SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

[toma1 10]

Is that more expensive at BNH? I think the fiancee said she prefers that one since she had done all her paperwork for her other visa there. Also bigcasino, she said there's a "fast track" at the police station if you offer to give them some extra baht.

No... should be about the same price. My wife worked at BNH a lot and prefers it as well.

[Alan D. 0]

Married! in the us of a.

It was a small wedding ... and I had this funny idea ... the cover for the wedding invitations looked like envelope from USCIS .. and first page inside was a fake mockup of I-129F with a big red "APPROVED" stamp on it.

I'll try to find a pic of it.

In the meantime ... here we are at the Thai temple near Salem, OR:

[Pii Sam 0]

Congratulations, and good luck on your new future together!

[JD63 4]

Congrats!

[DaveTX 2]

Congrats!

[Kang Lang 7]

congrats!

[scandal 951]

Congrats, Alan!

[AaronLV 12]

We just returned from Thailand last night, and I figured I would share my experience of going through immigration with her 10yr green card. It was painless, I expected a bit of hassle since her green card is in her married name and passport in her maiden name. The officer took her passport scanned it, took her GC swiped it, looked at both pictures comparing them on the computer and then took her right hand finger prints, stamped the passport and said have a Happy New Year. That was it, didn't ask for the marriage certificate or ask any other questions.

[Erich&Chanisa 0]

Woohoooo!!! Chanisa got her visa!!!

Here's how she described the interview:

Chanisa's appointment was scheduled for 7am, Dec 30th.

Chanisa arrived at the embassy at 5:45am and stood in line to wait to be admitted to the embassy. Although she was the first K-1 visa seeker to arrive, she was 5th in line -- the first 4 people wanted tourist visas. She claims she was the best-dressed of the K-1 visa seekers Typical Chanisa -- That's my girl!

At 6:30am, the embassy doors were opened. She waited until 7am when an announcement was made that K-1 fiancée seekers should come to window #5.

The woman at window 5 asked for specific original documents (including a document that had been missing from our packet 3). It was a good thing that Chanisa's documents were organized (tabbed) in a such a way that she could quickly and easily find the requested documents. Chanisa then sat down and waited for her name to be called.

At 8:30, she was the 5th K-1 seeker to be called to window #6 where she greeted an unsmiling woman who was initially somewhat cold. (Chanisa bravely kept smiling, though.)

Chanisa was then asked to sign a document that affirmed that she was telling the truth and then she was quickly fingerprinted.

Then, the interviewer began questioning Chanisa:

"How did you meet your fiancé".

"When did he come to see you?"

"How much time did you spend together?"

"What is your fiancé's job?"

"Do either of you have any children?"

"When will you get married?"

DONE!!

The woman then told Chanisa that she could pick up her visa on Jan 6th!!!

The interview was conducted entirely in English and took less than 4 minutes. Note: Chanisa is a fairly proficient (and very confident!) english speaker.

Chanisa's advise/comments:

Treat the interview like a job interview. It is important to be confident!

When you talk to the interviewer, make eye contact and be cheerful. She also said to pretend (haha) that you really really love your fiancé (even if you are mad at him for waiting until the last minute to send some documents!)

NOTE: Of the 5 K-1 seekers Chanisa knew about (including herself), 3 were granted visas and 2 were not.

She'll be flying in to SFO on Jan 13th!!!

Thanks to all who contribute to this great and very useful forum!! God bless the interwebs!!

Erich

[BishopMnA 0]

We just returned from Thailand last night, and I figured I would share my experience of going through immigration with her 10yr green card. It was painless, I expected a bit of hassle since her green card is in her married name and passport in her maiden name. The officer took her passport scanned it, took her GC swiped it, looked at both pictures comparing them on the computer and then took her right hand finger prints, stamped the passport and said have a Happy New Year. That was it, didn't ask for the marriage certificate or ask any other questions.

Hey Brother AaronLV,

Good to hear that this went smoothly. AAm is traveling back to Thailand for the month of March, right around the corner...and I'll do like you did..join her a bit after she's already there. We're looking forward to it! We haven't been back in 3 years! That is WAY too long...but AAm didn't want to go back until she felt she was 'successful'...you know...face. I changed jobs and we relocated after she'd been here about one year, and then we rented for a year in our new location, and then bought our first house together a few months ago...so, now that we own land...she really feels settled and is ready to go home as a successful 'American'...plus she also just finished her first full year of employment at Fedex...which she also is very proud and happy about...

We have our Biometrics for our 10 year GC next Monday. I hope they ship AAm's 10 year GC to her before she leaves...but if not, she's got the extension letter...so should be no difficulties.

Peace...and Happy New Year!

Congratulations Erich!

Chanisa has given some great advice to treat the interview like a job interview...I liked that She sounds like a real 'force of nature'...you'll have a great life together, without a doubt!

Mark

[Kang Lang 7]

Congrats Erich and Chanisa!

[Mountain Climber 186]

Woohoooo!!! Chanisa got her visa!!!

Here's how she described the interview:

Chanisa's appointment was scheduled for 7am, Dec 30th.

Chanisa arrived at the embassy at 5:45am and stood in line to wait to be admitted to the embassy. Although she was the first K-1 visa seeker to arrive, she was 5th in line -- the first 4 people wanted tourist visas. She claims she was the best-dressed of the K-1 visa seekers Typical Chanisa -- That's my girl!

At 6:30am, the embassy doors were opened. She waited until 7am when an announcement was made that K-1 fiancée seekers should come to window #5.

The woman at window 5 asked for specific original documents (including a document that had been missing from our packet 3). It was a good thing that Chanisa's documents were organized (tabbed) in a such a way that she could quickly and easily find the requested documents. Chanisa then sat down and waited for her name to be called.

At 8:30, she was the 5th K-1 seeker to be called to window #6 where she greeted an unsmiling woman who was initially somewhat cold. (Chanisa bravely kept smiling, though.)

Chanisa was then asked to sign a document that affirmed that she was telling the truth and then she was quickly fingerprinted.

Then, the interviewer began questioning Chanisa:

"How did you meet your fiancé".

"When did he come to see you?"

"How much time did you spend together?"

"What is your fiancé's job?"

"Do either of you have any children?"

"When will you get married?"

DONE!!

The woman then told Chanisa that she could pick up her visa on Jan 6th!!!

The interview was conducted entirely in English and took less than 4 minutes. Note: Chanisa is a fairly proficient (and very confident!) english speaker.

Chanisa's advise/comments:

Treat the interview like a job interview. It is important to be confident!

When you talk to the interviewer, make eye contact and be cheerful. She also said to pretend (haha) that you really really love your fiancé (even if you are mad at him for waiting until the last minute to send some documents!)

NOTE: Of the 5 K-1 seekers Chanisa knew about (including herself), 3 were granted visas and 2 were not.

She'll be flying in to SFO on Jan 13th!!!

Thanks to all who contribute to this great and very useful forum!! God bless the interwebs!!

Erich

You could not ask for a better way to start the new year. I am very happy for both of you.

Congrats :dance:

[JD63 4]

Congrats to you both

[Erich&Chanisa 0]

She sounds like a real 'force of nature'

Mark

Thanks Mark!!! Very aptly put! Keeping up with her physically and mentally will be a full-time job!!! I'm not complaining -- I haven't felt so alive in years.

Erich

[toma1 10]

Wow Eric! You have a VERY cool story! Congrats!

I see Chanisa is a restaurant manager. Where did she learn English so well? Wondering if she had been working at a place that caters to Westerners and learned it there, or if it was somewhere else. It's one thing to learn a language; another to get enough practice to know it so well.

NOTE: Of the 5 K-1 seekers Chanisa knew about (including herself), 3 were granted visas and 2 were not.

Did she get any idea as to why this result occurred?

Any idea whether these interviews were conducted in English or Thai?