What Is The Best Method

[regpye]

I have been to AU Immigration a number of times, and each time I get a new story from them.

This is our situation. I am an Australia citizen, have my own home paid for, self employed (not making a million) have married my Thai wife in AU nearly 2 years ago, got married again to her in BKK last year (no recorded yet) and we have been living apart since we met in 1998.

The reason for living apart is that she is a government official in BKK and has a work contract to complete (25 years) that will finish at the end of this year (Dec 2004)

She has visited me several times in AU and stayed for her vacation each year, and I have visited her also several times and stayed as long as 2 months each time.

We have a joint bank account in AU, not a lot in it, just a few thousand, but it has been steady.

My intentions are to go to BKK again later this year, and hopefully bring her back with me, but we are very unsure about the best way to go about all this, because Immigration can't give us a straight answer, they just say to apply in BKK and each application is dealt with individually.

What are our best options? I have downloaded the applications from the Immigration website and read the lengthy applications for both of us, but that doesn't seem to give us the answers that are needed.

I can't afford to keep triping to BKK all the time, the money is running out fast.

Thanks for any feed-back

Reg

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I have been to AU Immigration a number of times, and each time I get a new story from them.

This is our situation. I am an Australia citizen, have my own home paid for, self employed (not making a million) have married my Thai wife in AU nearly 2 years ago, got married again to her in BKK last year (no recorded yet) and we have been living apart since we met in 1998.

The reason for living apart is that she is a government official in BKK and has a work contract to complete (25 years) that will finish at the end of this year (Dec 2004)

She has visited me several times in AU and stayed for her vacation each year, and I have visited her also several times and stayed as long as 2 months each time.

We have a joint bank account in AU, not a lot in it, just a few thousand, but it has been steady.

My intentions are to go to BKK again later this year, and hopefully bring her back with me, but we are very unsure about the best way to go about all this, because Immigration can't give us a straight answer, they just say to apply in BKK and each application is dealt with individually.

What are our best options? I have downloaded the applications from the Immigration website and read the lengthy applications for both of us, but that doesn't seem to give us the answers that are needed.

I can't afford to keep triping to BKK all the time, the money is running out fast.

Thanks for any feed-back

Reg

Send a PM or email to Bronco on this forum Reg. Bronco has done it and has a good handle on it. Good luck.

[regpye]

I have contacted Bronco as suggested Dr P. and found him to be very helpful, thanks to you both.

I have a few other questions that I will direct to Bronco later, but will mention it here in case others are wondering too.

I will have little time to arrange everything when I go to Thailand to apply for my wifes immigration to AU.

How is the best way to get all her documents ready, i.e. Health check, police clearance, translations, etc?

Are these able to be done before I go there, what steps should she take to start proceedings as she has no idea about what to do or where to start.

I have already started to gather all the documents that I should take, and am also arranging letters of support from various people that have known us in AU.

Thanks again for all the help, this is a real useful forum.

[Pink Mist]

Health check:

When you have your initial pre-interview they give you a list of things you require. The health check form is one of them, there is also a list of approved clinics and hospitals throughout Thailand that you must use.

Reg you never mentioned if your wife had children from previous relationship, if so they need to get health check also, even if they arn't travelling with you

Police check:

They will give you a "letter of introduction" to the Thai police special branch.

About the only thing that's correct is the address, but take it along anyway.

If she wants to get it underway on her own then get her to go over to the special branch office with a couple of photos, ID, house reg, etc.

If you have children 16 to 18 they must also get a check and if over 18 and attending school then they must also have a police check. They apply Oz law and the person is classed as a dependant up to the age of 25 if still attending school and under certain circumstances even longer.

I will pm you the name of a translation service who I have used myself and recommended to others here and havn't had any negative feedback so she must still be doing a good job.

Your wife may be able to go to the embassy and just get these forms and start the whole process ASAP.

regards

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I have contacted Bronco as suggested Dr P. and found him to be very helpful, thanks to you both.

I have a few other questions that I will direct to Bronco later, but will mention it here in case others are wondering too.

I will have little time to arrange everything when I go to Thailand to apply for my wifes immigration to AU.

How is the best way to get all her documents ready, i.e. Health check, police clearance, translations, etc?

Are these able to be done before I go there, what steps should she take to start proceedings as she has no idea about what to do or where to start.

I have already started to gather all the documents that I should take, and am also arranging letters of support from various people that have known us in AU.

Thanks again for all the help, this is a real useful forum.

I hope that it all works for you Reg. It has been a long wait. As they have let her go to Oz a number of times, they obviously trust you and her. Good luck

[regpye]

No sure about the trust Dr. P, She has come here on a visitors visa, and they asked many questions each time.

Searched at Melbourne airport, searched again at Adelaide airport, searched and questioned on return flight back as well last trip.

I was able to go on a class "O" visa last time, being married and all that.

I had no trouble in Thailand, they just marked my passport and let me through. Got searched on the return home though at Adelaide airport, and questioned about why I went to Thailand, who did I see there, how long was I gone, etc.

Guess we Aussies are doing a bit of over-kill at Customs & Immigration, but maybe it is neccessary ??

[Pink Mist]

Customs and Immigration are two separate entities Reg, with their own agendas at an airport.

[regpye]

Yes, ofcourse you are right Bronco, Immigration really didn't have anything to do with the airport searches, it will have been only Customs.

Guess we will find out all about Immigration as we proceed forward

They have been precious little help at Currie Street so far, couldn't give any straight answers or information, seemed frightened to do much at all, except sit on their back-sides. (Maybe that is why they are called shiny-bums )

[Pink Mist]

They are no help there at all when it comes to advice about overseas missions, or they don't want to commit ( I suspect the latter)

You normally get the newer or junior staff at the enquiries counter and they are under the pump cause of the size of waiting people.

Dont worry you can get enough advice here, someone will have been thru the situation already.

The Doc is an Adelaide boy, unfortunately he had a mispent youth, went to Uni did a shady degree in an unemployable profession but somehow he survives in BKK, mixing with the diplomatic elite.

[regpye]

I have seen Immigration 7 times during the last few years, long wait each time sitting watching TV with all the others until my number came up.

Only one guy half told me something, he said that they didn't like people coming into Australia on a visitors visa without a lot of questions, because they may decide not to go back. That seemed to me that there may be some loop-holes somewhere???

[Pink Mist]

Reg,

we read the papers here and we watch the TV, now lets just take boat people.

Once in Oz they get access to the Oz legal system, remember jonnie sending to Nauru and the change of annexation rules with over 100 islands.

How long does it take to deport someone once in the system, no big deal, how much does it cost, that is the crux of the issue.

Shines are not noted for sticking their necks out by giving advice or doing any more than required at the lower bueraucratic level, once they have a bit of status some actually work and the others know how to survive doing the minimum required.

Not a great deal to do with Thai visa, but eeeh, beats talking to the "where can I meet a girl in LOS who is not a BG"

[regpye]

Bronco! You have me in stitches, I could help laughing about the BGs ha..ha..

Guess there are some that haven't got out of that stage yet, not found the one to settle down with.

I have a forum of my own that I started to gather some info about Thai Visas and living there, but not had much responce. I wanted to find out all I could about going to Thailand to live, but after making some inquiries, decided against it.

Have too much here already that I can't take with me, and no possibilities of work there for me, because of my age.

Just updated MSN, you know what I am on about.

[Pink Mist]

Well Reg,

A lot of guys post here and say "my ex bla bala but she wasn't a bar girl" why?

Who cares really BG's are good fun really.

Just remember unless they come from an affluent family, in a country with no social welfare structure, if circumstances change drastically and the baht stops then Thai girls are one root away.

[regpye]

Bronco, I totally agree, I know that is why my wife is so proud of her job, because she has security and good pay.

It must be pretty hard on those that have close to nothing, only route to take is rooting or begging. Saw that the beggars don't get a good handout there, seemed like they are scourned upon, so it doesn't leave many options for them.

Some there seem to have too much, while most are scratching to make ends meet.

Great country though, pity about the corruption.