Mark&Took

I have read package 3 and 4 instructions and don't see the need for my fiancé to have my original birth cert. or the original NOA1, NOA2 at the interview but I'm wondering what others have done. I could make copies and send her the originals in the mail but that makes me nervous they could be lost. Thoughts?

I see from your timeline that you did the medical before the file has even been received at NVC wondering if that affects anything down the road... If I can I want to get the medical out of the way as I am traveling to see my fiancee in a couple weeks.

I read (I believe on the U.S. Dept of Sate website) that the medical and visa have to be valid (not expired) upon entry to the U.S.. What I don't know is how long the medical results are good for.....we haven't done that yet. The visa is good for 6 months. If the medical is due to expire you could always do it again.

Thanks for the replies. I see the police certificate lasts 6 months, maybe that is why I thought the medical was good for 6 months. I did some research and can't find a definite answer that the medical is good for 1 year. I want to make sure when she gets to a POE everything is still current. I could read these instructions everyday and still not remember it all!! One day it will all be behind us! Thanks again.

Everything I have read says the visa will last 6 months. I was reading another forum and someone said theirs was 6 months from the date of the medical exam. I know you don't get the visa until you pass the interview (and different countries have different procedures). It seems most people do the Medical close to the interview. My fiancé has to travel a long way to get the medical, police certificate, and pay the visa fee. We are hoping she can do this in one trip soon which would be about 2-3 months from the interview. Is that a bad idea? Will the visa only have 3 months left for her to enter the U.S.? Or will it be good for a full 6 months from issue date regardless of when the medical was done? We need some time after the visa is issued to close her apt, leave her job, and say goodbyes to family and friends until we get AP and an travel outside the U.S.

I'm not familiar with Philippines specific info but I don't see why not. I don't think they can tell who filled in the form (probably don't care either) if it is done on a computer and printed out. She will have to put her signature in the required spaces before sending them in. I believe the registrations for Philippine interviews are done online and you will need your MNL case number to do that, so I would think you probably can do that too. Maybe someone from that country will correct me. You'll have to call the NVC and speak to a person to get your MNL number. That could take up to 15 days from NOA2. Good luck.

Thanks Robert&Karen and Allegra!!

I will ask my fiance for the originals that he is ok to send me, otherwise he will send me certified true copies.

I remember they are nice at the Paris embassy (went there for my J-1) but they can also ask tricky questions…

Allegra, I don't have any interview date right now, our file is not at the embassy yet.

By any chance, does anyone know how does it works for the letter from employer? My fiance works for a big company and we're wondering if a letter from his "closest in rank" manager is ok? (or does he need to ask to HR?) How "official" does it need to be?

I would suggest a letter from someone in the Human Resources Department at his work.....or someone in Payroll.

I have read that for a K1 you will need to speak to a person when you call the NVC to get your case number. The automated line won't give you the info you need. We got our NOA2 approved 1-13-12. I called once last week and they didn't have us in their system yet. I plan on calling again Monday. Good luck.

Be careful about buying from the cheap websites. On one trip I ended up with 5 different confirmation numbers, one for the trip, then 4 for different airlines. I needed to make a change and the airline I was riding on wouldn't help. They said call the discount company. I also wasn't allowed to pick a seat even though I booked months in advance. I had to wait until airline checkin to get a seat assignment. On a long international flight that will guarrantee you a bad middle seat. It ended up being so difficult and expensive that I stayed with my original schedule. That cheap ticket only saved me about $15 over the airline site price. I've had good trips booked with Kayak.com. The bad one was with Vayama.com or something like that.

I think we will all get hit with a high one way fare bringing our spouse over the first time......ugh. Good luck!

Got our NOA2 approval Jan 13. Yesterday I called the NVC and was told they don't have us in the system yet, call back later. The woman I spoke to made it sound like it would be a 1-2 month wait (which didn't seem right). If you recently found out your case number from the NVC what was your NOA2 date? Wondering how long this stage will take and trying to send package 3 soon!

First off we have both been married previously. We both have our divorce certificates (I think my fiancé even has her marriage certificate).

Looking at the documents required in the package 3 instruction sheet it says "Marriage certificates: both petitioner and beneficiary must present all of their civil marriage certificates if available".

I don't have a copy of my previous marriage certificate. I'm thinking that will be hard to get.....but I have to try. Has anyone with had experience with that? Anyone not give a marriage cert. from a previous marriage and pass the interview stage? We have our NOA2 but they don't ask for this until package 3. Will that be a problem?

I guess I would be a returning expat. Been living in Thailand for 3+ years, but w/o a long term Visa.

Medical is not for me. I'm glad I did the medical early. It was determined she needed some immunizations and one of them has 3 shots involved that have to be given over 7 months !

My understanding is she doesn't need any vaccines before arriving in the U.S. it is just a recommendation because she will have to have them before her Adjustment Of Status (AOS) to permanent resident....and later citizen.

If you've been gone a while it may be hard to return. Every time I come back I notice more and more how truly nice the Thai people are oppose to how I get treated here....anywhere.

Here is a link to the info you need:

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/k_appointment_package_may09.pdf

If the link doesn't work I found it on the website for the U.S. Embassy Bangkok....visas, immigrant visas, instruction and appointment packages, then click on Appointment package for "k" visa applicants (k package 4). I should add this document states the 'immigrant visa fee' that you pay at the post office is $131 USD. That has now changed to $350 USD ( I've been told, we haven't paid yet). I think you are past that point but it could be helpful to someone else.

Good luck!

Can I ask how much the medical cost you? My fiancé needs to do is soon. Thanks

Just my opinion but I would think if she interviews before the tax filing deadline (April 17 this year....2 extra days) then I wouldn't worry about having done your 2011 taxes. I put gross income (before tax salary) on our I-134 and I believe that to be correct. If you you look at the instruction sheet, in the letter from your employer, they want them to state your annual salary.....which would be gross income. Good luck!

I think the only way you can do it, having not met in person, is if there are established religious/cultural reasons for having not met in person. Good luck!

Vermont is advertising 5 months or so. We got ours in 84 days (VSC). Unfortunately I think CSC is taking longer. Good luck!

Has anyone used Bumrungrad Hospital recently and know the cost of the medical for package 3? I have some info from the Embassy but I think it's old/not accurate. My fiancé is familiar with that hospital so she will probably go there. I'd like to make it as easy as possible for her. She did get some of the vaccines in advance in her home town. If you went to another hospital which one and what was the price there?

Thanks

Wow, that is crazy. As someone else mentioned it's harassment, and unlawful use of personal information. These idiots are on a major power trip. I would definitely keep the email he sent you as evidence and contact his supervisor. If he isn't disciplined or you don't feel his supervisor is handling it properly (his direct supervisor is probably trying to sweep it under the rug to save him) then take it to the next level of supervisor.

If anyone is mistreated at a border crossing they should ask for agents name, BADGE NUMBER, and a supervisor.

Can I ask if either of you used Bumrungrad Hospital for the medical exam? How much did that cost? My fiancé has done some of the vaccinations at her local hospital but I'm trying to figure out how much to send her for a trip to Bangkok and Visa expenses. Thanks.

Thanks guys! That's a big help.

We are working on package 3. Can someone who has been through the process recently tell me how much the fee is for a non immigrant visa at a Thai post office? The package 3 instructions say the equivilant in Thai baht of $131 USD. I just want to know if that is accurate. I read somewhere there are several different rates at the post office. I want to make sure we pay, but not overpay. Thanks in advance!

I just wanted to give some hope to those waiting. I received an email on 1/17/12 that we have NOA2 approval! I sent our package on 10/15/11, received NOA1 on 10/21/11. We didn't expect to hear anything for 5-6 months (especially with any slow down for the US holidays) and figured anything sooner would be a gift. Wow, we really didn't expect anything this soon. The email said we were approved 1/13/12. I logged in to our USCIS account and it had the same info. Now we are waiting on the hard copy in the mail and getting documents together for package 3. I suggest everyone waiting on VSC start working on package 3 things are seem to be moving fast these days! Good luck!

Did VSC slow down?

I don't think so. We just received our email NOA2 approval on 1/17/12. It said we were approved on 1/13/12 and a hard copy is in the mail. We were happily surprised! We didn't think we would hear anything for 5-6 months. We got our NOA1 10/21/12......it was sent 10/15/12. So for us we received NOA2 from the VSC in about 2.5 months!.......wow. Good luck to all those waiting!

Find the book Thailand Fever on Amazon. Have her find it in Thailand or send her a copy.

I use You Tube to stay connected to Thai shows. There are many & even some videos of her area probably.

When she gets here it would be fine to do something special of course but she would appreciate time to get used to her new area. Everything is so different.

Food is a big deal. She would like to know where she can buy food to prepare at home. She will find people to connect with at those stores.

Locate the local temple to allow her to practice her faith. Again she will find people to relate to there. Hopefully you will have some knowledge of what we do at our temples.

Look into ESL classes at schools near you. She wont want to begin this right away but its a very good idea for many reasons.

Thanks Ning, I will look for that book and some youtube listings. I saw a website (can't remember it now) where she could hopefully watch 6-8 Thai channels. I'm not actually certain they all work, although I did watch one channel for a few minutes. Unfortunately North Carolina doesn't have a big Asian (much less Thai) community. Finding Thai foods in stores will be a challenge but I will look....Latin foods are much easier to find. We do have a few temples so that part is easy. I will find some ESL classes and offer that to her. It may be just for friendships or getting out as she teaches English.

Can anyone comment on their experience learning to drive in the U.S.? My fiance has driven before but not much. Everything here is so spread out we have to drive or move somewhere more convenient.

Mark

Yes... All the DS forms pertain to your fiance, don't forget the DS-230 from your list! The only documents that will pertain to you are the financial docs. You'll need I-134, letter of employment, recent pay stubs, at least a couple of years tax returns with W-2's, and you'll need updated letter of intent to marry.

Best of luck!

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I have seen the DS-230 as well. I downloaded all the forms to help her fill them out. My understanding is the Bangkok Embassy only wants part 1 of the DS-230. Anyone with recent experience care to comment? I'm getting the documents together now for the I-134....putting it off a few days to get the current year W2. I'm sending her a package soon with copies of all my docs. I hate having all my personal info out there but feel like she might need it during the interview. If she doesn't interview until summer I don't want to send the updated intent letter too early. I'm going to visit her again in April maybe I will just take it all with me then.

Mark

My fiance and I are getting the package 3 documents together ahead of time. We are waiting on our NOA2 from the VSC (please no RFE's!). She will be interviewing in Bangkok eventually. Can someone confirm the forms DS-156, DS-156k and DS-157 are all for her and none of them apply to me? It all just seems redundant giving them the same info over and over. If anyone is interested I joined the long wait in late Oct 2011. From what I've read so far we have a long way to go. Thanks to the creators and contributors of this site. There is a lot of good info here.

I'll be posting more in the future looking for others who have been through this and might live near me (Raleigh, NC). The country immigrating from is not important. It would be nice for us to have some friends locally who can relate to the process and living in a new country.

I'm also interested on things you have done to make your spouse more comfortable on arrival. I'm currently trying to get my tv hooked up to the internet for watching Thai tv (my Dish provider has a lot of international packages.....except Thailand . I've located some Thai restaurants and thought about making a welcome banner with American and Thai flags. Any other ideas?

Mark