SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

[toma1 10]

This is one of her arguments. She says the "people" at the Embassy will be familiar with Thai traditions and realize that just because she is wearing a white Western style wedding dress, they will know this is not a wedding.

Thanks for your input toma1.

Sorry, I know nothing about Thai import laws or restrictions. I wish I could help. Do you have someone in the USA that can try to contact FedEx or DHL first thing Monday morning, USA time? Do you think that will help?

I can call their Thai office, but in general, they can tell you what the duties are, but cannot advise you about how to avoid them.

BTW: I was being facetious about the cultural sensitivity of the US government... I would be concerned, same as you.

Edited May 10, 2010 by toma1

[Tom and Teaw 1]

Yeah, I wouldn't trust the people at the embassy at all. You never know what they are thinking at a particular time and if the Thai lady that was at Teaw's interview is at hers, then I would

worry. Teaw said she was not nasty but very stern in her questions. And a big issue with them was her wanting to answer in Thai when we write emails in English. They can't seem to understand

that the ladies are nervous and in a situation they are not used to and being grilled.

The single certificate MIGHT help. Teaw had one that I sent in with the initial app last Oct. But I would not take a chance on them wondering what kind of ceremony you really had. If she shows

even a hint of deceit or nervousness if they asked her about it I bet they would AP her to check into it. It's best to avoid anything that they can question and get the visa and get her out of there.

No, I didn't watch the Lakers. I am more of a hockey fan and have been watching the playoffs while I work on appeals transcripts. Crime pays me....haha!!!!

[Audy_Rob 26]

No, I didn't watch the Lakers. I am more of a hockey fan and have been watching the playoffs while I work on appeals transcripts. Crime pays me....haha!!!!

Go Sharks!!!

Not much else worth dancing about...

[daboyz 36]

Go Habs.

[TheBears 9]

Rob.... I'm very strongly against including pictures of pithi man in the evidence. While pithi man is supposed to be a few months before the wedding, most Thai-Thai couples have it in the morning, then get married in the afternoon/evening. It's cutting it too close for my liking. The white dress in the studio is alright. It's easy enough to say "It was taken in the studio." and have no problems. But pithi man is too interconnected to the wedding day. I think it's too risky to be worth any "benefit" of proving your relationship. If she's grilled, then maybe it would be of use. But if she's grilled, it's going to be at the FPU interview after she gets put in AP. We don't want that. So, to my mind, the best thing to do is not blur the line at all. As Tom pointed out, the new male CO is AP Happy and seems not to be very well versed in Thai culture. I wouldn't take a chance on it since it can be avoided. What other evidence do you have? Would you be willing to send me the pics? I'll send them to a few of my girlfriends around here and see if they think it's a wedding or just an engagement. Fair enough?

Tom (1), I don't know. I do know that I send Husby 3 iPhones a few months ago. I'll call him on his lunch break and see if he paid anything on them. Sound okay?

Herk, you've been advised well already. Good luck! Is she's not on usvisa4thai.com yet, have her check it out. Here's the old K-3 checklist. It's in both languages. No matter her English ability, she might benefit from seeing it in her mother tongue, too.

Edited May 10, 2010 by TheBears

[daboyz 36]

Who is "pithi man?" Just curious. We took a taxi to Bang Rak, paid the Amphur and was done with it.

[TheBears 9]

Awww! Bang Rak! How cute!

Pithi man is the engagement ceremony. Google พิธีหมั้น for pics. Compare to พิธีแต่งงาน and it's very similar. Combine that with a CO who may not be well versed in the traditions enough to know the difference and the right questions to ask. I just think it's not the best idea when there may be other options. Personal opinion. Known to have been wrong before and will undoubtedly be wrong again.

Edited May 10, 2010 by TheBears

[daboyz 36]

Awww! Bang Rak! How cute!

Pithi man is the engagement ceremony. Google พิธีมั่น for pics.

Yeah I thought it was cute, but actually all the lawyers are on Witthayu right around the corner from the Amphur. I'll have the wife translate the Thai part. I'm sure I'll get yelled at since I didn't do it.

On another note. Some bonehead guy tried to take me out for no good reason. I have bruises, and he's in jail. Nok wants a gun now.

[daboyz 36]

On another note. Don't call your wife Kee keeyat. It's a good way to get a full can of soda upside the head. Lesson learned. I'm starting to think I would have been better off not knowing any Thai.

[kenny1 0]

Received email from the Embassy today. They have received our case and mailed the packet 3 on May 7th. They advised that I can use the forms on the website, and they did not mention a new DS-160. Looks like they are only implementing the new form for the Non-Immigrant visas and the K1 visa is the same for now. Hoping for an email today with the appointment date.

[Audy_Rob 26]

...Would you be willing to send me the pics? I'll send them to a few of my girlfriends around here and see if they think it's a wedding or just an engagement. Fair enough?

Hi TheBears. I sent three pictures on a Word Document to your personal email.

Thanks

Rob

[TheBears 9]

Good luck, Richard.

Thank you, Rob.

Tom (a1), I asked Husby. He said it's pretty up to the person at the main post office. The iPhones, he didn't get dinged on. But when he ordered shoes, he paid 500 baht on top 4,000 baht for the shoes themselves. It's not much, but perhaps you can get a rough estimate.

[Tom and Teaw 1]

Go Sharks!!!

Not much else worth dancing about...

Ya, I was kinda rooting for the Sharks to knock out the Wings!! Heck, I remember when they first came into the league. My kids had to have Sharks jackets.

My middle daughter is now an avid Kings fan and goes to several games a year.

[Audy_Rob 26]

Received email from the Embassy today. They have received our case and mailed the packet 3 on May 7th. They advised that I can use the forms on the website, and they did not mention a new DS-160. Looks like they are only implementing the new form for the Non-Immigrant visas and the K1 visa is the same for now. Hoping for an email today with the appointment date.

Richard, I will be interested to know how far out your interview date is from the mailing of Packet 3. We are trying to manage a few different dates and are trying to figure out how to set her interview date to fall in a particular two week window.

I didn't even expect the Embassy to do anything on Visas until May 12 or 13. Good luck with the next steps.

[ThaitoUSA 15]

A couple of years back, a friend had to pay a boatload on a care package sent from America. It contained things like his favorite cereal, maple syrup, etc. (his parents didn't know what he could and couldn't get in Bangkok, and just included things they thought he'd been missing). Though I can't recall the precise amount, UPS was asking for something like 4,000 Baht in duty. His argument was that it was more than the value of the things when he ruefully paid it.

Then again another friend had a laptop sent and paid nothing.

My mother had sent me a pair of shoes (size 12's are near impossible to find), and they never arrived at my townhouse. About 14 months later they arrived back on her doorstep with all sorts of stamps all over the package. My guess is that they did want me to pay a duty, but either didn't give me a notice or it got lost; perhaps after several months they just returned to sender.

It may help not to send it in the original Apple packaging as that might be misconstrued as an item for sale.