SAWASDEE 2

[anya-D 8]

Anya

Glad to hear that your dog is okay now.

Concerning the election, it is too late for you to vote for the upcoming lower house.

According to Thai Election Law, voting registration have to be done within 30 days before election (Overseas election will be done one week in advance to the election in Thailand). It could be implied that voters have only one day to register their vote after the parliament dissolved. Anyway, the voting registration is still valid for upper house election on April 10-12.

You can go ahead and register the form now, the embassy will post a ballot for your upper house voting.

Mod

Thanks for the info Mod... I already register, for what ever election, last week It's bother me though.. that the law said that and the election is held so soon plus the rules - we have only 1 day to register... such an unfair situation.. espectially when didnt get to vote last time too....so unfair... sounds like the PM knows what he's doing, so to prevent vote against him he just have to play this unfair game

Edited March 6, 2006 by anya-D

[skyman2112 0]

skyman,

Why assume when you can read the SS-5 instructions?

Yodrak

Does anybody know what documents they need for the SS card??? I assume the passport with visa and I-94, thai Drivers liscense, and birth certificate is enough. Did anybody mail it in or just go to the local office?? Thanks to all!

I know I sound like and idiot Yodrak but it seems like everytime I try to do something they say I need one more piece of paper. The instruction are meant for americans and I don't know how they will handle Thai documents. You know how government offices can be. Just wondering if anyone had any trouble that's all.

[malydon 0]

skyman,

Why assume when you can read the SS-5 instructions?

Yodrak

Does anybody know what documents they need for the SS card??? I assume the passport with visa and I-94, thai Drivers liscense, and birth certificate is enough. Did anybody mail it in or just go to the local office?? Thanks to all!

I know I sound like and idiot Yodrak but it seems like everytime I try to do something they say I need one more piece of paper. The instruction are meant for americans and I don't know how they will handle Thai documents. You know how government offices can be. Just wondering if anyone had any trouble that's all.

Skyman

There are no dumb questions. We are all in the same boat.......we all need a little reassurance from time to time that we are understanding correctly what we need to do. Sometimes I get so nervous i start questioning everything and understanding nothing.

Mike

[Yodrak 7]

thai2luv,

How are you going to provide the consulate with " "original" tax returns"? You sent those to the IRS.

I-129f packet?

Yodrak

For all of you who have been thru the interview process, and those about to;

Did you send to your fiancee your "original" tax returns, check stubs, I-129f packet, etc....?

I'm a bit nervous about putting the originals in an envelope and sending it half way around the world.

Ken,

She might possibly need the x-ray if the DS-3024 mentions that it shows something that deserves follow-up medical examination in the future - the interviewer might want to be sure she's aware of that. You're right that the interviewer is not gong to examine the x-ray themself to confirm what the doctor wrote in the report.

Rodjanaa never did get her x-ray from Chiang Mai Ram - the hospital (or the doctor, not sure which) would have charged her for it, so we told them 'no thanks'.

Yodrak

Can someone please give me us a heads up about the x-rays? Do we really need to take the x-ray into the embassy for the interview? Seems unlikely that the interviewer is also a radiologist, why would you possibly need the x-ray?

Our interview is coming up in a couple of weeks and I was hoping someone could shed some light on this...

Thanks

[Yodrak 7]

anya-D,

You can find good informtation about overseas registration to vote at this web site

< http://www.mfa.go.th/web/13.php >

including this statement, "The registrations can be made at any time. However, voters should keep in mind that the applications must be made before the announcement of the election day to enable voters to vote in that election. ", which cofirms what the embassy told you.

Why not get registered now, so that you'll be ready for the next election?

Yodrak

...

Anyway... I'm just wondering... about this Thai election (for the Thai spouses) ANybody able to register to vote for this election? I called the Thai embassy few days ago and they said the registration already closed on the 25th (that is 1 days after the house dissloved)

I'm just wondering has anybody got the same answer as me....if it's so then it's just a fake election and it's not fair at all (mad)

...

[Yodrak 7]

skyman,

This page < http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa.cf....php?p_faqid=80 >

contains information about documentation for aliens that my be useful to you.

Beyond that, MDYoung is the authoritative source for SSA information here on VJ - post SSA questions outside of this Thailand-specific thread to attract his attention.

Yodrak

skyman,

Why assume when you can read the SS-5 instructions?

Yodrak

Does anybody know what documents they need for the SS card??? I assume the passport with visa and I-94, thai Drivers liscense, and birth certificate is enough. Did anybody mail it in or just go to the local office?? Thanks to all!

I know I sound like and idiot Yodrak but it seems like everytime I try to do something they say I need one more piece of paper. The instruction are meant for americans and I don't know how they will handle Thai documents. You know how government offices can be. Just wondering if anyone had any trouble that's all.

[thai2luv 0]

Some great EVA Air promo rates going on now. Eva is always the least expensive carrier from LAX, but I usually don't fly them because of the long stop over at TPE. 3 hours is a long time for me. I like getting off one plane and heading right to the other. Especially when my trips are short (7-12 days), and every hour with my honey counts.

Thai Airways offers nonstop service from LAX to BKK at about US$1,000. roundtrip. I will probably try this flight next trip.

anyone see the specials to SE asia Eva has going. Check it out LAX to BKK for $477. Also from SFO. but just good for a few more days.

http://www.evaair.com/html/b2c/english/

[skyman2112 0]

skyman,

This page < http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa.cf....php?p_faqid=80 >

contains information about documentation for aliens that my be useful to you.

Beyond that, MDYoung is the authoritative source for SSA information here on VJ - post SSA questions outside of this Thailand-specific thread to attract his attention.

Yodrak

skyman,

Why assume when you can read the SS-5 instructions?

Yodrak

Does anybody know what documents they need for the SS card??? I assume the passport with visa and I-94, thai Drivers liscense, and birth certificate is enough. Did anybody mail it in or just go to the local office?? Thanks to all!

I know I sound like and idiot Yodrak but it seems like everytime I try to do something they say I need one more piece of paper. The instruction are meant for americans and I don't know how they will handle Thai documents. You know how government offices can be. Just wondering if anyone had any trouble that's all.

Hey it was sooo easy, all they needed was her passport with the I-94 and nothing else.

[anya-D 8]

anya-D,

You can find good informtation about overseas registration to vote at this web site

< http://www.mfa.go.th/web/13.php >

including this statement, "The registrations can be made at any time. However, voters should keep in mind that the applications must be made before the announcement of the election day to enable voters to vote in that election. ", which cofirms what the embassy told you.

Why not get registered now, so that you'll be ready for the next election?

Yodrak

...

Anyway... I'm just wondering... about this Thai election (for the Thai spouses) ANybody able to register to vote for this election? I called the Thai embassy few days ago and they said the registration already closed on the 25th (that is 1 days after the house dissloved)

I'm just wondering has anybody got the same answer as me....if it's so then it's just a fake election and it's not fair at all (mad)

...

Thanks Yodrak, I already registered (the same day i called them)

I can understand that rules.. but this snap election shouldnt be in the same rules because we didnt know the election date before he announce the house dissolved - so as all the regular rules still imply with this election.. i cannot vote. also with Mod's info, i still can register 30 days before the election so that gives me 1 day to be able to register... which ofcourse... already passed. so... too bad i cant vote this time.. but surely i will vote the next time..

[Yodrak 7]

I think it was mr. who reported using a visa outfit in Bangkok by the name of MyThaiFiancee.com, and I was somewhat questioning about the outfit.

There is an interview with the principal in this week's 'Stickman Weekly' at

< http://www.stickmanbangkok.com/Weekly2006/weekly252.htm >

The fellow comes across much less 'glossy' in the interview than the web site appears, most of what he says seems quite reasonable. But he does still leave some questions unanswered.

In any event, I now feel solidly neutral about this outfit, the only negative remaining being that while his fee would be quite reasonable for a USA-based attorney it seems a bit high for one based in Bangkok.

Yodrak

[*Robert* 2]

Interesting article you found Yodrak! I don't particularly care for the last paragraph, where he says that those of us doing our own visa work are taking "...a selfish approach"! Why, because we aren't putting money into his pocket? He also insinuates that any Thai woman marrying an American isn't proficient in English! Pretty big assumption on his part, considering he practically tells all his "bar girl" clients to lie! What a piece of work!

Wonder what he would say if he knew the success rate VJ members are having?

[Yodrak 7]

Robert,

You've picked out some good points.

- I'm not so sure I know what to make of his comment about most American men using an attorney or visa service rather than DIY - both he and us are seeing only parts of the piture, blind men feeling only the trunk or the tail of the elephant. We aren't much aware of the people who are not on the internet doing it ourselves, he is probably not aware of those of us who are - neither of us sees the whole picture. Certainly, however, few of us D-I-Yers are being selfish - most all of us are doing the forms and everything else we can for our finace(e)s and wives in Thailand, very few of us are leaving them to do it themself.

- My sense is that he is simply going with the odds, stereotyping if you will, about the English language proficiency. We do the same on many Thai issues, often assuming that all Thai people are like our Thai siancee(e) or spouse and their family. He should know better, however, having lived in Thailand for the last 5-6 years.

- I was also struck by the 'bar girl' item, although in all honesty I don't know what else to do myself. A big thing missing in that comment by him - how does he 'fill in the blanks' that omitting the bar-girl info leaves? His approach may protect himself, but it leaves the woman and her fiance or husband exposed to future problems - not a very lawyerly thing to do for ones clients.

These things are why I am now neutral overall, rather than positive.

As to the success rate VJers are having - it's not impressive to my mind. My observation is that most VJers are stumbling through without ever really knowing what they're doing, and more than need be stumble seriously and needlessly because they're too penny-wise and pound-foolish to have a consulation with an immigration attorney up-front.

Yodrak

Interesting article you found Yodrak! I don't particularly care for the last paragraph, where he says that those of us doing our own visa work are taking "...a selfish approach"! Why, because we aren't putting money into his pocket? He also insinuates that any Thai woman marrying an American isn't proficient in English! Pretty big assumption on his part, considering he practically tells all his "bar girl" clients to lie! What a piece of work!

Wonder what he would say if he knew the success rate VJ members are having?

[anya-D 8]

hmm... stickman website... I gotta tell ya.. i dont really like it... i gt offended sometimes when i read his stories ;p

Anyway... I'm goint to make the appointment for INFOPASS!!!!! yey... now just hope that they dont approve our EAD now (coz then we have to wait longer)

I gonna be able to work soon yey yey yey

[Yodrak 7]

anya-D,

Stickman's stories, or the stories that other people submit and he puts up for all the world to read and think about?

As to his personal views, I agree with some and disagree with some. There is a lot of information on his site, it's interesting, but one must consider any particular item in light of .... many things!

Yodrak

hmm... stickman website... I gotta tell ya.. i dont really like it... i gt offended sometimes when i read his stories ;p

....

[anya-D 8]

anya-D,

Stickman's stories, or the stories that other people submit and he puts up for all the world to read and think about?

As to his personal views, I agree with some and disagree with some. There is a lot of information on his site, it's interesting, but one must consider any particular item in light of .... many things!

Yodrak

hmm... stickman website... I gotta tell ya.. i dont really like it... i gt offended sometimes when i read his stories ;p

....

i understand that.. that's why i keep reading it... some times the truth hurts ^^ that's why i dont really like to read it much.. but stil, i read it. .. i got many feeling reading the story... some interesting some upset me and some i agree with... and ofcourse... i got offended with some too (but not denied that it's got some truth in it) it's really interesting.. but i just dont really like it for some personal reason (well.. coz i'm a Thai girl.. and his stories are involved alot with thai women) but weird.. i still keep reading it.