mmcsusnret

Could you just go and get a new certificate and add it to your application package?

I would reccommend using the mail as I stated earlier, if you are dealing with a Thai branch manager, to avoid a possibly embarassing confrontaion which will immediately put them on the defensive and less likely to be willing to negotiate. Many (most?) Thai people try to avoid direct confrontation of a problem especially if it involves making a decision.

I would be glad to look at your letter, though I am sure that you can keep it simple, another set of eyes may be useful. Keep the language simple and straight forward and to the point. Do not use ambiguous terms (or big words like ambiguous). Just state the problem and propose a solution or two or three, to show that you are flexible and willing to compromise. The only problem there is you put the decision back to them. PM me if you want me to see the draft.

Good luck.

I know what you meant when you said that you're a man of your word and that you will try to abide by your contract, but you should not do so if it will damage your health (mental or physical). Do you think that if they could find someone to replace you for a couple of thousand baht less that they would care about firing you? I don't think so. They could cause you some grief, but probably aren't going to try to track you down if you relocate. When you write make if simple and formal and offer to speak to them in person, if they wish. Spring for a translation from a good low cost translation service. Keep copies. Mail it EMS with a return receipt, and that will show that you made the attempt to do the right thing. You may want to avoid a face-to-face in the begining to avoid possibly causing them embarrasment, and them regarding this "confrontation" as a loss of face for them, in which case they'll probably just fire you on the spot.

Since you are technically working illegally, without a work permit, ECC kind of has you over a barrel, and they know it. If you walk, they will invalidate your non-B visa obtained with their papers. Also, most of the contracts like ECC has, have a clause that states that you will not offer or accept employment from any school, company or individual. This clause could cause you grief but probably not too much of a problem for the other school. It just depends on how much ECC wants to push the issue. Obviously, they are not going to be able to do much to a government school, but they can pick on you.

I suggest that you try to negotiate with them for either more money or fewer hours, stating the stress that the excess hours are causing may cause your performance to suffer, and that their few hours before compared with too many hours now are too much for you to cope with. If they don't care and you decide to walk, walk to another locale and start fresh but don't let anybody know where you are going, and don't list them as a reference, and act as if you've never heard of them. If you are in central Thailand go north or south. If you're in the south head north, and so on. I doubt that ECC will make much of an effort to find you or blacklist you given their questionable practices in the past. You can almost always get another visa.

As above poster stated (in so many words), they can only take advantage of you as long as you accept it These agency/schools take advantage of people as much as they can because they know many people are willing to do anything to be able to be able to stay in Thailand, and if a highly qualified teacher bails on them there are more than enough unqualified or marginally qualified people who will take anything that they can get. The agency/school earns the same amount of money regardless.

Good luck

I did not need a birth certificate when I got married. It would not hurt to get another one. It doesn't have to be the "original" from the day you were hatched. You can get another issued from the appropriate place where you were born. In Texas, where I am from, it is the Department of Vital Statistics. Did not take long to get (<1hr) and cost $3 or so. Get two their cheap.

With the background you described, if you completed all of the penalties, it should not be a big issue, for her going to the US, as they are more concerned with her background. I would be more concerned about being able to stay in Thailand for a lengthy period of time. In your documentation you should mention it if asked and if possible show proof that you completed your penalty, and the US should not make a big deal about it, unless your on parole or probation at this time.

The only thing that you need to show that you are legally able to get married if you were never divorced, is a notarized document from the US Embassy (you swear that this stuff is true and by the way you will need to make an online appointment for that) then get only that translated and legalized in Laksi Thai Ministry then to the Amphur office of your choice to do it. The other things that are mentioned are for the visa for your spouse to the US (or fiance).

It may no longer be your "American born right" because a convicted felon does lose some rights, sorry but that is how it is. I don't know if the felon convictions (the "s" makes it troublesome) will hurt you but they definintly won't help. The "undocumented income" could come back to haunt you if it is ever mentioned officially. I don't know if tax evasion is a felony or not.

Another opinion.

I think that we put ourselves (people with long stay status) into a limbo area or grey area legally. You are permitted to do it as long as you will put up with the bullstuff of doing so. You tend to get overlooked in this grouping and excluded from some benifits of your native land, even if you maintain a residence there. When (if?) you return to your native country, it will almost be as if you have risen from the grave.

Many nations seem to not understand why one would want to leave their homeland for greener pastures. And while Thailand accepts you in the grey area, you should be seen and not heard. Just spend your money, follow the changing rules and keep quiet.

If you have a case number (ie BNK ####) you can go to the US Emabassy web site. When it opens, click on visas at the top, then when it opens click on immigrant visas, then on the left column click on scheduled appointments. It will open a page with a link to the PDF file of current appointments as of April 10th. There are about 19 pages of appointments listed. Scroll down looking for your BNK case number and it will give you the date/time of your appointment. The USCIS receipt number will not help you.

Just make sure that you have all of the documents (original, copy for the interviewer, copy for you fiance and one for yourself) in order listed on the form that was mailed back saying that you have all of the documents, and that all are within their validity period. I know the police cerificate cannot be more that 6 months old. Not sure about any others. When you get to the embassy (arriving early for your appointment time is best) and enter, a clerk will review your paperwork and possibly remove any thing not needed or reorganize the order for the consular officer. It is okay to have more than is required in your wife's and your copies, tabbed for easy retrieval.

Personally, I would recommend against having the baby with you as a birth certificate proves the baby's parentage. You will both be nervous and don't need any distractions. The baby will not get you any sympathy points, so treat this as an important business meeting (it is!) and leave the child behind. Be as calm and organized as possible. Be straight forward and honest. Be prepared. Present the orginals only when requested. I think (but not sure, since I am about to go through the same thing for my wife) that the interviews reputation for being difficult is far worse than it actually is. I did personally attend my US nephew's Thai girlfriend's fiance visa interview and it was over before she realized that it had started since she had every document in order and was able to answer some pretty basic questions about the relationship. How did it start, differences it religion and culture, etc.

Having only the prospect of a job may be a little troublesome. It would be better if you have a definite job offer in hand or even better a contract stating that you will be employed when you get there. You shouldn't have any problems with your parents being cosponsers and providing you a place to live.

Is your lawyer going to assist in the interview process or prepare your fiance for the interview? I would recommend that you be aware of everything that the lawyer tells her to say, as some interviewers can spot an "off of the shelf" or "canned answer. (ie Q: How are you today? A: I'm fine thank and you?.

Try to relax and prepare yourselves mentally. Good luck!

Just reread your post and realized that you aren't married yet, but the same info should apply. I changed wife to fiance in the edit

Look at your other post on the same topic.

If you have an interview scheduled this month you should have a case number (BNK ####) and it should be listed on the scheculed appointments pdf form from the embassy web page. If you don't have a case number yet the lawyer is an opptimist. These things take time. Have you done the packet 3 step yet? It helps to give a good answer if you provide better details.

My US nephew got his girlfriend a K-1 fiance visa on the third attempt. I went with her to the interview, for moral support. I wouldn't say the consular people are rude, just bored paper pushers who want all of the papers done correctly. They think it's either correct or not. The interview on my now nieces application was pretty straight forward, despite its reputation as being very difficult. The only problems that I have personally seen, are when inaccurate (or false) information has been provided to try to cover up something that may not seem very wholesome. The people who deal with these know the signs of deception, and the questions to ask. Their bark is worse than their bite. In my niece's case, he finished before she knew it was going to be approved. She even asked me when the rest of it was.

First off, is she applying for a K1 fiance visa or are you already married. Big difference. And for the ring if your not married yet, she should only wear the engagment ring, but I don't think that it will make any difference.

They will notify you by mail when to send in the next package of information. They may notify your lawyer but I am not sure about this as I avoid lawyers. The key is to be sure which visa you're getting. A K-1 is a little more complicated than a CR-1 which means you are already married but for less than two years or an IR-1 which is if you are married more than two years. When you get the initial USCIS approval the papers will be forwarded on and when the consular services people at the embassy receive the papers from NVC or USCIS you will be sent a "package 3" specifying which documents are needed to do the next step and a DS-230 part 1. It will also list her visa type and have a case number (BNK######), and possibly a priority date. When all documents are ready you send in the signed check list, DS-230, and passport picture back to the embassy.

If you get a fiace visa, when she goes to the USA you will have 90 days to get married only to you, or she will have to leave and start over. They indicate that this visa can not be extended. The embassy web site has the details and a monthly appointment schedule to help you or your lawyer track the case number. Note: the details are on several different pages accessed via multiple links. Suggest you look at as many as you can. Or if you're using a good lawyer, ask them and insist on updates regularly and not accept mai pen rai.

Good luck and be patient.

There is a good English Program (EP 1-EP4) at Tantawit School (public school) in Cherng Talay. Students in this EP funded by the Tessiban Cherng Talat do have to pay a small tuition of about B 3000.

I used to ride a honda 150 two stroke enduro from San Diego, Ca. to Yuma Az. then south into Mexico on trips that would cover about 350 miles over about 3 days. Combination of Interstate highways through mountains and desert, twisting mountain roads, dirt roads and rocky trails returning via Tijauna and back to San Diego with no major problems. It does wear down the knobby tires quicker but only two incidents was a crankcase busted by a rock and a broken chain.

I have had good luck with using Belkin products for my laptop. One is a plug-in to a USB port which I use a USB extension cable for and hang out the window for better reception. Another is an extender/access point. Either way get the anntenae as close to line of sight to the source if you can. The 2nd example I unscrew the anntenae from the unit and use a coax cable to position the actual anntenae in the best position. Both are user friendly to install.

The black beans and kidney beans (red beans) are available at Lotus and big C, and have worked well for me. They also sell potting soil. I used plastic egg containers (cut off the flat side) for the initial sprouting, then transplanted to cut off water bottles and used bamboo skewers to let them climb. Another good twist is to plant many seeds at the same time and each day or so remove one and photograph against a dark background paper to make a photo sequence of the seeds growth. I used mine to make a PowerPoint show and have used it for classes three years running.

Another idea is to plant in various types of soil (sandy, clay, loam rocky, etc.), underwater and overwater some specimens and shade or eliminate light as much as possible to show the need for good light for many plants.

I'm a retired mmcs westpac bum out of Yoko for many years, now living the good life in Thailand. The movie is one of my favorites of all time.

LiveSteam,

Are you by chance a snipe? The name and the pic kind of make me think so. Sorry no pics.

Thanks, that is what I was hoping for. I am ready at any time to shift to the Non Imm O based on marriage. I have the letter from the embassy for >B40,000 monthly income from pension and the 400,000 baht in the bank (still seasoning for the 2 or 3 months depending on the Immigration official I end up with). Also have all of the documents (I hope) to support the marriage extension request.

It's nice to have some control over my future plans.

Thanks again for your response.

In April I traveled to the USA. I departed with a reentry permit on my extension (4th annual extension of permit to stay) of a Non Imm B visa. Due to concerns about job security and its tie to visa extension, I got a 12 month Multiple entry, Non Imm O based on marriage to a Thai National. When I returned to Thailand on 18 April I used the visa number for the Non O visa on the arrival card. The Immigration agent at the airport thumbed through my passport, and then stamped my passport with a permitted to stay date until 20 November 2009 which is the date my reentry permit is ending.

My question is, on or about 17 July 2009 do I just need to do a 90 day report to immigration, or do I need to do a border run based on a 90 day stay? Or what?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Oh, and for question #5. The form is an additional form 864 affidavit of support from big bucks. I personally think that additional finacial sponser is a big responsibility to put on someone, as they are signing "a blank check" to the US government, if things go wrong.

Assuming that you have a job and not been laid off, you only have to meet the amount of 125% of the poverty level for income. With no other dependents that is about $19,000 (+/-) for a household of 2. You can also factor in your assets, if you own your home. Link to federal poverty guidelines on embassy website.

To expand a but on my earlier post and address some of your other questions. If you do not live in Thailand for more than 6 months, the forms I-130, G325a for spouse and yourself will need to be filed at the USCIS office having jurisdiction over your place of residence. On the affidavit of support (form 864) you will need finacial information such as latest (or up to the last 3) IRS tax filings, bank statements and a letter about your accounts(s) from the bank(s), proof of a place to live (lease, rental, or mortgage.

You can try a fiance visa, but they are pretty stingent on proof of an ongoing relationship, and it is a one shot trip. You will have a definite ending date to marry or she will have to return. They say "no extensions" for this type of visa. If you marry within the alloted time, she can file for an "adjustment of status" and remain in the US as a CR-1 (conditional resident) until you are married for 2 years at which time you can file for an "adjustment of status" to IR-1 which is the big Kahuna, but incurs more money. It means that the marriage took. My US nephew had to apply 3 times, over a period of 18 months, before his girlfriend got afiance visa.

A tourist visa (b1/b20 can be rather difficult to get depending on the circumstances. The big thing is for her to have something to return to Thailand for such as money in the bank, job, car, or property. Strangely enought they don't consider family very much. Last year, I applied for a tourist visa for my wife to go to the US on my holiday from school. We had been married for about 18 months at the time. We (unwisely) used a visa service in Phuket. When we went for her interview, the consular officer first said no as she had no strong ties to return to. She has 4 children, no job (except taking care of me), a moderate bank account and a motorbike. The visa service did not include that she owns 2 houses and 10 rai of land near Phimai. After telling her no, I asked if my having a job contract for the upcoming school year and would be returning for that, he looked at my passport and my work permit, and then gave her a "restricted" visa good for 3 months and specified where she was allowed to go in the US. The USCIS Border Agent at DFW asked why she had the "resticted visa" status (I explained, then asked if she had ever been arrested (no). He gave her permission to stay for 6 months and said she could go anywhere in the US if she wanted to. We did follow our plans and returned IAW the visa. If you get married on while she is on a tourist visa, she will still have to leave at the end of the permitted to stay date, and they say you cannot do an adustment of status off of a tourist visa.

In any case you must be able to document your relationship with photos, visits, letters, phone and email records to prove that you have a genuine interest in each other. Also, if you are helping her finacially, records of that. Hopefully, her background and past employment is all above board and there is nothing to hide (no slight intended). A long distance relationship is harder to prove, than if you are living together, but don't give up.

The Bangkok Embassy is flooded with many less than honest relationships, and tend to be suspicious of all who apply. So the good people have to prove their goodness even though it may make things difficult for them. If your relationship is for real, it is worth the effort, so don't give up. I think that a person of average intelligence can do the forms by themselves, your lady should be able to get her documents together, so the only thing you need help on is the translations. If she gets all of the Thai documents together and gets them translated in a group you may get a volume discount. Again, use a translation office vice a lawyers office/visa service, if you can.

I am now waiting for my wife's IR-1 immigration visa approval interview (step 4) in the process, having done all of the paperwork myself except of course the translations.

Good luck, which ever route you go!

The documents that you need to get married are easy. You need to have proof of ending any previous marriage(s) by divorce or death certificates (both parties). You go the ACS of the embassy in Bangkok and get a notarized form about your eligibility to legally marry. Get the proof of previous marriage(s) translated. Go the Thai ministry office in the Laksi area (Chaeng Wittana Rd.) and get the forms legalized for acceptance. Go to the local city office of your lady with 2 witnesses, a small fee and register your marriage. If you have any other ceremonies (ie family, temple, church, jumping over a broomstick, etc.) they are nice but do not legally marry you until you register at the office,

The visa process is much more involved. The US Embassy website has fairly good information and links for downloadable forms and items that you will need. You need to document and prove the relationship exists with things like letters, phone calls, emails, photos, and anything that proves a long term relationship. It is time consuming, tedious, and detailed. You must follow the instructions carefully. It can be done without using commercial services who charge in excess of $3000 USD. Many documents will need to be translated (from your lady). A good translator service is in Sindhorn Tower 1, second floor. Avoid law office translations. They are expensive (one that I used in Phuket charged B 2000 and took 2 days, and it turned out that he made an error and the document was rejected by the USCIS when I submitted for my wife. The office alluded to above, charged B 300 and took 1 hour).

Get multiple copies of everything, have the originals (do not submit originals unless specificaly told to). Put things in order listed on the embassy website.

You have to be the sponser for the main part. When you get to the affidavit of support, it is sometimes possible to have someone else help guarantee the lady will not become destitiute and need government assistance. See forms I 864--Use the EZ version, if you qualify.

Have fun

Just went there 2 weeks ago. Most tour companies will charge you more than the tickets cost at the gate, but do provide you a ride, but usually take you back about 4 hours later. Assuming you are not Thai, you must go to an office neat the normal lines and get your ticket(s). If you have a work permit take it with you, it might lower the price a little. I didn't have mine and the ticket was B 495 but is good for unlimited rides/attractions. A normal ticket let's the user go one time. Take care that it doesn't fall off or get wet as it will fall apart.

Have fun.

I am looking to get a Multi Entry Non-Immigrant "O" Visa. It is reported on here that the Houston Consulate is the best place in the U.S. to apply.

I was also told to put "Visiting friends" as the reason/purpose for the Visa.

I do appreciate everyone who has suggested this.

But has anyone had first hand experience applying to Houston and using "Visiting Friends"?

I spoke to them on the phone and they seemed knowledgabe and said that it was quick. Depending on your location you might consider New Orleans. I just got a Non Imm 0 multiple entry based on marriage to a Thai national on Tuesday. I had an appointment at 9:00 am. The consulate was prompt and I was done in about 35 minutes. The locaction is different than is listed on the state department website. It is at 320 Julia St. telephone number is 1 (504)522-2021. This is near the French Quarter, The Riverwalk and the Convention center. Very nice lady!!

I agree. Your power pack will be okay on the 220volt 50hz power here. Post a pic of the plug on the end of your power supply and a more definitive answer can be made on the adapter question. But the more modern buildings here have "universal" receptacles that will allow use of USA style plugs.

As for "networking" the spec shows you have a wireless device built in and an Ethernet jack so you should be good to go on the internet/networking connectivity issue. All depends on where you will be living as to what sort of internet connections are available.

Look on the power pack and it should say input voltage 240/120 to ___ output. Assuming that you have the 3 prong plug, the only problem you might see is the flat plug blade sizes. The US models have one blade wider than the out so it only goes in one way (somthing about polarity). Sometimes it won't fit. Bring a good grounded plug adaptor or 2 (3 into 2) and file the wide blade off to the same size as the small blade (any home supply, Walmart, etc. You can buy good power strips that will take the wider blade, but avoid the cheapies you can find here in Thailand.

Yes you can get a Work Permit with a Non O Visa and the Marriage Extension.

Don't worry about the "Employment Prohibited" stamp. It means nothing.

Thanks. I was just concerned because I enjoy the job and would lilke to continue it for as long as possible in case my employer weasles out of losing the contract. If he loses it (the contract) I should be able just to change to another company and keep working when I get a new permit, right?

I am US citizen, 56 years old, wanting to change away from a Non-b visa to a Non O visa and still be able to have a work permit.

Just returned from the Consulate in New Orleans. Had an appointment at 9:00 am, I turned in my papers for a 12 month multiple entry based on being married and supporting my Thai wife at that time and was finished and drinking coffee in the French Quarter at 9:45 with my visa. I have been working in Thailand for 3 1/2 years on a Non Imm B with work permit. In recent months I have felt some unease about the future of the job continuing so I wanted to get the Non Imm O visa to avoid a rush if the job collapses. It was my understanding that I would be able to get a work permit with this type of visa but the consulate and the Embassy in DC say that they don't know about that.

I told them it was fairly new but no joy if they don't see the paper. Is getting a work permit on my new visa possible (I'm sure that it is) and if so, can I fix the "employment prohibited" stamp fixed when I get back to Thailand next week? Is this done when you get a marriage extension? The consulate general (American lay)said she could fix the visa here if she had some official information.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.