SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

[AaronLV 12]

Hi everyone. I just got my NOA1 for my fiance visa request. She is from Thailand.

It seems as if everybody on this board universally has trouble at the interview process. Is this true? Are I-129F's from Thailand more difficult than others?? What is the big problem at the interview stage? I feel pretty disheartened after reading the experiences you have all had. Has anybody got any advice?

We speak every day either through MSN messenger (when my internet works) or I call her. We've been dating since 2005, so would it even help for her to start calling me/ addressing emails to me?

I appreciate any advice or info anybody can give me to help us out in this process.

Thanks.

I don't think everyone has problems. If you read through the embassy reviews, there are people who get asked a few questions and out they go. After just finishing this process and thinking about it, I really think it is just luck of the draw, and what kind of mood, the screener, and the consular is in. The screener may not be in a helpful mood that day and not want to take the time to really look into items in the packet, and same with the consular.

I think it is like any government office, you have the person who could care less and does anything, you have the person who is compassionate and looks at the sum total of everything and will let minor things pass, then you have the person that has to have every T crossed and I dotted. There maybe other factors, where the week you go in, there may have been a case the week prior that got everyone pissed off, and now they are scrutinizing even more.

From what I have read Thailand is a bit easier then most of the other SE Asia countries, but really I think you have to look at it on a case by case basis.

From my experience now, I would definitely have her send emails to you. The calls from her would be good, but I still would not have changed that part of our communication. I would have spent more time teaching her to use Skype and paid 2 cents a minute to call the US. Of course that would have required her to sit at the computer

Don't be disheartened, prepare your materials, go in with as much evidence as you can, tell THE TRUTH, and do what they ask. That is all you can really do. As my friend told me this weekend when I was completely stressed out, stay positive, gather together what they ask for, bring it in, and wait to see what happens. Good advice, and for me it turned out well.

-Aaron

[HYENA 4]

Hi everyone. I just got my NOA1 for my fiance visa request. She is from Thailand.

It seems as if everybody on this board universally has trouble at the interview process. Is this true? Are I-129F's from Thailand more difficult than others?? What is the big problem at the interview stage? I feel pretty disheartened after reading the experiences you have all had. Has anybody got any advice?

We speak every day either through MSN messenger (when my internet works) or I call her. We've been dating since 2005, so would it even help for her to start calling me/ addressing emails to me?

I appreciate any advice or info anybody can give me to help us out in this process.

Thanks.

When I worked for a bank in the mortgage business, there was a saying "It is what it is". Can't pretty up a house and an appraisal. So for what you've done, gather everything you have, arrange it and go over it and it is what it is. For the future, look over denials/delays from others and learn from those in this website. THere are endless reasons for denials/delays so look in that section and add whatever you can.

All I can do at this point is have her email me more (respond to my emails Ive been sending all along). it's easier for her to talk but not much record of that.

So for the next 5 weeks, we should be OK but it's in between that will be up to whoever is scrutinizing. I agree with ...tell the truth. Because you've been together a while, I suspect you have enough evidence. I'd guess over that span there would be a bit.

I'm not going to sweat it. My relationship is legit and if they say no, then I try more and if they say no, I won't die...I'll think about that if it actually happens (in Thai fashion--they don't worry about anything unless it's actually happening). I've got to keep reminding myself of that!

[ThaitoUSA 15]

There is an old Buddhist saying "Walk Straight Ahead No Matter What."

Or as a biker friend would say, "Always forward, Never straight."

[mermaidbelow 0]

Hi everyone. I just got my NOA1 for my fiance visa request. She is from Thailand.

It seems as if everybody on this board universally has trouble at the interview process. Is this true? Are I-129F's from Thailand more difficult than others?? What is the big problem at the interview stage? I feel pretty disheartened after reading the experiences you have all had. Has anybody got any advice?

We speak every day either through MSN messenger (when my internet works) or I call her. We've been dating since 2005, so would it even help for her to start calling me/ addressing emails to me?

I appreciate any advice or info anybody can give me to help us out in this process.

Thanks.

The interviewer at window # 5( some time #6 but only one man always interview for the Immigrant Visa) He is not a very happy man.

[bill13060 0]

Hi everyone. I just got my NOA1 for my fiance visa request. She is from Thailand.

It seems as if everybody on this board universally has trouble at the interview process. Is this true? Are I-129F's from Thailand more difficult than others?? What is the big problem at the interview stage? I feel pretty disheartened after reading the experiences you have all had. Has anybody got any advice?

We speak every day either through MSN messenger (when my internet works) or I call her. We've been dating since 2005, so would it even help for her to start calling me/ addressing emails to me?

I appreciate any advice or info anybody can give me to help us out in this process.

Thanks.

The interviewer at window # 5( some time #6 but only one man always interview for the Immigrant Visa) He is not a very happy man.

I have read on here that some people get a different interviewer, so i guess it is the luck of the draw.

Edited February 3, 2009 by will92104

[HYENA 4]

Hi everyone. I just got my NOA1 for my fiance visa request. She is from Thailand.

It seems as if everybody on this board universally has trouble at the interview process. Is this true? Are I-129F's from Thailand more difficult than others?? What is the big problem at the interview stage? I feel pretty disheartened after reading the experiences you have all had. Has anybody got any advice?

We speak every day either through MSN messenger (when my internet works) or I call her. We've been dating since 2005, so would it even help for her to start calling me/ addressing emails to me?

I appreciate any advice or info anybody can give me to help us out in this process.

Thanks.

The interviewer at window # 5( some time #6 but only one man always interview for the Immigrant Visa) He is not a very happy man.

Our lawyer responded and said yesterday was a better day at the embassy but the agents have a lot of discretion both in the US and in Thailand (they had sent B&W pics before, never got an RFE) but I looked at USCIS website-they want color pics...and they usually approve cases right on through. Oh well, my fiancee doesn't look like she's hiding anything LOL!

Only waiting form my NOA2 now regardless and hopefully I can bring her back by April 6! I just don't have phone records. I've got receipts but nothing showing what number I called. I'll call my phone company and ask them. She also said OK to go ahead and get the Bai Rub Rong Sod now. I'm growing quite impatient. I want a bag of grasshoppers, too!

Maybe he needs an attitude adjustment? Reminds me of the song "Attitude adjustment right upside his head...attitude adjustment, and he'll listen what I said..." I think he's overdue one!

...she said take lots of pics so I can do that!

Edited February 3, 2009 by HYENA

[AaronLV 12]

We were at Window #6, but him and another guy are the ones that handle the interviews, this year. From what I was told they change the people who interview every year and move them to a different section. If it was someone else, maybe the guy had a sick day.

[ThaitoUSA 15]

HYENA,

Someone pointed me toward www.voipdiscount.com

You pay about $13 (10 Euro) for 120 days of calls to Thailand (mobile or landlines). It costs 0.5 Euro per call (connection fee) and you may talk for as long as you like. There is a fair use policy, which allows you upto 300 minutes per week, no carry over for unused minutes. That's still 3,600 minutes over a period of four months for only $13!!

It does keep a log of the phone calls made, their date and duration. And you can set up your fiancee in Thailand to use the service, so you have logs of calls going both ways.

I did a quick price comparison of other products I had been using

AT&T World Connect

$0.26/min. 9 hours = $140.40

Skype

$0.13/min 9 hours = $70

MOBIVOX

$0.02/min 8.3 hours = $10

VOIP Discount

$0.004/min 10 hours = ~$13

So there it is! I can hardly believe how much I had been spending in comparison.

Edited February 3, 2009 by ThaitoUSA

[ThaitoUSA 15]

VOIP Discount

$0.004/min 10 hours = ~$13

My apologies, this should have read

VOIP Discount

$0.004/min 60 hours = ~$13

[HYENA 4]

HYENA,

Someone pointed me toward www.voipdiscount.com

You pay about $13 (10 Euro) for 120 days of calls to Thailand (mobile or landlines). It costs 0.5 Euro per call (connection fee) and you may talk for as long as you like. There is a fair use policy, which allows you upto 300 minutes per week, no carry over for unused minutes. That's still 3,600 minutes over a period of four months for only $13!!

It does keep a log of the phone calls made, their date and duration. And you can set up your fiancee in Thailand to use the service, so you have logs of calls going both ways.

I did a quick price comparison of other products I had been using

AT&T World Connect

$0.26/min. 9 hours = $140.40

Skype

$0.13/min 9 hours = $70

MOBIVOX

$0.02/min 8.3 hours = $10

VOIP Discount

$0.004/min 10 hours = ~$13

So there it is! I can hardly believe how much I had been spending in comparison.

She has Hutch that claims they're high speed (but it's more like dial up) at $30 a month in her apartment (her apt manager won't let her get a phone line or anything else...only in Thailand)!

I'm paying 1 cent a minute plus a 10% discount when you recharge your number so I usually buy 2000 minutes at a time or so.

Do you think VOIP will work with slow speed? Luckily my friend is good at computers so he can check her actual connection speed. She connects her computer to a cell phone and does it that way.

cthai.com has kui mun at 1 cent a minute. I think there's a small connection fee. We talk about 2 hours a day average (I hope I don't give her brain cancer)!

I'm just not too sure it's too late in the game only 5 weeks left till I go. I'm debating no ttelling her when I come and just show up (calling my friend)....I think that'lll be fun. Show up, put my bags in my friend's apartment and walk a couple doors down and knock on her door. She'll freak!

I'm calling cthai now to see if I can get a log. When I log on it only shows me purchases. Maybe a grand in 9 months so considering many times we're talking 4 hours at a time....it's amazing the pure time we put in talking! LOL!

I'll have logs of her calling me I think. If it were months earlier, I'd do something with logs....ugghh. I'll get on the phone with USCIS to see if they got my pics then call cthai...

[HYENA 4]

OK, I had to send an email to cthai since they're not answering their phone. I know my phone company has call logs but likely they will only have the 1800 first connection number and not the rest.

I also called USCIS and asked why their website was purposefully misleading the public stating they are working on April cases when this clearly is not the case. That part bugs me...of course the southern draw lady obviously is not in Vermont (they are all from Kentucky, Louisiana or somewhere down south since they don't speak the same English i do and Vermont inhabitants do...they work so hard to sound like they're helping you when they're not doing anything. They even have pre-recorded messages while you wait stating they're working on your case and blanket status statements...typical government. You'd think a developed country would be more like the UK with only a couple months to get a visa....Oh well, nothing I can do.

They did sign for my pictures for RFE though. I guess that's something. Apparently I don't have the "right" to call until my case is beyond 6 months so I'll have to call then....she's saying is Feb 23 or something....

Everyone needs to die, let God sort em out and leave competent people behind with the rest of us

Edited February 3, 2009 by HYENA

[ThaitoUSA 15]

HYENA,

Though that service does require a computer with internet, it does not use your internet connection during the call. I guess I should have desribed the service. All this is on their website, so you can check it out righ there, but the way it works is. .

You create an account, charge it up with $13. You go to their site and enter the number of your phone (cell or landline) and the number you wish to call in Thailand (cell or landline). It then calls your phone from a local number. You answer your phone. . You then hear it dialling the destination number and presto! you're connected from phone to phone. So you need a connection just to dial the call (a dial-up connection would work fine!).

So no high speed necessary!

$0.01 vs $0.004

It logs your calls . . and she can use it too!

[HYENA 4]

HYENA,

Though that service does require a computer with internet, it does not use your internet connection during the call. I guess I should have desribed the service. All this is on their website, so you can check it out righ there, but the way it works is. .

You create an account, charge it up with $13. You go to their site and enter the number of your phone (cell or landline) and the number you wish to call in Thailand (cell or landline). It then calls your phone from a local number. You answer your phone. . You then hear it dialling the destination number and presto! you're connected from phone to phone. So you need a connection just to dial the call (a dial-up connection would work fine!).

So no high speed necessary!

$0.01 vs $0.004

It logs your calls . . and she can use it too!

Thanks, i'll check into that. i need to make sure it's easy for her since she's technologically challenged....i'll check that now...

[HYENA 4]

HYENA,

Though that service does require a computer with internet, it does not use your internet connection during the call. I guess I should have desribed the service. All this is on their website, so you can check it out righ there, but the way it works is. .

You create an account, charge it up with $13. You go to their site and enter the number of your phone (cell or landline) and the number you wish to call in Thailand (cell or landline). It then calls your phone from a local number. You answer your phone. . You then hear it dialling the destination number and presto! you're connected from phone to phone. So you need a connection just to dial the call (a dial-up connection would work fine!).

So no high speed necessary!

$0.01 vs $0.004

It logs your calls . . and she can use it too!

I keep getting this no matter what i enter

Your phonenumber is incorrect, please enter your phonenumber in the international format with a plus sign (+) followed by country code and number

and The destination phonenumber is incorrect, please enter destination phonenumber in the international format with a plus sign (+) followed by country code and number

[HYENA 4]

ok i got it right for my number but her number...i tried +668609705XX her number and finally got mine at +1410861xxxx but it's not working (for the free trial call).

any suggestions?

this is good information so others can log in their calls and document them!

Edited February 3, 2009 by HYENA