GinBoy2

As a nostalgic follow up. I'm sure anyone who did submit an I-130 in USCIS Bangkok must remember that rather formidable Thai woman who ran the front office. I was sat in the waiting room with my stack of papers, with a couple sat next to me with the basic 2 page application with none of the backup. I asked them had they got all the backup paperwork, and the young pup replied that it was none of my business. I then listened to him and his wife being tongued lashed at the window, by that formidable Thai woman, for even daring to present her with an unacceptable packet. Those were the days

We may be talking at cross purposes. Back in the day when there was a USCIS office over the road from the embassy a I-130 was processed there, and that was what we referred to as Consular Processing. When it was all done in BKK, 100 days later Mrs G had her CR-1 visa and green card two weeks after landing in Chicago Things are a little different nowadays I think

Trump axed Consular Processing and closed the uscis office in BKK. Now you have to apply through the lockbox in Carol Stream IL Now

Never thought Thai sounded bad. I kinda agree about Mandarin, which by the way is much harder to learn I always tell folks to learn how to read and write when you are learning Thai, it will help the process. Thai is an alphabet 44 letters and six tones so it's not so hard. You may well end up reading long before you become fluent. Mandarin, which was my first tonal language is still a struggle after 20+ years. I read about 2500 characters, but it means I read and write like a 10 year old

Thats exactly how it is. I can hear mangled English or Spanish and kinda get the gist of what the person is saying. But mangled Mandarin, Thai or Lao and I'm confused, and I'm not stupid To be honest it's probably even worse for those of us that learn tonal languages as a second. In English & Spanish they swirl around in my head interchangeably, but with my learned languages I translate, I don't think in them

Tonal languages are a bitch to learn. I started with Mandarin nearly 30 years ago and it frustrated the Hell outta me when folks couldn't understand when I got a tone wrong. Then it clicks when you realize the word with two tones has two meanings. That Eureka moment with Mandarin helped me with Thai and Lao. My two native languages are English & Spanish, and for the most part you can string words together, not necessarily in the the right order and still be understood. In Latin America most people will appreciate you speaking in mangled Spanish, whereas for me I just get ridiculed for my Gringo accent, mostly by family lol

Well as for food me and Mrs G have had some heated arguments about that. My family is originally from Guadalajara and in the past few years after we moved back to the US we try to spend at least a week every year there with family. I think the food there is unbelievable, not that I don't love my wife's Thai cooking, but secretly I'd take my Aunt's cooking any day! Planning a full family reunion later this year. We're introducing my American daughter's baby son, and my Thai son's baby. When Mexican families gather like this, you don't come away feeling anything left than stuffed to the gills!

As others have noted, very strange place to get stabbed.

That would be a tough one 'if' your younger wife wanted kids. Men are lucky that we don't generally have that instinctive need for kids that many women do. I really don't know how I would react in that situation, especially if I was in a relationship with a woman many years younger. I had my kids, American & Thai 20+ years ago and my Thai wife, as menopausal as she now is are way past the idea of kids, we're enjoying grandkids, which are a whole lot more fun, you just play with them then hand 'em back when it gets messy!

I had to laugh, since I hadn't thought about that before But it's true. Women really don't have to work at getting sex like men do, it's the men fighting for it. We really are animals as in the Animal Channel!

Your immigration status in Thailand is totally separate to her waiting for a K1, so you can travel so long as you can obtain a valid re-entry visa. As for her travel, that's a little more subjective. Technically, I don't think there are any restrictions, but you don't want the CO during the interview questioning what the travel was for while waiting for the interview. Try to minimize any potential issues, keep your head down until it's done and dusted

Its the elephant in the room than many here, unlike you, won't admit. If the older male much younger female was some biological thing, why doesn't it rear it's head in other societies? Even within Asia, I don't think it happens in Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore it just doesn't happen, and I've lived in all of the ones I've mentioned. Many will try to deny it, but in an older/much younger relationship in Thailand, it ain't physical attraction it's money!

Interesting fairy tale. Having lived in Shanghai for several years, I was intrigued by the detail that she rode an electric bicycle from Beijing to Shanghai. I've never done that, but I do know it's about 750 miles. Long way on a bike!

I think thats what some on here fail to recognize, the difference between physical attraction and a loving relationship.. As we age, none of us are the same physically, man or woman as we were in our 20's and 30's and you can take care of yourself as much as possible, but biology will win overall So me and Mrs G, been together over 20 years, she ain't what she was 20 years ago, and neither am I. But, we're together because we actually love each other though thick and thin. Might sound corny, but it does happen that some folks can age appropriately together and it still works

Rather thoughtful comment. I have always thought what about children conceived from age disparate relationships. I've seen all my children grow up; graduations, prom dates, first house, weddings, grandchildren. I think me being part of that has been as important to them as it has been to me. When I see a guy obviously in late 60+ slopping around the mall with a couple of rugrats, I always think about what those kids won't get to experience with Dad

Take the money out of it, and whats left? Few women are attracted to men old enough to be the father or grandfather, hard truth, but I'd suggest it is the real truth. Ever come across a poverty level 60 year man old with a 20 something woman? Of course you haven't, it just doesn't exist

Lucky man to live in Point Reyes, beautiful part of the world. I was a pauper and lived in Santa Rosa, couldn't afford the Marin stratosphere let alone the national seashore

I got divorced in California. Cost us $100. We mutually agreed to split our assets, wrote a mutual separation agreement Neither of us were worse for ware, still friends, mother of my children, we talk every week Divorce doesn't have to be contentious

You gotta love Thailand for never disappointing. Break out the popcorn, although I believe I've seen this rerun multiple times before

I'm must admit I was shocked and amazed how fast they pivoted to LNG, building LNG terminals in 100 days I seem to recall reading. I'm sure Putin never dreamt that would happen

Non Imm says it all, you are not an immigrant, you are a tourist on a long term visa, but nothing more with all the rights of a tourist

It's almost impossible to tell what 'might' happen. First things first, lets see if they actually manage to become a Government before they get dissolved for some spurious reason! Folks bitch and moan about the leaping through rings of fire to get their Thai spouse permanent residency in mystical magical farang land. But once done that spouse is for all intents and purposes the same as any citizen, work, benefits etc although without the right to vote. If Thailand could adopt a similar system, well the 'long term tourist' might feel a whole lot safer and secure. Yeah, you might have to jump through those flaming rings of fire, but at least there would be long term security

Go to your local Amphur. Take Mom, they have form letter that she will sign, along with ubiquitous stamp and you'll be all set at immigration

I like Isaan. Our house is on the outskirts of Khon Kaen. But realistically if you were blindfolded and dropped into any Thai city, not by a beach you'd be hard pushed to tell where the Hell you where, since they all look pretty much the same. Obviously there is not the farang bar scene you get in Pattaya or Phuket, but that never interested me anyway.

Coming probably from a Brit... Been there, done that, Got the tee shirt seems appropriate!