Gumballl

The K-1 (fiance) visa is the quickest. It will take 6+ months.

The K-3 (spouse) visa takes about 9-12 months.

For the K-1, submit the I-129F to the USCIS. If you decide to get married (in LOS), then submit the I-130.

One thing to be aware of is that the USCIS will want to know how you intend to support your fiance when you are in the US. If you are living in Thailand (and presumably working), you will need to provide evidence that you either have a job lined up in the US or that you have assets that can cover the minimum salary requirements to sponsor someone. For a family of three, I think the minimum salary is something like $28K.

Here's the Website for the USCIS. Rumour has it that all I-129F's and I-130's must be submitted to the USCIS in the states. I heard this from my lawyer.

Anyhow, the other post I made before is correct: At Suvarnboom Airport (BKK), there are (immigration) signs that state that those entering the Kingdom on a 30-day stamp cannot exceed more than 90 days during a 6 month period (which is approximately 180 days).

For further reference, here's a copy of the statement from the Thai Consulate in L.A:

Passport holders from the countries below [the US is one of them]can visit Thailand without a visa for the maximum of 30 days stay per entry with a total peroid of stay not exceeding 90 days within 6 months from the date of first entry into the kingdom. To enter the kingdom using 30-DAY STAY WITHOUT VISA again, this can be done after the first 6 months ( from the first date you enter thailand).

Since my "total period" has not exceeded, nor will come close, to the 90 days, I think I will be fine entering the Kingdom. Besides, I have no choice but to arrive without a visa since my trip will take place in about 10 days.

Btw, B&B, if you have nothing constructive to add, then it is perhaps YOU that should be concerned of being a useless d*ck.

I've been reading with interest JaiYen17's post concerning her visa problems (see here for full thread).

I am due to arrive in BKK in less than two weeks. I entered LOS during the following dates and stayed for the indicated number of days:

16/Oct/06 ------ 12 days

23/Dec/06 ------ 13 days

09/Mar/07 ------ 7 days

Will I have any trouble entering LOS when I arrive April 12? I am a US citizen and I will be staying for less than 7 days. If the consensus is that I will have problems, what alternatives do I have? Is it possible to get a tourist visa with such short notice?

When you top off your 1-2-Call account, how long does the balance last? I have always been a DTAC customer, however lately I have been disappointed in that they only give me a week to use my top-off balance, regardless of the amount. If I enter 2 top-off cards, then I get two weeks (Thai logic?). For a two week holiday, I purchase 100-baht cards to minimize my risk of losing unused phone time.

I wasn't aware of mozbackup. In the past I would just export my bookmarks, then email it to myself. Then save the attachment and load it into the new PC's browser.

In the future, f I happen to remember mozbackup, I will use that. Otherwise, I will use the method I outlined above.

At BKK (Suvanaboom?) there are signs that clearly state that no tourist must exceed 90 days in 6 months (180 days). I don't quite understand what is so difficult to understand here. Perhaps some "special" tourist feel that they are entitled to something more?

If you have more than 90 days in 6 months, just spend the remaining period until the 6 months are up someplace else. Jesus, how hard can that be, unless you are running away from something.

Sabajja -

Thanks for the reply. Using Partition Magic, I have been able to re-partition the drive while booted into Windows (the 2000 flavour). Of course, after the changes where made, I had to reboot. The two apps I used today (Partition Manager and System Commander) were older versions that did not recognize Vista, even though it was installed on an NTFS partition. Thus I was unable to do anything with those apps. The former app, SysCommander, runs as you stated... during boot up before the resident OS is loaded. Still, it didn't work. Anyhow, my copy of Partition Magic 8 was stowed at home, thus I will have to wait until tomorrow to return to work with it to give it a shot.

Crushdepth -

If there is a built-in partition manager in Vista, please let me know where it is. I wonder if fdisk is available, and if so, would it work for my needs.

BTW, after I repartition the drive, I want to install Red Hat onto the newly created space.

I've tried today to partition a HD that has Vista on it, but I had trouble doing so, possibly because I am using "old" versions of System Commander and Partition Manager. Tomorrow I will give Partition Magic 8.0 a shot.

Anyhow, has anyone successfully re-partitioned an HD with Vista on it, and if so, which application did you use?

Thanks.

... the interview itself took less than ten minutes...

Yep, the interview takes about 10 minutes or less... but the wait in the waiting room takes about 4 hours. My wife had an 8am appt, so we arrived at 6:45am to turn in the Packet 3 stuff when "Window 5" opened at 7am. She was not called up for the interview until 11:35am. But she got the k-3 visa... that's all that matters now.

So if the IATA code for Suvarnaboom is BKK, what is the code for Don Mueang? Knowing this tidbit of info would help travelers know exactly which airport they are booking their flights into and out of when they are traveling thru Bangkok.

Tragic as it is, these types of accidents occur in 1st-world countries too. In the US for example, a similar type incident occurred with a bus transporting elderly persons who were being relocated from Louisiana to (somewhere) Texas after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast region.

Many of the victims in the US accident had oxygen canisters (to assist with their respective breathing problems), and these canisters exacerbated the fire. Needless to say, I recall that all of the passengers in this particular bus had died in the fire. The driver survived.

The Thai incident is a tragedy, and the blame probably falls into the hands of the driver, but more importantly into that of the person responsible for maintaining the bus.

Maybe it's me BUT where in this thread does it say that there was any impact ???

It doesn't say that there was an accident resulting in a fire.

Great powers of deduction

SARABURI: -- At least 28 people were killed and 14 seriously injured on Tuesday when a Bangkok-bound bus caught fire and careened down a hillside in Saraburi. The bus from Yasothorn caught fire on a major four lane highway in Saraburi.

After the fire broke out, the bus veered off the road and crashed down a hillside, police added.

Right there genius

Maybe improve your basic reading skills before making remarks about others' deductive powers that just wind up making you look silly.

Um, the accident came as a result of the fire... not before. I think that is what John B Good was attempting to state.

If you live in Thailand, why are getting a fiancee visa? Why not get married and apply for spousal visa in Bangkok? No requirement to live in the US, as a matter of fact, you will need to prove you live in Thailand in order to apply.

TH

I agree with the part of remaining in Thailand (if it is possible). However, to apply for the spousal visa (K3), the OP will have to file the I-130 with the USCIS. Ditto if he elects to remain unmarried and files the I-129F. Applications are no longer being accepted by US Embassies/Consulates. Something to do with post-9/11 paranoia.

1) The Police station is actually the Royal Thai Police Station and is located on Ploenchit Road (?). I was just there the other day. I was in a taxi that travelled eastward, past World Trade Center, MBK, Siam Center, etc, and it is on your left hand side (i.e. stay in the left lane as you travel). You can't miss it. It is a huge complex. It takes two weeks to get the police report. Btw, the address is provided with the K3 packet.

2) No, just the main police station, as indicated above. But you do have to list every location she has lived since age 16 on the appropriate form.

3) With the Packet 3 info, there is a list of items that you should bring. I will to list the ones I remember:

1. Thai Passport
   
   
2. Two US-style passport photos
   
   
3. DS-230 form (this form needs to be completed in its entirety, however it is not signed until spouse it at the embassy).
   
   
4. Thai ID card
   
   
5. Thai Birth Certificate (or if not available, Thai ID card and House Registration booklet)
   
   
6. Birth Certificate of any children
   
   
7. Bumrungrad Medical Report
   
   
8. I-134 (or other) Affidavit of Support form and supporting evidence
   
   

4) When the NVC (or more appropriately, the USCIS) has received all documentation from you, only then will your spouse's visa application be sent to the embassy in BKK. This can take between 9-12 months. After, the US Embassy will contact your spouse with a scheduled appointment (and the packet 3 stuff). If you designate a proxy (ie. yourself, a lawyer, or any one else) with the USCIS, this proxy will also receive a copy of the appointment notice and the packet 3. It makes no difference if your wife submits the forms to the embassy via mail or not. Her interview will not take place until the schedule appointment time. Therefore, I highly recommend that she should hand carry all information to the embassy when her appointment is scheduled. This reduces the chance of any forms getting "lost".

Btw, why can't you visit her? You should make an attempt (although it is not required) to be with her during her interview day. Otherwise, she may be required to submit ancillary evidence of your relationship to you (such as photos showing the two of you together, wedding pics, etc).

Let me know if you have more questions (but please try to be specific with your queries). My spouse was just awarded her visa last Tuesday, and other than the dreadful wait in the sitting room, it went quite smoothly.

the usual task is a one page Word or Excel document, that works fine with WinXP (I turned off a couple of not necessary services).

I tried ubuntu 6.10 amd64 version on my computer and it didn't detect most of my hardware, neither the cpu, not the graphiccard, nor the sound, so I may give fedora a try. I really don't understand why I could make hugh documents with on a 486 with 66Mhz and 8 MB Ram and now 600 Mhz and 256 MB Ram can't do the same.

Checking Fedoras Homepage now....

The Fedora homepage (website) won't probably tell you too much. If you are in need of a system that can provide you with the ability to generate small (one page) documents, then perhaps Win-98 will serve. I was under the impression that you needed something for an office environment that was "busy" and required a server.

I also get the impression that you are not PC savvy, either with Windoze or Linux. You may want to consider distancing yourself from Linux at this time until you are very familiar with managing a system. And Windows, although replete with problems, has a better user interface (and user base) than Linux when it comes to managing a system. But still, Windoze is a pain in the gluteus maximus to keep safe from viruses and other malware.

If you still want to pursue Linux, consider downloading and then creating a DVD (or multiple CD-Rs) of Knoppix. Once this bugger is created, you can attempt to boot into your PC and it will determine for you if your PC is indeed compatible with Linux (i.e. detect your sound card, ethernet card/chipset, etc). But even then, it is still an ordeal to get Linux setup to one's expectations.

Bottom line is if you do not have the time and drive to pursue the necessary research into Linux, then don't bother considering it as a business system. I personally do not understand why most people rave about it. It seems that they have a chip on their shoulder concerning Microsoft. I use it for something practical... software development for an embedded Linux system that is reliable (something that Windoze can't offer).

Cheers.

MS-Office and Open Office are not fully 100% compatible because MS is always coming up with new ways to thwart that effort.

If you are looking to establish the Linux OS as the primary office tool at your office for preparing documents and spreadsheets, and you have a staff that is qualified with MS-Word and MS-Excel, then there should not be much of a learning curve.

The PC you chose (600 Mhz CPU and 256 MB RAM) is weak and I would recommend getting something with a little more horse power. If you plan to use it merely to store files (i.e. make a repository out of it), then it is ok. But for general day-to-day use as a workstation, I wouldn't bother... no more than I would bother to use something similar for Windoze.

It seems that many folks on this forum tend to like Ubuntu. Personally, I have not used it. I instead rely on Fedora Core, which is very similar to Red Hat. Either one you choose, I believe they are free and that you can download ISO image(s) to make your personal installation DVD(s).

Btw, I have a notebook PC, 1.4 MHz Pentium-M (Intel Centrino), 512 MB RAM, that is running Fedora Core 5 and nothing else (i.e. no MS-Win). I use this notebook at work for developing software and writing documents. I also use it for browsing the web and writing posts to the TV forum as I am doing now.

Ask them to make you one. Just tell them that in lieu of flipping the Tx and Rx lines, to keep them straight thru.

Concerning a null-modem CAT-5 cable, I was able to buy one of these at Pantip (in Bkk). So I know they are available. If you are looking for a null-modem serial cable (RS-232), then these are a breeze to make, but may be harder to find pre-made.

P.S. I am not sure about CAT-5, but on a serial cable, pins 2 and 3 represent the Tx and Rx lines (I do not remember which is which). On the other end of a normal cable, these pins are reversed. To make a null-modem cable, just pry open the connector and swap the position of these pins, and then put it back together.

The 5% beer was probably slated to be exported, and it "fell" off the truck on the way to the port.

Being a university grad myself, I can relate to the ones that seek out the location of the next keg party more so than when their next calculus exam takes place. A higher education is nice, and sometimes important. But there are many who have succeeded without a formal education. There are also many who have "purchased" their university degrees.

My question to everyone is... so what?. Does the notion that somebody was able to purchase their degrees make you feel inadequate? Do you feel that Thai universities are themselves less educational than those in Europe or America? Once again, so what?

One's ability to succeed in life matters not so much with the credentials they carry, but with what they can do. Most of my professional experience and knowledge of the "trivial" has been learnt from the years before and after I graduated from the uni.

Probably the more important question that should be asked is why people must struggle so hard in life, when the ultimate and known outcome is death. Just enjoy your life. Some take this advice earlier in life than others. Don't bash the young ones who embrace this notion. Perhaps they already have a plan for the future, or perhaps they do not care about it. Either way, everyone, rich or poor, educated or not, will have the same fate.

I just took a peek at x-rates.com. The posted exchange rate for 1 GBP is 65.5603 Baht. Thus use that (or whatever the exchange rate is on the day you need this info).

I am not sure if the Thai immigration deals with UK citizens differently than US citizens, but the latter merely have to prepare an affidavit at the US Embassy stipulating that they earn X-amount of money. No verification is performed by the US authorities on this issue other than asking the individual to take an oath that the information is correct.

Of course, if income is genuinely derived, then the individual surely has to pay tax on it... either in their country of origin or in Thailand... or a combination of both.

I want to install the OS, Firefox. antivirus and antispyware

One of the premises for using Linux is that you do not need to worry or concern yourself with antivirus and antispyware applications.

For linux, I use Fedora Core (which is based on RedHat). I think version 6 is now available.

Someone mentioned PPPOE... whatever. If this is indeed the protocol used, then a router/hub should be configured for this. I have set up a Wi-Fi linksys router with this protocol, and it works just fine. As for the linux machine, it would need to be setup for regular TCP and to use DHCP.

Yep, you need to go to the US Embassy on Wireless Road in BKK. You will also have to prove your identity to them to obtain a replacement passport. So hopefully you have a copy of your passport, a driver's license, or better yet, your birth certificate.

When you get to the US Embassy, go to the ACS (American Consular Services) dept. By the way, do not expect anything to happen overnight (i.e. with the replacement of your passport). You may might be spending quite a few more days in Thailand... which may not be that bad... as they verify your identity. It is your responsibility to sort out any issues (and possibly costs) with the airline should you find that you are unable to make your departing flight.

Sorry if I mislead anyone who read the OP. From the responses posted, it looks like I may have indeed done such a thing.

My wife is attempting to obtain an Immigration Visa to the US, not a tourist visa. Also, I have no intention of settling in Thailand. I know what items my wife (and I?) need to bring to the Embassy, but what I am not sure about is what to expect during the interview, nor what to expect while waiting to get inside the Embassy itself (e.g. what time should I arrive for an 8am appointment).

Mdeland - The $380 cost is the correct amount for an immigrant visa to the US. Since 01-Jun-2002 the processing fee has been $335, and since 08-Mar-05 a "security enhancement surcharge" of $45 has been added. Thus the total of $380. I received this information from the US Embassy in BKK last month.

I don't believe this changes anything in Thailand: the US Embassy in Bangkok has never accepted these petitions and it has always been necessary to file it with the Bangkok USCIS office, correct?

In the past, a US Embassy could accept the I-130 if the applicant (sponsor) was residing in the foreign country. If the applicant was residing in the US, then they had to go through the USCIS (formerly the INS).

By the way, I did not add the smileys to the OP. The TV forum software is interpreting the parenthesis and other characters to generate the smileys.