K-1 Thailand

[nycandrewusa 0]

Hello People:

We just got our K1-Fiance Visa approved! at the US Embassy in Bangkok. I studied and read this web site for many hours before and the many experiences. It gave me some insight and helped in our progress. So now, just for good luck, and for good Karma, I will put some advice on the board:

#1. Make sure that your Thai finance’s Birth Certificate and House Residence paper be translated and “stamped certified” by Thai immigration. I read on this website someone wrote that the translation is only needed for when you get to the US, that the translation can be done in the usa, that all you need for the interview is the originals.>That’s wrong! Yes you need the originals and you need to get it translated now, before the interview. Also get it stamped by the Thai Govt. Have the translated copies ready for the Thai woman who screens all paper work, before you get to the American who will interview your fiancé. My girlfriend did it the day before the interview, by luck we got it done, because we found out from the translation store across from the consulate at the last minute that it is needed. That Thai woman at window 5 was ready to reject us because she thought we didn’t have them.

#2. The DS-156 must be filled out online on the US govt. website. Their not going to take handwritten filled forms. Even though the form says type or print, they wanted it typed on the website and then printed out with the barcode. You must have the barcode! You see I made the mistake of just printing out the form out from the US govt. website, then we filled it out by hand, with black ink pen. -Wrong! If you do this they are going to make you go to the two computers inside the consulate, go back to the website, fill out all the information online, then press “continue” and it will check it, and then print it out. This delayed us for almost 2 hours. First of all there are two computers set up like ATM’s inside the consulate. It takes about 30 minutes to enter all the info again, so you have to wait on line for the people in front of you. Each person takes about 30 minutes, so if there are 1 or 2 people in front of you, you might be waiting more than an hour to use the computer. Many Thai people can’t read the English or don’t know how to use the computer so there are delays. The Chinese woman next to me said she had no idea you got to fill out this form online; neither did I. It was not clear in the instructions. Because they send the old DS-156 form to you with package 3, then there is a letter that tells you that you got to go to the website and print out the new form, but it is not so clear in saying that you got to fill out the form on line before you print it out. So I would suggest that you fill out the info online at home in comfort on your computer.

PS – I read on the Thailand thread on this website that someone wrote you don’t really need the barcode, that the Thai women just rips that last page off. -That’s wrong! You need that bar code and its got to be all filled out.

#3 You need to have the Affidavit of support notarized, if you’re outside the US no problem. The consulate will do it for you. It costs $30.dollars. Make sure you bring some money. I saw a lady who didn’t come with enough money to get her notary so she had to go back to her hotel, but the consulate closes at 2pm. I was going to get my W-2 tax forms notarized, but the woman at the window said its not really necessary at this embassy, she says she never sees that request, each stamp would have been $30. Dollars! 3 US tax forms would have been almost $100. Dollars!

#4. You need to go to the post office across the street from the consulate, behind the Sidhorn building to pay $100. dollars in order to pay for your K-1 Visa. You cannot pay for your K-1 at the consulate. Just go into the post office and tell them you need to pay K-1 Visa American Embassy, they will understand, they will give you a receipt. I paid with Thai Baht. 3600 baht. You might want to do that before you go in for the interview. Otherwise your going to have to go back out, climb stairs over the walkway bridge over the street, then go back, in through security again. Bring money or you will have to search for an ATM. I paid almost $200. dollars for my petition, so I thought that covered the Visa too, not so, the visa is extra, that is separate from the petition costs. The consulate is a different US dept. than the dept. in the US.

#5 The people at the US embassy do have a human side to them. Its not like they are robots with no hearts. They are not looking to knock you down and reject people. They are not overly obsessive with details that would make it almost impossible for anyone to get a Visa. There was a sense of fairness during the whole process. We were there for about 4 hours total.

OK, BROTHERS AND SISTERS! I HOPE THIS HELPS SOME PEOPLE OUT THERE.

PEACE AND LOVE

ANDREW

[nycandrewusa 0]

Hello People:

We just got our K1-Fiance Visa approved! at the US Embassy in Bangkok. I studied and read this web site for many hours before and the many experiences. It gave me some insight and helped in our progress. So now, just for good luck, and for good Karma, I will put some advice on the board:

#1. Make sure that your Thai finance’s Birth Certificate and House Residence paper be translated and “stamped certified” by Thai immigration. I read on this website someone wrote that the translation is only needed for when you get to the US, that the translation can be done in the usa, that all you need for the interview is the originals.>That’s wrong! Yes you need the originals and you need to get it translated now, before the interview. Also get it stamped by the Thai Govt. Have the translated copies ready for the Thai woman who screens all paper work, before you get to the American who will interview your fiancé. My girlfriend did it the day before the interview, by luck we got it done, because we found out from the translation store across from the consulate at the last minute that it is needed. That Thai woman at window 5 was ready to reject us because she thought we didn’t have them.

#2. The DS-156 must be filled out online on the US govt. website. Their not going to take handwritten filled forms. Even though the form says type or print, they wanted it typed on the website and then printed out with the barcode. You must have the barcode! You see I made the mistake of just printing out the form out from the US govt. website, then we filled it out by hand, with black ink pen. -Wrong! If you do this they are going to make you go to the two computers inside the consulate, go back to the website, fill out all the information online, then press “continue” and it will check it, and then print it out. This delayed us for almost 2 hours. First of all there are two computers set up like ATM’s inside the consulate. It takes about 30 minutes to enter all the info again, so you have to wait on line for the people in front of you. Each person takes about 30 minutes, so if there are 1 or 2 people in front of you, you might be waiting more than an hour to use the computer. Many Thai people can’t read the English or don’t know how to use the computer so there are delays. The Chinese woman next to me said she had no idea you got to fill out this form online; neither did I. It was not clear in the instructions. Because they send the old DS-156 form to you with package 3, then there is a letter that tells you that you got to go to the website and print out the new form, but it is not so clear in saying that you got to fill out the form on line before you print it out. So I would suggest that you fill out the info online at home in comfort on your computer.

PS – I read on the Thailand thread on this website that someone wrote you don’t really need the barcode, that the Thai women just rips that last page off. -That’s wrong! You need that bar code and its got to be all filled out.

#3 You need to have the Affidavit of support notarized, if you’re outside the US no problem. The consulate will do it for you. It costs $30.dollars. Make sure you bring some money. I saw a lady who didn’t come with enough money to get her notary so she had to go back to her hotel, but the consulate closes at 2pm. I was going to get my W-2 tax forms notarized, but the woman at the window said its not really necessary at this embassy, she says she never sees that request, each stamp would have been $30. Dollars! 3 US tax forms would have been almost $100. Dollars!

#4. You need to go to the post office across the street from the consulate, behind the Sidhorn building to pay $100. dollars in order to pay for your K-1 Visa. You cannot pay for your K-1 at the consulate. Just go into the post office and tell them you need to pay K-1 Visa American Embassy, they will understand, they will give you a receipt. I paid with Thai Baht. 3600 baht. You might want to do that before you go in for the interview. Otherwise your going to have to go back out, climb stairs over the walkway bridge over the street, then go back, in through security again. Bring money or you will have to search for an ATM. I paid almost $200. dollars for my petition, so I thought that covered the Visa too, not so, the visa is extra, that is separate from the petition costs. The consulate is a different US dept. than the dept. in the US.

#5 The people at the US embassy do have a human side to them. Its not like they are robots with no hearts. They are not looking to knock you down and reject people. They are not overly obsessive with details that would make it almost impossible for anyone to get a Visa. There was a sense of fairness during the whole process. We were there for about 4 hours total.

OK, BROTHERS AND SISTERS! I HOPE THIS HELPS SOME PEOPLE OUT THERE.

PEACE AND LOVE

ANDREW

[RUKTHUR 0]

Congratulation

[RUKTHUR 0]

Thank you so much Andrew for advice.

I heard that have translation only Birth Certificate, that is not right?

And translation you can write certificate true copy by yourself....not true?

Edited June 8, 2007 by RUKTHUR

[RUKTHUR 0]

Because Thai immigration locate so far away from central of Bangkok.

[aj1 1]

CONGRATULATIONS!!! to you both. I wish you a long, and happy life together

AJ1

[Arinola 0]

Gr8 news.....Congratulations on a successful interview!!

Edited June 8, 2007 by Arinola

[mailman2 0]

#1. Make sure that your Thai finance’s Birth Certificate and House Residence paper be translated and “stamped certified” by Thai immigration. I read on this website someone wrote that the translation is only needed for when you get to the US, that the translation can be done in the usa, that all you need for the interview is the originals.>That’s wrong! Yes you need the originals and you need to get it translated now, before the interview. Also get it stamped by the Thai Govt.

#2. The DS-156 must be filled out online on the US govt. website.

#4. You need to go to the post office across the street from the consulate, behind the Sidhorn building to pay $100. dollars in order to pay for your K-1 Visa. You cannot pay for your K-1 at the consulate. Just go into the post office and tell them you need to pay K-1 Visa American Embassy, they will understand, they will give you a receipt. ANDREW

Andrew,

Thanks for all the information. I would have missed the above highlighted items and have a few questions.

What is the house residence paper that is referred to? Maybe I just need to search more, but don't know what it is.

Also, these paper MUST be translated and stamped by Thai Immigration? Where are they located, if yi remember (or again, maybe I have to search more.

Thanks for the heads up regarding the DS-156 form, I found the official form needed at https://evisaforms.state.gov/ds156.asp

If anyone knows why you have to go across the street to pay a fee at the post office, just curious what fee this is?

Again, thanks for posting these details! It can certainly save the rest of us hours or even days when going through this!

[BishopMnA 0]

Great and helpful post nycandrewusa...and most importantly CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Mailman2 - the house registration papers are similar to what we in the United States call the 'Warranty Deed' of the house. It shows the official registration of the home and address with the Thai Govt.

I didn't use the same post office a nycandrewusa. I'm not 100% sure, but I think you can use just about any post office in Bangkok to pay the visa fee. And, you can get it any time before the interview.

PEACE TO ALL!

MarkNAam

[Chrissepwoz 0]

Congratulations!

I have a question, what do you mean by "stamped certified"? I know you mention immigration office, however, would a translation service certification stamp be sufficient? if not, does my fiancee need to head to the Soi Suan Plu, Bangkok immigration office to get an additional stamp?

Thanks.

[mailman2 0]

Congratulations!

I have a question, what do you mean by "stamped certified"? I know you mention immigration office, however, would a translation service certification stamp be sufficient? if not, does my fiancee need to head to the Soi Suan Plu, Bangkok immigration office to get an additional stamp?

Thanks.

I'm still wondering the same. I know the OP said to have a few papers stamped certified by Thai Immigration, just want to make sure.

We just had a translation service give it their stamp for the birth certificate and house residence paper. If it has to be from the Thai government (immigration Office), please let us know and where you are supposed to get this thing stamped. Thanks.

[mailman2 0]

I emailed the U.S. Bangkok Embassy rearding having Thai documents stamped certified by the Thai government and this is the reply I got back from them.

"Thank you for your inquiry. Thai official documents do not have to be certified by Thai government. Normally, we require translated documents only in the case that the document is written in third language."

So it doesn not appear that you have to have them stamped certified. Anybody else had any experience with this? The original poster seems to have moved on.

Also, when your teelak goes to the national police center in Bangkok to get the background check done, it says to take two passport photo's with you. Well, as of two months ago, they take the pictures and put it on a computer, so they did not use teelaks photo's. Be aware, she will have to fill out some paper work and many of the ladies where having trouble with the forms and how to fill them out. The police folks working there are very nice and helpful though. This department was top notch, really good service!

[mailman2 0]

Can't edit the previous post for some reason, so:

One thing that I did notice with the packet 4 (medical evaluation forms.etc..) was that the U.S. Embassy wants to know if the Thai fiancee was not married in an undocumented marriage (not registered with the Amphur). She needs to get proof of that. Yes, sounds very strange, doesn't it? How do you prove that she was not in an undocumented relationship. Luckily, my girl friend talked with the village "adan" or what ever they call the village head and she knows where to go and what document to get. That threw me for a loop, only in Thailand.

[mailman2 0]

I just accompanied my fiancee to the US Embassy in Bangkok for her interview last week. She was approved and got her visa three business days after the interview.

Here is what else I learned. Make sure you have the original birth certificate and original I-134 notarized form and original Police report to give to the person doing the interview. I think if we didn't have the original documents, they would have had us come back at another time, so be warned to bring original documents with you.

What else, we got there at 7 AM and it seems that they don't necessarily call you up in the order you get there. A few ladies were rejected because their fiance's financial situation wasn't good enough and one because of insufficient documentation.

It was interesting listening to the K-1 interviews, as well as those applying for visitor visas. As others have said, if you sit close by, you can hear what they ask. My fiancee had a little tough time answering the questions, so I am glad I was there. I had to step up to the window and clear up a few items.

They do try to help, but my fiancee did not understand the the way the interviewer asked his questions. He asked, what year did you meet your fiance and she screwed up the falang year. If he had asked how many years have you known your fiance, she would have been OK. Just a small point, but if I was not there to correct this, she probably would not have gotten the visa.

It doesn't seem like the interviewer looked at her packet at all, so all the good information to verify things probably won't be used, your faincee will have to know these things. A Thai person stood next to the interviewer, so if your fiancee doesn't understand, make sure she says so and speaks Thai if she has to.

As far as picking up the visa in Bangkok, this is done at 3 PM at the embassy. It takes all of one minute and is very fast. The day we went back, there were only 5-6 ladies there to get their visas.