Sawasdee 4 (Thai K-1s in 2010)

[kenny1 0]

Hey Folks-

Thank you to those that have given advice to me in the past, everyone here has been very helpful. I was encouraged by Richard's post about getting an interview scheduled. My fiancee mailed in packet 3 about a week after he did and when I saw his post I quickly called and told her she should go get the medical done as quick as she can. Unfortunately it's a long trip for her from the Isaan area, especially since she prefers to take the bus. I've done it and it's a loooong ride.

The question I had was, in anyone's experience, is it cheaper to get the immunizations done by a local doctor rather than getting them done at the medical exam in Bangkok? I was king of figuring that getting your immunizations done at the medical was like buying a coke and popcorn at the movies. They are going to overcharge you for them because they can, and at that point you don't have any options. I don't know if this is logical reasoning or not?

When I asked her if she had an immunizations record, she said she didn't have one at all. I know you can't put a price on getting those that you care about over to be with you, but when she said that, I couldn't help but start thinking about how we could save a little money. That list of immunizations that are required looks pretty long and pricey! Any inputs would be great. Also, if anyone knows any place in Isaan (Beung Khong Long, Seka, Sakon Nakon) area that they recommend I would appreciate it. Many thanks!

Herk,

Ying did her entire medical at Bumrangrad Hospital. It cost around 4000 Baht. Just my two cents.

[Herk Driver 0]

Herk,

Ying did her entire medical at Bumrangrad Hospital. It cost around 4000 Baht. Just my two cents.

Richard-

Thank for the reply. That doesn't seem too bad of a price with all of the immunizations. We'll probably just do that in the interest of saving her from having to go to 2 different places.

[TheBears 9]

Hey Folks-

Thank you to those that have given advice to me in the past, everyone here has been very helpful. I was encouraged by Richard's post about getting an interview scheduled. My fiancee mailed in packet 3 about a week after he did and when I saw his post I quickly called and told her she should go get the medical done as quick as she can. Unfortunately it's a long trip for her from the Isaan area, especially since she prefers to take the bus. I've done it and it's a loooong ride.

The question I had was, in anyone's experience, is it cheaper to get the immunizations done by a local doctor rather than getting them done at the medical exam in Bangkok? I was king of figuring that getting your immunizations done at the medical was like buying a coke and popcorn at the movies. They are going to overcharge you for them because they can, and at that point you don't have any options. I don't know if this is logical reasoning or not?

When I asked her if she had an immunizations record, she said she didn't have one at all. I know you can't put a price on getting those that you care about over to be with you, but when she said that, I couldn't help but start thinking about how we could save a little money. That list of immunizations that are required looks pretty long and pricey! Any inputs would be great. Also, if anyone knows any place in Isaan (Beung Khong Long, Seka, Sakon Nakon) area that they recommend I would appreciate it. Many thanks!

Oh, yes. Have her get them done at home. Bamrungrad is a hotel staffing doctors and nurses instead of valets and bellhops. It's plush and pretty and has a price tag to match.

Td or Tdap

MMR

Varicella

are the three that will be given to her at Bamrungrad.

As for where to get them exactly, just her local hospital or clinic. I'm sorry. I only know Ubon, Nakhon Pathom, and Bangkok well enough to know where a hospital is. I haven't spent enough day-to-day time in any others to have taken note.

[Audy_Rob 26]

...That list of immunizations that are required looks pretty long and pricey!

It is only the three Kari (TheBears) listed. Most of the vaccinations are for under 18 years of age.

Good luck.

[Tom and Teaw 1]

Yes, sir. You fall under the "those waiting for good news" category. I'm hoping that since they're doubling their caseload (15 cases per day instead of 6 or 7) they'll get to your case faster, too.

I was just giving you a hard time Kari. But I am afraid that in they zeal to get caught up they will put the AP cases on the back burner and basically ignore them, which of course should

NOT be done but you know the feds!!! I wish there was some way to ask and get a REAL answer from them about what they were doing.

[kenny1 0]

As the US Travel Warnings have been lifted, I am planning to go to Thailand for Ying's Interview. Does it help your chances of being approved if I am in country during her interview. I plan on giving her my passport as proof during the interview to show that I am there and show the newest VISA stamp.

Thanks

[AaronLV 12]

As the US Travel Warnings have been lifted, I am planning to go to Thailand for Ying's Interview. Does it help your chances of being approved if I am in country during her interview. I plan on giving her my passport as proof during the interview to show that I am there and show the newest VISA stamp.

Thanks

It can't hurt. I think if you have very few visits it most likely helps, but for the most part I think it comes down to the evidence you submit.

[daboyz 36]

As the US Travel Warnings have been lifted, I am planning to go to Thailand for Ying's Interview. Does it help your chances of being approved if I am in country during her interview. I plan on giving her my passport as proof during the interview to show that I am there and show the newest VISA stamp.

Thanks

Hard to say. I have it could be good or bad. Some people saying that you shouldn't be giving your passport to other people. They might frown on that. Others have said that it just proves you are in Thailand. I would say the best thing would be to show them your used boarding pass from your flight to Thailand. They gave me a hard time cause we didn't have enough photos. That idiot CO is now gone, so you might read some recent reviews.

[Tom and Teaw 1]

The idiot CO may be gone but now we have the AP happy CO running the place!!!

[daboyz 36]

The idiot CO may be gone but now we have the AP happy CO running the place!!!

I have no idea how they decide AP. We got a 221g that laid out what they wanted. So at least we knew where we stood. We gave them the 2 things they wanted (more photos and a new I-864 due to some tax issues) Still scratching my head why the didn't make a problem for me on the US side at NVC about the tax lien, but oh well.

[daboyz 36]

I wanted to mention something else concerning K visas and Thailand. I think I brought it up awhile back.

Make SURE you get a decent birth certificate. I have seen at least 3 people here that have turned in what they thought was an official birth certificate to the Embassy/DOS. Embassy would accept it. Then they went to adjust status and USCIS would issue an RFE. These people had to go through hell to get the right birth certificate from Thailand once the beneficiary was already here in the states. Seems the Bangkok embassy has a much lower standard than USCIS when it comes to Thai birth certificates.

[daboyz 36]

From DOS:

Birth Certificates

Available. The issuance of birth certificates in Thailand began in Bangkok in 1917. Records of birth are often lacking for people born in Bangkok before World War II and for those born in other areas of the country up until the 1970s. Birth Certificates are issued by "Amphur," (geographic subdivision roughly equivalent to a county in the U.S.) district authorities having jurisdiction over the place of birth. There may be a fee for this service.

A Thai citizen older than 15 and born in Thailand, whose birth was not registered, must present in its stead a household registration, together with a Thai national identity card ("bat prachachon"), and may also be required to submit additional proof of the claimed relationship.

My wife didn't have a Birth Certificate. She went to the Amphur and got a certified letter from them with the stamp and all.

Like I said though, I think USCIS is much more strict than DOS.

Source:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/reciprocity/reciprocity_3687.html

[TheBears 9]

Yes, sir. You fall under the "those waiting for good news" category. I'm hoping that since they're doubling their caseload (15 cases per day instead of 6 or 7) they'll get to your case faster, too.

I was just giving you a hard time Kari. But I am afraid that in they zeal to get caught up they will put the AP cases on the back burner and basically ignore them, which of course should

NOT be done but you know the feds!!! I wish there was some way to ask and get a REAL answer from them about what they were doing.

Tom! I have an idea! We need some rope. And some blindfolds. And some nifty spy gear. And durian. Lots and lots of durian. Or rotten jackfruit.

As the US Travel Warnings have been lifted, I am planning to go to Thailand for Ying's Interview. Does it help your chances of being approved if I am in country during her interview. I plan on giving her my passport as proof during the interview to show that I am there and show the newest VISA stamp.

Thanks

If will probably be more of a help to her mentally. The CO won't care. You won't be allowed to be with her when she interviews. And if you want to enter the Embassy at the same time she is there, you'll have to be sneaky about it. If you're going, then take her, leave her in there on her own, and be waiting outside to pick her up. Have her join usvisa2thai, if she hasn't already. On there, she can find other ladies interviewing the same day she does. Or she can just look for the ones carrying the big x-ray envelopes -- they're all either K or IR/CR cases. My ID on usvisa4thai is LittleBird if she has anything she wants to know in Thai.

From DOS:

Birth Certificates

Available. The issuance of birth certificates in Thailand began in Bangkok in 1917. Records of birth are often lacking for people born in Bangkok before World War II and for those born in other areas of the country up until the 1970s. Birth Certificates are issued by "Amphur," (geographic subdivision roughly equivalent to a county in the U.S.) district authorities having jurisdiction over the place of birth. There may be a fee for this service.

A Thai citizen older than 15 and born in Thailand, whose birth was not registered, must present in its stead a household registration, together with a Thai national identity card ("bat prachachon"), and may also be required to submit additional proof of the claimed relationship.

My wife didn't have a Birth Certificate. She went to the Amphur and got a certified letter from them with the stamp and all.

Like I said though, I think USCIS is much more strict than DOS.

Source:

http://travel.state....ocity_3687.html

Just FYI so you can be sure your better half gets the right papers. In Thai, a birth certificate is สูติบัตร but is usually called ใบเกิด . The letter daboyz is talking about it called หนังสือรับรองสถานที่เกิด . They're available at the local Amphur office or ที่ว่าการอำเภอ . You want it to be a certified copy or รับรองสำเนาถูกต้อง . Don't forget an English translation, too.

[AaronLV 12]

I have no idea how they decide AP. We got a 221g that laid out what they wanted. So at least we knew where we stood. We gave them the 2 things they wanted (more photos and a new I-864 due to some tax issues) Still scratching my head why the didn't make a problem for me on the US side at NVC about the tax lien, but oh well.

I am not sure why they go into AP, however the attorney that we used (we had to bring stuff back), most of the time, they will collect the documents and say we'll let you know. The attorney went in with my wife and when they took the documents and said we will let you know, she just said, "No I prefer to wait while they review the documents". Not that this would have made a difference, but it might be helpful to some people in the future. I believe I posted this info before, but that was over a year ago.

[daboyz 36]

I am not sure why they go into AP, however the attorney that we used (we had to bring stuff back), most of the time, they will collect the documents and say we'll let you know. The attorney went in with my wife and when they took the documents and said we will let you know, she just said, "No I prefer to wait while they review the documents". Not that this would have made a difference, but it might be helpful to some people in the future. I believe I posted this info before, but that was over a year ago.

Are you sure you were in AP? It sounds like you had 221g requesting more documents. Seems like people that are put in AP they don't ask for anything, they just say we'll get back to you. When I turned in the documents, they looked at them took the passport, and said come back tomorrow to pick up your visa. This AP thing seems like some kind of arbitrary thing with no rhyme or reason.