Will Tourist Visa Ever Hinder Marriage?

[flying]

HI all

First post & I did search awhile first.

I did not see this addressed.

What I wondered is.......If I help get my Fiancee a tourist visa

from Thailand to USA. Will that ever hinder the possibility of marriage?

Of course we know of the K-1 but for the expense & time it takes we wondered if a simple

tourist visa would be better first for her to see & experience this land firsthand.

If all goes well we are not opposed to her going back & then coming again for marriage on a K-1. Or even getting married on the tourist visa & paying for the change of status if that is possible???

Any help appreciated.

Thanks

Mike

Edited September 15, 2007 by flying

[flying]

One more question is when filling out the tourist visa is it ok to say reason is to visit fiancee's family?

Or would that be seen as a flight risk?

Thank You

[flying]

Hi again

I was hoping someone had done this here but maybe not?

Our main concern is if she it turned down for the tourist visa will it negatively impact our

later attempt at a K1 visa?

Thanks for any help

[calibanjr.]

Scenario is this?

1. Getting a tourist visa for her to visit the States, then come back to Thailand.

2. Later date, try for a K1 Fiancee visa to get married in the States.

If that's what you're looking at, the Tourist Visa wouldn't hurt at all, rather it will help, in that it shows that she's already been to the States and has returned. The number one criterion that they are looking for is that the applicant isn't looking to get a quick "in" and then planning on working as an illegal. That they will either return to Thailand, or else go through all due process and requisite steps for a real immigration. The fact that she's used a tourist visa properly and returned legally shows that she'll follow the rules.

Whether this is the most time and cost efficient way to marry your girlfriend in the States (it may or may not be, not sure) is a different issue.

Visiting your family? Not sure about that being a plus or minus really. Just to emphasize, the criteria are really about her having compelling reasons to come back. If she has a compelling reason (and means) to return from her visit. The focus is really on her ties to Thailand. They're going to focus on her employment history, education (for her personal economic prospects), family, and financial (especially land) status. Again it's not for some "elitist" analysis, it's to make sure she has a good foundation in Thailand to which she'd be likely to return.

Just to emphasize that the onus is on her, note that you are taken out of the process almost completely. All applications are initiated on-line. You get your information about your status and all of your documents on-line or on the phone. You pay in advance for the visa at the Post Office. Then she goes in for the interview alone, you aren't allowed in the building.

Only reason I've gone on this long is that I've done this process just recently.

Edited September 22, 2007 by calibanjr.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

One more question is when filling out the tourist visa is it ok to say reason is to visit fiancee's family?

Or would that be seen as a flight risk?

Thank You

I'd definitely NOT say "... reason is to visit fiancee's family?".  That could well raise a red flag to the interviewing NIV officer that you and her might just decide to get married while in the U.S.

Just say something like "to accommpany me on a tio to the U.S."

And, tourist visa will not hurt later chances of immigration if that's what you want to do.  While my wife & I've not filed for immigration, and more than likely won't, she did have three tourist visas before we got married.

Mac

[flying]

Thank You for the replies.

Yes we have decided to try & will not say to visit fiance.

We will say just a trip to tourist for 2 weeks. She does own land, house, business & condo

SO I hope they see it for what it is. Just a trip & she will return home.

My other worry is our history goes back to early htis year. So when we go K1 I hope they do not say.................Oh so when you went tourist you also went to see him eh?

calibanjr.

You said you did it recently did it go well?

Thanks!

[calibanjr.]

Yeah, no sweat. I've been married for a year. Wife is finishing up 2nd degree in Uni (she's 35, I'm 40) next year. She owns a couple of rai (her name) family owns more (in which she has an interest). I did a lot of homework, talked to a lot of people who had done it already. Interviewed on Monday, Consulate called her on Tues. said everything was fine and mailed the passport, got it on Wed. Man, I got some points from my wife for that!

I'd never say anything is a "sure thing", but if she has land, house, biz, etc. in her name, and she can show the chanote (deed) and a decent amount of cake in the bank, it's as automatic as you'll get. Those are the key things. After that, as I mentioned above, if she goes to visit and comes back, that shows earnest good will and I doubt you'll have a problem getting a fiancee visa, though that involves paperwork on your side back home.

[flying]

Man, I got some points from my wife for that!

I'd never say anything is a "sure thing", but if she has land, house, biz, etc. in her name, and she can show the chanote (deed) and a decent amount of cake in the bank, it's as automatic as you'll get. Those are the key things. After that, as I mentioned above, if she goes to visit and comes back, that shows earnest good will and I doubt you'll have a problem getting a fiancee visa, though that involves paperwork on your side back home.

Thanks for the reply!

Boy that really makes me hopeful.

She does meet those requirements. As for the cake in the bank............

Well that one is not great but I can help with that. Like many Thai Girls

She does help her family as much as she can so that does not leave a very impressive savings. We will try to build it up gradually so it does not look obvious & hopefully

have enough in there.

Thanks again for your input it really helps!