SAWASDEE 2

[chivasgeo 0]

kirk,

You've gotten this far and don't know her name or country of citizenship yet?

(And who is Jenny, then?)

Yodrak

Kinda what I was thinking!!!

Well, I'm back from my way too short of a trip to Thailand. Everything is good, except not having a NOA2 yet! For those of you who don't keep up with Thai politics, PM Thaksin resigned, under heavy pressure from both parties, including his own TRT party.

The Siam Paragon is amazing, along with the Siam Ocean World Aquarium. Though 450 bht to get in seemed a little steep, I felt is was worth it; and yes, even Thai citizens have to pay the same amount! Rather then spend the whole time in Chutima's rather small apartment in Nonthaburi, we spent 4 nights at the Pathumwan Princess. Though old, and in need of redecorating, it is a very nice hotel, with great views, large rooms, and great location. They have the beast breakfast buffet I have seen, with plenty of selections and great food. Definitely worth getting up for each morning.

Since the hotel is connected to MBK shopping mall, it is easy to move around without going outside. From MBK, you can get to the National BTS station, or go to the Discovery Center. From there, you can go to Siam Center and on to Siam Paragon. For those of you who like malls, this should be enough to last a lifetime!!! My feet are still sore from all the walking, and we didn't even cover a fraction of all the floors and shops. It would take a couple of days just to cover all the food places on the first floor of the Paragon! There are so many stores it's not even funny. There were even 5 golf shops in a row, carrying every brand imaginable! Seeing the new Hummers, Ferraris, and Lamborghini’s was a treat as well!

Anyway, this was the shortest time I ever spent in Thailand, and don’t think I will do that again, but I wanted to save my vacation time for when Chutima has her interview, to fly her back, and to get married and have a short honeymoon. One week was just not long enough!

Robert

Robert,

I agree 1 week is too short for a stay in the LOS. I also stayed a week for our engagement ceremony and it takes me like 3-4 days to get over jet-lag!!. Next time we go back to Thailand, I also want to check out the new mall. Sounds like something to see.

Oh , I searched yahoo news and did not see anything about Thaksin resigning. Oh well, politics is not my thing. But whatever happens I hope its for the best of Thailand and its people.

Hope all is well with you and Chutima.

Regards,

George

[*Robert* 2]

Hey George, good to hear from you! Yes, all is well, and I also hope all is well with you, Pocky and the baby!

As for the whole political thing, there definitely seems to be some confusion. I have been searching hard to find something more concrete, and I can't. Chutima also confirmed the resignation, and that Thaksin is now in a caretaker position, but all the English sources make it sound like he has not. I wonder if it's not a case of actually "leaving" office as opposed to his dissolution of the House of Representatives, which requires a new election, giving him another chance to remain in office?

Ken, I am well aware you are in Chiang Mai, and that's why I'm confused about what is actually happening, considering what I heard while I was in Bangkok. No matter what happens, I just hope that there isn't a major upset in the stability of the Thai economy. Though Thaksin has the support of 70% of the people, mostly farmers and people in the rural areas of Thailand, this is not a good thing for the country. Considering his popularity has dropped by over 35%, his days could very well be numbered.

I'm curious as to all the other members with Thai spouses, or soon to have, who plan on or are considering retiring in Thailand? In addition, how many have learned how to speak Thai, or have gone even further and learned how to read and write Thai?

Robert

[ufkenmill 0]

Hey George, good to hear from you! Yes, all is well, and I also hope all is well with you, Pocky and the baby!

As for the whole political thing, there definitely seems to be some confusion. I have been searching hard to find something more concrete, and I can't. Chutima also confirmed the resignation, and that Thaksin is now in a caretaker position, but all the English sources make it sound like he has not. I wonder if it's not a case of actually "leaving" office as opposed to his dissolution of the House of Representatives, which requires a new election, giving him another chance to remain in office?

Ken, I am well aware you are in Chiang Mai, and that's why I'm confused about what is actually happening, considering what I heard while I was in Bangkok. No matter what happens, I just hope that there isn't a major upset in the stability of the Thai economy. Though Thaksin has the support of 70% of the people, mostly farmers and people in the rural areas of Thailand, this is not a good thing for the country. Considering his popularity has dropped by over 35%, his days could very well be numbered.

I'm curious as to all the other members with Thai spouses, or soon to have, who plan on or are considering retiring in Thailand? In addition, how many have learned how to speak Thai, or have gone even further and learned how to read and write Thai?

Robert

Yeah, when they talk about it in the english press it's mostly non-commital on any type of resignation. I think what happened, is that he announced the dissolution of the house or rep's. Meaning that since he's the head of the thai rak thai party and he's their "nominee" for prime minister then the fact that there's no official house of rep's now until april 2nd, then he can't be their "nominee" for prime minister.

But, whatever, I don't like discussing politics on the internet and especially not on a visa forum. Seems that he will probably be officially out of office soon if the anti-thaksin people get their way. I think Thaksin has helped Thailand and really could be a great leader. But he apparently can't shake his greed and he's used the government here to enrich himself financially so many times that the people have finally had enough.

As far as the other issue, I'm 32 and don't plan on retiring for awhile but I can speak thai at an intermediate level and can read thai at an advanced level. Writing thai is a different story though, I can write basic thoughts and ideas but written thai is different than spoken thai and I'd have to spend years practicing to be able to just write anything I'm thinking.

Definitely learn to read thai if you can. It's not as difficult as you'd think and will really help you get around here. Also, Thai's are really impressed when they hand you a menu in Thai and they see you can read it.

[Tiksman 0]

Tik goes for her medical at 8 am Thailand time on the first.. I will post up and let you guys know how it went. She has the 3 Bangkok Embassy forms and the new (not outdated one) thet came from the dept of state.

I hope everything is going well for everone and to those who have their Wife here I hope she is enjoying being with you in the USA..

Still waiting on the NOA 2 should not be to much longer last NOA 2 was from a NOA 1 of 12/14 mine was 12/21

I must get beck to work (watching Taxi (Thai music vcd) my favorite Thai band)

Edited February 28, 2006 by Tiksman

[*Robert* 2]

Dennis, hope all goes well with Tik's medical. I'm very interested in finding out whether or not the DS-2053 is really required.

Ken, you said C had her medical on Monday. How did it go? Did she take in the DS-2053? Did you ever receive a Packet 3 from BKK (BNK)!

I'm hoping my NOA2 will come any day, and it's really starting to get to me.

[malydon 0]

Dennis, hope all goes well with Tik's medical. I'm very interested in finding out whether or not the DS-2053 is really required.

Ken, you said C had her medical on Monday. How did it go? Did she take in the DS-2053? Did you ever receive a Packet 3 from BKK (BNK)!

I'm hoping my NOA2 will come any day, and it's really starting to get to me.

Yes i hope Tik's medical goes well.

I am concerned that Jass and I might have problems at our interview because we used the "out of date" forms from the Japan Embassy.

What do you think?

I was considering putting the "page 1's" from the BNK embassy together with the "page 2's" from the Japan embassy and going back to Bumrungrad and have them transfer the data to these forms instead of using the others. I just don't want to be rejected at the Embassy.

What do you think?

What kind of experiences have people had with out of date forms? Bye the way they are exactly the same forms except for the dates on them.

I also noticed that the bottom of the DS3025 it says" Give copy to applicant" which they did not do for Jass.

Thanks for your opinions

Mike

[Tiksman 0]

I'm hoping my NOA2 will come any day, and it's really starting to get to me.

Yes Yes .. Last approval was for a 12/ 14 I hope you get it sooooooon. Both of us!!

[thai2luv 0]

I am also curious about the out of date forms. You never know about that "lady at window 5". You can never be too careful with her.

That's funny about taking the page 2's from the other forms because I was thinking about doing the exact same thing. I don't want the doctor or the consulate turning away my fiancee due to something like that.

Like I said before, the second page is only the legal stuff.

Dennis, hope all goes well with Tik's medical. I'm very interested in finding out whether or not the DS-2053 is really required.

Ken, you said C had her medical on Monday. How did it go? Did she take in the DS-2053? Did you ever receive a Packet 3 from BKK (BNK)!

I'm hoping my NOA2 will come any day, and it's really starting to get to me.

Yes i hope Tik's medical goes well.

I am concerned that Jass and I might have problems at our interview because we used the "out of date" forms from the Japan Embassy.

What do you think?

I was considering putting the "page 1's" from the BNK embassy together with the "page 2's" from the Japan embassy and going back to Bumrungrad and have them transfer the data to these forms instead of using the others. I just don't want to be rejected at the Embassy.

What do you think?

What kind of experiences have people had with out of date forms? Bye the way they are exactly the same forms except for the dates on them.

I also noticed that the bottom of the DS3025 it says" Give copy to applicant" which they did not do for Jass.

Thanks for your opinions

Mike

[*Robert* 2]

That's exactly what I already did, when I took Chutima all the forms she would need on my recent trip. I printed the current forms off of the BNK site, and added sheet 2 from the Japan site for the DS-3024 and DS-3025 forms since DS-3026 comes with a second page.

I still want to know whether or not they actually need the DS-2053, which is really just a summary of the findings from the other three forms?

If it is needed, I'll just e-mail the current DS-2053 to Chutima and have her print it out before she goes for her medical.

[samsbs 0]

Mariya received her GC in the mail today just three days after getting her approval email. She is one happy camper. Our journey is finally over. We want to thank everyone for all the help and encouragement we receiced during this ordeal. We feel like we are part of one big family now.

Thanks again everyone

Sam and Mariya

[skyman2112 0]

Kirk, you put her citizenship as Thailand, and use her name. If not married then use her name as it appears in her passport. Also mark down legal alien authorized to work.

Dan

Thanks for the usefull info Dan. How are things going with you 2 anyways??? Is she adjusting to the USA yet??? Now can you tell me what documents you sent in with your application and how you decided where to send it? Thanks so much!

[skyman2112 0]

Mariya received her GC in the mail today just three days after getting her approval email. She is one happy camper. Our journey is finally over. We want to thank everyone for all the help and encouragement we receiced during this ordeal. We feel like we are part of one big family now.

Thanks again everyone

Sam and Mariya

Glad to hear it Sam, Good luck!

[meandwi 0]

Hello Visajourney friends,

Wi recieved a phone call from the Bangkok embassy today requesting to move her interview from March 17th to the 13th saying that they will not be giving interviews that day.

Also told her that they want to see her with all her papers and passport this Friday, The 3rd of March to review papers and to be ready to surrender her passport to them at that time until Visa is approved. This means she has two meetings. One for packet 4 and one for interview.

By the way, Wi downloaded all her medical forms from K3 list of forms from embassy site. The doctor had no problem using them.

This may be the new policy? Two meetings? I haven't heard of this being done yet. And am worried about surrendering her passport to them.

Any guesses about these requests from them?

Thank you,

Brent

[chivasgeo 0]

Mariya received her GC in the mail today just three days after getting her approval email. She is one happy camper. Our journey is finally over. We want to thank everyone for all the help and encouragement we receiced during this ordeal. We feel like we are part of one big family now.

Thanks again everyone

Sam and Mariya

Sam And Mariya:

Congrats on her being a PR.....one thing though...its not over YET with dealing with USCIS ....90 days before the 2nd anniversary of receiving the GC you'll need to file the I-751 "removal of conditonal PR status".. to have her offically be a PR with no conditions....Then you're both home free from USCIS until Mariya wants to become a US citizen.

Congrats again.

regards,

George

[ufkenmill 0]

Dennis, hope all goes well with Tik's medical. I'm very interested in finding out whether or not the DS-2053 is really required.

Ken, you said C had her medical on Monday. How did it go? Did she take in the DS-2053? Did you ever receive a Packet 3 from BKK (BNK)!

I'm hoping my NOA2 will come any day, and it's really starting to get to me.

She felt sick on monday so she went Tuesday to Mcormack hospital on kaewnawarat road. She had to go to two sessions, the second one was today. They said the forms that they normally use are smaller (?) than the ones we gave them from the packet 3 we downloaded but they just asked us if it was ok to use that and I told them yes.

And yes, you'll need the DS-2053. I don't know why they don't have it on the embassy site for downloading, could be a mistake on their part but on form DS 3024 it clearly says on the top "For use with DS2053". The DS2053 is the form that pictures must be attached to so you'll definitely need it.

I've attached a zipped folder with all documents we took to the hospital (we also took our NOA2, 3 pictures, and the packet 4 letter in addition to these)

The physical went well (day 1) except for when they attempted to draw blood they couldn't get the vein in one arm and had to use the other arm also. So she came out with both her arms bandaged up. Then today, she had to go back and do a physical exam with the doctor and also get 3 vaccinations (MMR, Diptheria, Varicella), so she's got bandaids all over her arms,lol. She's ok though.

Also, I insisted that they line through a couple of sections that were not completed due to her not having any problems in that area but the nurse gave me a hard time about it saying "mai pen lai, mai pen lai" (don't worry/nevermind), "ben bogadtee" (it's normal like this), only because she didn't want to go back and get the doctor. But I insisted so they still have the forms and we will pick them up tonight after the doctor lines through and "n/a"'s 2 sections he didn't fill out.

Medical_Exam_Documents.zip