DanielPlainview

daim this is sweet !!!!   DHL arrived Saturday......Status to Ready on the first working day after receipt.     They will receive P3 tomorrow, then lets's see where they schedule the interview.

On 2/19/2019 at 12:15 PM, FrozenThai said:

I feel like there may be a language barrier here.   I am asking my Thai wife for a W-2 like form to include her income on my taxes for MFJ.  Can anyone tell me what form this would be considered in Thailand?  

 

Is there an alternative to having an official form like a W-2 for claiming income?  Maybe an affidavit or letter from employer?

Is her Thai income subject to US Fed income tax?   (I don't know MFJ. )  I'm certain those earning are tax protected under the FEIE, if she is living/working in Thailand, but I really wasn't aware that would need to be reported.

On 2/21/2019 at 5:43 AM, sterlingdr87 said:

What is the best way to send in Packet 3 to the Embassy? Where we are at we have Thai Post and Kerry Express. I'm not sure if it would be quicker for one or the other.

 

On 2/21/2019 at 8:18 AM, John951 said:

We used Thai post.  the embassy as well.

I'm a little late to the party here, but agree on the Thai Post.   Send it EMS service.   Typically that will arrive the following day if you're close to Bangkok.   If you send it before 11am from within Bangkok, we were informed it arrives the same day.   Personally, I don't like having that confidential information bouncing around post offices so I want it as quick as possible.  We are mailing it from the Rong Meang post office.   Other post offices must route it through Rong Meang to get to the embassy.   So from Rong Meang, it's a direct shot to the embassy.   In fact, our case just made it to Bkk today, so Packet 3 goes on Monday.

there are some exceptionally smart guys on the O-A (Retiree) Thai visa on thaivisa.com forums.    Ubonjoe has been there forever, and helped me considerably.   

On 3/5/2019 at 9:40 PM, John951 said:

You just print out the email. They don't send a physical packet 4 letter

Interesting.......I looked at timelines and noticed that Packet 4s were being received very quickly by applicants.   I guess this could explain why.......there is only email and no physical mailing of the Packet 4 letter??

41 minutes ago, Faisal1 said:

Good luck 

Thanks Faisal.   You know, right after we got the NOA2,  I made some projections (based on timelines from others) on when we would have the interview and the visa in hand.    I guessed interview by April 6 and visa by April 13.    But that was based on NVC sending to Embassy on Feb 22 and instead we went on March 5.   But it appears we might still have a shot at making those original dates because it seems the Thai embassy is scheduling interviews in 15-25 days now.   So fingers crossed.    Thanks again !

Oh, and ALWAYS update your timelines !!   It's so completely helpful to others.   And when you update, it gives others information on the CURRENT situation.   Many thanks to all those who update.

29 minutes ago, celie&joseph said:

Yayyyy! Congrats!!

 

Mine apparently booked the extended travel plan because it went from Bahrain to Saudi and now is off again to its next adventure lol (hopefully Beirut) my case file has travelled the middle east more than I have 😴

That is one odd route to Lebanon.   😁

Bangkok........DELIVERED !!!  

Departed Wednesday at 2pm EST, arrives Bangkok the equivalent of Friday midnight EST.   58 hours?........not too shabby.  No where near an electronic transfer, but not exactly snail mail.

2 hours ago, itsjustcassiee said:

This whole website has been a Godsend (for lack of a better term) and I especially owe a lot of thanks to @Greenbaum for the amount of knowledge and expertise he provides. I'm so glad to be part of this community!

and it would not be the same without you here Cassie !!

24 minutes ago, Nubiaa said:

Hi guys so I’m waiting for our case to reach the Saudi embassy. I was able to find packet 3 that someone else posted from Riyadh. I had a few questions maybe someone will know. My fiancé isn’t a Saudi National and he doesn’t have a birth certificate but it’s a required document. Also it seems like the embassy wants all the documents collected sent to them via mail, But does that mean we still need to take the documents to the interview? And afterwards can we schedule the interview or do we have to wait for packet 4?

I'll relay our method for Thailand with regard to the documents.   Our P3 instruction indicates which documents they want copies..........birth cert, marriage certs, divorce certs, name change, etc.   It also indicates which documents it wants originals.....Police report, bank receipt, DS 160 confirmation, etc.   When we prepared P3, we followed those instructions to the letter.  For the docs where they want the copies, we put the originals in our folder.  For the docs where they wanted originals, we put copies in our folder.   So in effect, we have a mirror image of all the documents we are sending to them and she is taking our file with her to the interview.  Our P3 instructions tell her to bring the originals (of the copies she sent) to the interview.  They are neatly organized into a folder so no biggie.  

With regard to the birth cert, there is some instruction to follow when a birth cert is not available, and that is very common in Saudi.  Unfortunately I cannot answer that question or the one with regard to when you can schedule the interview.

First Saudi application I've seen here.   I lived in Dhahran for many years.

1 hour ago, itsjustcassiee said:

I'm also hoping flight prices don't jump too much because he's gonna be booking his flight with only a few days until he's moving.

I've been flying international for many years, and it seems that the fare rules for domestic don't really apply to international.......ie, the drastic increase when booking within two weeks.   You're also at an advantage since you're likely booking before the high season.   Rates tend to increase mid-june.  Having said that, you may or may not find the same fares you're seeing now.  As mentioned, my planning has changed a number of times since we first started looking at fares.   

2 hours ago, Greenbaum said:

Visa issuance is not guaranteed. Therefore, we recommend that you do NOT make any travel plans, quit your job, or sell your properties, purchase airline tickets that are non-refundable or place deposits for wedding venue's until a consular officer has approved your visa. Be aware that mistakes on the printing of a visa does happen and it is wise to look the visa over before executing your next steps.

Yep, can do nothing more than plan at this point, and the only thing you can count on is that the deal today, will not be the same as the deal tomorrow.  Initially, we were going Qatar, then Cathay was the best option, then JAL, now ANA......will change a few more times before we finally get to actual booking.    

And just to complicate it further, you the lowest priced RT from the US, is not always going to translate to the lowest one way from the destination.  I think my strategy will be to find the lowest air fare from there to US, and try to match it up with a RT fare from Chicago to net out the lowest price.   PITA.

2 hours ago, Loo1 said:

A one way for me is almost double the price of a return. Chattanooga can be expensive anyway but such a difference blows my mind 😕 

Chattanooga...........heading through your town on Monday.....Chicago to Florida.   Got to get the condo down there ready for receiving a very special new resident.

2 hours ago, Loo1 said:

totally had a blonde moment and forgot about that! are you finding that its way more expensive to book a one way compared to a return flight? 

Round trip from US would be a superior option to one way from Bangkok........unfortunately most airlines I know of, cancel the return flight if you don't take the first flight.    Round trip from Thailand is more expensive than one way.   What to do?.....gotta bite the bullet I guess.

3 hours ago, ourjourney_pc said:

Wow.. Now people here are already talking about poe.. 

 

Medical mar 12

Interview mar 27

Praying praying praying 

 

We plan that our poe is the final destination, we dont want to risk not being able to get on the connecting flight.. 

March 27 interview, first week of April ..visa in hand.    So come on, join in on the POE and flight reservation conversations !!     😄      You're there !!!

7 hours ago, boris64 said:

Visa in hand! Closer every day)

Yeah, HUGE congrats.......saw on ur timeline 213 days for NOA2.   So yeah, you guys are going to be celebrating big time.   Well deserved !!!!    When ya heading over?   Are you finding the one way from Phils to US insanely expensive compared to the RT for you?

I thought the round trip ANA flight looked promising at $614.....Chicago/Bangkok.   So checked out the ANA one way return trip for my fiancee........$1325.   LOL.......can't wait until all of our flights are originating out of the US.

52 minutes ago, boris64 said:

To Manila? I can go through Chicago and sometimes Detroit or Minneapolis but it involves going through Hong Kong or Japan and becomes a 2-stop trip with a razor short connection in both HK and JP. The LA flight is a one stop flight with a layover at LAX that I can adjust to fit my needs. When we com back we will probably spend the night in LA...

Yeah, guess it's a few hours longer than going thru JP or HK.   I am just used to the middle eastern airlines.   Apparently Cathay and JAL are pretty nice though.   I flew Hainan Chicago to Bangkok....business for $2050.   Unfortunately have not seen that fare return.

8 minutes ago, boris64 said:

We all have to do what is necessary to get our loved ones here. I moan and complain but I'll be flying out again in two weeks to bring her back. It will probably be through LAX again because it has the best connection to St. Louis...Blah))))) At least I won't be making that god awful flight alone again)))

why not go across the Atlantic.   Then you'd have the Detroit / Chicago options.   and chicago has some great fares.

Just now, DaveAndAnastasia said:

... but the only flight from Russia to the US west coast is SVO to LAX, so that's where I'm picking up Anastasia on Monday (only remotely reasonable path to San Diego had an under 90 minute layover in Frankfurt and would have cost twice as much).

daim, huge congrats.  I think I could even deal with Boris description of LAX if I was going for the pickup.   

Just now, boris64 said:

That same day the Global Entry person hadn't shown up yet and that line was backed up, too))) One guy said it had been like that every time he came to LAX)))

LOL............OK, so I guess I can believe the ORD reports as I've never experienced anything like that.   We'll go with that, or pre-clearance in Abu Dhabi if the Etihad flights work out.

12 minutes ago, Savanna0501 said:

Refreshes every day but never shows a location just “in transit”. I shipped it February 27th priority international 😩 just wondering if i need to start recreating the entire binder i sent and send it with UPS instead. 

yep, it's not particularly helpful, but I think as long as it's still showing up, you're ok.  Here's my last one...........Priority Mail.......lingered in Chicago.

6 minutes ago, boris64 said:

I love the kiosks. The last time at LAX we went through the kiosks and got the little piece of paper with our blurry photos. Then they made us go through the normal immigration line because the guys who collect the little pieces of paper hadn't shown up to work yet. It was 9am and swamped. I hate LAX)))

Come on Boris, don't sugar coat it.   Tell us what you really think of LAX and the Kiosks.   Well, this is why Global Entry is so sweet..........get your blurry printout, walk out to the baggage claim.   Now if they only had a way to get past the customs guys more quickly.

20 minutes ago, celie&joseph said:

YES! We are gonna need tons of His help to pull this off lol The last time I felt this way was when that smooth talking man came to my door one time showing me a shiny Kirby vacuum. 1 hour, one contract and future 2k dollars later, I was feeling this dread lol

of course, i LOVED that "baby jesus" reference.   😁                        LOL.......the shiny Kirby...........and you did NOT buy a Kirby !!!!!

19 minutes ago, boris64 said:

They are good at getting you through but the volume is high...like LAX. If you hit it at the wrong time it could be rough. I would allow enough time if you have a connecting flight in Chicago.

That's our POE and final destination.   I have Global Entry, but would walk through with her.   They do have the kiosks for US citizens....I never paid attention to the foreign passport area.