K-1 Visa Service/attorney?

[ngangu]

I'm trying to get this process started before I leave Thailand for the US next week. I'm really concerned that my fiance won't be able to handle the process on this end without my help and I won't be able to fly back and forth.

Can anyone recommend a good service, not too expensive? I'd feel a lot better if she had someone to help her through the process.

Also need an easy place to get her birth cert. translated in BKK.???

Feel free to PM. Thanks in advance!!

[paulpmc]

We just finished this process and I am now married to my new Thai wife. We used sga Legal Services. You can visit their website at http://www.sgalegal.com/ The lawyer in the office is an American. One of his assistants (all women) will escort your fiance to all the necessary places for health checkup, police report etc. They were very professional with us and were pleased with the results. Be prepared , we started the process in July of 2006 and we arrived in the states on her K1 visa on March 22 2007. There were no delays caused by paperwork problems, it is just a time consuming process. The going rate is $1,500.00 to 2,000.00 USD this includes everything except the petition fee you will pay when you start the process in the U.S. Good Luck!

I'm trying to get this process started before I leave Thailand for the US next week. I'm really concerned that my fiance won't be able to handle the process on this end without my help and I won't be able to fly back and forth.

Can anyone recommend a good service, not too expensive? I'd feel a lot better if she had someone to help her through the process.

Also need an easy place to get her birth cert. translated in BKK.???

Feel free to PM. Thanks in advance!!

[ngangu]

Thanks Paul and congrats!! Hope all works out for you. It's a long process and a big gamble really, bringing a Thai girl to the US. I wonder often how my girl will cope with the changes?

That service sounds good, but expensive for me at the moment. I think we'll try it with the help of friends and see how it goes. Chok dii!!

[solds15]

IMHO the process can be a good test for her willingness to come to the US. She has to jump through some hoops but nothing she cannot handle. The interview can be tough so make sure she is prepared for it. The paperwork you can do yourself and save the money. If you can, be there for the interview.

[pumpuiman]

My wife and I went through it. It can be done without legal help. I found all the info online.

The Thaivisa website should help you with any problems.

Save every slip of paper.

Every receipt.

Copy and file everything....label everything.

Take pictures of the two of you TOGETHER.....date and label.

Have pictures of the two of you with her family if possible.

save and print every e-mail, try to write daily.

Save all phone bills.

save and photocopy all envelopes or package wrapping sent to each other.

Evidence of your residing together would be great as well.

You will be referring constantly to paperwork you've already completed...make copies and neatly file for reference.

Call the USCIS helpline and ask questions....you may wait an hour before they answer...but it helps....have your questions clearly thought out, they get testy if you ask too many....and make you call back (wait another hour)

We did it in about 9 months.

I was not present for the interview.

I overwhelmed them with evidence of our relationship.......We had lots of photos with family from years together. Make some now if you don't have any. Get out there and take some pictures (don't forget to change clothes and locations!)

Give them a stack of paper 10 inches thick.....it worked for us.

Good luck

Eric and Pan

Edited May 5, 2007 by pumpuiman

[fxm88]

See also: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=89915

[pumpuiman]

Here's a link to the USCIS WEBSITE.

Here is the helpline # 1-800-375-5283

They have all the things you need.

Be patient....you will succeed.

Edited May 5, 2007 by pumpuiman

[ding]

http://www.my-thai-fiancee.com/

Brian is a good guy and has a good program to help the girl.

VisaJourney.com is a forum that specializes in this process for the DIY end back in the west.

Good luck!

[ngangu]

Thanks for all the fine info and encouragement!! Really appreciate it.

I don't have any doubt I can handle the process but the fiances' reading and comprehension is not sufficient to follow the many instructions. Hopefully I can help her over the phone and someone suggested webcams while chatting on the net. We'll give it a go.

I have been to visajourney an it is a great site, very helpfull.

We've lived together for the past two years and think I have sufficient evidence of that. Shouldn't be a problem. My problem is that I've been out of the US for most of the past 8 years and residence and evidence of support are going to be a bit difficult to scrape up. I think I'll manage but need to get back and see?

Thanks again all!!

[ding]

You can list assets if they meet a high enough level, and you can also get a sponsor. I didn't need to look into it much as I work in the states. But I wonder why you'd want to come here if you're making it there? (not that I'm envious!)

[ngangu]

Good question ding. I really don't want to come to the states. I've lived a very unorthodox life for an American, try to live for today and not worry about the future. I'm 52 and have nothing, no assets, retirement, nothing but great memories of a full life so far. I'm getting by on my teaching salary here but can't save much and now that I have a significant other feel like I better come back and spend the next few years working toward our future. Now or never!

I'm hoping that a friend will sponsor!!

[daveh]

Thanks Paul and congrats!! Hope all works out for you. It's a long process and a big gamble really, bringing a Thai girl to the US. I wonder often how my girl will cope with the changes?

That service sounds good, but expensive for me at the moment. I think we'll try it with the help of friends and see how it goes. Chok dii!!

Getting the visa is the easy part. I used a book from Nolo press on the subject, http://www.amazon.com/Fiance-Marriage-Visa...n/dp/0873377176 . There is a negative rating by an immigration attorney on Amazon claiming that no couple can do it on there own, just remember the source. However, because the laws do change, the USCIS web site should be your final source of information. I didn't use any of the forms that come with the book, I just used the book as a reference.

Before starting the process, I gave my wife some "Letter" sized paper. Every document she had to fill out, I would fill out for her electronically then send it to her via email. She would then print it on the "Letter" sized paper I gave her, and sign. Anything she got in the mail, she would scan and send to me so I could read it and tell her what she had to do. It really was not that difficult. She went to the doctor, the police, and the interview all on her own.

After your wife arrives, that is when the difficult part starts. She will be leaving her family, friends, food, culture, and possibly religion. She will have to deal with all of this while fighting boredom. When she first arrives, she probably won't be able to find a job. That will leave her at home alone while you are working (assuming you work). If you live in most of the US, public transportation sucks. So even if she is willing to explore, she might not have that option available to her.

Before my wife arrived, I found the nearby Asian markets, as well as the nearest temple. Fortunately, near the temple was a small shop that rented Thai movies so at least she could watch a little Thai TV. I also signed up for a couple of good long distance services.

After she arrived, she stayed at home most of the time. I set up a clock with Thai time on it and taught her how to dial her family and friends. I stressed to her that she should call anytime that she wanted to since we had good rates (sometimes she worries about the cost of things a little too much). I'd much rather her be happy making a $1 phone call than to be lonely.

Slowly she got to know our neighborhood. With my help, she eventually learned to navigate the crappy public transportation. This allowed her at least to head out to the mall to do some shopping and ultimately attend some ESL courses.

I stressed to her the importance of having a driver's license and car. In California they offer the driver's test in Thai, but they don't offer the book in Thai. She struggled a great deal going through the book and attempting to translate it to Thai. After she got the driver's license and car, this gave her a lot of freedom she didn't have before. With the car, she enrolled in a better school for ESL and allowed her to find a retail job, both of which gave her opportunities to meet new friends.

Two years in now, she is still struggling at some things. Her English is a lot better than it was before. She is doing well at her ESL classes, but she wants more. In Thailand, she received a BA degree in Finance. In America, she is working in retail. She really wants to find a better job, but this all takes time. With better English skills comes more opportunities. Better English skills takes time. At one point she was tempted to work in a Thai restaurant. I don't think this is in her best interest. It's a dead end job where she would speak less English than in her current job. We just went to a restaurant last night. The waitress that served us has lived in the US for five years, but her English is still not that great.

So while you think the visa is difficult, the part that you will struggle with more comes later. Good luck.

[ngangu]

Some good tips Dave, Thanks!

I've considered your point and tried to explain it to my fiance, but she'll never understand until she tries it. I'm looking for a place to settle for awhile, hopefully with some Thai culture and food available and warmer than where I was living, western Montana. What part of Cal. are you from?

I used a good calling service las time back called PINGO. I found it on the net and it was easy and cheap.

Thanks for the advice and good luck with your continuing transition!