I first went to Thailand in 1997 and immediately fell in love with the country. Thailand at that time to me was mysterious and exotic, full of potentials and pitfalls.
Fast forward to 2010 and here I am after 13 years and many trips to the LOS sharing, with the help of my 
Sawasdee Kaa From Golf
Hi everyone,
this is Golf and today is the first day that I have a chance to share my thought
and to be Steve’s guest. I have to think about what I want to write and post to this website for a while because I’m not a good writer and also English is not my native language, but after I start and then I can’t stop (laugh).
I’m a tall girl from north-west of Thailand, Tak is a province where I was born. It’s not usual that Thai girl will be as tall as me but I’m proud of my height because I got this gene from my dad so I’m happy about it. I was studying at my hometown almost 10 years and then moved to Bangkok for study nursing degree. 4 more years for studied nursing and also worked like a nurse 2 years in Bangkok either Public and private hospital. I spent my sigle life for almost 25 years until I met Steve from internet, the guy who changed my life and then we decided to marry after we talked for 4 months and got a chance to meet each other. Who knows on that time the guy from cyber-world will change my life and comes to be a part of my life right now. What do you call “destiny”?
It’s not that easy at all because we both live in different country like a half world away and have to find many ways for keep in touch, oversea phone call and internet are the best way to help both of us to stay alive on that time. I have to say that, because can you imagine that when you love someone so much but can’t live with together yet…
About 8 months later Steve flew to Thailand again after spent the money for 2 trips to Thailand already, so all together 3 times in one year. But this trip much better than the other 2 because we both will have wedding ceremony in my hometown and then I will fly back to the US with him. We have a wonderful wedding in Tak with so many guest…my parents, my friends and alot of people from my village…sometime in the future I will show you for our Thai wedding photos.
We’re live together in the US since then and we both know how much we love each other and don’t want anything to make both of us far apart again. This’s how I started to stay here in the beginning…and a lot of things that I miss but I choose to do it because I’ve just wanted to stay with the guy who I love so much…I hope everyone enjoy with my real life story…
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Hi Gulf (and Steve). I live in the USA, specifically California. I went to Thailand in November 2008 on a tour for two weeks and then was caught up in the airport takeover, so I was there for another week. But I cannot complain about that as I fell in love (love at first sight) with a Thai woman who helped me get to U-Tapia base to return home. I only met her for the 6 hours of her help. After returning to the USA on Dec 1st, I went back on Dec 28th on a two week trip to visit with her. We had a great time together and was most enjoyable. I returned again in Mid-May 2009 for one month to visit with her and her family. The trip was again great. I now want to bring her to America to visit, but it has been very trying. We filed for a visitor visa and she went in for her interview in late April 2009 but it was denied. I am thinking about filing a fiancee visa, but that will take 6 months (if it is accepted). I have heard from people here in America that marrying a Thai woman in Thailand, it would still take 6 months or more before she can get a visa to come to America. Is that true? Were you able to come to America immediately once you married in Thailand? Can you give me some pointers or help as to what is the best way to get a visa to bring her to America?
Best regards. Robert
Hi Robert,
If you got trapped at the airport during the takeover and still love Thailand then you must have had an awesome time and really fell in love with the country. I can say that I can easily understand why.
I understand your frustration and can confirm what others have told you. It may be a bit quicker for the fiancée visa, but not much. Golf filed her application in May 2006 and got her acceptance in October 2006…so 5 months. We were already married when she filed for the visa so it was a K-3 not a K-1. We used the service of Brian Wright at http://www.mythaifiancee.com/ and it was a great experience. He advertises 100% success rate with getting visas for the girls and I know from speaking with him during one of my visits to Bangkok that he is on good terms with several of the examiners at the U.S. Embassy. It isn’t cheap, but is definitely worth it. This is from his email to me in 2006 (fees may have increased since then): “Our fee is $1,595.00 for a fiancee visa, $1695.00 for a marriage (K-3) visa, this amount is also our retainer which is payable upon our completion of the initial application. Government fees include: application fee $170, medical exam $50, interview fee $100.” I do not get any commission for recommending his service, this is just my honest experience.
That’s the best advice I can give. Also I want to mention that if she was denied a visitor’s visa once re-applying typically won’t help unless something has changed dramatically in her circumstances. The embassy will look at family ties, current and historical savings, job and career prospects and anything else that would indicate the visitor will return to their home country. If none of those factors are significantly changed then the end result will likely be the same.
Good luck to you and your girlfriends as I know how painful it can be to be separated like that, Golf and I lived like that for about 1 year and it was the longest year of my life. Not to mention the expense of multiple trips to Thailand and phone calls. Take it from 2 of us who have gone through what you’re experiencing that it can all work out.
@robert patkos
getting a tourist visa for a thai is very difficult. IMPOSSIBLE if they know she has an american boyfriend/fiancee/husband.
you can learn the visa and immigration stuff at http://visajourney.com . they have step by step guides and if you ask question in the forum you’ll get lots of answers. they have charts of how long it takes for each step.
i go back and forth. USA to work, send money to family, save up to go home for 2 or three months. i want to live there, not here. seeing my wife for 2 or 3 months once a year the last 5 years is difficult, but it’s the way things are now.
you can get a good deal on phone cards to call thailand from http://www.nobelcom.com/ i buy the one called “TALK THAILAND CELL” and i get over 3000 minutes for 50$ (read the plans carefully, some have per-call fees) and we Skype video when we can.
good luck
karl thaicountrylife.com
Karl,
Thanks a lot for your comment. I totally agree with you about living far away from who you love so much. That’s why we both decided one of us need to sacrifice and live in one of other country. And I didn’t think it’s a good idea for Steve to move to Thailand at that time because we both still have so many debts. So that’s why I’m here.
We tried to build our future together here and once we think we have saved enough and be able to live in Thailand comfortably we will move.
The most important thing is we have each other and support each other. And I really admire that you to work so hard and travel back and forth between Thailand and the US. because I don’t think we would be able to do that at all. I can only imagine that!
And yes, Steve signed me up for the phone card from http://www.nobelcom.com/ and it’s very helpful to keep in touch with my family and friends in Thailand.
Thanks again and keep in touch.