Help Getting My Best Friend Married

[teeloc]

My best friend has decided to marry my wife's Lao niece and bring here back to the States. I would like to know how to do it. We are from the US and the bride lives in Laos almost strait across the river from Nongkhai. We arrive in Thailand late Jan 08.

My wife and I have traveled to Thailand and Laos many times but only to vacation and visit family. I have heard many stories about how to go about getting married but would like to here it from someone that has really done it.

Does he have to get married in the US embassy? Should we get a lawyer involved when we get there. Is their papers of some kind he should bring with him such as proof of employment, bank statements or tax returns to prove he can be a good provider? Any information or stories would be helpful.

Thanks

[Rdrokit]

Not sure any of us here can help you if she is a Loatian citizen. What country passport does she have? There are some Expat Loas forums just google them. I do know that you can not get married at the US Embassy. The way it's done with a Thai citizen is you apply for a fiancee visa from the closest US Embassy to you in the States and when it's approved she picks up the visa at the US Embassy in Bangkok. It is good for a 90 day stay in the US. If she gets married in the States then she changes her visa and applies for a green card, if she does not get married within the 90 day limit she must return to Thailand. Again, all the paperwork can be done in the States he does not have to come to Thailand. I would have your friend check with the closest US Embassy to him on Laotian visas to the States if she is a Laotian citizen.

[teeloc]

Thanks for the info. I made an appointment with an imigation lawyer here in the states.