A Little Humor...

You Know You're Thai When....

Today's steamed rice is tomorrow's fried rice. No matter what you eat, it's not peppery or spicy enough! You don't care if you are superior to all other Asians or not, because being Thai is just cool in itself. Your last name has a minimum of 15 letters. You own or you worked in a Thai restaurant. You are in another country and can not go another minute without papaya salad and local curry. You're proud to be Thai - and you pass these jokes on to all your Thai friends!

On The Air Bus !

We arrived back at the embassy on the following day at 2:30pm to pick up my wife's passport, with the visa in it. Passed through security up the side walk into the air conditioned building, we waited a half an hour before a gentleman walked out carrying a bundle of packets, he called out names and handed the packets with the passport stapled to them, he then asked everyone to check the information and make sure it was correct, my wife`s visa was free from error or fault; true and accurate. On our way again passed through security out the door to hail a taxi and headed to the Monk hospital where her cousin works, she took us to the bus station.
It was about one hour wait time then boarded the bus, I like to ride the bus you get to see a-lot of the country and we always take the air bus with seats the same as first class on a big jet plane. You also get two snacks one meal and two movies, a pillow and blanket, it was a six hour ride.
It was nice to see the country side, a sunset changing background with every mile, all the beautiful things I miss.

Chai Yo

Embassy Interview

We arrived at the Embassy about 5:15am there were 25-30 people in two lines, we got in line with all the other people with x-ray envelopes thinking there was a reason for this, when we got to the front of the line only to see they were letting in 4-5 people at a time alternating from each line. We got through security and walked inside, the time was 6:50am. Went directly to window 5 and turned in documents, I had to go back to security to get my wife's ID card, they want birth cert and ID plus house registration, it does say (or) so I thought birth cert was good, not a problem.

Wife's name was called at 8:15 ; window 7, I went up and stood next to her. The very first question was asked to me, where did you come from this morning, then asked my wife how we met, how many times have I been to see her, then asked me to tell him about my first trip to Thailand, I told my story and he said "I am convinced". he then asked my wife where she learned English and passed the DS-230 under the window my wife signed it and passed it back, he said come back tomorrow at 3:00pm to pick up the visa, then passed a card with that info on it. Done at 8:25am never asked for any evidence, I had e-mail , postcards, phone bill , customs forms from packages, photo album and that was it.

We helped a woman fill out her DS-230 and then made our way out, walked across the bridge and into the towers, up to 11th floor for brunch...oh what a feeling !


Chai Yo

VISA SUCCESS!

Visa was approved on 10/11/2005, we picked up the visa in passport on 10/12/2005
will post the embassy interview when back home...

Chai Yo

Romantic Means...

T.H.A.I.L.A.N.D = Totally Happy, Always In Love And Never Dull !


Chai Yo

Pre-Flight

I have booked our plane tickets, I am now ready to fly!

Packed my bags last night pre-flight

Zero hour 9a.m.

And I'm gonna be high as a kite by then

I miss the earth so much I miss my wife

It's lonely out in CR-1 space

On such a timeless Visa flight

An Embassy ain't the kind of place to raise your kids

In fact it's cold as hell

And there's no one there to raise them if you did

And all this immigration science I don't understand

It's just my job five days a week

An Embassy maaaaaaaan

Chai Yo

Medical

My wife traveled to Bankok, and got her medical done. She received two shots and now her arm is sore...ouch. Then off to the Thai Royal Police station, filled out all the paperwork and will receive the police certificate soon.

Her day started at 7:00am so I know by the time she finished was a little tired, but when she called me, was at the store shopping hehe

Now everything is done and we are ready for the interview, I will make flight reservations next month, I really want to go now as it has been 9 months apart.

Chai Yo

Post Office Ringing !

I called my wife this morning, we talked for awhile and she was going to call me back when she was ready for bed. I was searching immigration documents online and then started to read when the door bell rang, hmmmm who could be there? No one comes to visit but my parents or my brother, I knew it was not either of them, once again the USPS had a package for me, it was from my wife yeahhhh
I have the sweetest wife! She sent me a b-day package as it will be that day very soon.
2 video / karaoke vcd`s of Mai Chroenpura, in which windows media player is sporting right now, one of my favorites is Yahk Ja Raung Hai . A jazz tune with Mai`s voice very soothing,
my all time favorite though is Krai Suk Khon the name of this blog. It was the very first song my wife sent to me, yes Mai and that song have a special place in my heart.
I also received a professional pen, writes very nice and is small, am thinking I will probably loose once my wife get`s here...hehehehe


Chai Yo

Matutinal Interview !

I received the interview packet today, very thick envelope.
Our interview time is...7:30am, that is going to be an early wake up
as we will be standing outside the Embassy by 6:00am they open at 7:00am
and hope to be done by noon.

I will send the packet to my wife USPS express on Monday.
There are medical forms and instuctions she will need,
I had thought they would send the packet to her there as
it is intended for her not me.
I am the agent of choice for the case, so they must send all
information to the agent...(secret agent man)
The post mark is from Washington, not Thailand, the return

address is from an APO whitch is overseas...hmmm not

sure where this was mailed from, anyway I have got it !
That is what counts.

Chai Yo

Interview Packet

I now can start working on getting all the paperwork in order, I will have a complete packet of all the papers we have filed.
Also will have, e-mail, phone bills, pictures, post cards, receipts for packages sent and received, as we have to prove our relationship at the Embassy.

I have a friend who also got married in Thailand, and is going through the process now. His wife has an interview in August, has received the interview packet.
He was kind enough to copy it all and send it to me. Thanks David !

As I go through all of the paperwork getting it in order, I am starting to realize just how close this is to being over... excited - marked by uncontrolled excitement or emotion; something frantic in their gaiety; a mad whirl of pleasure.

excited - of e.g. a molecule; made reactive or more reactive; the science of matter and energy and their interactions; participating readily in reactions.

Chai Yo

90 Days...

It will be 90 days and we will be at the Embassy interviewing for the visa,
I feel good knowing we got this far and now only 3 months seperate us.
While it will be a long wait when it is over I will sing loudly!

I put a countdown counter on the left just above the clock, although seems to count very slow...hehe
Talking on the phone is "the next best thing to being there" I understand this
up close and personal now, "I'd like to teach the world to sing In perfect harmony
I'd like to buy the world a Coke And keep it company That's the real thing".
I can remember that commercial ha! I miss the times we had dinner and after we would share an ice cold coke, I associate things like this to the times we have shared and many more to come.

I also like to share the coconut milk then eat it afterwards, very good on a hot day.

Everyone..."Have a Coke and a Smile"

Chai Yo

Morning Surprise!

Great News!!!

When my wife called this morning, she said "I called the Embassy what month your prediction"

I knew then she had the date for the interview ohhhhhh wake up saying to self...

Then I hear October, that is ok. I was thinking , hoping for the first week in September.

We can start planning now and finally have a time frame in whitch it is all going to happen.

I could not keep from smiling all day, I am sooooooooo happy I am at a loss for words...

Seems October is our month

Chai Yo

Embassy / DOS

I have called Department of State and my wife has called the Embassy, we have done this weekly from the time our case was received at Embassy, still no interview date...I do not understansd why it is taking so long, I know the Embassy was closed for remodeling and was re opened July 7.

They were still working and conducting appointments during this time and they seem to have slowed down a great deal and now have added Cambodia interviews as well. I know we are on the final part of our journey and soon it will be over and we will start a new journey of togetherness that will lead us to happily ever after...

Chai Yo

Reminds me of you...

"When it rains it reminds me of you. Although 10,000 miles away I still always walk outside in the rain and kiss it just for you. It never fails me. The rain will always come and I'll always love you. Next time you see a storm on the horizon please don't fear, it's just heaven doing me the favor of taking you my kiss... Walk outside and kiss the rain whenever you need me."

missing you ja

Mr. Roboto

While driving around downtown Bangkok one afternoon, my wife pointed out a very unique building, and called it the robot building. I gazed at what appeared to be a giant robot

I have never seen such a structure this cool, one thing`s for sure, you would never get lost going to work!

Chai Yo

PC Update

My brother came over tonight, I installed a new DVD writer and connected 2 more USB ports, on the PC I built for him 2 years ago. I did not think it had been that long,when you get older time goes sooo fast.
It was a nice visit though and will be checking Crucial for more ram!
You can never have too much ram .

The picture is of Pantip Plaza in Thailand, my wife took me there a few times.
Here you will find everything you are looking for and more, this is actually geek/nerd heaven!
There is no doubt, Pantip Plaza is the best computer shopping mall I have ever visited anywhere.

Chai Yo

DOS...

Called the Department of State today, visa section and talked with a counsular officer about our case, of course no update to post.
I am glad to find this service available, will save allot on calling the Embassy direct.

It was another 100 degree day, 37 celcius and the humidity was high, there were some grass fires right next to work, we called 911 and the big red trucks arrived flashing lights and all!

Ohhh yes we all stoped working and turned into lookie lous.

It never did rain but still forcasting it, I think it will rain and when it does so when I walk out side and get wet...I will then know hey it`s raining.

Chai Yo

More Sunshine

It was a hot one here today 104 degrees, 40 celsius with high humidity had to run air, ohhhh feels good inside now. I talked to my wife earlier today and she is feeling better and now I too am feeling better.

On the way home from my Mom and Dads, I looked over expecting my wife to be sitting next to me...ahhhhhh the heat, for a moment I was back in Thailand

It is forcasted that we will see a bit of rain, maybe will cool things or just make everything wet, we`ll wait and see what happens.

Chai Yo

Under the weather

My wife is not feeling well, sore throat, aches and slight fever

It pains me that I can not be there to take care of her, I look forward to the day I can take care of her in that way and just be a close family.

Hope you feel better soon my

Love you ja

My Cartoons

I created these...yeah it was fun

Bangkok

The Embassy received our case on June 20, just waiting on a interview date now, should know next week!



Chai Yo

NVC Completes Case!

NVC completed our case and now on to Bangkok Embassy, I hope it only takes about two weeks for our case to arrive there, then for the interview date I am predicting the first two weeks in September or the last week in August would be great!
It is so nice finally to be out of NVC, it took us four months to get our case completion, we have done all the paperwork ourselves and it was almost a part time job doing it.

The Embassy is still 10-12 weeks for interview date, but the end is in sight now and soon it will be...the first day of the rest of our lives together.

Chai Yo

USPS Sunday

Went out this mourning to grab some Coca Cola ™ and parked in my circle was a car with government license plates, ok I thought... oh no they found me!!! I quickly got in my vehicle and started it up, only to look in my side mirror and see a woman walking up the side, what could they possibly want with me now? She said are you Todd (last name) I said yes , she said I have a package for you, it was the USPS WHAT!!!!! On Sunday?
It was an express package from my wife, and the USPS delivers 7 days a week I did not know that.
Feeling relieved I signed and said thank you very much.

The package had customs inspection stickers all over it, they opened it up and looked inside...
I hate when they do that!!! We have nothing to hide, but I do not like them reading
what my wife writes to me, it`s personal!!! Ohhhhhh how I love getting packages from my wife, she sent me a Happy T-shirt, a phone Co. in Thailand. Everybody wore them shirts
when I was there, and I mentioned I would like to have one...my sweetheart
I am Happy now with my Happy shirt ;))
Thank You sweet wife ja
I Love You ja

Immigration

Immigration is a long process if done legally, you will find out how strong the relationship is,
how strong a bond between that you never knew existed and well worth it in the end.
First you can check on what visa you want and what applies to your situation, I called an immigration lawyer in Chicago, talked with him about it, and was recomended to get married and file for visa at Bangkok Embassy, ok good I thought, I had a good plan of action read all I could on USCIS web sties downloaded all the forms, and gathered all the documents needed.
While talking with the lawyer he recomended that I file on my own as I had a "good handle on the process" his exact words, but if I needed some help he would be there to do it for me at $1500.00 dollars, after talking with my wife she said we can do it ourselves and if we do not success then use a lawyer, I agreed.

We arrived at the U.S Embassy, I filled out an affidavit that I was a legal U.S. Citizen and free to marry, they noterized them we paid the fee, then went to a really good translation agency my wife found driving around the night before, had them translated into Thai.
After we married went back to translation agency, had all the marriage documents translated into english and stamped at the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs, as they are now legal documents.
We went back to the Embassy to file and was told I could not unless I had lived there for a period of one year and/or had a job for a period of six months. We were advised that Department of Homeland Security could approve us to do this and sent us to DHS I remember it was tower two, when we reached the office we had a wait time of about 1/2 hour, we were called to the little window explained our situation and told no we could not file there, and gave us the K-3 packet and said it will take six months...

When I got back to the U.S. I filled out all the forms, my wife filled out the parts in Thai that needed to be and signed before I left.
I sent off the I-130 packet to Nebraska Service Center only to find out they were backlogged and transfered my packet to California Service Center, they were extremely fast and it turned out for the best.
The approval came then CSC sent packet to National Visa Center.
We have filled out many forms paid many fees and are still waiting, some of it takes time as you have to send the forms to your spouse for signature, after NVC completes the case they will send packet to the Embassy, they will mail out more forms and set an interview date.

I will be glad to answer any immigration questions you may have.

Visa Timeline

I-130/CR-1 TimeLine
12/01/2004 - I-130 Mailed to NSC
12/16/2004 - I-130 Received at CSC
12/23/2004 - I-130 NOA-1
01/03/2005 - I-130 NOA-1 received from CSC
01/26/2005 - I-130 Approved
01/31/2005 - I-130 NOA-2 received from CSC

NVC TimeLine
01/28/2005 - Case Transferred to NVC
02/04/2005 - Assigned Case Number

02/14/2005 - DS-3032 & I-864 Fee Bill Generated
02/18/2005 - DS-3032 & I-864 Fee Bill Received
02/22/2005 - I-864 Fee Bill Sent
02/24/2005 - I-864 Fee Bill Delivered
03/02/2005 - DS-3032 Sent
03/09/2005 - DS-3032 Delivered

03/14/2005 - IV Bill Generated
03/28/2005 - IV Bill Received
03/29/2005 - IV Bill Sent
03/30/2005 - IV Bill Delivered
04/26/2005 - IV Bill in System

03/21/2005 - I-864 Generated
03/26/2005 - I-864 Received
03/30/2005 - I-864 Sent
03/31/2005 - I-864 Delivered
04/11/2005 - I-864 Review Complete

05/02/2005 - DS-230 Generated
05/11/2005 - DS-230 Received
05/12/2005 - DS-230 Sent
05/13/2005 - DS-230 Delivered

05/18/2005 - Case Under Review
05/23/2005 - Case Completed
06/06/2005 - Case Forwarded to Consular IV Unit

Embassy TimeLine
06/20/2005 - Consular IV Unit Received Case
07/22/2005 - Interview Packet Received
10/11/2005 - Interview Date

10/12/2005 - Visa In Passport

Suk San Wan Keut!...Happy Birthday!

Suk San Wan Keut!
Happy Birthday, to my beautiful loving wife...Big KISS

When I first saw you
I saw Love
The first time
you touched me
I felt Love
Life is so Beautiful...
With you
by my side
Sweetheart...
you are the love
of my life
I Love You!

Chai Yo
LOVE
Your Husband...:))

Closeness

We met August 2003 , we were both born in the same year differant months on the same day, close to the same time. We have a very special and strong bond between us, unlike I have ever had with anyone. Only comparable to Shakespears, Romeo & Juliet

Online Love

We met online through e-mail and quickly started to chat every day and night, after five months I finally got the nerve to call, it was hi how are you and a-lot of laughing lasted for about five minutes, sent flowers... called again on new years, more talking this time, then began calling everyday. I wanted to meet her, I knew I was falling in love from day one! Sent flowers... Went to travel agent bought ticket, set to go. I left Moline airport About 45 minutes early, around 8:15am. Flew into Chicago O'Hare, walking through the terminal I saw a gate with my terminal number, I walked down the stairs out to the bus and it took me right across to my terminal great I thought. Waited there about 2 1/2 hours before boarding right into my isle seat, 13 1/2 hours later I landed in Narita Japan. Went through security smoothly then around the corner to the terminal, I waited about 1 hour 45min and boarded the plane, I could not wait for this flight to take off but have to say I was a little scared,anxious,happy and excited all at the same time. I sat in the middle row, two elderly women on my right and one on the left, we started talking they asked me where I was going I told them my plans, they thought it was great I was going to meet my new love, I think they became as excited as I was, we then filled out customs form then I tried to get some sleep, 6 1/2 hours later we landed at Don Muang International Bangkok. We sat on the plane for another 1/2 hour waiting for a gate, finally we were at the gate, the three women wished me well and off I went. Once in the terminal I walked from one end to the other following customs and Immigration signs, finally arriving at customs. Got in line it went really fast, then down the steps grabbed my bag and through immigration point and out into the main part. I looked for Michelle but could not see her, I thought no way this can not be happening, I stayed calm put my coat into my bag and walked out to the main doorway a man walked up to me and asked me what was wrong, I told him I was looking for my friend and give him Michelle`s cell number and he tried to call but could not get through, he then asked what looked to be an airport official to help me. I told him I am trying to find my friend and give her cell number to him and he got through, he then told me to wait by the sonic restaurant that she is on her way,
she was in terminal 1 I was in terminal 2, feeling a great relief I sat on the ledge in front of the sonic and waited about 15-20 minutes, then I seen her and a friend walk thought the door they did not see me at first I can not describe what I felt when I seen her WOW :)) I started walking over, when she saw me a huge smile came across her, we did not say anything but just looked at each other, she then grabbed the strap on my bag and we walked outside and I was introduced to Yink (pronounced Ying) we then walked down a ramp and into a taxi, we were off to stay at Yink`s house for the night. We did stop at a grocery store with a cafe, she ordered me soup it was very good and the desert was two ginger balls in syrup very hot but was delicious. When I finished we went over to the bakery and bought some stuff for breakfast it was 1:00am already and I was not tired , back in the taxi and off to Yink`s house not to far a drive as I remember, we arrived and I took off my shoes and went in very nice and clean I thought, she took me up to a room they had prepared for me I was surprised this is very nice I said and put my bags down, then was shown where to shower and clean up, after showering I went down to join them, Yink said goodnight and went up to bed, we watched TV and talked until 4:00am then went to bed, she went in to sleep in Yink`s room...Thai girl tradition hmmmmm how refreshing I respected that...of my 38 years I finally felt like I was home, I knew right at that moment she was the one I had waited all my life for. I felt something I had never felt before...