Getting a Thai girl to America

[Bushdoctor]

Does anyone have a link to a website or information on how to get Thai tilak to the US to visit for a few months? OK, go ahead and laugh now because I did. I just finished my first trip to LOS and I already went to visit her family in Issan for 5 days. Also hung out for about 3 weeks and had a great time. She wants to come to the states with me. She seems to think that if she changes her ID card to my last name that she can stay in the US for 6 months or so. Sounds like a fiance visa but she didn't specifically call it that. Sounds like I would be marring her in Thailand but I don't think it would be a legal marriage in the US which is fine by me, but then will they let her come for a visit? She says yes. We even went down to change her ID but she says they told her I need a document from my country that shows that I am not married. This was in Issan which she says is a little tougher. I've never heard of such a document in the US but that doesn't mean much. Has anyone heard of this? She says they will also ask to see proof of my home address, and bank account records to show that I have adaquate money. She is so convincing, does this sound right?

[flyout]

I just went through trying to get my live-in TG a visa to the US. Even though it was denied, I do not want to dicourage you from trying.
The process is fairly straight forward and most of the information you need can be found at.

Visas to USA

I used a Visa agent, which did not assure a visa.
Some of the questions that can be asked at the interview can be found at:

USA Visitor Tourist visa interview preparation tips, Sample questions

The USA is not an easyplace to get a Thai girl a visa. The whole process revolves around your TG being able to prove that she has enough ties here in Thailand that will guarentee she will return.

I would check more into the fiance visa, because if you get married here, it may be a legal marriage in the USA. Anyone else have more information on this topic? Seems I read somewhere where the Thai marriage is not as innocent as it is made out to be.
Anyways, good luck and PM me if you have more questions.

[MrDK]

Originally Posted by Bushdoctor

Does anyone have a link to a website or information on how to get Thai tilak to the US to visit for a few months? OK, go ahead and laugh now because I did. I just finished my first trip to LOS and I already went to visit her family in Issan for 5 days. Also hung out for about 3 weeks and had a great time. She wants to come to the states with me. She seems to think that if she changes her ID card to my last name that she can stay in the US for 6 months or so. Sounds like a fiance visa but she didn't specifically call it that. Sounds like I would be marring her in Thailand but I don't think it would be a legal marriage in the US which is fine by me, but then will they let her come for a visit? She says yes. We even went down to change her ID but she says they told her I need a document from my country that shows that I am not married. This was in Issan which she says is a little tougher. I've never heard of such a document in the US but that doesn't mean much. Has anyone heard of this? She says they will also ask to see proof of my home address, and bank account records to show that I have adaquate money. She is so convincing, does this sound right?

BD, good to see you back posting and fair to assume you had a good trip.

It strikes me that she has too much knowledge of the requirements and the process.

Sorry I do not have many answers for you, however, having the same last name or not would not matter to the embassy, they would want to see the Thai equivalent to a marriage certificate.

As for document that you are not married, a notary public sealed statement seems to carry weight worldwide. If nothing else it carried weight with the Thai embassy in Washington DC., where a follow-up statement can be made.
I would be careful in walking down the road of name changes and otherwise sharing anything that could be legal. Before you go down that road, you properly should seek council and before marriage consider a prenuptial agreement (for what that is worth).

Aim for the appropriate visa; tourist or fiancee. Use that time to get to know her and for her to see America.

I will be more than interested in hearing about you application progress and results.

[Pinot]

Oh my god! I hope it wasn't the one I introduced you to. I don't want that on my conscience. I wondered what happened to you? There we were, in the Tai Pan, beautiful women all around us and all of a sudden; what happened? Where is the Bushdoctor? Oh no! Not that!!!!

I think it was my fault. You have to keep an eye on the new guys so this kind of thing doesn't happen.

Didn't you read the board? First rule: Don't Fall In....Oh my god, never mind.

Let this be a lesson to all you newbies.

Dude, ummm, no.

[Bushdoctor]

Yes I know the rules Pinot, I'm just not good at following them. Sometimes it's better to learn from mistakes, but no it wasn't the girl you introduced me to although she was a very nice girl. You should go with her once if you haven't already. She doesn't drink alcohol but that didn't stop me from drinking enough for both of us. She nien mak mak. Actually I went back to Pattaya where I had already met the other girl. I looked for you to let you know but couldn't find you or bsmoov. I went back and spent some time in Issan with her, met her family and stayed in her house for 5 days. It's a different world in Issan. I'm glad I went there, it really gave me a new perspective. They don't have much, she had to dress differently there, it's a more modest place. The shower is an experience in itself. It's just tying one of those towel looking dress things around you, going outside to the back of the house and dipping a bowl into a giant pot of water and pouring it on yourself. I was taking a shower when the neighbor lady said hello to me over the fence. Had a small conversation as I showered. Friendly people. The toilet has a big pot of water by it too so you can dip a bowl in and flush it. No toilet paper. No bum washer, just a bowl of water. The food she made is spicy as hell but I'm OK with it because I eat a lot of spicy Mexican food already. Her family couldn't believe I ate everything. They made a fish soup so spicy that even they didn't eat too much of it. They cook everything outside over a little wood burning pot. The laundry was outside too of course. She washes laundry by hand in three pots of water, with soap and a brush. Buddhas come by in the morning for food as buffalo are herded down her street and chickens try to wake you. Very quaint place Issan.

[ub2yoo]

[quote=Bushdoctor;339709]Does anyone have a link to a website or information on how to get Thai tilak to the US to visit for a few months? OK, go ahead and laugh now because I did. I just finished my first trip to LOS and I already went to visit her family in Issan for 5 days. Also hung out for about 3 weeks and had a great time. She wants to come to the states with me. She seems to think that if she changes her ID card to my last name that she can stay in the US for 6 months or so. Sounds like a fiance visa but she didn't specifically call it that. Sounds like I would be marring her in Thailand but I don't think it would be a legal marriage in the US which is fine by me, but then will they let her come for a visit?QUOTE]

Welcome to the FastTrack, please queue on the left side, have your passport ready and fasten your seatbelt. Also, be aware that the nearest exit could be behind you.

Okay, sorry, for the joke. Hope it all works out for you, everything is possible :-)

Good Luck !

[Bushdoctor]

Originally Posted by ub2yoo

Welcome to the FastTrack, please queue on the left side, have your passport ready and fasten your seatbelt. Also, be aware that the nearest exit could be behind you.

Okay, sorry, for the joke. Hope it all works out for you, everything is possible :-)

Good Luck !

5555.....thanks. I might have been a bit misleading. I'm not too keen on marring her so quickly, maybe later. I'm just trying to find out if I can get her over here for a visit. That would be nice and give me a chance to know her better. If a Thai marriage is recognized here then I'm not too interested in a fiancee visa right now. I was hoping it would only be recognized in Thailand. Maybe I'll try for a tourist visa. I get confused with who to speak to. The American embassy? Thai embassy? Sounds like she is saying she needs to get some type of clearance from the Thai government, and that she needs some money in her bank. I need to figure out who to call to get the right information.

[MrDK]

Regardless of what visa she may apply for, it is her applying with the US Embassy in Thailand. She (with your help) will need to contact the US Embassy. Before you do, however, I would be reading up in the this first. ThaiVisa may be of interest.

I doubt she would need any special permit or clearance to leave Thailand, unless there are some special circumstances.

Very interested in learning about your experiences.

[Bushdoctor]

Originally Posted by MrDK

BD, good to see you back posting and fair to assume you had a good trip.

It strikes me that she has too much knowledge of the requirements and the process.

Sorry I do not have many answers for you, however, having the same last name or not would not matter to the embassy, they would want to see the Thai equivalent to a marriage certificate.

As for document that you are not married, a notary public sealed statement seems to carry weight worldwide. If nothing else it carried weight with the Thai embassy in Washington DC., where a follow-up statement can be made.
I would be careful in walking down the road of name changes and otherwise sharing anything that could be legal. Before you go down that road, you properly should seek council and before marriage consider a prenuptial agreement (for what that is worth).

Aim for the appropriate visa; tourist or fiancee. Use that time to get to know her and for her to see America.

I will be more than interested in hearing about you application progress and results.

Yes she does know a lot about it, but she says that's because she went to Sweden before. She has a twin sister there who is married to a Swedish man. She saw what her sister had to do. They let her in to visit her sister. Sweden is a lot easier than the USA as you know, but this may actually help with a tourist visa since she has travelled before and returned to Thailand without any problems. She does want to get married. Your advice is good. I want to use the time to get to know her. It's hard to judge someones sincerity when living a drunken fantasy in Thailand for a few weeks. I'll call an attorney Monday and find out about the legality of Thai marriage, but for now I'm leaniong towards a tourist visa.

[JayBee]

Originally Posted by Bushdoctor;

It's hard to judge someones sincerity when living a drunken fantasy in Thailand for a few weeks.

Truer words were never spoken.

[marc26]

I strongly suggest that you back up a little, get a hold of yourself and get to know this girl better
you have to realize that once she comes to the States, which i dont think you will get a visa because of the length of time you have known each other, she is completely dependant on you and that can doom a relationship in the early stages

[Mr Lucky]

Originally Posted by Bushdoctor

I'm not too keen on marring her so quickly, maybe later.

Dude. If they're asking for proof that you are not currently married so she can 'change her name to yours', that means you are applying for a Thai marriage certificate, which is a legal marriage in the US.

If that's indeed what you want, it's easy to do. I went to the US embassy in Bangkok, got a form to fill out, wherein I promised that I was not currently married, got it translated to Thai, took it to a Thai government office where it was notarized. Next day we were down at the Bang Rak office - Somchai's your uncle - we were married.

But you needn't get married for her to visit on a fianceé (K) visa. (It's called that because you aren't married yet.)

You really need to check the USCIS website for the real info.

By the way, if you can't be in Bangkok to hold her hand through the whole process, I suggest hiring a lawyer. Pricey, but it's a lot of bureaucracy for an Isaan girl.

[MrDK]

Originally Posted by Mr Lucky

You really need to check the USCIS website for the real info.

MrL thanks for that link. Browsed around for a bit. Looks like it is worth it to read all the applicable section of that site in detail.
Here is an interesting quote I found on the site:

... Under U.S. law, though, applicants for visitor visas must apply on their own to visit the United States.
... it doesn't help the applicant to write a letter of invitation or guarantee their departure from the U.S. after their visit is over. A consular officer from the U.S. Department of State (not USCIS) evaluates every visa application on its own merits according to the law...

[Capt. Fantastic]

One thing to consider:

I have a Filipina femme of interest in Phuket. A schoolteacher (degreed) but the frustrations have gotten to her. I suggested that she explore working as a nanny in the US. She is now connected with a service in Chaing Mai that is processing her.

Persuant thereunto she is taking driving lessons since a valid drivers license is required. If your ladyfriend is of, er, good moral character, speaks English, and has a stable work history she should have no problem. Once she is in the US legally you can work out the logistics of continuing your correspondence.

Just my $0.02.

[Mr Lucky]

Originally Posted by MrDK

... Under U.S. law, though, applicants for visitor visas must apply on their own to visit the United States.

It's true that the law states she has to handle it on her own. However, in reality, I was with my wife every step of the way for a tourist visa and, later, for her immigrant visa. At the final interview, they asked her only one question. Then grilled me for five minutes.

For your girl's visa (tourist or fianceé), the main thing they'll be looking for is solid proof that she won't stay on in the US illegally. This means she has to show proof (on paper, in English) of ongoing employment, property ownership, money in the bank, and other ties in Thailand.

This might not be a problem for her if she works as a secretary in an office and regularly deals with official paperwork. Otherwise, I guarantee you she will need help.

My wife's paperwork for her first visit to the US on a tourist visa was a pain in the ass for me. No way she could have done it on her own.

[Bushdoctor]

Originally Posted by Mr Lucky

It's true that the law states she has to handle it on her own. However, in reality, I was with my wife every step of the way for a tourist visa and, later, for her immigrant visa. At the final interview, they asked her only one question. Then grilled me for five minutes.

For your girl's visa (tourist or fianceé), the main thing they'll be looking for is solid proof that she won't stay on in the US illegally. This means she has to show proof (on paper, in English) of ongoing employment, property ownership, money in the bank, and other ties in Thailand.

This might not be a problem for her if she works as a secretary in an office and regularly deals with official paperwork. Otherwise, I guarantee you she will need help.

Interesting that you got her a tourist visa. I heard it was almost impossible. How much money should she have in her bank account for that? She does speak, read and write basic English, and owns some land. I'm sure she can work in her friends beauty parlor like she did before, cutting hair.

[Mr Lucky]

Not impossible. Just a bit of work. For us the tourist visa was pretty easy since we'd been married a year already and we both had jobs in Bangkok to return to.

The main thing is your girl needs to convince them that she's got strong reasons to return to Thailand.

[Bushdoctor]

Originally Posted by Mr Lucky

Not impossible. Just a bit of work. For us the tourist visa was pretty easy since we'd been married a year already and we both had jobs in Bangkok to return to.

The main thing is your girl needs to convince them that she's got strong reasons to return to Thailand.

Do you have any idea how much money she needs to have in the bank?

[Mr Lucky]

Originally Posted by Bushdoctor

Do you have any idea how much money she needs to have in the bank?

No idea. In any case, I'm no lawyer. You'd best talk to someone directly at the embassy in Bangkok to find out exactly what you need.

I can tell you one thing: more paperwork is better than less. She should bring every piece of documentation they might possibly ask for.

[flyout]

Mr Lucky has given good advice. More paperwork is better. Some other advice that has been given on this forum is to always, always give the truth. The interview process can be easy or hard depending on the officials mood that day. My TG was only asked a few questions but they were direct and hard. Had she ever worked as BG? Why we were not married if we lived together for so long? They didn't even give so much as a glance at all the paperwork we put together. Photo album of past time together, Bank, Property, Vehicle ownership papers. etc.. etc..
No documented work history and BG experience seemed to be the big issue. They hinted at the fact if we were married, then no problem.
Some BM's were allowed to attend the interview. I was not.
Also previous travel experience together (Malaysia, Singapore, Bali) didn't help either.
Wish I had the answers, but we can travel to some countries together. Just not to USA.

[flyout]

Just another comment...

Looking at the application for a visa, be aware that false information may be grounds for "permanent exclusion from the United States". This information may be admitted during the interview under duress.
You may get the idea that I do not trust the interview process....???