The Dude

I'd give Penang a shot considering all the factors. She'll likely get it I think. Last I checked they have become more friendly to tourist visa people...single entry only though for sure. They might ask for a bankbook but would probably let that one slide by if you tell them you were unaware of such requirement and will do so next time

the dude has no doubt that the OP like most people did not read the true contract he signed. this would explain his obligations

Neversure is 100% correct, the usa is wayyy cheaper on EVERYTHING. I pay DOUBLE for a fleabag BKK hotel more than similar in USA. 1500 baht to be exact for a 50 year old bkk special vs $29 for similar in western USA. I can rent an SS Camaro convertible with a 6.2 liter engine for $1200/month in USA. Food and ALL goods and services are CHEAPER with wide selections of anything and everything you need. I love Thailand for so many things but cost and goods and services in general are NOT what the Dude loves about his adopted country. Yes to Brits and Euros sure wow dirt cheap and so much variety of cheap goods available, lol.

I thought the Soi 5 Foodland was long gone

craigslist is really bad also

the dude's experience in Penang 3 years ago was that a 30 day extension meant no visa in Penang as confirmed by his agent there. he therefore went to Lao and dug a double entry tourist visa instead. not diggable to go to Penang with 30 day extensions in passport. on the other hand the dude did have a period where he forewent 30 day extensions and went to Penang and got back to back 60day tourist visas with no 30day extensions if you can dig what he's saying

The dude can really dig that working in Thailand for such a paltry wage with lousy benefits and conditions to boot must be a real bummer and a downer. A better job would be an upper if you can dig. The dude advises seeking it out

The Dude's experience is that Tramadol is indeed addictive and withdrawal symptoms are massively worse than codeine. careful with this med folks. cannot dig it

The Dude's wife has no kids nor brothers and sisters. This is cool for the dude and he digs it. life is much more simpler than b4 when the dude had the gf with kids, brothers, sisters, cousins and Issan craziness. The Dude digs simplicity

this could overlap to 2 other recent threads. yes falongs and thais leer and try and flirt with the dude's hot wife however the dude doesnt care b/c he knows his wife is loyal. the dude pays zero to his hot wife but places her in charge of all spending because he loves her and trusts her. i say merge these threads. can dig

great

A couple things.

1. K-3 visa is pretty much dead as of ~2010. It used to take years to get the IR-1/CR-1 visa for some reason. They have resolved that. Also, when you file for a K-3 visa, you are simultaneously applying for a CR-1/IR-1 visa anyway by filing the I-130. When the I-130 and I-129F arrive at NVC at the same time (which happens 99+% of the time) NVC closes the I-129F. This is from the U.S. state dept: http://travel.state....pes_2993.html#5

Important Notice: When both petitions have been approved by USCIS and sent to the NVC or when USCIS approves the I-130 before the I-129F, the availability of, as well as the need for, a nonimmigrant K-3 visa ends. If the NVC receives both an approved I-130 petition and an approved I-129F petition:

• The nonimmigrant K-3 visa case will be administratively closed.
  
• The application process explained below will not be available to the foreign-citizen spouse and cannot be used.
  
• The NVC will contact the U.S. citizen sponsor and foreign-citizen spouse, with instructions for processing the IR-1 (or CR-1) immigrant visa. For more information on the immigrant visa process, review the Immigrant Visa for a Spouse webpage.
  

2. As far as Fiance vs. Spouse visa, It depends on your situation what is the best route for you. K-1 (Fiancee visa) is definitely the quicker route to have someone in the U.S. by ~2-3 months since there is no real processing at NVC. However, the K-1 visa is more expensive in the long run by about $400. Also, the prospective spouse will not be able to work and in some cases not be able to drive until they get the green card after filing adjustment of status in the U.S, which can take another 4-6 months.

As some else posted above, VJ is definitely the place to go for this info. Whenever I post a link to that website here on TVF, the mods remove it. Apparently it violates some TOS rule here.

is that the website about da visa journey? yes this is a great site for fiance usa visa

"She was just talking about getting married in Thailand before applying (a cousin's suggestion). Just a wedding at the local amphur office I presume. Im not sure how that would be viewed by the US consulate. "

If applying for a Tourist Visa, being married is almost more difficult than just being a GF. Need even better reasons for returning to Thailand. The presumption might be that by getting a tourist visa, they just want to beat the regular IMMIGRANT visa processing paperwork and time by doing an Adjustment of Status after arrival in the U.S.

Not really a good idea, me thinks.

Mac

the dude did the amphur marry thing 6 months after meeting his hot wife. however the dude hangs in thailand and the wife showed this at her interview a few years ago b4 being awarded a 10 year tourist visa.

check Lonely Planet, they might know over there since no one seems to here. either that or round up other khao san people at airport - a printed sign perhaps - and share a taxi

If thai cops are so crooked then it seems to follow logic that 200 baht at the scene would be cheaper than paying higher up crooked cops at the station. the dude would pay and be on his merry way

OP's handle KaffeBurk......sounds like Kathy Burke....anyone know her, a comediene she has appeared on TV in the UK regularly, programmes like Ab Fab and Harry Enfield.

I am suspicious by nature, this thread is so weird I have to think it could be a troll post

couldn't agree more, there is evidence of this from the get go in details

Sounds like more than enough cash for that area dude even with your big family

the dude has bros who dig apple massively but the dude never dug em.

the dude recs getting an HP windows 7 puter - no experience with windows 8 but dont count it out. owned 5 HPs and delighted with all

the dude was always under the impression that cost of living in poor countries was less than the usa because exchange rates yield so much of said poor countries currency when a US clam is exchanged. The dude posed this to his guatemalan worker in the 90s. said worker told the dude that costs were the same in both countries. same could be said in general when comparing thai and pi the dude thinks. dig?

the education visa with extensions is an awesome option

The Dude advises that the dude in question throw himself at the mercy of the UK embassy. either that or the OP dude can take up a collection somewhere or provide his own funding as he is very concerned for his friend. Of course here in the forum so many posters post questions to help out their friends.

Nice to see so many friends asking questions for friends in this forum. I don't think a tourist visa would be easy but fiance visa worth a go says the dude.

He tolded you correctly. enter b4 that useby date and you grab 3 more months

Where is your wife from? this might explain everything

I should clarify. My hotel has quadrupled from 650/night to 2600 plus you tack on a 30% decline in exchange rate. scary stuff. Food, pretty much everything is double, cigs/beer same plus dollar devaluation. most other things doubled in the area so if you add the exchange burn you have a major price increase that approaches triple across the board. Rents are about double taking exchange into account so there's your best deal. Utilities not up so much, transport double with exchange. Not pretty and not getting better.