[boltondd]

Geez, this all seems like such a pain in the @ss. Looks like I'll be travelling down the same road soon enough...

It is, especially after you are married!

I am still pretty upset that I had to fill out the same forms as the ones the governemt already had.

What's even worse is all the current talk about the illegal aliens here in the US and amnesty. Makes you wonder why you bother taking the legal route.

[boltondd]

After 6 and a half hours everything is finally ready to go. I will do a quick check in the morning then it's off to the post office. The total filing fees come to $565 including the fee for Advance Parole, I-131. This should enable us to travel overseas until residence status is achieved.

They do intimate that Advance Parole is for emergencies but the Immigration gentleman I talked to yesterday didn't seemed that excited about it when he pointed out that this form needs to filed in order to travel overseas. I hope not, since it costs $170, non-refundable. Has anybody else have any experiencces to relate?

As mentioned previously, most of the information required was already filed for the K-1. This was put in a sealed envelope which was given to the wife when the visa was issued. I had no idea what it was until the immigration officer asked for it when we arrived in San Franscisco, our point of entry. He opened the envelope, looked at a few things, then took fingerprints and a retinal scan. He then told us the documents would be forwarded to our local USCIS office. The whole process didn't take that long, maybe 7 to 8 minutes.

By the time we are done, the final cost should be around $1,000, that's including obtaining the K-1. A bit pricey when you consider that I am US citizen who has paid a pretty hefty sum in taxes over the years and has had very little in return for those taxes from any level of government!

[boltondd]

July 16th.

Received notification from Homeland Security that the wife can now travel while her I-485 application is pending. That makes 80 days for the application to go through and be processed.

Has anybody out there actually used one of these?

[boltondd]

Heard from the government today; application approved and card being produced. Will be sent in the next 30 days. No interview or further shots.

Soooooooooooo, applied early April 2006, tranfered to CA service center in July 2006, picked up and looked at late January 2007, request for further information which was put in the mail Feb 9th.

Approved 22nd of February 2007.

BTW: The most frustrating part of this process is the total lack of information about the progress of the application. Even though you have a website and phone numbers there is nothing available to you when the application is in limbo which for us lasted nearly 9 months.

[boltondd]

Having married a couple of weeks ago, now is the time to adjust the wifes status from a K-1 fiancee' to a conditional resident here in the US. I thought I would mantain this thread so that others in future would benefit from our experience.

The start of the process is the forms which can be downloaded from the US Government web site at http://uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/i-485.htm There are only 41 pages consisting of both forms and directions.

On reading the directions, I found that most of the information required was already submitted when applying for the original K-1. We carried all this stuff back with us and gave it to the examing immigration officer when we entered the US. At the time, he told us it would be forwarded to our local immigration office.

So somewhat confused, I made an appointment (see http://infopass.uscis.gov/) to see an immigration officer at our local centre (240 miles away) to find out exactly what we needed to file. Yesterday we trekked out there and after a short wait we got to see someone. Being the real world, what he had to say, I didn't want to hear.

"Forget what you submitted previously, you need to do everything again. The stuff before has been filed and forgotten, different department, biometrics done in Bangkok no use, to be done again" etc.

So it's important that you keep all the original documents used for the K-1 process and bring them with you when you come to the US

The other important thing I found out is that it's going to be 8 to 13 months before this process is done with no guarantee that the petition will be granted. Meanwhile she cannot leave the country without filing another form (I-131 Application to Travel) or work (I-765 Employment Authorization).

Pretty aggravating when you consider what the government is trying to do about the 11 million iilegal aliens resident here in the US.

For the next post I will detail all the forms and backup documents required with a photograph showing the pile of paper.

[boltondd]

Geez, this all seems like such a pain in the @ss. Looks like I'll be travelling down the same road soon enough...

I just noticed that you are located in Afghanistan. I take it you are in the armed forces? If so, I suggest you get military legal advice, maybe from the military attache at the embassy in Bangkok (I have the impression you are still there?).

I have no idea what the immigration situation is with military brides but it is worth a shot. You never know, it might be a much easier process then the civilian one.

Anyway, once again, good luck!

[verybigf]

K1 (Fiancee) visa can be issued only once if she left without advance parole (short period traveling visa) during waiting for condition GC. (usually take approx. 100-120 day) then she has to start all over again by apply for K3 (spouse visa) from Thailand.

Once she receives C GC. she can travel as her heart desire up to six month no more than one yr. if necessary then she has to file extention before leave the country, 90 day before 2 yrs of C GC is up she has to file changing status to obtain 10 yr. green card.

To change the last name www.thai-la.net click on passport. HTH.

[sestomosi]

Geez, this all seems like such a pain in the @ss. Looks like I'll be travelling down the same road soon enough...

[boltondd]

One note Peterg. You mentioned linking her pasport to your name? Haven't heard of that.

Getting married in Vegas doesn't legally change the wifes name but she decided she wanted her surname to be mine with her family name as a middle name. That is how I filled out the paperwork for the government. Hence her first name and my last name.

The notice to appear was first name, my last name. Her passport shows first name, her family name, which is where the marriage certificate comes in since a photo id is required.

As an aside, we are off to DC the weekend so that we can register the marriage with the Thai Government (personal appearance required) and get her passport changed to reflect the name she wants to go by. Also gives me a chance to show her some ot the highlights of the Capitol.

Have you registered your marriage with the Thai Government yet Bassai, and if so, did you have to go the LA Consulate?

[Knillagrarp]

If you didn't use a marriage broker, then don't worry about it. Just fill out the parts that are relevant.

[reervieltnope]

Yep, it went to Chicago, the acceptance was mailed out of Missouri, and the biometrics are being done in Atlanta.

I assume when you say acceptance you mean notification they received your I-485 package?

Yes, The notification that my I-485 package was recieved and that they would be mailing me my biometrics date.

When I had read your post as to getting your biometrics date I began anticipating ours also, as the date of my mailing was very close to yours. Last night it arrived and my rush of joy swiftly turned to AGONEY when I saw that my date was for May the 5th and then read the STERN PRONOUNCMENT that if I did not keep my appointment my application would be consisdered abandoned !!!!!!!!!! Of course it is after 6 PM and I cannot call any USCIS offices to speak with a live person, the voice recorrding endlessly covers all options by telling you to call to talk with a person , and an hours search of their website turns up nothing!

Biting the bullet I decide to skip work today, a double whammy as Wednsday was a no work day due to our honoring of the pipefitters picket at my current job, go down to the USCIS office and throw myself on the mercy of cold government functionaries . So this morning I'm up and overdosing on caffine and biting my nails attempting to forsee every pitfall possible and arming myself thus! (Note: To much coffee ruins mindfullness detachment.) Getting at the office 15 minutes before they open gives me some time to follow my breath, calm down and hopefully pesent a mature and reasoned front.

Right at 8AM sharp the office opens, my wife and I file in with the other 9 or so people waiting and we are all immediatly seen by a smiling staff member. As we hand over our paper work I begin to explain the snaffu of missing our appoiment date due to the letter arriving late and the lady smiles at us and utters those magic words "no problem" . She then explains that it happens frequently, we actually have 87 (?) days to do the biometrics and that the abandonment threat is just to goad you into action ( more like a major seizure). But Hey, after that easy as pie and now I'm lolly gaging around the house enjoying a nice spring day.

One note Peterg. You mentioned linking her pasport to your name? Haven't heard of that.

[doolarsva]

No, I really am in Afghanistan. The company I work for is based out of Houston, TX, and they have our internet / land lines set up to run through there. If you're checking my IP, then that's what you're going to see. Anyway, if y'all want me to hold up a sign that says "Thailand QA What's up!" with the Hindu-Kush mountains behind me, I can do that!

Anyway, I'm not in the military - I'm a government contractor. Sadly, I'm a lowly civilian, but those were some good ideas. I don't think I could do anything beyond what you all are doing.

I do want to get married to her, but I only get vacation every 3½ months, and I don't know - I feel like if she's my wife, I want to be with her 24/7. You know what I mean? I also want to bring her home FIRST to meet my family and friends before I got married, although if I really can't do that, I might just say screw it and get married.

We'll see, though. I love her a lot, and I know she feels the same, but who's to say she won't get so lonely she'll be with someone else? If she's definitely loyal to me, than I'm definitely gonna marry her - no question. We talk every single day, and I feel a close connection with her. I've heard that Thai women, when in love, are extremely loyal. I don't know if that's fact or fiction, but if it's true, she's found the right guy.

[verybigf]

Warning if it is not life and death don't file I-131, even you are approved on return you can be rejected on entering (they are alot of complaining on this permit) because on her actual stamped visa show only 90 days which is already expired.

Here are two websites in Thai and the other in English, the people who anwser the questions had been there, done that so detail down to date, time, hour, of paper processing if you have question they walk you through every steps (almost llke holdlng your hand).
www.usvisa4thai.com (Thai people)
www.visajourney.com ( English) click on forum

Keep your post going it will be useful information here too !

[Knillagrarp]

We have been through this process and are at the point where we have to file for the permanent adjustment of status, which is two years after receiving the green card. We also did both the I-131 and I-765. We traveled back to Thailand before the adjustment of status was approved and didn't have any trouble re-entering with the re-entry permit. We had a slight delay while the Homeland Security folks went over the paperwork, but we were on our way in under an hour. You have to file all of the stuff every time you apply and pay the proper fees, which continue to go up.

[boltondd]

Wife received her passport back yesterday, exactly one week after she left it at the Thai embassy in DC. The second page now has an endorsement in it stating that her name has changed.

I have never seen this done before so I hope the the next time we travel, all those involved will recognise it as being a valid travel document.

Has anyone else out there had experience with an "endorsed" passport where the main page recognises the maiden name and the endorsement recognises the married name?

[boltondd]

And yesterday, we received the Marriage Certificates from the Thai Embassy, so we are duly registered as married in Thailand.

[boltondd]

Came back from the UK tuesday and experienced first hand how the Advance Parole is treated.

The wife and I came into Atlanta on British Airways and the first thing I learned was that nobody was really sure what landing forms were required. We filled out an I-94 just in case it was required and we headed to immigration. The officer we got fiddled with the computer for a minute or two and then scribbled on our customs declaration and sent us on our way.

After collecting the luggage we headed for customs. After handing the form to the customs agent he directed us of to the side and told us to go to lane 2??? We walked around to, what I thought was the agricultural inspection area, where there was a group of people milling around. Not quite sure what was going on I collared the inspector x-raying baggage who told us to head over to one the desks situated there. Another official then took the wife's passport, Advance Parole, and the customs form and told us to sit down in a waiting area.

After 20 minutes or so watching the other people in the waiting area and other travellers being searched by customs I was starting to get anxious. Finally we were called over by an Inspector who stamped the advance parole and told us we could go. I asked him whether we needed the I-94 and he said yes but to leave the visa number blank in future. That was it, pretty straight forward except for the fact of the time involved (about 45 minutes of waiting), I still don't see why it couldn't have be done at the immigration desk but ce le vie' everything happened as it should and hopefully in the future it won't take as long.

[boltondd]

Another thought, if you are posted in Afghanistan and are likely to be there for awhile, and if you are both in agreement, get married anyway!

Then, while your I-130 is doing the rounds, you can complete your tour of duty, visiting her during your time off and giving yourselves time to decide what you want to do when you are all done with the military.

[boltondd]

Kinda marvelous when you think about it. One would have thought that typing the case number in and verifying eyeball and fingerprints would do it. But I do take your point V45, I have already added the marriage certificate to the documents along with the receipts.

We will be off to the UK early September and then to Thailand in November. I will make sure to allow plenty time between connections!

[boltondd]

It's all in the mail. The next step is up to the government.

As far as time frame is concerned I hope it is 90-120 days but getting the Advance Parole just in case.

Will now need to travel to Washington to register the marriage with the Thai Embassy. According to the website this has to be done in person. Also need to change the wife's passport to reflect the new name she has chosen which is her family name followed by my family name.

Does anyone have information or experiences concerning these topics?