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11 hours ago, GinBoy2 said:

I had a similar great experience when I filed for a CR-1 in Bangkok in 2017. 100 days start to finish and my wife entered with a 2 year green card, fantastic job I thought.

 

The problem however,that the rest of the 'legal' immigration system has ground to a halt. 

Now there is another thread going about this, so I know I'm not alone, and I have a friend experiencing exactly this issue.

 

So in about 9 months we will be applying to remove conditional residency and get a 10 year, ie filing an I-751

 

This used to take about 3 months, the window within which you are told to apply.

 

Sat on my patio yesterday while our wives were scoffing somtam, he told me, she has been carrying around the letter from USCIS which temporarily extends her residency for 18 months, since they are backlogged.

When I checked on the website its got even longer, which makes travel a pain the ass, work, you name it

I am dealing with the same thing.  got the letter stating that wife is now given 18 months due to backlog. We are going back to Thailand in about 6 months and I am under the assumption that she will be able to come back to USA even if the new card is not here by carrying the letter will with us will show that she is legal as everything is computerized an. Hope I'm right. Anyone know for sure?

Thanks for sharing your story and photos! I really enjoyed the scenery. Through your sharing I am able to see things I may never see any other way.

3 hours ago, csabo said:

She picked me off of Thai Friendly. She said she liked my eyes. I have logged into her account with her. She would get hundreds of messages a day but much preferred to pick her own guy rather than be picked. The first time she messaged me I was having car trouble and was focused on it so did not reply immediately. She sent another message telling me to hurry up or she was moving on. I laughed but then did Skype her later that day. That was four years ago, we've been together ever since.  Best woman I've ever know. If she walked out on me today I would thank her profusely for our time together. 

Similar story for me, But it was Farangdate.com I messaged her first, she messaged back very quickly and had about a hundred other men message her but ignored them after we started skyping. Deleted her account shortly after.  she said she liked my eyes too, could see I "had a good heart". We've been married now for 2 years and she never asks for money, gave up her life to come to America with me. We plan to retire to Thailand in about 5 years. She's the best thing that ever happened to me.

My Thai wife is 46, 10 years younger than me and the most honest and trust worthy woman I ever met. She told right from the beginning that she doesn't want my money, only my heart. And has been proving it ever since, she will sometimes borrow from me and always pays me back unless I tell her not to worry about all of it. She takes good care of me and we have mutual respect and love for each other. I'd never go for another western woman, she is the best thing to ever happen to me.

 Were you married in Thailand or somewhere else? I married my Thai wife in the USA and we have not been back to Thailand yet, but next trip back we will change her ID card and passport. I know we have to have the marriage license translated, but I think that is all. Anything I am missing or any information you can supply will be appreciated

westernunion, although not the best exchange rate, charges 4.99 dollars for a 4 day transfer. More for a next day. if not in a big rush or plan ahead I don't think that's too awful.

no smart a$$ or negative comments from me, I'll just say I'm 57 and don't have enough to retire here in USA (probably never will) but will have enough to retire in Thailand with my lovely Thai wife

I am facing the same dilemma. Also found out that her passport name can only be changed in Thailand. We want to go back next summer, so I'll  be following this post. I was thinking of calling the airline and see if they can do the boarding passes in one last name for the one flight and the other name for the return flight. Or hope they give back the old passport when it is changed and she could use her old one with maiden name for this trip. But If I buy the ticket in her maiden name and she doesn't get her old passport back we'd be screwed. Never thought of the buying 2 one way tickets, but I know that would be the last option as of the extra expense.

K-1 visa is about easiest and fastest I think if you are planning to get married. But as someone mentioned immigration is getting tougher in USA so might not be so easy anymore. I went through it to get my GF  (now wife) here. I used a company called Rapidvisa in Colorado. They were very helpful. They can not do any more than you can do yourself, and have no influence with immigration to "guarantee" success, but they do have the experience that I lacked, so was worth it to me. It is a very difficult process requiring many hoops to be jumped through. If you mentally break it down to small steps and take one step at a time it won't be so overwhelming. I almost gave up but am not glad that I persevered. Good luck on whatever route you choose.

9 hours ago, dentonian said:

You can't change the name on a passport, only obtain a new Passport.

New York is a Consulate but may have a mobile unit to take her biometrics, otherwise contact the Embassy in DC for further information on obtaining a new passport due to marriage.

http://thaiembdc.org/thailand-e-passport-ไทย-english/

 

 

Thanks for the info

I have a similar question, sorry if this is not the right place to post. But I brought my Thai girlfriend to USA and we got married in USA. Now we want to get the name changed on her passport. I'm told we can to go to the Thai embassy in New York City to have it changed. Anyone know if this is true. Would be a slight problem to go  Thailand to do it as the name on passport would not match the name on plane ticket one half of the trip. 

  Thanks

I will be faced with the same thing in a few years. I married a Thai lady, she is here in USA with me now, planning Thailand retirement, etc. I have become a minimalist over the last few years, don't need many material things. But I have a hobby of building model cars, and don't think there is the availability of the kits and detail supplies in Thailand, so I'll bring the collection of that stuff, and photos but that is probably about it. Won't need a big container, maybe a few UPS or Fedex packages. 

That happens everywhere I'm sure. I'm in America and people do it all the time. I follow the rules but a lot of people do not, Thai, American, who ever. There are good and bad people in all countries.

On 10/31/2016 at 10:45 AM, Andrew C said:

They are definitely traditional.

Where did you meet your now wife?

not ashamed to admit, it was farangdate.com 

What about the way they take care of their man. My wife (Thai) cuts my nails, cuts my hair, gives me massage, cooks Thai food for me, etc. 

I did the fiance visa for my Thai girlfriend (now wife) to come to USA. I used a company called rapidvisa. And although you could do it yourself, I did not have the confidence, The process was a little difficult because of all the documentation you need, but I am happy that I did it. Don't think I could have found a better wife.  She now has a green card and we are hoping to retire to Thailand in about 5 or 6 years

My Thai wife is soft spoken. She never raises her voice to me or anyone else. But hes she does have different tones. But none are ever telling in anger, She does not really get angry.

I'm sure this might have been covered but I can not find it. My Thai girlfriend was told by someone who got a K1 fiancée visa that she would have to know me for 2 years before she could get a visa. I told her that she is mistaken but I was hoping someone could verify for me. I think the rule is that you must have met in person within the last 2 years, not that you had to have been seeing each other for 2 years. Can someone please let me know so I can put her mind at ease. She thinks it would be best too if we have photos of us together, any thoughts on that?

Sorry if this stuff has been covered, but I am brand new at this and am very confused and overwhelmed with everything that must be done just to get her to the USA. I'm sure I will have many more questions.

You only have to have met in person within the last 2 years. You don't have to be together for 2 years. Pictures are very important at the embassy in Bangkok they seem to weigh that as the best evidence, but not the only evidence, if you don't have pictures together it could be tough to prove you are in a bona-fide relationship. Visajourney is a more up to date source of information on the process than this website. You can get some good advice here, but visajourney is more specific to US immigration.

thanks, That is what I thought too, that you must have been together within the last two years. I thought that she was misinformed. I am going to go back for another visit in the spring, so we can have pictures of us together before we try for the visa. I believe that I must start the process here in the USA first, is that correct? From what I researched I have to do the application here and if it is approved then she has to get documents and have an interview, correct? Thanks for any help! I am hoping to get her over here by the end of the year. Do you think that is realistic?

I'm sure this might have been covered but I can not find it. My Thai girlfriend was told by someone who got a K1 fiancée visa that she would have to know me for 2 years before she could get a visa. I told her that she is mistaken but I was hoping someone could verify for me. I think the rule is that you must have met in person within the last 2 years, not that you had to have been seeing each other for 2 years. Can someone please let me know so I can put her mind at ease. She thinks it would be best too if we have photos of us together, any thoughts on that?

Sorry if this stuff has been covered, but I am brand new at this and am very confused and overwhelmed with everything that must be done just to get her to the USA. I'm sure I will have many more questions.