Bring Thai Girlfriend To Usa Or Emirates

[b74l]

Thx in advance for your time and honest input...and by the way, what a grt site this is...

I have had a wonderful relation with a Thai woman since Oct 2005. I live in Memphis, USA, and work for a major airline..and have been able to travel to Bangkok multiple times a year for work--and fit in extra days to spend with my G/F there..really lucky to have both of those opportunities...and we have kept our relation 2gther pretty well. I am 36, she is 29. Always on my mind since day 1, was where wud this relation go..as I knew it would not at all be easy for her to move here, so we can put our relation further to the test. this past year, she took a hostess job on Carnival cruise in Florida, but just got transferred to the UK..that job is a 7 day a week gig, for the duration of the 7 month contact--which will end for her this Sept..

It is far time we at least live together, and, well, she has been ready for marriage since i think day 1!! But I really want to spend the time living together, to really make sure that marriage is rite for us (I really dont want to just jump into a marriage without having spend time, not necessarily living 2gether, but , haha, living a lot closer than USA and Bangkok!! At this point, I am ready to do what it takes so that we can live 2gether (not get maried immediately, but as I said above).

Clearly, the best option, for her, would be that I take up a job in Bangkok..but the job prospects for my specific profession there are rather limited, and I dont know how ready I would be to take a total career change, and deep pay cut (although living in BKK is quite reasonable).

I do have a good chance at relocating to the Emirates / Abu Dhabi, to work in the same capacity, in fact, at one the UAE airlines. I have never owned a house, so a big relocation like that can be done. I had done some research on visas for the UAE, and I was a bit surprised that they are somewhat similiar/restrictive, as the USA is. My new employer in UAE would arrange all of my residence visa, etc. But what about her---is it possible to have her get, I guess a visit visa, and stay with me, for some period anways? I have read about the rules against living 2gether, but it is done. And I love the UAE, so I would not have too big a prob moving there. But it is key that she is able to move/live with me there, for at least a bit...is the only way for her to live with me in UAE with either marriage or sponsor?

The last choice, easiest for me, is to get her here to the USA. But for her/ or any Thai single woman, to get a USa tourist visa is very very difficult..although I have not really looked too deeply into it .. but I talk to some friends in BKK--and almost impossible, for single thai woman...however, perhaps her work at Carnival may assist..hel_l, maybe my airline has some ideas.

The gist of my issues lie around which of these 3, most probably, the last 2, do you think would be best. I want her to have her freedom, too. I want her to work, even if at a restaurant, even for peanuts!! I dont want her cooped up in the house all day. Unfortunately, in memphis, the suburbs, well, driving a car is essential--and she cant do that..so that is an issue. And I dont have the kind of $$ to spend all on her, well, OK, not all the time!! Does her "moving", secretly living with me, in Abu Dhabi sound too difficult? Would getting her a US tourist visa also just be too difficult? I am not ready to propose/have her as fiance, not yet..the point is I am willing to go somewhere, where it is easiest for her, so we can live together, spend quality time 2gether.

I had been to the UAE many many times, and always see many Thai people there..so I was a bit surprised that you need a residence sponser to get her a visit visa...and I am not sure how long it will take me to gain "UAE resident" status...but maybe getting her to UAE is not as difficult as I think ... I do know that getting her to US, to at least visit me, quite difficult.

Thx alot for your input and taking the time....greatly appreciate candid feedback, and regards

[slapout]

Why not throw this out to your potential employeer in UAE, They may go for helping both of you go to live in UAE visa wise to get you on board.

[mr_hippo]

I have not worked in the UAE but have worked in Saudi and Oman so the rules may be similar. Unless the law on cohabiting has been changed dramatically in the last three years then it cannot be done. People have tried to get around the law by employing their girlfriend as a maid but they cannot live in the same house alone.

[SaigonDaze]

You may not want to do this, but if you get married in Thailand, and apply for the I-130 for her, you can be together in the USA within 3-4 months of submitting your paperwork (assuming everything is on the up and up with you and your GF). Otherwise, quit NW Airlines and move to the UAE and get your new employer to help out.

[thaihome]

Unless you are resident in Thailand, the I-130 must be submitted to a US Service Center and processing takes about 8 months to a year.

Best bet is to ask prospective employer if they will arrange a dependent visa for a spouse. It the answer is yes, then take the job and get married in Thailand before moving to UAE. You can just register the marriage first and have the ceremony later.

TH.