SAWASDEE 2

[daboyz 36]

Anyone know a good long distance company for Thailand?

I use Vonage. Basically if you have a local line, and a high speed internet connection, you can port your existing number to them. They charge 24.99 per month, plus another 10.00 for the call asia plan. It works great for me. The quality is good. I don't have to worry about the prepaid card BS. You just pick up your phone and dial.

If you are calling from Thailand to the US, always use 009 instead of 001. 009 is the CAT VOIP route and is cheaper. If you dial +1 from Thailand, it will default to the 001 route which is the most expensive. For example calling from Thailand:

009 1 + AC + 7digit number.

[HYENA 4]

Anyone know a good long distance company for Thailand?

I use Vonage. Basically if you have a local line, and a high speed internet connection, you can port your existing number to them. They charge 24.99 per month, plus another 10.00 for the call asia plan. It works great for me. The quality is good. I don't have to worry about the prepaid card BS. You just pick up your phone and dial.

If you are calling from Thailand to the US, always use 009 instead of 001. 009 is the CAT VOIP route and is cheaper. If you dial +1 from Thailand, it will default to the 001 route which is the most expensive. For example calling from Thailand:

009 1 + AC + 7digit number.

I use CTHAI and use the kui mun 1cent/minute. It's pretty close...maybe a few cents connection, etc but I get more time than I can use...get talking and before you know it 4 hours later--oops! It's late and I still have plenty time on the card. I buy $100 at a time....I just dial the number, pin code and her number. The first round buy the smallest amount then when that's done do a "recharge" use the same pin and get 10% (something like that) free minutes...

I like it also because I memorized the pin only once and keep recharging the same one over and over

[birch- phuk_beer 0]

I use vonage also....when I'm at home.......24.99 + 10.00 all asia plan = 34.99 per month.

I also have sprint, and pay $4 for their "discounted" international rates....@ .21 per minute.....I find myself using that WAaaayyyyyyy more than I like.....

Thanks for the heads up on calling back to the states.

I'm leaving Tuesday night for a few weeks to see the Mrs.....

That is if PAD doesn't pull a surprise attack on the airport.

Edited January 3, 2009 by Birch-Beer

[eric_f 0]

I use thaitel. Couldn't be happier!

Edited January 4, 2009 by eric_f

[Noi3125 1]

Calling Thailand from the states I use Mobivox. It is great for me, I can call from any phone to a local number and it is only 1.9 cents a minute without needing internet. I call from my cell, house phones, hotel phones and because they have local numbers all over the U.S. it is often a free call from even a hotel. You can find more information at www.mobivox.com and it is really user friendly.

From Thailand to the U.S. I usually use a CAT PhoneNet card. You can call free from any cell phone company so you don't need to have any baht remaining on your phone to use it. And it is only 1 Baht a minute to the U.S. they charge per second and there are no connection fees.

Hope you find what works best for you.

[Noi3125 1]

Anyone have any suggestions for an inexpensive online translation service? The embassy took her translated copy of her birth certificate and she didn't make a backup copy, thinking the embassy would just use her Thai birth certificate. I'd like to be able to scan her Thai BC, and upload to a translation service who will email back the translated document for AOS.

The owner of our local Thai restaurant is someone we've thought about tapping if necessary. My son made friends with her long before he met his wife.

We just figured out today, when getting ready to go to the SS office that my DIL doesn't have her original/certified copy of her Thai birth certificate. Apparently it ended up in the brown envelope. Her family will have to get her another one, but that's okay, as she'll file for AOS closer to their second wedding anniversary.

While we were waiting she told me about her POE experience at LAX. She said the guy was very friendly and spent about ten minutes just talking with her casually and joking. He didn't even pay much attention to her papers.

Thai Mom

For an online translator you can try lingtastic. It works on an economic model similar to ebay so you bid how much you'd like to pay for your translation depending on the skill level of the person translating. The website is just www.lingtastic.com.

[B74L 0]

Thx a lot in advance for the feedback, and valuable input..the past feedback has been tremendous ..

K1, K3, CR-1 visa ..

My Thai Fiancee is able to spend every Saturday in the US (Florida--she is a manager on cruise boat)--we are so ready to pave the way for the CR-1 visa---it really sounds like the way to go. I would greatly appreciate your feedback on the following:

-since we are able to meet every weekend in Florida (albeit only for a day)..we do have the option to get married here in the US, and obtain a US marriage certificate. So, in applying for her US visa, we are able to apply for: K1, K3, or CR-1. I understand the CR-1 takes a bit longer---but given all 3 choices (we dont mind waiting a bit longer for the CR-1, since it does provide the best options once she is here)--does the route via CR1 visa seem the best? the CR-1 route is really what I am considering. I tend to feel that, given the advantage, it is best to go the CR1 route.

-are we really in a favorable position that we can get a US marriage certificate, and go ahead for the CR-1? If it matters--we have been in a relation strong since 2005. Do you see that, since we can get married here in the US, that it is a unique position, considering applying for her visa?

Does anyone see any pro's/con's in the application process, when applying for the CR-1... versus the K1 K3? I am not at all about short cuts -- but I see a clear advantage here we have..in that we can get married here, in the US, and thus apply for the CR-1.

If we are married, and obviously provide the certificate...are we/she, subject to the same stringent interview process as a K1 (or k3?) visa, in Bangkok?

When she does have the interview in BKK--is it recommended that I also be there? Does that matter?

Many many thanks for your most valuable feedback ... regards ... !!

[HYENA 4]

I use vonage also....when I'm at home.......24.99 + 10.00 all asia plan = 34.99 per month.

I also have sprint, and pay $4 for their "discounted" international rates....@ .21 per minute.....I find myself using that WAaaayyyyyyy more than I like.....

Thanks for the heads up on calling back to the states.

I'm leaving Tuesday night for a few weeks to see the Mrs.....

That is if PAD doesn't pull a surprise attack on the airport.

What is the deal with your visa? Crazy! I sent mine 8/3 and there are people in September with approval already. I figured I'd cut through the chase and mail my Congress people (I'm foreseeing a delay). Not that I'm magical but it seems VSC has a lot of serious issues and my main complaints are 1. They say they're working on March files (when that's not what appears to be the case), lack of staff or lack of efficient staff and no transparency (their call center isn't even in the same part of the country--the call center is in a doublewide somewhere in the south.

So far it seems Kui Mun at 1 cent a minute seems to be the best deal. The numbers don't bother me. After a few calls, they're committed to memory so it's easy enough. After about 1-2 hours it disconnects and you have to call back again but that doesn't bug me since we talk SO MUCH already....3 hours today, 2 yesterday, 1 the day before, 4 the day before during a webcam chat/party with my kids...just chatting, having fun, talking about whatever! That's at least something!

I saw your wedding pics! Wow, some wedding! Mine will be in a dirt road marching along with tacky music and upstairs in a barn-like house where we'll do the ceremony in a bedroom of sorts. She insisted we have to do it upstairs. Her mom is panicking 'cause they're pretty poor (can see through the floor, through the outside walls with all the cracks and spaces in the wood not to speak of the cat-sized rats that cruise along the rafters at night...we're talking BIG rats here! She said sometimes they fall when they're fighitng (and did they fight when I was there)....then I think how it must have been growing up there for her and her ancestors...in the shack and the one before that fell down. For some reason, I felt blessed to be there....that they allowed me to stay at their home and did their absolute best to make me feel comfortable. I look forward to helping them put up a respectable building to live in when we come here.

My friends ask how did I tolerate taking showers with a plastic bowl out of a trash can full of water and how could I stand to sleep on the floor? My answer? true love. I never for one moment wanted them to think I was any different and that I couldn't live for a short time how they lived all their lives. I think staying at a hotel would have been the ultimate insult. THat's how I could stand it..and liked it there. I couldn't get used to eating the papaya salad with bacteria fish sauce but I'm working on it (just too spicy) but I did eat the minnows we caught (and I was thinking we were going to let them go to grow bigger in the paddy well--silly me, thinking of letting food go!) I havne't gotten used to the fishy fish fish taste yet, either but I'm as tolerant and culturally determined as they come.

Because I stayed with them in their house (the official engagement is meeting her mom and staying there, I understand), they love me and at least they know my heart is good. I was only lucky I was born here! I told them we're no different. I could have easily been born Isaan right along with them...I don't know why but I was lucky as hell to be born here and I'm not taking any of my opportunities for granted. I hope to pull them all out of poverty and permanently fix their situation and outlook making sure all the kids of relatives finish high school and college ...meanwhile, at least they'll never have to "borrow" some rice from the neighbors.

[eric_f 0]

How long did it take the embassy to get the documents from the time that you got the letter from the NVC? It's been since the 18th of december when the NVC said they sent it out to Bangkok, but the embassy keeps telling me that they have not received any documents for our case. Should I be worried? Maybe it's just the holidays...

Edited January 5, 2009 by eric_f

[Danno2 0]

Anyone know a good long distance company for Thailand?

I've been using a Thaitel "Express" card for 6 months without much of a problem. Its a 1 cent per minute prepaid card with local and 800 number options. Since I don't have a land-line or VoIP I programed the local access number, pin and telephone number into my cell as a single dialing number. Then I just try talk during non peak times or from the office.

For proof of ongoing relationship I included a letter with the I-129F packet explaining what I did concerning the phone calls and referenced the following 3 attachments.

#1 A summary copy (available online) of my Thaitel purchase history.

#2 A printed copy of the local access numbers from the Thaitel web site with the highlighted the number I chose to use.

#3 A downloaded / printed copy of my AT&T call detail log which highlighted the calls to the local access number I had chosen.

All of this took about 30 minutes for about 5 months worth of calls. Now all I have to do is recharge the card and update my call log 1 more time before the interview.

Of course all of this "proof" may have been going overboard but I didnt want to take any chances.

Edited January 5, 2009 by Danny and Chada

[*Robert* 2]

Anyone know a good long distance company for Thailand?

I use PINGO. It keeps phone records, which is nice for proving a bonafide relationship, you can renew online, you can program in the numbers you call from, so you don't have to enter your account and PIN, you can program the numbers you like to call, and there are all other sorts of features.

Right now, it's only 3.3 cents to Thailand.

[Kang Lang 7]

How long did it take the embassy to get the documents from the time that you got the letter from the NVC? It's been since the 18th of december when the NVC said they sent it out to Bangkok, but the embassy keeps telling me that they have not received any documents for our case. Should I be worried? Maybe it's just the holidays...

it took us about 3 weeks for the docs to be recorded at the embassy so don't panic yet. they don't necessarily process the pouch the same day it arrives don't panic unless say about 4 weeks. it will move pretty quickly once they record it so if you haven't already to save some time, order your fiancee's police certificiate and get the medical done (we did that and sent our checklist back before the one they mail to you, saved some time in getting the interview scheduled).

good luck!

[anya-D 8]

Hi all,

Just wantedt o let you guys know that Kruaklaibaan is up and running again!!

http://www.kruaklaibaan.com/forum/index.php?act=idx

*running home to cook some new recipe *

Anya

[bill13060 0]

Kang Lang, Where did you get the paper work for the medical? My wife is under the impression(from a friend of hers) that we have to wait until the package is sent to her. Also what did you show the doctor(supporting paperwork) for them to go ahead and do the medical?

Edited January 6, 2009 by will92104

[rin and john 71]

Kang Lang, Where did you get the paper work for the medical? My wife is under the impression(from a friend of hers) that we have to wait until the package is sent to her. Also what did you show the doctor(supporting paperwork) for them to go ahead and do the medical?

For Rin's (April 2007) BNH had the forms. When her children followed-to-join (Sept 2007), they did not. I went to a local internet site and downloaded them from the embassies website:

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/immigrant_vis...structions.html

Looks like they have been updated as they had expired dates last year on the forms (the embassy accepted them even though they had expired - the doctor at BNH had commented that they were expired but filled them in anyway).

Goodluck!

John