song

I've read a little about Job Corp and I've gone onto their website. It seems like they have some good services for no cost at all. Of course, things look good on paper, but I wanted to hear if anyone has actually tried Job Corp and can share your experience. Is it something good for new immigrants? What is the atmosphere like? I'm concerned that it might be like a juvenile detention (which is probably not true) but I would just like to hear what people have experienced. Thanks.

I just want to throw in another situation to consider. I think I read a posting in the past where a married couple lived in different cities because one spouse was working and the other was in college. So what about that arrangement? Is that more acceptable to USCIS than being apart for money? I can't remember if the couple's living arrangement affected their adjustment of status, but I do remember that VJ members wo replied with responses were more sympathetic to their situation because it had to do with being apart for school. Personally, I think being finacially secure is just as important in maintaining a good relationship. Most problems that occur in a marriage are a result of money problems. So if you've got the finances under control, wouldn't that make a marriage stronger? Obviously, we're discussing personal opinions here and USCIS probably uses a different standard to judge what's a valid marriage and what's not. I just wanted to put this out there because I think the OP was being judged too harshly for wanting to make a decision based on job/money. Sometimes that's the reality of life.

How do you know if you've been transferred to CSC? Do you get a letter in the mail?

I'm assuming you recieved the Affidavit of Support Fee Bill and choice of agent paperwork. If you read everything, there's a part that says:

"If a period of one year passes without contacting NVC (by telphone or mail), all submitted fees and documents will expire. In this case, fees and documents will need to be resubmitted in order to continue the immigration process."

Hope that helps.

How long does one have to respond to the NVC for an immigrant petition? Can you sit on it for years? Is there a deadline?

Can biometrics be done at any location? For instance, I travel a lot for my job and sometimes I'm away for 2-3 months working on a project. My husband, who has applied for his EAD, travels with me too. Let's say for instance, he gets a biometrics appointment but it's scheduled for a time when we are not in the state due to an out of state project that I'm working on. Can he go to any local USICS office and do biometrics?

Yodrak,

I'll definately have my husband look over the forms carefully. Thanks for the heads up. I would've just assumed that the doctors knew what they were doing. Apparently it's not always that way. Thanks for the info.

Song

Song,

My wife and stepson also had their medical exams at Chiang Mai Ram, and their envelopes were not sealed. I took the opportunity to make photocopies of all of the reports before they turned in the envelopes in at the visa interview.

I suggest that your husband take the opportunity to do the same, and examine the reports closely to be sure that all questions have been answered. The consular officer will, and will not issue the visa if the forms are not 100% complete.

Has your husband ever been pregnant?

In my 2 year-old stepson's case, the doctor had not answered the 2 Obstetrics and STD questions on DS-3026. The consular officer would not issue the visas until the doctor checked 'Yes' or 'No' for pregnancy. Rodjanaa flew back to Chiang Mai that evening, got the doctor to answer the two questions and re-sign the form first thing the next morning, flew back to Bangkok and turned in the completed form that afternoon. It was 3 more weeks before the consular officer got back to the case and issued the visas.

Yodrak

My husband just had his medical done today in Chiang Mai, not McCormick but the other hospital. Sorry, I can't remember the name. They gave him all the forms back in an envelope that was NOT sealed. Is that ok? Does it have to be sealed when he takes it to the embassy? Please advise. Thanks.

Song

So if a co-sponser makes enough money, then there's no need to submit other evidence like bank info, mortage info etc even though it asks for all that on the form? Can someone please clarify? My co-sponsor makes enough money and I don't want him to do extra work to gather bank statements, mortage documents, tax forms etc. if it's not neccessary. Please advise. Thank you.

YES your Joint sponsor will also have to fill out a I-134 and provide whatever evidence required , Dont get him to list things like house etc if there is no reason to do so, as everything he puts on the I-134 he will have to furnish evidence!!

He can use his pension!!!

ufkenmill,

Thanks for your reply. Since I have found no way to call and talk to a real person, I just decided to email the embassy. In the past, I've been able to call a regular Bangkok number (not an 800 number) and talk to an English speaking person to check on my case status or ask any kind of question. I wrote the number down somewhere but can't seem to find it anymore. Now it seems like they don't want any calls at all.

Sorry, I haven't updated my timeline yet. My husband has an interview date on March 9th but we want to reschedule it. This is why I need to get in touch with the embassy. I'm planning a trip to Thailand in April and if we can push the date a little further back to fit with my visit then I can attend the interview too. Hopefully, someone replies to my email.

Song

As far as I know the Immigration Visa (IV) unit at the embassy will not take any phone calls. The operator will forward you to their voice message system which will tell you just that. You have to email them to get a response and sometimes that doesn't even work. If you are in bangkok, they will accept walk-in's from 1-3pm mon-fri except for the last friday of the month (learned that the hard way).

The pin system, as far as I understand and know, is only for NON-immigrant visas. K-1's are non-immigrant visas but are processed by the Immigrant Visa unit and are generally considered immigrant visas. I don't believe (but don't quote me) that paying for a pin and trying to access your case info will help for an immigrant visa case.

Email them if NVC has already sent your case to them, which according to your timeline they have. Their email is visasbkk@state.gov

Have they scheduled an interview for you? How have you been communicating with them in the past?

Don't waste your money on that automated system for a K1 visa. Like I said, I believe that's only for NON-immigrant visas (tourist, business, etc).

Has anyone tried contacting the embassy in Bangkok since they've set up the new visa system? I know they've got that 800 number but I've never gotten through. There used to be a regular number where you can call and find out whether your case has arrived or not. Does anyone know that number? I can't find it on the website and the general operator person that I've gotten through to doesn't speak any English. She keeps hanging up on me. I know they've got the new login system where you have to pay to get a pin number and get access to visa information. Is this really the case? We have to sign up and pay now if we just want to talk to a live person?! Someone please let me know. Thanks.

Song

With this thought in mind, can someone provide a list of documents that need to be translated for the AOS process and any other related business here in the U.S. I know there's a list in the guides somewhere which I do read very thoroughly. It's just that I haven't gotten to that part of the process yet. But while my husband is still in Thailand and has access to getting translations done, I'd like to get every document we'll ever need translated over there. I think having a list will be helpful and cost effective for others to know as well. Thanks.

Song

mr,

Should have done it in Bangkok - would have been quick, easy, and inexpensive there.

Yodrak

um, yeah ... but the thing is, you have to remember that you need it done while you are there ..

I didn't really think much about the AOS until recently .. and yeah, I know, some of you have your AOS started before you even get the visa, right? oh well.

should have could have would have ... guess it will be cheaper to do it here now than to fly back to thailand to get it done! <which reminds me, I need to buy a lotto ticket>

Has anyone tried contacting the embassy in Bangkok since they've set up the new visa system? I know they've got that 800 number but I've never gotten through. There used to be a regular number where you can call and find out whether your case has arrived or not. Does anyone know that number? I can't find it on the website and the general operator person that I've gotten through to doesn't speak any English. She keeps hanging up on me. I know they've got the new login system where you have to pay to get a pin number and get access to visa information. Is this really the case? We have to sign up and pay now if we just want to talk to a live person?! Someone please let me know. Thanks.

Song