SAWASDEE 2

[rin and john 71]

Here is the link regarding getting affidavits legalized at MFA prior to getting married. Basically you are legalizing a foreign document for use within Thailand.

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/service/marriage.html

The instructions for K visa applicants do not list a requirement for legalization at the MFA.

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/k_visa_packet3.pdf

Regarding information on this website, there are alot of knowledgable individuals on here. That knowledge was obtained through experience and/or research. I would not discount it. I agree there are instances of misinformation being provided, but that can also be the case when talking to a single individual at the embassy.

[Kang Lang 7]

i don't know if anyone else here has noticed but there is fair amount of bashing of the thai people going on. we all got involved with our mates and love them very much and i'm pretty certain none of us thought they were in it for the buck. maybe i'm overly sensitive but i'm kind of tired of hearing how greedy thai's are or stupid. there are greedy, stupid people in every country. i would never allow to think that of my husband. i hope we will all just support each other through what we all know is a tedious, frustrating, nerve wracking experience. the intent of my post is not to make anyone angry or make an enemy it was just bothering me.

i wish everyone the very best of luck

[birch- phuk_beer 0]

i don't know if anyone else here has noticed but there is fair amount of bashing of the thai people going on. we all got involved with our mates and love them very much and i'm pretty certain none of us thought they were in it for the buck. maybe i'm overly sensitive but i'm kind of tired of hearing how greedy thai's are or stupid. there are greedy, stupid people in every country. i would never allow to think that of my husband. i hope we will all just support each other through what we all know is a tedious, frustrating, nerve wracking experience. the intent of my post is not to make anyone angry or make an enemy it was just bothering me.

i wish everyone the very best of luck

now who the hell ever said they thought their spouses or SO's are in it for the buck?

That is just so far out in left field...you need to go back and re-read.

I know I said people in BKK are out for the buck when dealing with farang.

hell, my wife thinks so too......uh, guess what? SHE'S THAI!!

and the poster who started this whole barage, his wife thinks so too.......!!

the intent of my post is not to make anyone angry

uh-huh

[JohnIrish 0]

It is nice to see we are all so "friendly" here. I am enjoying the different posts!

I just had to make a comment about Thai people who are only after a buck..

In Thailand ---------- NEVER TRUST A BANGKOK TAXI DRIVER !

In the USA -----------NEVER TRUST A CAR SALESMAN !

The funny thing is that my Fiancee used to sell cars in Thailand! If she wants to sell cars in the USA, That would be very interesting. ( ha ha ha)

Our Interview is July 29th... I am disappointed that as of today, the Bangkok Embassy still shows June 11th as the last update for the interview schedule. This is very frustrating when you are waiting to find out an interview date. We found out when the Embassy sent a letter to my fiancee with the interview date. All my emails asking that question were just "bounced" back with no response.

We did book a flight in the hopes that everything will be successful.

This website has been very helpful on a very confusing bureaucratic process.

[daboyz 36]

Maybe the cops don't hit up farang women for cash every chance they get. They sure do it to farang men. Happened to me and many of mates multiple times during the 3 years I lived there. I'm not bashing anyone. It's just a fact that the police in Thailand are corrupt. It's like the sun rising in the East every day. Personally, I think it has it's advantages. I would love it if the next time the Texas State Police pulled me over, I could give them $3 and be on my way. It is what it is. Nothing more, nothing less.

[birch- phuk_beer 0]

Maybe the cops don't hit up farang women for cash every chance they get. They sure do it to farang men. Happened to me and many of mates multiple times during the 3 years I lived there. I'm not bashing anyone. It's just a fact that the police in Thailand are corrupt. It's like the sun rising in the East every day. Personally, I think it has it's advantages. I would love it if the next time the Texas State Police pulled me over, I could give them $3 and be on my way. It is what it is. Nothing more, nothing less.

LOL, try getting stopped by a N. Carolina state trooper 3am 10 miles over the speed limit on 95 north....

ya know us damn yankees and all... it cost me more than $3...

never had a problem with the police, just those wonderful tuk-tuk drivers.

Edited July 21, 2008 by Birch-Beer

[Thai family 0]

It is nice to see we are all so "friendly" here. I am enjoying the different posts!

I just had to make a comment about Thai people who are only after a buck..

In Thailand ---------- NEVER TRUST A BANGKOK TAXI DRIVER !

In the USA -----------NEVER TRUST A CAR SALESMAN !

The funny thing is that my Fiancee used to sell cars in Thailand! If she wants to sell cars in the USA, That would be very interesting. ( ha ha ha)

Our Interview is July 29th... I am disappointed that as of today, the Bangkok Embassy still shows June 11th as the last update for the interview schedule. This is very frustrating when you are waiting to find out an interview date. We found out when the Embassy sent a letter to my fiancee with the interview date. All my emails asking that question were just "bounced" back with no response.

We did book a flight in the hopes that everything will be successful.

This website has been very helpful on a very confusing bureaucratic process.

Here's wishing you a successful interview! I've been waiting to see my DIL's case number on the schedule too. I am certainly hoping the letter was right and it's still on for Thursday. Perhaps the website administrator is on holiday.

As for getting ripped off in Thailand - I have been. As for getting ripped off in the states - I have been. At least in Thailand it was with a smile!

My son says that's not a problem over there. He jokes around rather assertively with a twinkle in his blue eyes and usually gets a fair deal and a new friend in the process. He sees the whole bartering culture as a rather enjoyable competitive sport. Of course there are the national parks, where my DIL goes through one line and he goes through the other.... We should just be kind, smart, keep informed of the going prices, and let the Thai member of the family make the hotel reservations.

Thai Mom

[Devkpaik 1]

Realistically, we ALL know that Thailand is notorious for scam artists and con artists. It really is common knowledge. Is this saying that EVERYONE in the country is a scam/con artist? Of course not. It's important to be able to read what people are saying, and decipher it's true meaning.

For instance, a lot of people, myself included, post here with the emotions that are going through them at the time.

I've called the Thai police idiots too many times on here, I can't even count. I don't mean the ENTIRE Thai police academy, I just mean the individuals who decide to screw things up for others then not correct their mistakes in a timely manner.

I have also gone as far as wishing that they lost their jobs. Did I mean it? Yes, honestly I did. Do I wish EVERY THAI police officer loses their jobs? No definitely not.

The problem with posting on a forum such as this, or chatting via email, text, AIM, whatever it may be, is that it's difficult to truly get an understanding of what someone is saying because you can't hear their tone of voice, you can't see their facial expressions, it's just plain black text. People may be saying things out of sarcasm, may be joking, etc. and we would never know because it's difficult to portray what you're truly saying.

IrishJohn, this forum isn't usually like this. The thing that set it off was JandD's post, which I took as being totally negative towards people trying to help one another out. I sort of took offense to that post, because first of all, he isn't a regular poster on here and I've never seen him contribute to anything (Of course, I could definitely be wrong and if I am I apologize) but yet he feels he can tell people to "not talk if they're not 100% sure about something", and to "not trust anyone on here, only trust the US embassy's information". To me that's a bunch of BS, because like I mentioned before, we all have different experiences and what may have been successful with our case may prove to be unsuccessful with anothers.

Also, Kang lang, I do agree with what you are saying, but at the same time I don't. I really don't see people bashing Thai people in general. I do see people, me included, specifically singling out an individual who happens to be Thai, or an organization who happens to be Thai, and going in depth with the experience we have had with that individual person/group. I am sure if everyone on here hated Thai people they wouldn't be posting here/sure as hell wouldn't be dating/planning to marry one.

I do agree that there is corruption everywhere in the world, no matter where you go, but I mean come on, how many times have you gone to the mall and had a sales clerk charge someone more for a t-shirt because they're from asia, then turn around and charge you (an American) a cheaper price? The corruption of the United states isn't as "IN YOUR FACE" as it is to Thailand. Of course there is corruption in politics everywhere you go, but in terms of daily experiences, I have yet to experience corruption on a daily basis while in the states.

Edited July 22, 2008 by littleasianman7

[SqdnGuns 21]

Just popping in for a quick update.

Ou has been here for a little over a month and is loving it!! A week after she arrived we moved from Yorba Linda to Huntington Beach / Fountain Valley, only 3+ miles from the beach and so much cooler down here. She actually gets pretty cold at night!!

We have been up to the N. Hollywood to Wat Thai a few times and we stop by Thai Town in Hollywood on the way home. Everything she needs we can get here where we live, we have many Vietnamese/Khmer/Chinese markets nearby, we just spent buko $$$$ at the market today but i have authentic Thai Food EVERYDAY!!!

We will marry in a few weeks and file her AOS, not looking forward to the paperwork BS again but it's a necessary evil. She is anxious to get to work and go to the local Jr College, OCC. Her english is awesome but I want her to take an ESL class to improve her writing skills. Believe it or not, her english is better than all the Vietnamese that work for me and they have been here for YEARS.

Good luck to those just beginning their visa process..........it sucks, but WELL WORTH IT!!!

Chok Dee

[Kang Lang 7]

birch-

i purposely said the intent of my post was not to make anyone angry and it wasn't so your sarcasm is unwarranted. just like everyone else i am entitled to my opinion so i chose to post on just that...my opinion. if i wanted to anger people the context of my post would most certainly been clear to do so. it was just my personal post on something as i said was bothering me.

i think little asian man hit it on the head it's very difficult to figure out intent w/out facial expressions etc. and of course the fact that we don't know eachother here. and of course i also qualified perhaps i was being overly sensitive to the issue.

good luck to all.

[birch- phuk_beer 0]

birch-

i purposely said the intent of my post was not to make anyone angry and it wasn't so your sarcasm is unwarranted. just like everyone else i am entitled to my opinion so i chose to post on just that...my opinion.

And I am entitled to my opinion as well. You still dont get it.

no one said their SO was in it for the buck.

You want to continue this, I'll be more than happy in PM's

[Thai family 0]

Thanks for updating us, Tim Tong Faraong. I'm glad Ou is liking it in CA with you. Enjoy your wedding planning. Each day is a gift.

You don't have to enjoy the AOS process, however.

Thai Mom

[ThaiStyleUSA 1]

Hey you guys; I think it's better luck getting ripped off for a few buck in Thailand than getting kill in USA by car jacker or gang bangers.

[Tom and Teaw 1]

Maybe the cops don't hit up farang women for cash every chance they get. They sure do it to farang men. Happened to me and many of mates multiple times during the 3 years I lived there. I'm not bashing anyone. It's just a fact that the police in Thailand are corrupt. It's like the sun rising in the East every day. Personally, I think it has it's advantages. I would love it if the next time the Texas State Police pulled me over, I could give them $3 and be on my way. It is what it is. Nothing more, nothing less.

LOL, try getting stopped by a N. Carolina state trooper 3am 10 miles over the speed limit on 95 north....

ya know us damn yankees and all... it cost me more than $3...

never had a problem with the police, just those wonderful tuk-tuk drivers.

Birch-Beer, where in NC are you? I am in Raleigh. Of course, I am an old dude but if you are close, be nice for my girl to have a few locals she can talk to when she gets here.

[Kang Lang 7]

birch-

i purposely said the intent of my post was not to make anyone angry and it wasn't so your sarcasm is unwarranted. just like everyone else i am entitled to my opinion so i chose to post on just that...my opinion.

And I am entitled to my opinion as well. You still dont get it.

no one said their SO was in it for the buck.

You want to continue this, I'll be more than happy in PM's

no need to go private i have nothing to hide nor do i have any desire to have an offline disagreement, i NEVER said anything about your opinion, you are entitled as am i. you implied with your sarcasm, that i was trying to start a fight and i wasn't, i wanted to make that abundantly clear. Neither did I say anyone said their SO was in it for the buck. My point was that sweeping generalisations made here bothered me since we've all fallen in love with mates from thailand.

to the rest of the members of this thread i apologise for thread jacking and won't comment on this again.