dvddvd

OK new question.

My fiancee was in Roi Et and started pricing picture shops (2 Thai dresses, one outfit for me) and the lowest she could find ONLY TO TAKE PHOTOS was 8,000 BAHT!

.......

Feeling very frustrated.

Got touched 2/3, 2/4, 2/5, 2/6 but no NOA2 YET!

Hi hyena.

My suggestion: chill. Take a deep breath. relax. It's all gonna work out. In a few months when you're in the US with your fiance, you'll look back on this as just a case of bridegroom nerves

We had our "engagement ceremony" or "Buddhist wedding ceremony" or whatever you want to call it, in Bangkok in September. (My gal comes from BKK, not upcountry). We did NOT register at amphur, hence the K-1 approach is perfectly valid, we are NOT married. I'm assuming you are planning to do same. Nonetheless, I've been advised, and would suggest to you, do NOT bring this up as a topic of conversation at the interview. If asked, I'm instructing my honey to tell the truth. No lies. But no need to bring it up.

As to cost, our ceremony cost about 60,000 Baht. That included meal, service, etc. for ~80 guests, monks, including feeding of monks, and all ceremonial stuff. Dowry extra, photos extra. She had a makeup artist come to do her hair, makeup, etc. I think that was about 2-3000, as I recall. We went with traditional Thai silk clothes, a matching gold dress for her, and gold suit for me. It was custom tailored for us and we had the option to rent it and return it for about 5000B, or keep it for 7500B. She wanted to rent, I said for that price differential we should hang onto it as a keepsake. I hope to use them in our small civil marriage ceremony in the US.

So, I think based on that, 8000B to rent the clothes, esp. if they are off the rack and were not tailored for you - that sounds expensive. But since you refer to it as "picture shops", if it includes photos, maybe that's reasonable. (Why do you want photos in a shop? Aren't photos at the ceremony enough?)

About money, you write: "I have to have x amount in my accounts for the interview".

Why? You need to have bank statements for the interview. Not necessarily cash on hand. I'm buying a house. I sent my honey bank statements that include the funds I'm using for my downpayment. By next week when I close, those funds won't be in my account, they will be in my equity in the house. I don't see any problem with that. The statements are still recent and go to show my financial health. I think you can do the same - if you need the money for something (e.g. wedding ceremony), just make sure you have statements from before you make the withdrawal.

Good luck. And remember, deep breaths.

Thank you for your post. Yes many of your assumptions are correct. I have no idea why she wants to use a shop. Likely because her house is more of a barn and there's no nice place to take pics (although i think outside is nice). She said "everybody" does the professional photos, etc. I'm just burt out worrying about what everybody wants, opinions, etc. The saving face thing is opposite to the Buddhism i know...just burnt on it all. The waiting is taking a toll, also. Yesterday she recited everything I'd done wrong in out entire relationship. I asked her if she was trying to sabotage it or what's the deal but she went on for 2 hours. At this point, I could get that from anyone...farang or Thai. I'm taking a break from it all and no worrying anymore. If what I have/don't have is/is not enough, it's not my problem; it's not meant to be. If it works, great. So much cultural difference that's taking too much of a toll on waiting for something that may not happen....ugh!

Throw a big party at 13 coins. Get a Karaoke room. Buy some food, whiskey and soda, and be done with it.

I'm not footing the bill to bus 30-40 people down to BKK plus hotels, etc. She's been married before; re thinking sinsod, etc (i understand pre-marrieds don't do sin sod). never talked about money so much in my life. #######...just rethinking everything

Figure out what you are TOTALLY comfortable spending on the ceremony and let them adjust to it. We didn't have a ceremony in Thailand and spent very little on our wedding here in the states. My wife and her family never once hinted at this being a problem. I was always up front about what I was comfortable with, what I was not comfortable with, and I think they were very aware of the score going in. We'll be heading back to Thailand in June, for the first time since our wedding, and I plan on throwing a party.

Daboyz - 13 coins, karaoke, food, whiskey, and soda sounds like a plan. Thanks.

Good Luck,

Dvd

It's actually pretty cool. You can fit like 20 people in those rooms, and it's very inexpensive. Everyone always had a good time when we did that.

Sounds great. I'll be running the idea past my wife later tonight.

Your wife has her interview later this month? Good luck to you guys.

dvd

OK new question.

My fiancee was in Roi Et and started pricing picture shops (2 Thai dresses, one outfit for me) and the lowest she could find ONLY TO TAKE PHOTOS was 8,000 BAHT!

.......

Feeling very frustrated.

Got touched 2/3, 2/4, 2/5, 2/6 but no NOA2 YET!

Hi hyena.

My suggestion: chill. Take a deep breath. relax. It's all gonna work out. In a few months when you're in the US with your fiance, you'll look back on this as just a case of bridegroom nerves

We had our "engagement ceremony" or "Buddhist wedding ceremony" or whatever you want to call it, in Bangkok in September. (My gal comes from BKK, not upcountry). We did NOT register at amphur, hence the K-1 approach is perfectly valid, we are NOT married. I'm assuming you are planning to do same. Nonetheless, I've been advised, and would suggest to you, do NOT bring this up as a topic of conversation at the interview. If asked, I'm instructing my honey to tell the truth. No lies. But no need to bring it up.

As to cost, our ceremony cost about 60,000 Baht. That included meal, service, etc. for ~80 guests, monks, including feeding of monks, and all ceremonial stuff. Dowry extra, photos extra. She had a makeup artist come to do her hair, makeup, etc. I think that was about 2-3000, as I recall. We went with traditional Thai silk clothes, a matching gold dress for her, and gold suit for me. It was custom tailored for us and we had the option to rent it and return it for about 5000B, or keep it for 7500B. She wanted to rent, I said for that price differential we should hang onto it as a keepsake. I hope to use them in our small civil marriage ceremony in the US.

So, I think based on that, 8000B to rent the clothes, esp. if they are off the rack and were not tailored for you - that sounds expensive. But since you refer to it as "picture shops", if it includes photos, maybe that's reasonable. (Why do you want photos in a shop? Aren't photos at the ceremony enough?)

About money, you write: "I have to have x amount in my accounts for the interview".

Why? You need to have bank statements for the interview. Not necessarily cash on hand. I'm buying a house. I sent my honey bank statements that include the funds I'm using for my downpayment. By next week when I close, those funds won't be in my account, they will be in my equity in the house. I don't see any problem with that. The statements are still recent and go to show my financial health. I think you can do the same - if you need the money for something (e.g. wedding ceremony), just make sure you have statements from before you make the withdrawal.

Good luck. And remember, deep breaths.

Thank you for your post. Yes many of your assumptions are correct. I have no idea why she wants to use a shop. Likely because her house is more of a barn and there's no nice place to take pics (although i think outside is nice). She said "everybody" does the professional photos, etc. I'm just burt out worrying about what everybody wants, opinions, etc. The saving face thing is opposite to the Buddhism i know...just burnt on it all. The waiting is taking a toll, also. Yesterday she recited everything I'd done wrong in out entire relationship. I asked her if she was trying to sabotage it or what's the deal but she went on for 2 hours. At this point, I could get that from anyone...farang or Thai. I'm taking a break from it all and no worrying anymore. If what I have/don't have is/is not enough, it's not my problem; it's not meant to be. If it works, great. So much cultural difference that's taking too much of a toll on waiting for something that may not happen....ugh!

Throw a big party at 13 coins. Get a Karaoke room. Buy some food, whiskey and soda, and be done with it.

I'm not footing the bill to bus 30-40 people down to BKK plus hotels, etc. She's been married before; re thinking sinsod, etc (i understand pre-marrieds don't do sin sod). never talked about money so much in my life. #######...just rethinking everything

Figure out what you are TOTALLY comfortable spending on the ceremony and let them adjust to it. We didn't have a ceremony in Thailand and spent very little on our wedding here in the states. My wife and her family never once hinted at this being a problem. I was always up front about what I was comfortable with, what I was not comfortable with, and I think they were very aware of the score going in. We'll be heading back to Thailand in June, for the first time since our wedding, and I plan on throwing a party.

Daboyz - 13 coins, karaoke, food, whiskey, and soda sounds like a plan. Thanks.

Good Luck,

Dvd

54 die in nightclub fire in Bangkok

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081231/ap_on_..._nightclub_fire

Yes, just saw that horrible story myself. Spent New Years Eve in Bangkok a couple of years ago (on Ratchada) and I remember being really nervous in the club because of all the hand held flame thowers that were being used during the shows. Don't get me wrong, I really like that Thailand isn't overly regulated, etc., but on that night I made sure that we sat by an exit.

dvd

This whole photo thing has me wondering.

My fiancee and I had a Thai traditional Buddhist ceremony in Thailand this summer. We did NOT register (which is common in Thailand) and are NOT LEGALLY MARRIED in Thailand, the USA, or anywhere else. For this reason we had to apply for a K1 visa and not a K3 visa.

My question is: Would taking photos from our ceremony help or hurt? On one hand, I could see them helping, because that REALLY helps to establish our relationship. But on the other hand, if the interviewer in BKK does not understand this custom, he or she might believe that we are married and give us problems with the K1 visa. In a perfect world, the interviewer would be familiar with the local customs, however I really have no idea how this situation will be viewed by the embassy.

Has anyone had any experience with this?

hey, don't include the photos of your ceremony. the positives of those photos don't come close to outweighing the risks (the risk of planting the thought in your interviewer's mind that you might already be married, the risk of miscommunication while she's possibly having to explain them, etc.)

do not take them to the interview and open that door!

dvd

thanx for the info guys.

time is of the essence for you. the k2 visa must be issued within a year of your fiance's visa and that follow to join process is the same (send in packet 3, get the medical, maybe do custody stuff, and have the interview) as your wife's k1 process, but you get to start at the packet 3 point. i'd start filling out the packet 3 documents, just as you did for your fiance, and i'd write the embassy for instructions on what exactly you should do. this way, you can get ahead of it a little bit.

hope this makes sense.

good luck,

dvd

Hello Everyone

Hi all, total off topic. question? in thai when ending a phone call with your love one and you hear took took? or tok tok? might be toot toot? what does it mean? I dont know how to spell . anyone?

know?

thanks

Is she calling for a tuk-tuk..for a ride?...

like whistling for a taxi in NYC...

My just says says, OK already, goodbye.......

more than likely she's saying kiss kiss. jub jub.

dvd

Had time this afternoon to go through all my documents and make sure I have all that I will need for the interview. When it comes to emails, I have printed up nearly 3 years of email sent and received logs from Yahoo and a about 3-4 emails a year from Nov of 2005. The email logs are pretty thick. Anyone have some input on maybe I just take 3-4 pages from different parts of every year to put with the emails to show the email trail? It would certainly cut down on the weight of the stuff I have to carry over. I already have more than I ever thought I'd need just to be on the safe side.

we ended up preparing 2 folders for the interview. a primary folder and a "supplemental" folder. we included all the required documents and no more than a reasonable amount of evidence (in our opinion) into the primary folder. we put all the "extra" evidence (that we felt was overboard and going to make us look crazy) into the other folder. also, i think there were a couple of other documents that we didn't think we needed, but filled out anyway and those went in the extra folder as well. the first folder was enough for the interview and she did not have to give anything from the second folder to the lady at the window.

good luck

dvd

What should I do next ? She's here a month already but when I bring her to apply for a SSN they told me that I need to get her a green card first.

What forms and steps should I follow?

Thank you

P.s My wife (her mother) got a temp green card already because my wife got here a year ago.

you simply follow the same aos steps you previously took to get your wife's greencard

dvd

My wifes is good for 5 years from the issue date.

Yes, I just looked at my wifes too, 5 years.

Tomorrow, (or her right now) my wife and step-daughter are going to BKK to get the youngins' passport.

I wonder how long that is good for?

5 years.

however, they'll make it good for 10 years if you slip them 500bht. those corrupt idiotic bastards! i'm totally kidding!! they're good for 5 years.

my step-daughter just got her passport a few months ago and it is good for 5 years.

good luck,

dvd

I have a question. For those of you that were at the embassy in Bangkok with your fiancee for the interview, how many were talked to during the interview process or were you left outside or in a waiting area and never talked to? I plan on being there for the interview so I am curious whether they usually talk to the other person or not. Thanks.

well ... i'm under the impression that the embassy no longer allows the petetioners to accompany the fiance' to the window, but i've only recently heard this (and i can't remember where ... maybe in past posts ... maybe somewhere else). also, i had a friend try to accompany a thai for a work visa (just last month) ... and was not allowed up to the window either.

i hope someone can give some recent first hand knowledge.

this might be a good question to email the embassy about.

dvd

I am looking for verification that my thinking is correct.

Situation Description. My fiance, a Russian citizen and I plan to marry here. My fiance has a 6 year old minor child who she prefers to leave with her parents until we are married, so that we can take a honeymoon and the child will not be left with people for whom he is unfamiliar in an unfamiliar land. Once her K-1 is granted, my fiance will travel here for two weeks, we will marry quickly upon her arrival and take a honeymoon. These, I believe are what we need to do.

I need to file for a I-129F, petition to sponsor a fiance, and if approved it will be sent to the National Visa Center, who will in turn send it to the embassy consulate closest to my fiance (Moscow) and she will be scheduled for an interview to obtain a K-1. A derivitive status K-2 for the child and an advanced parole should also be sought, so that my wife can return to Russia, and accompany her child back here. Do I use a separate I-129F for the minor child to do this?

Once married an I-485 adjustment of status should be conducted by my wife and an I-824 for the child.

The child is too young, in our opinion, to travel alone. We think it is critically important that my fiance return in order to accompany the child. It is not clear to me if the Advance parole is obtained in conjunction with the K-1 process. The I-485 should allow her to travel freely back to Russia to get her child, but this cannot be applied for until we are married and it is my understanding it permanent status takes some time.

Does this sound correct?

it will take some time (after you're married) to get an approved i-485. we're probably talking 60-90 days. it takes a good bit of time to gather all of the documents and to fill out the forms as well. once ucis gets your application (assuming everything was submitted correctly) it will take around 60-90 days to get your advanced parole papers.

without the i-485, your wife will not be admitted back into the u.s.a.

you will not be able to pull off your plan in the short timeframe that you are hoping for.

good luck,

dvd

Thank you everyone for responding. If we get through this i'll definitely be an active participant on this forum.

What are yo afraid of if she does hand them all over at the beginning rather than waiting for a specific request?

Too much information or confusion per lawyer, which may lead to further review. Can she even ask Window 5? Will they help her?

Obviously each Consulate is different. Our consulate was very helpful..... No harm no foul! I would ask away...

When you say consulate, is that the person at window 5, prior to seeing the Interviewer?

thx.

Consulate is the section of the diplomatic mission (sometimes within the embassy compound) where visa interviews are held...

Thank you very much for responding and all your help. Looks like my answer is to submit everything that is on the embassy checklist (despite what my lawyer said) and anything verbally requested. Also, to ask good questions. Please let me know if you think of anything else.

Thank you for time...

assuming that you're not trying to keep something "out of sight". simply have her give window 5 everything that she has and the staff will rifle through it; they will return anything that they don't need right then and there.

good luck

dvd

What the hell is wrong with this country? Me and Nit finally ready to get married so we go to the courthouse. ###### at the counter gets all I am better than you and tells me we need a damn translater so Nit can understand the F*****G oath. No I cannot explain it to her thats not allowed? How the F**K is this ###### going to know the translater is telling Nit what shes saying? I am really starting to hate this country.

1050$ for AOS application

850$ for EAD application

885$ for Advance parole application

What the hell are these people thinking?

Makes me sick to be American!

Sorry about the rant really need to vent. Blood pressure is so high right now I am ready to stroke out.

we went through the same kind of stuff with the transation of my step-daughter's name at school. without going into details, it was very frustrating.

anyway ... on the bright side. it's the aos fee is $1010 (unless it has changed over the last 2 months) for the entire aos application (this includes ead and ap)

i'm sure everything will work out.

good luck

dvd

The police tried to say that they'd have a new police report by the 27th of july, but i guess my lawyers flipped out at them and told them that they made a mistake and that they need to fix it, and that they expect a new report way before then, so I guess the police told them that they would make a new one as quicjly as possible, but that if we wanted one quicker, we could pay to get it quicker. Eh slimeballs.

Anyways, hopefully everything works out okay and we get the report soon!

i absolutely love the fact that you can sometimes grease the wheels in thailand and i'd be greasing that police wheel!!!!!! it would be a cheap price to pay for the priceless peace of mind it would bring. (if thailand was the grand ol' usa ... you'd probably have no "slimeball" option and have to wait it out (no matter who made the mistake))

either way, it always seems work out in thailand.

congratulations,

dvd

So the Birth Certificate can be translated anywhere? Do you need an official stamp from the ministry of foreign affairs once you have it translated?

yes, you can have it translated anywhere. no, you do not need an official stamp from the ministry of foreign affairs once you have it translated.

-from the aos form I-485-

Translations. Any document containing foreign language submitted to USCIS shall be accompanied by a full English language translation which the translator has certified as complete and accurate, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.

i hope this helps and good luck

dvd

feyser - "I assumed it would work for AOS if I gave them Thai and English copies but it did not."

your mistake was not in assuming .... your mistake was that you ignored the advice given to you on this site regarding thai birth certificates. the advice was .... to not come to the usa without the birth certificate. and you did exactly that.

sorry,

dvd

Hindsight is always 20/20. I just want to help others avoid mistakes on this long and often confusing process. Good luck to all on your journey!

hindsight??? you were given the same birth certificate advice on this site .... BEFORE you came to the states without the certificate, but you chose to ignore the advice.

maybe you didn't read the responses to your bc inquiries .... anyway ...

good luck to all and congratulations, feyser, on getting the green card

dvd

feyser - "I assumed it would work for AOS if I gave them Thai and English copies but it did not."

your mistake was not in assuming .... your mistake was that you ignored the advice given to you on this site regarding thai birth certificates. the advice was .... to not come to the usa without the birth certificate. and you did exactly that.

sorry,

dvd

What fee did you include?

i sent them a check for $1010 (same as we previously did for my wife)

the first rejection letter states that i should have paid $1010. ????? i did!!

the second and last letter says that i should have paid for the i-131, 300ish dollars (i'm assuming separately), but ....

i didn't have to do that for my wife.

thanks for trying to help. maybe, the above info. helps.

my step-daughter was 13 when she got her visa, but she turned 14 before we applied to adjust status. i'm thinking that they aren't being careful when calculating her age.

who knows???

i appreciate you thoughts.

thanks,

dvd

Check your package and make sure everything is right, they don't put a lot of details in the returned packages so the fee mightn't even be the reason. Change her name the way they want it (although I doubt that matters much). But inconsistent info is a reason too.

we had our k-2'd daughter's aos package rejected, just today, for the same reasons and we can't figure out what we did wrong. her aos package was put together exactly like my wife's was .... and she had no problems.

i'm going to keep searching the thread and in the mean time, i hope someone hear can shead some more light.

thanks

dvd

Was the K-2's application included in the same envelope as the K-1's AOS package?

my k-1 wife's daughter followed to join. my wife received her green card, went back to her home country, and brought her daughter here (on a k2).

so .... no it was not included in the same envelope. her daughter's package was put together in exactly the same manner as my wife's, but .... it was rejected.

i'm still trying to figure it out.

thanks

dvd

Check your package and make sure everything is right, they don't put a lot of details in the returned packages so the fee mightn't even be the reason. Change her name the way they want it (although I doubt that matters much). But inconsistent info is a reason too.

we had our k-2'd daughter's aos package rejected, just today, for the same reasons and we can't figure out what we did wrong. her aos package was put together exactly like my wife's was .... and she had no problems.

i'm going to keep searching the thread and in the mean time, i hope someone hear can shead some more light.

thanks

dvd

Sawadeeeekruuuuuup!

Hey my fiancee only got a few documents back when she left her interview. I really hoped I would get all that documentation back i.e. tax forms. investment statements etc. but she only got back the copy of my passport and phone records. She did say the package she got back to take when she enters the country is huge!!! I will be in BK in two weeks to bring her stateside. Should I call the embassy to enquire about this or can somebody shed some light on this for me?

congratulations on the visa!

fyi - it is very important that you bring her birth certificate with you to the states. get it translated while in bangkok too. AND make sure that it is translated correctly. heck ... you need to make sure that the information on the thai birth certificate is correct as well.

you will need the birth certificate for adjustment of status ...

good luck

dvd

A K-2 A# will be "None" for the AOS application.

thanks so much.

dvd

hello,

i'm filling out the aos paperwork for my 14 year old step-daughter who just joined us, from thailand, here in the united states. her mother and i married here in the states and her daughter followed 6 months later.

is my step-daughter's a-number the same as my wife's?

thanks,

dvd

Bring your school records.. and I-94 forms and others will be given to you at the plane prior to touch down to your POE. Congrats and God bless on your trip...

bring your birth certificate .... have it translated too. you will need it to adjust your status.

we went through sfo and had a two hour layover. we barely made it and we cut almost all the way to the front of the line.

my wife is currently in thailand and she is coming back with her daughter this saturday. again, they have the same 2 hour layover and i'm worried.

i'd go with more time if its available. we don't have the option, because they are on united airline's last flight out.

good luck

dvd