SAWASDEE 2

[ladywhite 0]

Can anyone tell me how to find out if you petition has reached the embassy in Thailand? I know you can email them but is there a phone number to call? NVC told me today that my petition should be enroute to BKK tomorrow.

You can call but they won't give out any information on the phone. They said (to my then-fiance as he called them) that everything must be done through email.

And when you email them, you have to follow their instructions otherwise they won't answer your inquiries, either. I experienced that myself when I first emailed them.

Below is their response to my first email. So, if you email them, follow their instructions:

The Visa Unit of the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok has received your e-mail inquiry. We regret that we are unable to send a personal reply to each inquiry due to the large volume we receive daily. We have found that many of the inquiries we receive are readily answered by information available on various U.S. Government websites and this response is designed to help you better access that information.

If, following a review of all information provided, you still have an inquiry regarding a specific issue with a visa case pending at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, please send an additional email to visasbkk@state.gov with the following information:

· For Immigrant Visa (including Fiancée) Cases: The subject line must contain "2nd IV Inquiry", and the case number (with prefix of BNK or PHP), and the applicant's surname. The first paragraph must include the full name of the petitioner, applicant, the type of visa, Cambodian vs. Thai visa! , and your contact information in the first paragraph. Please note that we are not able to provide routine status updates on the more than 7,000 cases that we handle annually, nor are we able to respond to routine questions regarding whether or not we have received your case from the NVC.

....................

Good luck.

Edited November 16, 2007 by ladywhite

[dbirner 0]

WOW! It is good to see everyone still checking in. CJ, Sam, Jene, Ty. In a way, I feel like I kind of miss you guys. After all, we used to spend so much time on here.

Anyway, I don't know who can give me the advise I need, BUT, Ton and I are planning on moving to Bangkok. After doing some research, it appears that it is easier for Thai's to move here, than it is for us to move there.

Sam how are you?

Dan

[afterforever 0]

Can anyone tell me how to find out if you petition has reached the embassy in Thailand? I know you can email them but is there a phone number to call? NVC told me today that my petition should be enroute to BKK tomorrow.

You can call but they won't give out any information on the phone. They said (to my then-fiance as he called them) that everything must be done through email.

And when you email them, you have to follow their instructions otherwise they won't answer your inquiries, either. I experienced that myself when I first emailed them.

Below is their response to my first email. So, if you email them, follow their instructions:

The Visa Unit of the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok has received your e-mail inquiry. We regret that we are unable to send a personal reply to each inquiry due to the large volume we receive daily. We have found that many of the inquiries we receive are readily answered by information available on various U.S. Government websites and this response is designed to help you better access that information.

If, following a review of all information provided, you still have an inquiry regarding a specific issue with a visa case pending at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, please send an additional email to visasbkk@state.gov with the following information:

· For Immigrant Visa (including Fiancée) Cases: The subject line must contain "2nd IV Inquiry", and the case number (with prefix of BNK or PHP), and the applicant's surname. The first paragraph must include the full name of the petitioner, applicant, the type of visa, Cambodian vs. Thai visa! , and your contact information in the first paragraph. Please note that we are not able to provide routine status updates on the more than 7,000 cases that we handle annually, nor are we able to respond to routine questions regarding whether or not we have received your case from the NVC.

....................

Good luck.

Thanks very much ladywhite!

[samsbs 0]

wow Dan are you ready for it. Do you have a job there. Is Ton going to get her 10 year green card before you go. I know I would never go live in Phnom Penh. Too damn hot for me. I don't think Mariya wants to go back. She is spoiled here. And she loves it.

Keep us posted on what you and Ton decide to do.

Sam and Mariya

[ladywhite 0]

Thanks very much ladywhite!

My pleasure...

[statman78 0]

Still checking in.. I just took a look at the form to remove conditions for Dao. Ouch $545 now!

We sent in our $545 in September. Ying had her biometrics done Nov 8th. Now we wait to see if we'll have another interview or get approved without the interview. Next year we'll probably go through the same thing for citzenship.

Gene

[statman78 0]

WOW! It is good to see everyone still checking in. CJ, Sam, Jene, Ty. In a way, I feel like I kind of miss you guys. After all, we used to spend so much time on here.

Anyway, I don't know who can give me the advise I need, BUT, Ton and I are planning on moving to Bangkok. After doing some research, it appears that it is easier for Thai's to move here, than it is for us to move there.

Sam how are you?

Dan

Wow! I am jealous. I wisk we could move back to Thaialnd now. If you are moving to Bangkok to work it can be a hassle. Retiring there doesn't look too bad. I believe that Ton needs to live in the US a minimum number of days per year to keep her green card. A good friend of mine who is a British citizen lives in Bangkok now. he lived in the US for many years and had his green card. His kids were born here and are now out of college. A few years back they took his green card away because he didn't meet residency requirements. He had a 3 year contract with a company in Bangkok. That ran out so now he started his own business. He is married to a Thai citizen but he is still have problems getting a visa for an extended stay.

Gene

[dbirner 0]

WOW! It is good to see everyone still checking in. CJ, Sam, Jene, Ty. In a way, I feel like I kind of miss you guys. After all, we used to spend so much time on here.

Anyway, I don't know who can give me the advise I need, BUT, Ton and I are planning on moving to Bangkok. After doing some research, it appears that it is easier for Thai's to move here, than it is for us to move there.

Sam how are you?

Dan

Wow! I am jealous. I wisk we could move back to Thaialnd now. If you are moving to Bangkok to work it can be a hassle. Retiring there doesn't look too bad. I believe that Ton needs to live in the US a minimum number of days per year to keep her green card. A good friend of mine who is a British citizen lives in Bangkok now. he lived in the US for many years and had his green card. His kids were born here and are now out of college. A few years back they took his green card away because he didn't meet residency requirements. He had a 3 year contract with a company in Bangkok. That ran out so now he started his own business. He is married to a Thai citizen but he is still have problems getting a visa for an extended stay.

Gene

Hi Gene,

I still have a lot to consider. I was also concerned about the residency rules. This is what I found out:

You may be found to have abandoned your permanent resident status if you:

Move to another country intending to live there permanently.

Remain outside of the US for more than one year without obtaining a reentry permit or returning resident visa. However in determining whether your status has been abandoned any length of absence from the US may be considered, even if it is less than one year.

Remain outside of the US for more than two years after issuance of a reentry permit without obtaining a returning resident visa. However in determining whether your status has been abandoned any length of absence from the US may be considered, even if it is less than one year.

Fail to file income tax returns while living outside of the US for any period.

Declare yourself a “nonimmigrant” on your tax returns.

I would really like to know what they mean about "However in determining whether your status has been abandoned any length of absence from the US may be considered, even if it is less than one year. "

[samsbs 0]

Gene

We are sending ours in next week. I don't have a lot of evidence but everything shows continuing relationship. Here is what we have. Do you think it enough I am getting paranoid about having enough. I don't think i need too much, just has to be good evidence. Only thing I have to add is letters from friends.

· Copies of the passport and green card of Mariya

· A partial copy of our 2006 joint tax return

· Copy of our auto insurance statement.

· Copy of our bank statements showing joint account.

· Copy of cable television statements showing a joint account.

· Copy of Mariya’s Roth IRA showing husband Sam as beneficiary.

· Copy of Mariya’s pay statements showing address of residency.

· A copy of 2006 Christmas cards addressed to Sam and Mariya .

Keep us posted on your progress.

sam

[ThaiStyleUSA 1]

I just wanted to say hello to everyone out there. I am really glad to see that Thailand and its neighbors (Laos, Cambodia) have a thread to converse. I know I have not been here much but want to make my present felt. I remembered that a comment made while back that we (with Thai spouses) should have an annual get together one weekend somewhere. Is anyone in for it?

[statman78 0]

Gene

We are sending ours in next week. I don't have a lot of evidence but everything shows continuing relationship. Here is what we have. Do you think it enough I am getting paranoid about having enough. I don't think i need too much, just has to be good evidence. Only thing I have to add is letters from friends.

· Copies of the passport and green card of Mariya

· A partial copy of our 2006 joint tax return

· Copy of our auto insurance statement.

· Copy of our bank statements showing joint account.

· Copy of cable television statements showing a joint account.

· Copy of Mariya’s Roth IRA showing husband Sam as beneficiary.

· Copy of Mariya’s pay statements showing address of residency.

· A copy of 2006 Christmas cards addressed to Sam and Mariya .

Keep us posted on your progress.

sam

In addition to the things you sent in we also sent in a copy of the title to the house with both our names, copy of loan application for a car and pictures along with itineraries of vacations we took together.

I'll let you know what happens.

Gene

[statman78 0]

WOW! It is good to see everyone still checking in. CJ, Sam, Jene, Ty. In a way, I feel like I kind of miss you guys. After all, we used to spend so much time on here.

Anyway, I don't know who can give me the advise I need, BUT, Ton and I are planning on moving to Bangkok. After doing some research, it appears that it is easier for Thai's to move here, than it is for us to move there.

Sam how are you?

Dan

Wow! I am jealous. I wisk we could move back to Thaialnd now. If you are moving to Bangkok to work it can be a hassle. Retiring there doesn't look too bad. I believe that Ton needs to live in the US a minimum number of days per year to keep her green card. A good friend of mine who is a British citizen lives in Bangkok now. he lived in the US for many years and had his green card. His kids were born here and are now out of college. A few years back they took his green card away because he didn't meet residency requirements. He had a 3 year contract with a company in Bangkok. That ran out so now he started his own business. He is married to a Thai citizen but he is still have problems getting a visa for an extended stay.

Gene

Hi Gene,

I still have a lot to consider. I was also concerned about the residency rules. This is what I found out:

You may be found to have abandoned your permanent resident status if you:

Move to another country intending to live there permanently.

Remain outside of the US for more than one year without obtaining a reentry permit or returning resident visa. However in determining whether your status has been abandoned any length of absence from the US may be considered, even if it is less than one year.

Remain outside of the US for more than two years after issuance of a reentry permit without obtaining a returning resident visa. However in determining whether your status has been abandoned any length of absence from the US may be considered, even if it is less than one year.

Fail to file income tax returns while living outside of the US for any period.

Declare yourself a “nonimmigrant” on your tax returns.

I would really like to know what they mean about "However in determining whether your status has been abandoned any length of absence from the US may be considered, even if it is less than one year. "

Dan,

Looks like you did a lot of investigation. I'll check with my friend to see the exact reasons why he lost his green card. I'll see him next month when I head to Bangkok for work. The other option is to wait for Ton to becoma a US citizen. You can start applyin90 days prior to the 3rd anniversary of receiving the conditional green card.

Gene

[mnbinth 2]

Hi everyone,

My wife and I are also planning to move back to Thailand in the next couple years or so. I've been doing lots of research on visas, dual citizenship and naturalization and might be able to help some of you trying to make decisions. I apologize for the long post, but I hope this helps!

Expedited Naturalization

If you want to live in Thailand with you spouse, there is a way to get your spouse U.S. citizenship while living in Thailand and it completely waves the 3 year waiting period. It's called "Section 319b" and there isn't much information about it, but here are some links below. I am yet to call USCIS to ask about it. They have almost nothing on their website archives.

http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/79520.pdf

http://italy.usembassy.gov/dhs/uscis/services/N-400.asp

http://www.ilw.com/articles/2006,0525-mehta.shtm

Visas to Thailand

I think the family visa "O" is best for many of our situations but I'm not positive. I'd be interested to hear other's experiences. I have a friend living in Chiang Mai that said he's been able to live there 5 years in a row without leaving the country every 3 months with the help of some 1 year extension for married couples. Not sure what that document is though. Also, I've heard that Honorary Thai Consulates in the U.S. tend to be more forgiving in handing out visa extensions before you leave. I had a good experience with the one in Denver before I was married. Links below.

http://www.thaichicago.net/HonConsul/filhead.htm

http://www.thaiembdc.org/consular/visa/vis...&%20purpose

http://thai-la.net/visa/visa-non-im.htm

http://www.thai-la.net/visa/visa-non-im-o.htm

Dual Citizenship

I talked to 11 different law firms that specialize in Thai/U.S. immigration and got about 5 different answers on whether or not it is legal to do this in Thailand. It is certainly not a problem in the U.S. Based on the web site below and answers from the lawyers, your spouse should be able to obtain U.S. citizenship without affecting his/her status in Thailand. From the lawyers and my own opinion, it makes more long term sense to go through the naturalization process and get U.S. citizenship for your spouse; especially if you plan to return to Thailand.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1753.html

http://www.richw.org/dualcit/faq.html

http://chanyakomol.com/thailaws/law/t_laws/tlaw0173.htm

Thank you for all your helpful discussion! I'd be up to my neck in legal fees without it! B)

[NonyGuy 0]

Hi everyone....just saw this thread for the first time. I'm still waiting for USCIS to approve my application.

I faxed in a request to expedite last week due to military deployment and according to an email from Officer McMellan..."an officer has my package and it's waiting to be adjudicated. Please allow 30 days for action." I'm pretty sure this is good:)

Just wanted to check in with everyone and introduce myself here. I'm happy to see there is a whole Thailand thread. I'll be counting on you guys to help me out with ridiculous questions sometimes...haha

[ThaiStyleUSA 1]

Hi everyone....just saw this thread for the first time. I'm still waiting for USCIS to approve my application.

I faxed in a request to expedite last week due to military deployment and according to an email from Officer McMellan..."an officer has my package and it's waiting to be adjudicated. Please allow 30 days for action." I'm pretty sure this is good:)

Just wanted to check in with everyone and introduce myself here. I'm happy to see there is a whole Thailand thread. I'll be counting on you guys to help me out with ridiculous questions sometimes...haha

Welcome JCochranUSN...glad to see another family military member here. I was in the military. I had just retired two months ago from 21 yrs, 9 mons, & 9 days from the USAF. I'm a new Thai thread member as well. You should get your approval soon. Best of luck.