American/thai Couple Getting Tourist Visa To Commonwealth Countries

[Svenn]

Is anyone here American and married to a Thai and ever had a problem getting a tourist visa with her to a commonwealth country (Canada, Australia, etc)?

I was thinking of a holiday to said countries (Oz particularly) but don't want to go through the hassle of a tourist visa application if she's not almost guranteed to get it or if it's going to require a shit-load of documentation about proof of our relationship- i mean i'll give them the marriage certificate or something but i don't want to spend a week gathering photos, bank records, or some other crap and thinking about how to rebut some little disphit embassy employee's presumption that she's a prostitute (which is, btw, a really depressing thing to have to do at our ages). As a sidenote, she still hasn't come to america yet with me, she'd be applying in the infamous bkk embassies of said countries, and i work part-time is usa, so i can forsee the Canadian or Oz embassy percieving us as frauds... but then again I know an American student-visa applicant to Oz who was able to get his wife come automatically with him as a spousal dependant attachment or something... so maybe it's not so bad, well... any tips?

Edited January 20, 2009 by Svenn

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Is anyone here American and married to a Thai and ever had a problem getting a tourist visa with her to a commonwealth country (Canada, Australia, etc)?

I was thinking of a holiday to said countries (Oz particularly) but don't want to go through the hassle of a tourist visa application if she's not almost guranteed to get it or if it's going to require a shit-load of documentation about proof of our relationship- i mean i'll give them the marriage certificate or something but i don't want to spend a week gathering photos, bank records, or some other crap and thinking about how to rebut some little disphit embassy employee's presumption that she's a prostitute (which is, btw, a really depressing thing to have to do at our ages). As a sidenote, she still hasn't come to america yet with me, she'd be applying in the infamous bkk embassies of said countries, and i work part-time is usa, so i can forsee the Canadian or Oz embassy percieving us as frauds... but then again I know an American student-visa applicant to Oz who was able to get his wife come automatically with him as a spousal dependant attachment or something... so maybe it's not so bad, well... any tips?

Has your wife traveled to the U.S. before? Perhaps have a U.S. 10-year visa?

This goes back to 1998, by then my G/f, now wife, had been to the U.S. a couple of times on one-shot visa, then got a 10-year visa in 1995. I'd been retired here by then for six years.

We'd been invited to a wedding down in Oz for April 1998 so I gathered up all the papers I thought I might use for her 10-year U.S. visa (didn't use 90% of them then), and headed down to Sathorn for the Oz visa. I included several emails about the wedding and arrangements for travel.

Filled out the paperwork for her Oz visa, went to the window and talked with a Thai lady, handed over both passports and the emails. She didn't even look at the bundle of papers I had handy in the bag.

We sat down and 20 minutes later were called back up to the window, same Thai lady. She handed back the passports, I asked about an interview, she said look in the passports. Did so, visas already there!

So, I'd think if you and your wife are relatively well established here in Thailand, no problem for the Oz visa. Don't think your working in the U.S. would have much to do with it, they'd be thinking of overstay in Oz, not the U.S.

Regarding Canada, have an American friend whose G/f had been turned down twice on her U.S. tourist visa applications. She managed to get a Canadian visa, was turned down again in Vancouver for the U.S. Then later back Bangkok tried the U.S. again, and this time received a 10-year visa.

Mac

[Svenn]

Has your wife traveled to the U.S. before? Perhaps have a U.S. 10-year visa?

This goes back to 1998, by then my G/f, now wife, had been to the U.S. a couple of times on one-shot visa, then got a 10-year visa in 1995. I'd been retired here by then for six years.

We'd been invited to a wedding down in Oz for April 1998 so I gathered up all the papers I thought I might use for her 10-year U.S. visa (didn't use 90% of them then), and headed down to Sathorn for the Oz visa. I included several emails about the wedding and arrangements for travel.

Filled out the paperwork for her Oz visa, went to the window and talked with a Thai lady, handed over both passports and the emails. She didn't even look at the bundle of papers I had handy in the bag.

We sat down and 20 minutes later were called back up to the window, same Thai lady. She handed back the passports, I asked about an interview, she said look in the passports. Did so, visas already there!

So, I'd think if you and your wife are relatively well established here in Thailand, no problem for the Oz visa. Don't think your working in the U.S. would have much to do with it, they'd be thinking of overstay in Oz, not the U.S.

Regarding Canada, have an American friend whose G/f had been turned down twice on her U.S. tourist visa applications. She managed to get a Canadian visa, was turned down again in Vancouver for the U.S. Then later back Bangkok tried the U.S. again, and this time received a 10-year visa.

Mac

Thanks Mac, I am intrigued by these experiences of yours. No, she's never been to the US on any visa, I've just been flying over to thailand a few times a year for the past few years (job commitments, which will hopefully end soon)

About the Oz embassy- you went alone or with your wife?

Did they seem like they were prepared to look at your paperwork and have an interview, and just deemed it unnecessary, or did it just appear like protocol to automatically grant American-Thai spouses the visa? Did this lady have an opportunity to even look at your wife's US tourist visa in her passport (if not, maybe I don't have to worry about an absence thereof)? Why did you hand her the emails and not the bag of other goodies?

How did she know you guys were married?

About Canada (or should I say "Aboot")- I have always thought that it was sort of like a backdoor to getting the US tourist visa (which is my ultimate goal here besides the holiday)- your friend's experience seems to verify this. If we can get the Oz visa, I'd hope we could get the Canadian... though I don't think I should start out immediately with Canada as they might view her as a border jumper. My basic situation here is that I can't get the K3 foreign- wife visa for complicated reasons, I only want her to come to the US on a tourist visa for now.

[Svenn]

btw, i'm sorry the profanities showed up in my original post, I though they automatically got edited with the: _ whatnot.

[thaihome]

Any country in reviewing a application for a tourist visa is going to be looking for evidence that the person intends to return to their home country and will not overstay or attempt to shortcut the normal immigration procedures.

For a US passport for a Thai women married to an American, if the husband lives in Thailand and can prove that with visa extensions, work permit etc, the tourist visa is almost automatic since it is obvious he intends to return and so will the wife. In your present position I highly doubt your wife would be given a tourist visa as in the mind of the reviewer, chances are high she would stay and apply for change of status based on marriage to you .

For other countries I think it depends on their individual review process but would assume that since neither of you have connections in that country, they would assume you do not intend to stay and chances are good.

In every case, having traveled abroad and returning is a good thing, which is why in the example above, the lady got a US visa after having visited Canada and returned.

You cannot take the process lightly or assume anything is automatic, the burden of proof is on the applicant and attention must be paid to the details. I can easily see another thread in future from you blaming an embassy and the fuc_ked up people in it for a denial when the real cause was your antipathy to process.

TH

[Isee]

I think you have the wrong outlook here - you come across to me as saying "I'm married and a US citizen and I shouldn't have to put up with satisfying a country's immigration requirements". I know that if I wanted to go to the US they wouldn't care the slightest that I was Australian. Have you looked at the Australian Imm website? I would say don't bother applying with your current attitude - and the news that you will be evaluated just as much as your thai wife might annoy you even more. If you don't want to give the info, then you run with your chances of being refused (you even admit that you are looking at the "benefit" of a visa being granted when you apply for a US visa later - so why not do it right the first time instead of risking a refusal???). Basically you have to satisfy that you have no need to work and that you will leave. Straight off the 48R form:

Under the Migration Act 1958, decision-makers are not obliged to seek additional information from the applicant

before making a decision on a visa application. It is therefore in the applicant's best interest to submit the

following documentation with their application:

• evidence of funds;

• evidence of your medical/travel insurance;

• medical examination or tests;

• a letter from your employer confirming your leave;

• evidence of enrolment at school, college or university;

• if visiting close family in Australia (who is a citizen or permanent resident of Australia), a letter of invitation to visit;

• other information that you have an incentive and authority to return to your country of residence.

Aus visa's aren't normally submitted at the embassy anymore (Goes through VFS), but I understand you can elect to if you make an appointment. The best course is for you to both apply in person at the same time and then they can note that the visa's are being sought in tandem.

Edited January 21, 2009 by Isee

[CharlieB]

In applying for any country's tourist/visitvisa you are going to have to prove all the usual things, ie funds, relationship, reason to visit and possibly health. Although you may consider it a waste of time, they don't and although you know your relationship is genuine and you only want a holiday there, they don't know you from Adam. Due to other people lying to them in the past, they have to check each and every application on the same basis.

If you are genuine about your relationship and visiting somewhere you'll do it for her and not consider it beneath you. How do they know that you actually know her and have known her for a long time without proof that you are married and have had a long term relationship. If you don't prove this, you could look like a stooge that she is using to get entry to a western country.

Just because she is married to a US citizen doesn't mean anything, especially as you live in the US and she lives in Thailand and hasn't been to your own country. You sound like you look down on the visa process as a waste of your time, even though you haven't been through it yet. If this is your attitude, you'll never get a visa, as you'll never take the time to get a decent application together, because you don't think you should you have to prove anything to some dipshit working for a country's embassy.

Edited January 21, 2009 by CharlieB

[Svenn]

With all due respect last 3 posters, your messages are absolutely useless. I've seen your's and similar speeches a hundred times already on this forum, I don't need it reiterated again. Please, if anyone else feels the need to defend or parrot an embassy's 'evidence-of-return' policy because it makes you feel important, please post in another topic where you can impress the newbies there... my topic question, if you ever read it, is very specific: do you have or know someone with EXPERIENCE as an American-Thai couple applying to other Commonwealth countries... simple as that.

Guys, I know why they have all the regulations, I'm not an idiot. And I'll dutifully jump through the hoops if I have to. These consular officers you guys so righteously defend are often not as noble, impartial, or just agents as you naively think they are. In fact, if you read the stories on thaivisa, they are often very prejudicial, offensive, or racist. I'm sorry if I get offended by the idea of some little consular bureacrat presuming my wife is a prostitute or a potential illegal alien... maybe I'm just to old-fashioned, or have too much pride. Is this so unreasonable? That being said, we'll do it if it has to be done, and we'll do it right. Besides, it's totally beyond me why you guys write so indignately to me because I dissed an embassy- not capable of differentiating between state and selfhood perhaps?

I can easily see another thread in future from you blaming an embassy and the fuc_ked up people in it for a denial when the real cause was your antipathy to process.

What the heck's up with this guy? "antipathy to process" !? are you one of those guys that gets a hard-on from organizing your refrigerator and billing statements or something?

I would say don't bother applying with your current attitude - and the news that you will be evaluated just as much as your thai wife might annoy you even more.

I've been to australia several times and never been evaluated at all, been granted the visa automatically,... but whatever you say

You sound like you look down on the visa process as a waste of your time, even though you haven't been through it yet. If this is your attitude, you'll never get a visa, as you'll never take the time to get a decent application together, because you don't think you should you have to prove anything to some dipshit working for a country's embassy.

Yeah that's right! I'm a goddang American, wooo! I ain't have to give no respect to other country's laws!

Seriously though, Herr Consular employee, I bow in shame and most humble apology for calling you said profanity.

[CharlieB]

With all due respect last 3 posters, your messages are absolutely useless. I've seen your's and similar speeches a hundred times already on this forum, I don't need it reiterated again. Please, if anyone else feels the need to defend or parrot an embassy's 'evidence-of-return' policy because it makes you feel important, please post in another topic where you can impress the newbies there... my topic question, if you ever read it, is very specific: do you have or know someone with EXPERIENCE as an American-Thai couple applying to other Commonwealth countries... simple as that.

Guys, I know why they have all the regulations, I'm not an idiot. And I'll dutifully jump through the hoops if I have to. These consular officers you guys so righteously defend are often not as noble, impartial, or just agents as you naively think they are. In fact, if you read the stories on thaivisa, they are often very prejudicial, offensive, or racist. I'm sorry if I get offended by the idea of some little consular bureacrat presuming my wife is a prostitute or a potential illegal alien... maybe I'm just to old-fashioned, or have too much pride. Is this so unreasonable? That being said, we'll do it if it has to be done, and we'll do it right. Besides, it's totally beyond me why you guys write so indignately to me because I dissed an embassy- not capable of differentiating between state and selfhood perhaps?

I can easily see another thread in future from you blaming an embassy and the fuc_ked up people in it for a denial when the real cause was your antipathy to process.

What the heck's up with this guy? "antipathy to process" !? are you one of those guys that gets a hard-on from organizing your refrigerator and billing statements or something?

I would say don't bother applying with your current attitude - and the news that you will be evaluated just as much as your thai wife might annoy you even more.

I've been to australia several times and never been evaluated at all, been granted the visa automatically,... but whatever you say

You sound like you look down on the visa process as a waste of your time, even though you haven't been through it yet. If this is your attitude, you'll never get a visa, as you'll never take the time to get a decent application together, because you don't think you should you have to prove anything to some dipshit working for a country's embassy.

Yeah that's right! I'm a goddang American, wooo! I ain't have to give no respect to other country's laws!

Seriously though, Herr Consular employee, I bow in shame and most humble apology for calling you said profanity.

Nobody is showing off and I have never worked for any consulate or embassy. You've come into the forum and basically state that you want a guarantee you'll get a visit visa for your wife to either Canada or Australia and then spend an entire paragraph saying you don't want to spend time on it and object to them thinking your wife might something she isn't.

This is nothing to do with you being an American. Take the chip off your shoulder about everyone being against you for being from America. If someone from the UK, France, Belgium, Germany etc. came on here saying he doesn't want to put any effort in to an application I'd say the same thing. If you want a 100% guarantee of getting a visa for a country, put some effort in to the application process and do as everyone else has to, or maybe YOU are a special case that none of us are. Nobody likes having to do this crap and yes we know that the people at the embassy have their own opinions on people, but unfortunately everyone who gets involved with a woman from a non-western country is always going to have to provide this stuff and have judgements against them. Do you honestly think the rest of us are happy about this and get great pleasure out of doing it?

[7by7]

I was thinking of a holiday to said countries (Oz particularly) but don't want to go through the hassle of a tourist visa application if she's not almost guranteed to get it or if it's going to require a shit-load of documentation about proof of our relationship- i mean i'll give them the marriage certificate or something but i don't want to spend a week gathering photos, bank records, or some other crap

I am not going to go into an explanation of why many western countries require evidence of eligibility before issuing a visa, suffice to say that they do. With all of them the onus is on the applicant to provide sufficient evidence. If you can't be bothered to make the effort then that is your problem; because the visa officer wont necessarily ask for the missing evidence and instead simply refuse, so your wife wont be getting a visa.

and thinking about how to rebut some little disphit embassy employee's presumption that she's a prostitute

If she turned up dressed like one and your total relationship was a couple of weeks barfine then they probably would think this. But as you can, presumably, show a long term relationship and marriage then they would not.

Of course, calling them 'dipshits' isn't going to endear you to them or make them inclined to give your wife the benefit of any doubt.

My basic situation here is that I can't get the K3 foreign- wife visa for complicated reasons

One thing any visa officer is bound to wonder is why you live in the States and she lives in Thailand and why she has never visited you or your family in the states. To preclude any questions and the necessity for an interview you should explain this with the application in an accompanying letter. Especially if she has previously applied to the US and been refused.

I only want her to come to the US on a tourist visa for now.

Then why are you thinking of applying to another country? Why not apply to the US?

Maybe you think that if you can get some foreign visas in her passport it will make getting a US one easier, and you're probably right. However, any visa officer will want to know why she wishes to visit the country she is applying to. Better think of a few good reasons; saying that it will make it easier to get her into the US wont do.

Maybe you also think that other countries' requirements are easier to satisfy than your own. Again, from what I have read, you may be right (certainly this is the case for the UK). In which case your argument is with your own system and government.

To be blunt, your posts display a certain arrogance, hopefully unwittingly. You come across as a stereotypical arrogant American who feels that the world should give him what he wants purely because of his nationality and that a visa to any country should be yours and your wife's by right.

Somewhat ironic as you cannot even get her a visa for your own country!

You need to remember that no one has the right to enter a foreign country. Even those whose nationality allows them entry to a country without a visa can still be refused entry at the border. You may not like having to make an application and provide what is required, but your wife wont get a visa if you don't.

[Svenn]

Maybe you think that if you can get some foreign visas in her passport it will make getting a US one easier, and you're probably right. However, any visa officer will want to know why she wishes to visit the country she is applying to. Better think of a few good reasons; saying that it will make it easier to get her into the US wont do.

We really do want to go to Australia or Canada for a holiday, we're not getting their visa just as a stepping stone to help a US visa application. It only dawned on us that we'd get this beneficial incidental result if we chose to holiday in a Commonwealth country as opposed to another Asian country. Like I said, for complicated reasons, we can't get the fiancee visa... and in reality she doesn't have that much interest in going to the USA.

I come off as arrogant only because I try to make these immigration topics a little entertaining, hey, they can be dull sometimes... in reality I'm quite serious about the actual process and I'll do it thoroughly and respectfully when it comes along.

[wokkawombat]

I have no idea how easy it will be to get your visas but will offer some other information.

Applications for Australian visas are submitted at the VFS?? located on the top floor of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce building close to Surasak BTS Station.

The staff there are friendly, helpfull and not dipshits. Their English skills are excellent. You can pay for photo copies there and also pay the fees on site.

The staff at VFS?? only check your application/s to ensure all information required is presented. The final decision is made by staff at the Australian Embassy. From memory there are Embassy staff on site at VFS on Tuesday afternoons but you would have to confirm this.

Good luck.

John

[thaihome]

With all due respect last 3 posters, your messages are absolutely useless. I've seen your's and similar speeches a hundred times already on this forum, I don't need it reiterated again. Please, if anyone else feels the need to defend or parrot an embassy's 'evidence-of-return' policy because it makes you feel important, please post in another topic where you can impress the newbies there... my topic question, if you ever read it, is very specific: do you have or know someone with EXPERIENCE as an American-Thai couple applying to other Commonwealth countries... simple as that.

...

I can easily see another thread in future from you blaming an embassy and the fuc_ked up people in it for a denial when the real cause was your antipathy to process.

What the heck's up with this guy? "antipathy to process" !? are you one of those guys that gets a hard-on from organizing your refrigerator and billing statements or something?

...

No, I'm an American guy who has traveled and lived abroad extensively over the last 10 years with my Thai wife and got her visas for several countries, including the US. Exactly the type of person you were asking for personal experience from. I gave you solid advice, anticipating you would react exactly as you did.

TH