SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

[daboyz 36]

Sorry about not quoting... Its the birchbeer embassy do-over situation. You take someone who has been around for a long time and learned from everyone else. They go to the embassy and get turned away. That's VERY disappointing to me.

We have not heard what the reason was so maybe they have just missed something and I've jumped of the ledge...

I share your sentiment. It is disheartening that if someone as prepared & organized as Birchbeer ran into trouble, that spells trouble for the rest of us.

Given how slow & drawn out our case has been, with delays at CSC, NVC and even now at the embassy, I'm not sure I could take delays/rejections at the interview stage. I'm mentally building up an image of a quick hassle-free interview and approval. Anything short of that is going to be a real downer.

My case made it through NVC & USCIS pretty quickly (even though the embassy STILL has not received the case for some unknown reason) but I'm feeling the same way. This is really starting to worry me. The embassy in Bangkok seems like it's trying to make a name for itself. Has anyone heard anything further from BirchBeer?

I'm going to call him in a couple hours when he wakes up.

[scandal 951]

About your soapbox comment - I agree. The great paradox of the US Immigration system is that the very people who are conscientiously following the rules of the process are the ones bearing the brunt of the inefficiency, cost, bureaucracy and "guilty-till-proven-innocent" approach of the system. It's those who choose to skip the system and either enter the country illegally, or overstay a visa, or pursue an AOS while in the country when their intent was immigration all along - they get an easy ride at our expense. Not that it will make your wait any easier, but at least you can have the satisfaction of knowing that you are doing things by the book.

It is frustrating that there needs to be this additional layer of complexity to our lives just because our SO lives in a different country. Relationships are hard enough! On the other hand, things for all of us could be much worse, even if, due to some cruel twist of fate, our visas are denied. I just read this post by another VJ member today. It really made me put my worries about the remaining portion of the visa process in perspective: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t&p=2822362

You're absolutely right. That is shocking and sad. Life is fleeting and short, and none of us know how much time we have to share with our loved ones. Make every moment count.

[Danno2 0]

You have a good point, but the loyalty and devotion on VJ is mainly from the perspective of USC, not from the beneficiary. It seems a lot less fraudulent cases by the people that post here all the time before and after they get their Visa, but a lot of them don't come back and say how things are going. Read some of the crazy stories in some of the other forums from guys and woman getting here and then abandoning their USC in some of the other forums. I get bored and browse some of them sometimes. It is interesting and insightful on the entire process, and gives a better understanding of why we are scrutinized so hard. It sucks, but unfortunately a fact of life with all the liars out there. I could go into a story about the girl that was at our medical with us, but I don't know if they are on here, and would rather let people find out truths by themselves.

For my own mental health I don't look for reasons (or other forums) to be skeptical about my SO's intentions. Our journey is difficult as it is and I'm cynical enough for the both of us. If she can pass my test thats pretty good.

The bottom line I had to accept is that she was going to come here on a work permit if we had not met. She's an RN and received her California Nursing Board acceptance letter during my first trip. During one of our more difficult conversations she explained she would not "be" and live with someone she didn't love just to get here faster. On her side she sees giving up her life, friends and family to take a chance on me being who I say I am. So as I see it we are both taking a leap of faith. I have lived in Dallas all of my life. During the last 15 years I have enjoyed a single life and also witnessed the desperate lengths people will go though to get a "catch".

My question to the embassy officer is how different is a bad Thai girl from the ones i meet everyday?

[daboyz 36]

To add to that, I lived and worked in Asia for 3 years. I traveled to just about every country over there. I can't recall ever meeting anyone that wanted to VISIT the US, let alone live here. I know there are some high fraud countries, but I can't see Thailand being one of them. If I could make the $ I make here in Thailand, I would be on the next flight back. My wife's attitude is that she doesn't really care where we live, as long as we are together.

As for the bargirls, I think they like American money, I kinda doubt they want to live here.

That bald a$$hole at the Embassy needs to get over himself.

[Noi3125 1]

Thailand can be so frustrating sometimes. I love it here and like daboyz if I could make the money here that I make in the U.S. I would permanently relocate here... but there are somethings I appreciate about the U.S. One of them is the stabilty. Another is the education system here but that's another story.

I need one piece of paper for our interview in 7 days from our local ampure. I am not sure why the riots/protests in Bangkok require the stopping of all government offices. What does my little ampure 8 hours from Bangkok have to do with anything? Today's Friday, no one works on the weekends, and then its Songkran, and off to Bangkok we go. Okay, I am don't ranting now.

The benefit of Thailand is that almost anything can happen for adding a bit of padding to an official's pocket. I hate to work like that but now we start the contacts.

Does anyone know if the American Embassy is or has shut down with these riots?

Hopefully BirchBeer needs documents from the U.S. end as government offices are taking a long vacation here in Thailand.

I do disagree with daboyz though. I have met tons of people in my 8 years aboad who want to go to the U.S. mainly because of the money. And they don't care how they get there. I have university edcuated friends who are still trying to get a job as an aupair just to get to the U.S. The villlage people all around my house constantly ask me if I have a job for them in the states, can I find them one, if not how about a spouse. Among the upper class, or people in Bangkok perhaps this is not true but here in the heart of the Isaan it is a fact that people want to go to the U.S. they have this conception that live is easy and you can get rich quick there.

As for my own SO's intent I questioned it, tested it, and in the end he just wants to be in Thailand but is willing to move wherever I am so we can be together...

The problem is the people set out to fraud are better prepared than someone like myself. I never thought to keep a reciept, phone bills, or boarding passes, or anything of that nature because I had no idea what this process would be like.

Well hopefully in the end we all make it through and we are a little stronger on the otherside.

Take care,

Noi

[daboyz 36]

That's a good point. I didn't deal with many up country people. Everyone I dealt with in Asia were customers that had a good job. Never tried to sell a $100k software platform to someone in Surin.

[AaronLV 12]

I have met tons of people in my 8 years aboad who want to go to the U.S.

I have to agree I have run into a lot of Thais that want to go to the US. Some of them think the roads are paved with gold, but a majority of them just want to have opportunity. Especially for woman, the opportunities in the US are far far better then they are for them in Thailand. The people who have money in Asia, have tons of money and live very very very well, why would they want to come to the US and have to go down the social ladder.

[Danno2 0]

Can I ask a favor? I checked my USCIS online case status today and saw the last updated box as 4/10/2009. I could have sworn every previous time I have check it showed 12/23/2008 which was my NOA1 date. Can someone confirm if it auto updates every day or only when something happens?

Thank you.

Edited April 10, 2009 by Danny and Chada

[rsn 135]

Can I ask a favor? I checked my USCIS online case status today and saw the last updated box as 4/10/2009. I could have sworn every previous time I have check it showed 12/23/2008 which was my NOA1 date. Can someone confirm if it auto updates every day or only when something happens?

Thank you.

It only updates when something happens, and even then, updates seem to be uncommon. Mine hasn't changed since February 11th and it is on its way to BKK according to the NVC.

Can I ask a favor? I checked my USCIS online case status today and saw the last updated box as 4/10/2009. I could have sworn every previous time I have check it showed 12/23/2008 which was my NOA1 date. Can someone confirm if it auto updates every day or only when something happens?

Thank you.

It only updates when something happens, and even then, updates seem to be uncommon. Mine hasn't changed since February 11th and it is on its way to BKK according to the NVC.

I also noticed that when your case goes untouched for a while and then suddenly gets touched, in some cases an NOA2 followed.

[Danno2 0]

Thats what I thought.

If someone says I got a tear in my eye its just because of the pollen count.

[dvddvd 0]

You have a good point, but the loyalty and devotion on VJ is mainly from the perspective of USC, not from the beneficiary. It seems a lot less fraudulent cases by the people that post here all the time before and after they get their Visa, but a lot of them don't come back and say how things are going. Read some of the crazy stories in some of the other forums from guys and woman getting here and then abandoning their USC in some of the other forums. I get bored and browse some of them sometimes. It is interesting and insightful on the entire process, and gives a better understanding of why we are scrutinized so hard. It sucks, but unfortunately a fact of life with all the liars out there. I could go into a story about the girl that was at our medical with us, but I don't know if they are on here, and would rather let people find out truths by themselves.

For my own mental health I don't look for reasons (or other forums) to be skeptical about my SO's intentions. Our journey is difficult as it is and I'm cynical enough for the both of us. If she can pass my test thats pretty good.

The bottom line I had to accept is that she was going to come here on a work permit if we had not met. She's an RN and received her California Nursing Board acceptance letter during my first trip. During one of our more difficult conversations she explained she would not "be" and live with someone she didn't love just to get here faster. On her side she sees giving up her life, friends and family to take a chance on me being who I say I am. So as I see it we are both taking a leap of faith. I have lived in Dallas all of my life. During the last 15 years I have enjoyed a single life and also witnessed the desperate lengths people will go though to get a "catch".

My question to the embassy officer is how different is a bad Thai girl from the ones i meet everyday?

I wish the embassy could do something about the ones we meet everyday. ha. Unfortunately, the embassy onlyl has a choice with the non citizens.

It's too bad that the process seems to have become more strict. However, when we went through it .... it was the most nerve wracking experience ever and we never considered it a breeze. The most anxious time was the interview (when the visa "used" to be approved or denied) and it seems like that approval/denial is simply being pushed back to after the interview for a lot of fiances and after a few more hoops have been jumped through.

If we were going through the process now I would just rationalize that "there's another step" in the process after the interview. I don't see anyone getting denied. The really nervous part (approval/denial) seems to be have been simply pushed back a few days for a lot of applicants. (with another hoop thrown in for fun)

I know this probably doen't make anyone feel any better, but I doubt is anymore nervewracking. Just do what they tell you to do and I'm sure everything will work out for everyone.

Good luck to all

dvd

[mommymeow 0]

Can I ask a favor? I checked my USCIS online case status today and saw the last updated box as 4/10/2009. I could have sworn every previous time I have check it showed 12/23/2008 which was my NOA1 date. Can someone confirm if it auto updates every day or only when something happens?

Thank you.

Maybe you will get your NOA2 soon. If you see the date changed, it means that they touched your file so that is the last updated.

[daboyz 36]

Thats what I thought.

If someone says I got a tear in my eye its just because of the pollen count.

My case still shows "Pending" I got my NOA2 Sept. 5th, 2008. That website is useless.

[Danno2 0]

Thanks for the quick answer and no one telling me to use the search button.

Not sure if anyone else is like this but after my last trip to see my girl and having packet 3 completed we’ve both been sitting calmly waiting for the NOA2. Then today when I saw some activity with our case it kind of snapped me out of a "numb mode" and reminded me just how bought into the process I am. Man this is one h** of a roller coaster ride and we are not even around the first bend yet

[Danno2 0]

Anyone ever notice that date from approval date on the NOA2 to actually receiving an email notification? Is the email notification useless as well? Did you find out via email or US mail?