KuhnKarl

Just a quick update, YES, Pattaya office is very open.  3rd Floor of The Avenue plaza.   BUT.. one caveat.. the que fills fast.  It appears they limit how many people are processed per day. (told it was 250 as many were sent away starting about 9:30 when que filled) 

My wife arrived today shortly after 7AM.. her number was 108.   She finally got processed about 11:30.   Ergo, best to come is well before the office opens at 8 ish.  Fee was 1000 baht, plus EMS 45.   You do not need photo.  They take photo and biometrics on site.  

Passport to be sent EMS ten days, give or take.

PS.  FYI - She asked about 10 year validity.. told today no can do.   YMMV

Thank you again for the insights.  One final (promise) question that may assist others and us.   My understanding is that there is a 6 month validity window until you need to stateside.    However, from research, it appears that the window begins on the date of the applicant's medical exam and NOT the date of the interview / issue of entry Visa. 

Can you clarify if this is correct?   As example, say get packet then go to physical exam.  But don't get interview at embassy until two months later.   Then your entry would need to be in four months, not six, so that the physical doesn't expire. 

Once more thanks, and good fortunes to anyone wishing to return stateside with a lovely Thai wife...   Me thinks the paper trail will be the easy part, it's what come after change of domicle that may be daunting.  

Cheers!

Thank you kindly for posting the above timeline.   We began the process for wife a couple weeks ago.  (First week in January)  Time to make USA the domicile again, and just vacation here from time to time.  Our travel plans are to return stateside in August.   We have been legally married four years here. 

May I inquire, since you were a resident here did you have to explain why your were going to make the USA your primary domicle again?  (assuming you were here most of the time)

Also assume you filed an I-864.  I am not clear when the original is filed.  Can you clarify?   I know the USCIS didn't want when we filed the I-130.

One final inquiry please.   Once the "sealed" packet is in hand, and you fly stateside, what happens when you arrive?   Was there another interview or did the CPB just take the packet at counter? 

Again, thank you for providing the time line.  

Sure miss that good old smoke flavor ... Used to love flavor from Cherry or Apple wood.

Anyone have suggestions? Can home build a smoker but not sure what wood I can get here in Thailand.

Have to ask.. what type of wood do you use for smoking here? Where do you get it?

Hi KuhnKarl, thank-you very much for the detailed feedback; much appreciated. Let me address the detail of your visit: 1. Fair comment with the conduit. It is dual located for spec but when I checked the location within electrical it was empty and not replenished. I will get that fixed. 2. Threaded ends are missing along with a fair few electrical accessories. It is on my hit list, but without replaying the sad story we lost millions of baht of stock in a flood prior to opening and have struggled to re-acquire much of due to vendors and suppliers shutting down in Q4. But yes, it isn't acceptable that basics like that are missing so I apologise. 3. PVC glue and primer; fair comment I I'll get it dual located. (It's on aisle 9A with glues and adhesives.) 4. 6" unions for drain pipes. Bizarrely not in our stock profile. I have no idea why so thank-you I will raise that with head office and get it added. 5. We have checkouts downstairs by the loading bays but I agree it's not 100% right. To go into detail we are re-doing the lower floor because I've highlighted many issues with customer flow and ease of use which isn't right so this starts next year. Including ripping out the escalators and installing a lift so you can actually shop both levels. 6. Dual language signage. I've had a fair bit of influence in this (this store has more English signage than any store in estate) but I face a problem with marketing that each time new products signage is released they forget about us and I have to request replacement and send them the translation back. This takes time and no-one works to westernised deadlines so I share your frustration. Notwithstanding the signage to direct/explain our lower level is poor and I've highlighted this as a priority to fix in the new year. 7. Store map; fantastic idea, hadn't thought of that format so I will get on that ASAP, thank-you. 8. How to. On that already (we used them in UK for B&Q (same as Home Depot) and they worked great). We're just prioritising the departments (mainly pump/filtration/water and tiling & flooring) but you will see something like this very soon. 9. Special orders: apologies, yes we do them but it's a brand new process and us and BangNa are the only store that do them at the moment and there are quite a few teething problems with them. I must admit I am loathe to promote it heavily at the moment because I am an advocate of never promise what you can't deliver but because of flaws in the process I've let a couple of customers down with their special orders which infuriates me so until I have more confidence in it it's not something I can stand proudly behind just yet. No fear though, I will get it fixed so I'm sorry again for that. Thank-you though for your feedback, it's worth its weight in gold so any more feedback you have at any time please let me know. Toby.

Well since my posting, I've been back three times. And each time things seem to be getting better.. well, except the issue between floors. Today's visit found PVC pipe glue, easy to find near the pipe pieces. And in fact, you now even had larger size cans with built in applicators! But didn't see primer and asked over in paints for acetone. Got the Thai shrug ??

Best postivie is that I found a much better selection of plumbing parts.. although still somewhat scattered between aisles with no rhyme/reason I could note. And some bins empty but that could happen with the customer before me.

Did have a good laugh today also. Wanted an inline household water filter. Gentleman working that aisle pointed me to alternate unit when what I looked for was out of stock. Then he volunteered to open the box and be sure everything was inside. Now the laugh.. he went to seal box with packing tape and couldn't get the roll started. Three ladies and two guys later.. no one could... and they were scurrying around to find another roll. We all were laughing at the attempts to get the tape started... yeah, one guy with more patience finally did.

At check out, still problem with lines... in my case the clerk couldn't get the charge card machine to work and was getting frustrated. Technical issue that finally sorted out. Oh yeah, while waiting noted the illustrious GM in his office, using a white board and looking frustrated also. Have to think he was working on staffing issues by the look on his face. ha ha ha

If you haven't been.. pay a visit.. no this isn't a paid commercial... just glad to have another option in Pattaya as my house build progresses.

I am sad to inform you that good service, Pattaya and Honda cannot be used in the same sentence with any truth in it.

Just want to give a recent update... couldn't agree more! Unfortunately...

Have Honda PCX 125... nice bike. One shortcoming is there is no kick start; you have to have a decent battery to start it. Just returned from a year overseas... original battery, even though had been out of vehicle and on a timed float charge had gone toast. (Yuasa)

Went to Milton service shop at train road and Soi Muslim (Num plum wan) and asked for a new battery. Sorry, no got. What ??? When you have? Maybe week or so, call back. Does any other shop have around town. Sorry, no got. How about I buy one from bike in showroom and then when you get batteries, you put back? Sorry, no can do might sell bike.

So how am I to start motorbike? Sorry, no idea.

Now I was thinking it, but didn't say it. Also thought about asking to speak to boss... but realized TIT !!! You can't fix it, all you can do is work around.

Went to TukCom basement and bought 12 V emergency lighting battery, some wire and clips. Although it didn't fit the battery hole, it does work. Now I will get the correct battery on principal, but from someplace else if I can.

In Thailand you need to "vote" with your wallet; even though it doesn't make a rats ass... at least you will feel better.