brnl78

Just a question for anyone else in California. Do you know where I can find a copy of the Driver Handbook in Thai? My understanding is they made it for a few years and then stopped. I figured someone would have scanned the handbook and put it online, but I can't seem to find it anywhere.

I've found a few sample tests from 2005 that have been translated into Thai, but I'd like to find the actual handbook to help my wife. Her spoken English is ok, but she can't read very well.

Shawn,

If you find it let me know too, we're here in Garden Grove. Noy's going to take her test soon so I wanted her to review it over in Thai before she goes to attempt it

Tin

If it were me i would not include any pictures of any wedding ceremony. The consulate might question if you are already married and then tell you to go the CR1 route. I have read on here that some had problems showing just ceremony pictures, so i wouldn't do it myself. I have about as much evidence as the rest of you except we are married already and going the CR1 route. I don''t have any e-mails for this year because we don''t e-mail unless i'm out on depolyment. Her computer is acting up anyway(i told her not to let her 4yo niece play on it but she didn't listen). we talk 2 times a day and txt alot but i printed out all the e-mails from the three years before we got married. so if they don't like what we have then i guess it will be time to call my congressman and tell him that i can't do my job because i'm to stressed out about this fat a$$ in the consulate.

Yup definitely concur about not including anything close to a wedding ceremony. The Embassy is being a pain in the #### as it is (which is their job), don't want to add any more distracitons.

OK, I guess this will be the new thread then. Here's a link to the original (not original but most recent Sawasdee thread since we were asked to start a new one --http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=78

threads over 300 pages bog down the server, apparently.

So...welcome everyone!

I emailed admin to add this link to the old thread.

Responding to one of the last posts...

I'm wondering if everyone has to deal with this new guy at the embassy or is he a luck of the draw. Anyone been approved by him? I'd love to know what he likes to focus on, etc.

What's to stop someone from "doctoring up" emails? I don't understand why they place so much weight on them. Makes me worry a bit. She started sending me emails again. You'd think hundreds of dollars worth of phone bills, 3 visits, money sent would do?

I'm going to ask the lawyer to see if we should include the pre-wedding reception photos (so they know we're for real going through the motions in front of the whole village) or if this would be seen as a true wedding (although no papers...just ceremony so her family can participate and witness it since it's a rare event in her family)..then do the official wedding in the US....

I'm just trying to think of anything before hand to stem off before it's an issue once we interview. My nightmare would be going to BKK and coming back without her wasting a trip.

Just panicking here! Anyone who has gone through it before (especially if you've had difficulties) have any advice/suggestions? I feel bad for these 2 guys and I'm coming up soon. I don't see any other Thai visas between us although I'm sure someone here exists...jst a matter of time till they pop up. I'd love to know more about this new nasty bald guy who's not easy. The good ole days I read from other Thai visas...."3 questions, approved, 2 questions, approved, 5 questions approved" now this guy....30 questions on hold/admin review/shooting squad!

Don't panic, Noy and I went through this with the embassy just a couple of months ago. Don't go out of your way to make up emails. Submit what you have but do submit all of your phone records and your Instant Messages. When they asked (which they did for us) why there wasn't more emails or IMs, Noy pointed to the phone records to where I had highlighted the total number of calls and hours. Concerning the picture evidence, make sure when your fiancee brings pictures that its not just only of the two of you. Pictures with family members and friends with the two of you and lots of it help to beef up your case. Luckily we had some pictures that wasn't just of me and her which she went to develop and brought back with her. The only othe problem that they got stuck on was my tax return. They wanted my tax transcript for 2007 which I thought a copy of my W-2 and my tax return (turbo prep printou) was enough but it wasn't. I was able to get my tax transcript from the IRS for 2007 fairly quickly and emailed it to her to print out and take with her in addition to the additional pictures to the embassy. I followed with the Embassy with an email and we were finally able to get approved.

Concerning the "single certificate" you're right they don't mention it anywhere.

Not sure why people keep saying this. It is clearly stated that it is required in Packet 3.

Toma,

You're right...reread P3 again...amazing what the eyes gloss over when reading that dam paper lol

Max as Toma pointed out it says:

"Verification of Unmarried Status: Required if you have not registered a previous marriage"

Max,

Couldn't tell you if a statement will work. Noy took her parents and a neighbor along to the Amphur to be the witness. I believed she picked it up that same day or so. I doesn't take as long as a police certificate. They just have to type it out. Make sure you have all of your tax transcript and W-2s, what held up Noy getting her visa was because I didn't have my 2007 tax transcript. I thought the W-2 and my military earning statement was enough but it wasn't. I ended up having to call the IRS to order it and then scan it and sent it off for Noy to drop it off. I also had sent a blast email to the embassy asking why my W-2, Turbo Tax return summary, 1040 and my military earning statments wasn't enough to prove that I could support here. They never responded to my email but when Noy showed up the lady at window number five had a different attitude and just asked to see the tax transcript and the earning statement and told her to come back on the 26 to pick up her visa. Also make sure your NOO photos shows her ears. Noy had to retake her pictures because her hair was down and it covered her ears, she didn't understand why she had to retake it until she showed me the pictures and I reread the P3 checklist and it clicked. It states it in the P3 photo requirement , I didn't realize that she had taken it without putting her hair up or atleast behind her ear, so it was another trip just to drop off the pictures. Before NOO goes to the interview please scan through the P3 checklist again, make sure all of your paper work is in there especially the DS 156 which you have to go on line to fill out and print to get the bar code. I forgot that and luckily Noy caught it before she went to the interview. I filled it out and saved the PDF and emailed it for her to print out to take with her. Hope that helped Best wishes to you and NOO!

Tin

Edited- (fogot to finish my thoughts on somethings)

Max,

Why do you think you should have gotten a lawyer? I don't know your particular history but it seems that with all the posting on here and the documents provided and advice this process can get done without blowing thousands of dollars to someone who's just downloading free forms and just reading the instruction that the embassy sends you (which is provided on the embassy website).

I completed all the required paperwork, all she had to do was gather up the data for me to fill out, filed everything together in to a package in accordance with what the P3 said and send it to her. As far as the Police certificate goes it is free....apparently Noy talked to someone of the girls she meet at the hospital who was going to do their medical appointment that the people from the lawyers office was telling the girls that the people at the police certificate issuing charge 1800 baht. That is not true. I went with Noy when I was visiting to pick up the certificate, out of curiosity I didn't say anything to see if they (police) tried to scam her but they didn't. Its free period!

If you don't have the certificate before the interview. They will ask for NOO to bring it back on the next Mon or Wed and drop it off to the lady at window number 5. She's a pain in the ### but if that's the only thing you're missing then don't sweat it because you know she's gonna get it just not before the interview date. If you really want to push the date back then email the embassy. Put in the title of you remail "IV INQUIRY BNK CASE NUMBER XXXXXXXX (HER SURNAME) ....and then inside the email provide your info, her info and right the email. Hope that helps!

Concerning the "single certificate" you're right they don't mention it anywhere. However since it is a requirement for US nationals to get a certificate from the embassy to certificate that they are not currently married to turn into the Amphur if you're getting married in Thailand. Its the same requirement for Thais for the US Embassy. They really do need to state this in the P3 so that people know about this and don't get blindsighted. Because just like you I wouldn't have known about it without someone stating it on VJ

Tin

Jeeze I am scared now

I was coming to post a question on how to move the interview date back & saw this post. 1st I feel bad for the poster & his bride to be My fiancee too has a 14 hr trip to BKK. She was told by another Thai woman who has gotten her Visa already that she doesnt need to prove that she hasnt been married. I will tell her to go to get this proof asap! We havent hired a lawyer on the advice of many people although Many times I wish we had. We never received packet 3 I downloaded & it seemed to work because they have sent me a packet 4 (only after saying we are taking too long & they will cancel my petition??) the packet 3 I downloaded said we needed to get her doctors examination, & when I went they said we need the form from packet 4 ??? which I got after I told them I had the doctors exam in the checklist in packet 3 (confused yet I am ) So now we have an interview date for the day before we will receive her Police statement I want to change the interview date but I cant seem to get the information on how to do it. I am sorry to ask such an easy question can someone post the proper format of how to ask for a new interview date & the Email address. Many Many Thanks to those who have helped me in the past & also to those in the future

Max,

Why do you think you should have gotten a lawyer? I don't know your particular history but it seems that with all the posting on here and the documents provided and advice this process can get done without blowing thousands of dollars to someone who's just downloading free forms and just reading the instruction that the embassy sends you (which is provided on the embassy website).

I completed all the required paperwork for Noy and then sent it to her. All she had to do was gather up the data, go to get the police certificate (which is free....apparently Noy talked to someone of the girls she meet at the hospital who was going to do their medical appointment that the people from the lawyers office was telling the girls that the people at the police certificate issuing charge 1800 baht. That is not true. I went with Noy when I was visiting to pick up the certificate, out of curiosity I didn't say anything to see if they (police) tried to scam her but they didn't. Its free period!

If you don't have the certificate before the interview. They will ask for NOO to bring it back on the next Mon or Wed and drop it off to the lady at window number 5. She's a pain in the ### but if that's the only thing you're missing then don't sweat it because you know she's gonna get it just not before the interview date. If you really want to push the date back then email the embassy. Put in the title of you remail "IV INQUIRY BNK CASE NUMBER XXXXXXXX (HER SURNAME) ....and then inside the email provide your info, her info and right the email. Hope that helps!

Tin

Congrats Kim!!!!

Come on VSC !!!!! lets crank out some more approvals!!! Especially Kim and Russ'!

break break

Thank you for all the congrats!

Thanks Tin! You are number 53 on Igor's list and we are 60 so it has to be getting close now! Congratulations again!

Kim,

Yup looking at your time line and mine our touches were very close together so hopefully in a couple of days for you and Russ if not today also!!!!!!!

Congratulations! Do you remember when your last touch was?

Kim my last touch was 14 May. I saw today's touch at 0400 Eastern time but did not actually get the approval notice in USCIS site until 0754 Eastern Time. Still haven't gotten anything in the email yet just from the USCIS online status.

-Tin

Wowowowowow

After religiously checking the USCIS site the past couple of months....finally to a touch after a long time today and then.....got this....

On July 25, 2008, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E). Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service.

Hopefully more people will get approved today to so we can all celebrate together!!!!!!!!

- Tin