poohbah

My wife just got her immigrant Visa last week. Our initial interview was fine, except that we were missing documentation regarding my domicile in the US. Basically I had to prove my ties to America; financial, personal, etc. So, I had my dad send the embassy some bank statements and other things to the consulate and they called up my wife just the other day and said that she was approved. Total time from initial interview 2 weeks.

The staff wasn't so bad either. Understandably they want to cover their asses too.

DK Books.

Also Chulankakorn (sp?) and Thamasat bookstores have good selections.

Check the message archives at ajarn.com

Simon,

If you have not already, perhaps you should read Stephen Leather's, "Private Dancer". Yes, it stereotypes and is generally an overly dramatic, worst case scenario take on the farang-bar girl situation, but it is still an interesting read. Basically, though  the story is based on a compilation of real events that he has collected over 15 years.

Free for download at http://www.stephenleather.com/unpub.html

With regards to the being married for less than one year bit, it is now necessary to do a host of other paperwork if you have been married less than two years. I guess they figure on the worst case scenario being newly married couple moves to US. Man quickly figures out that wife is not all that she is cracked up to be and divorces here, therefore, leaving her as a public charge/ welfare recipient.  

The chances of a person becomming a public charge-I figure, that's what it really comes down to in their estimation of handing Visas out.

Thanks for the reply

Hi All,

Here’s the basic situation. I want to bring my wife to the US on a family-based immigrant Visa. The final interview is on Friday of this week (We’ve collected all the necessary paperwork, translations, medical check, etc.).  This is the day when we find out whether she is worthy enough to move to the United States. I would like to know what other people experienced, what went wrong, etc. I hear the horror stories, but I want to hear the good ones too. From hearing the horror stories, it seems like the biggest problem people have is proving the extent of a relationship. Some guys try to bring a wife they just married (less than a year) to the US and, quite understandably, the INS refuses them.  

Here’s where we stand.

Wife, 31. Never married before. No kids. Masters from US. Currently employed as Thai government officer. No money/assets

Me, 29. US citizen. No kids. Masters degree. Employed as a teacher for 3 years in the same school as my wife. No money/ assets

Relationship: Over 5 years total (met in the US), 3 years marriage (all three years of which I have lived and worked in Thailand)

Sponsorship. I alone cannot sponsor my wife (no money). My parents are the joint sponsor. Their income is more than adequate to support us if it ever came to that, (unlikely in any case).

The plan:

My wife gets the immigrant visa. I will leave Thailand at the end of May and get a job in the United States (according to the poverty guidelines, the money I need to support her is equivalent to a $10.00 per hour job). This should not be a problem. She will come to the US in Late September. Finally, we live happily ever after.

Any thoughts as to the likelihood of this happening?

Feedback is most appreciated

^How do you deal with *serious* heat exhaustion?^

I do like I did the other day. Try to rehydrate myself while having a huge migraine-like headache and then pass out on my bed in an air conditioned room until I feel better.

Works everytime  ::

Decent/upstanding girls do not go to bars. period.

Check your local temple instead.

I'm in Issan and it has been very hot this year (more than the last 2 anyway. Usually, by the time May kicks around, temps head south. This year it is different. I went to bed last night at 10 o'clock in a 97 degree bedroom (Had to turn on the AC). It's been like that for about a week now. Yesterday it was 102 in front of my house at 10:30 in the morning.

To top it off, we haven't had municipal water for over a week now!

I had a beautiful kitchen built by a real cabinet maker. A regular Somchai Chung does not know a nail from a screw. Be careful. Best thing to do is look around other people's (rich people's) houses for the stuff and get their recommendations.

Thailand is not a do-it-yourself type of place. A lot of people have problems figuring out why a lightbulb blew out much less replacing it. Most do not know quality when they see it either.

Chok dee

My wife almost got rejected for a tourist Visa (USA) last year because she did not make enough money. She is a government employee and had a letter from the school certifying this. They said that it was not enough as she could simply go to the States, work at a 7-11 and make more (well, they didn't really say that). Basically, they eventually let her go because of MY TIES to Thailand. I brought a copy of my work contract with me stating that I was to be employed until June 2003. Plus they looked at my passport and figured out that I was pretty serious about being with my wife because I had never left the country without her before.  If you have had and can prove a long-standing relationship with your girlfriend, and can prove you must return to Thailand in addition to your girlfriend it might help.

Keep us informed.

I have a miserable time sleeping on planes. It's always been a very uncomfortable experiance for me. The last time, I barely got any rest. I'm pretty much an expert on getting comfortable, but I simply cannot sleep. I've got a neck pillow, ear plugs, sleeping covers for my eyes and this time I'll be wearing a mask -not so much to ward of SARS but to make the air a little less dry.

This time I've decicded to look into the possibility of medicating myself for the part between Japan and LA. I don't like using alcohol. What about valium or something?

Any help would be appreciated

A few years ago a batch or 3 (probably more) was found to contain formaldihyde. I think Singha is one of the worst beers here. It has a bloody terrible after taste. Ick!

We're a Chang household.

If the police are going to be so serious about illegal software they might track the IP numbers of the respondents and raid their houses.

Are you serious?

The Police don't even take the time to shut down Panthip.

Unless you are manufacturing thousands of copies you have nothing to worry about.

The person who is able to sell these bus companies an electronic ticketing/reservation network is going to be a rich man. Any long-haul trip one wants to make must be preceeded by a trip down to the bus station to buy the ticket. In Bangkok that could mean an hour or two of travel just getting to the bus station.

Example: I live in Isan -10 hours from Bangkok. I can go to the bus station hereand buy a ticket  to go to Bangkok. But, I cannot, from the bus station, purchase a bus ticket to return to my town.  The bus gets into Morchit at 4:45 in the morning. If I want to be sure to get a return ticket, I have to wait in the bus station until 7:00 or 8:00 until the ticket counters open or I have to make a seperate trip back to Morchit.

Internet based ticketing/reservations is the way to go! -Well, okay, that is if the bus companies gave a rat's arse about service. Which, I dount they do

It's mostly students (girls and boys) who hold hands and hang off the other's shoulders. I've never seen a middle-aged pair do that.

Good girls won't hold a farang's hand in public though.

I'll be getting the refund. I'm really disapointed. I live in Sakon Nakhon and because of Songkran there is no way I can get back up here on the 11th or 12th. In fact, all the buses until the 16th are booked. It's no problem getting to Bangkok. It's getting back that's the killer.

Anybody from Udon or Khon Kaen going? I need a ride!