Sawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

[rsn 135]

Yeah I wish. This is the US. If that phone is active on a call, both parties pay. It aint CPP like the rest of the world, where only the calling party pays.

Free incoming calls is standard w/ my cell provider here.

[rsn 135]

Your internet connection must suck. I have had hours long conference calls with not a blip. This is to India also.

1 have 15 mbps down and 2 mbps up. I test it often and stream compressed HD video on a regular basis - no problems there. I've had Vonage screw up my initial account setup on two different occasions and when I called them it was clear that they hire script readers to staff their customer service dept instead of people who know at least something about the technology. Both times I didn't want to spend days playing games with them when I knew what the problem is so I cancelled. Also, the internet connection at your house is not the only factor that effects call quality.

[gbagbo 0]

Sawasdee Krup to my friends on VJ,

A quick couple of questions for those who have recently received packet 3 and packet 4 from the embassy in Bangkok.

I received notice from the NVC that our package was sent to Bangkok. My fiancee' lives up country and the postal service works poorly at best. The letter carrier is usually drunk by mid day and will dump mail, deliver to the wrong address or if the packet looks important try to get some tea money from the recipient. Is there a way of finding out if the embassy received the packet without depending on the Thai Post Office? I have downloaded and completed all of the forms from the embassy website, can I just send them in with a cover letter without having packet 3 in hand? We went to the police station in Bangkok and they accepted my hard copy NOA 2 from Vermont and processed her clearance. We are doing the medical next week. Also I am confused by references to purchasing a pin number to schedule an appointment for her interview. Is this part of the K-1 visa process?

Thanks in advance,

Pgrin

HI,

You can send your packet 3 to the embassy if you already have all the forms. You don't need to wait for the copy the embassy sends to you. You can email the embassy to verify if they sent you the packets and to confirm they received what you have sent them. They are very good at responding, very quick. There is a specific format you need to use when emailing them about your case, and you'll need your BNK number. The Pin Number for scheduling interviews doesn't apply to K1 visas. Send in your packet 3 and the embassy will contact the Thai citizen applying for the visa to let him/her know the date of the interview.

From the embassy's website:

E-mail Inquiries:

Email inquiries should be directed to: visasbkk@state.gov. Please include the words “IV Inquiry” and your case number which would begin with the letters “BNK” followed by ten digits in the subject line. We do our best to respond to inquiries within three business days.

send your email to visabkk@state.gov

subject line of your email should be IV Inquiry BNK********** (last name of the applicant)

Start your email in this format:

Petitioner: Your first and last name

Applicant: Your fiancee's first and last name

Type of Visa: K1

Phone Number:

Address: Your fiancee's address

Edited August 1, 2010 by gbagbo

[Tom and Teaw 1]

Another question for those of you that flew from BKK to the States with your fiancee after she got the K-1 visa.

When you went through immigration at the airport leaving BKK did you get in the "Thai" line with her or did you split

up and you go through the crowded line? I am thinking I will go into the Thai line with her since she has a Thai

passport and then she won't have to wait for me to make it through the longer line.

[AaronLV 12]

Another question for those of you that flew from BKK to the States with your fiancee after she got the K-1 visa.

When you went through immigration at the airport leaving BKK did you get in the "Thai" line with her or did you split

up and you go through the crowded line? I am thinking I will go into the Thai line with her since she has a Thai

passport and then she won't have to wait for me to make it through the longer line.

We always go in the separate lines in Thailand. The last 3 trips there have been no lines at passport control. When we come into the US we go through the US Citizen line together.

[toma1 10]

Another question for those of you that flew from BKK to the States with your fiancee after she got the K-1 visa.

When you went through immigration at the airport leaving BKK did you get in the "Thai" line with her or did you split

up and you go through the crowded line? I am thinking I will go into the Thai line with her since she has a Thai

passport and then she won't have to wait for me to make it through the longer line.

Ann actually asked this question at immigration and they told us that if we were married. we could both use the Thai lines, so we always do that, if they are the shortest ones. They have recently opened "Thai/Foreigner" combination lines, too.

You are not married yet, but give it a try if you like.

[daboyz 36]

Ann actually asked this question at immigration and they told us that if we were married. we could both use the Thai lines, so we always do that, if they are the shortest ones. They have recently opened "Thai/Foreigner" combination lines, too.

You are not married yet, but give it a try if you like.

Yep I've done this when I was late for a flight. They wont say anything. On the outbound side they are pretty much just there to put a stamp in your passport. On the US side we went through the USC/permanent resident line. No issues there either.

[Tom and Teaw 1]

I am not worried about coming to the states. We will go through together. I was just wondering how most people did it

when they were leaving BKK.

Now we have another problem. How important is her ID card here in the States? She tells me hers expires on 8-19 and there seems to be some problem reported on the news

with replacing expired cards and being able to access them online and are only giving out a temporary paper until the new cards can be made. Not sure what to do about

this one. I am sure her passport is the most important thing here in the states, but I am not sure if her ID card would be needed. Anyone know?

[daboyz 36]

I am not worried about coming to the states. We will go through together. I was just wondering how most people did it

when they were leaving BKK.

Now we have another problem. How important is her ID card here in the States? She tells me hers expires on 8-19 and there seems to be some problem reported on the news

with replacing expired cards and being able to access them online and are only giving out a temporary paper until the new cards can be made. Not sure what to do about

this one. I am sure her passport is the most important thing here in the states, but I am not sure if her ID card would be needed. Anyone know?

A Thai ID card is pretty much useless here. My wife has never used it.

[Tom and Teaw 1]

Well, I didn't know if they looked at them for some reason, or if they needed them during the AOS process, etc.

She is going to check and see what they say at the Amphur office tomorrow.

[daboyz 36]

Well, I didn't know if they looked at them for some reason, or if they needed them during the AOS process, etc.

She is going to check and see what they say at the Amphur office tomorrow.

Well easy then. If she's going to the Amphur she can get a new one. Only issues I have seen a AOS is the birth certificate. Make sure that thing is good.

[Tom and Teaw 1]

But they have had some problem with making new ones and they won't have them for 90 days they said on the news. She just called the Amphur office and they said they will

only give her the paper since they cannot make the news ones yet. Or she may just wait until we go back in either Dec or Apr.

She has her original birth certificate and we have had it translated and certified it was the authenticate thing and I will make sure we have it with us anyway. So that

should not be a problem. Ah, the joys of making sure all is in order!!!

[daboyz 36]

But they have had some problem with making new ones and they won't have them for 90 days they said on the news. She just called the Amphur office and they said they will

only give her the paper since they cannot make the news ones yet. Or she may just wait until we go back in either Dec or Apr.

She has her original birth certificate and we have had it translated and certified it was the authenticate thing and I will make sure we have it with us anyway. So that

should not be a problem. Ah, the joys of making sure all is in order!!!

Yeah it's kinda weird. The Embassy and DOS has a lower standard than USCIS. So the Embassy will accept one document, and then USCIS will reject the same document on AOS. Go figure. Gotta love the govt.

[Audy_Rob 26]

Shipping Boxes from Thailand to the US ???

Even though we do not have an interview date yet, Audy checked with the Thai post office for shipping rates. The Thai post office informed her 13,000 baht for a box that weighs 30 kgs.

She thinks she will have four boxes in addition to two to three suitcases she wants to bring to the US. Of course I can get three suitcases for free if I bring her to the US which I am certain I will need to do. I think that price is too steep and not very likely to get the boxes to the US.

Have others here shipped boxes from Thailand to the US and if so what were the experiences?

Thanks

[daboyz 36]

Shipping Boxes from Thailand to the US ???

Even though we do not have an interview date yet, Audy checked with the Thai post office for shipping rates. The Thai post office informed her 13,000 baht for a box that weighs 30 kgs.

She thinks she will have four boxes in addition to two to three suitcases she wants to bring to the US. Of course I can get three suitcases for free if I bring her to the US which I am certain I will need to do. I think that price is too steep and not very likely to get the boxes to the US.

Have others here shipped boxes from Thailand to the US and if so what were the experiences?

Thanks

Intersting. Let us know how that goes.