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| Bangkok, Thailand |  Review on August 2, 2006: |
stan&tanya
Rating:  | Review Topic: K3 Visa
What a roller coaster ride, but am thrilled it's over with! Most of what anyone needs to know about this consulate can be found in these reviews. I'll only offer some advice on the hurdles we had to overcome with our K-3 visa. But first, let me bitch some! haha
First off, I don't see why the consulate can't assign 2 hours to somebody to re-organize Packets 3 and 4. Information is disorganized, unnecessary and outdated. Typical government.
Second, the lady at window 5 is borderline bitch. Most of the Thai staff need to check their attitudes at the door. Just because others are applying, and often times receiving, visas does not give them the right to vent their jealousy, envy on the applicants. Work your damn 20 years for the U.S. government, shut up, smile, and you'll have your very own greencard!
But not all is bad with this consulate. They reply within 1 days of inquiry, if you have a case #. The case officer, a young, plump American caucasian lady was very nice - Thai staff sucks. Time to get the k-3 issued, IF we had all of our police reports, would have been December 22 (i130 mailed) to July 11 (interview date). American Citizen Services does a good job too!
OK, on to the tips:
-Allow approximately 10 days to receive the Thai Police Report. Simple request and it's free.
-Medical exam can be completed with 1 day's notice at Bumrungrad.
-Police Reports for places your spouse has lived for more than 6 months, all you need is the ORIGINAL (in whatever native language) and a certified translation from a translation company (NOT certified by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs). There are plenty of translation agencies throughout Bangkok.
-Packet 3 MUST BE MAILED to the consulate. After they receive this, they THEN require 2 photos and a copy of the applicant's passport. I don't understand why they don't add this requirement to the Packet 3. STUPID, STUPID, STUPID!
-After you mail in your 2 photos/passport copy, and are waiting for an interview date, you can email the consulate inquiring about this. About 1 week is all that's needed for the consulate to schedule a date. ALSO, you can request an approximate interview date if you want to be present with your spouse for the interview, but the date must be far out enough (Check the BKK Consulate website for currently scheduled interviews to plan out YOUR date - I did!)
-No need to arrive AT 7:00 for your interview. The lady at window 5 collects the documents through 8:00, and interviews won't begin any earlier than that... more like 8:30.
-IF the consulate requires more documentation, you may return on M/W/F at 13:00 to complete your application by turning it/them in. BE SURE to get a # Ticket outside the entrance for Window 5 before entering. You can't turn in your paperwork unless your # is called.
-The consulate wants ORIGINALS of everything. Forget that the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs had notarized an authentic copy of whatever document you had. The consulate wants ORIGINALS.
These are all the tips I can remember now. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to TRY to answer them. Just send me a message.
Take care, good luck, and have plenty of patience!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #743