SAWASDEE 2

[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

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.

Thanks for the welcoming:) I'm also happy to see another military member here. I sure hope you are right that I get the approval soon. I was SOOOOOOOO happy to get the email from the Officer at CSC saying I only had 30 more days to wait until action. I think this email is a little more reliable than calling the "misinformation line."

I've been so paranoid the last two weeks. I'm so worried they will deny me for stupid things. Like I was charged with an "open container" violation 3 years ago. I was late on a couple payments for my internet service and my Sirius satellite radio (will they think im financially unstable)??.

It's ridiculous how much I've been stressing and how much I've been thinking into this.

Someone shoot me already... lol

[Texas Farang 0]

Trying to navigate this maze and could use some help, encouragement, advice, etc.

I submitted our application to Texas in late June and received canceled check in July. Some questions...

1. I never received a hard copy (is that the NOA1?), but called the customer service folks and they told me how to find the receipt number on the canceled check, which I did. Shows it was received JULY 2nd and sent to CSC for processing. I still never have received hard copies of anything in the mail -- will I need anything or is the ability to track progress online enough?

2. Is there anything we should be doing while we wait for notification of approval of the application?

3. Beginning with the end in mind ... with a JULY 2nd receipt date and clean records for both myself and my fiancee (we met July 2006 and I've been there 7 times) when would you guess she'll finally receive her Visa?

Thanks from this Texas rookie.

Good luck to all.

[NonyGuy 0]

Trying to navigate this maze and could use some help, encouragement, advice, etc.

I submitted our application to Texas in late June and received canceled check in July. Some questions...

1. I never received a hard copy (is that the NOA1?), but called the customer service folks and they told me how to find the receipt number on the canceled check, which I did. Shows it was received JULY 2nd and sent to CSC for processing. I still never have received hard copies of anything in the mail -- will I need anything or is the ability to track progress online enough?

2. Is there anything we should be doing while we wait for notification of approval of the application?

3. Beginning with the end in mind ... with a JULY 2nd receipt date and clean records for both myself and my fiancee (we met July 2006 and I've been there 7 times) when would you guess she'll finally receive her Visa?

Thanks from this Texas rookie.

Good luck to all.

The hard copy NOA1 isnt really that necessary. The hard/paper copy of the NOA2 is something you'll desperately need. If you don't receive it, then call customer service and have them mail you a new one...youll need it for AOS.

While you're waiting...i'd request tax transcripts from the IRS for the past 3-4 years. You can do this via their website. This will help in proving your financial status to the consulate. Also, get records for any of your phone calls, internet chat logs, 30+ pictures, immigration stamp photocopies, etc.

Also, take her or have her go to the hospital in BKK for her health check-up, and request her police records in BKK also. From what I'm told, it takes about 3 weeks to get them. This will save you some time to get them now.

I wish you the best of luck in this journey my friend. Take care.

[ThaiStyleUSA 1]

Trying to navigate this maze and could use some help, encouragement, advice, etc.

I submitted our application to Texas in late June and received canceled check in July. Some questions...

1. I never received a hard copy (is that the NOA1?), but called the customer service folks and they told me how to find the receipt number on the canceled check, which I did. Shows it was received JULY 2nd and sent to CSC for processing. I still never have received hard copies of anything in the mail -- will I need anything or is the ability to track progress online enough?

2. Is there anything we should be doing while we wait for notification of approval of the application?

3. Beginning with the end in mind ... with a JULY 2nd receipt date and clean records for both myself and my fiancee (we met July 2006 and I've been there 7 times) when would you guess she'll finally receive her Visa?

Thanks from this Texas rookie.

Good luck to all.

Texas, please add your timeline to your signature so it will give us a better understanding of where you are. As for waiting for the hard copy of the NOA1, you should call the USCIS to find out since you have the Case #. If you see my timeline; it took them 2 and 1/2 mons to get it to me. I wouldn't worry too much about the NOA1...it's the NOA2 is what you should really be concerned with. This one is the one that counts most.

[Texas Farang 0]

Trying to navigate this maze and could use some help, encouragement, advice, etc.

I submitted our application to Texas in late June and received canceled check in July. Some questions...

1. I never received a hard copy (is that the NOA1?), but called the customer service folks and they told me how to find the receipt number on the canceled check, which I did. Shows it was received JULY 2nd and sent to CSC for processing. I still never have received hard copies of anything in the mail -- will I need anything or is the ability to track progress online enough?

2. Is there anything we should be doing while we wait for notification of approval of the application?

3. Beginning with the end in mind ... with a JULY 2nd receipt date and clean records for both myself and my fiancee (we met July 2006 and I've been there 7 times) when would you guess she'll finally receive her Visa?

Thanks from this Texas rookie.

Good luck to all.

Texas, please add your timeline to your signature so it will give us a better understanding of where you are. As for waiting for the hard copy of the NOA1, you should call the USCIS to find out since you have the Case #. If you see my timeline; it took them 2 and 1/2 mons to get it to me. I wouldn't worry too much about the NOA1...it's the NOA2 is what you should really be concerned with. This one is the one that counts most.

Consider it done; signature added -- many thanks. And congratulations on the NOA2. That's awesome!

[ThaiStyleUSA 1]

Texas...thanks so much for compliment. Best of luck to you as well. I'm sure we'll be communicating many times in the process. I am also trying to get everyone (with Thai spouse) to buy in on the idea of forming an annual get together on a weekend somewhere neutral perhaps next year in Spring time. More to come. Take care.

[afterforever 0]

Trying to navigate this maze and could use some help, encouragement, advice, etc.

I submitted our application to Texas in late June and received canceled check in July. Some questions...

1. I never received a hard copy (is that the NOA1?), but called the customer service folks and they told me how to find the receipt number on the canceled check, which I did. Shows it was received JULY 2nd and sent to CSC for processing. I still never have received hard copies of anything in the mail -- will I need anything or is the ability to track progress online enough?

2. Is there anything we should be doing while we wait for notification of approval of the application?

3. Beginning with the end in mind ... with a JULY 2nd receipt date and clean records for both myself and my fiancee (we met July 2006 and I've been there 7 times) when would you guess she'll finally receive her Visa?

Thanks from this Texas rookie.

Good luck to all.

The hard copy NOA1 isnt really that necessary. The hard/paper copy of the NOA2 is something you'll desperately need. If you don't receive it, then call customer service and have them mail you a new one...youll need it for AOS.

While you're waiting...i'd request tax transcripts from the IRS for the past 3-4 years. You can do this via their website. This will help in proving your financial status to the consulate. Also, get records for any of your phone calls, internet chat logs, 30+ pictures, immigration stamp photocopies, etc.

Also, take her or have her go to the hospital in BKK for her health check-up, and request her police records in BKK also. From what I'm told, it takes about 3 weeks to get them. This will save you some time to get them now.

I wish you the best of luck in this journey my friend. Take care.

I might be wrong but I thought I read a posting here stating that the police certificate is only good for three months. If that is true, you might want to wait until you get an interview date before applying for it.

Does anyone have a definitive answer regarding the expiration time of the police certificate?

Good luck!!

Edited November 18, 2007 by afterforever

[statman78 0]

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)

Thanks! This looks like a lot of great info. In the future we can all get together in Thailand for a Visa Journey reunion.

Gene

[statman78 0]

Texas...thanks so much for compliment. Best of luck to you as well. I'm sure we'll be communicating many times in the process. I am also trying to get everyone (with Thai spouse) to buy in on the idea of forming an annual get together on a weekend somewhere neutral perhaps next year in Spring time. More to come. Take care.

If the timing is right Ying and I would be interested.

Gene

[ThaiStyleUSA 1]

Texas...thanks so much for compliment. Best of luck to you as well. I'm sure we'll be communicating many times in the process. I am also trying to get everyone (with Thai spouse) to buy in on the idea of forming an annual get together on a weekend somewhere neutral perhaps next year in Spring time. More to come. Take care.

If the timing is right Ying and I would be interested.

Gene

Thanks Gene...I'll make sure everyone has plenty of time to prepare.

[SqdnGuns 21]

Getting close................sent in RFE Reply today, should have approval next week.

[ThaiStyleUSA 1]

That's great. Best of luck to you. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

[SqdnGuns 21]

That's great. Best of luck to you. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Once they got your RFE Reply, you were approved in two days, I'm expecting the same. I have seen may others with the same results

[ThaiStyleUSA 1]

I noticed Jamie had gotten RFE too...what's up with that? Are they picking on Thailand now?

[afterforever 0]

I see that when everyone gets their medicals done in Thailand they also get the needed vaccinations. Everything I read states that the vaccinations are not necessary until filing for the AOS. Has anyone gotten their visa approved in Thailand without getting the vaccinations there? Since my fiancee would be on my medical plan, it would not cost anything to have her get her vaccinations in the US.