SAWASDEE 2

[thai2luv 0]

You can find the old thread here:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums2/index.php?showtopic=10347

[thai2luv 0]

Mike and Robert,

I also wanted to be sure we had the complete set of packet 3 docs, and get a headstart on the medical exam.

I downloaded the medical forms from the Japan Embassy site, and noticed they are expired about 2 years.

Not sure if that will be a problem at some point. Also, the second page for most of these forms is only the paperwork reduction act and privacy act legal stuff. Not sure how important that is for the hospital performing the exam.

The Bangkok Embassy website has the most recent medical forms, minus the second page legal disclaimers.

[anya-D 8]

Anya,

I think probably getting RFE might delay your case a bit..

I sent AOS, EAD, and AP on January 5 2006. I got NOA for each on 17 Jan.

On 8 Feb, I got appointment letter for both AOS and EAD biometrics which is scheduled on 3 March.

You do not have to worry about it yet..I have seen some of our Thai friends on USvisa4thai forum getting greencard within 3 months!! This is unbelievably fast...

Mod

Mod

Thanks.. It's just NC is the slowest place to process the AOS... Bram said it takes about 2 years to get a green card there.. but i saw someone got it in 1 and a half year... I just have to be patient.

Anya,

How do your Receipt Notice dates compare with the corresponding USCIS processing dates?

Yodrak

why my AOS and EAD is not moving T_T

Yorak,

where to see that?

Anya

We filed for AOS on Nov. 29, 2005. Had our Biometrics on Jan 20th and just yesterday received snail mail informing us that our application has been transferred to Laguna Niguel Ca.as of Feb. 2.

Ours seems to be moving very quickly. We are hoping to be approved without having to drive the 8 hours to San Fran. for an interview.

Sorry that yours is taking so long.

Thanks Sam,

You are a lot ahead of us now!! good lukc to you ^^

[*Robert* 2]

I downloaded the medical forms from the Japan Embassy site, and noticed they are expired about 2 years.

Not sure if that will be a problem at some point. Also, the second page for most of these forms is only the paperwork reduction act and privacy act legal stuff. Not sure how important that is for the hospital performing the exam.

The Bangkok Embassy website has the most recent medical forms, minus the second page legal disclaimers.

Mike,

Thanks for pointing that out. I completely missed the dates. I'm normally quite ####### about those things... guess I was in too much of a hurry trying to find complete forms, and the fact that those pdf files looked so much better.

Sometimes the State Department accepts older forms, and sometimes they don't. I have had it happen to me when they changed to the new DS-156 forms! I had everything neatly filled out, ready to go for three different tourist visas. When I went to the window (Chiang Mai), the guy said they were complete, and looked so good... BUT... they were obsolete!!! I know he felt bad about not accepting them since they were so neat. I had to fill out all three applications again, by hand!!! I had writers cramp when I was done, and lost my place in line. Ended up being there the whole morning because of that!

Moral of the story... use the latest revision of the forms! I hope this doesn't cause anyone problems who used the forms from the Japan Embassy.

Robert

[Yodrak 7]

anya-D,

USCIS web site - here

< https://egov.immigration.gov/cris/jsps/ptim...id=avhSA8xNYXH- >

Yodrak

Anya,

How do your Receipt Notice dates compare with the corresponding USCIS processing dates?

Yodrak

why my AOS and EAD is not moving T_T

Yorak,

where to see that?

[LastSurvivor 0]

An Alaska Cruise

I have been considering a cruise to Alaska leaving in July. We are going to leave from Seattle and return to Seattle. I got to thinking more about this on the way home today from work and I'm not sure she can do this. We leave a U.S. port and return to a U.S. port but will be travelling in INTL waters. One of the stops is in Canada and I just figured we would stay on the ship. I'm thinking that even though we stay on the ship she will be required to go through customs and immigration upon our return to Seattle. Is this true? Is this a no-no with the K-1 visa. We were married on 2/10 but no way will the AOS be back by July.

Rich

[*Robert* 2]

An Alaska Cruise

I'm thinking that even though we stay on the ship she will be required to go through customs and immigration upon our return to Seattle. Is this true?

Rich

Rich,

You better plan on postponing that cruise. You are correct in your thinking that they will have customs and immigration officals come aboard the ship prior to it's return, and will want customs and immigration forms for all passengers. It is the same thing as flying to a foreign country. Unless you have applied for and recieved AP, you better pick a U.S. destination for your vacation!

I have been on several cruises, and they are a great way to take a vacation! As an alternative, you could take a NCL Hawaiian cruise! It never goes to any foreign ports, and you get to see 4 different islands and 5 different cities!

Aloha,

Robert

Edited February 17, 2006 by roi_aggie

[ufkenmill 0]

Great to hear about the medical going well with those forms. The police report was a piece of cake according to C, although it took a few hours of her time to do it with traveling and all.

Did you search DHL using the reference as "EXPEDITE IV Section" also (in addition to the I-730)? If they shipped DHL on feb 9th and you're positive of that, it's probably in their system by now. It took them about 4 business days after receiving it for them to have it in their system with us. Your probably safe in shipping the stuff to them.

We never received packet 3 and don't expect to, apparently many others have had the same results. We received packet 4 though after submitting our checklist and other doc's.

Jass called me today from BKK. She used the medical forms we got off the Japan US Embassy web site for her medical at Bumrungrad....NO PROBLEMS......She did however ask them for a copy of the completed medical forms (I believe we need some later?) But they did not give them to her...They said she can get a copy from the US Embassy at her interview...True/False?

She also paid her fee at the post office....She was exhausted tonight...it was a long day!

Tomorrow she applies for her Police Certificate.

She asked me if she could mail in her completed "packet 3 forms" that we got off the web site...I told her we shouldn't risk sending them in until we know the Embassy has the case in their system ( I heard they throw them away).

NVC said they sent them out on Feb 9th.....But i just cannot see the DHL shipment going to BKK when I search....Sure I see Portsmouth shipping every where else in the world BUT not BKK! I am thinking we should wait until the "real" packet 3 arrives in the mail. I wish I could just call the Embassy and verify they have it or have her stop in while she is in BKK but I believe they will not allow either????

Thanks

Mike

Thanks for the form, very informative. Looks like the embassy basically doesn't want to see or talk to anyone unless they ask for you. Luckily we were one of the last ones to be able to schedule an interview in person but only after a verbal thrashing by the staff saying things like "how did you get in here" and "this isn't allowed". They still processed it though and gave the interveiw date that day.

They are good people there at the embassy, they're just seriously overwhelmed with people and it sounds like they're understaffed. Seems that they do the best they can considering the circumstances.

I really feel for those going through Manilla or China though, they have it rough...

All,

I've attached a new informational form that has been sent to me specific to the IVU that may be of interest. (Thank you, Bill.)

Wish it answered our question about signing, or not, DS-230-I.

Yodrak

Just wanted to let everyone know what information you get for your money with the new Embassy web site.

....

Don't waste your money. This is all you get!

Mike

[Cmguy 0]

Thanks Yodrak, One more question:

Can My wife travel out of the US on a CR-1 ?

As we have business in Thailand

if she cant I will have to go back to my Comuting every few months

Thanks Again-

Cheers-Rv

Robert,

Sounds like you may be in pretty good shape. I should have asked before, will you be returning to that house in Las Veags? Or do you have it rented out and you'll be needing a different place to live? Remember that its use as an asset is its net worth - market value less your mortgage balance.

Your income numbers sound pretty good, depending on what your Household Size is ... (kind of wondering if $25,000 + $10,000 leaves you short) but the asset value of those CDs looks mighty good. Will the income from the ongoing business be coming over to the USA, or is some of all of it trapped in Thailand?

You don't have to answer the above questions here in the forum, they're just things for you to ponder. The answers wouldn't allow me to give you any more definitive information than I already have.

I'll just add that the one other guy who did DCF whose circumstances I know well had to return to the USA and get an place to live and a job before the consulate considered that he had re-established domicile and before they'd issue his wife a visa. Only took him a month, but it was an inconvenience. Sounds like you might be in better shape, however.

Yodrak

Hi Yodrak!

Thanks for the Reply Here are my answers

Las Vegas House-I have Utility bills and Morgtage payments

Earning Money- I own a business in Thailand and will comtinue, it earns us 25,000 US ayear

I also have 150,000US Dollars in short term CD's that earn about 10,000 a year in Income

I have always owned my own Business and planned on Opening a business in The US. Yet I dont have a set Job in the US

US Income Tax yes I have them all I will also have 2005 done but my Reported Income falls about 3,000 US short of the Poverty Guidline Chart

Visa-I am unclear when my Wife enters on The CR-1 she then gets a temporary Green Card and can she then come and go???

I submitted my I-130 at homeland Security here in Thailand

Thanks again-Robert

Robert,

You may or may not have a domicile issue - a sponsor must have US domicile. The house in Las Vegas is a positive in this regard, but what else have you got to go with it? Voter registration at the same address? Driver's License at the same address?

How are you going to earn money in the USA to support yourself and your family? Your past earnings in Thailand won't pay tomorrow's expenses in Las Vegas.

You mention tax records in Thai - what about your US income tax returns? The consulate will want to see them.

You've provided some good information about yourself, but there are many missing details that could be significant. I recommend that you have a consultation with Bill White, a US immigration attorney in Bangkok, to review your situation. WFWLAW@AOL.COM, or 66 (0) 2231-6466. He's a great guy, it will be worth the small investment.

No, your wife will not be able to travel back and forth with a CR-1 visa, it's a one-entry visa. But, on entry to the USA, she will become a Permanent Resident, she will be sent a 'Green Card', and she will no longer need a visa to enter the USA as long as she maintains her PR status.

And, just out of curiosity, did you submit your I-130 petition to the CSC or to the Bangkok District Office?

Yodrak

Hi All

I just found this thread that relates to Thailand great Info thanks.

We go for our Interview on April 7th In Bangkok, can Anyone give me some ideas about what they will ask us?

We have been together for 5 years have 2 kids and we live and work in Chiang Mai. My wife and Kids have visited the US once last year when we got Married, Finally

I am a bit nervous As my Income tax for last 3 years shows an Income short of Poverty level by about 3000.00 Dollars. We own a house in Las Vegas worth about 200k and have some cash in the Bank.

How hard do they Scrutinize? the I-864?

Plus we own a extremly profitable Amercian Franchisee here in town But not sure how to show those Asetts? Show my Tax records in Thai?

Also will we be able to travel back and forth with a CR-1?

Thanks for any Help--

-Robert

[CJ&Jum 0]

I'm back in the U.S. I had a wonderful time with Jum. We had our formal engagement ceremony and reception with about 175 guests. I will put together a web page with some pictures. It was a very festive event in her hometown of Ubon Ratchathani. We had plenty of pictures taken that turned out very nice. We also both traveled to Had Yai for the first time (her sister lives there now) and went to Songkhla. After a few days I realized how very comfortable I was with Jum and it was confirmation that the love that we had was as strong as ever. We had not seen each other in person for 1 year and 1 month. It was a wonderful feeling to be close once again.

Jum got her visa with no problem, I was there for the interview. One question was asked "How many times had I been to visit her?" I also got to meet a fellow VJ person, Su. It was nice to meet a person a world away that in a sense felt close to home. Two approvals on the same day.

As always, it is tough to leave as I enjoy being with Jum and I really enjoy Thailand. But, we are now one step closer as she has her visa in hand and can come over any time. Once she was approved, the temptation to come back with me was very strong. :-) She will be coming to the U.S. in a few months after we settle the fun moving things (and I prepare our place to look clean and organized :-) )

As a side note, if you are unable to pickup the visa the next day (or appointment time) you can tell the officer ahead of time and they will hold the visa and the brown envelope for you at a later date. We went one week after the interview, on Valentine's Day...it was one of the greatest presents we had for each other!

We are one happy couple!

[CJ&Jum 0]

A photo of a Happy Couple is attached!

[meandwi 0]

That's wonderful news CJ and Jum.

[malydon 0]

A photo of a Happy Couple is attached!

Congratulations to both of you!

Mike

[dbirner 0]

Glad to hear everything went well. You two make a good looking couple. Don't worry, the next couple of months will go by very fast, especially since she already has the visa in hand.

And WOW! 175 people.

Dan

[anya-D 8]

congratz CJ and Jum ^^ adding another thai girl in NC now ^^

anyway.. if u need to ship things (we ship Bram's motocycle and lots of plates we bought from Jatujak and the custom made couch + bed and some of my summer cloth here with a cheapest shipping company.. they went to get the stuff at his place and pack everything for us.. and deal with all the custom for us too...nothing is broken and it took like 30s days (about $600 for 4sq meters) and it came in Wilmington port. tell me if u want to know more... we've shop around so much this one is the cheapest.

Now that we finally clear Bram's motocycle (lots of problem since it's bigger than a scooter and not recogniczed in the US so he have to get lots of proove... we go the motocycle out on the valentine's day... and he already drove around.... everybody was stearing coz they've never seen it before... so funny.. but it's a conditional import for only 1 year though... after 1 year he have to export it or destroy it.. which we dont wanna think about it for now ;p