Details of Interview at Bangkok Embassy

[NDB052714 122]

Hello!

Here are the details from Noom's embassy inteview today, 07 September 2016.

After he cleared the security check upon entering the building (metal detector, wanding, bag search, checking his mobile phone) he was told to go to Zone B for K1 Visa. When he got to the window, a Thai lady asked him for his documents; he had all of our evidence of relationship in a 3 ring binder, and he had to take everything out of the binder before she would take it. Then he was finger printed. Then she gave him a number (#4) and told him he could be seated. After just a few minutes a different Thai lady called him up and returned duplicate documents he had submitted that they said they didn't need. Basically what he submitted for Packet 3 and Packet 4 were exactly the same documents (only difference originals instead of copies or vice versa) + Packet 4 was medical documents and evidence of relationship. That lady then asked him 5 questions:

1. When did you meet your fiance?

2. How did you meet your fiance?

3. How old is your fiance?

4. When was the last time your fiance was here?

5. What work do you (Noom) do?

Then she told him he could go into the interview waiting room, which was air conditioned. He figured he was number 4 and had time, so he took a couple of minutes to go to the rest room. When he came out of the rest room they were calling his number and said to go to window 5.

When he got to window 5 an Asian man (Noom thought maybe Chinese) greeted him. He asked Noom if he spoke English or Thai...Noom responded that he speaks booth. The man asked if he preferred to have the interview in English or Thai? Noom said English but if there was some question he didn't understand then he would ask in Thai.

The man then confirmed Noom's name. And then administered the oath (do you promise to tell the truth etc etc etc). And then he asked 13 questions:

1. When did you meet your fiance?

2. How did you meet your fiance?

3. What is your fiance's name?

4. How old is your fiance?

5. How old are you?

6. What work does your fiance do?

7. Is your fiance here in Bangkok with you now?

8. Has your fiance met your family? Why not? <<Noom explained that he's not very close to his family and only sees them maybe 1 time every year. He did tell the man that his mother and father know about me and we all face timed together last night>>

9. Have you met your fiance's family? <<Noom explained that my mother and father are dead already>>

10. Does your fiance have brothers or sisters? <<Noom said if he's not mistaken David has one younger brother, but he's not sure really. He said that borthers and sisters are not important to our relationship and our love>>

11. Why haven't you ever been to visit your fiance in America? <<Noom explained that it is very difficult for Thai people to get tourist visa to America and that is easier for David to visit him in Thailand. And we've been lucky that David can come to see him about every 3 months>>

12. How did you become engaged? <<This one is funny...Noom told the man that he, Noom, had asked me to marry him about 2 years ago. The man was surprised by that. And Noom said yes, I asked him and he said yes. Then the man asked why it had taken so long for us to try to make the visa. Noom explained that we needed time to get to know each other well and to be sure that we want to marry and to be together forever. And then he explained that we needed to take time too to know everything about the visa processes and how to do everything properly.>>

13. Where do you plan to get married?

Noom said the entire exchange took less than 3 minutes. Then the man said your visa is approved. Noom asked what he needed to do next? The man said he could go home now and wait for his passport with the visa to be mailed to him at home. The man said Noom could expect to receive his passport within about 10 days.

And so Noom left.

Noom FaceTimed me @ 8:20...where are you? I told him I was at Starbucks on the corner. He said I'll walk to you now. But he didn't smile; he was expressionless. I figured...uh oh, we forgot something important or they've found a problem and sent him away to come back another day. I thought...my gosh it is too soon! He we cleared security at about 7:00 and was done by 8:20...I couldn't believe it was good news after such a short wait. I figured it would be at least 10, maybe 11 before he would come out.

When he came into Starbucks he had a blank look on his face...absolutely no expression. I said what happened! Tell me! He started smiling...the biggest happiest smile I had ever seen. He said the man told him his visa was approved. He said the interview was very easy and nothing difficult. He did say one lady did not get approved and he felt very sad for her...but the lady said she didn't know why they didn't approve her.

So that's it...the rest of the day has been spent relaxing and re-living it all, every detail over and over. And laughing and talking about our life together in America.

The plan is I fly back to the states tomorrow evening...then return on September 22. Then we will fly together to America on October 3.

~David & Noom

[LionessDeon 2,060]

Congratulations!

You should post your embassy review on the embassy info page for reviews also.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Congrats!

[Abbyerin 9]

Congratulations! As LionessDeon says - Post this on the embassy review page, it all helps future people applying All the best for the future.

[sfcscott 34]

I am so happy for you both! I am glad everything went so smooth at the interview. Its time to celebrate!

[drfast555 0]

Congrats David and Noom!!

[NDB052714 122]

Congratulations!

You should post your embassy review on the embassy info page for reviews also.

Yes, I have posted the review...Thank you!

[NDB052714 122]

Congrats!

Thank you very much!

~David & Noom

Congratulations! As LionessDeon says - Post this on the embassy review page, it all helps future people applying All the best for the future.

Thanks so much! And yes I've posted the review.

~David & Noom

[NDB052714 122]

I am so happy for you both! I am glad everything went so smooth at the interview. Its time to celebrate!

Thanks so much Scott! It is such a huge relief...I keep thinking I'm dreaming. But this morning we checked the NVC case status and it said ISSUED!

I'm at the airport now for the long trip home. And in just 2 weeks I'll be back in Thailand to take Noom home. It is really unbelievable to think it is all done....just a few months ago it seemed like a huge mountain to climb with lots of opportunities to fail.

But of course when I start thinking about adjustment of status and green cards and all the bureaucracy still facing us I feel a bit overwhelmed. But I'm choosing not to think about that today and just enjoy the feeling of triumph.

All the best,

David

[NDB052714 122]

Congrats David and Noom!!

Thank you! We were too tired last night to celebrate much...no dancing in the streets. We had a late dinner, shared a carafe of wine, and went back to the hotel for much needed sleep. This visa stuff is exhausting!

Good luck to you!

~David and Noom

Congrats David and Noom!!

Thank you! We were too tired last night to celebrate much...no dancing in the streets. We had a late dinner, shared a carafe of wine, and went back to the hotel for much needed sleep. This visa stuff is exhausting!

Good luck to you!

~David and Noom

Congrats David and Noom!!

Thank you! We were too tired last night to celebrate much...no dancing in the streets. We had a late dinner, shared a carafe of wine, and went back to the hotel for much needed sleep. This visa stuff is exhausting!

Good luck to you!

~David and Noom

[Sukie 1,464]

Thanks so much Scott! It is such a huge relief...I keep thinking I'm dreaming. But this morning we checked the NVC case status and it said ISSUED!

I'm at the airport now for the long trip home. And in just 2 weeks I'll be back in Thailand to take Noom home. It is really unbelievable to think it is all done....just a few months ago it seemed like a huge mountain to climb with lots of opportunities to fail.

But of course when I start thinking about adjustment of status and green cards and all the bureaucracy still facing us I feel a bit overwhelmed. But I'm choosing not to think about that today and just enjoy the feeling of triumph.

All the best,

David

Dear David,

I'm so happy for you and Noom!!!

Don't worry TOO much about ROC yet. Just get a plastic bin (the size that might hold a dozen cupcakes) and put EVERYTHING that might apply to ROC - especially mail addressed to both of you, statements, insurance papers, medical papers, etc. Don't worry about organizing it yet - just have ONE place to put all the paper. Then when it is time for ROC, you'll have everything in one place. Be disciplined in putting it in the plastic bin.

This is what we did. When it came time for ROC, I was SOOOOO thankful I had kept everything!

Sukie in NY

[ddtenor2 80]

Thanks so much Scott! It is such a huge relief...I keep thinking I'm dreaming. But this morning we checked the NVC case status and it said ISSUED!

I'm at the airport now for the long trip home. And in just 2 weeks I'll be back in Thailand to take Noom home. It is really unbelievable to think it is all done....just a few months ago it seemed like a huge mountain to climb with lots of opportunities to fail.

But of course when I start thinking about adjustment of status and green cards and all the bureaucracy still facing us I feel a bit overwhelmed. But I'm choosing not to think about that today and just enjoy the feeling of triumph.

All the best,

David

Congratulations!!

Regarding the bureaucracy still facing you, it's best to focus on one step at a time so it doesn't seem so daunting. The process isn't so bad if you understand the things you need to do and the timing. Here is what Salvador and I did:

1. Within one or two weeks of Noom getting here, go to your local Social Security office and apply for his SSN.
2. Marry within 90 days of his arrival.
3. Once married and with his SSN, you can add him to your checking/savings account(s) and your credit card(s). You will need those joint statements when you AOS, so the sooner you add him and start collecting evidence, the better.
4. If possible, add his name on your utility bills. I didn't do this, and it wasn't a problem.
5. I had owned my home for 10 years so I did not change the deed to add Salvador. Again, it wasn't a problem.
6. Add Noom to your insurance policies, i.e., homeowners, auto, personal liability, health, etc. Again collecting more evidence of a bona fide marriage
7. Make him the beneficiary on any retirement accounts you have.
8. Schedule an appointment with a Civil Surgeon near you. Search this site for Civil Surgeons that don't require you to have the full physical (at an additional cost). All you need for a K-1 visa is certification that all vaccines have been received. However, many Civil Surgeons don't know the requirements for a K-1, and you may have to do some educating.
9. File I-485/I-751/I-131 and the accompanying forms along with the documents required.
10. Attend the biometrics appointment that USCIS schedules for Noom--it was a simple process, nothing to worry about.
11. We were fortunate in that Salvador's application was sent to California for processing rather than him having to go back to the local field office for an interview. The letter notifying him that his case was sent to California also instructed him to send all evidence there as well. This was easy because I had been saving all the statements, insurance policy endorsements, photos with family and friends, etc., as we were going along
12. 2 months after his biometrics appointment his EAD/AP card arrived
13. 1 month later his green card arrived.

I think you'll find that as you get more experience under your belt, each succeeding step becomes easier. Plus, there's the knowledge that you are getting closer to your ultimate goal. Having been through this particular process, I know the relief you are feeling and I want to assure you that it gets easier from here.

Best of luck,

David

[raini7 29]

Congrats. I am very happy for you guys. I am very excited for mines also. My interview is on Oct 26.

[lovinglifeusa 5]

Congrats again

[NDB052714 122]

Dear David,

I'm so happy for you and Noom!!!

Don't worry TOO much about ROC yet. Just get a plastic bin (the size that might hold a dozen cupcakes) and put EVERYTHING that might apply to ROC - especially mail addressed to both of you, statements, insurance papers, medical papers, etc. Don't worry about organizing it yet - just have ONE place to put all the paper. Then when it is time for ROC, you'll have everything in one place. Be disciplined in putting it in the plastic bin.

This is what we did. When it came time for ROC, I was SOOOOO thankful I had kept everything!

Sukie in NY

Thanks so very much Sukie for the great suggestion. We will definitely follow your kind advice.

All the best to you!

~David & Noom