Can We Bring A 13 Year Thai Student To The Us For School?

[cgmeyer]

My wife and I have visited our family in Thailand (teachers) for four consecutive years. During our time here we have become good friends with a Thai couple whose 13 year daughter is studying English and would be excited about spending a few months in the US to further her studies. Has anyone dealt with this kind of situation - and could you offer us some constructive thoughts on how to pursue the possibility?

[Mario2008]

Since this topic is about a visa for another country I will move it to the VISA and imigration to other countries section.

[Mario2008]

I hope some one with more knowledge will come along. For now you can research this site about visas fro the US:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html

or contact the US embassy in BKK:

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/visas.html

[Scott]

You will have to apply for a tourist visa for her. An education visa would be rather difficult--unless she is actually going to attend a school and the paperwork for such a visa as well as the money required is difficult.

You will need to go with her parents (probably) to the US embassy. Even then it is going to be rather hard to do, since a lot of these situations are treated rather suspiciously.

Best of luck to you.

[Miserere]

You can but be prepared to be the talk of the neighbourhood.

[Maizefarmer]

My daughter is in boarding school in California - she is one of 3 Asians at her boarding school and the first Thai student at her all girls boarding school. I can't comment much on the visa process because in her case with me been the biological dad (and a dual USA citizen) the whole process was ra lot different and more strightforward, but Misirere's comment about been talk of the neighbourhood should be noted: she was centre of attention for a good few months before the novelty wore off fellow pupils.

Having the character and personality she has (fiercely independant, reserved and rather conservative), it required alot of adjustment in a short space of time. - and wasn't all plain sailling.

I had to take an extended "holiday" and stay over in the States, at a point in time I could least afford to, having myself just spent several months in a CA hospital recovering from an accident. It's all over now, she has now settled in and the homesickness is over, but it was a lot of adjustment which she found stressfull. She was close on 3 years younger than your neighbours daughter (which no doubt was a big part in settling in process), and her English was fluent (actually, that was the saving grace).

None-the-less, I don't wish to discourage you, but think you should be aware that while the novelty and excitement can be motivating, the lifestyle & cultural differances can be stressfull. Don't rush into it, and if circumstances permitt, it may be an idea to take her over for a holiday for a few eeks before making longer plans.

And now? ....... well, now I struggle to get her home for the holidays! - she is always wanting to go and stay with this or that friend - this time round we have had to tell her that if she wants to spend time with a friend, she has to bring her Thailand!

If you want any other advise/comment, or have questions to ask - drop me a personal message.

[Vato]

there must be a clear definition of the 'sponsors' to the US embassy...

1. Education visa

2. a sponsor in the US must NOT be related to the visa applicant in anyway...the embassy people will always assume they are trying to defect with a family member.

3. Attending a private/boarding school will be much much much much easier to obtain a education visa...especially if they are younger than 14...and it is apparent , a foreigner is not trying to get a free educaton from the public school system.

4. the 'thai' sponsor (in thailand) must show a bank account with sufficient funds within the past 6 months, although in our case ...they didnt look at it, may have forgotten...does not have to be immediate family member such as mother / father...can be aunt or uncle.

5. the mother or father is required to go along on the visa interview day....if neither is available a notarization authorizing a guardian can be acceptable, by verification of a phone call to US citizen services....BUT....the stupidity of the security guards at the embassy entrance who check paperwork before admitting entrance may conflict, do to lack of knowledge.

6. the visa interviewer is a pessimist from the beginning, it is their job...

7. if you plan on being the US sponsor, going to the visa interview with the child will help immensely.

this is the experience i have gained by sending our 11 year old cousin to hawaii.

[cgmeyer]

there must be a clear definition of the 'sponsors' to the US embassy...

1. Education visa

2. a sponsor in the US must NOT be related to the visa applicant in anyway...the embassy people will always assume they are trying to defect with a family member.

3. Attending a private/boarding school will be much much much much easier to obtain a education visa...especially if they are younger than 14...and it is apparent , a foreigner is not trying to get a free educaton from the public school system.

4. the 'thai' sponsor (in thailand) must show a bank account with sufficient funds within the past 6 months, although in our case ...they didnt look at it, may have forgotten...does not have to be immediate family member such as mother / father...can be aunt or uncle.

5. the mother or father is required to go along on the visa interview day....if neither is available a notarization authorizing a guardian can be acceptable, by verification of a phone call to US citizen services....BUT....the stupidity of the security guards at the embassy entrance who check paperwork before admitting entrance may conflict, do to lack of knowledge.

6. the visa interviewer is a pessimist from the beginning, it is their job...

7. if you plan on being the US sponsor, going to the visa interview with the child will help immensely.

this is the experience i have gained by sending our 11 year old cousin to hawaii.

Thanks for the info. We now feel that it would be better to wait a year or two, bring our friends' daughter over on a tourist visa before she commits to staying longer for school. Your comments are very helpful.

Edited February 18, 2009 by cgmeyer

[cgmeyer]

My daughter is in boarding school in California - she is one of 3 Asians at her boarding school and the first Thai student at her all girls boarding school. I can't comment much on the visa process because in her case with me been the biological dad (and a dual USA citizen) the whole process was ra lot different and more strightforward, but Misirere's comment about been talk of the neighbourhood should be noted: she was centre of attention for a good few months before the novelty wore off fellow pupils.

Having the character and personality she has (fiercely independant, reserved and rather conservative), it required alot of adjustment in a short space of time. - and wasn't all plain sailling.

I had to take an extended "holiday" and stay over in the States, at a point in time I could least afford to, having myself just spent several months in a CA hospital recovering from an accident. It's all over now, she has now settled in and the homesickness is over, but it was a lot of adjustment which she found stressfull. She was close on 3 years younger than your neighbours daughter (which no doubt was a big part in settling in process), and her English was fluent (actually, that was the saving grace).

None-the-less, I don't wish to discourage you, but think you should be aware that while the novelty and excitement can be motivating, the lifestyle & cultural differances can be stressfull. Don't rush into it, and if circumstances permitt, it may be an idea to take her over for a holiday for a few eeks before making longer plans.

And now? ....... well, now I struggle to get her home for the holidays! - she is always wanting to go and stay with this or that friend - this time round we have had to tell her that if she wants to spend time with a friend, she has to bring her Thailand!

If you want any other advise/comment, or have questions to ask - drop me a personal message.

I have sent you a personal message - Thanks for your information. Chuck

[cecco]

My wife and I have visited our family in Thailand (teachers) for four consecutive years. During our time here we have become good friends with a Thai couple whose 13 year daughter is studying English and would be excited about spending a few months in the US to further her studies. Has anyone dealt with this kind of situation - and could you offer us some constructive thoughts on how to pursue the possibility?

1. If she qualifies for an I-20 Visa, and her parents have enough money, going to the USA is easy for her. My daughter attended Cal State Fullerton at 14, and so if she is part of the Intellectual Elite, it will be no difficulty for her at all.

2. Stay out of "it." In Thailand, as most (if not all) of Asia, "help" is looked at as something you pay for, either in advance or after the fact, if you are not being paid, you are not helping, if you are helping, you can be in trouble in the USA for taking money or other significant compensation. In Thailand, if you are not PAID, you are not helping. It becomes a matter of honor, and you will be called keneow, or perhaps a man farang (baked potato), or man farang thort (french fry, or manthet (mashed potato or sweet potato).

3. Thailand has excellent schools, go look at the University in Mahasarakham, it looks like something out of startrek elite worlds.

4. English is the preferred language of the upper class, and an excellent instructor is the same guy with AUA who teaches the American Embassy staff, but I forgot his name, he lives near Thae Phae Gate.

5. Stay out of it or you will find yourself wishing you had stayed out of "it."

[OldenAtwoody]

My wife and I have visited our family in Thailand (teachers) for four consecutive years. During our time here we have become good friends with a Thai couple whose 13 year daughter is studying English and would be excited about spending a few months in the US to further her studies. Has anyone dealt with this kind of situation - and could you offer us some constructive thoughts on how to pursue the possibility?

This is a noble gesture, but think: Do you really want to expose this young lady to US "culture"? At this age, you are only setting her up for future expectations that will very likely bring discord into her life, and possibly even more dissent with her parents than even the average teenager.

Sure, it's impressive - the wide streets, big yards, shopping, malls. And the ignorant population, the uncontrolled immigration, the infestive drug culture, the materialism, the disregard for spiritualism.

Better you should find another way to advance her than to have her "treated" to a summer of hip-hop, dopey teens, and loose morals. America is no standard by which to measure anything anymore.....

[Navalator]

My two cents: Listen to OldenAtwoody. A lot of wisdom there. I have been at the other end of the exchange student process and find that it is nearly impossible to get the Thai students to actually want to return to Thailand. The underlying agenda for the Thai student enthusiasm to "study" in the U.S. is to stay long enough, gain residence and then send for the rest of the family. While this is not immoral, it is a burden on the host country and saps Thailand of the much needed talent for the future. Also, if you insist on carrying on with this do not be offended when the U.S. immigration officer suggests that you are doing this for sexual reasons.

Also keep in mind that the States-side gateway immigration officer can arbitrarily refuse entrance to the Thai national irrespective of the fact that a VISA has been granted by the U.S.Embassy in Bangkok. The hapless student receives no reason for entry refusal and is shipped back to Thailand unceremoniously.

U.S. Immigration frowns on unaccompanied Thai juveniles entering the country and automatically suspects underlying sexual motivations of the host families. Better to send the student to the U.S. through one of the exchange programs.

[OldenAtwoody]

My wife and I have visited our family in Thailand (teachers) for four consecutive years. During our time here we have become good friends with a Thai couple whose 13 year daughter is studying English and would be excited about spending a few months in the US to further her studies. Has anyone dealt with this kind of situation - and could you offer us some constructive thoughts on how to pursue the possibility?

OK. Re-thinking this. You said "a few months..."

Does the family qualify for a tourist visa?

FYI - we "sponsored" a single female Thai - though OUR bank statements, tax returns, employment letters, personal letters, etc. - and she received a 10-year USA visa. She has ties to home, enrollment in school, a career, kids, etc., so the Embassy looked favorably on the request.

You might suggest (assist) the family to apply for a tourist visa, then have the girl fly by herself (airline permitting) to spend the summer or whatever.

I would probably not apply for a tourist visa for the girl alone.

Enrollment in a US public school is "iffy". Check with the school board, they may want a guardianship document, and may charge tuition. Considering how many illegal aliens there are in the US, I have a feeling the tuition is only a remote possibility.

Keep in mind her visa is usually only good for 6 months, so if you tried to have her in public school for one year, she should go home at Christmas break to not overstay. The US is strict on overstays with legitimate tourists. Illegally come in and get the Red Carpet. Overstay as a law-abiding citizen and they cancel your visa.