Tourist visa for Thai to visit USA.

I've been seeing a young lady in Thailand for a few years now and want her to come to the states. She's been here before as a volunteer at a temple to fulfill a graduation requirement from her university, but she didn't get a chance to see much of the states and was confined to the temple most of the time or supervised by monks.

I'm thinking that since she's been here before and left was she was instructed she won't have as difficult a time at getting another visa as a tourist. Any experience or thoughts on this?

I told her to print off a copy of the forms and get all info in order while I look into logistics.

She works for a bank and has family and property in Thailand which I think also will be of benefit.

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Originally Posted by mordred

I've been seeing a young lady in Thailand for a few years now and want her to come to the states. She's been here before as a volunteer at a temple to fulfill a graduation requirement from her university, but she didn't get a chance to see much of the states and was confined to the temple most of the time or supervised by monks.

I'm thinking that since she's been here before and left was she was instructed she won't have as difficult a time at getting another visa as a tourist. Any experience or thoughts on this?

I told her to print off a copy of the forms and get all info in order while I look into logistics.

She works for a bank and has family and property in Thailand which I think also will be of benefit.

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I have helped my Thai wife's sister and brother inlaw get a visa for the U.S., for us it was not a big deal. Log on to the U.S. immigration wed site,you can down load the application form, and complete it on the computer.You can also make an appointment for an interview at the Thai embassy. You will need to get bank statements, proof if property ownership, job, and anything else that would tie her to Thailand, they are looking for reasons for her to come back. She has to qualify on her own, but in my case, I wrote a letter explaining that I would be responcible for her support while in the states. My inlaws had no problem getting a ten year visa, about two hours at the embassy, most of it waiting.

Shouldn't you be asking the embassy this?

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Originally Posted by BugginOut

Shouldn't you be asking the embassy this?

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Should I be asking the embassy if we should mention that she is coming to the US to see someone she is planning on marrying? That seems like a bad idea if they are looking for her to return and expecting evidence she will not stay. Seems to me marriage is something you don't want to mention when applying for a TOURIST visa. The site says she will have an interview so I want her to have her story straight before she goes in and mentions she will marry a US citizen. We might just want to leave that bit of information out and find something a little more pleasing to their ears.

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Originally Posted by mordred

We might just want to leave that bit of information out and find something a little more pleasing to their ears.

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Oh yeah.

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She's been here before as a volunteer at a temple to fulfill a graduation requirement from her university, but she didn't get a chance to see much of the states and was confined to the temple most of the time or supervised by monks.

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And that is why she's going. Right??

You can marry her there, and start the process to change the visa get her a green card. My ex already had a 10 year multiple entry visa good for six months at a time. She had a social security number then a green card about three months after we got married. Make sure she brings birth certs and shit like that when she comes to the US.

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Originally Posted by friscofrankie

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Originally Posted by mordred

We might just want to leave that bit of information out and find something a little more pleasing to their ears.

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Oh yeah.

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She's been here before as a volunteer at a temple to fulfill a graduation requirement from her university, but she didn't get a chance to see much of the states and was confined to the temple most of the time or supervised by monks.

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And that is why she's going. Right??

You can marry her there, and start the process to change the visa get her a green card. My ex already had a 10 year multiple entry visa good for six months at a time. She had a social security number then a green card about three months after we got married. Make sure she brings birth certs and shit like that when she comes to the US.

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I'm actually not planning marrying her in the states. She is really coming for a visit because on her last visit she was supervised by the monks every time she stepped off the temple grounds. This would give her opportunity to see where I live. Marriage isn't something I'm jumping into for a second time without knowing the person better. The embassy knowing we've been talking about marriage would no doubt give them reason to deny her on the basis she may not return. Pisses me off that if she were Mexican she could walk across the border and basically live and work here with little problem.

It is really easy now to complete the visa application on line. That is the best way and you can also apply for an appointment at the same time. The big thing is that she must have the ability,(financial) , to make the trip over and back. It is also important to show that she has a stable job here and will be coming back to this job. You should be prepared to go with her to the interview, but generally they will not ask you to be part of the interview until she has completed most of it herself. If you have a retirement Visa, and will be going over with her and coming back, that will also be important for you to prove when she is at the interview.

You might even purchase the tickets, with some flexiblity to change the dates if necessary. That will show them that you are serious and that you both will be returning back to Thailand. You can contact me through TD if you have anymore questions, but using the internet is the best method, and after you have completed the application and you get an appointment, then print them out.

Good Luck!

Let me be clear. I am not in Thailand now and the embassy website says no American citizen will be allowed to come to the interview with the applicant. I'm in my mid 30's and I don't have a retirement visa. If I thought I could live in Thailand with some security I would stay there, but it doesn't seem possible. I was looking at the visa forms and they ask things like who she will be staying with and how will she pay for it so I'm wondering if honesty is best or should we put a spin on the facts and say she is visiting friends in the states.

Thanks Dan.

With a job and property here she shouldn't have too much trouble. If you were planning to get married and have her stay in the US one would think the embassy would expect her (you) to do the fiancee visa. The fiancee visa isn't really worth the expense and hassle unless she is going to stay in the US, so especially with sound like sterling credentials it is probably best to go for the tourist visa. If she lies about where is she is planning to stay they might require she provide reservation confirmations, etc., so the safest thing is probably to tell the truth; if they catch her in a lie you will probably be forced to abandon the tourist visa idea.

It's also good that she has one legal trip to the US under her belt already. I wouldn't worry too much.