Which forum for thais getting U.S. visa?

[Baraka]

My Thai GF will be applying for a U.S. visa. Any help re what supporting material gives her the best chance of getting one?

[blackgang]

All that info is available at the US embassy, most can be got online.


DUH...............

[aging one]

General Information - U.S. Embassy Bangkok, Thailand

[Davis Knowlton]

^^^Not really addressing your direct question, however for a single Thai female to get a tourist visa is extremely difficult. The key issue in the Immigration Officer's mind will be does she have more reason to come back to Thailand than to stay in the US? Why is she going? And will she likely enjoy a better quality of life in the US than that which she currently has in Thailand? The more she can do to document existing ties to Thailand, the better. Examples would be: Ownership of land (in her name); ownership of property or a business; a decent job with a decent salary to which she can return after her visit to the US; money in the bank (be advised that they often check to ensure that the 'deposit' was not made just days before the visa interview); and close family ties in Thailand (like kids who will be staying with family while she is gone). These are just examples, and the questions will not be limited to these. Also, how good is her English? How old is she? How old are you? I can't really give you much more advice without knowing more about her and your situation. Slutty jewelry, tattoos, and listing former employment as XXX Bar are not good things. You saying that you eventually plan to get married is not a good thing (if you do, get a fiance visa - it is much easier to get than a tourist visa). The main issue will be her ties to Thailand - in that case, you are better off than, for example, a Filipina, since they jump ship at an alarming rate. Thais are less likely to do so, but the rate is high enough to make your chances of success slim.

[Davis Knowlton]

A couple of additional points. Go onto the web sites provided above and see what you need in the way of paperwork and supporting documentation. Make sure all of your paperwork is filled out completely and in order. Nothing pisses the visa guy off more than having to sit there while you organize and try to fix your paperwork. It takes some time to schedule an appointment. If you are going to be in Thailand and plan to accompany her to her interview, in most cases they will allow you to sit in. Remember, it is HER interview, not yours. The visa guy wants to talk to her, not you. Don't answer the questions for her. Sit there and be quiet. If the visa person has a question for you, he will ask you directly. If her English sucks, no problem - the visa guys speak Thai and are quite accustomed to conducting these interviews in Thai if necessary.

[danno5]

there is a forum website called visajourney.com that has alot of good information and feedback from others going through the same process (although obviously not all from thailand).

My current wife got a tourist visa back 5 or so years ago. A few items that I think helped her (in addition to those DK mentioned) were stating that it was totally a tourist trip (i.e. she wasn't visiting someone), and a letter from her company stating that she had 2 weeks holiday and she was travelling in part as an educational experience related to her job. She owned a condo, had $ in the bank, good job, etc.....but was approved in relatively short time.

[Davis Knowlton]

^Agree. If it is a legitimate request, it is usually granted in fairly short order. But, you have to meet the required level of proof, as was obviously the case ^.

[Baraka]

thanks to all who took the trouble to answer. I already knew about the requirements, that they were tough and was resigned to not getting a non-immigrant visa(did I say I planned to get married? That won't happen!) in the near(next 5 years) future. However, I since learned that we may be able to get her a student visa at a SEVP school, provided it's in or near where you live in the states. Just so happens I live in New Orleans, where there are three major universities, two minor ones and one junior college all of which qualify as SEVP schools. She CAN speak and understand a significant amount of English, but is shy(surprise?) about speaking.
Has anyone gone thru a student visa experience with any suggestions?

[Davis Knowlton]

The student visa route is one about which I know little. However, I'm certain that the web sites provided above will give full requirements for a student visa. Those are usually granted without problem, providing repeat providing that ALL of the paperwork is in good order.

[Baraka]

Yes, I've been to the website and after plodding my way thru its hairpin turns and constant referrals without such useful tools as timelines, I now know where bureaucrats go when no one understands them - to the Visa web site. What they need is a step by step guide to showing you what to do and when, so you can plan and not miss deadlines.
I'll print out their nightmarish instructions and make my own guide, then hope for the best...

[SEA Traveler]

marry her and make an honest girl out of her. then the visa is considerably easier to acquire.

as I recall, she will need to have acceptance to the school she plans on attending. good try.

[Davis Knowlton]

^NOT the way to do it. If you marry her in Thailand, and then apply for a visa, it takes forever. IF you were going to get married, which he isn't, the way to go would be to get a fiance visa to get her to the US, and then get married there. The only problem with that is that if you don't get married within a specific time frame, she will get deported and her chances of ever getting another visa are nil.

[Norton]

^^^Not really addressing your direct question, however for a single Thai female to get a tourist visa is extremely difficult. The key issue in the Immigration Officer's mind will be does she have more reason to come back to Thailand than to stay in the US? Why is she going? And will she likely enjoy a better quality of life in the US than that which she currently has in Thailand? The more she can do to document existing ties to Thailand, the better. Examples would be: Ownership of land (in her name); ownership of property or a business; a decent job with a decent salary to which she can return after her visit to the US; money in the bank (be advised that they often check to ensure that the 'deposit' was not made just days before the visa interview); and close family ties in Thailand (like kids who will be staying with family while she is gone). These are just examples, and the questions will not be limited to these. Also, how good is her English? How old is she? How old are you? I can't really give you much more advice without knowing more about her and your situation. Slutty jewelry, tattoos, and listing former employment as XXX Bar are not good things. You saying that you eventually plan to get married is not a good thing (if you do, get a fiance visa - it is much easier to get than a tourist visa). The main issue will be her ties to Thailand - in that case, you are better off than, for example, a Filipina, since they jump ship at an alarming rate. Thais are less likely to do so, but the rate is high enough to make your chances of success slim.

Sound advice. Get everything you can to show her intentions to return.

No matter what documentation she has, the interview is the key to getting the visa. Dress smartly for the interview, act in a polite manner and answer the questions asked without embellishment.

[SEA Traveler]

^^^Not really addressing your direct question, however for a single Thai female to get a tourist visa is extremely difficult. The key issue in the Immigration Officer's mind will be does she have more reason to come back to Thailand than to stay in the US? Why is she going? And will she likely enjoy a better quality of life in the US than that which she currently has in Thailand? The more she can do to document existing ties to Thailand, the better. Examples would be: Ownership of land (in her name); ownership of property or a business; a decent job with a decent salary to which she can return after her visit to the US; money in the bank (be advised that they often check to ensure that the 'deposit' was not made just days before the visa interview); and close family ties in Thailand (like kids who will be staying with family while she is gone). These are just examples, and the questions will not be limited to these. Also, how good is her English? How old is she? How old are you? I can't really give you much more advice without knowing more about her and your situation. Slutty jewelry, tattoos, and listing former employment as XXX Bar are not good things. You saying that you eventually plan to get married is not a good thing (if you do, get a fiance visa - it is much easier to get than a tourist visa). The main issue will be her ties to Thailand - in that case, you are better off than, for example, a Filipina, since they jump ship at an alarming rate. Thais are less likely to do so, but the rate is high enough to make your chances of success slim.

Sound advice. Get everything you can to show her intentions to return.

No matter what documentation she has, the interview is the key to getting the visa. Dress smartly for the interview, act in a polite manner and answer the questions asked without embellishment.

I don't disagree with the dressing smartly for the interview part, the being polite and answering the questions without embellishment part. I do believe though that the documentation part is most critical as the Embassy counselors have that as a first look and so often make a decision even prior to the interview.

As the route I took and had first hand experience, was to get married here, in Thailand and then getting the visa in a very short period of time, be it we got the visa in another Asia country US Embassy as that is where I was employeed, and it went smoothly and without a hitch. Hence my question about where he was located as it makes a difference.

[Norton]

though that the documentation part is most critical as the Embassy counselors have that as a first look and so often make a decision even prior to the interview.

Agree. Should have said. No matter how good the documentation, if the interviewer has doubts then it's a no go.

[Baraka]

anyone know someone who got a student visa and their experience with it?

[songkla]

There is some good information in this thread. Thanks for the information guys.

I wanted to know if anyone had any specific information on what helps for writing a "letter of support" for a US visa. My Thai GF would like to obtain a visa to visit the US this summer. She has a pretty respectable job and also has what I understand is an "official's passport" because she is an architect who currently works for the Ministry of Education, and she has a master's degree from Chula. We are hoping this will be helpful. Still, I'm writing a letter of support that I will provide to her (I'm a US citizen and she will visit my home and my parents home), that she can then provide to US embassy staff. Anyone done this before and know what can help her?

Any other thoughts would be welcome. Thanks.

[Muadib]

The Fiance Visa would grant her a 90 day visa to the US... Higher likelihood of approval with the least questions as to whether she plans to return or not...

If you provide any documentation, i.e. letter of support, this will raise questions with the embassy as to why, if she is applying for a tourist visa...

[Norton]

The Fiance Visa would grant her a 90 day visa to the US... Higher likelihood of approval with the least questions as to whether she plans to return or not...

Agree. A bit more complicated but it is the proper visa for what you want.

Nonimmigrant Visa for a Fiance(e) (K-1)

[songkla]

Muadib, Norton - Thanks for the replies. She won't be applying for the fiance visa however because we have no plans to get married within 90 days (we do eventually, but not that soon).

One other question - as I've gotten very conflicting views on this - how up front should she be about the purpose of her visit (on a tourist visa) being to visit me?