thaigecko

Rayman, congrats. My wife just had her interview on the 24th, told to come back to pick up the visa on the 26th. So we went yesterday(we live in Chanthaburi, so planned just a day trip to bkk) and the embassy had about half the visas ready and the other half, my wife's included, weren't ready because they said the printer was down. Now I don't know the specifics on how they make their visas, but the thing that really pissed me off was they didn't call/email people to tell them it would be delayed. Kinda sucks for people like me who don't live in Bkk and have to make the trip up there. Anyway, they said they'll call in a couple days, so I'm hoping ours will be ready by the 28th as well, but hopefully they have it straighted out and noone else will be screwed. Anyway, my gripe for the day and FYI.

thanks for the replies. I'll probly go online and set myself up for an appointment for a notary or more pages in passport and try to get in early if not the same time as the wife, and be inside someplace waiting for her. Might do that with the passport and give that to her if the officer wants to see that I've been in Thailand the whole time I've been with her. Got over here about 21 months ago, been with her for close to 20 and have plenty of pics throughout that time.

As far as the finances, I have a co-sponsor which meets current requirements, only couple things that I can even imagine they might want is a recient pay stub from them, which we didn't have, but did have a letter from the employer which I'm under the impression you can have instead of the pay stub. Also, I didn't file any taxes last year because didn't really 'officially' work on paper, but since I have a co-sponsor, my taxes shouldn't even be an issue right?

Hey all, my wife has her interview for a CR-1 in the end of August, and I'm probly thinking about it more than I should, but with all the bad stories I've read about Embassies needing more information, want to make sure we're ready. Only thing that concerns me is having to show proof of relationship. From what I've read many people have had issues with this, but not sure if it's as hard for a CR-1. I've been living with my wife for a year and a half, but we don't have a single thing really in both our names besides the marriage certificate, and no emails or telephone conversations because I've been abroad the whole time. The only thing we'll have is tons of pictures from the past year and half. Will this be enough you think? I'll be 'around' the embassy during the interview, but from what I hear they don't even want the husband there during the interview. Anyway, thanks for the thoughts and input on experiences, just want to have all my ducks in a row.

Hey all, quick question to change topics quick. My wife has her interview in bkk for a CR-1 in the end of August, and I'm probly thinking about it more than I should, but with all the bad stories coming out of this embassy, want to make sure we're ready. Only thing that concerns me is having to show proof of relationship. From what I've read many people have had issues with this, but not sure if it's as hard for a CR-1. I've been "living" here in Thailand with her for a year and a half(one of those guys doing visa runs every 90 days) and just working unofficially teaching english before and then helping my wife with her business, but we don't have a single thing really in both our names besides the marriage certificate. The only thing we'll have is tons of pictures from the past year and half. Will this be enough you think? I'll be 'around' the embassy during the interview, but from what I hear they don't even want the husband there during the interview. Anyway, thanks for the thoughts and input on experiences, just want to have all my ducks in a row.

Just call NVC today an got a case complete message! Anyone have any recent experience with how long the wait is after case complete till the interview?

thanks for the replies, guess I needed to sit on my hands a little bit. Called today and got an approval message from NVC. Quick! Guess there was some discrepancies with updating there system since up to a few days ago have had a message that information was missing. Ah well, can't complain since it's completed..

Called, and the operator said to wait another week or so, she couldn't see any details about the packages, but said it might be somewhere else at NVC and still waiting to get into their system. So guess I can wait a bit longer, but would like to get the paperwork ready again if I'll need to send in another AOS package.

Guess crossing my fingers to make sure there were no issues with our paperwork at the NVC didn't help. I'm with the wife in Thailand, and we sent the Affidavit of Support paperwork from here, followed by the DS-230 package about one week to ten days later. The NVC received the DS-230 package one week ago but says they don't have the AOS package yet. I'm worried at this point that pacakage isn't going to show up. I have copies of the package, should I send the copies now with a cover letter explaining the originals were lost? I used a co-sponsor as well, it had their W-2's inside as well as a letter from their empoyer. I'm hoping I don't have to put my co-sponsor through getting all that paperwork together and sending it to me again then me sending it all back to the NVC again. I suppose I still have my fingers crossed the package is just in the NVC system but hasn't found the right desk yet, if that ever happens not sure... Thanks for any advice

Reading some peoples problems has me a little worried. We just went to the Amphur and they gave us a copy of the original birth certificate with a little blue stamp on it, not much to the stamp, barely looks official, has the representatives signature in the stamp. They won't give out the original. Not sure if each Amphur does things differently, seems like other countries have a more impressive type of stamp/seal that looks a little more official. Anyway, they'll accept this at NVC and the Embassy?

right, know I'd just call it in to change it would be easiest, but wasn't sure if that would complicate things because on the DS-230 and I-864 it will have the old address. Sending the packages this week, but still won't have a new address for probly about two weeks.

For the I-130 we only used the marriage certificate and photos from the year we've been together, no statements or other paperwork, and no issues.

Just looking for any advice. My wife and I are submitting the AOS and DS-230 package within the next week, here from Thailand(no problem submitting both at same time in separate packages right??), but in a couple weeks time, not sure when exactly, we'll be moving. Should I bother to send a change of address to NVC or just wait until I get the notice for case complete and interview date, then contact the embassy? The embassy will be snail mailing a package to my wife correct? I also read on the embassy website they can't really help with anything untill they get the package from NVC, which I'm not sure how long that would take and if I wouldn't know they received it until they snail mailed the package to my wife, which we wouldn't get because we would have moved.. Not sure if anyone has any experience or advance, thanks

hi, I'm not at your stage yet, still at the NVC with the I-864, but we had a similar situation with the date of birth. I actually got an email from NVC after the DS-3032 form was email in, and they wanted us to send a copy of her birth certificate or passport. So I mailed that in to them with a cover letter explaining the screwup and think we're good. Might be usefull to do the same, can't hurt I suppose.

just a quick update, I actually got an email stating they got the emailed DS-3032 and processed it, but they want a copy of the beneficiary's birth certificate or passport showing her date of birth, so I'll mail that in and should be set I think. Thanks for the responses

I'll be using a co-sponsor, and know I'll need to fill out the I-864 as well, but does that mean I should put all my tax paperwork in there and bother filling in the income and assets portion? I technically haven't worked the 2008 tax year up to current(only under the table work overseas) and the 2007 year only worked a few months in the states, and the 2006 tax year I'd meet the povertyline. I'm thinking since I have a co-sponsor, I'd just put 'n/a' etc for all those income/assets areas, am I correct?? Thanks for the help

Getting a sanity check on how we're doing our co-sponsor paperwork. My co-sponsor meets the income requirment for the last tax year, but prior to that was going through medical school, so wasn't working, so the 2nd and 3rd previous year wouldn't meet the requirement, even though from what I understand the previous year is the big one(thats required). But we we're going to do an I-864a for my co-sponsors spouse, because he has been working consistently the past three years(not sure the amount, but not as much as my co-sponsor currently). Also, my co-sponsor just started a new job(still meets the income requirement), if that would matter. So anyway, we might not need the spouse's income at all, but figured the more info the better when NVC and the embassy look at the paperwork. This sound right? Thanks for any info

Short story: I did the email for the DS-3032, on one of the birthdays I put the 26th instead of 27th. Should I worry about this, call, or send another email with the correct number?

Long story: On the I-130 for USCIS, I actually made the typo there as well, putting the 26th instead of 27th(says 27th on marriage certificate). But it got approved at USCIS without any issues, and the date NVC has in there system is the 27th, so don't think I'd need to change any other paperwork with them, unless need to change the DS-3032.

Thanks for any thoughts.

I'll be using a co-sponsor for the I-864, but will have a job in the states and meet the requirements after my wife already gets her visa and moves with me to the states. After I have the sufficient income, is it possible to remove the co-sponsor? I read ways the co-sponsor is not responsible anymore on the instructions(they die, beneficiery leaves the country etc.), but wasn't sure if it was possible a different way. If a sponsor doesn't have real good feelings about being a "sponsor" for ten years or longer, even if they trust the petitioner, might make them feel a bit better if they know they can be taken off if the petitioner can submit other paperwork after they get sufficient income. Just wondering if this is possible. Thanks for any input.

Thanks for the responses. Got it that I don't need to go back to the ministry of foreign affairs or the consular again at this point, but read on another thread someone mentioned a regular "certified true copy" of the copy I send with the package by any notary. This isn't required correct? Just on the original copy the translater putting his statement about it being a correct translation etc.. thanks again

I'm temporarily living in Thailand, and will be filling the I-130 in the US. The translation company I am using for the marriage paperwork here said that after the marriage certificate gets translated from thai to english, it will then need to be taken to consular affairs to get both copies legalized before I sent the paperwork to the US. Is this true or is he just trying to make a few extra bucks?(I am mailing him the docs because I live a ways away from Bangkok and the nearest translator) I have only read that the documents need to be translated and signed by a professional service, which he is, and that is all that is needed for the I-130. Thanks for any input.

k-1

I'm curious if anyone knows how much the bkk embassy(or any embassy I suppose) takes into account the affidavit of support. If I do one myself, it won't be very strong, I stopped working in the states in mid 2007(military) and have just been doing odd things here in Thailand since. Have a bit of money coming in/out of the banks, and could get a job easy in the states, but don't know if they'll just take my word for it Out of two potential co sponsors I have, one just lost his job, the other just started a new job Also, since I will probly be in country for the interview, is it a good idea for them to see me/talk to me as well?

Thanks

I'm curious if anyone knows how much the bkk embassy(or any embassy I suppose) takes into account the affidavit of support. If I do one myself, it won't be very strong, I stopped working in the states in mid 2007(military) and have just been doing odd things here in Thailand since. Have a bit of money coming in/out of the banks, and could get a job easy in the states, but don't know if they'll just take my word for it Out of two potential co sponsors I have, one just lost his job, the other just started a new job Also, since I will probly be in country for the interview, is it a good idea for them to see me/talk to me as well?

Thanks

Thanks for the responses. Thailand will be where we perminently reside. We would be going to the states probly about once a year or so for holiday, but I don't own property in the states, have only rented up to this point, so only have the parents place I use for home of residence.

I guess I had in my mind the possibility of the K-1 because I read some other people did the same thing when they were living perminetly in Thailand.

I suppose I'll have to look into some more about coming and going from the states with a marriage visa, haven't really looked at that part yet, how easy it is to get re-entry etc.

Any thoughts based on anyones experience with the Bangkok Embassy. We got shot down already for a visitor visa, the representative didn't care about the fact we had a store here, fiance has a 5 year old daughter she takes care of ect.. So I'm either thinking if it will be easier if we go again and already have the marriage done and try for the visitor visa again, or go through the K-1 route before we do the marriage paperwork. The K-1 route I woudn't be able to show a job in the US, but have the job here, so not sure if they will flat out deny the K-1 from the I-134, or maybe still give the K-1 anyway or look at the situation and then give us a visitor visa.

We don't want to really do the marriage till next year, but want to get her over to visit the states a bit for a vacation is all really.

Any suggestions would be great, thanks,

Nick