selecting about 15% of cases (I've been analyzing the stats from VJ timelines), and holding them in New Hampshire for "additional processing". For those of us who get stuck, that means an extra ~50 days AFTER NOA2 and before sending on to the consulate. I'm just pointing it out in case others reading this thread are getting stuck too.

If you do get stuck, we have a "support group" thread called STUCK @ NVC for AP - http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t&p=2737075

[ThaitoUSA 15]

NVC is apparently randomly selecting about 15% of cases (I've been analyzing the stats from VJ timelines), and holding them in New Hampshire for "additional processing".

I believe you refer to the process as random, because you've yet to see a pattern to who goes and who stays. However, I do not believe the NVC's AP is random at all. I just read an excellent list that clearly indicates which databases (FBI, visa lists, etc.) are accessed along each step (USCIS, NVC, Consulate) and potential red flags that could cause AP. I went back through my history, but couldn't easily find it. A link to it was posted here in VJ quite recently.

I do not believe the decision to hold some cases and allow others to pass is arbitrary.

[scandal 951]

NVC is apparently randomly selecting about 15% of cases (I've been analyzing the stats from VJ timelines), and holding them in New Hampshire for "additional processing".

I believe you refer to the process as random, because you've yet to see a pattern to who goes and who stays. However, I do not believe the NVC's AP is random at all. I just read an excellent list that clearly indicates which databases (FBI, visa lists, etc.) are accessed along each step (USCIS, NVC, Consulate) and potential red flags that could cause AP. I went back through my history, but couldn't easily find it. A link to it was posted here in VJ quite recently.

I do not believe the decision to hold some cases and allow others to pass is arbitrary.

Well, you may be right. But I don't think so. For K visa applications (K1, K3) historically the USCIS and/or consulates would look for red flags, and I certainly agree that they are not random. However NVC has always just passed things along. Are they now looking for red flags? Possibly, but I doubt it. The consensus of those of us analyzing the trends is that they got an internal directive around Nov 2008 to start pulling about 15-20% of the files and sit on them. I refer you to the following analysis and discussion:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t&p=2653694

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t&p=2655006

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t&p=2655516

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t&p=2655739

Make of that what you will. The sample spaces are small, it's all based on VJ timeline data which is not scientific, but there is no sign that it is anything other than random.

I'm actually continuing this analysis, and have turned it into a bit of a programming project.

[scandal 951]

Youtube tip -

There don't appear to be any Thai TV channels on US cable/satellite systems. I have AT&T UVerse, and their channel offerings include Philippines, India, Russia, etc. Even VietNam. But no Thailand. I think it's the same for Comcast, DishTV, etc.

So, out of concern that my honey will have access to 'back home' content once she's here in the US, I was very happy to hear that she likes watching her Thai dramas on Youtube. Apparently they get posted there very quickly. E.g. a drama that was on live TV last Thursday was already up on Youtube by this weekend. Here's a sampler.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osWiQUsBBK4

So, I thought this might be of interest to others here.

[rin and john 71]

Youtube tip -

There don't appear to be any Thai TV channels on US cable/satellite systems. I have AT&T UVerse, and their channel offerings include Philippines, India, Russia, etc. Even VietNam. But no Thailand. I think it's the same for Comcast, DishTV, etc.

So, out of concern that my honey will have access to 'back home' content once she's here in the US, I was very happy to hear that she likes watching her Thai dramas on Youtube. Apparently they get posted there very quickly. E.g. a drama that was on live TV last Thursday was already up on Youtube by this weekend. Here's a sampler.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osWiQUsBBK4

So, I thought this might be of interest to others here.

Rin and her children watch youtube, but we also subscribe to www.thaitv.tv. We pay an annual subscription price (I think it is $100 for the year or $10/month if you pay monthly). Has both live tv and recorded programming. Generally, the picture quality is better on thaitv. Also, on youtube the soap opera episode are frequently broken into 4 or 5 parts.