It is a nice picture of my Thai wife,Amporn.Is it worth 8 grand?I do not believe it is,nor was the almost 30 months that the "USCIS" took issuing it to Amporn.
The "K-3" expires July of this year,a little more then four months from this date.The multiple entry is good until 2014.
It is necessary to go back in time to explain this complete failure on the part of "USCIS & Visa Lawyers".
Long before i started my adventure of living as a expat in Thailand,i dreamt of marrying a beautiful Thai Woman.
Living out my life alone was not my idea of fulfillment of my retirement dreams.
I first connected with my future wife on"ThaiLoveLinks.com" back in early 2007.
TheThai women who contacted me on this site,numbered in the hundreds.
Amporn stood out from the pack,not because she was the most beautiful,sexy,or youngest,but because of her honesty and persistence and good heart.
The online romance lasted almost a year,with hundreds of chats online and emails.
Marriage,Visa's,and other considerations were talked about in length,and promises were made.
The fact of the matter is ,we had planned on a marriage in both Thailand and America,with Thailand being only a 'Buddhist" rite,and America being the legal one.
Enter the quest for the original"K-1" fiancee visa late 2007(5 years ago).
I hired a Thailand based American Lawyer for almost 2 grand to get this visa before my planned visit to marry Amporn in July of 2008.
.I was in for a big disappointment upon my arrival in Thailand.
The aforementioned American Lawyer informed me that Amporn would not be granted the "K-1"without me providing the tax records (1040's) for the last two years(06/07).It is strange,but he never emailed or contacted me about this issue.
The resulting loss of "The k-1 Visa",fall's directly on the lawyer's failure to perform his duties and informing me in a timely manner about the Tax forms required.
Amporn and I decided to marry in Thailand(legal & Buddhist),as there was no time left to get the documents before her 'K-1" interview.I did however have complete financial records of all my American assets,which would have sufficed to comply with all "USCIS" support of spouse/fiancee requirements.
The Lawyer failed to inform me of the"5-1" US Dollar asset rule,simply meaning, if i had five times the yearly income requirement(i had 600 grand in money & assets liquid),then "NO PROBLEM",visa would have been granted,and i would have married in America,applied for Amporns "Change of Status",and been able to keep the "Promises"i made to her back in 07.
It goes without saying,but this lawyer was responsible for the loss of that first "K-1 Visa",plus thousands of more dollars to be later spent.
I love "Good Lawyers"and despise bad ones,as they(Good Lawyers) were the main reason i had 600k in assets.The facts our good legal help is worth the costs,bad help is a losing proposition.
OK,so the story moves forward to April of 2009,which found me back in America trying to keep my assets from going completely south after the market crash.
I hired a another lawyer to try and get the "K-3" visa while i was waiting out the storm of the market.
The new lawyer seemed very competent,and had worked in Washington D.C.,thus knowing how the government operates(NOT!).
That lawyer charged me another 5 k for this service.I was told i could go back to Thailand and wait eight months,visa issues would be resolved by that time(NOT!).
The time period of April 2009 to March of 2012(almost three years) found me living in Thailand,dealing with Thai family issues,riots,floods,closed US Embassy and more Visa experts,the latter(Sunbeltasia.com) finally getting the job completed,
I mention this company in Thailand,because they have worked for me almost four years now,and they have done a good job.
If you have managed to read this far,then maybe you our thinking about visa issues yourself.
The efforts and costs related to getting any kind of visa to America our huge,make no mistake in thinking differently.
USCIS,our not going to give you any help,advise you in any matters related to your applications,or in anyway make your life tolerable in visa related issues...".you our guilty,until proven innocence in their eyes!"
If you manage to get your wife,fiancee into America,then the process of further "HELL ON EARTH" awaits you in getting the change of status,work authorisation,Green card, SSN,and many other issues.
I know the costs first hand,and it runs into the tens of thousands of dollars and years....
If you want "EASY",then stay in Thailand and forget about the Visa "LOTTERY",because only fools would bet on something with those kind of odds.
Chok Dee,
Luckkyybuddha999
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