Confused About K-3 Visa To Us

[yabadaba]

I'm an American married to a Thai, we have a son who has a US passport. I want to apply for the K-3 for my wife and we are currently living together in Bangkok. The problem is the INS doesn't process the I-130 petition for alien relative unless you are a resident of Thailand which by their definition means having lived here for at least year. Unfortunately I've only been here for 6 months so I have to submit everything to the service center in the US (Nebraska) which I'm guessing means a much longer wait. DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW LONG?

Secondly I'm confused about the sequence of the process. Can I submit the I-129 before the I-130 is approved or do I just need to wait for the I-130 receipt in order to prove that I applied?

Furthermore I was told I can use the affidavit of support form I-134 for the fiancée visa (or k-3) but do I need to use the I-864 affidavit of support for the I-130 petition? And when exactly do I submit the affidavit(s) with the I-130 or 1-129? Or do I wait for the embassy to request it (them).

I hope someone out there who's had experience with this can clarify this for me because the people at the INS and US embassy can't be bothered to even answer a phone.