small axe

Hi,

My fiancee has gotten her K-1 visa. We are planning to go to Hawaii for our honeymoon. Has anyone gotten married in Hawaii?

My concern is that the state says they take 60-120 days to mail the marriage certificate. If you want it faster, ou can order copies, that takes 4-6 weeks. We would like to apply for AOS as soon as we get married. We are trying to figure out if we can get any papers at the wedding in Hawaii as proof of marriage to file with the AOS application.

Any experiences?

Thanks

Hey, there...

My K-1 fiancee & I were married in Hawai'i three weeks ago, and nothing could have been easier.

The application for the marriage license (at the State Dep't of Health on Punchbowl St. In Honolulu...) took about 15 minutes, and we were able to pick up certified copies of the marriage certificate at the same office only two days after the ceremony ($10 for the first, and $4 for each additional copy). Again... 15 minutes, at most. You'll need to deliver the completed license to that office by hand after the wedding in order to get the certificate copies that fast, but... whomever you choose to officiate will most likely offer to do that for you.

My advice? If you're going to Hawai'i anyway, and if the alternative is a JP in the county courthouse back home... by all means, have the ceremony on the beach in Hawai'i!!! Ours was thoroughly enjoyable, hassle-free, and inexpensive, to boot.

There are plenty of folks able & willing to perform a ceremony on very short notice over there, and if you'll be staying on Oahu, I'd be happy to recommend the guy we wound up using.

small axe,

Not knowing anything about your fiancee I don't know what kinds of documents she might have that could potentially be useful to her in the USA.

My wife had her diploma and school records translated. Her divorce certificate (I needed it for my petition). Our marriage certificate. She got an 'international drivers license' - essentially a translation of her drivers license. I think that's about it.

Yodrak

Yodrak,

Just curious, but... what documents would you recommend having translated for later use in the US? We've gotten the birth certificates done in Bangkok already, but I can't help thinking that there are others that we'll eventually wish we had translated to English.

Thanks for the input. I'd been wondering if there was a Thai equivalent of the International Driver's License that I pick up at at AAA before heading over there, that would allow her to drive in California until she's eligible for a CA version. (Not that I'd dream of letting her behind the wheel without some intensive discussion about local driving conventions: "Keep RIGHT, keep RIGHT!!!")

Do you remember how long the license your wife got was valid for. Also... do you know what office issued it to her?

Thanks again!

well, my fiance just made another visit to the birth certificate "office". she went there with her mother to have a "certificate for being single/never married" made. while she was there, she asked again about getting another certified birth certificate made. they told her that if the embassy takes the one that they made for her last week; that she can come back to the office and they will just make her another one. so, i guess we're going to go with that. she'll take the one red stamped birth certificate that she has, her thai id, and her house registration to the interview. if they take her birth certificate away from her and keep it; we'll just have another one made. also, for future use, she'll be heading over to a translation shop to get it translated into english later today.

thanks for all of the help. if it seems as if i've overlooked something; please let me know.

best,

david

Okay, now it's ME that's confused!

My fiancee is also "single/never married", and has a 14 year old daughter, who may or may not elect to join us in the States within a year (there are no plans for that as of now, but.... sometimes plans change, yes?) Neither she nor I have heard anything about this "certificate for being single/never married" before yesterday, and now we're beginning to think that WE need one as well, whatever it is. She insists that her marital status is sufficiently explained by the fact that she's listed as "Miss Family-name-at-birth" in her "family book", but.... her interview is scheduled in a couple of weeks, and we don't want to take a chance on ANYthing that might possibly cause further delay!

So.... what is it, exactly, and where do we get one? Does this document have a name or number, and am I correct in assuming that your fiancee picked it up at the amphur office, and not at the local police station?

Any more info will be greatly appreciated!

aitian,

You read the instructions - some people don't. Sometimes people hear bad information, or good information, and question it to determine whether it's good or bad. And sometimes people think ahead and realize that it's often less expensive to get translations done ahead of time in the native country rather than after arriving in the USA.

Yodrak

thanks, that's what i thought about the translation but didn't really understand why people were worried about it so early on in the process.

Yodrak,

Just curious, but... what documents would you recommend having translated for later use in the US? We've gotten the birth certificates done in Bangkok already, but I can't help thinking that there are others that we'll eventually wish we had translated to English.

Hey folks,

I've got another question, this time concerning translations.

We're expecting to return the packet 3 in a few days, and I'm travelling to Bangkok on Thursday. In addition to taking care of the police report and medical exam, I've been intending to have several of my fiancee's documents translated into English, including her ID card, birth certificate, and "house book".

However... the Embassy website, and the instructions sent out with the packet 4 clearly state that only documents not in English OR Thai must be translated. As I understand that, we don't need to have anything translated, since all of our documents are in either English or Thai.

I know that other applicants are having translations done, but...is it neccesary?

Thanks for any info!

B)-->

Did you send a second e-mail as specified?

"The subject line must contain "2nd IV Inquiry", and the case number (with prefix of BNK or PHP), and the applicant's surname. The first paragraph must include the full names of the petitioner and the applicant, the type of visa, whether the visa is for a Thai or Cambodian national, and your contact information."

When I did that ( a few minutes after receiving the same automated response), I received a reply to my question overnight.

Hey there!

Thanks for all of your input on the address thing. If I had it to do over, I think I would have attached a supplemental sheet to the original petition, but... that was then. I e-mailed the embassy last night, asking them to notify me when they received the case from the NVC, so that I could amend the address before they mailed the packet 3. There was a reply in my inbox this morning, stating that they'd received the case on the 28th ( a day BEFORE my letter from the NVC was dated, telling me that they'd be sending the case to Thailand "within a week"!!!) Apparently, the packet 3 has not yet been sent, and they invited me to amend the address by e-mail. When I did that, I asked them to notify me when the packet was sent, because we'd LIKE to be able to get a jump on an interview date by returning the packet 3 stuff as soon as possible.

And... I've got a question about THAT (if I haven't already exhausted your kindness...)

I've been expecting that, upon notice that the packet 3 has been sent, we'd send the signed checklist, the DS230 pt 1, the 2 photos, and a photocopy of my fiancee's passport back to the IV Unit, to get the ball rolling towards packet 4. NOW... I'm wondering if I'm supposed to send only the DS230 & the checklist, with the other items to follow later (after the interview is scheduled, but before the actual interview)

Can anybody set me straight?

And.... thanks again!

small axe,

Interesting - I had no problem fitting my wife's address, in Roman characters, in the space provided for I-129f. Street, village, tambon, amphur, province, and country. I used the abreviations T. and A. for tambon and amphur, respectively. I used an attached sheet to provide the address in Thai characters.

Old info on the photos. The full frontal view replaced the 3/4 profile view quite some time ago.

My wife signed her DS-230-I before sending it in, without adverse consequence, but that was a couple of years ago. I would follow the current instruction from the consulate.

For what it's worth, while the airline industry may designate the airport in Bangkok as BKK the State Department designates its' embassy in Bangkok as BNK. Although I observe that they do sometimes slip up and use BKK themselves.

Yodrak

Ha! My fiancee's only experience with the Bangkok embassy came last spring, when she was denied an application for a tourist visa, after an "interview" that lasted less than two minutes. She sometimes slips up as well, and refers to the place by a couple of choice "designations" of her own!

Hey, all...

I've got a few "Thailand-specific" questions, while awaiting notification from the BKK embassy that they've received our application from the NVC (received snail mail from the NVC one week ago, stating that they'd be forwarding to BKK "within a week", so...), and figured that this would be the place to ask?

First... the Thai address thing. When I originally filed the I-129F, there was no room on the form for my fiancee's complete Thai address (including tambol & amphur), so I simply filled in what was asked for: street address, village name, country & postal code. On page 2 of the form, when asked for her address abroad, there was a space for "State or Province", so I supplied that, as well.

Problem is... she's convinced that mail addressed to her in that fashion will not be deliverable, and that she will therefore not receive the packet 3 from the embassy. My thinking has been that it would be best to correct the address AFTER the BKK embassy receives the case, and BEFORE they send the packet 3, but... that might be a fairly small window of opportunity.

Has anyone else had the same issue?

Also... I'm a bit confused about the required photos. The IV checklist on the embassy's website asks for two front view "passport" style photos, but the checklist from the packet 3 scanned & posted to this thread a few weeks ago (Thanks!, by the way...) asks for 3/4 view photos. What gives?

And... I've sent my fiancee a completed DS230 pt 1, (along with the checklist posted to this thread earlier,in English AND in Thai), awaiting her signature, but NOW... I'm not sure whether she should sign it before returning it, or not. The checklist from the embassy's website says "no", but some folks on this forum say "yes".

Lastly (since I'd be surprised if these issues have not been discussed on this thread before..) is there anyway to do a keyword search on just this thread?

Anyway.... many thanks for your attention, and any info will be greatly appreciated!

Hello smallaxe,

I also had a hard time fitting the addresses in the small boxes, so I used a supplemental attachment sheet and referred to it in the address fields with the statement "see supplemental attachment".

The required passport photos for the Bangkok Consulate should be frontal view, not 3/4 view. Here is the link with the specs:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/guide/com...sition_874.html

If the Embassy checklist says do not sign the DS230 part 1, then don't sign it. I am sure she will need to sign both parts 1 and 2 at the time of the interview. I can't remember if my fiancee signed prior or not. I will check our copies and let you know.

Best of luck

Thanks, and... wish I'd done the same re: your "supplemental attachment". Never occurred to me. Also good to know that we can use the "frontal view" photos, since we've still got about a dozen of 'em (although, looking at the instructions for the medical, it appears that we're gonna need 3 more, 1" by 1 and a half", so we've got at least one more trip to the photographer...)

Small Axe

About the Thai address... how did you write it down? I'm sorry but i'm kinda confuse - did you mean you didnt write down the word Tumbon & Ampur? or you didnt write down then name of it?

for example.. if you write down

Name

1234 Sukhumvit Rd

Pratumwan, BKK 10130

That is fine.. For the address outside BKK - if it contain Road, Ampur (which is city) and Province , zip - it's OK too.. example

Name

1234 M.7 East Rd

Muang, Conburi, 20130

that should be fine

Edit to add that I've never have a problem sending mail to my family with a shorter address beofre.. so..

And about the pictures.. sorry i cant help

Thanks for your input, and... I guess that I wasn't all that clear. My fiancee lives in a small village near Kalasin, and her full address is:

(name)

(street address)

Ban Dongbang

T. Huanakam

A. Yangtalad

Kalasin 46120

Thailand

On page 1 of the I-129F form, they only ask for "number and street", "town or city", "state or country" and "Zip/postal code", so I gave them:

(name)

(street address)

Ban Dongbang

Thailand 46120

On page 2 of the form, they ask for "Your fiancee's address abroad", and they have a space for "State or province", so I entered "Kalasin". BUT... they don't ask for a postal code. I've sent a "test" letter to my fiancee addressed like this, and she did receive it:

(name)

(street address)

Ban Dongbang

Kalasin 46120

Thailand

So.... I think that I've supplied enough info for them to get a letter delivered to her, but I don't know if they'll be able to put it together. (Actually, I believe that anything addressed using the 46120 postal code will eventually find it's way to the post office in Yangtalad, and that they'll know what to do with it...)

At any rate, I'd feel better if the embassy had the complete address, so I guess I'll e-mail them to see if they've received the case yet.

Again.... thanks!

Hey, all...

I've got a few "Thailand-specific" questions, while awaiting notification from the BKK embassy that they've received our application from the NVC (received snail mail from the NVC one week ago, stating that they'd be forwarding to BKK "within a week", so...), and figured that this would be the place to ask?

First... the Thai address thing. When I originally filed the I-129F, there was no room on the form for my fiancee's complete Thai address (including tambol & amphur), so I simply filled in what was asked for: street address, village name, country & postal code. On page 2 of the form, when asked for her address abroad, there was a space for "State or Province", so I supplied that, as well.

Problem is... she's convinced that mail addressed to her in that fashion will not be deliverable, and that she will therefore not receive the packet 3 from the embassy. My thinking has been that it would be best to correct the address AFTER the BKK embassy receives the case, and BEFORE they send the packet 3, but... that might be a fairly small window of opportunity.

Has anyone else had the same issue?

Also... I'm a bit confused about the required photos. The IV checklist on the embassy's website asks for two front view "passport" style photos, but the checklist from the packet 3 scanned & posted to this thread a few weeks ago (Thanks!, by the way...) asks for 3/4 view photos. What gives?

And... I've sent my fiancee a completed DS230 pt 1, (along with the checklist posted to this thread earlier,in English AND in Thai), awaiting her signature, but NOW... I'm not sure whether she should sign it before returning it, or not. The checklist from the embassy's website says "no", but some folks on this forum say "yes".

Lastly (since I'd be surprised if these issues have not been discussed on this thread before..) is there anyway to do a keyword search on just this thread?

Anyway.... many thanks for your attention, and any info will be greatly appreciated!

Okay. Wasn't clear from your earlier response whether or not you had filed I-134s with your applications for the tourist visas. (Also.. I now see from your timeline that you filed "official complaints" about the denial of those applications. Ha! My fiancee's response was to chop off her hair!)

At any rate, I don't expect any complications from the denial of a tourist visa. I'm only concerned about the multiple filings of the I-134, and only because I saw one post from one guy who'd been denied one time, somewhere in the world, ostensibly for that reason. As I recall, he didn't say, but I'm guessing that he filed them on behalf of multiple beneficiaries.

One question: You say that both tourist applications & denials were included in "the package". What package is that? Do you mean that you included two copies of the DS-156 and I-134 forms along with the denial letters in your original 129F submission? Or do you mean that you intend to submit them with your other documents at the interview. Just curious.

And... best of luck at your interview!!

Thanks for the input!

There's really no danger of this issue resulting in an RFE (at least as I understand the term...), as this document will be presented at the foreign embassy at interview time. I only hope that I'm not sabotaging our application by acknowledging the earlier I-134, as unlikely as that seems.

I hadn't considered writing a letter of explanation and having my fiancee produce it only if requested. I sort of like that idea, except for the fact that (as I understand it...) ALL documents are collected at the Bangkok embassy for review an hour or two in advance of the actual interview. Also... the I-134 is a notarized document, and I'd expect that an attachment (as opposed to a supporting document, ie: statement from employer, or tax transcript) would have to be part of the package when notarized. Maybe not.

Anyway... thanks for your attention and advice!

Hey folks!

I can't seem to find any information concerning this issue elsewhere, so I thought I'd ask if anyone else has been in the same situation.

My fiancee & I are in the "limbo" stage between NOA2 approval and NVC processing, so I'm beginning to gather documents for her packet 3 and eventual interview in Bangkok. However... before we began this process in late September, she applied for a tourist visa from Thailand, which was summarily denied, after a 1 minute "interview". In support of THAT application, I submitted an invitation letter AND a completed & notarized I-134 (on the advice of a Thai immigration attorney) All documents were returned to her after the "interview" (in late May), and I have my original I-134 and a copy of her DS-156 in my possession.

I'm assuming that NOW I must submit a "fresh" I-134 (the first one was notarized in March of '06) along with updated supporting documents, but that means that I'm going to have to answer "yes" to question 9: "That I have previously submitted affidavit(s) of support for the following person(s)". This has me a bit worried, because I seem to remember seeing a post somewhere from a guy whose petition had been denied for submitting multiple affidavits within some unspecified time frame.

So... my questions:

1) Am I correct in assuming that I cannot use the I-134 that was previously submitted? Does the document have a "shelf-life"?

2) When completing the NEW document, should I attach a letter explaining all of this, or simply fill in my fiancee's name, and date of submission?

3) Since I have my original I-134 in hand, is there any reason to risk answering "no" to question 9?

Looking forward to the day when questions like these won't keep me up at night!

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!