Usa Student Visa For Thai National - How Difficult Is This?

[bf2002]

I'm trying to help my girlfriend get a short-term student visa, so she can come to the USA to study for a 1 month TESOL English class.

The school's website explained the whole process, but I'm wondering how likely/difficult it really is for a Thai national to get a short-term student visa?

My ex got her K-1 Fiance visa pretty easily, but I heard from others how difficult it can be for a younger Thai girl, especially one from Issaan, to get a USA immigration or non-immigrant visa.

Is the student visa pretty easy?

Is the student visa like the K-1 or a marriage visa, where if she has a higher income US Citizen (myself) sign an "affadavit of financial support", everything goes much faster and easier?

She can't get a tourist visa, since she will be studying while in the US.

BF2002

Edited December 22, 2008 by bf2002

[ubonjoe]

You can go to this page on the US embassy website and get information on the application process and requirements.

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/non-immigrant...quirements.html

She will have to prove that she has a solid reason to return to Thailand just like those applying for a tourist visa. You getting involved will make that even harder because they will assume that she will go to the states get married and apply in the states for her residency short cutting the normal process.

See this topic for info.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Visa-Difficulties-t218934.html

Edited December 23, 2008 by ubonjoe

[DirectorIntegrityLegal]

The student visa, as the above poster mentioned, still has the presumption of immigration to overcome. This can be done by showing the usual "strong ties," to Thailand. The Embassy will likely expect a student to have less money than someone looking for a tourist or business visa. Honestly, not having dealt with any student visas personally, I suspect that one problem you may face is that the institution she wishes to attend must be reputable and legitimate. You may run into a problem with the issue that the Embassy may not consider a TESOL course to be a bona fide academic institution. This is mere conjecture, but something to probably keep in mind.

Best of Luck!

Ben Hart

Managing Director

Integrity Legal

1-877-231-7533

[tripplejjj]

The RED flag here is your relationship with her (strike one). Income of support from a "boyfriend" (strike two).

MUST DO:

EVIDENCE OF TIES: Applicants for most types of visas must demonstrate they have strong ties outside the United States. U.S. law requires most applicants for nonimmigrant visas to establish to the satisfaction of the consular officer that he/she is not an intending immigrant. Applicants can do this by showing evidence of their family, economic and other social ties to a country outside the U.S. No relative, employer, or friend can “guarantee” an applicant’s return in place of such evidence. Regardless of who is sponsoring the trip, the consular officer must look at the applicant’s own situation to decide whether he or she meets these requirements. Under the law, the visa applicant has the burden of proving that he or she is qualified. Misrepresenting material facts will bar you from receiving a visa or entering the U.S. for the rest of your life.

• Individuals going to the U.S. for short-term training connected to their employment should be able to explain the training and how it will help them in their jobs. If they do not speak English, the organization providing the training should explain how it is prepared to deal with the language problem.

• Students should also be able to explain how a U.S. education will help them when they return abroad. Is expertise in the field of study in demand here? Are there jobs available?

I think that if you want to support her financially, that you stipulate a limit of such support to the expenses associated with attending school and to get her a plane ticket back to Thailand before her visa expires.

[bf2002]

The RED flag here is your relationship with her (strike one). Income of support from a "boyfriend" (strike two).

MUST DO:

EVIDENCE OF TIES: Applicants for most types of visas must demonstrate they have strong ties outside the United States. U.S. law requires most applicants for nonimmigrant visas to establish to the satisfaction of the consular officer that he/she is not an intending immigrant. Applicants can do this by showing evidence of their family, economic and other social ties to a country outside the U.S. No relative, employer, or friend can "guarantee" an applicant's return in place of such evidence. Regardless of who is sponsoring the trip, the consular officer must look at the applicant's own situation to decide whether he or she meets these requirements. Under the law, the visa applicant has the burden of proving that he or she is qualified. Misrepresenting material facts will bar you from receiving a visa or entering the U.S. for the rest of your life.

• Individuals going to the U.S. for short-term training connected to their employment should be able to explain the training and how it will help them in their jobs. If they do not speak English, the organization providing the training should explain how it is prepared to deal with the language problem.

• Students should also be able to explain how a U.S. education will help them when they return abroad. Is expertise in the field of study in demand here? Are there jobs available?

I think that if you want to support her financially, that you stipulate a limit of such support to the expenses associated with attending school and to get her a plane ticket back to Thailand before her visa expires.

Thanks to all who've replied to my thread.

I appreciate the information, especially of the red flags. I certainly understand the logic and why the INS (aka Homeland Security) looks at what they do.