LAguy

On 8/5/2020 at 10:09 PM, khunjeff said:

A B1/B2 visa is commonly referred to as a "tourist visa" or "visitor visa", even within the US government. In the Immigration and Nationality Act, it's formally defined as a visa for people "visiting the United States temporarily for business or temporarily for pleasure".

 

And you're quite correct, the normal period of stay for B2 visa holders typically granted at US ports of entry is six months, not three months. The OP may be thinking of tourists entering from Visa Waiver countries, who are indeed only allowed 90 days on each entry.

I am only going off what she told me.  I am realizing through this experience that I should get an understanding of things myself ... may be a cultural or individual thing, but whereas I like to be thorough and plan ... she's kinda very aloof and figures things will just fall into place.

On 8/6/2020 at 1:59 AM, erinsf said:

Returning to Thailand is the issue.  Things change quickly. She can possibly be caught without a return trip.

Yes, this seems to be the issue upon further research.  She is being told that, once here, she will need to arrange via the embassy a flight back, i.e. the having a return ticket is not necessarily going to work.  I tell you ... this is very trying on a relationship, to have an indefinite amount of time apart ad such uncertainty.

9 minutes ago, taxout said:

Compared with most of the rest of the world, the U.S. remains relatively open.

 

Assuming your friend has been in Thailand for at least the past 14 days, just make sure she doesn't book a flight transiting a country which is "red" for U.S. purposes, bearing in mind if you're booking in advance that designations can always change on short notice.

 

Remember too that there's no "permitted stay" marked on U.S. tourist visas. That's up to immigration officer on entry. Customarily 90 days for most, but it's not written in stone.

Thanks - we will then have to be mindful of where the transfer will be.  I'm surprised (I shouldn't be, I guess) that the US is so open.

15 hours ago, theoldgit said:

The following US websites indicate that travellers from Thailand are not excluded from travel to the US, assuming your friend is from Thailand, has not visited one of the restricted countries, and could get a flight.

 

I don't claim this to be a definitive response.

 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/from-other-countries.html

 

https://uk.usembassy.gov/information-for-nonimmigrant-visa-applicants-following-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/

Thank you very much!  ????

I am aware that Thailand isn't taking in US tourists currently.  However, my friend has one of those US tourist visas good for 10 years and that allow (if I recall correctly) stays of 3 months at a time.  My question is whether or not she can travel here given the Covid situation?  Or is the USA baring entry for tourists entirely?  Any clarification would help - I see many conflicting or vague pages and I am not sure what to make of it.  Thanks.

as you know there is so much to keep track of.  from my notes, here is the info. i have on hand (yes, for US fiance visa):

US$50-100 For Translations  

US$110.00 Fiancee Visa

US$100.00 Consulate Fees. To be paid at the end before the interview.

US$ 40.00 For medical exam at the end.

US$ 75.00 For Vaccinations

Passport costs are around US$25

the process has really, for all intensive pruproses, gone fast.  3 months from handing papers in until approval.

regarding the police exam - from what i know (what she's told me) there was only one visit made, not numerous.  and she has lived in various places for over 6 months each.

hope this helps.  any questions please email back.

good luck.

as you know there is so much to keep track of.  from my notes, here is the info. i have on hand (yes, for US fiance visa):

US$50-100 For Translations  

US$110.00 Fiancee Visa

US$100.00 Consulate Fees. To be paid at the end before the interview.

US$ 40.00 For medical exam at the end.

US$ 75.00 For Vaccinations

Passport costs are around US$25

the process has really, for all intensive pruproses, gone fast.  3 months from handing papers in until approval.

regarding the police exam - from what i know (what she's told me) there was only one visit made, not numerous.  and she has lived in various places for over 6 months each.

hope this helps.  any questions please email back.

good luck.

the fiance visa is going faster than expected which is fine by us.  next, i need to get her a plane ticket to come here.

how do i get such a ticket?...

- if i charge it on my credit card and she prints out the e-ticket, they will be asking for *my* credit card so as to insure it was a legit purchase (but i will be in NY while whe is trying to board in BKK).

yet i want to use the credit card to acculmulate the milage and because it also give insurance for the traveling.

and i would like to buy the ticket from an agency in thailand as the prices to buy a ticket that originates from thailand are much lower than when bought from NY.

anybody have any suggestions on what to do? or travel agencies they recommend?

thanks in advance!

Thanks for your input.

Follow up question then:  If each legal marriage is recognized in the others' country (between Thailand and the USA, for example), is one better than the other in respect to any differences insofar as property rights, divorce, immigration status, etc.?  Or are both on a level playing field, each making both parties subject to the same rules regardless of where the marriage was officially recorded?

In effect, where should I get the marriage legally performed?

Question here:

What is the difference between the marriage that results from the wedding ceremonies with the families and the marriage that results from going down to the local town hall and registering your marriage?

What are the legal ramifications of each?

Anybody know of any websites/resources that explain this?

I ask because we plan to get married here in the USA, but she wants a ceremony in Thailand - will we then have a marriage license from both countries?  Which one along with which rules takes precendence?

Thanks.  It will be a few months before anything happens, I just want to educate myself on all the particulars.

Greetings.  I have a situation here.  I returned from Thailand less than two weeks ago where I met a wonderful Thai lady (not a bar girl, surprisingly enough) in Chiang Mai.  There is a mutual want between us to get married and live over here in NYC, but now that I am back in the US I am not sure what the best way is to go about it.

Some questions:

1- Can I just go back there, marry her and bring her back?  Any visa requirements for doing this?

2- Can she just come here and marry me here?  She says (and some warning flags fo up in my head here, please advise!) that she needs to show a significant amount of money in her bank account to show to the immigration/consulate people that she can finance her trip here ... and that I should send her some money to help pad her account.  Is what she is saying legit, or is this some sort of attempt to scam me out of money (we have all heard the horror stories)?

3- If she were to come here, does she need the finace visa or will just a travel visa do?  And from who does the visa come from:  Thailand or the USA?

4- Is this so difficult that I need to get a lawyer to arrange this?

5- Any web sites or real life stories anyone can relate to assist?

Sorry for all the questions, but I am sincerely confused ... and tired from all the email-ing and phone calls between the two of us which gets in the way of my sleep!

Many thanks in advance!