Hiring a Thai as Chef to go to the US.

[bermondburi]

Greetings all,

 

My SIL has the opportunity to go and work in the US as a chef, based on being a cook of thai food.

 

How much of a ballache will it be to do all the paperwork, on her side, and on the employer's side?

 

Just trying to get an idea of what to expect, as no doubt my wife will end up doing a bit of running round for her, and also about the time scale as well.

 

Any tips or experiences welcome.

[thesetat2013]

good luck with that.. very difficult to obtain visas even for a spouse.. i cam only imagine it will be harder for work related as a cook

 

[nycjoe]

Trump put an ad in an obscure Florida publication asking for workers to his mar-a-largo resort and he said to respond by fax making it as hard as possible to apply, then he asked for visas saying he could not get local workers. I would imagine it is a legal process that has to be gone through by his stateside employer. Good luck with it. Have a lawyer help you.

 

[chickenrunCM]

you cant get a visa as a thai chef, there is only 1 cooking school in BKK what you SIL who need to finsihed (3 years) to be accepted as a chef for thai food. 

Otherwise everbody could apply as a thai chef. same as every American could ask for a work permit as a burger chef.

without a proper education and work experience no change for a working visa as a chef.

[sirineou]

5 minutes ago, chickenrunCM said:

you cant get a visa as a thai chef, there is only 1 cooking school in BKK what you SIL who need to finsihed (3 years) to be accepted as a chef for thai food. 

Otherwise everbody could apply as a thai chef. same as every American could ask for a work permit as a burger chef.

without a proper education and work experience no change for a working visa as a chef.

I don't think that's true, My wife's friend's Husband  own a Thai food restaurant and he brings cooks from Thailand all the time, I have met many of them and I dont think they are graduates of any chef school.

That was a few years ago, not sure if the requirements have changed lately, but I don't think so.,

If she has an employer that will sponsor her , and an agent that can walk her through the process I  don't think she will have a problem.

[tonray]

If she will work in a commercial kitchen in America, she will need to learn Spanish as 90% of her fellow staff will be from Latin America...not kidding.

[bermondburi]

I don't think that's true, My wife's friend's Husband  own a Thai food restaurant and he brings cooks from Thailand all the time, I have met many of them and I dont think they are graduates of any chef school.
That was a few years ago, not sure if the requirements have changed lately, but I don't think so.,
If she has an employer that will sponsor her , and an agent that can walk her through the process I  don't think she will have a problem.

Have you any idea of what was involved in getting the visas?
The employer will be doing everything on their side. But I'd just like to know what it involves, on the employer's side and her side. She is currently working at a well known restaurant in Pattaya, but we're trying to find out what she'll have to do.

[bermondburi]

If she will work in a commercial kitchen in America, she will need to learn Spanish as 90% of her fellow staff will be from Latin America...not kidding.

That won't be applicable in this case.

[bermondburi]

you cant get a visa as a thai chef, there is only 1 cooking school in BKK what you SIL who need to finsihed (3 years) to be accepted as a chef for thai food. 
Otherwise everbody could apply as a thai chef. same as every American could ask for a work permit as a burger chef.
without a proper education and work experience no change for a working visa as a chef.

She is a proper chef. Currently head chef at a very well known restaurant in Pattaya.

[hawker9000]

1 hour ago, sirineou said:

I don't think that's true, My wife's friend's Husband  own a Thai food restaurant and he brings cooks from Thailand all the time, I have met many of them and I dont think they are graduates of any chef school.

That was a few years ago, not sure if the requirements have changed lately, but I don't think so.,

If she has an employer that will sponsor her , and an agent that can walk her through the process I  don't think she will have a problem.

I have no idea how more or less difficult it is for Thais as apart from everyone else to be brought over, but there is certainly NO shortage of Thai restaurants staffed by Thais, particularly on the west coast, and that's been true for years and years.  Everything from lunchroom-type Thai buffets to high-end Thai cuisine.  And even the employees bussing tables are Thai (which is remarkable, as most other restaurants use Mexicans(etc.) for nearly all their service staff).  Most of the Thai restaurants I've visited seem to do quite well.

 

[MyFriend You]

3 hours ago, tonray said:

If she will work in a commercial kitchen in America, she will need to learn Spanish as 90% of her fellow staff will be from Latin America...not kidding.

Yeah Right!!!  Miami, Southern California or Texas maybe.

[sirineou]

4 hours ago, bermondburi said:

Have you any idea of what was involved in getting the visas?
The employer will be doing everything on their side. But I'd just like to know what it involves, on the employer's side and her side. She is currently working at a well known restaurant in Pattaya, but we're trying to find out what she'll have to do.

I really dont know, Sawn , the owner of the restaurant, a very industrious and hardworking guy, Does  all the legwork.

As with most visas of this kind, I assume that the Employer will file the appropriate application with all the associated  documents required.

Visa journey forum might have the info u are looking for

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/141-work-visas/

The employer will file with the appropriate fee at the appropriate regional office , once the application is accepted it will be forwarded to the BKK consulate, and a package will be send to your friend. 

I assume there will be a required professional background form

A medical form with the required certified exam and immunizations

A police report. etc

When the package is complete she will send it to the consulate with any required copies and originals of Passport , birth certificate etc,

a couple of weeks later an interview will be scheduled and if successful a visa will be issued. 

All these are assumptions on my part, but if I was to design such system that's the way I would design it and I am usually pretty good with these things. My now wife of over ten years went through a similar process for her fiance visa many years ago.

Others going through the process at Visa journey forum might be able to give you a more precise answer. 

  

 

 

 

[bermondburi]

Thank you, that's very helpful. Gives us something to work with. Hopefully it will work out. It's a great opportunity for her.

[ericthai]

OP go to the US immigration website you can find everything you need

to know here  (http://www.ustraveldocs.com/th/th-niv-typework.asp).

There are several different types of work visas to choose from.

Good Luck!!

[gk10002000]

On 9/16/2017 at 1:38 AM, sirineou said:

I don't think that's true, My wife's friend's Husband  own a Thai food restaurant and he brings cooks from Thailand all the time, I have met many of them and I dont think they are graduates of any chef school.

That was a few years ago, not sure if the requirements have changed lately, but I don't think so.,

If she has an employer that will sponsor her , and an agent that can walk her through the process I  don't think she will have a problem.

Yep.  I suggest the OP visit local Thai restaurants in the USA and ask for help.  I know they sponsor Thai "specialists" all the time.  I am pretty sure you will get some good leads on who to contact, what immigration lawyer they used etc.