GeneT

Well, I got a quick question. After looking at the last few couples timelines that have received and interview date lately, I have seen this trend. 10-14 days after packet three submission the interview date is received. The interview date has been roughly 30 days from the date of notification of interview. Is this a safe assumption, or are there some goofy numbers floating around out there from the last two months? Spill the knowledge if you've got it.

This is not a safe assumption. Interviews have been known to happen a week or even sooner after notification in some cases. Our interview was only a couple weeks after we were notified, and others happened even sooner after notification around the same time. Don't make any non-refundable plans if you want to be with your SO during the time of the interview until you actually know the date.

Also, there is no telling how long you will wait for an interview date after packet 3 submission. Some people have waited months, others weeks.

Dude! You got married! Congrats to you and Kat, now you guys are official! Awesome, Ray!

My Fiance finally got her visa, it was really seeming like it might not happen for a bit. I have never felt more stress, sadness and anger than I have the past few weeks. We had a problem intially because I was once married to a Thai and got divorced at the Thai consulate in LA. This is very problematic because it's only recognized in Thailand. Thus I had to find her and divorce her at the Amphur in Thailand when my Fiance and I decided to get married. I had a lawyer and he was very helpful with this.

The second problem is my Fiance is Laotian, but we both reside in Thailand. We are relocating to the USA next week. She had to have a number of additional stamps and guarantees from various Lao agencies in and outside of Thailand that Thai's do not. This was a little surprising to me and my lawyer. We learned this via a 221(g) If you think Thailand is disorganized it's nothing compared to Laos. It was a real nightmare to gather all the needed signatures and stamps. In fact the guy at the Laos embassy in Thailand flat out refused to help us and forced us to go to Vientiane Laos for something he could have easily done for us in 30 seconds. During the last week I had to fly my Fiance to Laos and back twice. Also getting anything done at the various agencies in Laos is an exercise in luck and madness. It was also never entirely clear exactly what stamps we needed as the 221(g) was very vague so we basically took our best guess which of the dozens of government agencies might be able to provide us with the proof we needed. Since getting the 221(g) my life has very much felt like the Kafka book The Trial. If you haven't read it check it out, you'll relate to some of the strange bureaucratic steps involved in getting a visa to what he had to do in the book to get through his 'trial'.

I am very very relieved we made it this far, now I just hope there are no problems getting married and we can simply begin our life living together in the USA.

Congrats!!! Wow, that did sound like a very involved process but now it is behind you! Kick back and have a beer! Cheers!

Wow sure is quiet...

Just wondering and maybe for people who have not gone through it... Social Security number request, I did not know you could request this through the embassy. Looks like the second part of the DS-230 form, not required by the embassy ( only first part is for Package 3). Would they have accepted this second part without any questions? I have seen where some people said they got the SS card mailed to them automatically , so they must have filled this out? Anyway, we did not so we will wait the 10 business days after her entry and go visit the local SS office.

We have her plane ticket bought and she arrives here on Aug. 4th! Unfortunately I don't have the time off from work to go and get her so she is on her own to make it here.

Here's another website selling Thai cookware:

http://www.templeofthai.com/cookware/

Must be run by a Thai (based on pricing policy):

sticky rice steamer basket: $6.00

sticky rice steamer pot: $10.00

sticky rice steamer set (basket and pot): $16.95

Yeah, I saw this site but missed that pricing! Thats too funny... Sounds like there should be some places about, thanks for the help.

Just FYI, a mortar and pestal can be purchased for under $10 at Ikea of all places. It is rather small, but it works.

Yes, I've got small brass ones-antique apothecary or small spice but for some reason they relish beating the ####### out of the peppers and that unfortunate crab they throw in there mid smash with a nice big stick! It's amusing watching them make it. Call it insanity but each time I visit, I try my best to fit in which includes eating large quantities of that. After a couple days of intestinal protest, my body adapts and I've actually gotten cravings for it (like right now; I've wanted some so badly for a long time). Hard to explain but it is like an endorphin drug or something. I guess it's like beer. My first beer I barfed at 9 or 10 years old then you learn. In all honesty beer doesn't REALLY taste good but I crave it (I just don't give in much nowadays-too much trouble). Same with this tom macoom. I crave it like mad but it tastes like hell. I figured if they eat it then let's see how long it takes my body to stop rejecting it and it's surprisingly a short time. I eat it, sweat, tear, burns coming out and two rounds of that two days I'm all better and can eat about half the portions they do with no ill effects (except blowing the air to cool down your mouth while eating it).

Tabasco on eggs or 4 packs of hot sauce from taco hell doesn't compare...I need my spicy; I'm hooked! I learned most grocery stores are devoid of this drug and it's nightmarish!

This economy is horrible though. We're praying to our deities to help us find jobs so she can stay (I think I need to show finances again at some point AOS?). Only a week ago I lost my venue to sell old stuff from over there for a nice profit. I' really worried now.

OMG, that does not sound like something I want to try... What is it called?

Hey where has everyone found the bamboo sticky rice cookers? Any good sources for cooking equipment online??

We got it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She picks up the VISA on July 14th!!!

She kept asking my fiancee that we look like we prepare for the interview because of all the evidence and how well it was prepared ( good job baby!). I guess since we had very short time we know each other before I propose ( about a month) and we know each other only 9 months.

She had a 8:30am appointment and she arrived early at 6:40. She was let in after only a few minutes and did not have to wait outside. She gave embassy staff at window 5 at 7 am, her documents and evidence, but they did not take her chat logs ( big folder they told her to give later). Then she sat and waited. So had to wait until 8:30, then they started calling people, she was third. The first person had interview lasting 20 min and got the visa. The second person was only 8 min and not sure if she got visa. Then it was my fiancee turn.

They took her fingerprints and started the interview:

1. How did you meet your fiancee? ==> We met online

2. What website did you meet on? ==> Match.com.th

3. When did you meet online? ==> October 2008

4. When did he come to visit? ==> I visited in early Nov. 2008

5. Did he come visit again? ==> I visit again in April, 2009

6. How long he stay first visit? ==> 4 weeks

7. When did u get engaged? ==> Nov. 29th, 2008

Interviewer commented it was very fast, and she cannot understand. My fiancee explained how much time we spent together online before my trip and while I was there. She seemed to accept this.

8. Did your fiancee marry before? ==> Never married

9. Have you ever been married? ==> Never married

She started looked through the evidence ( which I should say my fiancee had created a very detailed and orderly set of documentation, reciepts taped onto pages of a bound set of pages of printed emails)

10. Does your fiancee work in Thailand? ==> I worked at branch of my company but only for a visit.

11. You have a lot of receipts! Look like you prepare for doing the visa? ==> My fiancee told her that her fiancee is an engineer and likes to have many details and doesn't throw away anything

My fiancee had photo of flowers I had sent her and:

12. Why you take photo of flowers? ==> My fiancee wanted to see the flowers he sent me.

13. When do you plan to get married? ==> After a month in the U.S.

14. Are you excited to get married? ==> Yes!! Very Excited. Interviewer smiled at this.

Interviewer gave documents back and told her to come back to get visa on July 14th!

She finished around 9:05 am.

I am so pysched!!! I gotta clean up my place

What I did not understand from people's descriptions was the length of time they review the evidence? Do they take the evidence from you before they call you or only look at evidence as u r standing there? How long has people experienced them looking at the evidence? Just curious...

Thanks....

Gene,

Pon told me that they never looked at the evidence while she stood in the window, so they must have looked at it prior to being called to the window. Her interview was on June 30... So this is pretty fresh information.

Mike

Thanks Mike! I was thinking about it after I posted and if they have interviews starting at 7:30, how much time could they really have to go through the stuff? You know you want to make sure you have everything for them but I wonder how much they look at the relationship evidence in detail or is the fact you have a pile good enough? I'm sure they review all the forms... Anyway just trying to kill some time...

And congrats again...What it must feel like to have ur fiancee here! I hope to find out soon...

There was a lot that could have gone wrong. I was married and divorced to a Thai person before. My Fiance is Laos, living in Thailand and I was working remotely over the internet. I am pleased this is the only issue they had.

I think everyone seems to be saying that it should not be hard to get the VISA after submitting the requested doc's. Should only be one more step to get it!

I just saw the stack of chat logs my fiancee printed,wow.... She is still working on emails and documenting some photos...

What I did not understand from people's descriptions was the length of time they review the evidence? Do they take the evidence from you before they call you or only look at evidence as u r standing there? How long has people experienced them looking at the evidence? Just curious...

Thanks....

ALL QUIET ON THE FAR EASTERN Front??

I am very happy for everyone who has gotten a VISA or even better yet, their fiancee here in the U.S. Awesome!!!

Ok... NEXT? We have our interview on this friday and I am really getting antsy! I know someone else has interview same day and time ( 8:00 am) but I also thought someone had one tomorrow?

C'mon I need some company here so I don't bug my fiancee with my "suggestions" on how to put together the evidence. She really does not need my help with it, BUT I CAN'T STAND THE WAITING :-)

Who else is coming up?

Sure is quiet.....

We are busy trying to get all the evidence together and having "discussions" on how to best present the info

Hope everyone has a good weekend! I am spending it cleaning up the house and getting ready for my fiancee to be coming soon...positive thinking, ya know!

Best of luck to you and your fiancee Gene. Kat and I made it back to the U.S. yesterday morning. Today is her first full day in the U.S.. Lots of new experiences for her!

Ray that is awesome!!! And Kat, not sure if u guys made it back to Wis yet, but welcome to the Upper Midwest U.S. I hope you will like Brats and melted cheese! :-)

You will have to write with Nan when she gets here and compare notes on how to enjoy (??) the winters here ;-)

Sure is quiet.....

We are busy trying to get all the evidence together and having "discussions" on how to best present the info

Hope everyone has a good weekend! I am spending it cleaning up the house and getting ready for my fiancee to be coming soon...positive thinking, ya know!

Congrats on the approvals!!!!! That is awesome!

Interview Date: July 10th, 8 am!!

Medical is already done so we'll be gathering all the evidence for the interview and reading everyone's posts who has interviews before us. I will be sure to post our interview Q's asap after.

Thanks for all the advice and discussion on the phone records, I should have done something different before now but will get better phone records bewtween now and interview. We have reams and reams of chat logs as well so there is no question on how much we communicate on a daily basis.

Congrats Wasabi!!!

call the card company and request it, let them know you need it for immigration purposes and you should be ok.

I started using phone cards the first month after we met, but I stopped using them shortly after since I couldn't find one with decent quality. Regardless, I used two different phone cards, and both companies refused to give me any call records w/out a court order. Along the same lines, my cell phone company won't give me a list of incoming call numbers without a court order either.

I put in a request to NobleCom ( cheap rates and good quality), not sure what will happen but I just added the international calling on my cell phone plan that will show the numbers, but it is a lot more expensive! Oh well, its worth it!

I last met my fiace was in August 2008. Just bring many pictures and many relationship evidences to the interview.

Was that when you first got together? or When you last saw her.

We were together, 7 months, when we had our interview.

Wow, ok, that makes me feel better, we met last Nov. in person (two trips to TH total) , so we have 8 months now but we waiting for an interview date, so it will be longer by then...

Plenty of chat logs, some text messages, some phone calls ( most of them are on a phone card, doesn't show real numbers) and of course, pictures from the two trips there.

Thanks for the info

I am curious, what is the shortest relationship ( length of time knowing each other) that has been approved for a VISA? Any ideas?

CONGRATS to Everyone on getting their VISA'S

oh yeah, i forgot. Thanks to all of you that gave advice, talked with my wife and just helped out in general. i really appreciated it.

How much and what kind of relationship evidence did you submit?

I gave about 40 pictures, about 10 months of my phone bills showing that we called each other every day, hotel reciepts( some with just my name and some with just her name, none had both our names on them), txt messages(about one hundred from both of us back and forth), about 50 e-mails from the time we started e-mailing five years ago, letters from my bank showing money transfers from jan 08 until march09, my last years tax return, our marriage certificate, chat logs and PC to PC calls(i didn't have to many, maybey about 20 of each) My boarding passes from the last two times that i visited thailand along with ticket reciepts and ticket confirmation e-mails from when i bought them online. oh and a copy of my passport with thai immigration stamps and thats about it

Now i have to get busy cleaning my place or i'm going to get my #### kicked when she gets here.

CONGRATS!!!!

Packet 3 submitted, so now I am in the "interview waiting pool" with a lot of people. I have to say it is heartening to see a bunch of interview dates recently given out!

The document daboyz posted on the statistics is very interesting! I hope my request is considered to be "ripe"!! Seems like they have some quotas to reach by clearing some cases, I hope this is good news and not just pushing the ones they can't finish into the "Unripe" pile....

Thanks for all the help!

Packet 3 submission Q:

The older packet 3 instructions list several documents ( Birth certificate, Name change certificate), these documents, a copy can be submitted and the original brought to the interview. I got nervous when I saw that the embassy sometimes deviates from ther stated guidlines. Have other people submitted copied only of these types of documents in package 3 or sent the originals? Just wondering what other people have done.

Congrats to all who have gotten interview dates, looks like things are moving again!

Thanks!

Watch out. Between all the information and entertainment she might start a fee per post basis.

It would be well worth it! Thanks for the all info!

We are doing the translation and governement seals, at this point with all the horror stories I want to do everything possible. We should get translations by tomorrow if all goes well and submit packet 3 this weekend, I hope!

So I assumed the embassy held onto all the documents? Or you get them back to use for AOS?

No ! not enough

Please beware on the interview date they will ask for the death certificate of her parents (in case fo they passed away)

or some case they asked for her diploma can you see how #$@%^&^*(*&^ they are !

Hope I don't scared you .

Hi, is a copy of the death certifcate good or do they need an original?

Thanks for your help!

Still preparing for packet 3 submission....

The agency we are using for translating documents says we need to get official government seal on their translations for : Certitifcate of unmarried status, birth certificate, and a name change certificate. and this costs 400THB for each document on top of their translation fee for each document (350THB), plus 600 THB to bring all the documents to the government office.

Was I mistaken to think if they should apply a seal or provide proof of being a certified translator would be enough?

Did everyone else do this? Sounds like a scam to me...

Thanks, I can't wait to join all the other packet 3 submittors wiating for interview date

I think she means the Med-exam report and X-ray film these 2 envelope will be sealed DO NOT open it

until the interview date.

DO NOT open it at all, the embassy will open it.

Wow, thanks everyone for the great info!

I just got off the phone with Nan, she is riding back to BKK on the 11 hour overnight bus from Chaingrai. I have to give her credit, she went there for her proof of non-marriage document and she went left to go up there on the monday overnight bus. She got the document then turned around and came back the same day **WHEW**. I think she deserves some flowers!

She is picking up the police document this week, hopefully. She says that the police document comes in a sealed envelope and she must not open that, just submit to embassy...is that true? Isn't the police document in Thai and therefore needs to be translated to english before submitting to the embassy? What have you all done?

Thanks!

Excuse me. I'm going to go throw up now...

I'm feeling a little sick myself...

We are still getting the packet 3 together and its depressing to see what lies ahead, but what can you do...

I have a question on packet 3 submission, can you deliver to the embassy in person or will they only accept through mail or DHL?

Thanks!