terrymor66

Yeah , felt a good ol' banger out here in Sansai ! Could hear it coming first like thunder ! Maybe I am part dog ! lol

Yeah I followed it......came up with Squirrel Gripper

I hope that's not like a chicken choker !

Thank you both Jackson and Lopburi. I think I will try your way first Jackson. What's the worst that could happen ? they will tell us that she has to go over to the other line. So we wait a little longer.............Not in a huge hurry to get anywhere anyhow !

Thanks guys

Have to agree with Aussie....More details please

For my experience...getting Thai wife a Visa to the US...she went into the embassy in Chiang Mai for the interview and they told her 2 - 4 days. 2 days later we had the 10 year multiple entry visa

Myself ( American ) and my Thai wife are headed to the US in a couple days. My question is when we get to immigration, are we allowed to go thru together OR do I have to go thru the US Citizen line and her thru the foriegner line ? Since her english isn't the greatest,passable but not great, I would think it would be easiest if we both went thru together ? Anyone out there had this experience they could share with me ?

Thanks in advance

I only ate at Zorba's 1 time and the next day I was puking out both ends ! I know it is possible that it was something else I ate, but I am fairly positive that was where it came from. Never went back......and now it looks like I never will !

My thai wife and I are headed to the US next week and she is trying to figure out what she is going to do without a handy-dandy sprayer or a bowl scoop ! I told her to just use the TP and flush it down the toilet. She having a difficult time getting her head around that idea !

Ahhhh...beautiful thing to wake up this morning and it is still raining. At least out in the Sansai area, don't know about the rest of town.

Do you mind if I ask, in what way are you married in Thailand?

I was suprised recently when I went to the consulate and picked up all of the "handout" papers they have prepared that sit on shelves against the wall. One was about marriage in Thailand and it says that the normal marriage, registering with the government or whatever it is called, is NOT recognized by the US. I have been thinking about getting married to solve my visa problems but am worried as I have a lot to lose and Thai law doesn't seem to protect me in any reasonable way.

So, I am wondering, if based on this same type of marriage(not recognized by the US), you could get a visa for your spouse? The paper did not say what way you need to be married although. Maybe it is just that you need to have a religious ceremony on top of registering?

I would not want to go live with my potential spouse in the US, only wonder about a visa to visit. Thanks.

The typical Buddist wedding ceremony is not recognized as a legal marriage by the US and it will not get you the visa as such. For the legal marriage you need to follow that paper you were reading, which involves a few relatively simple things. We took care of those things, then we went to the Amphur.....a lady went thru the papers, took them to another lady, she called us back, asked my wife a few things in Thai, gave the papers back to us, we went back to the first lady paid her some money and my wife said " ok we're finished, let's go home" No I do's, nothing, I didn't even say one word, we were just married LOL. That paper though is your legal marriage certificate and recognized by the US as such.

As for having a lot to lose.....Just make sure she is the right one.....I know that's 64,000 baht question.... But if you have alot you could lose, have a pre-nup written up here by a Thai lawyer........and not one that the future wife recommends

One other thing as a possibility to consider is the fiance visa. She can get at least one trip over there ( for 90 days I believe ) and you aren't obligated to marry her either.

oh yeah...the original question...I am married both ways here, the buddist ceremony and the legal Thai way

Do you mind if I ask, in what way are you married in Thailand?

I was suprised recently when I went to the consulate and picked up all of the "handout" papers they have prepared that sit on shelves against the wall. One was about marriage in Thailand and it says that the normal marriage, registering with the government or whatever it is called, is NOT recognized by the US. I have been thinking about getting married to solve my visa problems but am worried as I have a lot to lose and Thai law doesn't seem to protect me in any reasonable way.

So, I am wondering, if based on this same type of marriage(not recognized by the US), you could get a visa for your spouse? The paper did not say what way you need to be married although. Maybe it is just that you need to have a religious ceremony on top of registering?

I would not want to go live with my potential spouse in the US, only wonder about a visa to visit. Thanks.

The typical Buddist wedding ceremony is not recognized as a legal marriage by the US and it will not get you the visa as such. For the legal marriage you need to follow that paper you were reading, which involves a few relatively simple things. We took care of those things, then we went to the Amphur.....a lady went thru the papers, took them to another lady, she called us back, asked my wife a few things in Thai, gave the papers back to us, we went back to the first lady paid her some money and my wife said " ok we're finished, let's go home" No I do's, nothing, I didn't even say one word, we were just married LOL. That paper though is your legal marriage certificate and recognized by the US as such.

As for having a lot to lose.....Just make sure she is the right one.....I know that's 64,000 baht question.... But if you have alot you could lose, have a pre-nup written up here by a Thai lawyer........and not one that the future wife recommends

One other thing as a possibility to consider is the fiance visa. She can get at least one trip over there ( for 90 days I believe ) and you aren't obligated to marry her either.

I am flying to the US next week for a month. As much as I would like to fly to BKK my wife is insisting that we take the VIP bus instead....we are visiting friends in BKK also both on the way out and on the way back. We are flying on NWA from BKK to Tokyo to Portland Oregon. 1125 USD each R/T. I figure the price isn't bad considering there aren't too many flights into Portland from here.

Given the cost of a VIP bus, flying seems a good option. We are also leaving in just over a week and Air Asia's 399 baht flight to BKK totals only 1062B. I don't mind paying the little extra price to avoid 8-10 hrs on a bus and we booked/paid right online...

Don't forget to add in excess baggage weight...last time I flew out of Chiang Mai to BKK on Air Asia I had to pay 771 baht for the exra weight of only one suitcase. you are only allowed either 13 or 15 kilo per bag.

Normally we do fly it, but since the wife does INSIST on the bus...It just gives me another good excuse for one more good massage in Bkk once we get there !

And no police checks here either. Although I am sure they ran a criminal check against her passport number somewhere during the process. But nothing we had to provide. They will make her do fingerprints at the interview also.

I am flying to the US next week for a month. As much as I would like to fly to BKK my wife is insisting that we take the VIP bus instead....we are visiting friends in BKK also both on the way out and on the way back. We are flying on NWA from BKK to Tokyo to Portland Oregon. 1125 USD each R/T. I figure the price isn't bad considering there aren't too many flights into Portland from here.

I assume you are US resident, your wife is Thai, and you were at the US consulate to get her a US entry visa.

Regards,

McG

My bad, Yes I am a US citizen and my wife is Thai, and I have a non - immigrant O visa, and yes we went to the Chiang Mai Consulate.

Well we went down to the Chiang Mai office for our scheduled 10 AM appointment ( arrived at 9:30 as per instructions ) and aside from taking 5 hours.......It went pretty smooth. I was worried about a few things, namely, she doesn't work, I don't work (and am not retired-only 40 ) and she did not have her property papers with her. We took a ton of things with us...pictures, truck and motorcycle registrations, lease and so on. The guy didn't really want to see any of those things. He wanted her passport, my passport, our bank account and then my bank account in the US. At 12:30 he went to lunch and we had to come back at 1:30..At that time I went to an internet place and picked up a internet bank statement. And the whole time I had to wait outside the embassy as ONLY the interviewee is allowed in.

This was on Wed. the 18th.....today, the 20th we got her Visa back in the mail. A ten year multiple entry visa..sweet

Now she can go any time over the next 10 years with me and can stay 6 months out of a calendar year. Not that I will be going back that often, but I suppose it is "nifty" to have.

Just thought I would share

no funny business.........unless you ask !

Just a note for anyone who likes Buonissimo ( sp?) out on Chiang Mai - Maejo Rd. I stopped in there tonight, more out of convienience since I live in Sansai. And I noticed they have some signs posted that they are moving after Songkran ( I believe the date was the 18th ) It is moving over near the waterfront near the North Tesco. Sorry for not having better directions, but I am terrible with that and road names. I have only been there twice now and had the Lasagna both times and enjoyed it both times.

God , down at Thapae Gate tonight, you couldn't hardly open your mouth without some of them flying in !! C'mon Rain !

Wow ! They have really got some rocket scientist working overtime down at City Hall eh ? Maybe if all the residents in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai jumped up and down in unison we could bounce the haze out !

If you head out towards Tesco Lotus (not the Hang Dong one) and unfortunately I am terrible at remembering street names, but follow the street that heads out to Tesco around the moat. Before you get to tesco you will find a whole slew of sales places. I almost bought a Vigo out there, but decided on a new 07 Mitsubishi instead, that was still cheaper than the used Vigos. If you want any info on that PM me, I can highly recommend the salesperson we had and the after sales treatment has been great too.

so try a Big Mango Burger in Nana Plaza if it is convienient. They are my favorite!

Have to agree, the Big mango does serve a great burger, and considering it is in Nana Plaza, it is still a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy the food in

I sent you a PM with an offer.

When I bought my new truck, I was informed by the dealer that for driving around Chiang Mai, no problem with just using my US license. They highly suggested however that I get a Thai license if I plan on driving out of the city...say to the northeast or down to the south, whatever. They say that my US license would suffice if needed, however a Thai license would just make things simpler at the police check points or whatever. I did my research here on the forum and it sounds like a relatively painless . Its just a matter of getting my procrasting ass down there and doing it

Sorry to hear about your loss.

I found this story to be of interest as it relates to burglaries

I have eaten at O'Malleys twice in the last week....simple morning fare, a breakfast sandwich one day and the omlette the next. Both were good and I also had good service. I will be returning again.

But as I read thru this thread I don't think this is the right place to post this ! Everything seems pretty far off topic now !

and about the time that I think this thread is finally dead it suddenly springs to life again ! :D