Thai girlfriend help please

[LAguy]

Greetings.  I have a situation here.  I returned from Thailand less than two weeks ago where I met a wonderful Thai lady (not a bar girl, surprisingly enough) in Chiang Mai.  There is a mutual want between us to get married and live over here in NYC, but now that I am back in the US I am not sure what the best way is to go about it.

Some questions:

1- Can I just go back there, marry her and bring her back?  Any visa requirements for doing this?

2- Can she just come here and marry me here?  She says (and some warning flags fo up in my head here, please advise!) that she needs to show a significant amount of money in her bank account to show to the immigration/consulate people that she can finance her trip here ... and that I should send her some money to help pad her account.  Is what she is saying legit, or is this some sort of attempt to scam me out of money (we have all heard the horror stories)?

3- If she were to come here, does she need the finace visa or will just a travel visa do?  And from who does the visa come from:  Thailand or the USA?

4- Is this so difficult that I need to get a lawyer to arrange this?

5- Any web sites or real life stories anyone can relate to assist?

Sorry for all the questions, but I am sincerely confused ... and tired from all the email-ing and phone calls between the two of us which gets in the way of my sleep!

Many thanks in advance!

[dr_Pat_Pong]

have a good look at http://usembassy.state.gov/seoul/wwwh2500.html           that'll give you the detail you want.

Good luck

Pat

[Rinrada]

Also have a good read at Dilberts threads...common sense prevailed in the end :cool:

[Larry]

The best bet is to get her a US FIANCEE VISA (K visa, I believe).  No showing of cash is required, unlike the case of a tourist visa.  You would have three months to marry her in the US.  If not, she would have to go home.  Once you do marry her, you can apply for a green card for her, which is generally very easy to obtain, provided you have a REAL RELATIONSHIP.

I would avoid sending money at this stage, other than for incidentals and gifts for the family. You can pay for the ticket from the US, by the way.

Good luck

[LAguy]

Thank you all very much for the feedback!  It is alot to digest, but better to learn it all sooner than later.  Cheers.

[kawika]

Thanks bigbossman for your questions. I'm in simular straits so keep us posted on how things work out.Dream of the possibilities. dreaming, after all is a form of planning.

[PIN]

It sounds like from the questions you are asking that you really don't know this girl yet (thinking you maybe getting ripped off by her) is not the best way to start married life.

All your questions about getting her to the USA can be answered at the US Embassy in a 1/2 hour session both of you should go together.

Try working on  figuring out if she is intending on ripping you off for money first.

Once you get that clear you may or may not need to answer the remaining questions.

If you get through the money gate ok (i really hope you do) the Embassy will be glad to answer all your questions about the best way to marry and where is the best place to do it.

good luck.

Pin

[BigJohnnyBKK]

> 1- Can I just go back there, marry her and bring her back? Any visa requirements for doing this?

Such activity is permitted on any of the Thai visas, but be aware the process can take some time, in my experience at least six months and possibly over a year.

One key challenge is establishing the bona fides of the relationship. The longer you can prove you've known each other before making the application the better.

Documentation in the form of dated photos of you travelling together, joint bank accounts, shared leases or title documents etc can be helpful in establishing the timeline.

Her coming from a less than poor background helps reassure them she isn't going to do a runner as soon as he arrives. Don't bother trying to convince them she isn't a working girl otherwise, they'll want to see long-term employment records in white-collar jobs, title documents to property - land, apartment buildings etc. The Thai embassy staffer interviewing her will be given broad discretion, basically just rely on intuition.

2- Can she just come here and marry me here? She says (and some warning flags fo up in my head here, please advise!) that she needs to show a significant amount of money in her bank account to show to the immigration/consulate people that she can finance her trip here ... and that I should send her some money to help pad her account. Is what she is saying legit, or is this some sort of attempt to scam me out of money (we have all heard the horror stories)?

It's very likely the whole thing is a scam, but of course may not be. You should definitely spend more time with her, if at all possible live together IMO for at least 3-4 months before deciding to marry - but that should be just common sense in any context right?

Do NOT send her large amounts of money (any more than you'd donate to a charity for example). I haven't any experience on having a fiance come into the states independently, I would suggest it's better if you are bringing her over with you, and you are the one responsible for supporting her, guaranteeing the government she won't need any state assistance.

3- If she were to come here, does she need the finace visa or will just a travel visa do? And from who does the visa come from: Thailand or the USA?

Do NOT lie to the bureaucracy - they have a long memory. She can ONLY come in as your wife or fiance, not pretending to just be a tourist. Only wealthy Thais or those with other very solid "proof" they will return to Thailand are granted those anyway.

4- Is this so difficult that I need to get a lawyer to arrange this?

No, but there are agencies with experience that aren't too expensive her in Thailand. IMO a waste of money, do the research yourself and just tell the truth. It just might take longer than you expect - keep in mind hundreds if not thousands of pretty young Thai girls drop off the radar and go underground into the sex industry every year, so they're just being sensible from the American POV.

5- Any web sites or real life stories anyone can relate to assist?

I had a baby with my wife before we applied, and she was given a ten-year visa after less than two minutes of conversation. But it took four months to get the appointment, and it's up to the immigration officer at each entry instance whether or not she'll actually be admitted or how long she'll be allowed to stay per visit.

And it's been a while, if you don't get more helpful advice, post again later on with more specific questions - indicating "into the US" in the thread title.

[transam]

> 1- Can I just go back there, marry her and bring her back? Any visa requirements for doing this?

Such activity is permitted on any of the Thai visas, but be aware the process can take some time, in my experience at least six months and possibly over a year.

One key challenge is establishing the bona fides of the relationship. The longer you can prove you've known each other before making the application the better.

Documentation in the form of dated photos of you travelling together, joint bank accounts, shared leases or title documents etc can be helpful in establishing the timeline.

Her coming from a less than poor background helps reassure them she isn't going to do a runner as soon as he arrives. Don't bother trying to convince them she isn't a working girl otherwise, they'll want to see long-term employment records in white-collar jobs, title documents to property - land, apartment buildings etc. The Thai embassy staffer interviewing her will be given broad discretion, basically just rely on intuition.

2- Can she just come here and marry me here? She says (and some warning flags fo up in my head here, please advise!) that she needs to show a significant amount of money in her bank account to show to the immigration/consulate people that she can finance her trip here ... and that I should send her some money to help pad her account. Is what she is saying legit, or is this some sort of attempt to scam me out of money (we have all heard the horror stories)?

It's very likely the whole thing is a scam, but of course may not be. You should definitely spend more time with her, if at all possible live together IMO for at least 3-4 months before deciding to marry - but that should be just common sense in any context right?

Do NOT send her large amounts of money (any more than you'd donate to a charity for example). I haven't any experience on having a fiance come into the states independently, I would suggest it's better if you are bringing her over with you, and you are the one responsible for supporting her, guaranteeing the government she won't need any state assistance.

3- If she were to come here, does she need the finace visa or will just a travel visa do? And from who does the visa come from: Thailand or the USA?

Do NOT lie to the bureaucracy - they have a long memory. She can ONLY come in as your wife or fiance, not pretending to just be a tourist. Only wealthy Thais or those with other very solid "proof" they will return to Thailand are granted those anyway.

4- Is this so difficult that I need to get a lawyer to arrange this?

No, but there are agencies with experience that aren't too expensive her in Thailand. IMO a waste of money, do the research yourself and just tell the truth. It just might take longer than you expect - keep in mind hundreds if not thousands of pretty young Thai girls drop off the radar and go underground into the sex industry every year, so they're just being sensible from the American POV.

5- Any web sites or real life stories anyone can relate to assist?

I had a baby with my wife before we applied, and she was given a ten-year visa after less than two minutes of conversation. But it took four months to get the appointment, and it's up to the immigration officer at each entry instance whether or not she'll actually be admitted or how long she'll be allowed to stay per visit.

And it's been a while, if you don't get more helpful advice, post again later on with more specific questions - indicating "into the US" in the thread title.

Your replying to a 9 year old thread. Glad you came out of your coma but stuff has moved on.

[theblether]

Luckily so far it has been a flame free topic, just take your time and don't put yourself under pressure. You have already stated that you are tired due to the time difference etc, take a chill pill, slow down and you'll get there in the end.

You don't HAVE to be in daily communication, to go a day without being in contact with her does not mean that you DON'T love her, or vice versa.

" What's for you won't go by you "

So take the pressure out of the pot, tell your lady the truth that some days you must work and sleep well, and carry on with your plans. In one word??

Chill.

[soundman]

10 year old topic.

I think the OP is well past it y now.

Closed.