SAWASDEE 2

[Prakran 0]

Hey guys,

Just thought I would give every one an update. We had our interview on January 23rd and everything went well. The interviewer at window 6 asked Pim two questions: Where we met? How many times I have visited her in Thailand? Then told her to come back tomorrow to pick up her visa.

We went back the following day to pick up the visa and I actually caused her to be a little late. We arrived at 3:15 and her name had already been called and everyone was in the adjoining room listening to the person give out instructions. Naturally I was worried that we wouldn't be getting the visa that day but the very nice Thai man got her packet for her after he was finished with the instructions.

We went back to her grandmother's house that evening and had a big dinner with her whole family and lots of delicious food!

We left on Thursday the 26th from BKK and transited through TPE to SFO. POE was SFO and the line was not very long. I got in the Foreign passport line with her and one of the customs officers saw that we had a K packet and came and fished us out of the line and took us right up to one of the windows. I believe he must have been training a new officer. They opened the packet and wished us well. We probably spent 15 minutes total going through the POE.

So far Pim is pretty happy, we went shopping on Saturday for Thai stuff at the markets on Buford highway and then visited Rich and Thisa on Sunday evening and the girls cooked.

Now for AOS....

[chiangmaigirl 0]

Hi to all! I am new on here I am sorry for posting to a wrong thread but since I apply for k visa and need to file I-134 and go through the us embassy in bangkok thailand also so I would like to ask you guys about the I-134 affidavit of support as I have an interview coming up on March 9 this year (very excited). According to my husband having a problem with his income on the 2004 so he need his mother as co-sponsor her income for the 2004 is $27,000 does she qualify for a co-sponsor?? and how many her household size?? only 2 (me and her) am I right?? I am very confused. Please advise me!

[Yodrak 7]

Ken,

To add to what others have written about vaccinations, it will be much cheaper to get them done in Thailand than in the USA. Although you might be able to find a county health organization clinic that will give free vaccinations (did that for my stepson, since the school district requires more than immigration does). Rodjanaa had her vaccinations done in 2 visits a month a part so as to have everything completed.

Make sure to get a copy of DS-3025 from the clinic that she can submit with her I-485 - if all required vaccinations have been marked off as either given or medically inappropriate it may save you from having to get (and pay for) an I-693 vaccination supplement from a Civil Surgeon here in the USA.

< http://www.kamya.com/interview/intro.html >

Yodrak

...

What about the vaccinations? Those are not required until AOS in the us right? And was the birth certificate a photocopy or a certified copy? C doesn't have her original BC but we plan to get a certified copy tomorrow. Applied for the police certificate on friday, will do medical next week and are preparing the other doc's right now.... Can't wait...

Can you guys who have gone through this before please update the embassy ratings on the embassy info page? I see George's and a few other interview results on there but surely we can get a few more of your opinions up there!

[LastSurvivor 0]

Thisa received her S.S.N. today! Only 6 days after the submitting the paperwork. She wasn't very excited because she still isn't quite sure why she has one and I'm not 100% sure how to explain exactly why she needs one. I'm sticking with the "can go to doctor" now and get BIG shot!

On another lighter note. I called her from work this morning and we talked briefly about 8:30am. She walked downstairs and had some food. Then walked outside and locked herself out of the house without a phone. Mom called to check up on her and after no answer she came to make sure she was ok. Thisa spent 3 hours outside with it 50 and windy. Mom said she was jumping up and down when they pulled into my driveway. She only laughs about it and is all smiles. How refreshing!

Rich

[anya-D 8]

Hi to all! I am new on here I am sorry for posting to a wrong thread but since I apply for k visa and need to file I-134 and go through the us embassy in bangkok thailand also so I would like to ask you guys about the I-134 affidavit of support as I have an interview coming up on March 9 this year (very excited). According to my husband having a problem with his income on the 2004 so he need his mother as co-sponsor her income for the 2004 is $27,000 does she qualify for a co-sponsor?? and how many her household size?? only 2 (me and her) am I right?? I am very confused. Please advise me!

hi ka ^^

I'm not sure if i'm right but i'm not sure about your household size... is your husband living with you and his mother? if so then it would be 3 not 2. and i think you have to look at the poverty line to see how much income his mother need.

hope everythings go well for you.

anya

My PARENTS are going to be here tonight!!!!!!!! for my wedding party!

been cleaning since morning... sooo tired.. if i have a job. i'll hire a cleaning lady ><

Edited January 31, 2006 by anya-D

[Pom Kid Thung Khun Krap 0]

Ok my nerves are just a mess. I can't stop thinking about the interview on Feb 7th. Did I do everything right, Do I make enough money for the AOS, Did I send enough proof...OMG this is nutz. I wish this thing was finally over. Well only 6 more day as Thailand is 12 hours ahead of us. I know I want Su to call me as soon as she knows something I will be sitting on pins and needles all night till she calls me. I can't wait till we have that visa in hand

Ray

[ufkenmill 0]

Thanks for the site with the interviews. Some of them are a little outdated (2000) but probably applicable just as well.

Great info about the vaccinations and getting a copy of the DS3025, will do that definitely..

Looking forward to the interview and coming back to the states. I think it'll be a culture shock for both C and I to be in the US. I've forgotten what it's like there almost..

Ken,

To add to what others have written about vaccinations, it will be much cheaper to get them done in Thailand than in the USA. Although you might be able to find a county health organization clinic that will give free vaccinations (did that for my stepson, since the school district requires more than immigration does). Rodjanaa had her vaccinations done in 2 visits a month a part so as to have everything completed.

Make sure to get a copy of DS-3025 from the clinic that she can submit with her I-485 - if all required vaccinations have been marked off as either given or medically inappropriate it may save you from having to get (and pay for) an I-693 vaccination supplement from a Civil Surgeon here in the USA.

< http://www.kamya.com/interview/intro.html >

Yodrak

...

What about the vaccinations? Those are not required until AOS in the us right? And was the birth certificate a photocopy or a certified copy? C doesn't have her original BC but we plan to get a certified copy tomorrow. Applied for the police certificate on friday, will do medical next week and are preparing the other doc's right now.... Can't wait...

Can you guys who have gone through this before please update the embassy ratings on the embassy info page? I see George's and a few other interview results on there but surely we can get a few more of your opinions up there!

[Jacksonj51 0]

Hey is it true now that you cannot walk into the US embassy to drop off checklist 3 and get an interview date? Instead you now have to send it in through mail? Thanks for any help

[Yodrak 7]

Rich,

Evidence that Americans aren't the only people whose knowledge of geography sucks.

Also, in the context of VJ, a reminder that one should not blindly believe and repeat what they are told by others. One should check information out before before acting on it or spreading it around.

Yodrak

I was just quoting what the guy on the skytrain told me who lives in Bangkok. ....

Rich

[dbirner 0]

Not even 2 weeks yet and I am sendning Ton back home to bangkok. She is too home sick and I can't deal with that every day. I have tried to talk to her about it, but she doesn't talk, she just clams up. I don't think I will ever date anyone from a non-english speaking country again.

[ufkenmill 0]

Dan, I'm really sorry to hear about your troubles but please don't give up. Convince her to stay. You both went through alot to get the visa and to get her there.

You sound pissed off, maybe you guys need a few hours to calm down. Give her some time alone and let her think, whatever you do don't push her or you'll only argue more. The clamming up routine is a standard thai response and only means that she doesn't know what to say and needs time to forget about whatever argument happened.

Thai women are like Thai food, hot and spicey! Give her time man, she'll turn around. The adjustment to marriage/engagement would be tough even if you were with her in Thailand. 2 weeks is not enough time to be homesick, it just sounds like an adjustment issue and she's completely out of what she's known her whole life.

DOn't give up man....be patient and she'll come around...

Not even 2 weeks yet and I am sendning Ton back home to bangkok. She is too home sick and I can't deal with that every day. I have tried to talk to her about it, but she doesn't talk, she just clams up. I don't think I will ever date anyone from a non-english speaking country again.

[mr4422 0]

Thisa received her S.S.N. today! Only 6 days after the submitting the paperwork. She wasn't very excited because she still isn't quite sure why she has one and I'm not 100% sure how to explain exactly why she needs one.

so, 6 days for her too, huh! cool. I really didn't know how to explain it myself, except to say that is how the government takes all your money when you work ...

today, I think she found one reason to have it .. we picked up the marriage license. The first time we tried I found out they administer an oath and since Paiwan can't understand alot right now, and I was not allowed to translate (yeah, good one!) for her, we had to go and pick up my sister-n-laws mother and bring her back to the courthouse to translate for us. So after 3 hours, 2 attempts and $40 later, we finally got it. So we are set for our 2pm civil ceremony on friday. And I can get certified copies of the marriage certificate right after also.

Found a civil surgeon that will do the vaccination supplement for $50.

Looks like Monday we will be busy - photos for the AOS, vac sup at the CS, applying for name change on the SSN card, adding her to the bank accounts, and doing AOS paperwork.

Ok my nerves are just a mess. I can't stop thinking about the interview on Feb 7th. Did I do everything right, Do I make enough money for the AOS, Did I send enough proof...OMG this is nutz. I wish this thing was finally over. Well only 6 more day as Thailand is 12 hours ahead of us. I know I want Su to call me as soon as she knows something I will be sitting on pins and needles all night till she calls me. I can't wait till we have that visa in hand

Ray

i feel ya! I understand .. but wait until you get that call and she says she has been approved, you won't believe how fast all that fades away and you will feel so light you might float away ... but that only allows you to get weighed down again with the next steps!

[mr4422 0]

Not even 2 weeks yet and I am sendning Ton back home to bangkok. She is too home sick and I can't deal with that every day. I have tried to talk to her about it, but she doesn't talk, she just clams up. I don't think I will ever date anyone from a non-english speaking country again.

Sorry to hear that. I hope you can find some patience and understanding and hopefully you can find things for her to do. Paiwan has a crying session once in a while but after the first two weeks it has changed from "I miss thailand and family" to "I can't understand/speak english, I am difficult for you". So, I think there will be phases to the adjustment. I try to get her out of the house every day (even though she says she just wants to stay at home), even if it is to get gas, do a quick grocery shop, go to the bank, whatever. I record comedy shows and the funny videos shows, she loves to watch those. American Idol is entertaining. and she has her flower craft she works on, and I have set up her own room as an "office".

I have asked Paiwan is she wants to call her friends and family, as she has only spoken to her mom a couple of times since coming here. So she knows she can do that anytime she wants. And I think it was a big help the first few days.

I don't know what else to suggest at this point in time. I hope you can work it out. And I would hope you would not be biased toward all non-english speaking races just because of this. Although I REALLY understand the difficulties in trying to communicate with someone who is learning english, and I do run into the problem in getting her to divulge ANY thoughts about ANYTHING. I know when she is in deep thought or worry mode, and when I ask "what are you thinking" she is quiet for a bit and says "I not think .. thinking", meaning 1) she doesn't know how to tell me or 2) she doesn't want to tell me.

At least for like/dislike we have adopted the number method. So now, she can tell me from 1 to 10 how much she likes or dislikes something. Especially since she would just say OK to everything regardless when I ask it if she liked it. (ok, a few exceptions, when she tried something and just shook her head and said no ..).

I hope things get better for you.

[chivasgeo 0]

Not even 2 weeks yet and I am sendning Ton back home to bangkok. She is too home sick and I can't deal with that every day. I have tried to talk to her about it, but she doesn't talk, she just clams up. I don't think I will ever date anyone from a non-english speaking country again.

Dan,

Perhaps try taking her to the Thai temple there in L.A. and maybe speak to a monk? My wife also had her down days and really missed her family after about 3 months then at 6 months. Maybe just give her some space and some time. Hope you both will find a good resolution.

Good Luck.

regards,

George

Edited February 2, 2006 by chivasgeo

[LastSurvivor 0]

Not even 2 weeks yet and I am sendning Ton back home to bangkok. She is too home sick and I can't deal with that every day. I have tried to talk to her about it, but she doesn't talk, she just clams up. I don't think I will ever date anyone from a non-english speaking country again.

Dan,

Please do not take this the wrong way because I mean it with the best intentions. It seems like maybe you are not willing to work on this and maybe you have a bit of a temper. I remember a couple of months ago you were ready to throw in the towel and things worked out. Now, after only two weeks you are yet again ready to give up. Patience does not seem to be one of your virtues. This is not easy! For you or Ton. It takes a LOT of work on your part. You have to go out of your way to help her make friends, entertain her, show her how much you love her, eat Thai food everyday and then just when you think you've done it all come up with something else to make her happy. While I think many of us would LOVE to live in Thailand we have not actually made the move. She will most likely be homesick for months and it is unreasonable to believe any different. Think about everything she has given up to come to the USA with you. She is probably terrified. I think you should both calm down and work at this. Certainly do not get married until you have had the better part of your 90 days. Have her talk to a few of the girls from the forum. My fiancee' will gladly call her and say hello if you'd like. Sometimes just talking to another Thai can make a HUGE difference. PM me if you would like for Thisa to call and say hello.

Rich

Edited February 2, 2006 by LastSurvivor