Want My Thai Girlfriend To Get Visa To The U.s.

[aslan612]

I met Kan about a year ago at a Buddhist temple in the U.S. while she was here teaching Thai language and culture in her time off from university. I visited her in November and just came back from Thailand a few days ago after a short trip to spend time with her again. During her stay in America she wasn't allowed to leave the temple and didn't get much of a chance to see what our life is like here. My position won't allow me to leave work every couple of months for a trip to Thailand and I would like to get to see her more often. We checked her visa and it was only for a single entry during a certain period of time and was set up by the university and temple so she'll have to apply again. I've heard from Thai people here in the U.S. that it is very difficult for a female to get a visa for tourism. Why is this? If I apply for a fiancee visa will the Thai gov. then allow her to travel here? If we get a fiancee visa because we can't get a tourist visa and do not get married while she is will she be allowed in again or will this only complicate things if we decided to get married in the future? Help, I miss her.

[Jamie]

Without getting in to details about why it is difficult for Thai women to get tourist visas for the US...You can apply for a fiancee visa but it doesn't mean she can just come here. The process usually takes from 6 to 8 months. If she is approved she has 6 months to travel to the US and then you have 90 days from there to get married. She is allowed to visit you during the fiancee visa process I believe, but she would need to obtain a tourist visa to do so.

On a side note, the filing fees for the I-129F are going up starting July 30th of this year. They are going from $170 USD to $455 USD. AOS fees are also going way up as well.

[lopburi3]

1. The Thai government is not going to block her exit unless they believe it is for illegal work. And that would be done at the airport.

2. A tourist visa from the US requires evidence that the applicant intends, and will, leave after a short visit. The reason is overstay concerns. And it is hard for either sex. If she has good Thai employment, savings and such it becomes easier but there is no set criteria. Having a boyfriend in the USA does not argue strongly for her return to Thailand.

3. A fiancee visa should only be used for the purpose of marriage (but there is no requirement that it take place). As said it requires extensive background checks and paperwork which will take a few months to complete. I do not believe a second application would be approved without extensive new circumstances proven. But if you believe marriage may be in the cards this could be an option.

4. You can get married in a day or two here in Thailand so concerns of future entry should not be a concern. The marriage entry would surly be approved if she had earlier entered on a fiancee visa. But that also would take a little time to process.