Us Visa For Masseuse Gf?

[RedQualia]

The gist of my question is about how the US embassies/consulates in Thailand regard masseuses. Are they frowned upon in the same way as are bar girls? Does her ongoing employment as a (foot) masseuse automatically rule her out for a USA tourist visa?

Background info: I think she's a great woman. Almost 40 years old. Two teenage children whom she has raised mostly without assistance from her ex. Owns her own house, left over from the divorce. Speaks limited English, but speaks English. Not so much money in the bank. No indication of any history of prostitution, near as I can tell. Actually, much to suggest otherwise, to me.

I'm over 50. I have two houses in Thailand (the land is leased forever, or close to it). I have a couple of Thai bank accounts (currently containing maybe 250,000b), and pay Thai taxes on my Thai income. I speak/read/write Thai well enough to communicate with Thais who want to communicate with me, but dam(n) those tones! Our emails are a strange mix of English and Thai...

I think you can see that it's easy enough for me to write a letter arguing that I have no intention of staying in the USA (:just ask my boss in the USA! His number is xxx-yyy-zzzz"), and that there's little for her to do here at the same time, and well hey, doesn't it look like she'll go back to LOS to you, the interviewer? I can also say quite easily (and correctly) that we do not yet know one another well enough to entertain real ideas of marriage. The relationship just isn't that old. Besides, I'm not even sure I want to get married again. I mean, I'm over 50. So where's the benefit? hel_l, I'm not sure either of us expected to find anything resembling love. But it's a damned fine resemblance. What we do want to do is continue to explore the relationship. And that's kinda hard when we're in different countries.

Anyway, given said letter to the embassy, I'm modestly optimistic about the chances of getting a visa.

Again, my onliest real concern is the regard with which the embassy holds those who work as masseuses. If her visa request is going to get shot down before she's even in the door, probably best not to bother.

Oh... One other question: Is it better to apply for any visa at the embassy in Bangkok? Or at the consulate in Chiang Mai?

Thanks

[DrFisher]

The interview has to be conducted in Bangkok but that can take 2 or 3 months until you get an appointment depending on the work load. As far as her actually getting a tourist visa it may be difficult. The main thing the USA is looking for is a reason for her to come back to Thailand such as a house valued at at least $50,000 USD enough money in a bank account to take care of herself when she is in the USA (it used to be $1,500 per month) and some kind of lucrative employment showing she won't be working as a wait staff at the first Thai restaurant she sees when she gets out of the airport. Your chances of getting her a K-1 visa for 90 days are much better close to 100% approval you do not have to marry her she can return to Thailand before the visa expires and by doing this you are vouching for her and they take you into consideration not so much her. You can also extend the K-1 visa in the USA and say that your not quite sure about marriage you want another 90 days to think about it.

[RedQualia]

The interview has to be conducted in Bangkok but that can take 2 or 3 months until you get an appointment depending on the work load. As far as her actually getting a tourist visa it may be difficult. The main thing the USA is looking for is a reason for her to come back to Thailand such as a house valued at at least $50,000 USD enough money in a bank account to take care of herself when she is in the USA (it used to be $1,500 per month) and some kind of lucrative employment showing she won't be working as a wait staff at the first Thai restaurant she sees when she gets out of the airport. Your chances of getting her a K-1 visa for 90 days are much better close to 100% approval you do not have to marry her she can return to Thailand before the visa expires and by doing this you are vouching for her and they take you into consideration not so much her. You can also extend the K-1 visa in the USA and say that your not quite sure about marriage you want another 90 days to think about it.

Thanks for the inputs. Not sure when they stopped doing interviews in Chiang Mai, but ok.

My primary concern is, again, what the attitude of the embassy might be with regard to a masseuse, and whether they do or do not tend to classify them as if they're like bar girls. Just trying to guage the degree to which the embassy may be prejudiced before she even walks in the door.

Thanks

[thaihome]

As far I can tell, Chiang Mai still does Non-Imm visa interviews.

Appears that Chiang Mai Consulate is caught up as the wait time from the State Dept web site says it only 2 days for interview.

As far the employment, assuming your GF works in a legimate business I don't see them looking down on that. With your ties to Thailand and proving her ties to you, she stands a pretty good chance, IMHO.

TH

[dman]

As far I can tell, Chiang Mai still does Non-Imm visa interviews.

Appears that Chiang Mai Consulate is caught up as the wait time from the State Dept web site says it only 2 days for interview.

As far the employment, assuming your GF works in a legimate business I don't see them looking down on that. With your ties to Thailand and proving her ties to you, she stands a pretty good chance, IMHO.

TH

US Consul in CM took less than two weeks for my wife to get her interview and 10 year tourist visa. Only requirement was you had to be a resident of the Northern Provinces. I was impressed with their internet interview scheduling. No queues. Have to admit even though we had all our ducks in a row and all paperwork was flawless it was a stressful event. I lost my way driving there for her interview and got a nice policeman on a motorbike to escort us. Well worth the 100 BHT.