heyx2rr

Hi folks! I have good news - we're approved! My fiancee was up before 6am to get ready and catch a taxi to the Embassy for an 8am interview. She turned in her paperwork at 8am, and had a quick interview less than an hour later. The interview consisted of only a few questions - when did we first meet, where do I live in the US, etc. The Visa was approved and she will be able to pick it up on Friday.

Wow... It's been a stressful and exciting ride after submitting our I-129F package at the beginning of June. I can't wait to fly to BKK on the 26th - and to fly back together to the US on the 30th. Fabulous.... Life is good.

- heyx2rr

Finally got a reply from the Embassy!!!!

Thank you for your inquiry. Yes, we will not conduct immigrant visa and fiancé visa interviews in February. The interviews will be resumed again in March. We have already scheduled an interview appointment for Ms. SOMPONG PIMVONG on 04-MAR-2008 at 07:30 am. We mailed the Packet 4 which is an interview appointment to this address on January 11, 2008.

The embassy website is STILL not updated. hehehe

ThaiStyleUSA, you are right behind me. I would not be suprised if your packet 4 is already in the mail!

It sucks that I have to wait an extra month, but at least now I know the official date!!

Congratulations on getting your interview date! I hope everything goes well in preparation and at the actual interview.

My fiancee has her interview Wednesday morning, just a few hours from now. We're both very excited and looking forward to getting past this last hurdle - wish us luck - we're almost there! I hope she's sleeping - when we talked last night she was pretty wired and not sure if she would be able to sleep - ha!

- heyx2rr

Afterforever - have a safe trip over and a I hope that your trip back together is a fabulous, exciting start to your life together in the US.

Best wishes to the several other couples who also have interviews scheduled in the next month - it's been a long road, but we're almost there.... This new year will certainly be a memorable one for all of us - ha!

- heyx2rr

My fiancee wants to know how long does it takes for the medical exam and will she get the result the same day? I understand it takes several weeks for the police report.

Hi ThaiStyleUSA, my fiancee was able to get all the exams, shots and paperwork completed from the medical exam in one day at the hospital (a total of about 5 hours there, I believe). She also requested the police report on the same day (Dec 11), and they told her it should be ready by the end of this month - about 3 weeks. I need to double check to see whether that has arrived yet.

- heyx2rr

Hi Folks - another update... We received notice of our interview date about a week ago - my fiancee's interview will be on Wednesday, Jan 16th.

Afterforever - looks like we'll follow you by a couple of days - if i recall, your interview is scheduled for Monday of the same week.

I can only take one week off of work at this time (very busy period), so we've decided that it would be best if my fiancee takes a few days after the interview to visit her family, and then I'll fly over to BKK near the end of January. We'll spend just a couple of days in BKK, and then fly back to the US together and spend the rest of my time off exploring San Francisco (where we'll live) and getting settled in before I go back to work the following week.

Wishing everyone a happy and exciting new year!

- heyx2rr

Congratulations everyone. My package has finally reached the Embassy. Thank GOD!! I'm almost there with you guys.

Great news, ThaiStyleUSA! Your fiancee should be receiving the package from the Embassy soon. I hope things continue to go well for you and that we all have Visas approved by the end of January. After all of this waiting, it's exciting seeing these last few steps lining up....

- heyx2rr

Heyx2rr, we originally were given an interview date of December 21st but I was not able to get to Thailand that quickly, so I requested January 14th. I was shocked that they granted my request. They received my packet 3 on December 4th and gave us our original interview date on December 6th. You may have an interview before I do, if they receive your packet 3 soon. Good luck!

Afterforever, thanks for the insight into the timing of the scheduling of your interview. We ended up getting our interview request filed last Tuesday - so I'm hoping that we hear back this coming week and get an interview date assigned before xmas week defers a response to the beginning of January. Our attorney believes that the interview date will likely be at the end of January, but I'm still hoping for earlier.

Tuesday was a busy day for my fiancee. She signed all the necessary paperwork at our attorney's office, went to the Police station to get the police report initiated, went to the hospital and took care of the medical exam and vaccine shots, then brought the paperwork from the hospital back to our attorney's office before they closed. Needless to say, she was exhausted by the time she got home that evening - but she was happy to have successfully taken care of so much so quickly.

Hope everyone is doing well and that things continue to progress smoothly for those of us who are nearing the end of this long process.... almost there!

- heyx2rr

Received an email from the embassy in Thailand. Our interview date is January 14th at 7:00 AM. I will be leaving to Thailand on January 6th. I cannot believe this part of the journey is almost over. I cannot wait to see my baby again. It will be six months since we last were together but it seems like a life time.

Does anybody know of a good place to stay near the embassy, so we can get there quickly on the interview day?

Good luck to everybody!!!

Afterforever - that's great news! Glad to hear your interview date is confirmed. 7am?!? Wow, the Embassy starts the day early. Good luck!

We should have our interview request in at the beginning of this week, and we're looking forward to getting the date confirmed as well.

Spent a good portion of the day today preparing and starting on repainting the inside of my house - want to make sure everything is looking great! Ha!

Keep us posted!

heyx2rr

Hi folks -

First, congrats to Mark-N-AAm on your successful interview! That's great news - best wishes!

Afterforever - looks like things are going well - hang in there and good luck on getting an interview date as soon as possible.

Regarding birth certificate translations/issues - my fiancee and I had a number of questions - her grandparents were actually listed as her parents on her birth certificate. We are working with a local (Bangkok) immigration attorney who got everything in order for us for our original I-129F packet submission - whatever he did worked, as we had no problems with the submitted package.

In fact, I just received word today that our packet 3 has arrived. My fiancee will be signing the necessary paperwork tomorrow, and working with our lawyer's office to get the Police and Medical paperwork taken care of in the next couple of weeks. We're hoping for an interview date in the first half of January. Very exciting!

- heyx2rr

Hi folks - another quick update. I received a letter today, dated 11/19/07, indicating that the "State Deparment's National Visa Center has recently received an approved I-129F petition filed on behalf of your fiance. This letter is to let you know that within a week the petition will be forwarded to the appropriate visa-issuing post where your visa interview will take place."

So we received our NOA2 on 10/18, and it looks like our petition should be officially forwarded to the Bangkok Embassy by the beginning of this coming week.

Based on the timeline in the K1 flowchart, it looks like we should expect the Bangkok Embassy to receive the package in approximately one week, and that we should then receive the package w/in one additional week or less. I think this will probably mean that the earliest we could get the interview scheduled would be the beginning of January - since it's my understanding that there are only a limited number of interviews scheduled for the 2nd half of December.

From the recent posts, it sounds like there are a number of us who are all on a similar timeline. Looking forward to updates from other VisaJourney folks as things happen over the next couple of months.

Hi folks - I havent posted in a while, but wanted to let those of you who are keeping score at home know that we received our NOA2. NOA1 was on 6/13/07 and NOA2 on 10/18/07 - 140 days according to our visajourney timeline. I hope others who submitted their visa apps in the same time frame are also receiving their NOA2s and moving forward.

- Rich

Hi folks - I thought I'd pass on some good news. At the beginning of this week we received our NOA1. For those who may have submitted their applications in the same timeframe here's our timeline to date: I sent the I-129F package to the CSC on 5/31, they received it on 6/4 and the NOA1 was dated 6/13.

We're using an immigration lawyer in BKK, and he actually received the letter last Saturday, 6/30, and emailed me a pdf file of the scanned document. Interestingly, I havent received anything here yet... oh well, as long as things are moving forward I'm a happy man. Now I guess it's time to hurry up and wait for that NOA2!

Best wishes...

Hi folks - it's been a couple of months since I've posted, but I wanted to jump back in and give Yodrak a big thank you. I had been looking for an Immigration Attorney to assist my fiancee, Tin, with the 2nd part of the K1 process. Yodrak, you had suggested William White, from White and White in Bangkok. In April, I visited Tin in Bangkok and we met with Bill for an hour to get his feedback on the information that Tin and I had put together so far for our I-129F package, and to see what he would recommend as far as our next steps. Bill was very professional and very knowledgeable. He gave us some very good recommendations on how to structure our I-129F package, and valuable input on what data to include for the proof of ongoing relationship sections. He was very easy going, and it was clear that he had extensive experience. After reviewing the state of our application and providing us with feedback, he indicated that he didnt see any reason why we couldnt complete the initial submission of the package ourselves, and his recommendation was he could provide the most value add by assisting during the second part of the process when Tin would receive another package of materials/forms to be filled out (and for preparations for the interview itself).

After meeting with Bill (for about an hour), Tin and I took a walk to discuss our decision. We both were very comfortable with Bill, and felt like he was the right person for us to hire. So we called Bill's office back within the hour and confirmed that we wanted to hire his law firm to represent us . Note that the day before our meeting with Bill, we had talked with the owner of a different company that provides K1 Visa assistance. Neither Tin or I were happy with this company. Among other troubling things, the owner refused to look at the materials that we had put together so far, and reiterated frequently that we would fail if we tried to do any part of the process ourselves. As soon as we walked out of the door, we looked at each other and said that we hoped that White & White would be better, because we were not comfortable using this company. It's probably a good company for some people, but it just wasnt a good match for us.

After returning to the US my goal was to complete the application w/in a couple of weeks, ship the papers to Tin to sign, and upon receipt of these papers back, go ahead and submit the application. However, upon my return my job responsibilities shifted and I had to pick up a fair amount of additional work. I quickly realized that I would not be able to complete the application quickly and give it the amount of review and detail that I wanted - so I contacted Bill and he agreed to work directly with Tin to complete our application quickly. I sent him the materials we had, and within a week and a half he had sent the final application back to me, ready to sign and submit. Fabulous!

I sent in the I-129F application on May 31, and it was received on June 4th. We've got things started and we're waiting on NOA1. Both Tin and I are relieved and excited, and looking forward to making our way through the next steps in the process.

I'm planning on trying to get back to Thailand in August for another visit to see Tin's family in Isaan (had a great time during my first visit last October). Our plan is to visit the extended family for a few days, and then Tin and I will take her daughter on a special trip for her birthday.

Thanks again, Yodrak!

Best of luck, everyone - looking forward to continuing to the read the forum to pick up more tips, and to seeing the progress everyone is making.

- Rich

...

Reach449,

I am also considering using the services offered by Mr. Wright at mythaifiancee.com - I think similar to you, my primary concern being to assist my fiancee during the next step of the process when she needs to get the medical exam, police report, etc. While I am BKK, my fiancee and I have an appointment with Mr Wright to discuss the services he offers in more detail, and to give my fiancee an opportunity to determine if she is comfortable working with the personnel in his office (in her initial phone call to introduce herself to them after I set up the appointment, the staff was apparently rather abrupt with my fiancee - she still wants to proceed with the appointment, though, and is very interested in learning how they can help).

I'd also like to ask the overall group on this thread regarding the feedback from their fiancees who may have recently used services such as those offered by mythaifiancee.com, and those who "went it alone" so to speak. My primary concern is certainly to minimize the stress on my fiancee throughout the visa application process, as she works long hours at her business. However, in reviewing the overall thread earlier, I've seen mixed responses regarding the difficulty in the process for the medical exam, police report, etc. I guess my question is, how clear are the instructions in the packet that my fiancee will eventually receive from the Embassy, and did having the representative from the Visa service prove to be a significant value add? The cost for the the Visa Services being offered is significant, so I'm trying to balance cost vs. benefit - with the understanding that everyone's situation is unique, and the value of the services will vary accordingly.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

- Rich

Hi folks - just bumping my earlier query in case folks may have lost it in the shuffle - look forward to any feedback you an provide on the value add of services like mythaifiancee.com. Thanks!

Nate,

Thanks for your earlier reply with additional information on translation services available. I'm now confident we'll be able to complete the preparation of all of our materials required for the I-129F packet during my upcoming visit to BKK.

Reach449,

I am also considering using the services offered by Mr. Wright at mythaifiancee.com - I think similar to you, my primary concern being to assist my fiancee during the next step of the process when she needs to get the medical exam, police report, etc. While I am BKK, my fiancee and I have an appointment with Mr Wright to discuss the services he offers in more detail, and to give my fiancee an opportunity to determine if she is comfortable working with the personnel in his office (in her initial phone call to introduce herself to them after I set up the appointment, the staff was apparently rather abrupt with my fiancee - she still wants to proceed with the appointment, though, and is very interested in learning how they can help).

I'd also like to ask the overall group on this thread regarding the feedback from their fiancees who may have recently used services such as those offered by mythaifiancee.com, and those who "went it alone" so to speak. My primary concern is certainly to minimize the stress on my fiancee throughout the visa application process, as she works long hours at her business. However, in reviewing the overall thread earlier, I've seen mixed responses regarding the difficulty in the process for the medical exam, police report, etc. I guess my question is, how clear are the instructions in the packet that my fiancee will eventually receive from the Embassy, and did having the representative from the Visa service prove to be a significant value add? The cost for the the Visa Services being offered is significant, so I'm trying to balance cost vs. benefit - with the understanding that everyone's situation is unique, and the value of the services will vary accordingly.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

- Rich

Yodrak, George - thanks very much for your replies and for the info. Sounds like it should be pretty easy to get the translations done. My dining room table is now a dedicated Visa work area - ha! Lots of different piles of forms, instructions and examples. I've got almost everything together, and am putting all the required docs and info for the Visa Application Package into a binder organized by sections - I-129F, G-325A, Evidence of ongoing relationship, Description of how we met, etc.

Thanks again - I'm sure I'll have some more questions soon...

- Rich

Hi folks - I'll be visiting my fiancee in Thailand in about a week and we'll be finalizing all of our paperwork to start the K1 process. I'd like to get certified Thai to English translations of documents like birth certificates, child custody documents, etc. I've done a search through online and found the following two outfits - i think they would certainly work, but they may be overkill.

http://www.thai-english-translation.com/

http://www.thaitranslation.info/index.html

Is there an easier, more convenient way to get this done in Bangkok? Like going to something like the local version of the UPS Store for translations/certification? Or a "Translate While-U-Wait" franchise?

Thanks,

- Rich

hello,

i'm planning a trip to see my fiance and we hope that she will have her visa in hand before i return to the states. our interview is in early may. i want to buy my plane ticket this week and hers once she gets her visa.

my united airline flights normally go through tokyo. does anyone know if there are any issues with my thai fiance being able to stop-over in any countries ... like japan? i want to purchase my ticket this week and i am trying to make sure that i'll have an option for attempting to get my fiance on the same planes on our return.

thanks,

dvd

When you go through Tokyo on United or other airlines in transit to the US you wont go through any local immigration in Japan, as you are an in transit international passenger. As long as your fiancee does not attempt to exit the airport and re-enter, there shouldnt be any problem.

You will normally have to exit the plane in Tokyo to switch to another plane for the flight from Tokyo to the US. At that point you follow the signs for International Transfers and go through a standard security checkpoint and bag check (show passport, x-ray carry on baggage you have with you) to enter the terminal and wait for your next flight.

Hope this helps...

Bill, thanks very much for your quick reply.

I appreciate your feedback regarding the timing of bringing over my fiancee's daughter. I think you're absolutely right that we should go ahead now to ensure that she has sole custody of her daughter - very good point.

Regarding the timing of bringing the daughter to the US, I definitely need to understand the K2 process in more depth - that sounds like it should be my next area of detailed investigation. My fiancee currently runs a small restaurant in Bangkok with her younger sister and two partners, and her daughter lives with her Grandmother in their home town in Isaan. My Fiancee visits her home town often during the year, and her daughter comes to Bangkok during her school vacations. Our original plan was that after we were married in the US, we would travel to her home town and get married there in a Buddhist ceremony and enjoy time with the extended family. We would then travel back to Thailand several times during the next 6 months to a year (her likely more often than I, due to the demands of my job), and plan on bringing over her daughter at the end of that period. However, I hadnt done enough research yet on the K2 process to understand the timing restrictions.

Thanks again for your reply - I've followed your progress through the process on this forum - congratulations! I look forward to any further feedback or advice from you or others as I, my fiancee and her daughter begin our journey together.

- Rich

Hello Everyone!

I've been browsing this forum for a while as a guest and now as a member. About a year and a half ago I met a wonderful Thai woman, and we became engaged this February. We're both very excited and looking forward to a long life of "happily ever after." Ah, but first things first, the visa....

We're working together on putting together the paperwork to submit for a K-1 Fiancee Visa for her to come to the US, where we plan to get married. The information in this forum has been very helpful, and we've made quite a bit of progress in consolidating all the required info, but there are a couple of areas where I have questions - and I'm hoping that the folks on this forum might be able to provide us with further benefit of their experience.

First, when my fiancee was born her mother was very young, and on her birth certificate her Grandparents were actually listed as her parents and she took her Grandparents surname. Her Grandparents have both since passed away, and her actual parents are now listed on her census form, but she has kept her Grandparents surname. Is this likely to cause any confusion in the Visa process? My plan is to just fill out the form with her current surname (from her Grandparents) and not make any mention of the earlier history.

My second question is concerning my fiancee's daughter. My fiancee had a daughter out of wedlock at an early age. She lived with the father for a couple of years before she moved out (due to infidelity and a gambling problem) - she moved out over five years ago. My fiancee was never married to the father, but the Father is listed on the daughter's birth certificate. The Father has now been married for several years. He has never provided any financial assistance for his child, or contacted her in over five years. After we are married in the US, my fiancee and I plan to find a new home together (I own a one bedroom loft) and then bring her daughter to the US for adoption about 6 months to a year after we are married. This will allow my fiancee and I some time to settle in together, while her daughter lives with her Grandmother. We will probably also find a prep school that her daughter can attend to help with her transition to US schools (she's 9 years old now - a very smart child who is consistently number 1 or 2 in her school class, but her English is very limited). After that lengthy preamble, here's are my questions - are there any issues regarding custody that you can anticipate with bringing the daughter to the US for adoption, or any potential issues with bringing the daughter over 6 to 12 months after my fiancee arrives?

Thanks very much for any insight you can provide - I'm trying to make sure I think things through thoroughly before we finalize the paperwork so that we get things right the first time through.

- Rich