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  1. #126
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    She would need to pay in to social security for 40 quarters (of a year; the equivalent of working 10 years) to collect at some future date. At that point, she would be entitled to collect your SS monthly payment, if you should die.

  2. #127
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    Marmite the Dog's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JPPR2
    my Gf has been reading that it is becoming an issue to buy land if you have become a US citizen and are married to a foreigner. Others may be able to speak with real world experience, I am only going off what we have read and she has heard when doing inquiries.
    Previously, maybe, but not now.

  3. #128
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    Quote Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by JPPR2
    my Gf has been reading that it is becoming an issue to buy land if you have become a US citizen and are married to a foreigner. Others may be able to speak with real world experience, I am only going off what we have read and she has heard when doing inquiries.
    Previously, maybe, but not now.
    The law which was on the books regarding Thai women who had foreign husbands, take their foreign husbands surname or hold another passport couldn't register land in their name was amended by the Ministry of Interior back in 1999 (I think).

    If there is a foreigner in the mix (married to a Thai woman) I think they do have to sign that "form letter" and go with their Thai wife to the Land Department. That letter states the foreigner knows they can't hold the chanote, they have no legal claim on the land under Thai family law and all the money used to purchase the land is coming from their Thai wife not them.

    I know quite a few Thai women married to foreigners who have both their husbands surname and hold a passport for another country too, yet hold a fist full of chanotes in their now foreign sounding surname.

    Conversely a foreigner CAN own the house and lease the right to have it sit on land in their wife's name without a lot of fanfare. The maximum term of a lease can be 30 years, and usually there are 2 extensions each for an additional 30 years written into it. This does have to be registered at the Land Department, but it’s pretty straight forward. I know a couple of foreign men married to Thais who "own" their homes this way...
    "Whoever said `Money can`t buy you love or joy` obviously was not making enough money." <- quote by Gene $immon$ of the rock group KISS

  4. #129
    CCBW Stumpy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by RamboII
    She would need to pay in to social security for 40 quarters (of a year; the equivalent of working 10 years) to collect at some future date. At that point, she would be entitled to collect your SS monthly payment, if you should die.
    Those numbers are correct. We will stick with the green card status and keep it simple.

    Quote Originally Posted by toddaniels
    I know quite a few Thai women married to foreigners who have both their husbands surname and hold a passport for another country too, yet hold a fist full of chanotes in their now foreign sounding surname.
    Good information above ^^^. We have been reading info that nowadays it is now becoming more complicated and can create issues in buying land. While I am not married to her, I said if it ever happens for her to keep her Thai Passport and maiden name as you do not need a US Passport. Originally I wanted her to have it to travel back and forth but now have found the green card works as the same. She can travel back and forth with no issues, stay as long as she likes, work where she wants so there is no big benefit becoming a US citizen. Now if you plan on working here for years and want to be part of the system them it might be a good thing.

    Be very nice if they had something like this to stay in TL instead of that idiotic 90 day check in.

  5. #130
    Thailand Expat Storekeeper's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JPPR2 View Post
    stay as long as she likes.
    Not exactly true. If a green card holder stays outside the USA too long they could end up having it revoked and denied re-entry to the USA.

    I don't remember the specifics so you'll have to google it.

  6. #131
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    Quote Originally Posted by Storekeeper View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by rickschoppers View Post
    Right now I am struggling with the thought of my son staying in Thailand and whether he should go thru the Thai education system and have a good command on the English language, or just bring him over here to be educated. He is only 2.5 years old, so there is time since he would not start school in the States until he is 5. There are pluses and minuses for staying in Thailand or coming to the US. I will be working on getting him a US passport and SS card when I return after working a couple of 3 month contracts. He will have until the age of 18 before he has to declare a home country.
    My soon to be 15 year old step-daughter went to school in Thailand for K-1; 2-3 at an American school in Japan; 4-6 in Thailand; 7-8 back at an American middle school in Japan and is now a 9th grader in the USA. She's probably the only Thai step kid I've met living in the states who can read and write Thai; and pull down roughly a 3.5 GPA at an American school. I'm pretty sure she already desires to get the US citizenship after 5 years even if it means giving up Thai citizenship. We've been in the USA about 7 months now.

    There are several Thai spouses in the area we live and most of them seem to be doing pretty well. Kitchen help at a casino seems to be a popular job with them.

    Interesting that your step-daughter was able to adapt to changing back and forth between the Thai and American education system and maintain a good GPA. It is encouraging to hear since I am still not sure about how to educate my son. Given the choice between living in Thailand or the US is not an easy one to make and one that I do not want to impose on my son.

    By the way, where are you located to be so close to casinos. Nevada, or just an area that has American Indian casinos?

  7. #132
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    Quote Originally Posted by Storekeeper View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by JPPR2 View Post
    stay as long as she likes.
    Not exactly true. If a green card holder stays outside the USA too long they could end up having it revoked and denied re-entry to the USA.

    I don't remember the specifics so you'll have to google it.
    Storekeeper,
    I apologize, let me clarify my statement. She can stay here in the US as long as she likes now versus having to leave in 3 months and stay there for 6 months return back etc, etc

    If she stayed in TL to long they could revoke her Green card. I am not sure the exact duration she would have to be away to have that happen.

  8. #133
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    Quote Originally Posted by rickschoppers View Post
    By the way, where are you located to be so close to casinos. Nevada, or just an area that has American Indian casinos?
    Washington State

  9. #134
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    Post greencard update( 4/19/2013)

    I wanted to drop some updated info into the thread to bring it current. All is progressing quite well. She landed a job quite easily and is making descent money and has been gainfully employed now for nearly 3+ months. She is saving virtually every penny. She has a sweet deal in many regards as she negotiated a cash/salary wage where she banks some cash on the side and keeps her taxable income low(basically minimum wage as they will see it). The big plus is she did not have to work so she was able to command her hours the way she wanted them so she has weekends off with me.

    We are almost at the 6 month mark into the 2 year conditional Greencard. We can apply for the 10 year Greencard around October 2014 which makes it a permanent type status rather then conditional and coming and going is not scrutinized. I will definitely update the thread on that final process.

    We are at a cross road on whether it is worth applying for US citizenship. We have discussed this numerous times and have not determined which path we will go. There are some pro's to having a US passport and some negatives. We are still weighing them out.

    For now its just living a life. She likes that she is saving money very fast. Being we will renovate her Teak home starting early 2015 she has a list of things she wants to purchase for it. Of course I will be adding my few western creature comforts.

  10. #135
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    How did you get her a tourist visa the first time? I am about to go thru this and was wondering what answers she gave during the interview process. If she says she is coming to USA to stay with her boy friend, they always get rejected?

  11. #136
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    I think she is a nurse so that would make it easier.

  12. #137
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    Quote Originally Posted by Courtesy Flush View Post
    How did you get her a tourist visa the first time? I am about to go thru this and was wondering what answers she gave during the interview process. If she says she is coming to USA to stay with her boy friend, they always get rejected?
    Firstly...Excellent Nic for a name.

    Answering your question, If you have time I would recommend going through this post from my original OP. A quick recap; Do it all online. Whatever she submits on the form should/must align with what she says in the interview.

    There are many variables but the key things they look for is that she has assets and family to return to. If she is single, no assets, no job, no education then this will be a hard sell and the interviewer will see right through it. She should go prepared with any documents etc. You cannot go with her on the interview so she will have to answer this alone.

    Good luck

  13. #138
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    Quote Originally Posted by Goodwill View Post
    I think she is a nurse so that would make it easier.
    I am not sure how much that had a lot to do with it quite honestly, but clearly having a degree from college, owning her own home, having a job to return to at the hospital she was leaving, a car, money in the bank made it clear she had intentions of returning.

  14. #139
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    Citizenship and Social Security Survivors Benefit

    Obtaining U.S. citizenship enables a surviving spouse the right to collect SS survivor benefits at 60-years old in a foreign country based upon their spouse's earnings. Without citizenship the barriers to collecting in a foreign country are pretty steep. May not be much if she begins collecting at 60 (about $1,200/month in our case), but certainly the cheapest safety net available for a Thai national.

    Steve

  15. #140
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    Update 9/2014

    Well we have been back in the US nearly 2 years now and I just submitted the I-751 "Conditions Release" form. Basically the 2 year card has conditions to make sure your not a 'Human Trafficker" or that you're not a "paid to bring her over" scammer.

    The form is quite simple and is basically a subset of the original information you have to submit to acquire the initial greencard. Its really more of a confirmation that you are still married and share the same address, joint banking accts etc. I submitted the form with docs on 9/16 registered mail. 9/22 I received a response from them stating my packet had been accepted, the $590 had been deposited and they will send out an appointment schedule to reaffirm a bio-metric scan and a new picture. They will review the supporting docs submitted and determine if an interview appt is required to validate the docs. Again I cannot impress upon anyone doing this that they do it without an attorney. It is not difficult. It takes time but you learn and understand the process. Anyone that has used an attorney that I have met or spoken with has always encountered delays, always required multiple interviews and I am confident are filed differently in the INS system. Some have stated that this release process takes months. It will be interesting to see. I got a response in 5 days.

    Regardless, once released she will receive a 10 year greencard with no conditions. That is nice and frees us up more. Being that she is now married to a US citizen we can apply for her citizenship at the 2 year 9 month mark. Not sure our plan at this time as we intend on moving back to our home in Thailand early next year and not sure what we want to do. She does not care either way. She is content using the greencard. Clearly having a US Passport has its advantages. We will cross that bridge when we get there.

  16. #141
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    JPPR,
    Easier to apply for her SS benefits later on if she has the US passport...just saying. Anything can happen at any time. Best insurance policy for her in the long run. Otherwise I'd say, pass on it.

  17. #142
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    Well done, another milestone.

  18. #143
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    Quote Originally Posted by ltnt
    JPPR,
    Easier to apply for her SS benefits later on if she has the US passport...just saying. Anything can happen at any time. Best insurance policy for her in the long run. Otherwise I'd say, pass on it.
    I agree ltnt, It is something we are considering, So hard to predict the future and what one will need. Staying here for another year would be a challenge for me, I just want to get on with my life and all the things we have planned. Can't do that from here.

    Quote Originally Posted by gusG
    Well done, another milestone.
    Thanks Gus. We still have a few more minor details but overall the process went very well and with no issues to speak of. The US Gov site is user friendly and my wife and I enjoyed learning about the process. Of course we did not like the costs of all the filing fees but.....

  19. #144
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    Glad to hear all is going well.

  20. #145
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    Oh Yeah I have to eat my words, shortly after all this was done we got privately married in Las Vegas. It was a 4 day get stupid party staying at the Venetian. My wife is so frugal she even made her own dress. Turned out awesome. I don't think we slept more then 6 hrs in those 4 days but I cant remember.

    So I said over and over on TD I will never ever ever marry again, so it goes.

    I have a great wife who is a funny friend to boot.

    With all that said, We will still move back to Thailand next year. We started our house build Aug 4th. Expected completion is Feb/March 2015 time frame. Its moving along very very well. We have a really good professional General Contractor.

    Last decision on the table is to stay for her US Passport or not. By us getting married she does not have to wait 5 years, only 3.

    Cheers

  21. #146
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    12/15/2014

    We had our final interview on Friday 12/13/14 to release her "Greencard Contingencies". This took all of 20 minutes including the wait. Our interviewer sat us down, asked a few basics questions, confirmed our documents and slapped a big Red Stamp on the Front page, "Approved". She will receive her new 10 year greencard in a few weeks. Its free sailing now.

    In 9 months we can apply for her citizenship which would be given to her at the 3 year mark.

  22. #147
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    Congratulations, be sure to vote... The day after swearing in is the departure date right? To bad the Mexicans won't do the same.

  23. #148
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    Quote Originally Posted by ltnt View Post
    Congratulations, be sure to vote... The day after swearing in is the departure date right? To bad the Mexicans won't do the same.
    Thanks ltnt. Vote... That's funny. I am early 50's and have never voted except for myself when I ran for Treasurer in High School.

    The cargo container will be leaving the port the day after her swearing in if I can plan it that way.....

    As for the Mexicans, I wish the US had tighter controls like Thailand has and quit letting foreigners buy the land. You can give them a passport but unless born here you can't own squat...but that's just me.

    I was reading the other day there is a new ER 5 Visa where Chinese can get an instant citizenship if they drop $500,000 into land enhancements and development. WTF.. They are buying up Detroit. The US is such a greedy lot

    Oh well......

  24. #149
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    Davis Knowlton's Avatar
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    You really need to take "plight" out of your subject line - it's been about as letter perfect as could be. And congrats on the nuptials - I knew they were coming!

  25. #150
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    Quote Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton View Post
    You really need to take "plight" out of your subject line - it's been about as letter perfect as could be. And congrats on the nuptials - I knew they were coming!
    DK,
    You know you are right. But when I embarked on this I had no idea what was in front of me(us). It has been a seamless easy process. Its all in the details. If you do your paperwork correctly by yourself it goes a lonnnnnnng way with INS. Again I personally think if you hire an attorney it raises a flag and complicates the process. Of course the attorney wants it to draw out, they make more money..

    Thanks on Marriage. I surrendered....

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