Old Houston Non-imm B In Passport/still A Problem?

[BobAnderson]

My wife and I both got Non-Imm B visas a few years back - via one of the more popular "visa services" at the time. I've since replaced my passport, but my wife hasn't replaced hers. She hasn't left the country though in the last few years.

Someone -elsewhere on this forum stated that the Houston Non-Imm B's are still being scrutinized - and doubled checked carefully. Is that still true? Would it be best if she replaced her passport to avoid a problem if she had to leave the country and return? Or has the problem passed - and there is nothing to worry about?

Thanks - just concerned about her situation.

[samran]

by any chance is your wife Thai? If so, she should get a Thai PP.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

My wife and I both got Non-Imm B visas a few years back - via one of the more popular "visa services" at the time. I've since replaced my passport, but my wife hasn't replaced hers. She hasn't left the country though in the last few years.

Someone -elsewhere on this forum stated that the Houston Non-Imm B's are still being scrutinized - and doubled checked carefully. Is that still true? Would it be best if she replaced her passport to avoid a problem if she had to leave the country and return? Or has the problem passed - and there is nothing to worry about?

Thanks - just concerned about her situation.

Get her a new passport Bob. Better to be sure than sorry. I have good reliable information that indicates Houston raises immigration eyebrows ( mind you the Thai Foreign Minister did his Ph.D in Houston hmmmm. )

[PeaceBlondie]

Agreed, Dr. Pat-Pong. I went through Mae Sai checkpoint this afternoon, with two Houston Visas that really were done in Houston by Alma, along with a passport that was actually issued in Houston (and if he'd asked, a Houston driver's license). Anyway, he looked hard and fast at those two Houston visas before stamping the current one with today's date (I never saw that done before).

So, I wouldn't be presenting any passport containing phony Houston visas. If you didn't get them directly from Alma at the honorary consulate next to the Petroleum Club in Houston, you're asking for trouble.

[BobAnderson]

The wife is not Thai. I think it is a real Houston Non Imm B, but used S&A Visa for it - does have stamps in and out of Malaysia - but nothing showing entry or exit in/out of the USofA.

So . . . what I am hearing is they still get close scrutiny, eh? If wives would listen to husbands - she would get a new passport . . . but, uh, many of us know how that goes.

She has no plans to leave the country - but family illnesses and surprises can keep life interesting.

[PeaceBlondie]

Bob, I don't know; I'm just a newbie from Houston. If your wife is an American citizen, her passport wouldn't have in/out stamps, anyway.

Yesterday at Mae Sai, the officer said nothing, so I don't know if the Houston visas were attracting his attention, nor do I know why suddenly they're stamping the current date on the corner of the most recent visa (also at Don Muang, reported elsewhere).

But the officers supposedly can tell the real visas from the phony Houston visas, though I don't know if we've figured out how. If S&A literally took or sent your wife's passport to Texas, the stamp may look as good as if she'd been there in person.

I forgot to bring flowers or a fan from San Kamphaeng to Alma last time; she'd appreciate it.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

The wife is not Thai.  I think it is a real Houston Non Imm B, but used S&A Visa for it - does have stamps in and out of Malaysia - but nothing showing entry or exit in/out of the USofA.

So . . . what I am hearing is they still get close scrutiny, eh?  If wives would listen to husbands - she would get a new passport . . . but, uh, many of us know how that goes.

She has no plans to leave the country - but family illnesses and surprises can keep life interesting.

Using the shady agent S&A is in itself one helluva of a risk.