MauiSteveBKK

Quick Question: You say you want to "import from Europe" and sell the products

in Thailand on-line.

My pee-brain experience (and my wife tells me this) is that Thai people do NOT

like to buy products on-line (in Thailand), due to delivery and post office issues.

Assume My Wife Goes On-Line To Buy Your Product:

+ Web site in Thai?

+ Collect money on-line?

+ Delivery by courier or postman?

+ She have to pick-up at Post Office.

+ What about possible returns?

+ Is your product expirable? What is the "shelf life".

+ Many, many logistical things to consider. Think of them all!

I import from Thailand and sell on USA EBay and Amazon.

I can't imagine doing what you are thinking of doing.

Best of much luck to you.

I wish for your success.

H O B B Y !!

Take up photography, bike riding (carefully), swimming -- something outdoors.

+ Buy a FitBit - I walk 10,000 steps a day. Fun to watch Bracelet, monitor my heart rate, and keep fit.

+ Drink some non-alcoholic beverages. Margarita with no tequila.

+ Get off the computer and out of the house. Be ACTIVE!

+ Find Your Passion - Then You Will Find Your Purpose !!

I bring with me to Thailand:

+ My Thai Wife.

+ Blocks of Cheese

+ Bottles of Cheap Lotion - hand lotion. My wife brings 20 bottles.

+ Spices - packages of spices, Cajun spices - many different spices.

+ New shoes. Never buy in Thailand.

+ Properly fitted shirts.

+ Jeans.

+ Children's toys from Wal-Mart.

+ Kitchen/Cooking Utensils.

An appreciation for what will truly be a "simpler" way of life.

I subscribe to "International Living" magazine -- it's totally devoted to living in

foreign countries for USA people and how to make money in other countries.

The magazine and on-line edition often RAVE about Panama & Ecuador.

Here is a free review of living in Ecuador: https://signup.internationalliving.com/X120KJ04/ecuador/ecuador-living

Here is a link for a free review of living in Panama. https://signup.internationalliving.com/X120KQ04/panama/panama-living

+ If you need to get back to the USA quickly (possible consideration) SA is better.

+ Weather - no "heat" all the time - clean air.

+ Many cities & countries to explore from your "base" in either country.

+ Rio is a lot of fun.

+ Go for 3 months - or 6 months - and see what you think.

+ My experience - a "BIT" more English and more respect for USA men and women.

Good Luck with your decision.

Best wishes.

FYI ...

United Nations - Released Top 20 Countries To Live In - Human Development Index (HDI).

#1 = NORWAY

Thailand was not mentioned.

Come To Hawaii.

Big Island & Maui - not near as expensive as you think.

I'm Always Confused.

Why feel so compelled to BUY?

Just rent a nice place, travel (like others have said here), get a "feel"

for an area, visit other areas and rent.

The World Is Your Oyster!

You don't have to BUY to feel complete.

It truly is not a sin to rent.

I Often Come From Hawaii -- And Make The HUGE MISTAKE Of Thinking They

Would Like Something From Hawaii.

I've brought them towels, Hawaiian necklaces and bracelets, chocolate-covered Mac Nuts ..... many things.

I brought "Coach Bags" from Coach Factory Store. They laughed at me. I brought Jewelry from Super Jewelry.

They laughed even harder.

All of them -- friends and family --- just want:

- Very Nice Buffet

- Nice Envelope With THB.

Period.

Don't waste money on giving "Aussie Stuff" or even liquor.

Food & Money.

Period.

Easy.

+ Played around just a bit more before settling down with Thai Wife.

+ Secured job as "Female Interviewer" at Spanky's in Nana Plaza.

+ Certified all girls at "Naughty Girls" on Soi See, Sukhumvit.

+ Got that beautiful girl's number that crazy night @ Tawandang.

+ Found sooner the special "All-You-Can-Eat-Tacos" at Sunrise Tacos in Terminal 21.

+ Dated that rich woman longer in Chiang Mai.

+ Learned how to IMPORT BUD Lite into Thailand.

OK. Enough of my dribble.

I'm pretty happy!!

Mac,

YES! Good Point. Khob khun khrap

My Thai Wife came on a K1 Fiancee VISA. She has no children and we have no children together.

** If she was here on a Tourist VISA, it is a bit different. Their worries are about the "sincerity" of the relationship and that the marriage lasts.

** If we had a child together, they view this differently also. In the past, they may not even ask for an Interview to confirm the relationship. They believe the relationship is permanent because the couple had a child together.

But times are changing in the USA, and now there is a bit of a concern that the USA may be stuck with taking care of two mouths instead of just one.

As you know, rules & laws & regulations are changing almost monthly. Our Immigration Attorney had to fly back to Honolulu Oct. 27th for an "Immigration Update" where all Immigration Attorneys must attend a mandatory meeting for new laws and updates. The process is slower. A bit more intense.

Someday .... I will explain our K1 Fiancee VISA process in Thailand. Lord-oh-Lordie .... what an experience!

Best to you, Mac.

Aloha,

My Thai Wife and I arrived from Bangkok on March 15, 2015. We were married on April 26, 2015 on a beach here on Maui.

I hired an excellent Immigration Attorney (would recommend) and we started the "Change of Status" Process.

FYI: We submitted all paperwork to USA USCIS for Change of Status. I had to re-submit a tax return and a certified, original

Marriage License, so it delayed the process about 4 weeks. We flew to Honolulu in August for her biometrics.

The Green Card Process:

- Received a letter (shown below) that her Interview was about to be scheduled.

- Received a letter with her Interview Date set for October 22nd.

- The three of us went for her Immigration Interview on Oct. 22nd in Honolulu.

- I then checked her status and saw her case was being processed.

- Then saw where her "Green Card" Change of Status was being mailed. We should get it today or tomorrow.

You can follow the process and check on the status at any time, with your Receipt Number.

Here is the USCIS Link: https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do

Interview Suggestions:

+ As you might know, the word "Immigration" is the biggest word and issue with politicians in the USA. Everything is changing.

+ This is a very secure site, with tight security. Have your papers ready.

+ The Immigration Official is very no-nonsense. So be serious.

+ Try to keep your spouse from getting nervous. Phapassorn was so very nervous.

+ Number 1 thing: Have your act together. Have every document you need ready to produce and give to her.

+ When she asks for a birth certificate --- show her the Original and then give her a copy. She will compare and keep the copy.

+ Make sure the original Thai Birth Certificate is translated into English and also certified in red ink.

+ The last half of the 75 minutes was about our "relationship". She loved the pictures of me with her family.

+ She asked Phapassorn (Patricia) a lot of questions, and she made us look at each other on some personal questions.

+ Don't flinch.

Lastly, you will NOT get a stamp in her Thai passport. This is a change from what you see on all forums.

Also, she will not say her "recommendation" but our Official did wink at my Attorney. Our Attorney really helped us in the meeting,

and the Immigration Official knew her and liked her, as she has done this many times with other clients.

This is up-to-date information about the Green Card (Change of Status) USA USCIS process.

I hope this might help one couple in the near future and I sincerely wish each couple many years of happiness.

My best wishes,

Steve

TODAY -- Oct. 22nd - 8am.

We had our 1 hour Change of Status Interview off of a K1 Fiancee VISA. (Green Card)

Most of you are guessing, without much experience. If you have not been through the USA process

in the last six (6) months -- you're wrong about many things.

Our Officer told us that the "rules, regulations and laws are changing weekly". (EX. no stamp in her passport. No longer do this.)

Anyone that follows news on the USA knows that "Immigration" is the biggest topic in the news and a major political issue.

+ Everything must be done correctly. Exactly.

+ They are looking for reasons "not to admit you" instead of reasons "to admit you". Big difference. Understand this.

+ She advised us to be "exact" in our words. Any hesitation would create doubt in her mind.

+ She was no-nonsense, non-humorous, very thorough with every piece of evidence.

+ She wanted "to be assured" of our relationship and marriage.

+ She had many, many relationship questions, and we were unable to look at each other.

+ She was insistent that Patricia be able to speak English, understand English, and that we can converse.

+ She asked about the "possibility" of a child. She said the K-3 VISA would be necessary if we had a child. She was

emphatic about this.

If you went through this process one year ago -- your comments are worthless.

I just brought my Thai wife to the USA on a K-1 VISA.

+ Tourist & Education VISAS are difficult to get and are big "red flags" here in the USA.

+ We were repeatedly warned (and saw thousand times on Internet) NOT to try a Tourist Visa. If they find out she is in a "relationship" she is sent back and can never enter the USA.

+ The K-3 VISA is specifically set-up for your situation.

- I am sorry for your situation.

- You did not do much research on this topic, and tried to do something with the wrong VISA.

- Sounds like to me, the USA Dept. of Homeland Security has been very lenient with you and your wife.

I wish you the best.

Thai people have no "social manners" compared to USA and other EU countries.

This is the single, hardest thing for me to learn and understand.

Now on Maui with my Thai wife of 4 months via a K1 VISA, I have had to teach her to be social.

I've taught her to say:

Please

Thank You.

Nice to meet you.

Nice to see you again.

How are you today?

Have a nice day.

Shake hands

Hug close friends.

ETC.

Virtually everything.

We spend months in Thailand, and I've slowly taught her family to be more "social".

Hug. Say "Hello".

It does not come natural to Thai.

I believe.

Lower your Expectation Bar.

Teach them to be social to some of your standards.

Enjoy Thai social standards and stay inside.

Enjoy Thailand.

We had to get one for my Thai Fiancee' for her K1 Fiancee' VISA (USA) and the USA Embassy.

Easy to get.

Did this in February of this year. Seems we paid a bit more to "expedite" the process, but

I was later told I did not need to do this.

Make sure you make a copy of it quickly. We almost lost ours.

We are now on Maui, Hawaii and the K1 Fiancee' VISA process was long & exhausting. I hope whatever

you want the document for, it's much easier for you.

Best wishes,

Steve

Blessings and Best Wishes to You!!

May God continue to comfort you and guide you in the future.

Remember her each moment ... and treasure her dearly.

She will be with you now .. each step of your remaining life.

I prefer Thailand far more than USA.

My Thai wife and I are back on Maui for a few months, yet I miss

my wife's family in Tha Bo (Nong Khai) as they love me and treat me with

respect.

Bless you always.

steve

Something is seriously wrong here.

Please .... take your time and then change some things.

My Thai Wife (now 2 months in USA with me):

- Owns her condo in BKK, has stock investments, gold mak mak, many investments.

- We paid for our own wedding.

- I gave her parents 100,000 BAHT as an "honor" and out of respect. They wanted to give it back. I refused.

- Her family is horribly poor, but they don't want my money.

Somewhere .... things got "skewed" a bit.

Perhaps, setting the "Expectation Bar" a bit too high.

+ Thai cooks "cross contaminate" all the time.

+ Thai use their hands too much. Wipe on pants. Use hands again.

+ No cleaning wok. I can often taste the previous dish in my dish.

SERVICE !

My Thai Wife has now been in the USA for 1 month. She Loves:

+ Everything comes out of the kitchen at one time.

+ Server brings water to everyone.

+ Refills are constant throughout the meal.

+ The Server actually "care" about your dining experience.

best wishes.

My FAV Places To Hang:

+ Strikers on Soi 4.

+ Outside bar at El Gaucho (Soi 17-20 or so)

+ Saxophone next to Victory Monument

+ Tawandang -- certainly for a great night of live music, comedy, and towers of beer.

+ Drink at Sheraton riverfront.

+ Spanky's at Nana Plaza. Watch the Germans & Russians get crazy.

+ There's several "sports bars" along Sukhumvit Road on the "Odd Side" of the road.

+ Charlie Brown Mexican food at Soi 11 or Soi 13. In courtyard.

+ Outside - food and drink -- Landmark. Sukhumvit Road about Soi 12 - 16 or so.

That's all I got.

Best wishes.

My Thoughts:

* Like you, she is young. Immature. Possibly confused.

* You do have some "issues" to work through. It may take time.

* Maintain a relationship - but a bit more at "arm's length" and not so attached to her.

* Date 5 other Thai women. You need more "perspective" and experience.

* I believe in this slogan: "More Will Be Revealed". Give it more time.

* Do not rush to LOVE and JUDGEMENT. Withhold some of your love and more of your "Judging".

* Give her some space and time. Make her miss you and "crave" you.

* I do believe young people -- young Thai women -- can change. Absolutely. It takes patience, understanding, education.

* Understanding her background and "priorities" will help you to make decisions. What is important to her may not be important to you.

That's all I got for you.

Best wishes and thanks for posting.

Cuba.

I always read the questions -- and am confused.

Then I read the answers to the question by the OP -- and I am more confused than when I started.

Thank you for your message .... and all the messages.

YES. We will live on Maui. It is too cheap to live here compared to the Mainland USA.

I lived in Dallas, Texas for 35 years and am tired of paying property taxes, etc.

I have a HUGE 1-bedroom condo on the beach that I pay $1,000 a month, everything included.

Las Vegas is too hot.

Maui is 57% Asian.

White people are 7%

Patricia is very very comfortable here.

Maui Memorial Medical hospital is world-class -- but on the other side of the island.

If you need emergency help ... it's a 30-minute high-speed ambulance drive.

Oahu has excellent medical care and facilities.

Many high-end medical specialists retire from the military and stay on Oahu at the excellent hospitals.

I plan to take Patricia to Las Vegas when we get her travel documents.

Best wishes.

Over Sensitive.

Just talk to her.

But to me ....me only ... I find ALL THAI not very considerate or mannered.

They never say "Thank you" .... Ga Ruu Naa ...(Please) ... "Excuse Me".... or such as

"Nice to meet you."

I used to think it is rude.

Now I just thank everyone .... everyone ... just thinks of themselves.

But saying that ... when my Wife asks me for breakfast, I just stand there.

She will quickly say "PLEASE, Sweetheart."

Then she gets breakfast.

You can change behavior.

With money and food. You can change behavior.

She has with you.

Best wishes and Good Luck.