manijohn

So have they provided the BIB with breathalysers?

Or we still down to one unit at Din Daeng on a Saturday night.

I'm all for it.

Come on, is it April 1st. Booze going down in price.

It will never happen.

I got stopped outside of Pat Pong at 0100 hrs about a year ago and they had a hand held breathalyser. Unlike my girlfriend, I blew a zero. I also wanted to comment on the new fine. 5000 locals - - 20,000 farang ++

It's about 2 miles from the old airport (please don't make me spell it) Don Muang.

You people have it all wrong. They are not baggage handlers they are baggage inspectors protecting Thailand from the possible importation of illegal contraband. If you want your confiscated items back just go to the same pawn shop you go to to buy back your Thai sweetheart's phone/gold you bought her from your last trip. Pay the fine there and all is well. LOS

Thailand isn't PC (politically correct) enough. In California they would be known as Un-documented Airport Taxis. LOS

Have you considered having her take the bus. Khon Kaen to BKK about 700 baht round trip. It's quite normal for a Thai to do. Sometimes you can hire a local to drive her to BKK for not much money. From Khon Kaen about 5 hrs. I understand it's not always a money thing but dealing with the airport can be a big hassle all by itself. Besides I would also hate to see you really spoiler her right off the bat (that a whole other thread). I did with my wife and have regretted ever since. Good Luck

Congratulations and the best of luck to you and yours.

I believe unless your on a terrorist watch list or a major felon leaving the States it is unlikely they will stop you. I had a little trouble leaving LAX in Sept. Got a citation and had to handle it from Thailand. My brother who's a SGT for LAPD said they pick up transit passengers all the time coming into LAX. He made the point clear that I needed to get an attorney to handle this matter or I would run the chance of a night or two in the LA Grey Bar Hotel on my return. Glad to report that all is well and the outcome though expensive came out in my favor.

China is not his big problem, re-entering the US is. Immigration will run a warrent check on him when he re-enters the US. So a lot will depend on where he re-enters the US and where that nasty warrent is from. He may just get a surprise extended vacation in the Grey Bar Hotel on his return to the US. Sorry to spoil your visit.

I read with interest all the comments about this thread, since I'm in the same 'boat'. My Thai wife arrived moved back to my home in the USA this last October immediately after being granted a K-3 Spouse visa. The end of November we went to the Social Security office so she could apply for a number so that she could start looking for work. They informed us that she needed an Authorization for Work before they could issue her one.

After viewing the USCIS webpage I saw that she could apply for that document at the same time as Adjustment of Status to Permanent Resident and it didn't cost extra if you did them together. One of the forms asked for was an Affidavit of Support and since I just filed one with the Dept. of Homeland Security 6 months earlier I sent a letter stating that I wasn't given back that form, but I included a copy of the Cashier's Check I'd sent them for that form to be filed as proof. They didn't seem to care, as I got back a 'pink letter' stating that her application was temporarily suspended until they got the Affidavit of Support.

I'd sure appreciate anyone who could give me a phone number to call and contact a live person at USCIS who I could actually ask a question to. Calling and being given a list of self help info sometimes isn't enough.

Many thanks for any phone contact info this forum could offer.

US Citizenship & Immigration 800-375-5283 Select language; press 2; press 4; at prompt press 0.

Please keep in mind when you talk to the Customer Service Agent that they are not sworn USCIS officers. When ever I questioned one of the CSR who answered the phone at the USCIS help line and I got a answer like "I think" or "I believe" I would always ask to speak to their supervisor who were at that time a real bonifide USCIS officer to get hopefully the real answer. Always keep copies of anything you send off and a phone log of who and when you spoke to someone. I also found wait times were less if you called when the doors opened. Have fun, I didn't.

Also try here, get your reading glasses on, a lot of information here

www.visajourney.com

Good Luck

It's been a while since I did it but if you can prove you live in Thailand, DHS has an office here which use to be a lot faster. Otherwise all paperwork (I-130) to start the process must be submitted in the US. Relax, it'll take a while if you have to file it in the US (close to a year). A two year green card if married less then two years will be issed after visa approval and first entry to the US. If she does not plan on working, a tourist visa will allow her to travel with you and stay up to 6 (INS officer determined at port of entry) months in the US. But that does not make the (I-130) green catd process any shorter except for the fact you may not be seperated from her. She will more then likely have to return to BKK for the (I-130) K1 visa interview.

This comes from the US Embassy BKK web site. http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/embassy/usgmain.htm

How to Apply

You cannot begin an application for an immigrant visa at US Embassy Bangkok. The process for all immigrant visas, other than the Diversity Visa Lottery process, begins with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the U.S., or in limited cases when the petitioner resides in Thailand, with the DHS office in Bangkok. The family member or employer in the US must begin the process by filing an I-130 petition or I-129F fiancée petition with the DHS office with jurisdiction over their place of residence. More visa information for immigrants is available at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_1339.html

The Diversity Visa Program provides a certain number of permanent resident visas annually. These visas are drawn from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.

I am married to a Thai for four years. She's been to the States six times or so but doesn't really like it. She came to the States on a marrage visa and recieved a two year green card which has since expired. I am living in Thailand but don't want to go through the hassles of another marriage visa. She basicly has no assets to speak of so the assumption of a clear need to return to Thailand would not excist in the eyes of the Embassy. She has deminstrated a history of returning on her own though. The purpose is to travel back and forth with me while I work on short term projects less then six months at a time.

With this in mind do you think a tourist visa is something that the embassy would approve? I do understand that this would only be an opinion.

Thanks in advance.

Who is "Webworker"?

First of all the chances may be low but they are not nill. Secondly drug use is not tolerated and often ends in imprisonment or death. Third if you read another visa runners post today you will find he was stopped for speeding twice on the trip north. I'm sure glad you are not endorsing your advise.

By the way, the Highway Police have many speed monitoring devices. My USA radar/laser detector does not pick the signals that are transmitted from the Police units used here. Beware!

Me Plus One

hmm looks like a death sentence case

I hope so...they deserve it!!!

That comment sickens me. In a free society people will have the choice to do what they want. If they choose to kill themselves with drugs, so be it.

And as another poster mentioned, no one deserves the death penalty. It's barbaric and inhumane and puts us on par with the likes of Hitler and George W Bush.

How dare you! Comparing my President to Hitler. Some people just do not know how to see or have ever seen pure evil. The death penalty does have a place in a society that will hold people accountable for there evil actions. Charles Manson ring a bell. We all know the rules, so did they. Get over it. Bless you.

Have you thought about dual passports from your home country and rotate them?

Count me in.

This thread Should Be Called "Road Kill" For The Poor Guy Who Started This Thread. Doesn't Anyone Get A Break?

As long as your (multi entry O) visa is valid, you can go and return as often as you wish and receive every time permission to stay for another 90 days.

Should you, however, decide to stay longer than 90 days, you may apply with the immigration office inside Thailand to be allowed to do so. In this case your visa will be voided and replaced by an extented permission to stay up to 1 year from your last entry.

In this case you have to apply for a re-entry permission which will keep your permission to stay valid.

In your example you go for a short break to Cambodia and receive upon return another 90 days.

During the last 30 days of these 90 you apply with immi for extension of stay for one year which can be done under the 'O', usually due marriage to a Thai or retirement. Once granted you may stay til November 2007 (1 year from last entry) but than, need a re-entry permit to keep the Nov. 07 valid.

Maybe I am missing something here. I have a one year "O" multi entry. Have to leave every 90 days. On day 364 (of 365 days in a year) the last stamp will be good for a nother 90 days using the original 12 month (1 year) visa making it good for 15 months. Please correct me if I am wrong.

The next part is where I need clarification. After my now 15 month "non imm O" is ready to expire I need to get a extention. What kind of extentions are available. I want to maximize my freedom. How would one short of a Thai Elite Gold Card "wow" go about doing this.

1) Re-enty permit. I've been to Thailand about 30 times (always less then 30 days) and have never heard of this.

2) Are there good alternatives to #1 short of the Thai "wow" card

Thanks for all your help.

John

Glad to hear the positive report. But to put it into perspective would like to point out that you are married to a Thai women and have business reasons for frequent travel making the multi entry O visa a natural fit.

Second point is that it is a Royal Thai Consulate. Only one Embassy in a country and that is located in Washington DC.

Some more details, I never mentioned anything about business. The Consulate never questioned multible entry. As a matter of fact they assisted with that question on the form. The letter of recommendation came from my wife. I was surprized it was that easy myself. It has to be my good looks that did it again(joke).

Thanks to all for the time you guys/gals give in helping people trying to figure out the immigration nightmare.

The Good news is that on Friday 6/23 went to the Thai embassy in LA with all required documents applying for a One Year Non-Immagrant Type "O" Multible Entry Visa. It arrived today 6/27. The embassy was a dream compared to the US embassy in BKK. Everyone was polite, no lines and no now serving numbers.

Thank You All Again.

First I'd like to thank you in advance for your help.

I am planning on moving to LOS from USA in a couple of months. I'll be 48 this year. Married to Thai for over two years and she has green card. I know Thailand has hefty duties on imported items. Is there a way to minimize the tax bite?

What can I bring with me, motorcycle, pistols, electronics and personal items.

What to and not to say at the Thai embassy in LA when appling for visa?

Thanks again

My wife has been in the USA a total of about 11 months in the last two years. Fly back and forth a bit. Any forseen problem with declaration of ownership for my wifes used household goods with the frequent exit/entry passport stamps and total time abroad? Thank you again!

Have all documents issued in your wife's name as returning resident who has been abroad for more than 1 year. She will be able to import household goods (used) free of duty and tax.

Yourself entering into the Kingdom with a non-immigrant visa "code O" and wish to accompany your Thai wife will not be qualified for duty free allowance.

Have a look in here:

http://www.customs.go.th/Customs-Eng/House...nuNme=HouseHold

Refer especially to electronics, one piece only, however, customs most likely will accept 2 itrems as family.

Pistols: I doubt this will be permitted. Personally, would say forget it.

A motorcycle is not seen as household goods and subject to heavy duty and tax, although it is possbile if your wife has owned, possessed, and used the imported vehicles together with the valid driving license for at least one and a half year while staying abroad.

Thank you for the valuable information. You asked about work? Money? Good question? First and formost I was planing on leaving 10 million baht here in the USA for reserve and income (from interest)if needed. Flying back to the States to work once a month for upto ten days (income from trip 250000 baht net). The travel back and forth is not set in concrete. Could be more I hope it's less. I will work for myself (contracting) work from a third party. I will be incorporated in Nevada, USA for tax and expense purposes. Renting apartment for aleast first year. Maybe Sukumvit above Soi 22. Relaxing, Ive been to BKK 25 + times in the last four years.

First I'd like to thank you in advance for your help.

I am planning on moving to LOS from USA in a couple of months. I'll be 48 this year. Married to Thai for over two years and she has green card. I know Thailand has hefty duties on imported items. Is there a way to minimize the tax bite?

What can I bring with me, motorcycle, pistols, electronics and personal items.

What to and not to say at the Thai embassy in LA when appling for visa?

Thanks again