La Migra

On 11/13/2019 at 4:05 AM, GinBoy2 said:

I 'think' once western immigration see's that the Thai national is resident overseas in a western country, a lot of those negative assumptions that cloud the issue for a Thai woman living in Thailand, kinda get kicked into the long grass.

GinBoy is correct - some of it will depend on length of stay in UK and travel to other countries. But the US allows UK citizens come in on visa waiver because of the assumption they will return to the UK.... and that assumption extends to long term lawful residents of the UK.

Or this one.... seems to be the one most are referring to in the the discussions on the issue.

14 minutes ago, Mango Bob said:

Even with Tricare being a better health insurance and excess what the dirty dozen insurance companies here offer.  Tricare will not say that their policies has a 400,000/40,000 policy.  Just like many U.S. Insurance companies will not sign the form for insurance.

If one person asks they (Tricare) will likely refuse because it falls outside their normal operations ..... if 1000 or 10000 people contact Tricare with the same question - they will likely look into what is going on....and since their coverage meets the requirements - they will (ok, "might") start issuing the letter/certificate. Strength in numbers, squeaky wheel...

8 hours ago, ChakaKhan said:

Snitches get stitches..

If the tip-line has rewards for reporting..... snitches get riches!

16 hours ago, Kokila said:

....my wallet is smaller than my heart....

I know the feeling.  Remember giving your time is as important as your money.  

I am US, so evaluate transparency using "Charity Navigator", however, not too much directly on Thailand there.  But you can find some that support charities in Thailand - so that will help identify worthwhile causes in country, in addition to the ones mentioned by members here.

I would also suggest giving where you will visit, so you can see the impact of your generosity.  I donate to the Jesuits work up in Chiang Mai.

This is probably obvious, but for the VA, the 10-10EZ instructions list _{...Section V - Previous Calendar Year Gross Annual Income of Veteran, Spouse and Dependent Children.Report:}

_{•Gross annual income from employment, except for income from your farm, ranch, property or business. Include your wages, bonuses, tips, severance pay and other accrued benefits and your child's income information if it could have been used to pay your household expenses.}

_{•Net income from your farm, ranch, property, or business.}

_{•Other income amounts, including retirement and pension income, Social Security Retirement and Social Security Disability income, compensation benefits such as VA disability, unemployment, Workers and black lung, cash gifts, interest and dividends, including tax exempt earnings and distributions from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) or annuities.}

If you are controlling the distributions from you IRAs and regular brokerage - and don't have employment income, it would seem to me you could make your under $47K target. 

Like others have suggested - I think the most likely culprit is the tap water.  It seems you travel while in Thailand.  Do you tend to repeat places you stay at? Same cities, hotels, etc? The water treatment and filtration systems vary by location and, if she can make it 'go away' after a LONG 30 days - and stay in Thailand after that .....it might be the water in a specific location that causes the inflammation.

On 11/10/2019 at 6:22 PM, Pravda said:

Having just received my brand spankin' new passport in the mail....

Glad you got it all sorted out. 

Did you have to get the new Drivers License, or did you find alternative 2nd ID? 

3 hours ago, lkv said:

So Sheryl, if someone mentioned seeing two people doing that, it must be true, right?.... I have looked on the websites of some of these companies, I don't see how they can be purchased online on the spot.

I believe the larger point was: Don't purchase insurance on the spot at the airport.  If faced with the dilemma of a 30 day permission to stay or buying insurance while in immigration : take the 30 day stamp and sort it out.

Also, I agree, I don't see how to purchase in such short order - unless these companies have "operators standing by...." 24/7 . If you can just 'apply', and get a year stamp while waiting for approval ..... that sounds like a loophole Thai Immigration will close quickly. " post excogitato"

23 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

44 minutes ago, La Migra said:

Question for all: Have their been reports of anyone actually signing up/buying the insurance at the airport/port of entry?

Yes, someone mentioned seeing 2 people do that. ...Which means they got what I frankly would regard as virtually worthless policies. Any policy you can buy  on the spot has not been reviewed by underwriters.

Thank you, that is what I was thinking, that any policy you could get instantly via your phone standing in secondary at the airport would be worthless...... if you could get it at all.

23 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

...seeing 2 people do that.

But no first hand reports?

Question for all: Have their been reports of anyone actually signing up/buying the insurance at the airport/port of entry?

I have read of those given a choice of 30 day visa exempt entry or buy - but no one opting to buy. (Plus the original post being given the option then being stamped in for 12 months).

So again, any reports of someone signing up/buying insurance at the airport?

27 minutes ago, zhorik said:

I realize that in the USA they lock up mentally ill people rather than treat them but  civilized countries  have more compassion.

Actually in the US we don't lock them up, we just let them sleep in parks, live on the streets and fill up homeless shelters. 

13 minutes ago, mauGR1 said:

...there are some fb posts of his, in this thread, no doubt he has mental issues,

Yes, his posts claim he is being watched 24-7, 365, by the CIA. Which is silly, it is the NSA which is tracking him and who put the chip in his brain.

9 hours ago, gk10002000 said:

Now in lieu of pure Medicare, there are some Medigap polices available that would provide emergency coverage overseas, but from what I read, in general the conditions are quite strict.

3 hours ago, Sheryl said:

As I understand it there are residency requirements for Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans. You need to permanently reside not only in the US but in a specific state.

Yes, those plans are specifically designed for traveling - not staying long-term outside the US. 

Lots of complaints about Thai Consulates and Immigration not accepting foreign insurance coverage and specifically "TRICARE" for US military vets and dependents.   But no actual reports of someone trying to use TRICARE to qualify for this insurance requirement, and no reports of TRICARE being asked to provide the certification letter - just speculation that it will not be accepted.

Also, while requesting the US embassy to intervene on behalf of this issue is a good path - and it appears US State Dept is already doing so ..... might I suggest that if you have TRICARE coverage - you start contacting TRICARE directly to see if they will supply the required certification.

When a company which provides insurance coverage in a country sees that there is a new requirement - they generally don't just abandon the business... their legal department jumps to work, and they satisfy the need.

10 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

Embassy/consulate will issue you an OA Visa valid for 1 year from date of issue (or to the end date of the foreign insurance policy if that happens to expire more early).

Although we haven't had report of it yet, the implementation order mentions the consulate writing down the date to which the health insurance is valid, on the visa.  That date wouldn't change on subsequent entries.

If the health insurance date they write is Oct 1, 2020 - I think you will only be admitted until that date - no matter when you enter. Unless you show you have purchased one of the listed policies, or convince immigration with a new signed and certified letter of qualifying outside insurance coverage.

Swiss "Alien" arrested on 1,539 day overstay.....

Poor guy, now he has to go back to that h3llh@le of Switzerland ‘We’ve got snow!’ Switzerland reminds Thais

41 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

I emailed them accordingly and received an interesting response I reported on elsewhere.

Which thread?

@Elkski All the questions you are asking here, about income, about text messaging, proving the relationship.... that is why many people hire an attorney. They do this for a living, and would know the answers to these, and other questions USCIS and State will ask.  But it is not required, you can do it yourself, plus there are now online companies which will walk you through the process. 

So cost-wise, cheapest to do it yourself, then online companies, lastly the most expensive option would be attorney.

If only Detroit had the same vision as the Swiss. "sigh" another opportunity lost....

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Probably due to your IP address being blocked by the SSA site.

So many criminals trying to access the site, they keep increasing security, which is good. This includes blocking IP addresses from which those attempts come from, and sometime just blanket blocks. Also, some ".gov" sites don't like firefox, or safari browsers. VPN is a good idea now, but again, as added security - some sites are now blocking if they sense a VPN.

2 hours ago, jpeezy said:

To be honest, and not to offend anyone here, but a lot of it sounds to me like the grumpy get off my lawn type complaints, if that makes sense.

Kinda agree......20 years ago EVERYTHING was better - because I was 20 years younger. That goes for Thailand, the US, Europe, long flights, delays, bureaucratic hassles, and girls (who were prettier and found me more handsome).  

Plus I think inflation and the currency exchange rate, has hit people more than they want to admit. If I don't want to talk about my financial struggles, I find other things to blame, such as added immigration rules.  

3 hours ago, taxout said:

There is really no doubt here. If a Thai citizen flies ... with any ... form of stop in the US, a US visa is required, no matter how short the period in the US.

Yes - they will require a Transit Visa. "C"   Apply at embassy. 

"A foreign citizen traveling to another country who will have a brief layover in the United States when the only reason for entering the United States is to transit."

Unless they have been rejected for B visas (visitor) to the US, generally not an issue.

1 hour ago, taxout said:

The OP has also asked about applying for a tourist visa with a US citizen child. .....

I want to apologize to the OP for not re-reading .....

So having a (USC) kid together helps the I-130 petition, but would probably hurt a straight up tourist visa - much of that approval depends on YOUR ties to Thailand and returning here after visiting the US to show off the baby.     As mentioned in some of the longer earlier posts, file for the CR-1, to immigrate, then apply either K-3 or tourist visa.