Sawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

[rsn 135]

Yea, things are slow now, but that is to be expected given what has happened. Even tourist visa interviews, as we recently discovered, are being scheduled about 12 days out, versus 2 a couple years ago.

Correction - non-immigrant visa interviews appear to be quite a bit more than 12 days out. No open appts anywhere on the calendar. Weird.

[ArizonaMike74 0]

Correction - non-immigrant visa interviews appear to be quite a bit more than 12 days out. No open appts anywhere on the calendar. Weird.

Yes something is seriously screwed up - the Embassy's web site says current time on Tourist Visas is two weeks but my fiance' just bought the PIN for her mother hoping we could schedule her Mom's B2 interview for the same week as her K1 interview (two weeks from now). However, she had trouble with the web site so she gave me the info so I created a login, used the PIN, and when I got to the schedule to pick a date - NO GREEN DAYS - not this month, not next month - no available days ever (I looked as far as January). I emailed the Visa Support Team and here was their response:

Thank you for using the Visa Information Service. We apologize for any difficulties you may have experienced.

There is currently a high demand for visa interview appointments. Appointment availability changes regularly as applicants schedule and cancel appointments. In addition, appointments will become available as the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Consulate General continue to add more appointments for the future. Please check the site again.

Once again, we apologize for any inconvenience.

Thank you,

The Visa Information Service Team

I replied to that email asking how often I should check the web site and how often the Embassy opens up appointments. Instead of the instant reply I received before they emailed me back saying they would "look into it" and I would get a response in 2-3 business days. Unbelievable

[Tom and Teaw 1]

Yes, it is amazing how screwed up they are. They never did officially reply to my Congressman's inquiry, although they did give us the visa.

I can only imagine what is going on in there. This can't possibly still be from the riots. Good luck, Mike. Maybe they will squeeze you in.

[rsn 135]

Yes something is seriously screwed up - the Embassy's web site says current time on Tourist Visas is two weeks but my fiance' just bought the PIN for her mother hoping we could schedule her Mom's B2 interview for the same week as her K1 interview (two weeks from now). However, she had trouble with the web site so she gave me the info so I created a login, used the PIN, and when I got to the schedule to pick a date - NO GREEN DAYS - not this month, not next month - no available days ever (I looked as far as January). I emailed the Visa Support Team and here was their response:

Thank you for using the Visa Information Service. We apologize for any difficulties you may have experienced.

There is currently a high demand for visa interview appointments. Appointment availability changes regularly as applicants schedule and cancel appointments. In addition, appointments will become available as the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Consulate General continue to add more appointments for the future. Please check the site again.

Once again, we apologize for any inconvenience.

Thank you,

The Visa Information Service Team

I replied to that email asking how often I should check the web site and how often the Embassy opens up appointments. Instead of the instant reply I received before they emailed me back saying they would "look into it" and I would get a response in 2-3 business days. Unbelievable

I never emailed them but I figured that was the case. We are trying to get an appt for the same reason as well. This is a somewhat common situation, not just at this embassy I'm assuming. You just have to check every day, sometimes several times a day. It's not really the embassy's fault, it's just the way it is.

...Also, don't bother looking farther than 8 weeks in advance - they don't schedule appointments that far into the future.

[ArizonaMike74 0]

I never emailed them but I figured that was the case. We are trying to get an appt for the same reason as well. This is a somewhat common situation, not just at this embassy I'm assuming. You just have to check every day, sometimes several times a day. It's not really the embassy's fault, it's just the way it is.

...Also, don't bother looking farther than 8 weeks in advance - they don't schedule appointments that far into the future.

Yes you are right. It turns out I got all worked up for nothing I checked when I woke up this morning and still no green but after I got to work I checked and the calendar was lit up like a Christmas tree. I picked the morning after Mimi's interview, September 8th, got the confirmation, and all is right in the world again

[daboyz 36]

Yes you are right. It turns out I got all worked up for nothing I checked when I woke up this morning and still no green but after I got to work I checked and the calendar was lit up like a Christmas tree. I picked the morning after Mimi's interview, September 8th, got the confirmation, and all is right in the world again

Crazy! Gotta love the govt.

[toma1 10]

Yes you are right. It turns out I got all worked up for nothing I checked when I woke up this morning and still no green but after I got to work I checked and the calendar was lit up like a Christmas tree. I picked the morning after Mimi's interview, September 8th, got the confirmation, and all is right in the world again

Has she ever had a tourist visa for the US before? Approval of these can quite difficult if she cannot show strong ties to Thailand, and her daughter having a K1 will actually be considered a negative factor, especially if the mother has never had a tourist visa before. Even more especially if there is no father in the picture that is staying behind in Thailand.

[daboyz 36]

Has she ever had a tourist visa for the US before? Approval of these can quite difficult if she cannot show strong ties to Thailand, and her daughter having a K1 will actually be considered a negative factor, especially if the mother has never had a tourist visa before. Even more especially if there is no father in the picture that is staying behind in Thailand.

Also having the tourist visa interview the day after the K-1 will probably raise some flags.

[toma1 10]

Also having the tourist visa interview the day after the K-1 will probably raise some flags.

BTW: Hangover?

[daboyz 36]

BTW: Hangover?

lol!!! It was rationed.

[toma1 10]

They might dislike red meat since they cant afford it.

I think that's about right. Inability to afford it leads to lack of familiarity with beef.

The Thais I saw at Wagu beef night at the Centara didn't seem to have any problem downing a few filet mignons (but since they are spending $40++ each for dinner, I figure their finances are not an issue...)

Edited August 24, 2010 by toma1

[ArizonaMike74 0]

Has she ever had a tourist visa for the US before? Approval of these can quite difficult if she cannot show strong ties to Thailand, and her daughter having a K1 will actually be considered a negative factor, especially if the mother has never had a tourist visa before. Even more especially if there is no father in the picture that is staying behind in Thailand.

Mimi's mother, Waralee, has traveled to Norway and lived in Sweden with her Swedish husband (she's widowed), but she's never been to the US. Though she is single, she owns a rice farm and two nice houses in the city of Sisaket, has money in the bank, and has another daughter and two grandchildren that live next to her so she definitely can prove ties to Thailand. The reason I'm scheduling the Tourist Visa is so she can come for the wedding. I've read conflicting view points on Waralee's chances of getting a B2 Tourist Visa for the wedding but I have to try and I can't afford to wait for a month or more before she applies - I need to get Mimi's airline ticket and I can't buy hers until I know if her mother is coming too.

This will save them another long trip and the expense of going to Bangkok and I will know right away if her mother is coming or not (unless the Embassy pulls more shenanigans).

Mike

[rsn 135]

Mimi's mother, Waralee, has traveled to Norway and lived in Sweden with her Swedish husband (she's widowed), but she's never been to the US. Though she is single, she owns a rice farm and two nice houses in the city of Sisaket, has money in the bank, and has another daughter and two grandchildren that live next to her so she definitely can prove ties to Thailand. The reason I'm scheduling the Tourist Visa is so she can come for the wedding. I've read conflicting view points on Waralee's chances of getting a B2 Tourist Visa for the wedding but I have to try and I can't afford to wait for a month or more before she applies - I need to get Mimi's airline ticket and I can't buy hers until I know if her mother is coming too.

This will save them another long trip and the expense of going to Bangkok and I will know right away if her mother is coming or not (unless the Embassy pulls more shenanigans).

Mike

The B2 interview is a crapshoot (for many, it is more of a ####### chute), no way to predict if someone will get one or not. I know of several people who I didn't think would get one who ended up with a 10 year visa. One other applied once - denied. She applied again 3 months later with the exact same evidence & situation - approved. This was someone with no job, no income, and a modest plot of land and house. Seriously, there is no way to know for sure. Chances are better for an older person (50+) versus a younger person though. Luck is definitely a factor too.

Edited August 25, 2010 by rsn

[pgrin 2]

Sawasdee Guys,

I've been checking the on line schedule from US Embassy BKK

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/immigrant_visas/scheduled-appointments.html

This link was last updated Aug 9 and the list ends in 3 days and does not have any Sept dates yet. Is there a list posted for Sept K-1 visa appointments yet?

Thanks,

P

[gbagbo 0]

Sawasdee Guys,

I've been checking the on line schedule from US Embassy BKK

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/immigrant_visas/scheduled-appointments.html

This link was last updated Aug 9 and the list ends in 3 days and does not have any Sept dates yet. Is there a list posted for Sept K-1 visa appointments yet?

Thanks,

P

The embassy usually posts the interview list on the 2nd of every month. September 2nd should be the date when the september interview are posted. Sometimes they'll update during the month.