Starting my journey from Thailand

[TeacherJeff 0]

Wherever the space is not enough, write using black ink pen (not pencil) in CAPITAL letters if possible. Still not enough, use an additional sheet and hint it in the form.

Name is VERY important in the entire immigration process since it involves background name check combined with FBI. If USCIS suspects any discrepancies, RFE (Request for Evidence) is damn sure. So, always use the name as in the passport and stick with it through the entire application. She can also fill 'OTHER NAMES' used for any prior names.

Truly you live up too your name LotoPatience. Glyndale's passport expired shortly after our marriage and she renewed it using her new name. Would you mind answering three more questions since I am being particularly picky towards details. Better be safe than sorry.

1: How should I label Washington DC under residency? Could I put Washington under "city" and DC under "state"?

2: I've ran out of room over my residency for the past five years. Should I attach another document to the back of the original stating my 6th and final residency?

3: Four years ago I graduated from university and was not employed full time. During my last quarter at university I did not work to much because I was extremely busy making sure everything was picture perfect. How should I include my time as a student under the employment section?

4: While attending University I lived in a college owned apartment complex. I know the address for the apartments but I forgotten the exact room number. Should I just just leave that out?

5: I've seen a sample down of the 325a document done on the internet. The guy who did it only included the name of the employer but not the address. Should I include the address as well as the name of the employer?

6: Should I use capital letters on the parts of the 325a application that I type in?

7: Do I ask alot of questions?

warmest regards

Jeff

Edited July 26, 2010 by TeacherJeff

[tokyo.lovers 6]

after you file the I-130 and get an approval you start the NVC process, which is not hard, but can be a bit rough...

[canadian_wife 1,822]

Washington DC is not in any particular state. So list Washington DC as it's city with no state, USCIS is aware of this.

If you cannot fit all of your information on a single page, then by all means attach another sheet with the missing information

You do not want any gaps in your employment section. If you were a student, list the years and put 'student'. If you were unemployed, list the dates and put 'unemployed'. It will save you from getting an RFE later in the process

Leave out the room number and list all the other information

http://www.visajourney.com/examples/INS-Form-G-325A-aos.pdf - this form asks for the name and address of the employer, if it asks for the address, then list the address. I wouldn't use ALL CAPS when completing any form.

And no, you do not ask too many questions

Good luck

[LotofPatience 65]

Please read my responses/suggestions inline below

Loto

Truly you live up too your name LotoPatience. Glyndale's passport expired shortly after our marriage and she renewed it using her new name. Would you mind answering three more questions since I am being particularly picky towards details. Better be safe than sorry.

1: How should I label Washington DC under residency? Could I put Washington under "city" and DC under "state"? -> I would put "WASHINGTON DC" as a whole in under city and state in order not to have conflict with the pacific state Washington.

2: I've ran out of room over my residency for the past five years. Should I attach another document to the back of the original stating my 6th and final residency? -> Yes, you need attachment.

3: Four years ago I graduated from university and was not employed full time. During my last quarter at university I did not work to much because I was extremely busy making sure everything was picture perfect. How should I include my time as a student under the employment section? -> As canadian_wife told you, never leave the gap. Write student, unemployed, work etc. as appropriate.

4: While attending University I lived in a college owned apartment complex. I know the address for the apartments but I forgotten the exact room number. Should I just just leave that out? -> Should be fine.

5: I've seen a sample down of the 325a document done on the internet. The guy who did it only included the name of the employer but not the address. Should I include the address as well as the name of the employer? -> Yes, both name and address of the employer are required

6: Should I use capital letters on the parts of the 325a application that I type in? -> Most of the U.S application forms recommend and mandate using CAPITAL letters.

7: Do I ask alot of questions? -> If you have lot of patience to ask, I have lot of patience to answer :-)

warmest regards

Jeff

[rin and john 71]

Jeff - If you can demonstrate residence in Thailand of more than six months, you are eligible for direct consular filing (DCF). See link here on contacting the US Embassy in Thailand.

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/immigrant_visas/immigrant-visa-process.html

There is a forum on VJ regarding DCF.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/82-direct-consular-filing-dcf-general-discussion/

Typically, the DCF process is much faster than the CR-1/IR-1 process via USCIS/NVC in the US.

Best of luck!

John

[TeacherJeff 0]

Jeff - If you can demonstrate residence in Thailand of more than six months, you are eligible for direct consular filing (DCF). See link here on contacting the US Embassy in Thailand.

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/immigrant_visas/immigrant-visa-process.html

There is a forum on VJ regarding DCF.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/82-direct-consular-filing-dcf-general-discussion/

Typically, the DCF process is much faster than the CR-1/IR-1 process via USCIS/NVC in the US.

Best of luck!

John

Through no fault of my job may be terminated. The joys of living in Thailand....#######. What will be will be I suppose. If the worse case happens should I try to stick it out here in Thailand or start the process in America?

Jeff

[rin and john 71]

Through no fault of my job may be terminated. The joys of living in Thailand....#######. What will be will be I suppose. If the worse case happens should I try to stick it out here in Thailand or start the process in America?

Jeff

Entirely up to you. Shouldn't be an issue whether or not your employed when filing DCF as long as you can show residency in Thailand. Contact the embassy on how you go about it.

The issue will be the I-864 (affidavit of support). You will either need significant assets or a co-sponsor in the USA.

[TeacherJeff 0]

Entirely up to you. Shouldn't be an issue whether or not your employed when filing DCF as long as you can show residency in Thailand. Contact the embassy on how you go about it.

The issue will be the I-864 (affidavit of support). You will either need significant assets or a co-sponsor in the USA.

Would I have to to the Embassy in DC if I started the process in America? The I-864 is already covered. Can I file the DCF while in America? I would have to do a border run to Penang if my contract is terminated.

[rin and john 71]

Would I have to to the Embassy in DC if I started the process in America? The I-864 is already covered. Can I file the DCF while in America? I would have to do a border run to Penang if my contract is terminated.

If you file in the USA, you will need to follow the procedure for a CR1/IR1 visa in the Guides section above. DCF is only filed directly at the embassy in Bangkok. You would have to still be resident in Thailand to file there.

[TeacherJeff 0]

If you file in the USA, you will need to follow the procedure for a CR1/IR1 visa in the Guides section above. DCF is only filed directly at the embassy in Bangkok. You would have to still be resident in Thailand to file there.

Can I start the DCF process in Thailand and then relocate back to America around October and continue from there? Is it possible to attach the i-864 with the I-130 and the ds-230 form in one trip. A trip from Hatyai to Bangkok by bus is 12 hours and I would prefer to make as few trips as possible.

*mods* should I create a new thread in the DCF forum?

[TeacherJeff 0]

Also how would I go about getting a police certificate? Would my wife need to get one from her home country of the Philippines or here in Hatyai Thailand?

[rin and john 71]

Also how would I go about getting a police certificate? Would my wife need to get one from her home country of the Philippines or here in Hatyai Thailand?

Not sure about the timing question. I recommend starting a thread in DCF and/or sending an e-mail to the embassy to see if you qualify.

Your wife would need police certificates for anywhere she has been a resident after the age of 16 (usually more than six months is required to be considered a resident). The police certificate for Thailand can be obtained in Bangkok (http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/iv_instructions_package_may09.pdf)

"INSTRUCTION FOR THAI POLICE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE

Thai police certificates are available from:

The Police Clearance Service Center

Building 24, Royal Thai Police Headquarters,

Rama I, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330

Phone numbers: 0-2205-2168-9

Fax: 0-2205-2169

E-mail: pcsc@police.go.th

The office opens Monday to Friday (Except Public Holidays), from 8:30AM – 4:30PM without lunch

break. No fee for police clearance service.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR THAI POLICE CLEARANCE APPLICATION

APPLICANT RESIDING IN THAILAND

The applicant can contact Police Clearance Service Center in person with the following documents:

THAI NATIONAL APPLICANT

 Passport with one photocopy

 Thai ID Card with one photocopy

 House registration with one photocopy

 In case of name or surname change, name or surname change certificate is

required with one photocopy.

 Military Service Document (Sor Dor 8 or Sor Dor 43 or the certificate of completion of

3-year or 5-year reserve officer training course, either of which needed for Thai male

who is over the age of 20 and Sor Dor 9 for applicant between the age of 17-19)

with one photocopy

 Marriage certificate or Divorce certificate (if available) with one photocopy

 Requesting letter from the embassy of the country that the applicant plans to travel. A

notice from the US Embassy regarding your case (i.e. a packet 3 cover letter) can be

used for this purpose.

 In case of minor child applicant, the legal guardian has to be present to sign consent.

NON-THAI APPLICANT

 Passport with one photocopy

 Document(s) certify that the applicant is working, used to work or residing in Thailand.

 Thai Working permit (if available) with one photocopy"

Guessing that getting one in the Philippines would be a similar process. Links can be found in these instructions from the US Embassy in Manila: http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwfk1en.pdf

[TeacherJeff 0]

This visa process is more nerve wrecking than I through. The only thing that I thought that i was lacking was my wife's police certificate but after reading the following two checklists I am not to certain.

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/immigrant_visas/domicle.html

http://travel.state.gov/pdf/pk3_supplements/NHA-PK3-ENGL-0001-0801.pdf

1: Do I have to travel to bangkok and deliver this package personally? The lady whom I spoke with at the embassy said yes while this packet (the first link) states no

2: Do I have to provide a birth cert or would my passport be enough?

3: Do I have to submit my own police records in addition to my wife's?

4: Why does the application state $400 but the website states but USCIS website states $355?

5: According to the checklist provide here: http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1 I do not have to submit the I-864. According to the bangkok embassy I have to submit the I-864 (affidavit of support) with my I-130 package. For the record I've already sent the I-864 to my godparents to fill out.

warmest regards,

Jeff

Edited August 2, 2010 by TeacherJeff

[rin and john 71]

This visa process is more nerve wrecking than I through. The only thing that I thought that i was lacking was my wife's police certificate but after reading the following two checklists I am not to certain.

http://bangkok.usemb...as/domicle.html

http://travel.state....L-0001-0801.pdf

1: Do I have to travel to bangkok and deliver this package personally? The lady whom I spoke with at the embassy said yes while this packet (the first link) states no

2: Do I have to provide a birth cert or would my passport be enough?

3: Do I have to submit my own police records in addition to my wife's?

4: Why does the application state $400 but the website states but USCIS website states $355?

5: According to the checklist provide here: http://www.visajourn...tent/i130guide1 I do not have to submit the I-864. According to the bangkok embassy I have to submit the I-864 (affidavit of support) with my I-130 package. For the record I've already sent the I-864 to my godparents to fill out.

warmest regards,

Jeff

1) Can't get the link to work, so can't answer. Did you contact USCIS office in Bangkok? http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/embassy/usgmain/uscis.html Remember that the process for DCF varies from the typical filing in the USA of a I-129F (fiancee) or I-130 (spouse/family member). Usually better to send an e-mail as you will get much more clear instructions on the process in writing versus speaking with someone at the embassy.

2) Ask the embassy. I sent both. I would probably have a family member back in the states get one as it is always good to have it!

3) You only need your spouse's police records. They are checking for crimes that would make her inadmissible to the USA.

4) Is this in the first link? I don't see where it says $400.

5) If filing the I-130 in the USA, the I-864 is not sent. Once the I-130 is approved by USCIS in the USA, they send it to the NVC (National Visa Center) that will then request the I-864. Since you are filing directly in Bangkok (and skipping NVC) they are requesting everything upfront.

[rin and john 71]

Jeff - May want to do some research on this website as well. Do a search on "direct consulate filing"

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/348628-my-thai-wife-and-i-want-to-move-to-the-usa/page__p__3429158__hl__direct+consulate+filing__fromsearch__1#entry3429158