Thailand is our home and we have no intention of moving to the US. I have two reasons for wanting a visa for my wife. Number one is because both my parents are elderly (86 years old) and in an emergency we would like to be able to leave quickly without trying to get a tourist visa. There would simply be no time to do that. Reason number two is that I want an exit plan if Thailand should turn into another Burma. One never knows with the military running things.

We have gone to the Bangkok US Embassy and could find no one to talk to. I was given instructions to get a PIN number and to make an appointment. I paid my $20 US for a PIN number hoping to get some answers. It turns out that they don't really have any answers and want you to make an appointment. This PIN is only for tourist visas and I was advised by them NOT to apply for a ten year visa because seldom are they approved. Any other type of visa would expire too quickly to do any good.

I then decided to apply for the immigrant visa. I have filled out the I-130 form and was in the process of filling out the G325A when I discovered that I have to have domocile in the US. I DON'T live in the US and have no US address.

Should I go ahead with the I-130 and the G325A and pay the fee? The fee is $190 and not refundable. I fear that since my domicile is not in the US they will simply throw out my petition. It does appear that straight forward information is impossible to get from those dedicated public servants.

Edited May 25, 200719 yr by Gary A

Gary

I'll start by saying I know nothing about immigration to the US but it seems that to provide for your reason 2 a tourist visa is not suitable as your wife would be expected to leave US after a set period. (Burma hasn't improve in 40 years so you wouldn't expect Thailand too in the circumstances.)

As for reason 1, do you want to rush over to US as your parents are dying or do you want to spend some quality time with them?

I suggest you plan to return to settle in the US, get a settlement visa, spend time with your folks while you can. After a few years your wife will be a permanant resident and then when you are ready you can return to live in Thailand with your trap door half open.

There comes a day, when it's

too late to say sorry -

to give credit -

to send flowers -

So give now

IT IS GETTING LATE!

Not sure if this will be any help as the process started pre-911, but on our first trip to the US my Thai wife was given a US visa stating she had to be accompanied by husband. Second trip and the next visa was for a limited period, but no requirement to be with husband. Third trip they automatically gave her a 10 yr. visa, I suppose on the assumption that she returned twice.

As far as I have seen in the case of myself, and many other collegues, friends and relatives, the US emabassy does give out 10 year mulitple entry visas for those who are deemed as 'safe bets'...ie likely return to Thailand, but with good reason to go to the US on a regular basis for personal/vacation/business reasons.

My recommendation is to be straight up with your reasons and apply for a 10 year visa.

I'd perhaps suggest (and it is not a perfect soluion) is that if already have travelled with your wife to the US multiple times, then I'd apply maybe for a 10 year visa for travel to the US, for the exact reason that you state, your parents are old and could require you and your wife to go there multiple times on very short notice. In the business world, people have these types of visa so they can travel at short notice, and embassies have always been willing to accomodate them, I can't see why the need to travel at short notice would be rejected for the same reasons.

After all, it isn't just a tourist visa, it is a visa which allows you to go to the US to undertake whatever activity as long as it doesn't involve permanent resettlement/work etc.

They are more likely to be accepting you being straight up and honest with them than trying to get an immigrant visa which you are never really going to use...

Apply for the tourist visa. Show your ties to Thailand, show your wife's ties to you, she will get a 10 year multi entry as a slam dunk. Has been discussed here many times. You have been sadly misinformed on how often they are granted.

I always make sure my wife can get into US at anytime.

TH

Apply for the tourist visa. Show your ties to Thailand, show your wife's ties to you, she will get a 10 year multi entry as a slam dunk. Has been discussed here many times. You have been sadly misinformed on how often they are granted.

I always make sure my wife can get into US at anytime.

TH

Thanks for what sounds very logical. The Thai person I spoke to at the US embassy by phone did sound like he was not sure what our options are.

I will go ahead and make an appointment and try for the ten year visa. Since our life is here in Thailand, it should make it convincing that we will indeed come back. A home, car, truck, motorbike, tractor and our Golden Retriever along with two additional pieces of land plus my condo in Jomtien

would be quite difficult for us to abandon. I no longer have any property in the US and other than my parents, no reason to go back. My two children in the US have their own families and are doing well. The house, other land, car and motorbike belong to my wife.

I don't think you will have any problems, let us know how it goes. Use e-mail for enquiries, that way you are answered by an American.

TH

Edited May 26, 200719 yr by thaihome