Stonecutter35777

Whoops, sorry about not being clear. I am an American and in the USA. I read the "Visa Agents" thread before I posted but the comment by DirectorIntegrityLegal that "USCIS is quite clear on this and there are memos which categorically state that even telling a client which form that they should use constitutes 'consultation,'and therefore the unlicensed practice of US Immigration law." seems quite rediculous........ but believable with the over-regulation in my country. It never ceases to amaze me.

I bought a book to learn much of what I know about K-1 visas and the subsequent adjustment of status. That book was not the member of a bar association, it's just a book. It told me what forms to fill out. I have been able to find things in the Justice Department website stating that only an attorney may intervene on the behalf of an immigrant or represent an immigrant in court proceedings. But nothing about being a resource for someone trying to get a complicated K-1 package together. Maybe I'm not doing a very good job of conveying our amount of involvement in the process. Yes we will tell people which forms to fill out and give tips on what kind of personal "prove your relationship" information is beneficial, we will also organize their visa journey into a logical timeline. But we will not fill out the forms for them, pay any visa fees, nobody will sign anything like a contract, no promises made or implied, and of course we would not pretend to be some government agent. Basically we would clear things up enough for someone to be able to do it themselves. I would be most thankful if DirectorIntegrityLegal could send me a link to some of those memos he referenced. I dont want to break the law but I also dont want to let a good idea pass me by. Something official in black and white would be GREAT! Thanks guys!

Hello all,

My wife and I have been answering a lot of visa "how-to's" for friends dealing with getting K1 visas and visitor visas through in the US. We have gotten my wife (back when she was my girlfriend) two visitor visas to the UK (I was stationed there), one visitor visa to the US, the K-1 fiance visa, and the subsequent adjustment of status. We did all of it 100% by ourselves and we have a pretty good working knowledge of those particular visa paths.

I am aware that giving friends advice and helping total strangers for a fee are two different things. But we really know the process for the very specific visas we worked for. So we were thinking of getting a webpage and setting up a super small time business of helping people get their head around the requirements for any of those visas and walking them through the process for a fee, nothing extravagent, just a little part time thing. We would not be representing them in any sort of proceedings and would not be "full service". We would not pay their visa fees and we would not submit their application for them. We would just literally walk them through the process in the correct timeline and answer any questions they had about forms and whatnot. I know that to actually represent an immigrant in court or in any official capacity would require either myself or someone else in this little tiny business to be a lawyer. But since we would most definitely not be doing that........are there any legal issues with us simply providing advice and experience to get them up to the point that they submit the application themselves? All we'd be doing is clearing up the bewildering fog of paperwork in bite sized pieces and on a timeline. Thanks everybody.

Thanks everyone. I appreciate it!

dec,

I'm wondering the same thing. I should be hearing from the USCIS any day now for a fiance visa (expedited) and I am curious if the US embassy is in an area that looks to flood. I have been reading some conflicting reports, some saying all of Bangkok will be flooded to some extent in the coming days/week (which would halt embassy operations). Others say that it will only be the city periphary. So.....anyone know if that area looks to be in the danger zone for the week or so ahead? Thanks for the information guys.

Wow, I can't believe how many people out there would get all bent out of shape from someone just using the restroom! I know if "nature called" and I was getting shaken down for money by some bar owner or something I would probably never come back. I have only had this actually happen to me twice. Both times it was at gas stations in my home state (sad to say). One time they said I had to buy something first so I bought a large fountain soda next to the counter and threw it away right in front of them. I know how much they love taking out a leaking garbage bag. Another time I was refused even though I DID buy something. But that was because I am white, not black......a totally different situation I guess actually.

I realise that most of you guys are just taking the pi*s.

But Thailand/Thais have never come up with an invention of any merit (and if your talking of Tom Yum yer just talking sh*t)

There is/has never been a Thai who could even comprehend the thinking of people like Rutherford, Whittle, Stevenson, Bell, Erickson, Marconi, Michaelangelo, the list is endless.

With all due respect to the thinkers of the realm "they just don't / can't cut it with anyone of any note.

AND they never will until they teach people how to think of how to find the answers rather than show them the formula's and how to find the answers. (2+2 = 4 but why)

Ready to eat your hat? http://news.bbc.co.u...tech/768672.stm

Ouch! That's cutting it a bit close. When we did it earlier this year it took my girlfriend two tries and she got it the second time. First attempt took about a month and then it was rejected, second time it only took about 10 days and she was accepted. So I hope you can make it on time. If not, no worries because the standard visit visa is for 6 months anyways, not just the one month you are asking for. If she busts the 28th of August then it will just be issued starting from the date it is granted. Hope I helped!

The only reason I am confident she can get a visitor visa is because she has already been to the USA on one of those work/study visa types when she was in university (before I knew her). She lived in Biloxi, Mississippi for 5 months working at the Hard Rock Cafe hotel and casino. Recently she has also spent 4 months with me in the UK on a visitor visa (I am American). In both instances she did not overstay her welcome, did nothing illegal, and was not a drain to the taxpayers (and in fact paid taxes). From what I understand of visas, especially visitor visas, the first time or two is fairly difficult to prove your case but if the person in question already has a proven track record of not overstaying their time then things go much smoother. Perhaps I am wrong but I put myself in the ECO's place and I see someone who has done this a couple times before and always leave when they're suppossed to and it would be hard to find too much fault with them.

I am confident that I can get a visit visa for my girlfriend to the USA (where I am from and will be living in about 9 months). However, she is very interested in taking a culinary arts course in the USA but doesn't feel comfortable plunking down the money until she's had a tour and seen the school for herself which seems reasonable to me. Does anyone know if it is possible to turn a visit visa into a student visa while still in the US? I only ask this because on the State Dept website I have seen other instances where amendments can be made to various types of visas. But I couldn't find a "smoking gun" that clearly answers my specific question. Thanks in advance!

Hi all,

I read on the Department of State's website about visitor visas and have a question that was not answered. I read that a 10 year visa can be granted without TOO much trouble but that it does not mean a non-immigrant can actually stay in the USA for 10 years (this is the part that confuses me). So what exactly does that mean? Does it mean something like.....they are allowed to come into the USA for 10 years but only 6 months out of every year or something like that? The DOS website that specifically deals with this question is not very well written in my opinion. It leaves a lot of guessing. http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_1298.html The bottom line is that we'd like for her to be able to live with me for as long as possible. She would like to work (she will have her Master's Degree by then) but we both understand that a visitor visa is much easier to get and just being able to be together is more important than working. So what are the rules on the 10 year visa and how does it work?

Thanks in advance!

Already things are changing.

Pepsi came out today and said they are going to reduce sugar/fat/salt in their products.

That alone can save the health system a few billion dollars.

Hopefully the other culprits will follow: Coke, McDonalds, Burger King, etc.+.

It's all about choices we make. Nobody is pulling your jaw down and shoving Pepsi down your gullet at gunpoint......get my drift? If only the Founding Fathers could see us now.......government telling us what healthcare to buy, what cars to buy, what we can and cannot ingest for food, we have to pay our foolish neighbors mortgage. Taxed on our income, taxed when we buy a television, taxed on the electricity we use to power the television, and if you live in liberal California you also pay a tax for the pleasure of using more electricty than a "normal" television.......electricity which you have already paid tax on as well. It seems that some of the expats on this forum have been away from the USA for a bit too long because they are totally out of touch with the average American. There is a seething pressure cooker of frustration building up in America right now because the good people that pay extra for the good insurance, keep themselves financially sound, and are self reliant are watching as Obama is taking away their tax money to bail out irresponsible companies and individuals that should be left to reap what they have sown. Watch in November mid-terms to see a confirmation of this. If the election of a Republican in extremely liberal Massachusetts wasn't a sign then I don't know what is.

I've stayed at Amanta house before http://www.amantahouse.com/roomrates.htm It's close to the things you describe. Right now the rooms are running at 1950 baht. Large room with an American queen size bed and the staff are extremely nice. I wrote a good review for them on tripadvisor.com. While I was there the rooms were very clean and it's nice and quiet at night but only 10 minutes walk to either Bangla (nightlife) or Patong beach. Patong beach is alright, I can't complain. Phi Phi island and Maya Bay (part of Phi Phi island) are breathtaking though. It's worth the boat ride if you want a truly spectacular beach.

Thanks for the help everyone. You've given me some options I was unaware of. I appreciate it. And to 7by7, I never got a chance to thank you for your input with my girlfriend's visa application (the second time around). Just want to make sure I keep her safe while she's in my care. Thanks all.

Hello all,

My girlfriend recently got her visitor visa approved to visit me for a few months in the UK. I'm actually an American with my own insurance and not really sure what good travel insurance would be. I'm worried that maybe she'll come over here to visit, get sick or something, and then I would have to pay a whopping bill when we took her to non-emergency care at a hospital. I just want to make sure she is taken care of as best I can without her being a burden to the UK's health system by not having any insurance if something unfortunate should happen. I know Thai Visa sells travel insurance but.........not being native to the UK I think I might feel better buying her "Bupa" or some other British insurance. Do you think it will even matter? Any suggestions on insurance plans? Maybe I'm over-thinking this! Any suggestions would be extremely helpful. Thanks.

No, when a dog bites a human, and means it, then the dog's time is over on this Earth. If a dog did this to my small girlfriend what was done to the OP it would be dead, period. Pepper spray is a band-aid, antifreeze is a solution. I just value human life much higher than dogs......or any other animals for that matter.

not sure about that, theres some scumbags out there that i would rate lower than a dog! maybe even lower than a buffalo

Not going to argue that, haha. But when an animal has shown the ability and willingness to sink their teeth into a human being.....as worthless or valuable as that human being may or may not be.....it has shown a willingness that can't be tolerated anymore. You, your child, lover, or family may be the next person walking down the beach (in this case). In this situation they are obviously uncontrolled and violent and no one else is going to fix the situation. I would personally sleep easier knowing the beach is safe now for the community and my family.

antifreeze

Embalm the dog?

Thanks to everybody. Most considerate. And lots of good ideas.

But. I'm not Thai. Couldn't do this. Mind it, I could kill it, but not poison. Firearms are out of the question. This leaves airgun shooting heavy pellets? Or an arrow/bow? Or better still, underwater speargun?

Question is how legal are these weapons in Thailand? Self-defense is ok for locals, but do we have the same rights? I THINK I SAW AN AIRGUN FOR SALE, using big (5mm) steel pellet-balls and a small gas cylinder as power source. Is it legal? (I think I know the answer - legal for Thais, but NO-NO to me).

Thanks to all, once again.

Why on earth are you looking to kill it when pepper spray will sort out the problem?? Something v wrong there.

Have to say Robblok that my dogs bark at Thais, they ignore Westerners! V odd.

No, when a dog bites a human, and means it, then the dog's time is over on this Earth. If a dog did this to my small girlfriend what was done to the OP it would be dead, period. Pepper spray is a band-aid, antifreeze is a solution. I just value human life much higher than dogs......or any other animals for that matter.

if it was my wife playing around I'd want to know, if I found out my buddy knew but didn't tell me I'd be well pissed. how you going to feel if he gets HIV or the like?

I agree 100%. If I found out......and knew a friend of mine had been in the know but didn't say anything I'd possibly be even more mad at him. Definitely would not be my friend in the future. Would not be someone I could trust in the slightest. If he did get a life threatening STD simply because you were worried about "being the bad guy" could you look yourself in the mirror. I know I couldn't. And considering the apparently freewheeling attitude this woman has towards sex I would say it is definitely in the realm of possibilities. Just my two cents.

Thanks RAZZ. I'll probably get down there anyways because I just miss her so much. Wish I could see the table and points system they use to help guide their determination. Anyone have any ideas how we could prove to an ECO that she has a vested interest in returning to go to her school or else she misses out on a LOT of money (even by my standards)? She's thinking maybe she could pre-pay for the first semester so she could get a student ID card and also we'd show the ECO all of the reciepts (it'll be about 2,500 pounds). That money would be totally lost if she didn't come back. Heck I don't really know what to do other than that. Not gonna buy her a house to visit me. Her parents have 3 houses so maybe we could work something out there...

First of all I'm sorry your girlfriend was refused, but whilst the good news is that she doesn't need to wait six months before she can re-apply, and that is is a fact, she needs to address the reasons for the refusal.

If the ECO has stated that a four month break seems unrealistic, which you will have to admit it does, she needs to address that.

A future application, which can be made immediately, needs to satisfy the ECO that she wants to go on a genuine visit, and I have to say I have never managed a four month holiday, and that there are compelling reasons for her return. Kennkate is absolutely right, if she doesn't address the reason for return, she will be refused again. But whilst it does seem that he/she has not read all the evidence a future application needs to push the point of her going to college.

Property would be a plus, but not essential, she really needs to convince the ECO that it's a genuine visit and that she has a compelling reason to return. I have to say that if I was an ECO I would take some convincing that the length of the visit was genuine, so that's what she needs to do.

It would seem that her boss has hidden skills and there may be an opening for him in the future, as he is certainly correct.

Feel free to ask more questions prior to a fresh application is submitted there is a wealth of knowledge on this site, even if the posters are not Immigration Officers - well not all of them.

Thanks for a great post! We were truthful and stated in our application that is was a vacation of sorts but mostly to visit me. That's why I was saying above how I was confused by the ECO response. Maybe we shouldn't be so truthful? Ask for a 2 week visa instead? I know that no matter what, a 6 month visa is what's issued.

Whoa whoa whoa, so you're saying her boss is correct? That I can in fact just show up to the embassy with her and that will somehow help her visa application? I'm very happy to hear that we can re-apply anytime. Thank you all for that, really lifted my spirits! I'm ready and willing to go to BKK and show up at the embassy if it will help her application somehow......is that what you were saying?

The reason for her to return is a bunch of money that will be kept by the school if she is there or not! It just blows me away because she has spent 4 months in the USA before and returned without issue. She has a bachelors degree. Enrolled in an expensive school that starts in July. I just don't know what else she or I could possibly do. Yes I'm in the forces but I am US forces stationed in the UK. I guess I'll have to wait until I go back to the USA next year so she can visit me. Funny she can get into the USA but not the UK and her creditials are actually BETTER now than they were when she went to the USA. It won't be so bad though if we can just address the issues stated and reapply. But 6 months? Really?

I must apologize, I stand corrected. When you posted that I asked my gf to re-read the rejection papers very carefully. I actually am chatting to her on webcam right now. She read more carefully and found the reason given. It is "I have refused your visa application on this occasion because i am not satisfied on the balance of probabilities". The rest of it is aggrivating because the ECO obviously did not read my letter of invitation. He said that a 4 month leave from her job seems unrealistic. Well, she and I both stated in our letters that she would quit her job if the visa is accepted and she would start school once she returned. She paid about $1650 USD deposit to go to this school. Not something she would lightly skip out on. The ECO said that she had no proved she was going to actually go to school......but she sent the letter of acceptance and the class start date in her package. I'm at a complete loss now because we specifically gave the things the ECO said he wasn't convinced of. So my question has now changed.....is it possibeo to submit new evidence in her case? Maybe we could get ANOTHER letter from the admissions office of her school to sumbit for reconsideration. If we have to wait 6 months then it's all for nothing as I will be in Afghanistan and she will have already started her full time school...

I asked her the same thing. She said that she just received 3 papers back along with the ones she submitted that basically said she was denied. She called the embassy but they could not give her a reason. We have no idea why she was denied.

My girlfriend (Thai) and I just received news that she has been rejected for a visitor visa to the UK. We're both pretty devastated at the moment especially because there is a 6 month wait time to re-apply. It wouldn't be SO bad except that the chances are very good I will be ordered to Afghanistan in about 6-7 months. My girlfriend was speaking to her boss about it and how sad she was. Her boss mentioned that if I were to fly to Thailand and re-apply in person with her at the embassy that the 6 month wait time does not apply. Now I have noticed that sometimes Thai's will tend to exaggerate their expertise in an area sometimes. Her boss is an assistant manager in a 5 star hotel........not an immigration officer. Is there anyone out there that could clear this up for me? It sounds too good to be true, so that's most likely the case. But I need to find out the truth on this just in case. My girlfriend said she'd call the embassy to ask them tomorrow but I'm impatient, ha ha. Because if this is the truth......I will be in BKK within 2 weeks to take care of this. Any help out there?

that would be preferable to China or Russia running things

Like Soviet nuclear power during the Cold War, the actual strength of China is vastly overestimated by those who think it will one day soon become the dominant power in the world.

They have a lot of peasants and a vast workforce, but when they try to get something organized it's a "cluster <deleted>". Sure they can throw unlimited amounts of money and a brute workforce at some showpiece like the Olympics and do an excellent job (with the help of huge numbers of foreign advisers), and build world-class infrastructure, but their ability to lead anything other than peasants has a very long way to go.

While people watch its growing trade numbers and think China has suddenly gone from one of the most backward to one of the most developed countries on earth, they are unaware of the facts on the ground. The county's 800 million peasants live in African-level poverty. As well, the impacts of Mao's policies can hardly be overestimated. People are still rushing around like someone who has been traumatized, afraid the next bus will be the last -- forever. I have never met such fear-filled and immature people in my life.

Their ability to usefully interact with -- let alone dominate -- a foreign culture is close to zero. They can do it within their own borders because the people they're dominating are even more impoverished. If it's not Han Chinese, they are completely freaked out by it, so like the Borg in Star Trek, they are busily digesting those places, leaving behind just a show of the former culture -- quaint "ethnic minorities" who all wear colorful clothes and love to sing.

Russia, for its part, is weakened due to its over-reliance on oil and gas to fuel the economy and a bent for criminals of one type or another in power. They are plenty violent, that's for sure, but to effectively take over and lead the world hardly seems likely.

Not to mention that in China's case they will soon become the only nation on Earth with an inverted pyramid in their age distribution. Their vast workforce will start breaking down in 20 years or so because their population is being halved with every new generation while at the same time the older, and much larger, generation that built China is living longer. It can't continue and is a recipe for trouble. I feel sorry for them.

I have a real problem with the attitude of so many Americans to their military and their pride in it... when will they realise that for most of the world, entering the military is seen as the last resort of the lowest intelligence and socially inadequate... and your pride in being in the military should really be shame that you couldn't do something better...

You have a problem with people having pride in their militaries?

And that's why they are the "rest of the world". I'm in the US armed forces stationed in the U.K. British have a hel_l of a lot of pride in their military (as they should) and many of them I have worked closely with "downrange" are smart, capable, and quite frankly brave people. You must remember that outside of academia, the military is most likely the single most educated single group of people in the US. Heck, the AETC (Air Force education and Training Command) is the single largest educational body in the free world. You need to realize that in the US, the military pays well and demands a lot from you. They have to compete with colleges for the best. It's not a sloppy conscript force, it's professional. Which is why countries who adopt the same model are typically countries with far superior militaries.