SAWASDEE 2

[anya-D 8]

Hi All,

i'm a newbie here and would like to get to know all. i'm from texas and my thai gf is here on a K1 visa. planning on getting married soon. but don't want to procrastinate until the final month of the 90days deadline. planning on just driving to the court house and get married then have a big thai wedding next year. how inexpensive is a thai wedding of about 100 guests in Thailand?? after getting married at the court house, how soon will i recieve the marriage license? and can i go straight to the SSN and get my girl a SSN card? can she work after she get her green card? or do i have to file the I-765 application for employment, dont' want to spend money on the application if i dont' have to. sorry if my thread is lengthy.

AJ

Welcome to VJ, AJ.

OK, if she has been here two weeks, it's time for a trip to the Social Security office to apply for her SS Card. If she is in the "SAVE" system there, she should receive a card in about a week, If not she will have to be manually verified (could take 4 weeks or more).

We (Dao and I) are basically doing the same thing. We went to the courthouse and were married here in a simple civil ceremony. We will return to Thailand sometime early next year and have a Thai wedding. The cost is very variable, it can depend largly on what type and where your wedding will take place as well as if there is any sin sot.

You take your chances by not filing an I-765. Sometimes the I-485 is approved quickly, sometimes it can take a lot longer. Almost always, the I-765 will be approved before the I-485.

Ty

that was what I was gonna say

My wedding for 150 guests (in Bangkok) cost about 150,000 baht - not include the sin-sod... we didnt do it in the hotel so the cost of labor are quite expensive - but overall as we checked with hotels too... it's cheaper than it's worth Depends on how you want your wedding to be - it can be cheaper or more expensive... and also depends on the province and what kind of decoration and food you choose...

For your wife's name. I dont think it matters as much on how to spell her name. Is she ok with the Phannarai? (I'm Thai and it sounds the same to me in english.. Punnarai or Phannarai) there's no strick way to spell a thai name... she can spell what ever she wants as long as it sounds like her thai name... so if she is ok with the spelling "phannarai" then dont need to change it and she can use that name on anything

for example.. my name is Anya.. but the phonetic for it should be "Unya" (my teacher try to spell it that way and we got in the argument becasu i was always use Anya and she said it's wrong ) but my dad wants me to be "Anya" in English so that's what I am (since i was born)

oh well.. sorry for ranting so long i hope u understand what i'm trying to say!!!

PS.. dont use her nickname on the marriage cert!! correct me if i'm wrong but u should use what ever name she has in the passport there.. to prove her identity!!

Edited April 20, 2006 by anya-D

[Joe&Diane 0]

Thanks for your suggestions and replies Anya and Ty!! we are planning to just head to the JP and get married to get the marriage license to file the AOS and to get her SSN and card. i didn't know there was gonna be more headache after the K1 visa. i thought applying for her AOS (green card) will be much easier than the K1 visa but it's not!! it requires that i have to submit 1 yr of my deposited transactions of my bank account, 3 yrs of my tax ( what if i have only 2 yrs??) i was told to keep only 1 year of your tax documents. but luckily i kept 2 yrs. i hope that's fine. and i don't know if i am qualify to sponsor her because i went back to school and only work 4 days a week. i'm not embarrass to say that i make before tax rougly 20k-25k. hope that's enough for filing for her green card!!

[twellspeak 0]

Thanks for your suggestions and replies Anya and Ty!! we are planning to just head to the JP and get married to get the marriage license to file the AOS and to get her SSN and card. i didn't know there was gonna be more headache after the K1 visa. i thought applying for her AOS (green card) will be much easier than the K1 visa but it's not!! it requires that i have to submit 1 yr of my deposited transactions of my bank account, 3 yrs of my tax ( what if i have only 2 yrs??) i was told to keep only 1 year of your tax documents. but luckily i kept 2 yrs. i hope that's fine. and i don't know if i am qualify to sponsor her because i went back to school and only work 4 days a week. i'm not embarrass to say that i make before tax rougly 20k-25k. hope that's enough for filing for her green card!!

If there are only two of you in your household 125% of the poverty line would be around 16,500 so you are ok in that respect. Tax transcripts can be ordered from the US Gov either online or via phone, they are free and satisfy the requirements (sorry, I dont have the site or number but a quick search of this site and you will find it). Definitely take a moment and review the K1/K3 AOS Guide which can be found here.

Ty

Edited April 21, 2006 by twellspeak

[meandwi 0]

Hi All,

i'm a newbie here and would like to get to know all. i'm from texas and my thai gf is here on a K1 visa. planning on getting married soon. but don't want to procrastinate until the final month of the 90days deadline. planning on just driving to the court house and get married then have a big thai wedding next year. how inexpensive is a thai wedding of about 100 guests in Thailand?? after getting married at the court house, how soon will i recieve the marriage license? and can i go straight to the SSN and get my girl a SSN card? can she work after she get her green card? or do i have to file the I-765 application for employment, dont' want to spend money on the application if i dont' have to. sorry if my thread is lengthy.

AJ

Hello and welcome to the forum AJ

The cost of your Thai wedding can be done for very little money. It depends on the type of ceremony, ask her, "what her family is expecting you both to have"? Traditional? or non-traditional? Christian or Buddist?My wifes family would not allow her to have a summertime wedding. Respect of tradition is very important in Thai culture. So ask is the season is right also. There are items needed in a traditional Buddist wedding that can bring the cost up. Outfits, flowers, rings, gold chains, gifts to family and guests, food, drinks, tables, chairs, tents (if outdoors), plus, plus, plus. I would say for 100 people,,,,,, with out sinsod,,,100,000 baht would provide a moderate wedding.

Me and Wi are not officially married yet, but she has recieved her SSN and card already. That took about a week.

Again, welcome to the forum. Good luck!

Brent

[*Robert* 2]

So how many years of Tax Returns are necessary for BNK with the I-134? 1 or 3?

[twellspeak 0]

So how many years of Tax Returns are necessary for BNK with the I-134? 1 or 3?

Only the prior years tax returns were asked for and handed in, but I had sent the past three "just in case". I'm not sure if they will consider 2004 or 2005 "prior year" at this point. You are going to need those three years tax forms for filing the I864 in the future so may as well get them now.

Ty

[Joe&Diane 0]

Thanks Brent and Ty! my dilemna now is the I-693A. my fiance had her medical exam and shots done in bangkok in feb '06. how do i obtain the results to file for the I-485?? they kept everything there. now i have to pay $150-$350 here for the civil surgeon to perform the shots and a medical exam!! what should i do?

[twellspeak 0]

Thanks Brent and Ty! my dilemna now is the I-693A. my fiance had her medical exam and shots done in bangkok in feb '06. how do i obtain the results to file for the I-485?? they kept everything there. now i have to pay $150-$350 here for the civil surgeon to perform the shots and a medical exam!! what should i do?

Double check through all the paperwork she received.. they will usually give her an unsealed copy of her vaccination records... it might be there mixed in with other paperwork. If she does not have it, then I think she would have to go to a civil surgeon and get a new medical / shots (there has to be a way to avoid this, but I'm not sure how. Hopefully someone with more experience will chime in.)

You can find a list of local Civil Surgeons here.

[Blacson30 0]

WHeww..

Hello all!! First I want to say congratulations to everyone that have made it/been approved/etc... since my last post. It's been awhile since I have posted anything. We were waiting on our NOA2 to arrive after having to send additional evidence to the CSC back in March. I'm happy to announce that it FINALLY came in the mail today, April the 21st!! So it took a little while, but I guess that's why it's called a journey!!

I've been out of the loop for a little bit too...so...just wondering if there is anything "new" I need to watch out for or do next..just wait for the paperwork to get to Bangkok right??

I tried to explain it as clearly as I could to my beautiful Ploy, but I would really appreciate a helpful "volunteer Thai fiancee" to call my fiancee to explain to her what to expect next!! I really think that would help out!! Especially ones that have recently been through the process. Just let me know!! Thanks in advance!!!

Any other help / advice / words of wisdom is more than welcomed!! Thanks all!!

[Tiksman 0]

WHeww..

Hello all!! First I want to say congratulations to everyone that have made it/been approved/etc... since my last post. It's been awhile since I have posted anything. We were waiting on our NOA2 to arrive after having to send additional evidence to the CSC back in March. I'm happy to announce that it FINALLY came in the mail today, April the 21st!! So it took a little while, but I guess that's why it's called a journey!!

I've been out of the loop for a little bit too...so...just wondering if there is anything "new" I need to watch out for or do next..just wait for the paperwork to get to Bangkok right??

I tried to explain it as clearly as I could to my beautiful Ploy, but I would really appreciate a helpful "volunteer Thai fiancee" to call my fiancee to explain to her what to expect next!! I really think that would help out!! Especially ones that have recently been through the process. Just let me know!! Thanks in advance!!!

Any other help / advice / words of wisdom is more than welcomed!! Thanks all!!

That is GREAT!!!!!!! CONGRATZZZZ!!!!

I can have Tik call her and explain to her .. I asked Tik and she said OK she can do!. PM me with her # if you want Tik to call.

I was worried about you because you have not posted in a while.

Good to hear from You!!

Edited April 22, 2006 by Tiksman

[*Robert* 2]

Congrats on your NOA2 Bryan!!!

Dennis, you ever ask Tik about what shot she got that the Dr.s said she had to wait to get pregnant for?

Robert

[LastSurvivor 0]

Thanks Brent and Ty! my dilemna now is the I-693A. my fiance had her medical exam and shots done in bangkok in feb '06. how do i obtain the results to file for the I-485?? they kept everything there. now i have to pay $150-$350 here for the civil surgeon to perform the shots and a medical exam!! what should i do?

Double check through all the paperwork she received.. they will usually give her an unsealed copy of her vaccination records... it might be there mixed in with other paperwork. If she does not have it, then I think she would have to go to a civil surgeon and get a new medical / shots (there has to be a way to avoid this, but I'm not sure how. Hopefully someone with more experience will chime in.)

You can find a list of local Civil Surgeons here.

As you already know your fiancee has had all the shots necessary to come to the U.S.A. There is no need to pay anything to a Civil Surgeon except the clerical cost of transferring that information to the I-693A form. She does not need an exam or more shots. Find Civil Surgeions in your area and start making some phone calls. I found one who transferred the information for $25 from the paperwork she brought back from her medical exam in Bangkok. Some Civil Surgeons will charge more and some of the ones who want to make a little extra cash will tell you she has to have the exam again costing anywhere from $200-$300. Again, just make some phone calls. Explain your situation and that your wife does not need another exam. To carry this a step further when you make the call tell them the shots on her paperwork from Bangkok. If any are missing you can have your local medical doctor give these vaccinations and save even more money as the charge from the Civil Surgeon can be high. Bottom line there is no need to pay a Civil Surgeon anything except for their time of copying that information over to the I-693A. Most likely somewhere between $25-$50.

Rich

[Tiksman 0]

Congrats on your NOA2 Bryan!!!

Dennis, you ever ask Tik about what shot she got that the Dr.s said she had to wait to get pregnant for?

Robert

Tik said the shot was for measles..She had no shot record so she got all the shots.. She went to Dr Irene at Bangkok nursing home. The DR is a She and is very nice to Tik she has been to her before.

[LastSurvivor 0]

WHeww..

Hello all!! First I want to say congratulations to everyone that have made it/been approved/etc... since my last post. It's been awhile since I have posted anything. We were waiting on our NOA2 to arrive after having to send additional evidence to the CSC back in March. I'm happy to announce that it FINALLY came in the mail today, April the 21st!! So it took a little while, but I guess that's why it's called a journey!!

I've been out of the loop for a little bit too...so...just wondering if there is anything "new" I need to watch out for or do next..just wait for the paperwork to get to Bangkok right??

I tried to explain it as clearly as I could to my beautiful Ploy, but I would really appreciate a helpful "volunteer Thai fiancee" to call my fiancee to explain to her what to expect next!! I really think that would help out!! Especially ones that have recently been through the process. Just let me know!! Thanks in advance!!!

Any other help / advice / words of wisdom is more than welcomed!! Thanks all!!

That is GREAT!!!!!!! CONGRATZZZZ!!!!

I can have Tik call her and explain to her .. I asked Tik and she said OK she can do!. PM me with her # if you want Tik to call.

I was worried about you because you have not posted in a while.

Good to hear from You!!

I can volunteer my wife's services as well for making phone calls and helping out with the "what to expect" factor. We have free calls to the USA and also to Thailand and she LOVES to talk.

Dennis, are you excited yet? How many days until the interview? Have you started packing yet? Looking at your latest picture you do need to get out in the sun a bit more.

Rich

[Tiksman 0]

WHeww..

Hello all!! First I want to say congratulations to everyone that have made it/been approved/etc... since my last post. It's been awhile since I have posted anything. We were waiting on our NOA2 to arrive after having to send additional evidence to the CSC back in March. I'm happy to announce that it FINALLY came in the mail today, April the 21st!! So it took a little while, but I guess that's why it's called a journey!!

I've been out of the loop for a little bit too...so...just wondering if there is anything "new" I need to watch out for or do next..just wait for the paperwork to get to Bangkok right??

I tried to explain it as clearly as I could to my beautiful Ploy, but I would really appreciate a helpful "volunteer Thai fiancee" to call my fiancee to explain to her what to expect next!! I really think that would help out!! Especially ones that have recently been through the process. Just let me know!! Thanks in advance!!!

Any other help / advice / words of wisdom is more than welcomed!! Thanks all!!

That is GREAT!!!!!!! CONGRATZZZZ!!!!

I can have Tik call her and explain to her .. I asked Tik and she said OK she can do!. PM me with her # if you want Tik to call.

I was worried about you because you have not posted in a while.

Good to hear from You!!

I can volunteer my wife's services as well for making phone calls and helping out with the "what to expect" factor. We have free calls to the USA and also to Thailand and she LOVES to talk.

Dennis, are you excited yet? How many days until the interview? Have you started packing yet? Looking at your latest picture you do need to get out in the sun a bit more.

Rich

I am ready to go go go!!! About 29 days to go!! I leave on the 19th..

Rich did you forget Thai ladys love white skin

So in Thailand I am Lo Mack