Starting IR-1 Process

[gradtaai 8]

About the i-864. That is my understanding also. You don't have to do a i-864A for your spouse. As I mention, I heard the same about the police report, but only once. I hope that is correct. It would be a jump start. I am hoping to have visa in hand by the middle of May.

Edited March 12, 2016 by gradtaai

[Siam Sam 6]

We've heard the interview is maybe two months after submitting Packet 3. I'm pretty sure everything except the Police Clearance Certificate will be ready by early next week at the latest, so I think we're going to try filing without it.

I do have some more questions regarding Packet 3. One regards Name-Change Certificates. My wife has one, because her parents changed her surname when she was four months old. Her parents were both Chinese nationals, and they decided it would be better for their children if they had Thai surnames rather than Chinese. This was in the early 1960s, when it was still a big issue. They changed all the kids' names. We do have the certificate for that ... but we don't have anything for her name change following our marriage. She changed her name on everything from her national ID card to her passport based on our Marriage Certificate, but there was no Name-Change Certificate per se for that move. We're figuring the Marriage Certificate and showing all her previous passports, both personal and official, will be good enough for that, but we're not 100% certain.

And finally, since we have to mail in the Packet 3, I assume sending it via registered mail is okay, just to be sure. but government rules are often so esoteric that who knows if that's breaking some rule. I don't see anything against it though.

The weakness in her application is definitely going to be me. I simply do not have a US address, have not had one for 22 years and cannot go seek one until I finish this dental work. It's going to be maybe July before I can get out of here. We're counting heavily on that year to rectify shortcomings that I've been assured we'll get.

Edited March 14, 2016 by Siam Sam

[Siam Sam 6]

And we submitted the Packet 3 yesterday.Sent it EMS, so the embassy should receive it today. Now we sit back and await further instructions.

[gradtaai 8]

A bit behind you. I needed an statement from Bangkok bank. I thougt I could just walk in and get one. But NO. They had to send the request into Bangkok. It took 5 days . I will be sending off on Monday. I guess I will be asking for a May appointment. Too chancy trying for April with the 5 week timing for the Police report.

Edited March 26, 2016 by gradtaai

[Siam Sam 6]

Well damn, that was fast. They received the Packet 3 last Friday, and on Monday they sent my wife an e-mail saying an April 7 interview was scheduled. For this, my wife is using an e-mail account that is not her main one, and she was not expecting a reply so soon, so she just saw the message today (Wednesday). They sent her the Packet 4 instructions too. But she has no Police Clearance Certificate yet. We included a cover letter with Packet 3 stating that certificate would not be ready until April 29. Guess they missed that. She's sent them a message asking to reschedule the interview for after April 29.

Is this a good sign, them scheduling an appointment three days after receiving Packet 3 -- scheduling it one business day after receiving it actually -- with the appointment scheduled for the following week?

BTW, I know more fees will be involved. I don't mean like for the medical but more to pay at the embassy. What fee is coming up next, does anyone know?

[Siam Sam 6]

My wife heard back from the IV unit already. They said she could attend the interview on April 7 and mail in the Police Clearance Certificate later but noted that missing documents would cause a delay in visa issuance. Well, that's okay since I can't even get out of here myself until July, and we know the lack of an address inside the US is going to hold it up anyway. So she's on for an April 7 interview. At 7am. Geez, these people get up with the chickens.

We'll get her medical done this weekend more than likely. Since those are good for only six months, there's a good chance she'll have to have another one before she finally moves to the US, but at least she'll be up on her vaccinations.

Edited March 30, 2016 by Siam Sam

[gradtaai 8]

WOW Sam, that was fast. I didn't think it would take 2 months as you posted earlier. I was expecting about 2 weeks, but that is much faster. I hope I have the same luck, but with the holidays coming up, even if I get the e-mail tomorrow, I think it will be 2 weeks to interview. Fees something like $325 at interview, and then $165 after she gets her passport back with green card. Gees, I'm all excited now

[Siam Sam 6]

We called the hospital too late tonight to make a doctor's appointment. Will have to call in the morning. We'll try to get in tomorrow, otherwise it will have to be Saturday, because she already has doctor follow-ups for Friday that cannot be rescheduled. I hope there is enough time for the medical. The person she did talk to tonight, who said to call back tomorrow morning since that section was closed for the evening, mentioned something about TB testing being done only on Tuesdays. My wife didn't quite catch it, but that's what she thinks she heard. This is BNH, which she's already registered at and is closer to our home than Bumrungrad, which despite it's fancy facade, we really dislike.

Good luck to you too.

Edited March 30, 2016 by Siam Sam

[gradtaai 8]

We called the hospital too late tonight to make a doctor's appointment. Will have to call in the morning. We'll try to get in tomorrow, otherwise it will have to be Saturday, because she already has doctor follow-ups for Friday that cannot be rescheduled. I hope there is enough time for the medical. The person she did talk to tonight, who said to call back tomorrow morning since that section was closed for the evening, mentioned something about TB testing being done only on Tuesdays. My wife didn't quite catch it, but that's what she thinks she heard. This is BNH, which she's already registered at and is closer to our home than Bumrungrad, which despite it's fancy facade, we really dislike.

Good luck to you too.

Since you will have to wait for the police report, maybe you can send the medical in at the same time. I know they say that if the medical isn't done you should call in and re schedule, but since they already know you have to send the police report later, they may just let you do both later.

[Siam Sam 6]

We'll see how it goes with the medical and check back with the IV Unit if need be. She doesn't have any serious issues to explain, just general growing-older ailments like high blood pressure. (We're both in our 50s.)

[gradtaai 8]

Since I sent Monday morning, I'll start looking today for an e-mail, But I live in the sticks about half way between Korat and Khon Kaen and a few km from the main highway. The mail may take longer to get to Bangkok. I checked the embassy website this morning. They haven't posted the April appointment schedule yet.

[gradtaai 8]

Well, I got my wife's appointment date today. They must have seen my request because I got May 4th. I almost wish they would have given me an earlier date so we could get it over with. I am a bit confused by the packet 4 now. They have changed the list of what to bring. They are listing everything that was already sent in packet 3 including the i-864. That can't be right. On the packet 3 list on the last page it is a much shorter list of things not sent.

[Siam Sam 6]

Huh. Your interview is almost four weeks after ours, but you submitted just a few days after we did. Odd. As for the I-864, I don't think they're requiring it. The only mention I see of it is this: "Updated Affidavit of Support forms I-864 and I-134 may be requested if there have been changes to the petitioner’s income, and U.S. tax documents should be from the most recent tax year. Please provide new documents if the current ones have expired." That's on page 4 of this pdf file linked from the e-mail they sent. Nothing has changed on ours, but if it did, I'm guessing they'd probably tell my wife at the interview if they wanted a new one, then I'd send it in. Again, just a guess.

But we went to BNH Hospital today for the medical, and it was a breeze. We needn't have been worried about testing taking too long to make the interview. They told us it would take 3-4 hours, but in reality it took only two. My wife had to have four vaccinations, but at least one of them was age related (she's 55), so not everyone will get that. What she had to get was varicella (chicken pox), combined tetanus-diptheria, MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and the latest influenza. They said the influenza was especially required by the CDC, so everyone will have to get that. For the varicella vaccine, my wife will also need a booster after four weeks. No special TB testing was done, possibly due to her chest X-ray looking good.

But be warned: Some of the information given regarding the exam is incorrect. The IV Unit's info said to take three (3) photos sized 1 x 1-1/2 inches, but what BNH wants is four (4) photos sized 2 x 2 inches (basically the same as the other photos already submitted for the visa application). Fortunately we called ahead and they told us about the photos then, so we were prepared. The IV Unit also said the basic fee for BNH would be Bt2850, but no, it was Bt3300. The four vaccinations came to another Bt4655 for a grand total of Bt7955 for us. (The booster will cost Bt1850 if she goes back to BNH for it, but it's okay to get it elsewhere at a lower cost.) In the instructions, the IV Unit also linked to four forms needed, and I printed those out. But you don't need to print them out, the hospital already has them and will use those.

So now we wait for next Thursday.

[gradtaai 8]

Thanks for all that info

I had requested May in bold letters on the cover sheet, I guess they couldn't miss it.

I freaked out about the docs required because I front loaded a lot of evidence of our relationship that they kept, some of which were originals, letters from friends and family, photos etc. I will photo copy what I have.

I wish they would get the medical instructions sorted out, This from Jan

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/582507-bumrumgrad-medical/#entry7973339

Which pretty much is what my wife is reading on the Thai forums, and what a friend of mine that went through the process this time last year said.

My wife also around 50 and no record of vaccinations, but had shots when she was in school. We had a blood test done to show if she had any antibodies from the vaccinations. I don't know if the report will amount to a hill of beans at the medical. Anyway, GOOD LUCK to you.

Huh. Your interview is almost four weeks after ours, but you submitted just a few days after we did. Odd. As for the I-864, I don't think they're requiring it. The only mention I see of it is this: "Updated Affidavit of Support forms I-864 and I-134 may be requested if there have been changes to the petitioner’s income, and U.S. tax documents should be from the most recent tax year. Please provide new documents if the current ones have expired." That's on page 4 of this pdf file linked from the e-mail they sent. Nothing has changed on ours, but if it did, I'm guessing they'd probably tell my wife at the interview if they wanted a new one, then I'd send it in. Again, just a guess.

But we went to BNH Hospital today for the medical, and it was a breeze. We needn't have been worried about testing taking too long to make the interview. They told us it would take 3-4 hours, but in reality it took only two. My wife had to have four vaccinations, but at least one of them was age related (she's 55), so not everyone will get that. What she had to get was varicella (chicken pox), combined tetanus-diptheria, MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and the latest influenza. They said the influenza was especially required by the CDC, so everyone will have to get that. For the varicella vaccine, my wife will also need a booster after four weeks. No special TB testing was done, possibly due to her chest X-ray looking good.

But be warned: Some of the information given regarding the exam is incorrect. The IV Unit's info said to take three (3) photos sized 1 x 1-1/2 inches, but what BNH wants is four (4) photos sized 2 x 2 inches (basically the same as the other photos already submitted for the visa application). Fortunately we called ahead and they told us about the photos then, so we were prepared. The IV Unit also said the basic fee for BNH would be Bt2850, but no, it was Bt3300. The four vaccinations came to another Bt4655 for a grand total of Bt7955 for us. (The booster will cost Bt1850 if she goes back to BNH for it, but it's okay to get it elsewhere at a lower cost.) In the instructions, the IV Unit also linked to four forms needed, and I printed those out. But you don't need to print them out, the hospital already has them and will use those.

So now we wait for next Thursday.

[Siam Sam 6]

Thanks. You too. I'll let you know how it goes next Thursday.